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Taoiseach pays tribute to 'trailblazer' Gemma Hussey following her death aged 86Assad’s fall: The end of Syria’s brutal ruling dynasty

Why Best Buy (BBY) Stock Is Falling TodayIn the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden also warned that Washington will "remain vigilant" against the emergence of terrorist groups, announcing that US forces had just conducted fresh strikes against militants from the Islamic State organization. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said, speaking from the White House. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria." Asked by reporters what should happen to the deposed president, who reportedly has fled to Moscow, Biden said that "Assad should be held accountable." Biden -- set to step down in January and make way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power -- said Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding. "We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign" Syria "with a new constitution," he said. However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be under scrutiny. "Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses," Biden said. The United States had "taken note" of recent statements by rebels suggesting they had since moderated, he said, but cautioned: "We will assess not just their words, but their actions." Biden said Washington is "clear eyed" that the Islamic State extremist group, often known as ISIS, "will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish" itself in Syria. "We will not let that happen," he said, adding that on Sunday alone, US forces had conducted strikes against ISIS inside Syria. The US military said the strikes were conducted by warplanes against Islamic State operatives and camps. Strikes were carried out against "over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s," the US Central Command said on social media. Earlier, Biden met with his national security team at the White House to discuss the crisis. Assad's reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning rebel offensive that broke long-frozen frontlines in Syria's civil war. They announced Sunday they had taken the capital Damascus and that Assad had fled, prompting celebrations nationwide and a ransacking of Assad's luxurious home. A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies that the deposed leader was now in Moscow, along with his family. The US military has around 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of the international coalition established in 2014 to help combat the Islamic State jihadist group. It has regularly struck targets in the country including those linked to Iranian-backed militias. Tehran was a major backer of Assad's government. Biden also confirmed US authorities believe the American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, still lives. "We believe he's alive," Biden said, but the US has yet "to identify where he is." bur-sms/mlmSYM Stock News: Shareholder Rights Law Firm Robbins LLP Urges Symbotic Inc. Stockholders With Large Losses To Seek Legal Counsel In Connection With The Class Action Lawsuit

Taoiseach Simon Harris has paid tribute to former Fine Gael minister Gemma Hussey. Hussey was the State's first female Minister for Education and Fine Gael's first female Cabinet minister. Advertisement The Irish Times reported that Hussey passed away following a short illness at the age of 86. Born in Bray, Co Wicklow, Hussey had a successful career in business before entering politics. She became a senator, initially as an independent, in 1977 and joined Fine Gael three years later. In 1981, she became Government leader in the Seanad. She was elected to the Dáil as a candidate for the party in 1982 and served as a TD until 1989. Harris said Hussey was a "trailblazer", and "a passionate progressive for women’s rights, education reform and Ireland’s place in the world, particularly the potential of European Union membership". Harris said Hussey's work and long service in his own native Wicklow is "remembered to this day". "But above all Gemma was a patriot, a Fine Gael stalwart and a kind and generous person. I was one of the people lucky to enjoy her company, her advice and her good humour," he said. "To all of her family, colleagues and friends, l am truly sorry for your loss. May she rest in peace."None

Canadian dollar up as stock markets rally ahead ChristmasInside Trump's new administration: From business moguls to TV personalities

YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music star Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. He had been charged for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers with it. Wallen appeared in court alongside his attorney on Thursday. He was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI education center and will be under supervised probation for two years. According to the arrest affidavit, Wallen was accused of throwing a chair off the roof of Chief’s bar on April 7. The chair landed about a yard from the officers. Witnesses told police they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it off the roof and laugh about it. The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own death moves to end their marriage MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning so he could abscond to Europe has filed a court action to end the couple's marriage. Online court records indicate Emily Borgwardt filed a petition in Dodge County Circuit Court on Thursday seeking to annul her marriage to Ryan Borgwardt. A