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Canada says it wants to slash its emissions in half by 2035. Will that be enough?ALTOONA, Pa. — The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted while being led into court Tuesday as new details emerged about his possible motivation behind the ambush. In his first public words since a five-day search ended with his arrest at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania, Luigi Nicholas Mangione emerged from a patrol car shouting about an “insult to the intelligence of the American people” while deputies pushed him inside a courthouse. The 26-year-old Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family is fighting attempts to extradite him to New York so that he can face a murder charge in the Manhattan killing of Brian Thompson, who led the United States’ largest medical insurance company. Related Story: Mangione Carrying Handwritten Document Expressing Anger A law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press said that at the time of his arrest, Mangione was carrying a handwritten document expressing anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain for corporate greed and power. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive health care system in the world and that profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin. In social media posts, Mangione called “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski — who carried out a series of bombings while railing against modern society and technology — a “political revolutionary,” according to the police bulletin. Mangione remained jailed in Pennsylvania, where he was initially charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors were beginning to take steps to bring Mangione to New York, but at a brief hearing Tuesday, defense lawyer Thomas Dickey said his client will not waive extradition and instead wants a hearing on the issue. Mangione was denied bail after prosecutors said he was too dangerous to be released. Related Story: He mostly stared straight ahead at the hearing, occasionally looking at papers, rocking in his chair or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. “You can’t rush to judgment in this case or any case,” Dickey said afterward. “He’s presumed innocent. Let’s not forget that.” Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City, after a McDonald’s customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said. Images of Mangione released Tuesday by Pennsylvania State Police showed him pulling down his mask in the corner of the McDonald’s while holding what appeared to be hash browns and wearing a winter jacket and beanie. In another photo from a holding cell, he stood unsmiling with rumpled hair. Mangione Carrying Gun, Fake ID New York police officials have said Mangione was carrying a gun like the one used to kill Thompson and the same fake ID the shooter had used to check into a New York hostel, along with a passport and other fraudulent IDs. A law enforcement official who wasn’t authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke with The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said a three-page, handwritten document found with Mangione included a line in which he claimed to have acted alone. “To the Feds, I’ll keep this short, because I do respect what you do for our country. To save you a lengthy investigation, I state plainly that I wasn’t working with anyone,” the document said, according to the official. It also said, “I do apologize for any strife or traumas but it had to be done. Frankly, these parasites simply had it coming.” Thompson, 50, was killed last Wednesday as he walked alone to a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. From surveillance video, New York investigators determined the shooter quickly fled the city, likely by bus. Related Story: Mangione was born into a life of country clubs and privilege. His grandfather was a self-made real estate developer and philanthropist. Valedictorian at his elite Baltimore prep school, he went on to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a spokesperson said. “Our family is shocked and devastated by Luigi’s arrest,” Mangione’s family said in a statement posted on social media late Monday by his cousin, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved.” From January to June 2022, Luigi Mangione lived at Surfbreak, a “co-living” space at the edge of touristy Waikiki in Honolulu. Like other residents of the shared penthouse catering to remote workers, Mangione underwent a background check, said Josiah Ryan, a spokesperson for owner and founder R.J. Martin. “Luigi was just widely considered to be a great guy. There were no complaints,” Ryan said. “There was no sign that might point to these alleged crimes they’re saying he committed.” At Surfbreak, Martin learned Mangione had severe back pain from childhood that interfered with many aspects of his life, from surfing to romance, Ryan said. Mangione left Surfbreak to get surgery on the mainland, Ryan said, then later returned to Honolulu and rented an apartment. Martin stopped hearing from Mangione six months to a year ago.
