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Andy Palmer, the "Godfather of EVs," explains how China took the lead in the electric car race. Ex-Nissan COO Palmer got the moniker after developing the Leaf, the world's first mass-market EV. He says Chinese EVs offer "remarkable" value for money and have better battery tech than their Western rivals. The man often known as the "Godfather of EVs" has a warning for automakers thinking of ditching electric vehicles for hybrids. Former Aston Martin CEO and Nissan exec Andy Palmer told Business Insider that delaying transitioning to EVs in favor of selling hybrids was a "fool's errand" and warned automakers doing so risk falling even further behind Chinese EV companies . Palmer's moniker comes from his time as Chief Operating Officer at Nissan. He led the development of the Nissan Leaf , the world's first mass-market electric car, which has sold over half a million units since it launched in 2010. "I wish I could say that it was driven by a motivation to better the world. But actually, it was driven by the Toyota Prius kicking our ass," Palmer told BI. Rather than copying the success of the hybrid Prius , Palmer says he pushed Nissan to build a fully electric vehicle, eventually securing the support of then-CEO Carlos Ghosn . Over a decade later, he's skeptical of automakers — including Aston Martin , the company Palmer ran as CEO from 2014 to 2020 — who have taken the opposite path and turned to hybrids as EV adoption has slowed . "Hybrids are a road to hell. They are a transition strategy, and the longer you stay on that transition, the less quickly you ramp up into the new world," said Palmer. "If you just delay transitioning to EVs by diluting it with hybrids then you are more uncompetitive for longer, and you allow the Chinese to continue to develop their market and their leadership. I honestly think it's a fool's errand," he added. China races ahead Over the past few years, the auto industry has been shaken by the booming growth of Chinese brands such as BYD , which have conquered their home market with a range of affordable and high-tech EVs and hybrids and are now rapidly expanding abroad. Related stories "The Chinese cars are bloody good. The Chinese vehicles offer remarkable value for money for what they deliver," said Palmer. "Their battery technology's class-leading, and they've concentrated very much on their software," he said. Palmer told BI that the success of China's EV industry was down to the country's long-running industrial strategy. According to one study, the Chinese government has spent at least $230 billion on subsidies for electric vehicle makers since 2009. Palmer, who previously served on the board of Dongfeng Motor Company , a joint venture between Nissan and Chinese state-owned automaker Dongfeng, says he saw firsthand how aggressive China's EV strategy was. "The edict [from the Chinese government] was to move to new energy vehicles," he said. "It starts with an industrial strategy. That's the big thing to learn. For the best part of 14 years, we have not had an industrial strategy," Palmer added. Both the US and Europe have responded to the rise of Chinese automakers by imposing tariffs aimed at protecting their own auto industries , but Palmer said that tariffs would only harm Western companies' ability to compete with their Chinese rivals. "My experience with tariffs is it just makes your indigenous industry lazy. The gap becomes even bigger," he said. Instead, he argued that automakers should prepare for a "survival of the fittest" battle with Chinese automakers, especially in Europe, where the likes of BYD and Xpeng have ambitious expansion plans . "I think the Chinese firms will learn from competing in Europe, because that's the toughest market in the world. If they can do that, then they're going to be unbeatable," Palmer said. Japanese carmakers stumble The surging growth of China's EV giants has put Palmer's former employer Nissan and its Japanese rivals Toyota and Honda under severe pressure. Nissan announced it would lay off 9,000 workers in November , while both Toyota and Honda are facing declining sales in China and slumping profits. In December, it was reported that Nissan and Honda were in merger talks. Palmer says while Toyota's decision to focus on hybrids paid off initially , it has left it and other Japanese automakers exposed as key markets like China transition quickly to EVs. "Toyota took the Japanese industry down a cul-de-sac, which it is going to struggle to recover from," he said. The former Nissan executive said his old company, meanwhile, had "shot itself in the foot" and squandered a promising lineup of electric vehicles and a 10-year lead in EV tech. "My last board meeting in July 2014, I was under enormous attack from the bean counters who were saying; these things don't make money, we are going too fast. I managed to win the day in that meeting, but I left the company," said Palmer. "Nissan finds itself now with a very poor lineup of products and without obvious leadership in EVs, and that's the direct result of poor management," he said. How to get EVs moving again The past year has been tough for electric vehicles . While sales are still growing, the pace of adoption has been slower than expected, causing automakers across the globe to roll back investments . For