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Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsViewers of Emmerdale are convinced that the character Will Taylor, played by Dean Andrews, is not truly dead. The character supposedly passed away from a heart attack on Christmas Day, following an argument with his wife Kim Tate, portrayed by Claire King. Fans will remember that Kim and Will had recently reignited their relationship after a period of conflict. In a bid to move forward, Kim proposed they renew their vows on Christmas Day. Unbeknownst to Kim, however, Will was conspiring with her former financial advisor Peter (David Michaels) to bring her down. It was also revealed that Peter was working for a mysterious figure seeking revenge on Kim Tate. This week, the enigmatic character was unveiled as Joe Tate (Ned Porteous). But the plot took a dramatic twist on Christmas Day. After the vow renewal, Joe made a surprise appearance at Home Farm, leaving Kim stunned. He then exposed Will's plot against her, leading Kim to realise the truth, reports Leeds Live . She demanded a private moment with Will, who attempted to justify his actions. However, Kim dismissed his explanations and declared their marriage over. Suddenly, Will collapsed, clutching his chest and knocking over the Christmas tree. As he gasped for air, Kim initially appeared indifferent but quickly panicked when she realised he was genuinely dying, doing her best to keep him alive. Emergency services were called to the scene, and in the Boxing Day episode on Wednesday (December 26), viewers were left devastated as it was disclosed that Will had tragically passed away, leaving both Kim and his daughter Dawn (Olivia Bromley) in a state of despair. However, Emmerdale enthusiasts are now speculating that Will might still be alive, in what would be an astonishing plot twist. Voicing their theories on social media, one viewer suggested: "Knowing Emmerdale will is probably gonna still be alive and hire a body double and come back and clean Kim out. Hey I know it's far-fetched but it's soapland." Another chimed in with: "Wouldn't surprise me. It's all getting daft and out of hand." One fan even proposed the outlandish idea that Will has a secret twin, and it's actually the twin who has died. They posted: "Will didn't die and it's his secret twin instead." To which another fan responded: "This would be a good twist tbf!" Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX at 7.30pm
A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to help expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia. The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine's situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. Currently Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace its battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military, the official added. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it's going to stay in the fight with Russia. The official said the Ukrainians believe they need about 160,000 additional troops, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including the National Guard and other units. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals as well that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region . The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops , who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land seized in a Ukrainian incursion this year. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. “There are no easy answers to Ukraine’s serious manpower shortage, but lowering the draft age would help,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "These are obviously difficult decisions for a government and society that has already endured so much due to Russia’s invasion.” Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military. In April, Ukraine’s parliament passed a series of laws, including one lowering its draft-eligible age for men from 27 to 25, aimed at broadening the universe of men who could be called on to join the grinding war. Those laws also did away with some draft exemptions and created an online registry for recruits. They were expected to add about 50,000 troops, far short of what Zelenskyy said at the time was needed. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that he has no plans to lower the mobilization age. A senior Ukrainian official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ukraine does not have enough equipment to match the scale of its ongoing mobilization efforts. The official said Ukrainian officials see the push to the lower the draft age as part of an effort by some Western partners to deflect attention from their own delays in providing equipment or belated decisions. The official cited as an example the delay in giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Ukrainians do not see lowering the draft age to recruit more soldiers as a substitute for countering Russia’s advantage in equipment and weaponry, the official said. Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s own problems with adequate troop levels and planning early in the war prevented Moscow from taking full advantage of its edge. But the tide has shifted and the U.S. says the Ukrainian shortage can no longer be overlooked. Some Ukrainians have expressed worry that further lowering the minimum conscription age and taking more young adults out of the workforce could backfire by further harming the war-ravaged economy. The senior Biden administration official added that the administration believes that Ukraine can also optimize its current force by more aggressively dealing with soldiers who desert or go absent without leave.None
Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems
It looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
