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(The Center Square) – State and national officials lauded former President Jimmy Carter for his public service after learning of his death Sunday afternoon at the age of 100. President Joe Biden said an official state funeral would be held for Carter in Washington. "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism," Biden said. "We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism." President-elect Donald Trump urged everyone to keep the Carter family in their thoughts and prayers. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," Trump said in a statement released from his campaign. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." Former president Bill Clinton gave Carter and his wife Rosalynn the Medal of Freedom in 1999. "From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn's devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity--he worked tirelessly for a fairer, better world," Clinton and his wife Hillary said in a statement. Former president George W. Bush hailed Carter as a man of deeply held convictions. "President Carter dignified the office," Bush said on social media. "And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations." Carter served as Georgia's governor from 1971-1975 before becoming president. Under his leadership, the European and Japanese state trade offices were launched, as well as the Georgia Film Commission," Gov. Brian Kemp said. "He and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's support of the civil rights movement in the place of its birth is also remembered with deep appreciation." Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said Carter exemplified what it meant to be a public servant. "I had the honor of meeting him and his wife, and I will never forget that day," Jones said. "They were kind, wonderful, accepting and exactly what they portrayed every day, two people devoted to lifting up those in their community who needed help the most. President Carter's legacy will live on in the numerous nonprofits, charities and organizations Rosalynn, his family and him started."AP News Summary at 4:24 p.m. ESTGranite Point Mortgage Trust Inc. (NYSE:GPMT) Plans Quarterly Dividend of $0.05

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David Bonderman, who managed money for one of the richest families in Texas, helped create one of the giants of the private-equity business and pushed to bring professional hockey to Seattle , died Wednesday. He was 82. Bonderman's death was announced by TPG, the asset-management firm he co-founded, his Wildcat Capital Management investment company, the Seattle Kraken hockey team, and his family. They said he was surrounded by his family, but did not say where he died. A spokesperson for the Kraken said they would not disclose the cause of death. For much of his career, Bonderman kept a low profile in public, rarely granting interviews with news organizations. He concentrated on corporate takeovers and other investments, many of which were highly profitable. Forbes magazine estimated his wealth at $6.4 billion in April. "Rarely the loudest person in the room, but often the smartest, David remained humble, once saying that his personal strength was ‘Not knowing a lot about something but knowing enough to make a decent decision,’” his family and companies said in a statement. Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke said Bonderman played a role in creating the team's logo and brand. “David was a visionary; unafraid to take on challenges and make bold decisions. He was smart, witty, curious, and humble,” Leiweke said. As an investor, Bonderman had a contrarian streak, and he was not afraid of offending others, even those in the White House. Over the Obama administration's objections, he attended Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual economic forums in 2014 and 2015 — after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and was slapped with U.S. sanctions. Bonderman also was known for throwing lavish birthday parties. The Rolling Stones played at his 60th birthday bash, and former Beatle Paul McCartney headlined his 70th birthday soiree. Both events were in Las Vegas. Born in Los Angeles on Nov. 27, 1942, Bonderman attended the University of Washington and Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1966. After a stint teaching law at Tulane University, he joined the U.S. Justice Department in the late 1960s, then in 1971 became a partner and expert in corporate and securities law at Arnold & Porter, a high-powered Washington, D.C., law firm. In 1983, he went to work for the Robert M. Bass Group investment company in Fort Worth, Texas. With money from the Bass family , which traced its wealth to the exploits of Texas oil wildcatter Sid Richardson, Bonderman and partner Jim Coulter made several leveraged buyouts in the 1980s, including a hugely profitable investment in Continental Airlines. Bonderman, Coulter and Bill Price started Texas Pacific Group in 1992. According to its website, the private-equity firm now known as TPG manages $239 billion in assets and has invested in industries that include health care, technology and business services. The firm was a major early investor in short-term rental site Airbnb and music-streaming service Spotify. Bonderman served on several corporate and philanthropic boards. In 2017, he resigned from the Uber board hours after making an insensitive comment during a meeting on sexism at the ride-hailing company. When fellow director Arianna Huffington said data showed that having one woman on the board made it more likely a second would be added, Bonderman interjected, “Actually, what it shows is that it’s much more likely to be more talking.” He later apologized. In politics, Bonderman was a longtime backer of former Texas governor and Republican President George W. Bush but flipped to support Bush's challenger, Democrat John Kerry, in the 2004 election. He famously told The Wall Street Journal that Bush was “a really good guy” but had divided the country. “He’s turning out to be the worst president since Millard Fillmore — and that’s probably an insult to Millard Fillmore,” Bonderman said. With his wealth from TPG, Bonderman purchased a minority stake in the Boston Celtics and was a member of the group holding a majority interest in the Seattle Kraken , an expansion team in the National Hockey League. Survivors include five children and three grandchildren.Attendees call Yuewen Music Festival a disaster

Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary football

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester City's winless run extended to six games Tuesday after Feyenoord fought back from three goals down to draw 3-3 in the Champions League. After five-straight losses in all competitions, City looked to be cruising to victory after going three up inside 50 minutes at the Etihad Stadium. But Feyenoord mounted an improbable comeback and leveled the game in the 89th minute to leave the home crowd stunned. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerAttendees call Yuewen Music Festival a disaster

First base will be covered for the Washington Nationals this upcoming season, with Josh Bell signing a new deal to the tune of one year and $6 million, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. After testing free agency this offseason, the infielder returns to Washington for a second tenure with the Nats as he looks to keep improving on his defense while making an impact on offense. With the deal done, Bell is certain to excel on both sides of the plate and inning come spring. Josh Bell to the Nationals . 6M — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 30, 2024 Tenacious First Baseman Josh Bell Lands New Contract with Nationals A Career on the Move Bell started his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving four solid seasons while slashing .265/.354/.477 over the same period. 2020 saw a drop-off, where he slashed a less impressive .226/.305/.364 before a trade to the Nationals. The deal would see Bell go to Washington in exchange for prospects Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean . After 247 games with the Nationals, Bell would become a journeyman, playing on four different teams in two years, picking up a Silver Slugger Award with the San Diego Padres in 2022. At Home In the Desert Bell began 2024 with the Miami Marlins before a late-season injury to Christian Walker saw the Arizona Diamondbacks pick up his contract. The month of August saw the switch hitter slashing .276/.349/.459 before Walker returned to his assignment. Bell also showed solid defense with a fielding percentage of 1.000 on zero errors in 41 games with the Snakes. After his brief stint in the desert, Bell will return to DC looking to make the most of the 2025 season. New Day, New Deal Bell looks to lend his offensive effort to his new home while holding his own manning the bag. With 1,042 hits, 613 RBI, and 171 home runs over his career, the Nats can expect Bell to provide plenty of value at first. Noting his ability to hit from either side of the plate only makes the deal sweeter. Bell will offer a steady offensive output while keeping opponents to minimal on-base opportunities this upcoming season. This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.By Nora Eckert and David Shepardson DETROIT (Reuters) – General Motors needed to exit its Cruise robotaxi business, most Wall Street analysts agreed on Wednesday, but the automaker’s decision to do so was still a disappointing end for an operation that GM had touted as a potential $50 billion revenue generator by 2030. The largest U.S. automaker on Tuesday pulled the plug on Cruise after evaluating the continued investments needed in a competitive space, executives said, adding they intend to fold some of Cruise’s talent into GM to continue development of driver assistance systems. “We consider the news a step in the right direction for GM, as we think investors were losing patience with its hefty spending (~$10B) related to robotaxi development with very little to show for its investment,” Garrett Nelson, analyst at CFRA Research wrote. GM shares jumped 3% after-hours on Tuesday immediately after the announcement, but gave back those gains during Wednesday’s regular session and were down about 1% in late afternoon. Nelson said the announcement was “a black eye for the credibility of GM management that, as recently as last year, told investors the Cruise business could generate $50 billion in annual revenue by 2030.” For the year to date, GM has far outpaced its competitors. Its stock is up 45% for 2024, while Ford’s is down 14% and Stellantis is down 37%. GM CEO Mary Barra was already scheduled to speak with reporters Wednesday evening. She will likely face questions on cost-cutting moves the automaker is taking as it navigates turbulence in EV demand, changing technology and a new presidential administration. “This is the latest in the series of decisions that GM has announced which underscore our focus on having the right technology for the future of our company and the industry and reflects our commitment to execute with speed and efficiency,” Barra told analysts Tuesday. GM recently scaled back plans for electric vehicles, sold a stake in one of its joint venture battery plants and recorded a $5 billion loss on its China business as it restructures. GM is now doubling down on its core business: making gasoline-powered pickup trucks and other large vehicles. Cruise’s competitors – including Alphabet’s Waymo, Baidu and Tesla – are well funded, and may have better technology, analysts said. Waymo, which is expanding its autonomous ride-hailing services, is still losing billions of dollars per year. Barclays noted Alphabet, which has over $100 billion in earnings annually, can absorb costs associated with Waymo’s development. GM, however, is expected to record earnings of $14 billion to $15 billion for 2024. “It’s clear from Waymo that an AV robotaxi business is best owned by an entity with deep pockets,” Barclays said. (Reporting by Nora Eckert and David Shepardson; Editing by David Gregorio) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. 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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Trey Robinson's 19 points helped Northern Kentucky defeat IU Indianapolis 66-64 on Saturday. Robinson added six rebounds for the Norse (3-6, 1-0 Horizon League). Josh Dilling went 6 of 11 from the field (5 for 9 from 3-point range) to add 17 points. Sam Vinson had nine points and finished 4 of 13 from the field. The Jaguars (4-6, 1-1) were led by Paul Zilinskas, who recorded 24 points. Jarvis Walker added 23 points for IU Indianapolis. DeSean Goode finished with six points. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Shatel: Is Omaha big enough for two professional volleyball teams?None

