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NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. The tariffs, if implemented, could dramatically raise prices for American consumers on everything from gas to automobiles to agricultural products. The U.S. is the largest importer of goods in the world, with Mexico, China and Canada its top three suppliers, according to the most recent U.S. Census data. Trump made the threats Monday in a pair of posts on his Truth Social site in which he railed against an influx of illegal migrants, even though southern border apprehensions have been hovering near four-year lows. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he wrote, complaining that “thousands of people are pouring through Mexico and Canada, bringing Crime and Drugs at levels never seen before,” even though violent crime is down from pandemic highs. He said the new tariffs would remain in place “until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country!” “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power,” he went on, “and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!” A senior Canadian government official said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump spoke after Trump’s posts. The two spoke about the border and trade and had a good conversation, the official said. The official was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump also turned his ire on China, saying he has “had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail.” “Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” he wrote. The Chinese Embassy in Washington cautioned on Monday that there will be losers on all sides if there is a trade war. “China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu posted on X. “No one will win a trade war or a #tariff war.” He added that China had taken steps in the last year to help stem drug trafficking. It is unclear whether Trump will actually go through with the threats or if he is using them as a negotiating tactic before he returns to the White House in the new year. Trump’s nominee for treasury secretary, Scott Bessent — who if confirmed, would be one of several officials responsible for imposing tariffs on other countries — has on several occasions said tariffs are a means of negotiation. He wrote in a Fox News op-ed last week, before his nomination, that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives. Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defense, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing cooperation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” Trump won the election in large part due to voter frustration over inflation, but his threatened tariffs pose the risk of pushing prices even higher for food, autos and other goods. If inflationary pressures increase, the Federal Reserve might need to keep its benchmark interest rates higher.9k game slot online 。

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President-elect Donald Trump appears to be entertaining an American territorial expansion that, if he’s serious, would rival the Louisiana Purchase or the deal that netted Alaska from Russia. In the past week, he’s taunted Canadian officials by suggesting the US could absorb its northern neighbor and make it the 51st state. He threatened to take over the Panama Canal, the US-made waterway controlled for a quarter century by its Central American namesake. And on Sunday, he resurfaced his first-term desire to obtain Greenland, a Danish territory he has long eyed. With Trump, the differences between serious policy proposals and rhetorical flourishes intended to stoke media attention or energize his base are not always clear. At other times, his provocations have appeared to be the opening salvos in his attempts at dealmaking. Indeed, when Trump vocalized his threat to take back the Panama Canal this weekend, he did so with an out for the country to avoid his wrath: lower fees on American ships that utilize the passageway to travel between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. “So to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly,” he warned on Sunday during remarks to conservative activists in Arizona. Still, the suggestions are strikingly similar in their focus on expanding the United States’ footprint abroad. And for someone who argued during the campaign that the US should pull back from foreign intervention, the ideas carry modern echoes of the 19th century doctrine of Manifest Destiny — a belief in the United States’ divine right to expand across the continent. Trump on Sunday evening called ownership of Greenland an “absolute necessity” for “purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World.” His pitch to seize the Panama Canal – which he described as a “vital national asset” though it’s been decades since America controlled it – reflected a similarly nationalist agenda that Trump often describes as “America First.” Speaking in Arizona this weekend, Trump also reiterated plans to designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a distinction that could preface the use of military force on Mexican soil. Trump has threatened to drop bombs on fentanyl labs and send special forces to take out cartel leaders, an incursion that could violate Mexico’s sovereignty and disrupt relations with the United States’ largest trading partner. Trump’s transition team declined to clarify whether these latest statements reflect genuine ambitions or other motivations, instead pointing CNN back to his recent comments and social media posts. Several people close to and within Trump’s transition could not pinpoint the origins of his sudden interest in the ongoing activities at the Panama Canal, a topic that he didn’t raise on the campaign trail. One adviser, though, noted that Trump regularly elevates causes brought to his attention by people ranging from longtime friends to new acquaintances if it animates him. Since winning the election last month, Trump has spent most days entertaining close allies, business titans, donors and heads of state at his Palm Beach estate. Another adviser said concerns about treatment of US companies in Panama likely resonated with Trump because “trade is top of mind for him.” Pressuring Panama to lower fees on ships that use the canal could also help offset an expected rise in costs of products resulting from the tariffs Trump intends to impose on foreign goods. “I always take him seriously, even though they may sound a little bit out there,” Florida GOP Rep. Carlos Gimenez said of Trump’s comments on Fox Business on Monday. “It’s a legitimate threat to Panama.” Panama President José Raúl Mulino posted a lengthy statement in Spanish and English on social media declaring ownership of the port “not negotiable.” Built at the turn of the 20th century, the canal was operated by the US until 1999, when it was fully turned over to Panama under a treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter two decades prior that guaranteed American use of the canal in perpetuity. “I want to express precisely that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to Panama, and will continue to,” Mulino wrote. The response did little to discourage Trump and his allies, though, who responded with memes and images on social media doubling down on his latest cause. “Welcome to the United States Canal,” Trump posted on Truth Social, along with a picture of a US flag sailing on the waterway. Mulino, speaking to CNN en Espanol contributor Andres Oppenheimer for an interview that will air this Sunday, scoffed at Trump’s criticism that Panama is unable to ensure the