hearing has been set for April. According to court documents, Ryan Borgwardt staged his own drowning by leaving his overturned kayak floating on Green Lake. He flew to Eastern Europe, where he spent several days in a hotel with a woman before taking up residence in the country of Georgia. He is charged with misdemeanor obstruction in Green Lake County. San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A block in downtown San Francisco has been renamed for acclaimed photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during WWII. The longtime staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, who died in 2006 at age 94, is also remembered for the 35 years he spent documenting the city's famous and not so famous for the daily newspaper. He photographed a young Willie Mays getting his hat fitted as a San Francisco Giant in 1957. He also photographed joyous children making a mad dash for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report finds Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly,” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health. That's according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others THOMASTON, Maine (AP) — Kaja Veilleux has been hunting New England attic treasures for more than 50 years. He once found a copy of the Declaration of Independence sitting on a trash heap, and he made headlines this year when he stumbled upon a million-dollar portrait that may have been painted by the Dutch master Rembrandt. Many people dream of cashing in on some dusty old heirloom. Veilleux helps people sort the gems from the junk when he appraises furniture, antiques and art by using his knowledge of what similar items have sold for in the past. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Selena Gomez reveals engagement to Benny Blanco Selena Gomez is having quite a year, and it’s being capped with an engagement to music producer and songwriter Benny Blanco. The Grammy- and Emmy-nominated performer announced she was off the market in an Instagram post Wednesday of her ring, with the caption “Forever begins now.” Celebrity fans sent their congratulations, with rapper Lil Nas X writing “So happy for you both” and Taylor Swift saying “Yes I will be the flower girl.” Gomez became a Golden Globe double nominee Monday for her roles in “Emilia Pérez” and “Only Murders in the Building.” Fewer US grandparents are taking care of grandchildren, according to new data Fewer grandparents were taking care of grandchildren, there was a decline in the number of preschoolers and more people were staying put in their homes in the first part of the 2020s compared with the last part of the 2010s. That's according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday, reflecting some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest figures from the most comprehensive survey of American life compares the periods of 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. Those timeframes were before the pandemic and during the years of the virus’ spread. Some of the changes are COVID-19 related, while others are the result of other occurrences like the opioid crisis.As the Brooklyn Public Library prepares to turn the page on 2024, it’s looking back on the last year in literature and taking stock of which books Brooklynites loved most. Locals checked out millions of books, electronic media, and more this year, according to BPL’s website, even as the library dealt with budget cuts and reduced operating hours . The borough’s most popular titles for adults reflected last year’s tastes, with some new additions. In 2024, readers were after romance novels, pop culture memoirs, and stories from both far-off lands and nearby neighborhoods. Get the Full Story “I am delighted to see the wide range of items New Yorkers are borrowing including stories about immigrants and outsiders, cities and small towns, friends, family and love,” said Nick Higgins, BPL’s chief librarian, in a statement. “Books play a critical role in everyday life — especially now — helping us to understand ourselves, one another, and the world around us.” BPL’s Top Ten Adult Titles from 2024: Brooklyn’s teens were voracious readers this year, too. Teens and young adults dove into fantasy worlds spun by Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Ross, picked up beloved manga like “Demon Slayer,” and revisited an old YA classic, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins — perhaps inspired by the 2023 film based on a newer Collins book, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” BPL’s Top 10 YA Titles from 2024: Last but not least, there were the youngest readers in the borough, the kids . Brooklyn’s little ones enjoyed a lot of longtime classics this year, and a lot of touching graphic memoirs. Jeff Kinney, the author of the beloved “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series, which has 19 installations released since 2007, features prominently on the list, as does the “Dog Man” series by Dav Pilkey. Raina Telgemeier’s graphic memoirs, “Guts” and “Ghosts,” came ranked #6 and #8 on the list, respectively. BPL’s Top 10 Kids’ Titles of 2024:Caitlin Clark raised the profile of women's basketball to unprecedented levels in both the college ranks and the WNBA, and Tuesday she was named the AP Female Athlete of the Year for her impact on and off the court. After leading Iowa to the national championship game, Clark was the top pick in the WNBA draft as expected and went on to win rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers tuned in to follow her journey. Clark's exploits were