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One of the interesting facts about Scott Morrison’s period as prime minister is that he managed to squander public approval twice. The second came via a long, protracted slide through most of the pandemic. But in fact his popularity had sunk as low – and much, much faster, at least in Newspoll – just a few months after his 2019 election victory. The main event involved was that summer’s bushfires. His trip to Hawaii is the symbol of that failure, but the actual problems were long and drawn-out. There was the slowness to act and the failure to meet with emergency leaders, the mangled handshakes, “I don’t hold a hose” and the sidestepping of the climate debate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton are neck and neck in opinion polls. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The political ramifications of a natural disaster are the least important thing about it. I recount this because it’s always worth keeping in mind, in politics, how quickly things can change. Also: how dominant a crisis can be. Morrison’s disastrous summer, in fact, was only really rescued by the advent of another crisis – the early part of the pandemic, when his numbers soared – before that crisis, too, destroyed him. Recent weeks have seen at least two significant shifts, with another at least possible. For a long time, it seemed as though the Albanese government would get a rate cut – even two – before the election. As I wrote a few weeks back, this had the potential to act as tangible affirmation of its economic strategy , the other elements of which – wage growth, job creation – had been lining up nicely. Last week, Westpac joined NAB in predicting the next rate cut would come on May 20 – three days after the last possible date for the election. The government now has to hope voters’ moods improve without that rate cut. It’s possible. Essential poll last week found a small fall in people who say they’re struggling. There was a small but notable shift in one of the more interesting indicators: whether people believe the country is on the right track. It’s too early to spot a trend, and more people disagree than agree – but the “right direction” figure was (just) the highest it’s been since May 2023 . Illustration by Joe Benke Credit: The second change is the victory of Donald Trump. There are signs – like his retreat from the nomination of Matt Gaetz as attorney-general – that Trump’s term may be as bizarre as his first. One veteran observer suggested to me some time ago that a Trump victory may play into Albanese’s slow-and-steady approach: that in an era of messiness, boredom becomes appealing. At present, though, the opposite is the case. Last week, a Freshwater Strategy poll in the Australian Financial Review found 36 per cent of voters believed Albanese was best placed to deal with Trump – against 47 per cent who favoured Dutton. Finally, we should all hope this is a quiet season for natural disasters. Recent weeks have reminded us, this can’t be taken for granted. There have been bushfires in Queensland, the ABC reporting that amid the smoke last month Mount Isa was briefly “the most polluted city in the world”. There were evacuations in response to fires in Victoria (arson seems to have played a role in several of these). How bushfires might affect the political situation would depend, to a great extent, on the prime minister’s response. This close to a poll, major conclusions drawn would be about him personally. How Albanese handled the question of climate change would be significant. (That same Essential poll found only half of voters believe hotter summers are the result of climate change.) But what would also move into the spotlight would be the continuing climate change splits within the opposition. Here we come to another recent shift, one that is sharpening the political contest. At the beginning of this term, it seemed Peter Dutton wanted to oppose most things: he had not yet learnt the fine art of picking his battles. In recent months, he has avoided fights on some key issues: aged care, disabilities and social media. Even his apparently “bold” foray on nuclear energy, as I’ve argued before , is best understood in this context: wanting to avoid a battle, either within his party or with Labor, over whether climate change action is necessary. Yet Dutton has picked a very specific fight: he will oppose Labor’s bill to bring down international student numbers – even though he has long suggested that’s his aim too. As journalist Bernard Keane observed , this is a mirror of Donald Trump’s successful move to block an immigration bill to keep the problem alive. This is of a piece with Dutton’s earlier decisions to make Labor’s life difficult on immigration detention bills. Dutton has learnt to use the parliament to narrow the political contest to his preferred issues, with immigration top of the