NEW YORK — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time Thursday after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. “They showed me a lot of love. ... How they're going to make it comfortable for me,” he said. "That's one of the things I was looking for." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, he was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. “They always talk about family. They always talk about stick(ing) together,” Soto said. “That's one of the things that opened my eyes.” Security men in gray suits wearing earpieces were off to the side. People are also reading... Soto walked in led by Boras, wearing a dark suit, black turtle neck shirt and gold chain with his No. 22. “I’m excited by the Mets future,” Cohen said. “I think this accelerates our goal of winning championships.” Soto chose the Mets' offer on Sunday, deciding to leave the Yankees after helping them reach the World Series in his only season in the Bronx. Adames plans to play every day for Giants SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” Rangers, Eovaldi finalize 3-year deal DALLAS — Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers finalized a $75 million, three-year contract Thursday that keeps him in their starting rotation. The right-hander was the winning pitcher for Texas in its 2023 World Series clincher, and the Rangers said one of their primary goals this offseason was to re-sign Eovaldi. The sides agreed to financial terms Tuesday, pending a successful physical. To open a roster spot for Eovaldi, right-hander Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment. Eovaldi became a free agent Nov. 4 after declining a vested $20 million player option for the 2025 season. The Rangers had expected that move, but said they wanted to bring back the Texas native who will turn 35 in February. The two-time All-Star got a $2 million buyout from that option, which was earned by throwing more than 300 innings over his two years with the Rangers after joining them in free agency. Franco trial delayed five months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic — 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, was postponed on Thursday and scheduled to resume June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three out of 31 witnesses arrived to the hearing on Thursday. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. “There is no case against Wander, for as many witnesses as they present, there is no case now,” Franco's lead lawyer Teodosio Jáquez told The Associated Press after the hearing. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. BRIEFLY RAYS: Tampa Bay and catcher Danny Jansen finalized a one-year contract. The deal includes a mutual option for 2026. Jansen, who turns 30 in April, hit .205 with nine homers and 24 RBIs last season for Toronto and Boston, which acquired him from the Blue Jays on July 27. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Wall Street Woes: Tech Stocks Tumble Amid Inflation ConcernsLuke Williams feels Swansea ‘lost grip’ on game despite sealing victory at DerbyTrump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems
Will Cunha, a former Navy midshipman, launched his campaign to be Ward 8’s next alderman on Friday. Originally from Tennessee, Cunha, 36, moved to Annapolis as a Naval Academy midshipman. He graduated in 2011 and served five years on various ships in the Pacific, including San Diego and Yokosuka, Japan. After becoming a Naval Reservist, he worked in cybersecurity for the Department of Homeland Security. He was honorably discharged in 2019. Now, Cunha works at Recorded Future, a cybersecurity intelligence company, according to . He also co-owns Oscar’s Coffee, a shop on Eastern Avenue in Eastport. Cuhna moved back to Annapolis in 2020 after purchasing a sailboat during the COVID-19 pandemic and settling in Eastport with his husband, according to his campaign website. “I feel strongly that there comes a point in time where a fresh set of eyes and a fresh perspective on any situation is what is needed. And I think that time is now,” he said. Cunha is running as an independent. Asked if his thoughts leaned more progressive or conservative, he said, “When I say independent, I mean holistically, truly independent.” He filed his campaign paperwork this month. The current Ward 8 council member is Ross Arrnett, a five-term Democrat. Asked if he intends to run for reelection, Arnett said that “it’s always been [his] intention to run for a sixth term,” however, he has not yet officially filed or assembled a campaign team. Cunha is running on three main priorities: accountability, safety and sustainable modernization. He favors increased lighting in public areas and stronger neighborhood watch programs. He also wants to improve communication between the public and the Annapolis Police Department. He supports bike lanes and working to improve the city’s sidewalk system, especially in Eastport, which he says has been neglected. “Families do not feel safe walking their stroller down the street with their child in it because the sidewalk infrastructure isn’t adequate ... and that’s a problem,” he said. Arnett disagreed saying, “Ward 8 is getting extra attention” when it comes to sidewalk and street paving. He said that work done to repave streets and damaged sidewalks is complete from Sixth Street to Hornpoint and more work is planned next year. Cunha also says the city needs to be more mindful when establishing task forces to study issues. He cited as an example a 2018 study about parking in Eastport, which produced 13 recommendations that Cuhna says were never implemented. Arnett disagrees and says the city has responded or acted on the studies, especially when it comes to parking. “The rub of the ward is that we have a lot of restaurants and boating, but not off-street parking,” he said. While Cuhna sees the value in using studies to inform council decisions, he is critical of what the council has done with the results. “I come from a Navy background, and we are about executing, making a plan and executing that plan. And we can study things, and we can task force things as much as we want, but what really matters to citizens is that they see results,” Cunha said. Related Articles As for his campaign, Arnett said he is running on the original issues that got him elected in 2006: “Crime, cars, and creeks.” Creeks is a reference to environmental issues, focusing on shifting flood resiliency work to Ward 8 — an area surrounded by a significant amount of waterfront — after the City Dock project is completed. Arnett says he plans to file his candidacy paperwork sometime before the July 2025 deadline. Ward 8 has now been added to the list of Annapolis jurisdictions with candidates running in the 2025 municipal election. Ward 1, Ward 2 and Ward 7 also have candidates that have either announced they are running or have been verified through the city’s Board of Supervisors of Elections. and — both Ward 1 Democrats — and Ward 2 Alderwoman Karma O’Neill, a Democrat, have been verified as official candidates for their respective wards, according to Eileen Leahy, chair of the Board of Supervisors of Elections. As of October, , a Democrat who is running in Ward 1, and Ward 7 Alderman Rob Savidge, a Democrat, have publicly declared their intention to run. Savidge said Friday he plans to file in December. In the mayoral race, and — both Democrats — are the only candidates that are verified so far with the elections board.FBI warns NBA of ‘sophisticated’ home theft groups after break-ins-memo
By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”
Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge took Diego Pavia 's request for a limited preliminary injunction under advisement at the end of a hearing Wednesday as the Vanderbilt quarterback seeks to play at least another season while his lawsuit against the NCAA plays out in court. U.S. District Judge William L. Campbell asked attorneys how quickly they could be ready for trial. He also asked about the upcoming transfer portal, which opens Monday and closes Dec. 28. Attorney Ryan Downton argued during a 2 1/2-hour hearing that Pavia wants “the narrowest injunction possible” to keep his time in junior college from counting against his NCAA Division I eligibility using older guidelines. Their best hope is for a quick ruling by Monday. “I get the sense from him today that he’s looking at the date the portal closes and trying to give enough time to react before it closes,” Downton said of the judge's timing after the hearing. Campbell peppered attorneys with questions. The judge noted prep schools play against junior colleges, including Pavia's, without starting their NCAA eligibility clock. He also noted junior colleges don't allow redshirt seasons. The judge also said the NCAA has changed its rules over the past 50 years, including allowing freshmen to play and later added the redshirt rule. Campbell sounded surprised when told a player who redshirted this season could play a total of nine games if on the team that wins the College Football Playoff. Pavia filed Nov. 8 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in Nashville. His request for a temporary restraining order was denied giving him two more seasons of eligibility allowing a redshirt season “to avoid additional harm.” His lawsuit also asks that Vanderbilt, or any other college, not be punished for complying with orders from the court. Pavia filed a declaration Monday that he is applying to the masters' program for legal studies at Vanderbilt starting in January if he is granted the preliminary injunction. Attorneys Tamarra Matthews Johnson and Max Warren argued for the NCAA that Pavia had done exactly what the organization wants athletes to do earning a bachelor's degree at New Mexico State before being a graduate transfer to Vanderbilt earlier this year. They also argued Pavia easily can seek another degree without playing football. Warren disputed the idea of irreparable damages noting Pavia can receive economic damages at trial without an injunction. Warren also questioned the lawsuit's timing with Pavia quoted that this was his last year of college football. “His best opportunity to earn a living is playing college football ...,” Downton said in court. “This is his chance.” Pavia did not get an offer from a Football Bowl Subdivision school coming out of Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He went to New Mexico Military Institute in 2020 and led the junior college to the 2021 national championship. He went to New Mexico State in 2022 and won 10 games in 2023. The Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year then followed his head coach, Jerry Kill, and offensive coordinator Tim Beck to Vanderbilt this offseason. Matthews Johnson argued that Vanderbilt simply will find another quarterback. Vanderbilt hasn't had many quarterbacks like Pavia who had a handful of his teammates sitting behind him in court. Pavia is a big reason why Vanderbilt is 6-6 and bowl eligible for the first time since 2018. He led the Commodores to their best start in decades, ranked twice in the AP Top 25 and posted their biggest win ever beating then-No. 1 Alabama. That snapped a 60-game winless skid over over AP top-5 teams. Wednesday’s hearing coincided with the early signing period . Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea supported his quarterback’s initial filing and has talked of how much he has meant to the Commodores. That didn’t stop Vanderbilt from signing a quarterback Wednesday out of an Illinois high school in Jack Elliott. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football .
South Korea opposition moves to impeach acting president over court appointments for president's impeachment trialTrump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsTrump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systems
By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”For millennia, the Arctic tundra has helped stabilize global temperatures by storing carbon in the frozen ground. Wildfires have changed that, according to the latest Arctic Report Card released yesterday at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference. Fires, intensified by climate change, release carbon trapped in soil and plants. More frequent infernos have now transformed the tundra into a net source of carbon dioxide emissions. It’s a dramatic shift for the Arctic, and one that will make the planet even hotter. “Climate change is not bringing about a new normal. Instead, climate change is bringing ongoing and rapid change,” Twila Moon, lead editor of the Arctic Report Card and deputy lead scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, said at the conference yesterday. “Climate change is not bringing about a new normal.” The Arctic’s permafrost, which stays frozen year-round, has kept planet-heating carbon sequestered for thousands of years. Northern permafrost has been estimated to hold about twice as much carbon as there is in the atmosphere. Tundra describes the Arctic’s tree-less plains, where shrubs, grasses, and mosses grow and take in carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Plants eventually release that CO2 back into the atmosphere when they decompose or if they burn. And lucky for us, frigid temperatures slow microbial decomposition in the Arctic, keeping that carbon locked in the soil. But greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels have made our planet a hotter place, and the Arctic has been warming nearly four times as fast as the rest of the planet. As a result, permafrost is thawing — waking up the microbes that break down dead plants and releasing previously trapped greenhouse gases. Permafrost temperatures hit record highs across nearly half of the monitoring stations in Alaska in 2024, according to the report card. Wildfires are another growing problem since dead vegetation makes for a great fuel source. Blazes quickly release carbon trapped in plants and soil. Wildfires across areas with permafrost in North America have increased since the middle of the 20th century. Fires are more intense, burn across larger areas, and create more carbon pollution. 2023 was the worst year on record in terms of how much of the Arctic burned. A historically bad wildfire season in Canada led to the release of more than 640 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, an amount larger than any country’s annual carbon pollution with the exception of China, the US, and India. Taking wildfire emissions into account, the Arctic tundra is now releasing more CO2 than it captures. It’s a long-term trend that the researchers expect to continue after crunching data from roughly the past two decades for this report card. The Arctic permafrost region as a whole — which encompasses tundra and forests — has become carbon neutral over the past 20 years, meaning it’s neither absorbing nor releasing excess CO2. The amount of carbon dioxide now leaking from the tundra is small in comparison to the billions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions human activity sends into the atmosphere each year. But it adds to the many ways life in the Arctic is getting harder. Caribou populations have dropped by 65 percent over the last few decades as global warming transforms the landscape to which they’ve adapted, for example. They’ve been documented eating less on hot days, perhaps because they’re trying to stay cool or avoid mosquitoes. And caribou health has cascading impacts on the local people that rely on the herds for food. Some species are finding ways to adjust. Ice seals in Alaska, for example, have started to eat different kinds of fish depending on what’s available and seem to be staying healthy. Understanding how the environment is changing, through research like the Arctic Report Card, might similarly help humans adapt. The report was produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) working with 97 scientists from 11 different countries. If not for the vast stores of carbon in the Arctic permafrost, the consequences of climate change would already be much more intense today. And now, the Arctic needs help from other regions of the world that are producing vastly more planet-heating pollution. “While we can hope that many plants and animals will find pathways to adaptation as ice seals have so far, hope is not a pathway for preparation or risk reduction,” Moon said. “With almost all human produced heat trapping emissions created outside of the Arctic, only the strongest actions to reduce these emissions will allow us to minimize risk and damage as much as possible into the future. This is true for the Arctic and the globe.”
OTTAWA—Three key premiers whose provinces generate energy exports dismissed Premier suggestion that Canada should slap punitive tariffs on America or shut off electricity, gas and oil shipments to the U.S. in retaliation for Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs on Canadian products. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Quebec Premier François Legault, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s Andrew Furey said bluntly they do not support Ford’s threat to “cut off their energy” and make Americans “feel the pain,” made Wednesday night after all 13 premiers met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Canada’s response to Trump, and reiterated by Ontario’s leader Thursday. Smith dismissed throttling Canadian energy shipments as she unveiled Alberta’s own plan to beef up border security with new provincial sheriff patrol teams to allay Trump’s border concerns. “Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,” Smith said. “We don’t support tariffs. I don’t support tariffs on Canadian goods, and I don’t support tariffs on U.S. goods, because all it does is make life more expensive for everyday Canadians and everyday Americans,” Smith said. “Instead, we’re taking a diplomatic approach, and we’re meeting with our allies in the U.S. We’re making the case for Alberta oil and gas to be part of the solution to energy affordability, to energy security and to, generally speaking, North American defence security as well,” she said. Ford floated the idea of cutting off Canadian energy exports to the U.S. and reiterated that call right before Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador unveiled a blockbuster new $225-billion hydroelectricity , one that those provinces touted as key to Canada’s renewable energy commitments. The deal replaces a scorned decades-old contract due to expire in 2041, and requires Quebec to pay 30 times more for thousands of kilowatt hours of power generated from the Churchill Falls plant. It will also see the two provinces develop new hydro power projects along the Churchill River, and generate 2,400 more megawatts for Quebec. Legault called it an “extraordinary” deal for Quebec that means Labrador hydroelectricity will ramp up from a 17 per cent share of Quebec’s supply to 50 per cent. Furey said the agreement “changes everything.” “It is a fair deal for both parties. It’s a good commercial deal that recognizes the ills of the past and creates a new path forward for Newfoundland and Labrador, while allowing Quebec some certainty moving forward. So Premier Legault did show us the money,” Furey quipped. So it was no surprise when both premiers immediately dismissed any call to shut off energy exports to U.S. markets. Flanked by Legault, Furey said they both “share significant concerns when it comes to the suggestion of tariffs.” “These tariffs will have significant impact on families and macro economies on both sides of the border. We hope it is just bluster. We’re preparing as if it is not. There will be no winners in a trade war,” Furey said, echoing Smith’s pledge. “Certainly from Newfoundland and Labrador’s perspective, we have no interest in stopping the flow of oil and gas, our incredibly valuable and now well-sought-after-world-class oil and gas to the United States. Nor do we now have any interest in stopping export of any electrons that could be produced in Labrador to the Northeastern seaboard.” Legault said he met Trump in Paris last weekend, “and he told me very clearly that we can avoid those tariffs if we do what needs to be done with the borders.” “He doesn’t want to see any more illegal immigrants coming from Canada to U.S. So I think the best choice right now for Mr. Trudeau is to very fast table a plan with money, with the number of people, to better secure the border. I think we have to do that. It’s a lot better than getting 25-per-cent tariffs starting on Jan. 21. So I prefer that than starting a war and stopping sending energy to (the) United States.” Furey said he held a call with New England governors earlier this week and “there is a significant degree of concern on both sides of the border.” “I think we need to bring it really down to a local level, so that the president and decision-makers on both sides understand that this could be incredibly punishing to, not just the economy, but to the tables and the gas tanks and the electricity switches of every household across