far reaching, casting a light on other women's sports leagues along the way. A group of 74 sports journalists from The Associated Press and its members voted on the award. Clark received 35 votes, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles was second with 25 and boxer Imane Khelif was third, getting four votes. Clark is only the fourth women's basketball player to be honored as the female athlete of the year since it was first presented in 1931, joining Sheryl Swoopes (1993), Rebecca Lobo (1995) and Candace Parker (2008, 2021). "I grew up a fan of Candace Parker and the people who came before me and to be honored in this way, is super special and I'm thankful," Clark said in a phone interview. "It was a great year for women's basketball and women's sports." Shohei Ohtani won the AP Male Athlete of the Year on Monday for the third time. Clark broke the NCAA Division I career scoring record for both men and women finishing her career with 3,951 points while guiding Iowa to its second consecutive national championship game. After her Hawkeyes lost t South Carolina for the title, Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley took the mic during her team's celebration and said, "I want to personally thank Caitlin Clark for lifting up our sport." For all the success Clark has had and the attention she has brought to women's basketball, she is often the centerpiece of debates and online toxicity towards her and other players in the league. For her part, Clark has disavowed the toxic discourse. Lobo also has been impressed with the way the 22-year-old Clark has handled the pressure and attention that has come her way. "I would say she's navigated it almost flawlessly. she hasn't had an big missteps or misspeaks at a time you're under constant scrutiny," Lobo said. "She's seemed to say and do all the right things. That's just incredible at a time when it's constant attention and scrutiny. She has not done anything to tarnish this sort of mild persona she has." As Clark handled the praise — and the backlash — during the heat of competition, it was hard for her to appreciate just what she was able accomplish over the past year. But after having time to reflect on the whirlwind tour, she appreciates those who were there alongside her for the ride. "I'm thankful for the people I got to do it with," Clark said. "A year ago I was still in the early part of my senior year in college. ... How fast things change, and now I can see how great a college season it was." Iowa sold out all of its games at home and on the road with Clark as the main attraction. That momentum continued into the pros. Her No. 22 jersey was prevalent wherever she played during her rookie season and will be retired at Iowa. "You'd be remiss not to acknowledge how crazy her fan base is and the eyes she gets with everything she does," said Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who was often spotted courtside at Clark's Indiana Fever games. "It's a different type of popularity, she's one of the most popular athletes in the world. It's not just women's sports anymore. "It's really cool to see and she just handles it with such grace." Clark said she enjoys spending time with fans at games, usually taking a few minutes before and after games to sign autographs. "For me it's still really fun," she said. "Whether it's 15 seconds or 10 seconds or 5 seconds can be very impactful in a young girl and young boys life. Seeing the fans going crazy an hour before tipoff, I never take that for granted. That's super cool and I never want that to go away." After a slow start to her WNBA career, Clark eventually found her stride there too. She set the single-game assist record with 19 and also had 337 assists on the season to break that mark as well. Clark, known for her logo-distance 3-pointers, was the fastest player to reach 100 3's when she did it in 34 games which helped Indiana reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Lobo, who won the AP female athlete of the year award after lifting UConn to its first national championship, was on the court for launch of the WNBA two years later. The ESPN analyst sees Clark's ascension as something different. "She's brought unprecedented attention both in the building, but also viewership to the sport that was worthy of it but didn't have it yet," Lobo said. "There's never been anything like this. "That timeframe from 1995-97 was a baby step in the progression of it all. This is a giant leap forward. I've never seen anything like this. There's more attention then the sports ever had." The numbers have been record breaking when Clark is part of a broadcast: — TV viewership in the WNBA was up 300% thanks in large part to Clark with ABC, CBS, ION, ESPN, and ESPN2 all having record viewers when Fever games were on. — The NCAA women's championship game outdrew the men on TV for the first time in the sport's 42-year history with 18.9 million viewers tuning it to watch the event. It was the second most watched women's sporting event outside of the Olympics in the history of U.S. television. — The 2024 WNBA draft was the most-watched in league history with 2.4 million viewers. Clark credits the community of women athletes for the popularity increase of women's sports, saying "we" did this or "we" did that when asked about it. "It's fascinating, you don't always appreciate how many people 18 million is," Clark said. "You see that number against a college football game or the Masters or whatever it is as far as the biggest sporting events in our country and it puts it in perspective. We outdrew the men's Final Four."