list. With that in mind, it will be interesting to see what happens when Labor finally announces its universal childcare policy. Labor is hoping for significant political credit. But what if Dutton simply says he agrees? Meanwhile, there are some fights the nation should be having but isn’t. Bill Shorten, farewelling parliament last week, pointed out “our system still taxes property preferentially and lightly – and income heavily”. Anthony Whealy, chair of the Centre for Public Integrity, pointed out that the government and opposition seem to have reached an agreement, funnily enough, on donations changes that don’t do enough about money in politics while also giving the major parties advantages over independents. As Albanese told Sky News, “we’ve already chosen our slogan as you know, ‘building Australia’s future’.” Dutton seems to have chosen his issues, too. Given how much has changed in the past few weeks, and how much might still change in the months before polling day, both men would be wise to keep their options open. Sean Kelly is author of The Game: A Portrait of Scott Morrison , a regular columnist and a former adviser to Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd.Queen Rania celebrates first granddaughter Princess Iman with touching commentsNoneoffline roulette game 。

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With Kyle Teel out of the picture, who is the Red Sox ’ catcher of the future? Teel was one of four prospects who Boston traded to the White Sox on Wednesday to acquire frontline starter Garrett Crochet who had a 3.58 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 209 strikeouts and 33 walks in 32 starts (146 innings) in 2024. Parting with Teel must have been extremely difficult for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow because the Red Sox have no other top catching prospects at the upper levels of the minors. Teel was expected to begin 2025 at Triple-A Worcester but his major league ETA is sometime this coming summer. Boston now has no top prospects remotely close to the big leagues at arguably the most important position. It appeared like Connor Wong, who is under team control through 2028, would eventually become Teel’s backup. Now it looks like he could remain the No. 1 catcher long-term. That said, Wong must improve his defense significantly. He is putting a major focus on defense this offseason after he ranked in the one percentile in fielding run value, third percentile in blocks above average and ninth percentile in framing during 2024. “We’re really optimistic about Connor and what he has done, what he did last year,” Breslow said Wednesday at the Winter Meetings. “I think he’s going to continue to improve. But we’re obviously going to need more depth. We’re going to explore all paths to doing that. I think we can think about both the near-term and the long-term. But given Connor’s still got plenty of control, he’s going to wear a Red Sox uniform for a long time. We feel like for at least now we’ve got a starting catcher.” Boston already was in the market for a backup catcher before the trade . Johanfran Garcia now is Boston’s top catching prospect but he’s likely a few years away from the big leagues. He also is coming off major knee surgery after tearing ligaments in his knee in May . A National League scout said in summer 2023 that Garcia has a plus arm to all bases and “projects as an above-average skill-position player, supplying a 5-hole bat.” He batted .385 (20-for-52) with a .467 on-base percentage, .596 slugging percentage, 1.063 OPS, two homers and five doubles in 14 games (60 plate appearances) at Low-A Salem in ‘24 before his season came to an abrupt end. The Venezuela native turned 20 earlier this month and has appeared in only 29 games at Low A. So a lot of development remains. Brooks Brannon is another interesting 20-year-old catching prospect but he’s also several years away from the majors like Garcia. He has never played above Low A where he has appeared in just 60 games and recorded 255 plate appearances. Brannon, who has raw power, was thought of highly coming out of high school. The Red Sox drafted him in the ninth round (No. 279 overall) out of Randleman High in North Carolina in 2022, then signed him to a well-above slot value bonus of $712,500. The second highest ninth round bonus that year was $390,000 less. Only one draft pick in rounds 5-9 received a higher bonus than Brannon did. Baseball America wrote before the 2024 season , “Defensively, Brannon faces questions about whether he has the athleticism to stay behind the plate, but he has strong hands, plus arm strength and works relentlessly.” Brannon went 21-for-68 (.309) with a .347 on-base percentage, .456slugging percentage, two home runs and four doubles in 16 games in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. Boston drafted 22-year-old catcher Hudson White in the ninth round out of Arkansas in July. Baseball America wrote ahead of the draft , “White has been inconsistent as a defender behind the plate and he’ll need to add arm strength and tighten up his release, though he’s a solid receiver and ultimately has a chance to be an average defender.” Nathan Hickey , a 2021 fifth round pick out of Florida, remains in the Red Sox system but he has not developed enough defensively to be considered someone who can help the big league club at the catcher position. More On Red Sox Prospects