Palmer, the reason some consumers have proven reluctant to go electric is simple: EVs are too expensive. "Prices have got to align to those of internal combustion engines. And to make that happen, you've got to be able to offer cars with smaller batteries," said Palmer. The average price of an electric vehicle in the US in October was $56,902, according to Kelley Blue Book , compared to $48,623 for gas-powered vehicles. Palmer said that selling cheaper vehicles with smaller batteries and less range would require governments to incentivize the rollout of charging networks to alleviate range anxiety. He added that the West could learn from China's approach to industrial strategy — especially when it comes to batteries, an industry that China dominates . "If the West wants to catch up, I would advocate copying the Chinese," said Palmer. "The alternative is everything is Chinese at the moment — even if you were building your own battery cells, you've still gotta get all the minerals from China. The whole supply chain is stuck," he said.
By REBECCA SANTANA WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn’t always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn’t until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. Trump wasn’t clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he’d use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action.” He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Related Articles National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump taps his attorney Alina Habba to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | US announces nearly $1 billion more in longer-term weapons support for Ukraine National Politics | With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade,” Nowrasteh said. “He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens.” Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report. 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New Delhi: For nearly four decades, he was a beloved figure on Delhi University 's North Campus, serving up bhel puri with a generous helping of smiles and witty comebacks. And of such are memories of university made, not the formulae on the blackboards or the theories or the textbook. Sunil Sethi , or Pinki Uncle, as he was called by all students, ran a humble establishment. But it was more than just a food stop — it was a place where friendships bloomed, laughter echoed and the stress of student life melted away, one bite at a time. The North Campus recently lost more than just a vendor in Pinki Uncle 's passing, it lost a cherished presence that represented so much more than just a snack. Miranda House alumna Tulika said, "I distinctly remember Pinki Uncle for the warmth he exuberated each time we went to his stall. DU is a lot of things but it's the people that impact you in the most unassuming ways. He was one such person." Sethi sold bhel puri near Campus Law Centre. When the era of social media began, he became an internet sensation through his vlogs, amassing millions of views. His hands moved at lightning speed in reaching for the murmura, papdi, boondi, peanuts, coriander, chutney and lemon, crafting a plate of bhel puri for Rs 60 and sev puri for Rs 80. If a student asked him how old he was, Sethi would flash a mischievous smile and respond, "It's between 20 and 22 years." But he would wink and follow this up by saying he had sold bhel puri at the same spot for 40 years. "Now, don't ask me how that's possible if I'm only 20. It's a matter of science," he would guffaw. His witty remarks, especially about his wife whom he referred to as "aunty", often brightened the day for students. With a playful grin, he often joked that his bald head meant his wife couldn't pull his hair. In one viral video, he was heard saying, "I don't get angry; I only spread love. Your aunty took all the anger out of me." In another, he chuckled, "Sev puri costs Rs 80, but I'm worth Rs 22 lakh. Your aunty has put a price tag on me." And when a youngster asked if he would ever create a new version of his famous bhel puri, Pinki Uncle responded, "Kaam ya biwi change karna aasan baat nahi hoti (Changing your job or wife isn't an easy thing to do)". Such banter endeared Sethi to students. Kanika Bist, who graduated in 2012, recalled, "I have fond memories of him. I often enjoyed his bhel puri and sev puri during my time at Miranda House. He would always ask things like, 'Class bunk kar ke aaye ho (did you skip class to come here)?" Known for being secretive about the recipe of his signature chutney, Pinki Uncle prepared the tangy concoction himself, while his wife prepared the sweet one. If someone asked, ‘Aur kya banate ho (What else do you pepare)?', he would cheekily reply, ‘Bewakoof banata hoon (I make fools of people)'. Many generations remember Sethi on campus, but it's the freshers who are particularly heartbroken. "I only had the chance to visit him once, just a month ago," said Deboleena, a first-year student. "I had heard so much about him before even setting foot on campus and seen his online videos. At least, I feel lucky to have had the chance to be served by him."None