Royal Navy warfare specialist avoids jail after allowing bank account for £22k crypto scam

TORONTO — Broad-based gains led Canada’s main stock index to close higher in the shortened Christmas Eve trading session, while U.S. stock markets also rose. The S&P/TSX composite index ended up 97.84 points at 24,846.82, as most sectors rose other than telecoms and health care. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 390.08 points at 43,297.03. The S&P 500 index was up 65.97 points at 6,040.04, while the Nasdaq composite was up 266.24 points at 20,031.13. The gains added to increases in recent days to help offset the drop in markets last week after the U.S. Federal Reserve released its latest outlook. The climb however was more likely related to year-end balancing than any change in sentiment, said Dustin Reid, chief fixed income strategist at Mackenzie Investments. “I think it’s mostly just year-end flows that are driving it. I don’t think there’s anything that’s particularly reversed in terms of sentiments since the Fed meeting,” said Reid. There’s reallocation by geography, moving asset classes and other adjustments to align portfolios that is likely affecting markets, he said. “I find that price action around month end, quarter end, and year-end, you shouldn’t try and ascribe a ton of fundamental cause as to why things are moving, because there’s a lot of flows happening below the surface that are probably driving the price action that are not necessarily fundamentally based.” The U.S. Fed guided for only two rate cuts in 2025 at its Dec. 18 meeting, which pushed down markets for the day. But Reid said the guidance was largely in line with expectations, and the strong U.S. economy has likely since helped boost markets. The Canadian market, meanwhile, might be benefiting a little from the expectations of even more rate cuts needed here than expected as the economy is showing softness. On Monday, Statistics Canada said its early estimate for November suggests real GDP for the month edged 0.1 per cent lower for the first drop this year. “The negative flash print for November really suggests that the bank is going to have a fair bit more work to do,” said Reid. “I think that the market is not pricing in enough easing for calendar ’25 for the Bank of Canada.” There was no economic data releases Tuesday to sway markets, he said. The Canadian dollar traded for 69.51 cents US compared with 69.47 cents US on Monday. The February crude oil contract was up 86 cents at US$70.10 per barrel and the February natural gas contract was up 16 cents at US$3.50 per mmBTU. The February gold contract ended up US$7.30 at US$2,635.50 an ounce and the March copper contract was up two cents at US$4.11 a pound.Inside Trump's new administration: From business moguls to TV personalitiesBrotherly love: USD’s offensive line room boasts two sets of SoDak siblings in the Kohls and Larsens

World News | UAE Leads Global Dialogue on Food Security During Global Food WeekK'Andre Miller suffered an upper-body injury Wednesday night as a result of a hit from the Buffalo Sabres' Jordan Greenway. He'd leave the ice and not return after the second period of the game. Miller's status is up in the air, after suffering a brutal hit from the Buffalo Sabres' Jordan Greenway. Miller's loss will not help the New York Rangers' cause, as he is one of the key pieces on the blue line. Despite failing to produce up to expectations, he's continued to work on his play this season. Yet in 28 games, he's only produced six points (2G, 4A) with a -5 rating. His best season with the Rangers saw him score 43 points (9G, 34A) and play a solid two-way game in 2022-2023. After the game, Peter Laviolette would not offer any significant details on the injured defenseman. This is unfortunate as we don't have a timetable to return, or any idea of when he'd be evaluated. The root of this injury could have been caused by a hit from Jordan Greenway, although it's unclear if that play led to his exit. Miller is one of many Rangers stars this season who are in a slump, and similar to another Original Six team ( the Boston Bruins), fans aren't happy. The team is 15-12-1, and while the Rangers were able to put together a victory, will they have to rely on a call-up from the AHL