canal’s operation. “That is a manifestation of gross ignorance of history. The canal will celebrate 25 years under Panamanian hands, under Panamanian administration, on December 31,” he said, highlighting work, including an expansion project, that Panama has achieved since the US turned it over, which he said, “leaves multimillion-dollar profits for our national economy.” Trump’s pitch to purchase Greenland from Denmark, which he first made in his first term, was similarly rebuffed. The prime minister of the autonomous Danish territory, Mute Egede, said in a Facebook post on Monday, “Greenland is ours” and “we are not for sale and will never be for sale.” The office of Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen – who called Trump’s first-term suggestion that Greenland could be purchased “absurd” – echoed Egede. “The government is looking forward to working with the new [Trump] administration. In a complex security political situation as the one we currently experience, transatlantic cooperation is crucial,” a Monday statement said. “As far as statements about Greenland, the Prime Minister’s Office has no comments other than reference to what was stated by the Premier of Greenland about Greenland not being for sale, but open for cooperation,” the statement added. Trump first discussed the idea privately and publicly confirmed it in 2019, though he ultimately downplayed his interest. “Strategically it’s interesting, and we would be interested, but we will talk with them a little bit,” he said at the time. “It’s not number one on the burner, I can tell you that.” However, he resurfaced the idea on Sunday in a news release announcing PayPay co-founder Ken Howery as his choice to serve as ambassador to Denmark. Trump’s proposal to annex Canada appears far less serious and more so a public needling of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the two dined recently at Mar-a-Lago. The president-elect has, though, continued to tease the idea on social media. “I think it’s a great idea,” he wrote in a recent post. The episode stems from another Trump provocation, this one to implement 25% tariffs on goods originating from Canada and Mexico, that is illustrative of his approach to negotiating with foreign leaders. In many ways, the gambit delivered the intended result: leaders from both countries immediately sought an audience with Trump to reaffirm their commitment to assist the US on border issues. And it provided an early avenue for Trump to claim victory over a foreign target. “President Trump Is Securing The Border,” his transition team wrote in a recent release, “And He Hasn’t Even Taken Office Yet.”

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Jets place defenseman on IR with broken footLea en español For many people, this time of year is all about the shopping. And there's a fair chance many feel less than joyful about the prospect. If fulfilling your lengthy list feels overwhelming, learning what brain science and evolutionary psychology say about shopping and gift-giving might help you understand exactly why you're stressed – and even point you toward a healthier, happier holiday season. Our reactions are encoded into our nervous system, said Dr. Beth Frates, a part-time associate professor in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "By understanding these brain responses, people can develop strategies to manage stress better, such as setting realistic expectations, focusing on mindfulness and simplifying holiday preparations," said Frates, who also is the immediate past president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The idea of exchanging gifts at this time of year can be traced back to pagan solstice celebrations. But the drive to share with another is as old as humanity itself, said Dr. Diego Guevara Beltran, a postdoctoral fellow in psychology at the University of Arizona in Tucson who studies cooperation and generosity. The science of generosity is more about survival than stocking stuffers, Guevara Beltran said. Sharing food gave early humans an evolutionary advantage. "Generosity is just one of the ways by which we can accumulate resources, be it wealth itself or friendships or work partners or more attractive, more intelligent mates," he said. Sharing with other people, Guevara Beltran said, is "a signal that communicates how much you value them, their welfare, your relationship with them." Research has shown that helping people makes us feel good. Part of that, he said, is because when someone is part of a community, they feel protected. One way this manifests is through the act of giving gifts. But to derive happiness from gift-giving, the giver needs to feel both that it was not an obligation and that it was effective, according to the 2019 World Happiness Report . That means it could be stressful to be in a culture where gift-giving feels mandatory, or if we can't see that a gift helped someone, Guevara Beltran speculated. It also might be stressful if gift-giving becomes a competition to show that you care about somebody more than the others around them. Our brains on shopping Stressful shopping can cause several physiological responses to kick in, Frates said. First is the "fight or flight" reaction that comes with stress. The release of chemicals that increase our heart rate, raise our blood pressure and intensify our breathing evolved to give us bursts of energy to escape danger. Frates said that while holiday stressors are not life-threatening, they can still trigger the stress response. The pressure to stay within budget could create a sense of scarcity, she said. "This taps into an evolutionary response, where the fear of losing resources like money can feel urgent and distressing." The holiday season also involves a lot of choices. "The brain has limited capacity for decision-making, and making multiple decisions can lead to decision fatigue," Frates said. "This fatigue reduces the ability to self-regulate and cope, which can lead to heightened stress responses when confronted with even minor setbacks, like a long line or out-of-stock item." The stress of needing to complete tasks within a limited time can intensify the fight-or-flight response, she said, as the brain interprets the ticking clock as a sense of urgency or threat. Meanwhile, Frates said, holiday shopping can also trigger brain chemicals that affect our feelings. "Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, is released when we anticipate something exciting or enjoyable, like finding a great gift or finding a good deal," she said. "This anticipation can feel rewarding even before any actual purchase is made." For some people, this dopamine boost can make shopping a relaxing experience. "It provides a temporary distraction from other stressors and allows them to focus on something positive, creating a 'holiday high,'" Frates said. For some people, that can be problematic. "When shopping becomes a way to chase that next dopamine hit, it can lead to excessive spending or impulsive purchases," she said. "This can become a trap, particularly during the holidays, when deals, sales and gift-giving pressures are everywhere." Understanding how all these processes work can help people recognize why they feel the way they do and adopt strategies to cope, Frates said. Here are some of her suggestions. 