PALERMO, Calif. (AP) — Two children were wounded in a shooting Wednesday at a small religious K-8 school in Northern California and the shooter died from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot, sheriff’s officials said. The children’s conditions were not immediately known. The shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists, a private, K-8 school in Palermo, a community of 5,500 people about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. Related Articles National News | Abandoned mines in the US pose dangers to people and property when land gives way National News | Dog food recalled in 7 states for salmonella risk after puppy litter gets sick, FDA says National News | White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign National News | Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions National News | United Healthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York Butte County Sheriff Kory L. Honea said the 911 calls reported “an individual on campus who had fired shots at students,” and said that the shooter did not appear to have a connection to the school. The motive was not immediately known, he continued. One student was flown to a nearby hospital, Honea said. Authorities rushed students to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff’s office said. The school has been open since 1965 and caters to fewer than three dozen children, according to its website.

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ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Alex Ovechkin has not missed many games during his two decades in the NHL with the Washington Capitals, and that remarkable durability is one reason why he is fast-approaching Wayne Gretzky's career goals record. The Capitals had lost 33 of their 59 games without Ovechkin in the lineup during his first 19 seasons, including 23 of 36 over the past decade. In stark contrast to that, they've won six of nine since the 39-year-old captain was sidelined by a broken left fibula — a testament to a roster built not only to help him break the record but prepare the organization for the post-Ovechkin era. “Ovi, he’s a legend, he’s special, he’s always going to probably lead the team in goals and we’re a better team with him, but we’re also a team where I think we’re not necessarily maybe relying on one or two players to win games,” said center Lars Eller, who rejoined the team in a trade from Pittsburgh a month ago. “We have four pretty strong lines, three D pairs and two good goalies. We don’t depend on one or two individuals, and I think that’s the strength of the team.” Depth fortified by the additions of centers Dylan Strome , Pierre-Luc Dubois and Eller, wingers Andrew Mangiapane , Brandon Duhaime and Taylor Raddysh, defensemen Jakob Chychrun, Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin and goaltenders Charlie Lindgren and Logan Thompson over the past few years has been the key to remaining a playoff contender. Longtime general manager Brian MacLellan, who after the most recent makeover this past summer handed day-to-day duties to Chris Patrick and moved upstairs as president of hockey operations, excelled in keeping Washington's winning window open with Ovechkin in the second-to-last year of his contract. Veteran defenseman John Carlson said the infusion of talent “really lit a fire under everybody.” The Capitals led the Eastern Conference when Ovechkin got injured Nov. 18, and they remain atop the East more than three weeks into his absence. Fourteen players have scored a goal during this stretch, including six wins and an overtime defeat since losing the first two without him. “We’re a deep group,” said right winger Tom Wilson, the team's leading scorer during this stretch with nine points on five goals and four assists who expects to continue playing with a shield protecting his face after breaking a small bone in the sinus cavity area on the left side. "Everybody’s kind of stepping up on any given night. It’s a real group effort, and I think guys are really playing for each other.” Carlson, who along with Ovechkin, Wilson and now Eller upon return are the only players left from Washington's 2018 Stanley Cup championship team, also sees it as a case of younger teammates taking advantage of this chance. “There’s the colossal emptiness of it, but there’s also a lot of opportunity for guys who would never otherwise be there when