to fill the gap Miller leaves? Adam Fox, Reilly Smith and Mika Zibanejad would all post goals Wednesday night in a surprising turn of events, for two players who have been cold all season. When Miller returns could we see a return to form? This article first appeared on NY Rangers Insider and was syndicated with permission.France's new Prime Minister Francois Bayrou attends the handover ceremony at the Hotel Matignon in Paris. Photo: Reuters President Emmanuel Macron earlier named Bayrou as his fourth prime minister of 2024, tasking his centrist ally with steering France out of its second political crisis in six months. He replaces Michel Barnier, who was ousted by lawmakers last week for trying to pass a cost-cutting 2025 budget. Bayrou, a three-time presidential candidate who has long warned of French fiscal profligacy, inherits the same rowdy parliament that felled Barnier. His proximity to the deeply unpopular Macron may also hurt him. In a speech alongside Barnier on Friday (local time), Bayrou acknowledged the challenge. "Nobody knows the difficulty of the situation better than I do... I am not unaware of the Himalaya that stands before us," he said. "I believe that this issue, the deficit and debt, is an issue that poses a moral problem, not just a financial one." Efforts to rein in the deficit, expected to close the year at over 6% of gross domestic product, lie at the heart of France's political malaise. The festering crisis has raised doubts about whether Macron will complete his second presidential term until 2027, lifted French borrowing costs and left a power vacuum in the heart of Europe, just as Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House. Bayrou's immediate priority will be passing a special law to roll over the 2024 budget, with a nastier battle over the 2025 legislation looming early next year. Bayrou told reporters he wanted to move quickly, but France's stark political divisions mean even the basic task of naming his cabinet could drag on. The Socialists, irked that the president ignored their demands for a leftist prime minister in favour of a "Macronista", said they would not join Bayrou's coalition, and could even seek to topple him if he tries to ram through the budget. The pro-Barnier centre-right said it would wait to see Bayrou's proposals before deciding whether to join him, Laurent Wauquiez, the head of the Republican Right grouping in the National Assembly, wrote on X. Far-left France Unbowed party leaders said they would be immediately seeking to remove Bayrou, while far-right National Rally (RN) party chiefs said they were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being. IMPOSSIBLE JOB? Bayrou, the founder of the Democratic Movement (MoDem) party which has been a part of Macron's ruling alliance since 2017, has been the longtime mayor of the southwestern town of Pau. His rustic roots are a key component of his political character. The mixed reactions to Bayrou's appointment suggest he will likely be living day-to-day, at the mercy of Macron's opponents, for the foreseeable future. Barnier's three-month premiership was the shortest in modern French history. Macron will hope Bayrou can stave off no-confidence votes until at least July, when France will be able to hold a new parliamentary election. But getting there won't be easy. An early test will come with the 2025 budget bill negotiations, expected to start in January. Barnier's bill, which aimed for 60 billion euros in savings to assuage investors increasingly concerned by France's deficit, was deemed too miserly by the far-right and left. The government's failure to find a way out of the gridlock has seen French borrowing costs push higher. XTB Research Director Kathleen Brooks said Bayrou's appointment was unlikely to have a major impact on French bonds. However, she said the CAC 40 French stock index .FCHI was underperforming German stocks by a three-decade margin. "With France still mired in political turmoil, narrowing this gap is an uphill struggle, even with a new PM," she wrote. Macron named Bayrou as justice minister in 2017 but he resigned only weeks later amid an investigation into his party's alleged fraudulent employment of parliamentary assistants. He was acquitted of fraud charges this year.