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Capital One Financial Corp. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsBy REBECCA SANTANA WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end birthright citizenship as soon as he gets into office to make good on campaign promises aiming to restrict immigration and redefining what it means to be American. But any efforts to halt the policy would face steep legal hurdles. Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for decades and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. It’s not the practice of every country, and Trump and his supporters have argued that the system is being abused and that there should be tougher standards for becoming an American citizen. But others say this is a right enshrined in the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, it would be extremely difficult to overturn and even if it’s possible, it’s a bad idea. Here’s a look at birthright citizenship, what Trump has said about it and the prospects for ending it: What Trump has said about birthright citizenship During an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Trump said he “absolutely” planned to halt birthright citizenship once in office. “We’re going to end that because it’s ridiculous,” he said. Trump and other opponents of birthright citizenship have argued that it creates an incentive for people to come to the U.S. illegally or take part in “birth tourism,” in which pregnant women enter the U.S. specifically to give birth so their children can have citizenship before returning to their home countries. “Simply crossing the border and having a child should not entitle anyone to citizenship,” said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, which argues for reducing immigration. The organization supports changes that would require at least one parent to be a permanent legal resident or a U.S. citizen for their children to automatically get citizenship. Others have argued that ending birthright citizenship would profoundly damage the country. “One of our big benefits is that people born here are citizens, are not an illegal underclass. There’s better assimilation and integration of immigrants and their children because of birthright citizenship,” said Alex Nowrasteh, vice president for economic and social policy studies at the pro-immigration Cato Institute. In 2019, the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 5.5 million children under age 18 lived with at least one parent in the country illegally in 2019, representing 7% of the U.S. child population. The vast majority of those children were U.S. citizens. The nonpartisan think tank said during Trump’s campaign for president in 2015 that the number of people in the country illegally would “balloon” if birthright citizenship were repealed, creating “a self-perpetuating class that would be excluded from social membership for generations.” What does the law say? In the aftermath of the Civil War, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment in July 1868. That amendment assured citizenship for all, including Black people. “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside,” the 14th Amendment says. “No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” But the 14th Amendment didn’t always translate to everyone being afforded birthright citizenship. For example, it wasn’t until 1924 that Congress finally granted citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. A key case in the history of birthright citizenship came in 1898, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrants, was a U.S. citizen because he was born in the states. The federal government had tried to deny him reentry into the county after a trip abroad on grounds he wasn’t a citizen under the Chinese Exclusion Act. But some have argued that the 1898 case clearly applied to children born of parents who are both legal immigrants to America but that it’s less clear whether it applies to children born to parents without legal status or, for example, who come for a short-term like a tourist visa. “That is the leading case on this. In fact, it’s the only case on this,” said Andrew Arthur, a fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports immigration restrictions. “It’s a lot more of an open legal question than most people think.” Some proponents of immigration restrictions have argued the words “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” in the 14th Amendment allows the U.S. to deny citizenship to babies born to those in the country illegally. Trump himself used that language in his 2023 announcement that he would aim to end birthright citizenship if reelected. So what could Trump do and would it be successful? Trump wasn’t clear in his Sunday interview how he aims to end birthright citizenship. Asked how he could get around the 14th Amendment with an executive action, Trump said: “Well, we’re going to have to get it changed. We’ll maybe have to go back to the people. But we have to end it.” Pressed further on whether he’d use an executive order, Trump said “if we can, through executive action.” He gave a lot more details in a 2023 post on his campaign website . In it, he said he would issue an executive order the first day of his presidency, making it clear that federal agencies “require that at least one parent be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident for their future children to become automatic U.S. citizens.” Related Articles National Politics | Trump has flip-flopped on abortion policy. His appointees may offer clues to what happens next National Politics | In promising to shake up Washington, Trump is in a class of his own National Politics | Election Day has long passed. In some states, legislatures are working to undermine the results National Politics | Trump attorney Alina Habba, a Lehigh University grad, to serve as counselor to the president National Politics | Trump isn’t back in office but he’s already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders Trump wrote that the executive order would make clear that children of people in the U.S. illegally “should not be issued passports, Social Security numbers, or be eligible for certain taxpayer funded welfare benefits.” This would almost certainly end up in litigation. Nowrasteh from the Cato Institute said the law is clear that birthright citizenship can’t be ended by executive order but that Trump may be inclined to take a shot anyway through the courts. “I don’t take his statements very seriously. He has been saying things like this for almost a decade,” Nowrasteh said. “He didn’t do anything to further this agenda when he was president before. The law and judges are near uniformly opposed to his legal theory that the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States are not citizens.” Trump could steer Congress to pass a law to end birthright citizenship but would still face a legal challenge that it violates the Constitution. Associated Press reporter Elliot Spagat in San Diego contributed to this report.
The single mother who runs OnlyFans and insists it's a feminist site amid Lily Phillips and Bonnie Blue controversyTrump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?A prototype of the CR450 bullet train, capable of an operational speed of 400 kilometers per hour, is unveiled in Beijing on Sunday. The train has achieved a test speed of 450 km/h, according to the country's railway operator. (ZHANG WEI/CHINA DAILY) Two prototypes of the CR450 high-speed train, unveiled on Sunday in Beijing, are capable of reaching a test speed of 450 kilometers per hour and an operational speed of 400 km/h, which will make the CR450 the fastest high-speed train in the world once it enters commercial service. The CR450 will surpass China's CR400, which operates at 350 km/h. According to China State Railway Group, which led the development of the train, the CR450 has set new global benchmarks by excelling in key areas such as operational speed, energy efficiency, noise reduction and braking performance. Despite its higher speed, the CR450 has braking efficiency similar to those of trains running at 350 km/h — a result of significant engineering advancements that ensure the train's stability, performance and safety at higher speeds. The CR450 also prioritizes passenger comfort, aiming to offer a smooth and quiet ride, even at 400 km/h. Advanced noise-reduction technologies ensure that the interior noise levels are comparable to those of the 350 km/h trains, providing a peaceful travel experience. A standout feature of the CR450 is its exceptional energy efficiency. The train's running resistance has been reduced by 22 percent and its weight cut by 10 percent, leading to improved fuel efficiency. These optimizations help minimize energy consumption despite the increased speed. The train's interior has been redesigned for added comfort and convenience, increasing cabin space by 4 percent. Adjustable luggage racks and a versatile storage area cater to passenger needs, including accommodating bicycles, wheelchairs and other items. These innovations were made in anticipation of potential regulatory changes in passenger transportation. Two prototypes debuted on Sunday, one developed by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles and the other by CRRC Sifang Co, each of which has a slightly different interior design, although both focus on passenger comfort and a high-quality travel experience. China State Railway Group has announced that further line tests and refinements will be conducted to ensure that the train meets all necessary standards for commercial operation, with the goal of making this cutting-edge technology available soon to passengers. Li Yongheng, an official of China State Railway Group, said that since 2012, China's railway sector has independently developed a series of products with scientific and technological innovation, represented by the Fuxing high-speed electric multiple unit trains, and has established a complete high-speed-rail technology system encompassing engineering construction, equipment manufacturing and operations management. "China's high-speed railway system has taken a historic leap, shifting from a follower to a global leader, and its HSR technology has set an international benchmark," Li said. "To further consolidate and boost China's edge in HSR technology, and to better serve and support Chinese modernization, our company, along with the relevant ministries and organizations, as well as research institutes, universities, enterprises and other scientific research resources, established an innovative team that jointly tackles key technological challenges," Li noted. Zhao Hongwei, chief researcher at the China Academy of Railway Sciences, emphasized the technological breakthroughs of the CR450, including advancements in high-speed