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The starts may not look like locks at first, but they should come through in Week 13. Conversely, I’ve included some players who might otherwise seem like safe plays to avoid as well. Start: Sam Darnold, Vikings vs Cardinals Darnold had a rough patch a few weeks ago, but he’s back in good form, putting up five combined TDs in his past two games. Even against the Bears top-notch pass defense last week, Darnold threw for a season-high 330 yards to go along with his two scores. His opponent this week, the Cardinals, have a decent secondary, but they pale in comparison to Chicago’s. Other locks: —Jalen Hurts at Ravens —Baker Mayfield at Panthers —CJ Stroud at Jaguars —Justin Herbert at Falcons Avoid: Jared Goff, Lions vs Bears Goff doesn’t force the ball through the air if he doesn’t have to and he would be remiss to do so against a top rated Bears secondary that will be looking to vindicate themselves after giving up some big plays to Sam Darnold last week. He’s also got the best 1 and 2 punch in football in his backfield. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery are a force and they’ll likely have a much easier time finding holes in Chicago’s run defense than Goff will in the passing game. Start: Chuba Hubbard, Panthers vs Buccaneers Hubbard fantasy owners were anxious last week, upon hearing the news that rookie running back Jonathon Brooks would be seeing his first game action this season. Fears were assuaged when Brooks only got two carries the entire game for 7 yards. Brooks’ carries could increase as he gets more comfortable in the offense, but Hubbard should have at least one more week as the starter in Carolina. It will come against a Buccaneers run defense that is a top-10 matchup for opposing runners in Week 13. Other locks: —Bucky Irving at Panthers —Jonathan Taylor at Patriots —Josh Jacobs vs Dolphins —Tyrone Tracy Jr., at Cowboys Avoid: James Conner, Cardinals at Vikings The Week 11 bye didn’t do Conner any favors as he only ran for 8 yards on seven carries in his Week 12 return. He was able to salvage his day through the air, catching five passes for 41 yards, but it was an underwhelming game from a fantasy perspective against the Seattle run defense. He’ll face a Vikings defense that ranks as a top-two run stopper going into Week 13 — Conner only gained 25 combined yards against Detroit’s top-three run defense in Week 2. Trey Benson is also gaining steam in the Arizona offense. It’s best to fade Conner this week, if you have that luxury. Start: DJ Moore, Bears at Lions Moore is finally starting to make waves again in fantasy, after slumping from Weeks 6 to 10. He’s had his best two-game stint of the season thus far in Weeks 11 and 12 though, going for a season-high 119 combined yards and a score in the latter game. New offensive coordinator Thomas Jones has sparked the offense and Moore has been a prime beneficiary. The Bears will have fits trying to run at the Lions’ stout run defense, so they could attack them through the air. Moore is a prime contender to keep up his recent run in Week 13. Other locks: —Ladd McConkey at Falcons —Puka Nacua at Saints —Jaxon Smith-Njigba at Jets —Jakobi Meyers at Chiefs Avoid: Quentin Johnston, Chargers vs Ravens Johnston is the definition of boom or bust, either scoring double-digit fantasy points or gaining fewer than 25 yards in nearly every game he’s appeared in this season. On "Monday Night Football," he had zero catches on five targets. Johnston has a great matchup this week, but there’s no guarantee he’ll capitalize on it. Johnston is anything but a lock this week. Start: Luke Schoonmaker, Cowboys vs Giants Schoonmaker had three catches for 55 yards and a score against Washington in a thrilling game. Schoonmaker provided another dependable option to QB Cooper Rush. Jake Ferguson is still in concussion protocol and it’s a short week as Dallas is playing on Thanksgiving, so Schoonmaker is likely to start once again. With CeeDee Lamb nursing nagging injuries as well, look for Rush to lean heavily on Schoonmaker this week. Other locks: —Jonnu Smith at Packers —Trey McBride at Vikings —Taysom Hill vs Rams —Dallas Goedert at Ravens Avoid: Sam LaPorta, Lions vs Bears LaPorta just can’t find any consistency in the Detroit offense, going weeks between decent fantasy outings at times. He had just three catches for 19 yards in Week 12 after missing Week 11 with a shoulder injury and things aren’t looking up for him this week as the Lions are playing a stalwart Chicago defense on short rest. Look for the Lions to go run heavy this week, taking the onus off LaPorta and the rest of the Lions receiving group. This column was provided to The Associated Press by RosterWatch, www.rosterwatch.com .Short-rested Chiefs, Steelers gear up for Christmas Day clash

Rams don't dominate, but they're rolling toward the playoffs with superb complementary footballDavid Coote will not appeal against the termination of his contract by referees’ body PGMOL , the PA news agency understands. Coote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp . Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. Coote had the right to appeal against the decision but PA understands the Nottinghamshire referee has decided not to. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c***”. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.

NEW ORLEANS — A scruffy little fugitive is on the lam again in New Orleans, gaining fame as he outwits a tenacious band of citizens armed with night-vision binoculars, nets and a tranquilizer rifle. Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, T-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Michelle Cheramie, founder of Zeus' Rescues, at her office in New Orleans on Dec. 9 with a whiteboard index of sheltered cats and dogs and a Scrim look-alike recuperating in the background. 'I'm a travelin' dog and I've made a lot of stops/All over this town...' Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. Scrim on Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. '...And at every stop I own the heart, of at least one lovely...' People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. “Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you,” Brown said. Neighbor Tammy Murray had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues van toward reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim came to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter for stealth. Michelle Cheramie, director of Zeus' Rescues, left, walks with Scrim on Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. '...If you're ever in the 9th Ward stop and see/My cute little mini poodle...' Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something," she said. "He's doing that, too.” Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim rests in a kennel Oct. 24 at the Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie, La. '...and my Shar-Pei doll down in old Treme/Waits for my return...' Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be.” Scrim sits in the arms of Zoey Ponder on Oct. 24 at Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie. Scrim at the Terrebonne Parish Animal Shelter in Louisiana. A Scrim sticker for sale Dec. 9 at Zeus' Rescues office to raise money for the shelter in New Orleans. A homemade portrait of Scrim hangs Dec. 9 in the Zeus' Rescues shelter in New Orleans. Scrim spends some time outside Oct. 24 with Michelle Cheramie, director of Zeus' Rescues, in a fenced-in area at Metairie Small Animal Hospital in Metairie. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!

Stocks Mixed Ahead Of Fed Minutes, Mexican Peso Tumbles To Over 2-Year Lows On Tariffs Fears: What's Driving Markets Tuesday?Trump’s tariff talks paints PSEi red