the northeastern seaboard.” Alberta’s Smith said her new measures, which include sheriff patrol teams, and a “red zone” within two kilometres of the Alberta-Montana border, had been in the works since 2023 and would have been implemented even without Trump’s threat. However, she said “we will work with our counterparts in Montana in a shared border arrangement so that we can improve public safety crackdown on illegal migrants and illegal drug trafficking.” Steve Verheul, Canada’s former top trade negotiator, has suggested that Canada could also put export levies on key goods like oil and agricultural commodities, telling Bloomberg it would quickly drive up the cost of fuel and food to American consumers, and could be used as leverage to negotiate a “broader exemption across all the sectors” that may be hit by Trump’s tariffs. Smith dismissed that, too, as a “terrible idea.” But at Queen’s Park, Ford did not walk anything back. He said he’s “sending a message to the U.S.” not to impose tariffs on Canadian goods or else — as a “last resort” — Ontario will strike back. “We power 1.5 million homes,” Ford said Thursday, referring to the electricity Ontario supplies Michigan, New York and Minnesota. “If they put on tariffs, it’s going to be unaffordable for Americans to buy electricity,” the premier said, noting his province alone does about $500 billion in annual two-way trade with the U.S. and nine million American jobs depend on trading with Ontario. “Just like if they put tariffs on the 4.3 million barrels of oil that Alberta is shipping down to the U.S. — if you put 25 per cent increases, every barrel of oil, every gallon of gasoline (goes up) by $1,” he said at Queen’s Park. Ford noted that “along with the federal government, all the premiers are putting a list together” of American goods that could be targeted with counter-tariffs. “We can’t just roll over as we’re being under attack and hurting our families and our jobs.” Trudeau on Monday said Canada would to Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican products, as of his first day in office, to force the two border countries to “stop” illegal immigration and fentanyl from entering the U.S. But it is far from clear what products the Liberal government is looking at using, with Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister, saying only that several premiers suggested critical minerals and metals that the U.S. needs should be included on any “robust” retaliatory tariff list Canada draws up.Can sharing a good meal bring people together? One San Diego author thinks soTEMPLE – It took Bray-Doyle a bit to find its shooting stroke – but when it found the range, there was no stopping the Donkeys. Bray-Doyle broke open a close game with an 18-point fourth quarter Thursday and knocked off Temple, 38-22, in the season-opener for both schools. In the doubleheader opening contest, the girls game developed in a completely different way than did the boys game, but the outcome was the same. Bray-Doyle won, 32-29, over the Lady Tigers. Unlike their male counterparts, the Lady Donkeys started hot, jumping to a 30-15 lead at the end of the third quarter and then hanging on in the end. Rayden Crow paced the Donkeys with 10 points, while Gunner McAnally added 9. Both did the majority of their damage in the decisive fourth stanza. Crow scored 7 of his 10 points in the fourth. McAnally scored all but 2 of his tallies in the final period. Ethan Fisher finished with six tallies, scoring four of them in the final period. The Tigers lead at half, 17-15, but Bray-Doyle held Temple scoreless in the third period and took a 3-point advantage into the fourth period. The Donkeys outscored Temple, 18-5, in the fourth to preserve the victory. In the girls game, Bray-Doyle limited Temple to 11 first-half points and held a 7-point halftime advantage. The Lady Donkeys outscored Temple, 12-4, in the third quarter to take a seemingly comfortable 15-point advantage into the final eight minutes. But the Lady Tigers roared back with a 14-point fourth quarter, and Bray-Doyle had to hold on for dear life in the final minutes. Jaymee Abney paced the Lady Donkeys by scoring 14 points. She scored 8 of her 14 in the third quarter. Rivers Phillis scored six points in the first quarter and finished with 8. Kaydance Y’Barbo added 7.
Peacock’s ‘Hysteria!’ set in Michigan during 1980s satanic panicNone
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