he’s on this team,” Carlson said. “When someone goes down, it’s obviously always kind of a rallying thing where guys need to step up, guys need to fill in and play bigger roles and play more minutes. But I think the way that our team’s built is depth, and that’s been our strength this year is kind of contributions from everybody.” Ovechkin led all players with 15 goals when he went down, and the Capitals were the high-scoring team in the league at 4.33 goals a game. They still are, down just a tick to an average of 4.04, and their 16 goals from defensemen are a big reason for that after ranking second-last in blue line production last season. “We’re playing to our structure and doing what we want to do out there,” said Chychrun, who has eight points in nine games as part of an impressive start to his contract year. “We’ve got a D corps where everybody’s a really good player on that back end and can play in all situations and two-way guys and guys who have contributed offensively throughout their career.” Another major defense is second-year coach Spencer Carbery , who acknowledged the structure and playing standard as a good place to start but pointed the credit to veteran leaders like Carlson, Strome, Wilson and Nic Dowd for shepherding the Capitals through Ovechkin-less hockey. “They don’t go around the room and go, ‘Hey, we’ve got to do more, guys,’” Carbery said. “They don’t announce it, but what they do is they think about it and go: ‘OK, we’re missing him. I’ve got to step my game up and I need to bring more.’ And that’s not just on the ice, on the power play, on 5 on 6 when we’re defending a lead. It’s not just the Xs and Os. It’s in the locker room. It’s energy in practice. It’s all the things that he brings every day when he’s in the lineup and when he’s practicing.” Ovechkin skated before practice Wednesday and got an assist from longtime running mate Nicklas Backstrom, who stepped away 13 months ago because of a lingering hip injury. Carlson quipped, “I think Ovi wanted someone with a little more skill passing him the rock out there.” The day is coming soon when Ovechkin returns to team drills and then game action. The Capitals are doing more than stay afloat without him, but they'll welcome him back with open arms the moment he's ready. As Eller said, “Obviously I think we’re even better when he’s in the lineup.” ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Stephen Whyno, The Associated PressNoneRimini Street Announces New Management Console for Rimini ConnectTM Suite of Interoperability Solutions

Repositrak CEO Randall Fields sells $175,553 in stockRevolutionary Single-Layer Film Eliminates Helmet Changes, Enhancing Driver Safety and Performance LAS VEGAS , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Racing Optics®, the global leader in high-performance tearoff visor film technology, proudly unveils its latest innovation: the Twilight Tearoff . This groundbreaking single-layer tearoff is engineered to elevate driver visibility during late-afternoon and early-evening races, providing superior glare reduction and contrast enhancement. The Twilight Tearoff redefines race-day performance by allowing drivers to maintain focus and adapt seamlessly to changing light conditions, eliminating the need for disruptive helmet changes. This innovation represents a significant leap forward in racing vision technology, delivering immediate and measurable benefits to professional drivers and teams alike. "The Twilight Tearoff solves one of racing's most persistent challenges—ensuring optimal visibility as lighting transitions rapidly during twilight races," said Chris Colton , Chief Applications Engineer at Racing Optics . "Our dedication to driver safety and performance drives every innovation, and the Twilight Tearoff is no exception." Transforming Racing at Twilight Racing teams are already embracing the Twilight Tearoff as a game-changing solution for twilight and low-light racing conditions. One racing team manager shared their experience: "In a recent twilight race, the Twilight Tearoff gave our drivers unmatched visual clarity. Transitioning from glaring sunlight to artificial lighting without pausing to change helmets was a decisive advantage that kept us competitive." By streamlining the driver experience, the Twilight Tearoff enhances safety and helps maintain uninterrupted race momentum—a critical edge in the high-stakes world of motorsports. Exclusive Debut at PRI Show 2024 The Twilight Tearoff will make its debut at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show , held December 12–14, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana . This highly anticipated event marks Racing Optics' 25th anniversary , celebrating a legacy of trailblazing innovations in motorsports safety and performance. Availability The Twilight Tearoff is now available for purchase at RacingOptics.com and through authorized dealers. Teams and drivers looking to gain a competitive edge are encouraged to explore this latest advancement. About Racing Optics For 25 years, Racing Optics has led the field in racing vision technology, delivering innovative solutions that enhance safety and performance. With a commitment to collaboration and innovation, the company continues to push the boundaries of motorsports protective equipment. For additional information, please visit RacingOptics.