AP Business SummaryBrief at 12:31 p.m. EST

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators approved permits Thursday for underground storage of carbon dioxide delivered through a sprawling pipeline proposed for the Midwest, marking another victory for the project that has drawn fierce opposition from landowners. The state’s governor-led, three-member Industrial Commission voted unanimously to approve the permits for Summit Carbon Solutions’ three proposed storage sites in central North Dakota. It’s unclear when construction of the storage sites would begin but it’s expected that resistant landowners in that area will file lawsuits seeking to block the storage plans. Summit’s proposed 2,500-mile (4,023-kilometer), $8 billion pipeline would transport planet-warming CO2 emissions from 57 ethanol plants in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska for underground storage in central North Dakota. People are also reading... The company has permits for its route in Iowa and North Dakota but can’t yet begin construction. Also on Thursday, Minnesota utility regulators approved a permit for a 28-mile (45-kilometer) leg of the project in western Minnesota. Summit also recently applied in South Dakota, where regulators denied the company’s previous application last year. Summit still faces several lawsuits related to the project, including a state Supreme Court appeal in North Dakota over a property rights law related to the underground storage plan. Approval from the governor-led, three-member Industrial Commission is another victory for Summit Carbon Solutions' controversial project, though further court challenges are likely. Last month, the company gained approval for its North Dakota route , and Iowa regulators also have given conditional approval. North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum chairs the Industrial Commission, which includes the state attorney general and agriculture commissioner and oversees a variety of energy topics and state-owned enterprises. Burgum is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Interior Secretary and to lead a new National Energy Council. Burgum supports Summit's project and has frequently touted North Dakota's underground carbon dioxide storage as a “geologic jackpot.” In 2021, he set a goal for the No. 3 oil-producing state to be carbon-neutral by 2030. His term ends Saturday. Summit applied for permits for three storage facilities, which would hold a combined, estimated maximum of 352 million metric tons of CO2 over 20 years. The pipeline would carry up to 18 million metric tons of CO2 per year to be injected about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) underground, according to an application fact sheet. Summit's documents detail a well site layout encompassing a pump/meter building, gas detection stations, inlet valves and emergency shutoff valve. Carbon dioxide would move through the pipeline in a pressurized form to be injected deep underground into a rock formation. Jessie Stolark, who leads a group that includes Summit and supports the project, said the oil industry has long used similar technology. “We know that this can be done safely in a manner that is protective of human health and underground sources of drinking water,” said Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition. Summit's project has drawn the ire of landowners around the region. They oppose the potential taking of their property for the pipeline and fear a pipe rupture releasing a cloud of heavy, hazardous gas over the land. A North Dakota landowners group is challenging a property rights law related to the underground storage, and attorney Derrick Braaten said they likely would challenge the granting of permits for the storage plans. “The landowners that I'm working with aren't necessarily opposed to carbon sequestration itself,” Braaten said. “They're opposed to the idea that a private company can come in and use their property without having to negotiate with them or pay them just compensation for taking their private property and using it.” Carbon capture projects such as Summit's are eligible for lucrative federal tax credits intended to encourage cleaner-burning ethanol and potentially result in corn-based ethanol being refined into jet fuel. Some opponents argue the amount of greenhouse gases sequestered through the process would make little difference and could lead farmers to grow more corn despite environmental concerns about the crop. In Minnesota, regulators granted a route permit that would connect an ethanol plant in Fergus Falls to Summit’s broader network. They attached several conditions, including requirements that Summit begin construction in North Dakota before it starts in Minnesota. An administrative law judge who conducted hearings concluded in November that the environmental impacts from the Minnesota segment would be minimal and noted that Summit has secured agreements from landowners along most of the recommended route. Environmental groups that oppose the project disputed the judge’s finding that the project would have a net benefit for the environment. In addition to North Dakota, Summit has a permit from Iowa for its route, but regulators for that state required the company to obtain approvals for routes in the Dakotas and underground storage in North Dakota before it can begin construction. The Iowa Utilities Commission's approval sparked lawsuits related to the project. Last year, South Dakota regulators rejected Summit's application. The company submitted another permit application last month. In Nebraska, where there is no state regulatory process for CO2 pipelines, Summit is working with individual counties to advance its project. At least one county has denied a permit. Karnowski reported from Minneapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Saudi Arabia banned film for 35 years. The Red Sea festival is just one sign of the industry's riseCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — School district officials who punished two parents for wearing pink wristbands marked “XX” during a soccer game featuring a transgender player defended their decision Friday at a hearing on whether they can take similar action while they are being sued. Kyle Fellers and Anthony Foote were banned from school grounds after the September game by officials who viewed the wristbands as intimidation or harassment of a transgender player. They later sued the Bow school district, and while the no-trespass orders have since expired, a judge is deciding whether the plaintiffs should be allowed to wear the wristbands and carry signs at upcoming school events, including basketball games, swim meets and a music concert, while the case proceeds. Both men that they didn’t intend to harass or otherwise target a transgender player on the opposing team, and their attorneys have argued they did nothing more than silently express their support for reserving girls’ sports for those born female. But school officials testified Friday that they had reason to believe the men wouldn’t stop there. Superintendent Marcy Kelley and Bow High School Athletic Director Michael Desiletes described receiving strongly-worded emails from Foote in which he called himself a “real leader” who was prepared to take action and seeing his social media posts urging others to attend the game. In the days leading up to the game, another parent told school officials she overheard others talk about showing up to the game wearing dresses and heckling the transgender player. “When we suspect there’s some sort of threat ... we don’t wait for it to happen,” Kelley said, comparing it to the way school officials wouldn’t wait until a fight broke out between two students to intervene if they got wind of it beforehand. Kelley also pushed back on the idea that the plaintiffs were simply expressing support for their daughters and their teammates in general, noting that they chose the one game involving a transgender player to begin wearing the wristbands. “This was organized and targeted,” she said. “If we were to allow harassment, we’re liable.” The transgender player in question, Parker Tirrell, and another student athlete are challenging the state law that in grades 5 to 12 from teams that align with their gender identity. A federal judge that they can play sports during the ongoing lawsuit that seeks to overturn the law. Gov. Chris Sununu, who signed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act into law in July, has said it “ensures fairness and safety in women’s sports by maintaining integrity and competitive balance in athletic competitions.” About half of states have adopted

P.A.’s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada’s World Junior rosterFILE - A sign is displayed outside the Internal Revenue Service building May 4, 2021, in Washington. On Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) AP The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — IRS leadership on Thursday announced that the agency has recovered $4.7 billion in back taxes and proceeds from a variety of crimes since the nation’s tax collector received a massive glut of funding through Democrats’ flagship tax, climate and health law in 2022. The announcement comes under the backdrop of a promised reckoning from Republicans who will hold a majority over both chambers of the next Congress and have long called for rescinding the tens of billions of dollars in funding provided to the agency by Democrats. IRS leadership, meanwhile, is hoping to justify saving the funding the agency already has. On a call with reporters to preview the announcement, IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said improvements made to the agency during his term will help the incoming administration and new Republican majority congress achieve its goals of administering an extension of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Republicans plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring GOP tax cuts , a signature domestic achievement of Trump’s first term and an issue that may define his return to the White House. “We know there are serious discussions about a major tax bill coming out of the next Congress,” Werfel said, “and with the improvements we’ve made since I’ve been here, I’m quite confident the IRS will be well positioned to deliver on whatever new tax law that Congress passes.” Tax collections announced Thursday include $1.3 billion from high-income taxpayers who did not pay overdue tax debts, $2.9 billion related to IRS Criminal Investigation work into crimes like drug trafficking and terrorist financing, and $475 million in proceeds from criminal and civil cases that came from to whistleblower information. The IRS also announced Thursday that it has collected $292 million from more than 28,000 high-income non-filers who have not filed taxes since 2017, an increase of $120 million since September. Despite its gains, the future of the agency’s funding is in limbo. The IRS originally received an $80 billion infusion of funds under the Inflation Reduction Act though the 2023 debt ceiling and budget-cuts deal between Republicans and the White House resulted in $1.4 billion rescinded from the agency and a separate agreement to take $20 billion from the IRS over the next two years and divert those funds to other nondefense programs. In November, U.S. Treasury officials called on Congress to unlock $20 billion in IRS enforcement money that is tied up in legislative language that has effectively rendered the money frozen. The $20 billion in question is separate from another $20 billion rescinded from the agency last year. However, the legislative mechanism keeping the government afloat inadvertently duplicated the one-time cut. Treasury officials warn of dire consequences if the funding is effectively rescinded through inaction. Trump last week announced plans to nominate former Missouri congressman Billy Long, who worked as an auctioneer before serving six terms in the House of Representatives, to serve as the next commissioner of the IRS. Democrats like Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have called Long’s nomination “a bizarre choice” since Long “jumped into the scam-plagued industry involving the Employee Retention Tax Credit.” Trump said on his social media site that “Taxpayers and the wonderful employees of the IRS will love having Billy at the helm.” Werfel’s term is set to end in 2027, and he has not indicated whether he plans to step down from his role before Trump’s inauguration. Trump is permitted to fire Werfel under the law.Man accused in burning death of a woman on New York subway appears in court