What's New President-elect Donald Trump is once again suggesting that the U.S. buy Greenland, an autonomous territory that has been part of Denmark for more than 600 years. And once again, experts are explaining why it's not possible for Trump to carry out what he sees as an "absolute necessity" for America. "Here we go again," Malte Humpert, a senior fellow at the Arctic Institute and its founder, told Newsweek on Monday. "This idea remains as ludicrous as it was in 2019." Why This Matters Greenland has access to the Arctic, where an international competition has arisen in recent years as nations race to claim northern territory in hopes of accessing natural resources abundant in the region, like gold, silver, copper and uranium. The U.S. has tried to acquire Greenland four times in the past, with the most recent attempt in 2019, when Trump first considered the idea. In recent weeks, Trump has also suggested that Canada become the 51st U.S. state and has referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as "governor" of the "Great State of Canada." Which Country Owns Greenland? Greenland, which is home to 56,000 residents, has been part of Denmark since the 18th century but was granted home rule in 1979 and has been a self-governed nation since 2009. Still, Denmark contributes two-thirds of Greenland's budget, and its association with the world's largest island that's not a continent has allowed Greenland to receive funding from the European Union . Although the island is self-ruled, it is home to a large U.S. military base. Besides Trump, Democrats have proposed buying Greenland. President Harry Truman offered to purchase it from Denmark in 1946 for $100 million in gold. What To Know While announcing Sunday that he had selected PayPal co-founder Ken Howery to serve as the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Trump wrote on Truth Social, "For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World, the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity." Marc Jacobsen, who researches and advises on Arctic security politics and diplomacy, told Newsweek , "While Trump's rhetoric and choice of words is 'one of a kind,' his interest in Greenland echoes the U.S.'s historic interest focusing on geostrategic location and mineral wealth. He went on: "The worsened relations to China, Russia and others intensify Greenland's geostrategic importance at the moment, while Greenland's vast deposits of rare earth elements are extra interesting due to their potential use in modern technologies." Jacobsen, who is also an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College, said it's worth noting Greenland's reactions to Trump's purchase idea. While it was seen as "neocolonial provocation" in 2019, this time it has been viewed as "an opportunity to strengthen bilateral ties between Greenland and the U.S.," Jacobsen said. "Following the 2019 idea—and the amplified American attention toward the Arctic—Greenland experienced enhanced agency in international politics," he said. "This is important for Greenland in its strive toward independence. Today, several Greenlandic politicians state that of course Greenland is not for sale, but they are very interested in strengthening ties with the U.S., especially in ways that can improve the Greenlandic economy." What Has Trump Said About Greenland? In 2019, Trump told reporters, "We're very good allies with Denmark. We protect Denmark like we protect large portions of the world. So the concept came up and I said, 'Certainly I'd be.' Strategically, it's interesting and we'd be interested, but we'll talk to them a little bit. It's not No. 1 on the burner, I can tell you that. "Essentially, it's a large real estate deal. A lot of things can be done," he said about a Greenland purchase. After his comments were widely criticized by Danish officials, Trump announced he was canceling his scheduled meeting with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who called Trump's suggestion "an absurd discussion." What People Are Saying Humpert told Newsweek : "Rather than focusing on grandiose and unrealistic plans to buy sovereign territories, the incoming Trump administration should direct its focus to help the U.S. strengthen its Arctic presence by finally sufficiently funding the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker program and removing hurdles to acquire foreign-built icebreakers." Howery wrote on X (formerly Twitter) : "I know first-hand the power of diplomacy to advance American interests and strengthen alliances, and I am grateful for the opportunity to return to Europe to promote the President's agenda. I look forward to working with the dedicated teams at U.S. Embassy Copenhagen and U.S. Consulate Nuuk in Greenland to deepen the bonds between our countries." Republicans Against Trump posted on X : "Donald Trump suggested taking ownership of Greenland as he announced Ken Howery as his pick for U.S. ambassador to Denmark. Trump isn't even in office yet, and we're already becoming the laughingstock of the world." What's Next Greenland's prime minister, Múte Bourup Egede, responded to Trump's remarks on Monday, saying in a statement, "Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and we will never be for sale. We must not lose our long fight for freedom." What Has Trump Said About the Panama Canal? In separate remarks made earlier in the weekend, Trump demanded that Panamanian authorities lower fees for U.S. ships or risk having the U.S. regain control of the Panama Canal. The Central American country was given ownership of the canal in 1999 following a treaty signed in 1979. "If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question," Trump wrote in a series of lengthy Truth Social posts on Saturday. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino hit back at Trump's comments, saying, "Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zones is part of Panama, and it will continue to be."

Butler scores 35, Bowling Green beats Morgan State 102-81Ange Postecoglou relishing Tottenham’s key run of fixtures before ChristmasJasprit Bumrah Registers His 13th Five-Wicket Haul in Test Cricket, Achieves Feat by Dismissing Nathan Lyon During IND vs AUS Boxing Day Test 2024