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/racing-optics-introduces-game-changing-twilight-tearoff-to-enhance-visibility-in-low-light-racing-conditions-302329546.html SOURCE Racing Optics, Inc.ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soonKLM Royal Dutch Airlines has made a significant leap toward more sustainable aviation with the successful deployment of a Taxibot on its first passenger flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on December 10, the carrier announced in a press release . A KLM Boeing 737 was towed from the gate to the Polderbaan runway by an innovative tow vehicle, enabling the aircraft to keep its engines off until it reached the runway for takeoff. This marks a key milestone in KLM’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality at the airport. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport also posted the thrilling news on social media "X," referring to it as "a successful test." " At Schiphol, the first @KLM passenger flight was taken from the gate to the Polderbaan Runway by a Taxibot. By using a Taxibot, aircraft engines can stay off until departure. This contributes to better air quality and noise reduction on the apron, " the post wrote. KLM's ongoing commitment to sustainability A semi-robotic tow truck called the Taxibot is a component of the aviation industry's rising trend toward more environmentally friendly ground operations. The Taxibot helps minimize particle emissions, CO2, and nitrogen oxides (NOx) while reducing noise pollution on the apron by keeping the aircraft's engines off when taxiing, KLM explained the concept in the press release. This isn't KLM’s first foray into sustainable taxiing with the Taxibot. In May 2020, KLM conducted initial tests with the hybrid tow vehicle using a Boeing 737 at Schiphol Airport, Simple Flying previously reported . This test showed that the Taxibot might provide a more environmentally friendly option than conventional taxiing techniques, which include keeping aircraft engines running by drastically lowering emissions during the taxiing phase. However, Tuesday's flight is historic since it is the first time KLM has deployed the Taxibot on a commercial passenger aircraft with onboard passengers. The Dutch carrier only introduced Premium Comfort in 2022. How does the Taxibot work? The Taxibot may appear to be a typical airport tug at first appearance. Still, it is essentially different since the airplane's pilot controls it during taxiing instead of a ground staff member. KLM explained that the Taxibot tows the plane to the runway when it is connected to it at the gate. The pilot disengages the Taxibot and turns on the airplane's engines for departure as soon as they arrive at the runway. The Taxibot has more benefits than just lowering emissions. Compared to traditional taxiing with engines operating, it helps preserve the nose landing gear's lifetime, which is less strained. The Taxibot also helps to reduce noise pollution, especially in the airport apron area where conventional engine-powered taxiing may cause a lot of noise disturbances. Furthermore, by allowing aircraft to travel at up to 23 knots—much faster than usual taxi speeds—without requiring the engines to run, the Taxibot technology improves operating efficiency. In addition to providing significant fuel and maintenance cost savings, this makes the taxiing procedure easier and more effective. The technology was delivered to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in March 2020, and Turkish leisure carrier Corendon Airlines conducted the first tests the following month. Before transferring the technology to its affiliate Transavia, KLM started testing it internally. A global trend towards sustainable taxiing KLM's use of the Taxibot is in line with an expanding trend in the aviation industry. Other airlines, such as Air India , are also using the technique to lower pollution and fuel usage at airports. According to a Simple Flying story from April 2023 , Air India and KSU Aviation have inked a deal to introduce Taxibot operations for its Airbus A320neo series of aircraft at the airports in Delhi and Bengaluru. SpiceJet and Air India Express were the first Indian airlines to implement the Taxibot on their Boeing 737 aircraft, and it has been in use since 2018. Since then, several Indian airlines, including IndiGo, GoAir, Air India, and AirAsia India, have also used their fleets of Airbus A320s to test sustainable technology.