1. Start with self-care before shopping Prioritizing self-care means people can be their best selves and make good decisions, Frates said. So, "eat food that is delicious and nutritious. Get seven to nine hours of sleep. Make sure to enjoy physical activity. Take walks when you can and invite friends along. Practice stress reduction like meditation or yoga to help you calm your body and mind." Before going shopping, try taking deep breaths using stress-relieving techniques such as 4-7-8 breathing (inhale through your nose for four counts, hold for seven counts, and exhale through your mouth for eight) or box breathing (inhale through the nose for four counts, hold your breath for four, exhale for four, then hold for four). 2. Be strategic Don't shop when you're hungry, tired, lonely or stressed, Frates said. And don't start shopping 15 minutes before a store closes or a website's online deals end, she said. That's setting yourself up for triggering the fight-or-flight response. 3. Be mindful Before making a purchase, take a moment to consider whether it's truly needed or whether it's an impulsive choice. To avoid overindulging, set a specific budget or limit yourself to a couple of hours or specific shopping days. "This keeps dopamine-driven spending in check while still allowing for the enjoyable aspects of holiday shopping," Frates said. Look for post-shopping activities that provide rewards without the financial cost. That can satisfy your brain's desire for more dopamine in a healthier way. "Plan enjoyable, stress-relieving activities after shopping, like going for a walk, spending time with friends or indulging in a hobby," she said. 4. Bring a friend Not only does this support healthy social connections, Frates said, but if things start feeling stressful, "you have a buddy, and you have a support system right there for you." 5. Rethink the focus of the season "With gift-giving, we need to change mindsets in order to be able to manage the stress," Frates said. The holidays could be used to emphasize social connections, she said. "Thinking about the connection with the person and making gift-giving more about deepening the connection than anything else, I think, will really help to reduce the stress around the process," she said. So instead of scouring shops and websites for the "perfect" gift, think about making a meaningful and personal one, she suggested. It could be a poem, a painting, a song or a framed photograph that captured a special time. 6. Lessons for children It's easy to get caught up in the hunt for a hard-to-get item, Frates said. But ask yourself what the holiday means in your family's traditions. "Is it about getting that perfect gift for the child? Or is it about celebrating the meaning of that holiday?" So instead of having children ask for one specific toy, or a specific brand of clothing, teach them to leave a little leeway on their lists. "It is a good reminder to express to children that this season is about giving and sharing what we can in the best way that we can," she said, "and sometimes the exact gift is not available." Encouraging such an attitude can be a tall order, Frates said, but it's a place to start. "A simple mindset shift could be the difference between a stressful holiday shopping season or a joyful journey to find meaningful gifts for people you care about." American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!

Houston Astros welcome 1B Christian Walker to team; say negotiations with Bregman stalled HOUSTON (AP) — The Astros welcomed first baseman Christian Walker to the team Monday, in one of two moves that almost certainly marks the end of Alex Bregman’s time in Houston. Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press Dec 23, 2024 2:54 PM Dec 23, 2024 3:20 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) HOUSTON (AP) — The Astros welcomed first baseman Christian Walker to the team Monday, in one of two moves that almost certainly marks the end of Alex Bregman’s time in Houston. Walker signed a $60 million, three-year contract that will pay him $20 million annually just more than a week after the Astros acquired infielder Isaac Paredes from Cubs in the trade that sent outfielder Kyle Tucker to Chicago . “The way I view it right now is Paredes is going to play third base and Walker is going to play first base,” general manager Dana Brown said Monday. “And Bregman’s still a free agent.” The Astros had hoped to re-sign Bregman, the team’s third baseman for the last nine seasons, but Brown said the negotiations stalled. “I thought we made a really competitive offer, showing that we wanted him back,” he said. “But we had to pursue other options. We couldn’t just sit there. We locked in Paredes early in that trade, knowing that he could play third or first and then when the opportunity to add another bat came up we just jumped on it.” The addition of a first baseman was a priority this offseason for the Astros after they released struggling first baseman José Abreu less than halfway through a $58.5 million, three-year contract. “We knew we had to get better at first base,” Brown said. “We pursued (Walker) and we’re excited to have him because we know that we’re going to have a really good first baseman that can defend and also hit the ball on the seats from time to time.” Walked was attracted by the sustained success of the Astros, who won their first two World Series titles in 2017 and '22. “I’ve been watching this team for a while now, and that edge, the energy, the expectation, you can tell that they’re going out there with a standard,” he said. “And I’m very excited to be a part of it.” Walker is looking forward playing on an infield with star second baseman Jose Altuve. He’s fascinated by the success and consistency Altuve has had over his 14-year career. “I get a chance to learn from Jose Altuve,” Walker said. “Nothing really gets better than that.” Brown was asked what he would tell fans disappointed to see the Astros lose another star after George Springer and Carlos Correa left as free agents in recent years. “I would just tell the fans that look, we are very focused on remaining competitive,” he said. “We’re very focused on winning division and going back to the World Series, and I think with these additions that we have the ability to do that. So, I feel strongly that we’re going to be picked to win the division first off. And if our pitching holds up, which I feel strongly about, as well, I think we’ll get deep into the postseason.” The Astros won the AL West for a fourth straight year this season before being swept by the Tigers in an AL Wild Card Series. Walker, who turns 34 during the opening week of the season, hit .251 with 26 homers, 84 RBIs, 55 walks and 133 strikeouts this year. That was down from 2023, when he batted .258 with 33 homers and 103 RBIs as the Diamondbacks reached the World Series. Walker played in 130 games this year, down from 157 in 2023 and 160 in 2022. He was sidelined between July 29 and Sept. 3 by a strained left oblique. He spent the last eight seasons with the Diamondbacks, where he hit 146 homers with 442 RBIs and a .251 batting average. He didn’t secure a full-time job in the big leagues until 2019. He’s provided consistent power over the past six seasons and has grown into an elite defensive first baseman, winning Gold Gloves in each of the past three seasons. Walker played college ball at South Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2012. He made his big league debut with the Orioles in 2014 but couldn’t stick in the majors and was claimed off waivers by Atlanta, Cincinnati and Arizona in a five-week span. Walker’s contract has a limited no-trade provision allowing him to block deals to six teams without his consent. He would earn $200,000 for winning an MVP, $175,000 for second, $150,000 for third, $125,000 for fourth and $100,000 for fifth. Walker also would get $100,000 for World Series MVP, $50,000 for League Championship Series MVP and $75,000 apiece for making the All-Star Game or winning a Gold Glove or Silver Slugger Award. Infielder Grae Kessinger was designated for assignment to open a roster spot. ___ AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Baseball Phillies add depth to bullpen with 1-year deal for reliever Joe Ross Dec 23, 2024 3:05 PM Andrew McCutchen, confident he can be difference maker, returns to Pirates on $5M, 1-year deal Dec 23, 2024 1:36 PM Texas Rangers agree with free agent DH Joc Pederson on contract, AP source says Dec 23, 2024 1:00 PM