Phillies have no plans to start pitching prospect Andrew Painter in spring training following injuryKey details about the man accused of killing of UnitedHealthcare's CEO
Fresh off their open date, the Baltimore Ravens prepare for their schedule to become busyBOISE ( ) — When Jeremy Powell stood atop Fenn Mountain in the Selway Crags, he was feeling pretty accomplished. Summiting the 8,021-foot mountain in remote North Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest marked the completion of a peakbagging goal he’d been working toward for nearly a decade. But the excitement quickly faded into the realization that this journey was only partway over. He still had to return to his truck and begin the long drive home to Boise. By the time he returned home, Powell was again feeling excited. Summiting Fenn made him the first person to complete the highpoints of each mountain range and subrange in Idaho — a list of 85 mountains that includes Mount Borah, Hyndman Peak and Castle Peak. “It was a lot of time driving and a lot of really awful roads and sleeping in my truck and the whole day,” Powell told the Idaho Statesman. “That was kind of the point, though, is that I got to see all these towns that I’ve never been to.” Idaho has a slew of prominent mountain ranges: the Sawtooth, Lost River, Boulder, White Clouds and Boise ranges are some of the more popular in the state, but they’re just the start of the list. Of the dozens of ranges, the vast majority are subranges of the Rocky Mountains. Powell said determining which peaks to pursue was one of the trickiest parts of the challenge. He crafted his goals using . Tom Lopez, a mountain climber who runs the site, maintains a “list of lists” — various “peakbagging” goals to challenge hikers and climbers. Lopez painstakingly created the list of ranges and subranges by researching U.S. Geological Survey data against local maps and landmarks. “Some of the stuff is based upon geology, and some of it is based upon just what local people called the mountains,” Lopez told the Statesman. “If you’re asking for a logical reason for some of these, there really isn’t one.” When Powell, who grew up in Pocatello, started making his peak list around 2015, Lopez’s list had 75 peaks. Powell combined that list with a map created by Derek Percoski, who creates peak checklist maps. As technology evolved in the last decade, some of the highpoint and range information shifted, altering his goals, Powell said. Today, Lopez’s list matches Powell’s with 85 peaks. (Hayden Peak is listed twice, for the Owyhee Range and its Silver City subrange.) It includes ranges like the Bitterroots, Owyhees and Portneufs and subranges that include the Selway Crags, Pahsimeroi and Bighorn Crags. Powell’s peakbagging pursuit was an uncommon one. He finished the list on Sept. 6, and just one day later, Terri Rowe, , completed the challenge when she summited Redbird and Bennett mountains in the White Knob Mountain and Mount Bennett Hills ranges. “These lists take you to places you wouldn’t normally go,” Rowe told the Statesman in a phone interview. “Most people are into state highpointing, but what’s neat about these other more obscure lists is all the different places it takes you.” Powell said knowing Rowe was working on the same list helped keep him motivated, even though they were never able to hike together. “Her hiking accomplishments are an inspiration,” Powell said. Powell and Rowe are the only people to finish the range and subrange challenge, and there isn’t much competition. Lopez said according to data on , a popular website for peakbaggers, there are only a handful of other climbers who are close to completing the list, including Lopez himself. The closest competitors still have about two dozen peaks to summit to complete the list, Lopez said. He said there are a few other lists on Idaho: A Climbing Guide that include more technically challenging peaks. But the range and subrange list ranks high for difficulty because of how farflung its peaks are, and how infrequently some of them are summited. That meant a lot of planning for Powell, and sometimes bushwhacking to summit peaks that don’t see a lot of traffic or have an existing trail to the top. He said some of the obscure hikes — like Moose Creek Buttes in North Idaho, where he bushwhacked about nine miles to reach the summit — were “kind of awful.” But with no one else around, the views from the top and the feeling of isolation were unmatched. At times, bad weather, wildfires and other unexpected issues affected Powell’s plans. Once he drove nearly to the Canadian border to hike South Selkirk Crest to find the road closed. Powell said it took him five years of failed attempts to finally summit Castle Peak in the White Clouds. Fires and a freak blizzard deterred him for a few years. And in August 2015, when conditions were looking good for Powell to bike into the mountains and hike the rest of the way to the peak, then-President Barack Obama signed a bill creating the Cecil D. Andrus-White Clouds Wilderness just days before Powell’s trip. It outlawed biking in the area surrounding the peak. Those experiences taught him that flexibility was key. “I realized that the mountains aren’t going anywhere, and you can always go back,” Powell said. “And if it’s not safe for whatever reason, then it’s always more important to go home than go to the top.” He said he’s grateful to friends who came along on hikes with him, and other hikers who offered directions, company or advice on the mountain. Powell said finishing the list wouldn’t have been possible without support from his wife and kids. “Each time I get ready to leave for an activity, my wife says, ‘Make good decisions and great execution,’” Powell said. “Thanks for trusting me to not do anything dumb. No matter how excited I was to get to the top of each mountain, I was always more excited to get back home.” To remove this article -
What is the Federal Reserve for, exactly, besides bailouts?