safety, resistance reduction, energy efficiency, vibration and noise reduction, and intelligent integrated control technologies. These innovations have established a comprehensive technical framework for the 400 km/h train, setting a new global standard in rail transportation. Noting the challenge of achieving a lightweight design, considering both speed and energy efficiency, Wang Wenjing, a professor at the School of Mechanical, Electronic and Control Engineering of Beijing Jiaotong University, said that the university's team focused on reducing the weight of the load-bearing components. "Advanced materials like carbon fiber were also incorporated to reduce weight while maintaining strength, thereby ensuring safety and durability at high speeds," she noted. Sui Fusheng, a researcher at the Institute of Acoustics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlighted the complexity of balancing weight reduction with noise control. The team developed integrated composite materials that provide both thermal insulation and soundproofing. This innovation reduced material costs and complexity while improving passenger comfort by adjusting temperature and controlling noise. Despite the challenges, the team's solutions have set the stage for quieter, more efficient high-speed rail travel. The CR450 exemplifies China's innovation-driven development strategy and demonstrates the country's scientific and technological capabilities, according to China State Railway Group. It also reflects the advantages of China's socialist system, fostering self-reliance in railway science and technology and contributing to the modernization of the railway industrial system, it said. Over the past 15 years, China has built a railway network of over 160,000 kilometers, including the world's largest and most advanced high-speed rail network, which covers more than 46,000 kilometers.
Delaware Judge Rejects Musk's $56 Billion Tesla Pay - AgainATLANTA (AP) — 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.” 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. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Duravant LLC (“Duravant”), a global engineered equipment and automation solutions provider to the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors, announced today that it has acquired POSS Design Limited (“POSS”), a leading manufacturer of protein processing solutions headquartered in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. POSS designs and builds innovative mechanical separation equipment, ancillary products and turnkey systems that maximize recoverable protein yields for high volume processors of beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and other meats. POSS represents a strategic acquisition for Duravant as the company expands its investments in the rapidly growing protein sector. The best-in-class products and services offered by POSS are highly complementary and enhance Duravant’s capabilities to offer integrated automation solutions. “We are excited to welcome POSS to the Duravant family,” said Mike Kachmer, Chairman and CEO of Duravant. “Our partnership with POSS is a major step forward in our commitment to staying at the forefront of the protein industry, and we are excited about the new opportunities it will create for our customers and partners.” Since 1978, POSS has been designing and building industry-leading separating solutions that increase throughput, minimize waste, and meet the growing capacity and efficiency needs of processors. Exclusively specializing in high quality mechanical separation technology, POSS has a broad range of products that provide custom solutions for a wide range of processing capacities. With engineering expertise to design turnkey systems that connect upstream and downstream equipment, POSS has established trusted relationships with many of the world’s leading protein processing brands. “We are thrilled to partner with Duravant as we embark on this new phase of growth,” said Ken Gulak, President of POSS. “Their global reach and advanced aftermarket capabilities through Duravant Lifecycle Services will allow us to expand into new markets and enhance the service we provide to our valued customers. We also are excited to collaborate with other Duravant operating companies such as Foodmate, Marelec, Henneken and Marlen.” Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks, they provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets they serve in the food processing, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. For more information, visit . Headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, POSS is manufacturer and service provider of innovative and highly engineered mechanical separation equipment, ancillary products and turnkey systems that maximize recoverable protein yields for high volume processors of beef, pork, chicken, turkey, and other meats. Since 1978, the company has consistently led the way in developing solutions that address the needs of animal protein processors, prioritizing quality and safety while optimizing productivity and yields. Dedicated and unwavering to delivering the highest level of customer satisfaction, POSS works closely with clients to identify the best solutions for their unique processing needs. For more information, visit . Eleni Yianas Vice President, Marketing