The province's new, above-ground plan for Calgary's Green Line LRT will be ready in a matter of weeks, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen said Friday. The Alberta government hired infrastructure consulting firm AECOM to create a new downtown alignment for the transit expansion project by the end of the year. This came after a tumultuous saga that saw the province and the City of Calgary engaged in a war of words , incited by the Alberta government's decision to withdraw its portion of funding for the city's alignment in September. Calgary city council voted to wind-down its plan for the Green Line weeks later, announcing the board that oversaw the project would be dissolved. After some talks, the province and city announced a portion of the Green Line project would be moving forward while the province awaited AECOM's new alignment. Green Line CEO Darshpreet Bhatti left the project at the end of October. 25:00 How the Green Line became a runaway train with no track We backtrack the saga of the Green Line LRT project over the past few years to explain how and why it's stalled. Josh Pagé walks Anis Heydari through the votes, studies, politics and money that's led to a lot of cash being spent on a train that doesn't go anywhere yet. Dreeshen said he met with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek, the Calgary Downtown Association and members of the construction industry about the Green Line on Friday. "Our hope is to go to Shepard and hopefully even farther south to the hospital, to Seton," Dreeshen told reporters at a passenger rail engagement forum in Calgary Friday. "But we'll see when that new alignment comes out in the coming weeks." He said he received direct feedback from Calgary businesses about the transit project at that meeting. "It was good. It was a really positive meeting to know that the province is serious about building the Green Line," he said, adding that the new downtown alignment, which is expected to be at-grade or elevated, will bring change to the area. "But they stress that even with elevated, it's still — you want to have a good street level experience in the downtown core." Province agrees to preserve some existing work on Green Line LRT following Calgary mayor's letter Uncertainty hangs over Calgary's Eau Claire district with Green Line LRT in limbo Dreeshen once again emphasized the province's desire to see the Green Line forgo tunneling through Calgary's downtown in favour of an above-ground track that links to a transit hub at the city's new event centre, which is currently being built. Premier Danielle Smith indicated that her vision for the transit hub would be a multi-tiered building that resembles Toronto's Union Station. At the same passenger rail forum Friday, she said that she imagined the station would be at least partially underground and would be able to accommodate different types of trains and buses. "One of the things that I remember from my visit [to Toronto] is that there's different floors for different types of rail. Because remember, light rail is different than heavy rail, and so those are going to be different tracks," Smith said. "If you go to Metrolinx, you'll see that they actually have bays where the buses are able to go in as well.... You can enter into the station from multiple different points and be underground and covered, which is really important in our cold weather." She added that she doesn't want to rule out other possibilities for what form the transit hub could take, but appeared optimistic that having one place where various train and bus lines come together would work. Calgary and province announce agreement to move forward on part of Green Line LRT Green Line CEO leaves project as Calgary continues LRT project wind-down Smith will meet with Gondek and city officials on Monday to chat more about the Green Line. Gondek said Friday she had no comment about the transit project. The premier said she hopes she and Gondek will be able to see eye-to-eye on an above-ground alignment for Calgary's new train line to reduce the cost of the project. "One of the things that AECOM had told us is that Austin [Texas] went through a very similar process of trying to tunnel and it became so expensive that they brought them in to reimagine how it could be done," Smith said. She added it will cost about $1 billion per kilometre of track to build underground, about $300 million per kilometre for an elevated line and about $100 million per kilometre to build at-grade. "So it just stands to reason, if we can find a way to do above-ground elevated or above-ground at-grade, we'll be able to build longer for the same budget.... I hope we have a meeting of the minds on that."By Bill Barrow, The Associated Press ATLANTA — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden ’s pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of any federal crimes his son might have committed. The 82-year-old president said in a statement that his son’s prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon . That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump , who has argued that multiple indictments and one conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later Presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. “When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation,” the governor continued, a reference to the president invoking fatherhood in explaining his decision. “Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” President Joe Biden arrives at Amilcar Cabral international airport on Sal island, Cape Verde Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, en route to Angola as he makes his long-promised visit to Africa. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) AP Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Biden “put personal interest ahead of duty” with a decision that “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.” Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said the pardon was “an improper use of power” that erodes faith in government and “emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the pardon “understandable” if viewed only as the “action of a loving father.” But Biden’s status as “our nation’s Chief Executive,” the senator said, rendered the move “unwise.” Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and first administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on X. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there “is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden.” Harrison pointed to Trump’s apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP’s pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. “Most people will see that Joe Biden did what was right,” Harrison said. First lady Jill Biden said Monday from the White House, “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” Democrats already are facing the prospects of a Republican trifecta in Washington, with voters returning Trump to the White House and giving the GOP control of the House and Senate. Part of their argument against Trump and Republican leaders is expected to be that the president-elect is violating norms with his talk of taking retribution against his enemies. Before beating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump faced his own legal troubles, including two cases that stemmed from his efforts to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Those cases, including Trump’s sentencing after being convicted on New York state business fraud charges, have either been dismissed or indefinitely delayed since Trump’s victory on Nov. 5, forcing Democrats to recalibrate their approach to the president-elect. In June, President Biden firmly ruled out a pardon or commutation for his son, telling reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case: “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” As recently as Nov. 8, days after Trump’s victory, Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for the younger Biden, saying: “We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no.” The president’s about-face came weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges. It capped a long-running legal saga for the younger Biden, who disclosed he was under federal investigation in December 2020 — a month after his father’s 2020 victory. The sweeping pardon covers not just the gun and tax offenses against the younger Biden, but also any other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024.” Hunter Biden was convicted in June in Delaware federal court of three felonies for purchasing a gun in 2018 when , prosecutors said, he lied on a federal form by claiming he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs. He had been set to stand trial in September in a California case accusing him of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. But he agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges in a surprise move hours after jury selection was set to begin. In his statement Sunday, the president argued that such offenses typically are not prosecuted with the same vigor as was directed against Hunter Biden. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Biden said in his statement. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son. ... I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.” Associated Press journalists Will Weissert aboard Air Force One and Darlene Superville, Mary Claire Jalonick and Michael Tackett in Washington contributed to this report. Read more political news Newly elected Pa. lawmakers are on the payroll before they are sworn in. A proposal wants to change that. Court loss isn’t the end of fight for stricter gun laws in Pa., advocates say Biden pardons his son Hunter despite previous promises that he would not do so

The Bears say they want to stay in Chicago, but their potential drive to the northwest suburbs just got easier. Team officials announced Monday they’ve reached a tentative agreement with the village of Arlington Heights and local school district leaders who’ve sparred with the Bears over the property tax valuation on the shuttered Arlington International Racecourse, the 326-acre plot the team closed on early last year as a potential new stadium site. After about a year of wrangling over the size of the team’s property tax bill — and a year of political roadblocks to the Bears’ hopes for funding a new stadium in Chicago — the team says it has a memorandum of understanding that opens the runway for them to land in Arlington Heights. But their first choice is still Chicago, team officials insist, raising the constant question of whether the Bears’ latest announcement is a push for leverage in stadium negotiations that have now stretched over three years. In a statement, team officials said they “remain focused on investing over $2 billion to build a publicly owned enclosed stadium on Chicago’s lakefront while reevaluating the feasibility of a development in Bronzeville.” “That being said, we remain significant landowners in Arlington Heights and establishing a framework for potential future development planning, financing and property tax certainty has been a priority since the land was purchased. We continue to have productive conversations with the village and school districts and are aligned on a framework should we choose to explore a potential development,” team officials said. Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes said the property tax deal was not yet signed, noting it requires approval from the boards of the village, Township High School District 214, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 and Palatine Township Elementary District 15. “It’s pretty clear the Bears are still focused on the lakefront, but we’ve always considered Arlington Park and Arlington Heights a strong, if not the best contender, and I’m really optimistic about the progress we’ve made,” Hayes said. A spokesperson for the village and school districts said “we have a common understanding with the team on how to create a framework for potential development, financing, and property tax certainty in Arlington Heights that works for all parties.” Officials declined to say what number the sides landed on. It’s expected to be announced next week. A year after the Bears closed on their $197.2 million purchase, the Cook County Board of Review in February handed the Bears a $124.7 million valuation on Arlington Park, which would result in a property tax hit of about $9 million. The team argued their case to the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board, seeking to have the valuation lowered to $60 million, for a $1.7 million tax bill. The three suburban school districts, which are funded by property taxes, intervened in the case with proposals that would set the bill around $5 million. Once all but certain for a suburban move, the stalemate prompted the Bears to shift their focus back toward the Museum Campus, where the team in April unveiled a proposal for a $4.7 billion dome south of Soldier Field . Their plan, which requires upwards of $1 billion in public funding , drew cheers from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson — and cold shoulders from state lawmakers in Springfield. The team called an audible from their city stadium playbook earlier this month, and are now reevaluating the former Michael Reese Hospital site in Bronzeville as a potential home, despite the fact team president Kevin Warren previously dismissed it as too narrow to house a modern NFL dome. Johnson’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday’s announcement. The Bears unveiled conceptual designs in 2022 for a massive mixed-use stadium district at Arlington Park, the home of Illinois’ most famous horse racing track for nearly a century until the last races were run in 2021. Their suburban proposal for the sprawling plot includes office space, a sportsbook, small residential neighborhoods, retail and park space alongside a $5 billion dome. They would need state help to fund that infrastructure work, a prospect similarly stymied so far in Springfield. Such a development would take about a decade to complete, the team has said. They’re under lease at Soldier Field through 2033 . The Arlington Heights mayor called it “a long road” to landing the property tax deal. “We’ve been working aggressively to get everyone singing from the same music over the last year,” Hayes said, adding that he doesn’t think the Bears are merely trying to raise pressure on state lawmakers to help them stay in Chicago. “I understand their desire to do their due diligence and get the best deal,” Hayes said. “That’s what we’re all doing.”