Josh Allen and Jameis Winston delivered signature performances in prime time that define their styles of play. Allen used his athleticism, creativity and a statistical quirk to become the first quarterback ever credited with a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game in Buffalo’s win over San Francisco. Winston showed off his propensity for big plays — and big blunders — when he became the first player ever to throw for at least 400 yards, four touchdowns and two pick-6s in the same game in a loss for Cleveland at Denver. It was a weekend of firsts for the two quarterbacks. [...]
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NoneWASHINGTON — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly vowed during his presidential campaign to send troops to the U.S. southern border, authorize lethal force against migrants attempting to cross between ports of entry, and even consider firing missiles into Mexico — an extraordinary use of U.S. military power that has since been endorsed by President-elect Donald Trump. Now, DeSantis may have a chance to fulfill that promise, among other controversial proposals, should Trump ask him to lead the Pentagon. The Republican governor is said to be in discussions with Trump and his transition team about replacing Pete Hegseth, a Fox News television personality plagued by sex and drinking scandals, as his nominee for defense secretary. It would be a political turnabout for DeSantis, who was Trump’s chief rival in the early days of the 2024 Republican presidential primary and remains a source of ridicule and distrust among some in the president-elect’s orbit. Last month, shortly after Trump’s election victory, DeSantis said he had no intention to leave the governorship to join the new administration. And yet, if he were to do so, DeSantis’ presidential run would provide the Senate with ample material in his confirmation hearings to determine how he would run the Defense Department. Lethal border force At one of the GOP primary debates, DeSantis said he would declare a national emergency and send troops to the southern border to deploy lethal force against drug cartels attempting to smuggle drugs into the country. Throughout the campaign, DeSantis was repeatedly pressed to explain how the military would determine whether individuals crossing the border had any connection to the drug trade. “I am gonna declare a national emergency, I’m not gonna send troops to Ukraine but I am gonna send them to our southern border,” he said. “When these drug pushers are bringing fentanyl across the border, that’s gonna be the last thing they do. We’re gonna use force and we’re gonna leave them stone-cold dead.” In another exchange during the primary, DeSantis told CBS that he would consider all available military options — including using force in Mexico itself — to combat the illegal drug trade. “The tactics can be debated,” he said, asked whether he would fire missiles into Mexico . “That would be dependent on the situation.” DeSantis has also spent millions of dollars in recent years supporting Texas in deterring migrants from entering the country through state-led border security initiatives. Florida aided in some of Texas’ efforts that have come under scrutiny, including reports that officers were ordered to push small children and nursing babies back into the Rio Grande. Domestic deployments DeSantis, as governor, has already demonstrated a willingness to deploy state troops under his control for unconventional purposes, often unrelated to the immediate needs of the state. He sent members of the Florida State Guard to aid Texas’ state efforts to police the border — despite questions over their coordination with federal border patrol — and, in 2020, sent 500 Florida National Guardsmen to Washington in response to protests following the death of George Floyd. National Guard personnel can be deployed across the country in a host of contingencies, and were already sent to the southern border by Trump in his first administration. But a law passed after the Civil War, called Posse Comitatus, limits the president’s ability to deploy active duty federal troops to perform law enforcement functions on U.S. soil. Project 2025 — a hyperconservative think tank initiative written during the 2024 campaign, whose authors are entering the nascent administration — declared the situation at the U.S. southern border a national emergency that could create exceptions to Posse Comitatus. It also proposed that the president could override Posse Comitatus and deploy active duty troops within the country by invoking the Insurrection Act, which allows a president to deploy troops in the event of significant civil unrest. During the end of the general election race, Trump floated the prospect of deploying the military against domestic political opponents he referred to as “the enemy within.” “I think the bigger problem is the enemy from within,” Trump told Fox in an interview. “We have some very bad people. We have some sick people, radical left lunatics. And I think they’re the big — and it should be very easily handled by, if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military, because they can’t let that happen.” Recruitment challenges DeSantis also promised to purge the military of “woke” policies, such as highlighting diversity, equity and inclusion and allowing transgender personnel to serve as their preferred sex, claiming the policies were undermining military effectiveness and suppressing recruitment. “It is time to rip the woke out of the military and return it to its core mission,” DeSantis said during the campaign. “We must restore a sense of confidence, conviction, and patriotic duty to our institutions — and that begins with our military.” A 2021 study commissioned by the Pentagon on recruitment strategies found that “wokeness” did not register among the top 10 reasons why Americans were enlisting at record low numbers. “Our research shows that the top barriers to service are concerns about death or injury, PTSD, emotional issues, and leaving friends and family — not political issues,” a Pentagon official told McClatchy last year. “Concerns about vaccines and ‘wokeness’ are among the least to be raised as reasons not to join the military.” DeSantis is a veteran himself, having served as a military legal advisor to Navy SEALs and in overseas deployments to Guantanamo Bay and Iraq. His service earned him multiple commendations, including a Bronze Star, a National Defense Service Medal, and service medals for the Iraq Campaign and the Global War on Terrorism, according to service records obtained by McClatchy. On the campaign trail, DeSantis also frequently questioned the value of sending financial and military support to Ukraine to help it defend itself against Russia. He opposed its membership bid to NATO and questioned the mission of NATO itself during the primary, calling on the transatlantic alliance to focus on the growing threat from China. “I think NATO was fine for the Cold War. It made sense,” he said. “Now we’re in a situation where a lot of those countries aren’t doing their fair share in terms of their defenses, and yet we’re supposed to provide blanket security for that, where our interests may diverge around the world.” At one point, DeSantis called the war between Ukraine and Russia a “territorial dispute.” He quickly changed his message after facing criticism and said that Russia was wrong to invade Ukraine and Putin was a “war criminal.” Ukraine, DeSantis added, has a “right to that territory.” “If I could snap my fingers, I’d give it back to Ukraine 100%,” DeSantis told the New York Post’s Piers Morgan in March 2023 . “But the reality is what is America’s involvement in terms of escalating with more weapons, and certainly ground troops I think would be a mistake. So, that was the point I was trying to make, but Russia was wrong to invade. They were wrong to take Crimea.” (Miami Herald reporters Ana Ceballos and Claire Healy contributed to this story.) ©2024 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Ross Barkley’s 85th-minute goal gave them victory in Germany after goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran early in each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner. That sent them up to third in the new league phase of the competition ahead of Wednesday’s games and with matches against Monaco and Celtic to come, Villa have an excellent chance of finishing in the top eight. Job done... in the end 😅 #RBLAVL #UCL pic.twitter.com/PRD1Hi1Q3A — Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024 That would mean they would avoid a play-off round to make it through to the last 16 and Emery says that is the target. “Today was key. Juventus at home, we were thinking more to win but in the end we accepted the draw because it was important for a point to be more or less in the top 24,” he told Amazon Prime. “Today was a match we were thinking at the beginning was key to be a contender to be in the top eight with the last two matches to be played. “It is going to be difficult and we have to get some more points but we now have the possibility to achieve this option. “We are going to enjoy and try to get top eight but we have to be happy because we are in the top 24 and maybe even the top 16. “We weren’t contenders in the beginning to get there but now we have to accept it.” Leipzig, who are flying high near the top of the Bundesliga, are out after losing all six matches. They did pose a threat to Villa, who inflicted some of their own problems on themselves, notably a rare gaffe from goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for Openda’s equaliser. But Emery was happy with his side’s performance. “I try to enjoy and always we want to improve and sometimes it is hard but today the team were performing well, playing seriously and I was enjoying it,” he added. “We tried to overcome the mistakes we made and we did. More or less we were playing consistently. One mistake and they score but then we played very well. “Champions League is very difficult and we have to expect that every team playing at home are feeling strong. We played with consistency and domination.”Where does Syracuse football’s Class of 2025 rank after Early National Signing Day?
Who is David Sacks, Trump's crypto and AI chief?
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the center's reliance on fossil fuels — and whether the plans for new natural gas power to support it could lead to higher energy bills in the future for Louisiana residents. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states offering tax credits and other incentives to lure big tech firms seeking sites for energy-intensive data centers. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utility providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15-year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, representing northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisiana residents and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated by Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96
TORONTO, ON — Canada’s most populous province may bar American-made alcohol in addition to restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York and Minnesota if U.S. President-elect Donald Trump i mposes sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products, a senior official said Thursday. The official in Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government said that it's contemplating restricting Ontario's liquor control board from buying American-made alcohol. Ontario is also considering restricting exports of critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries and preventing U.S.-based companies from the government's procurement process, the official said on condition on anonymity because the functionary wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the potential measures. Ford confirmed on Wednesday evening that Ontario is contemplating restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York State and Minnesota. He reiterated that on Thursday and said it would make electricity unaffordable for Americans. “It’s a last resort,” Ford said. “I don’t think President-elect Trump wants that to happen. We're sending a message to the U.S. If you come and attack Ontario, you attack livelihoods of people in Ontario and Canadians, we are going to use every tool in our tool box to defend Ontarians and Canadians. Let's hope it never comes to that." Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the United States from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. Ontario powered 1.5 million homes in the U.S. in 2023 and is a major exporter of electricity to Michigan, Minnesota and New York. "That's OK if he that does that. That's fine,” Trump told CNBC when asked about Ford's remarks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. “The United States is subsidizing Canada and we shouldn't have to do that," Trump said. "And we have a great relationship. I have so many friends in Canada, but we shouldn't have to subsidize a country. We're subsidizing more than a $100 billion a year. We shouldn't have to be doing that." The CNBC reporter said off camera that Trump told him that they hope they can work something out with Canada. The premier of the oil rich Canadian province of Alberta ruled out cutting off oil exports. “Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports,” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said. “Instead, we’re taking a diplomatic approach and we’re meeting with our allies in the U.S. We’re making the case for Alberta oil and gas to be part of the solution to energy affordability and energy security.” Canada supplies more oil to the U.S. than any other country, nearly 4.5 million barrels a day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada and a fifth of the crude refined in the U.S. comes from Canada. “If you put a 25% tariff on oil from Alberta that increases every gallon of gasoline by one dollar,” Ford said. About 85% of U.S. electricity imports come from Canada as well. Canada also has 34 critical minerals and metals the Pentagon is eager for. Nearly 3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Canada has promised more border security spending to address Trump’s border concerns. Ford said that will include more border and police officers, as well as drones and sniffer dogs. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently had dinner with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida, said they plan to share details of those border plans with the incoming Trump administration in the coming days. Alberta's government is creating a new sheriff patrol unit to shore up security at the border. It will be supported by about 50 sheriffs, 10 cold weather surveillance drones and four drug detection dogs. Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said a two-kilometer (1.2-mile) deep zone along the border with Montana will be deemed critical infrastructure, so sheriffs can arrest without a warrant anyone found attempting to cross illegally or trafficking illegal drugs or weapons. At the Mar-a-Lago dinner, Kristen Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., said that Washington's trade deficit with Canada was also raised. Hillman said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year but noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. is energy exports and prices have been high. Trudeau said this week that U.S.-imposed tariffs would be “absolutely devastating” for the Canadian economy, but it would also mean real hardship for Americans. Canada imposed duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canadian officials have said that it's unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. LeBlanc said that illegal migration from Canada to the U.S. is only 0.6% of the total, and fentanyl from Canada is 0.2% of the total of U.S. seizures. Quebec Premier Françoise Legault said that Trump told him in Paris last week that he doesn't want to see anymore illegal immigration coming from Canada. Quebec is a major supplier of electricity to the U.S. Legault noted Trudeau's plan to strengthen border security. “I prefer that than starting a war and stopping sending energy to the United States,” Legault said. Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey said he had a call with New England governors this week and said there is a significant degree of concern on both sides of the border. “We hope it is just bluster,” Furey said. “We are preparing as if it is not. There will be no winner in a trade war."
Tech billionaire Elon Musk spent at least $270 million to help Donald Trump win the US presidency, according to new federal filings, making him the country's biggest political donor. SpaceX and Tesla CEO Musk, the world's richest person, was an ardent supporter of Trump's White House campaign -- funneling money into door knocking operations and speaking at his rallies. His financial backing, which has earned him a cost-cutting advisory role in Trump's incoming government, surpassed spending by any single political donor since at least 2010, according to data from nonprofit OpenSecrets. The Washington Post reported that Musk spent more this election cycle than Trump backer Tim Mellon, who gave nearly $200 million and was previously the Republican's top donor. Musk donated $238 million to America PAC, a political action committee that he founded to support Trump, filings late Thursday with the Federal Election Commission showed. An additional $20 million went to the RBG PAC, a group that used advertising to soften Trump's hardline reputation on the key voter issue of abortion. Musk has been an ever-present sidekick for Trump since his election victory in November, inviting him to watch a rocket launch in Texas by his SpaceX company. Trump has selected the South African-born tycoon and fellow ally Vivek Ramaswamy to head the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, through which the pair have promised to deliver billions of dollars of cuts in federal spending. However, with Musk's businesses all having varying degrees of interactions with US and foreign governments, his new position also raises concerns about conflict of interest. The president-elect has nominated several people close to Musk for roles in his administration, including investor David Sacks as the so-called AI and crypto czar. Meanwhile, billionaire astronaut Jared Isaacman, who has collaborated with Musk's SpaceX, was named the head of US space agency NASA. pgf-bjt/acb
Led by a dynamic one-two punch, the Vernon (VSS) Panthers girls basketball team booked their spot in the annual Tsumura Basketball Invitational (TBI) quarterfinals. The TBI, hosted in Langley, features 64 of the best teams across B.C., split into two 16-team brackets. VSS was drawn against the Brittania Bruins from Vancouver in the opener in the Select 16 bracket. After a back-and-forth battle, the Panthers eked out a 67-58 victory. Leading the way for the Panthers was the Grade 11 duo of Adie Janke and Chloe Collins, who combined for 43 of the team's 67 points. Janke's 23 points came off of three triples and numerous clutch buckets in the late fourth quarter as the Panthers clawed their way back down 56-53 with four minutes to go. Through six games so far this year, the Panthers are without a loss. They will look to continue that streak on Thursday, when they play the South Delta Sun Devils in the quarterfinals after the Sun Devils won, 84-58, over the Centennial Centaurs from Coquitlam. Two other Okanagan teams are playing in the tournament, the Okanagan Mission (OKM) Huskies and the Kelowna Secondary School Owls, competing in the Super 16 bracket. The Huskies were humbled, 60-48, by Surrey's Holy Cross Crusaders, while the Owls won a close one, 57-56, against St. Michaels University School from Victoria. KSS plays the Brookswood Bobcats out of Langley next, at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday.
NoneBy A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 5: We must envision democracy as not merely a political framework but also a social system—one that upholds the dignity of every individual, inspires a sense of boundless potential, and fosters an environment of safety and security for all, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli of Nepal said in his speech on ‘Comprehensive democracy: A journey towards Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ delivered at the Peking University of China in Beijing on Wednesday. “While taking forward the ideas of democracy, debates emerged regarding its class character, leading to the distinction between what is often termed ‘Old’ and ‘New’ democracy,” he said. According to him, in ‘old’ democracy, a privileged class—often referred to as the bourgeoisie—took the lead, while the toiling masses remained subordinate throughout the process of political transformation, while the ‘new’ democracy in contrast saw the working class take the forefront, collaborating with oppressed and exploited groups from various strata of society. He informed the students and academicians there that for much of its history, Nepalis endured autocracy, with no opportunity to participate in governance. “Nepal's journey to political transformation stands as a unique model in global history. Unlike many movements worldwide, where political struggles were predominantly led by parties representing a single class, Nepal's political revolution was a collaborative effort, uniting representatives from competing classes,” stated PM Oli. He said that Nepal’s political history is unique in the sense that both major political forces—Left leaning and the Right leaning— when they divide, monarchy usurps more power; yet, when united, they have consistently succeeded in subduing autocracy and advancing people’s freedom. “Guided by the philosophy of Marxism, and under the visionary leadership of the People's Leader Madan Bhandari, my party developed the principle of People's Multi-Party Democracy (PMD),” he said while talking about his political party – CPN (UML), and added that this doctrine represented a creative application of Marxist ideals, tailored to Nepal’s unique historical, and socio-political context. According to him, the PMD consists of synthesis of three key dimensions of the people's struggles in Nepal: patriotism, social change, and democracy. While advancing the idea of PMD, people's leader, Madan Bhandari said: "Principles are for life, not life for principles." “This vision of comprehensive democracy embraces the political, economic, social and cultural aspects to empower the individual and society. And all these aspects are mutually reinforcing,” PM Oli said. He also said that democracy cannot thrive in the echo-chambers built by algorithms of new technology. He said, “For us, prosperity means economic growth with equity—ensuring a level-playing field for all, equitable access to quality education and healthcare as fundamental rights and providing social safety nets and empowering marginalised communities.” Speaking on Nepal-China relations, PM Oli said that as trusted neighbours and steadfast partners, the two nations collaborate closely in various areas of mutual interest. “China’s miraculous economic development offers valuable lessons for Nepal as it embarks on its own developmental journey,” he said.