Giants owners face a decision on how to mollify frustrated fansEarlier this month, the Wallaroos fixtures for 2025 were announced, with Jo Yapp’s side set to play seven fixtures before they head to England to take part in the World Cup. However, while interacting on social media about the news, a question came up about a particular player who is likely to play the Wallaroos when they take the field against the USA Eagles in Canberra. “Who’s Ilona Maher?” Now, obviously, I recognise that as an editor on an Australian rugby site, a question like this might not be out of the ordinary. Rugby is a massive game internationally with a rapidly growing women’s game, and with hundreds of teams and competitions, someone will inevitably get missed. With this particular question though, I think it is important to sit down and write this. To those who may not know, Maher has become more than just a rugby player over 2024 – so providing context for those unfamiliar is probably needed. The landscape of women’s sports is changing rapidly. Keyboard warriors might say, for example, that the Matildas are a fad after the success of last year’s World Cup – 16 matches sold out in a row suggests otherwise. Even when the Matildas have not been playing well, the side is still drawing tens of thousands of fans, and is the most supported national side in the country right now. Truth be told, this whole situation is just the world finally becoming round – female athletes are being increasingly recognised for what they are: quality, professional sportspeople – and while different sports are progressing at different paces, the change is coming – and you shouldn’t ignore it or downplay it. More Rugby This brings us back to rugby. So, if you don’t know, who is Ilona Maher? And why should you care? This may sound hyperbolic – but she is going to transform professional rugby. It’s important that you pay attention to her – you may not know her but if you have sons or daughters online, they sure do. A US Sevens rugby player, she is the most followed rugby personality in the world – amassing a gargantuan 4.7 million followers on Instagram and 3.4 million followers on TikTok. For reference, the most followed male rugby player, Siya Kiolisi, has 1.4 million followers. Even by 2024 standards, her growth has been huge: four months ago she overtook the All Blacks (2.6 million) on Instagram. The news provoked a lot of praise, but also outrage online – with critical fans asking what has she done in world rugby compared to the likes of Kiolisi and Antoine Dupont. Anyone thinking that needs to put their ego aside. Secondly, let’s break that down. Those who have been following her on the Sevens circuit are more than aware of how great a player she is. Part of the side that ruined Australia’s medal hopes in Paris, Maher is a brutal contact player – she is fast, can bump off players at will, and best of all, her technique around the ruck is phenomenal. She’s been doing this for years. Her profile has been growing since the 2020 Olympics, but has been supercharged by a second, key reason: her online presence is unlike any other rugby star. On the surface, Maher is not that different to stars like Kolisi, with photos showing behind-the-scenes life and sponsorships. However, she also interacts with her audience. A lot. She talks about how much work is required to be a professional athlete. She talks diet, she talks work required to maintain being able to compete on that level. Carbs are life @paris2024 @Team USA @Olympics Seen yourself in these athletes @paris2024 @Team USA @Olympics #olympics However, she also has a personal goal – transforming conversations around body types and body image, especially for women. If you are a couch critic, good luck – she goes out of her way to take you down – such as an amazing video where someone criticised her BMI, where she reveals she has been considered overweight her entire life on the BMI scale – highlighting how outdated the system is and that even a professional athlete cannot escape being considered ‘overweight.’ A post shared by Ilona Maher (@ilonamaher) This particular discourse has really struck a chord with a lot of her audience, particularly around breaking down ideas that self-confidence doesn’t just come down to looking a certain way. Humans come in many shapes. Body positivity matters. Being comfortable in one’s skin matters. If anyone says, why does that matter anyway? Who cares about how they look? Usually, that’s the sign of someone who hasn’t had these pressures shoved down your throat from a young age. Maher’s rise also coincided with her performance on the USA version of Dancing with the Stars , where she put her money where her mouth is. In October, she revealed that many of the costume designers wished to ‘cover her up’ – and she demanded that if many of her competitors can show skin, why not her? A post shared by Ilona Maher (@ilonamaher) This moment, along with several of the dresses she went on to dance in, only added to the discourse around her focus on body positivity. If you haven’t had the chance to check out some of her dances, I strongly recommend you should. Not only does she put her physical strength to good use – lifting her male partner as much he lifts her (it’s small, but seeing things like this matters) – but she unapologetically shows her love of rugby. A post shared by Dancing With The Stars #DWTS (@dancingwiththestars) All of this has transformed her profile, but critically, it is set to transform rugby as a whole. In the past, rugby, despite it’s large international audience compared to the likes of Aussie rules or league has often lived in the shadow of sports like football. Much of it’s appeal comes from the famous national sporting teams like the All Blacks or Springboks. Football is a sport where it can be argued that clubs are the biggest brands, like your Arsenals, Barcelonas, Bayern Munichs etc, and even more so, specific players themselves. Fans may not be drawn to a club like Al Nassr, but they certainly will if they know Cristiano Ronaldo is playing for them. He sells the T-shirts, he sells the memberships, he gets bums on seats. Rugby has never had a player like that. Until now. Roar editor Christy Doran made the trip to Seattle with VisitSeattle.org, diving into the city’s electric sports vibe, outdoor adventures, and renowned food scene. Click here for his latest adventure in the Emerald City. Earlier this month, it was announced that Maher would sign up to the Bristol Bears on a three-month deal. Maher is making the transition to the fifteen-a-side game in the centres, and plans to be in the US squad for the World Cup next year. Within 24 hours of her announcement, the Bears had their ticket records smashed. When she runs out for her first match on January 5th, not only will she be welcomed by the largest crowd ever to witness a Bears Womens’ game – demolishing the modest 4,101 record that watched the Bears play Harlequins in 2022 – but she single-handedly changed the game’s location. The Bears Women’s side have had to relocate from Shaftsbury Park to the much-larger 27,000-seated Ashton Gate to keep up with demand. Of course, it’s no Ronaldo – but from little things, big things grow. When has any rugby player been able to create such a drastic change? A post shared by Ilona Maher (@ilonamaher) So, how does one respond to this? Honestly, embrace it. If, for whatever reason, someone reading this might look at this amazing athlete with trepidation – I ask, why? What she has done in 2024 is, on her own terms, turn people onto rugby who previously would not have. Rugby often does talk a big game about its values and that it is a sport of inclusivity – it prides itself on being a game for all with the moniker that ‘it’s a game for hooligans, played by gentleman.’ Even that quote exposes the reality – history will tell you that rugby is anything but an inclusive game – despite the ideals it preaches. Ilona Maher and the phenomenon around her represent a sign of the times, a sign that rugby needs to embrace if it aspires to be the sport it claims to be. Ilona Maher. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) When she takes the field in Canberra, it will likely contribute to one of the largest crowds the Wallaroos and the Brumbies will see in years – and I hope the Brumbies put the opportunity to good use with the biggest star in world rugby in town. I have seen the impact that Maher has had, not just on a large scale, but a personal one. My long-suffering partner has watched rugby games with me, taken me to Wallabies Tests, and tolerated my highs and lows, but purely out of love and tolerance for this crazy game I have. Ilona Maher has gotten her, and her friends, more into rugby in six months than I have been able to accomplish in ten years. She speaks their language. It might be different from the ‘traditional’ sense of a rugby fan – but we should recognise that it comes from the same place. I consider myself still very much a rookie in the greater scheme of journalists and people covering this crazy game since picking up the pen for the first time in 2016 – that passion came from years of watching stars like Matt Burke, Jonah Lomu, Michael Hooper, Kolisi and Dupont. I have never seen a player make an impact quite like Ilona Maher has in 2024. I think she’s only just getting started.

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad , but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. “It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women’s dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty,” the command said in a statement on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services had shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. “You will see there are skills" among the rebels, al-Sharaa said in a video shared on a rebel messaging channel. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia has granted political asylum to Assad , a decision made by President Vladimir Putin . Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad’s specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people were still celebrating. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence though in some areas, small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons , security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. “Don’t be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!” In southern Turkey , Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. “I haven’t seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he’s alive.” Prime minister says government is operational, but UN official says it's paralyzed Jalali, the prime minister, has sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. “We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth,” he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation had already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. “We want to give everyone their rights,” Haddad said outside the courthouse. “We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods.” But a U.N. official said some government services had been paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector “has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies had been put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. “This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation’s capital,” Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again.” Britain, U.S. considering removing insurgent group from terror list Britain and the U.S. are both considering whether to remove the main anti-Assad rebel group from their lists of designated terrorist organizations. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham began as an offshoot of al-Qaida but cut ties with the group years ago and has worked to present a more moderate image. The group's leader, al-Sharaa, “is saying some of the right things about the protection of minorities, about respecting people’s rights,” British Cabinet minister Pat McFadden said, adding that a change would be considered “quite quickly.” But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking later during a visit to Saudi Arabia, said it was "far too early” to make that decision. In Washington, a Biden administration official noted that HTS will be an “important component” in Syria's future and that the U.S. needs to “engage with them appropriately.” Another administration official said the U.S. remains in a “wait and see” mode on whether to remove the designation. Both officials requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing internal deliberations. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that such designations are constantly under review. Even while it is in place, the designation does not bar U.S. officials from speaking with members or leaders of the group, he said. The U.S. also announced it was sending its special envoy for hostage affairs to Beirut to seek information about the whereabouts of Austin Tice, a journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago and who President Joe Biden has said is believed to be alive. Israel confirms it struck suspected chemical weapons and rockets Israelis welcomed the fall of Assad, who was a key ally of Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group, while expressing concern over what comes next. Israel says its forces temporarily seized a buffer zone inside Syria dating back to a 1974 agreement after Syrian troops withdrew in the chaos. “The only interest we have is the security of Israel and its citizens," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters Monday. Saar did not provide details about the targets, but the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they included weapons warehouses, research centers, air defense systems and aircraft squadrons. Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Syria in recent years, targeting what it says are military sites related to Iran and Hezbollah . Israeli officials rarely comment on individual strikes. Syria agreed to give up its chemical weapons stockpile in 2013, after the government was accused of launching an attack near Damascus that killed hundreds of people . But it is widely believed to have kept some of the weapons and was accused of using them again in subsequent years. Turkey says its allies have taken northern town Officials in Turkey, which is the main supporter of the Syrian opposition to Assad, say its allies have taken full control of the northern Syrian city of Manbij from a U.S.-supported and Kurdish-led force known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF. The SDF said a Turkish drone struck in the village of al-Mistriha in eastern Syria, killing 12 civilians, including six children. Turkey views the SDF, which is primarily composed of a Syrian Kurdish militia, as an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey. The SDF has also been a key ally of the United States in the war against the Islamic State group. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Monday warned against allowing Islamic State or Kurdish fighters to take advantage of the situation, saying Turkey will prevent Syria from turning into a “haven for terrorism.” ___ Mroue reported from Beirut and Goldenberg from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Mehmet Guzel at the Oncupinar border crossing in Turkey, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, and Aamer Madhani and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow the AP's Syria coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/syria Sarah El Deeb, Bassem Mroue And Tia Goldenberg, The Associated PressPETER VAN ONSELEN: The rot at the core of Team Albo has been exposed by these shady last minute acts - including a startling admission about the misinformation bill By PETER VAN ONSELEN, POLITICAL EDITOR FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 18:46 EST, 24 November 2024 | Updated: 18:48 EST, 24 November 2024 e-mail 6 View comments The poor priorities and inconsistencies of Anthony Albanese 's government are nearly summed up by the political manoeuvres taking place as we enter the final parliamentary sitting period before the summer break. They are tangible evidence for why Labor is floundering in the polls in just its first term in power. On the one hand, Labor spent months telling us its misinformation bill was a vital reform aimed at stamping out... you guessed it, misinformation in public discourse. Yet Labor dumped the bill once a united front lined up against it - the Coalition, the Greens, a plethora of crossbenchers representing the right and the left. But it didn't just walk away from what it once claimed was so important in the here and now. It has promised not to pursue the changes even after the election - assuming it is victorious - with Special Minister of State Don Farrell saying: 'That's the end of it'. I guess what was proposed can't have been that important after all. In truth the proposed laws were highly subjective, badly drafted, lacked consultation and transparency in their development, impinged on free speech, and even if you liked the idea of muzzling opinion they didn't go far enough to satisfy supporters. So they have been thrown in the policy garbage bin, as they should be. Anthony Albanese's government spent months telling us its misinformation bill was a vital reform aimed at stamping out misinformation. It has now promised not to pursue the changes even after the election, assuming it is victorious. I guess it mustn't be so important, after all Submissions for public comment on the misinformation bill closed back in September. However they have never been uploaded and made public. I suspect the government wanted them hidden from view because they were so scathing. It is so ironic that when Labor walked away from the misinformation bill its political spin to justify doing so was littered with untruths. They claimed, for example, that the Coalition and the Greens were in cahoots - even though their opposition to the bill was for diametrically opposing reasons. The Greens said the bill didn't do enough to stop misinformation, while the Coalition said it was an attack on free speech. The government's approach to its planned social media laws that ban under 16s from accessing platforms such as TiKTok and Reddit is equally shady. The government opened public comments on the bill for just a single day. That's not how good government takes consultation seriously. Labor will be successful rushing its youth social media bans through the parliament because the Coalition came up with the idea before the government did, and it plans to support the changes. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland is now pushing her bill to ban under 16s from social media. The government is likewise employing shady tactics to ram it through It will likely do the same when it comes to election donations reforms , which haven't even been sent to a parliamentary committee for consultation and public feedback. So much for good policy process on that front. Meanwhile, there won't be legislation forthcoming to curb online gambling or gambling ads, as had previously been promised. Why? Probably because Labor doesn't want to upset big media organisations who enjoy streams of revenue from its advertising. So what excuse have they used to justify the inaction and the broken promise? 'This is a very difficult and complex piece of work that simply cannot be finalised in the remaining week that we have of parliament this year', according to minister Murray Watt. Yet so are changes to social media usage and laws designed to curb misinformation. As are adjustments to political donations. Yet Labor found ways to rush these law making processes when it suited them. Such inconsistency is equally evident when you listen to Labor's rhetoric about concern for young Australians as it moves towards social media bans. But the sound of crickets is all you hear when asking the same politicians why they won't act to curb online access to violent and graphic pornography for minors. Be the first to comment Be one of the first to comment Comments Now have YOUR say! Share your thoughts in the comments. Comment now All of the above highlights the policy-making failures of this government. It's proof positive that it is a bad government unworthy of re-election. Which is not to say it won't win re-election. No first term federal government has lost a re-election attempt since 1931, so history favours Albo's chances of securing a second prime ministerial term. While social policy scripts such as those referred to above are dominating the final sitting period, voters could be forgiven for wondering why Labor's priorities are focused in that direction and not on the economy. On Wednesday we'll get updated monthly CPI figures. We already know inflation is higher than in other western nations and there are no guarantees interest rates will fall in the first half of next year. That's despite anaemic economic growth and falling real living standards. You would have thought Labor wanted the optics of its final sitting week to be all about the economy and its plans to address cost of living concerns hurting so many Australians. Yet that isn't the focus at all, probably because Labor can't say anything too positive on that front because it's fiscal policy settings - spending too much - are grinding up against the RBA's monetary policy advice. Reddit TikTok Anthony Albanese Share or comment on this article: PETER VAN ONSELEN: The rot at the core of Team Albo has been exposed by these shady last minute acts - including a startling admission about the misinformation bill e-mail Add commentDexCom Inc. stock outperforms competitors on strong trading day

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has been placed on injured reserve after hurting his hamstring Sunday in a 30-27 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears. The move announced Tuesday means that Pace must miss at least the Vikings next four games. The Vikings also activated outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy from injured reserve and signed linebacker Jamin Davis off the Green Bay Packers practice squad. Pace, 23, had started each of the Vikings nine games this season. The 2023 undrafted free agent from Cincinnati had 56 tackles — including six for loss — and three sacks. Murphy, 24, signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent this spring. He was placed on injured reserve Aug. 27. Davis had joined the Packers practice squad Oct. 29 after getting released by the Washington Commanders a week earlier. Washington selected him out of Kentucky with the 19th overall pick in the 2021 draft. The 25-year-old Davis has 282 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, two forced fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in his NFL career. He led the Commanders with a career-high 104 tackles in 2022. The Vikings (9-2) host the Arizona Cardinals (6-5) on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL