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Kingston Frontenacs sweep the weekend with win 5-1 over North Bay BattalionCanada Post strike update: Union 'frustrated' with proposals, but postal service says it has yet to see formal responseDonald Trump is “100% serious’’ about wanting to acquire Greenland and the Panama Canal as US territory, according to sources close to the president-elect — adding he looked into Greenland in his first term. Over the weekend, Trump, 78, publicly floated the idea of US “ownership and control of Greenland” and taking back the Panama Canal because of its “ridiculous fees” for American ships. Trump also has been referring to Canada for weeks as a prospective “state” with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as its “governor,” although that’s just a taunt, sources said. But he’s not kidding when it comes to Greenland and the canal as part of his America-first strategy to counter China and Russia, sources said. “The president is 100% serious,” a source close to Trump confirmed. White House and Treasury Department officials in Trump’s first administration even went so far as to closely study how to negotiate and fund a takeover of Greenland, the world’s largest island, two first-term Trump sources told The Post. A practical game-plan for negotiations to win over semi-autonomous Greenland’s 56,000 mostly Inuit residents was developed during Trump’s final year in office, sources said. The move came after a more thinly crafted concept was floated and shot down by Danish and Greenlandic officials in 2019. Greenland has its own goverment but is part of Denmark. The basic idea at the end of Trump’s first term was — and likely still is — to first win over the relatively poor residents of Greenland, who would then have their decision ratified by Copenhagen ahead of a handover, sources said. That transfer of power would likely come in the form of a compact of free association similar to US relations with the nominally independent Pacific island nations of Palau, the Marshall Island and Micronesia. “What we were trying to find at the end of the first Trump term was a three-way win-win-win deal,” former Treasury Department official Thomas Dans told The Post. “We were moving quickly on these things up until the final days. Our hope was the Biden administration would pick up on this,” Dans said. “We were poised to do something.” Dans, who has a family history with Greenland dating to his grandfather’s deployment there during World War II, said, “What was missing in the first [consideration of acquiring Greenland in 2019] was a real understanding of just the Greenlanders’ position within the Kingdom of Denmark. “They’ve already been granted in Denmark’s 2009 Greenland Self-Government Act a recognition of their right to self-determination and defined path to independence,” Dans said, meaning that the residents hold the key to any change in status. “It’s almost like an indenture of old, where the Greenlanders remain reliant on an economic subsidy that Denmark sends them and essentially have to bootstrap their way to a new future. They’re asset-rich and cash-poor — kind of frozen in place,” Dans said. Financing the early stages of an acquisition would not necessarily require congressional approval, though Trump’s Republican allies will control both chambers of Congress next year. “Treasury has a lot of authorities that it can bring to act on things like this,” said Dans, who has played an important role in soft diplomacy, including bringing one of Greenland’s top social media influencers to Trump’s election-night watch party in West Palm Beach. “This is President Trump’s decision. I think from what he said yesterday, he understands the importance.” Another first-term Trump official who worked on planning said, “It’s not a wild thing,” noting, “We purchased Alaska [from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million]. “People are acting like its a crazy thing, and it’s not at all,” said the former official, who noted that buying Alaska was at the time mockingly regarded as “Seward’s Folly,” in reference to then-Secretary of State William Seward, before the 49th state’s strategic position and energy resources became apparent. “Everything’s for sale for the right price,” the source said. “[Trump] is definitely not trolling,” said a different source. “[He] is signaling the serious [nature] and the gravity of what it means to have an ambitious America and what it means to have leadership on stage. “In my conversations with incoming and former national security officials, this is a direct message to China,” that source added. Trump noted his concern about the Panama Canal falling into the “wrong hands” — particularly China’s — in his weekend commentary. He also mentioned “national security” considerations involving the large Arctic island of Greenland, which is militarily important for radar and abuts shipping lanes in the North Atlantic. The United States invaded Panama in 1989 and toppled its authoritarian leader Manuel Noriega in part over concern about the US-built canal, which America controlled until President Jimmy Carter returned the Canal Zone to Panama in 1979. The canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans is governed by the Republic of Panama, and a Neutrality Treaty between the US and Panama assures that the canal remains neutral for all countries with no discriminatory tolls. The US does still have the right, under the treaty, to exert military force if it deems the canal to be under threat of no longer being neutral. Yleem Poblete, an assistant secretary of state during Trump’s first term, hailed the president-elect’s head-turning commentary as part of a “welcome change” in renewing America’s focus on the Western Hemisphere. “His recent comments reflect a clear understanding of the threats and opportunities in the broader Americas and his vision to project US. leadership to usher in a new era of American greatness and hemispheric security and prosperity,” Poblete said. The State Department has expressed concern over China collaborating with Russia to gain more access to the Arctic for natural resources and geopolitical expansion. There’s some historical precedent for the theorized transfer of Greenland to the US: Denmark in 1917 sold the US Virgin Islands to America for $25 million. A source close to Trump’s nerve center in Palm Beach said the president-elect “is of the belief that empires that don’t grow start to fail. “He is a student of history, and this is one of the schools of thought,” the source said. “He really favors past presidents who were expansionist on the continent.” Although Trump’s interest in the territorial acquisitions is serious, if neither Denmark nor Panama will part with their land, it’s possible the US proposals will morph into what amounts to a bargaining tactic that could reduce canal fees or allow for a greater US military role in Greenland, sources noted. “I don’t think he’s going to start conquering land, but sometimes you push the limit crazy far to end up where you actually hope to get,” the Palm Beach source said. Trump’s foreign policy goals almost immediately got cold responses from the leaders of Greenland and Panama, throwing cold water on his ideas. Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, posted a video declaring, “Every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede wrote online, “Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.”
Fox Business' Lauren Simonetti has more on the day dedicated to acts of generosity and charitable giving on 'America's Newsroom.' Black Friday is behind us, but holiday shopping season is still in full swing. Winter holiday spending is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% compared to 2023, according to the National Retail Federation. "That equates to between $979.5 billion and $989 billion in total holiday spending in November and December, compared with $955.6 billion during the same timeframe last year," the same source stated. In addition to having to navigate crowds, consumers can face some health challenges during the hectic retail season. 6 WAYS TO PREVENT HOLIDAY ILLNESS: ASK A DOCTOR To help ensure safety during long shopping stints, Fox News Digital asked a medical doctor for tips on shopping without dropping. 1. Eat before you go It’s never a good idea to go anywhere starving, and Christmas shopping is no exception. Experts recommend packing some healthy snacks to sustain your energy. Winter holiday spending is expected to grow between 2.5% and 3.5% compared to 2023, according to the National Retail Federation. (iStock) If you don’t eat something a few hours after your last meal, energy levels and blood glucose levels could dip, according to Harvard University. "I always recommend a combination of nuts, seeds and fruit as snacks, since they are filling and healthy for everybody," Matthew Badgett, MD, a primary care physician at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, told Fox News Digital. 4 HOLIDAY NUTRITION TIPS FROM DR. NICOLE SAPHIER "Also, plan to also eat a healthy meal before you hit the road." Packing healthy snacks is a better option than grabbing fast food at the food court, he said. If you plan to take a break during shopping to grab lunch or dinner, Badgett recommends planning ahead to explore eating options and possibly make a reservation. 2. Know your physical limits If you aren’t accustomed to being on your feet for extended periods of time, a long shopping trip could prove to be strenuous. Packing healthy snacks is a better option than grabbing fast food at the food court, the expert said. (iStock) "If you aren't regularly on your feet, limit how long you are walking — otherwise you could find yourself quite sore the next morning," Badgett advised. "If you normally only walk 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day, I wouldn't walk more than 10,000 steps in a day of shopping." 3. Refrain from lugging packages Carrying a few packages is OK, but lugging around several heavy packages is not advised. "Don’t carry too much weight and injure yourself," Badgett warned. "If you normally only walk 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day, I wouldn't walk more than 10,000 steps in a day of shopping." Some stores may have shopping carts to reduce the load, but if that’s not an option, it’s worth heading back to the car or even home to drop off some of the weight, he recommended. It’s recommended to stay up to date on vaccines and wear a mask if you are in a high-risk group, the doctor advised. (iStock) "Carrying too much, especially when you aren't used to it, can place a strain on the arms, shoulders, neck and back and lead to injuries ," the doctor cautioned. "Try to carry manageable weights, balanced between both arms, and take breaks and drop off stuff as needed." 4. Take proactive health measures It’s recommended to stay up to date on vaccines and wear a mask if you are in a high-risk group. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I recommend N-95 masks over surgical masks, as they are better at preventing germs from getting through," Badgett told Fox News Digital. For those who are sick, the doctor recommends staying home or wearing a mask while out in public. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Use hand sanitizer, try to social distance and wash hands as needed, experts advise. Some of the germiest spots at shopping venues include elevator buttons, handrails, escalators, public water fountains, ATMs, shopping carts, door knobs and the restroom, according to WebMD. 5. Dress appropriately Experts caution against wearing a heavy coat and accessories while shopping indoors. Overdressing is "is uncomfortable and sweaty," the doctor told Fox News Digital. He recommends dressing in layers to stay as comfortable as possible while shopping. (iStock) Overdressing is "is uncomfortable and sweaty," Badgett told Fox News Digital. He recommends dressing in layers to stay as comfortable as possible while shopping. 6. Limit the duration of shopping trips Breaking up shopping over multiple sessions may be better in terms of health outcomes , Badgett said. Not only will this allow you to maintain better stamina, but you can also take your time shopping and enjoy the experience more. For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health Overdoing it is a bad idea, said Badgett, "since many of us are not used to this much carrying and walking around." Erica Lamberg is a contributing writer for Fox News Digital.Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says he was surprised by reports of Shaq Barrett's unretirement plan
The Lagos State government on Sunday promised to flood the market with Eko Rice in the next one to two weeks to ensure that residents have access to quality rice at a cheaper price. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, stated this on Sunday at the Lagos Food Festival 2024, themed: “A Taste of Culture.” According to her, the volume of rice being processed at the Lagos Rice Mill would be greatly increased to ensure that a good number of residents who want rice at an affordable rate can get it. She said the governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has given special consideration to acquiring additional rice paddy so that the rice mill can increase its production. Olusanya stated that the state government is working to lower food prices across sectors by ensuring that critical stakeholders improve production. She added that the Food Festival is held annually to showcase the diversity of African cuisine, from the spicy and savory to the sweet and tangy, as well as interactive cooking masterclasses, engaging competitions, and mouth-watering food exhibitions. Olusanya further said that the festival is also aimed at celebrating all the critical stakeholders within the food value chain. This year, there was a cooking competition among students from some tertiary institutions in the state, including the University of Lagos, Lagos State University, and Lagos State University of Science and Technology.
Canada stocks lower at close of trade; S&P/TSX Composite down 0.02%The delivered a commanding 30-7 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in Week 12, showcasing a complete team effort led by an explosive offensive performance. A standout day from Bucky Irving highlighted ground game, which powered through a Giants defense that had few answers. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.Bowling Green earns 87-62 win over Aquinas
So far in December, there have been 24 launch attempts worldwide. There will be no let-up during the holiday period, with at least seven more launches planned for this week. The SpaceX launch manifest for this week includes a single customer payload and three batches of Starlink satellites. SpaceX’s target of 136 launches for the year could still be achieved, but the recent scrub of the Astranis: From One To Many mission casts doubt on whether the 136 launch target will be met. Elsewhere, India will launch a satellite docking experiment mission, and Russia plans to launch an Earth observation satellite mission. China is preparing for a single launch from Jiuquan this week. 🛰️ Filling of Resurs-P No. 5 satellite with fuel and compressed gases had been completed at Baikonur cosmodrome, after which the satellite was transported to MIK No. 112 for the final stage of pre-flight preparation. 🚀The launch of Resurs-P No. 5 is scheduled for late Dec 2024.... pic.twitter.com/lOZhYap9YB — Russian Embassy in South Africa 🇷🇺 (@EmbassyofRussia) December 17, 2024 Roscosmos Soyuz 2.1b | Resurs-P No. 5 On Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 07:45:42 UTC, Russia will launch a Soyuz 2.1b rocket from Site 31/6 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. As described by Roscosmos, the payload consists of one satellite writing, “The Resurs-P spacecraft No. 5 is designed for high-precision, detailed wide-selective and hyperspectral optical-electronic observation of the Earth’s surface to study natural resources, control pollution, and environmental degradation, search for mineral deposits, assess the state of the ice situation, monitoring emergency situations, creating and updating topographic and navigation maps.” The Soyuz 2.1b rocket used for this mission features decals describing it as the 2,000th R-7 rocket to be launched. The R-7 series was first built in 1957 as a missile but quickly became the workhorse of Soviet and Russian space missions. The current Soyuz models are direct developments of the original R-7 model, with two major variants: the Soyuz 2.1a, which serves as a base version, and the Soyuz 2.1b, which utilizes a more powerful third stage. Soyuz 2.1b is powered by four RD-107A engines on the first stage (arranged around the second, core stage), a single RD-108A engine on the core stage, and an RD-0124 engine on the third stage. Each stage uses liquid oxygen and kerosene (RP-1) as propellants. The 2,000th R-7 decal on the Soyuz 2.1b booster. (Credit: Roscosmos) CAS Space Kinetica-1 | Unknown Payload A Kinetica-1 rocket will launch an unknown payload from Site 130 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China. Launch is set for Friday, Dec. 27, at 01:03 UTC. The details for this launch are scarce, and no further information has been released. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Starship Group 11-3 SpaceX will launch the Starlink Group 11-3 mission on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 5:35 PM PST (01:35 UTC on Dec. 29) from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This will likely be the final launch of 2024 from Vandenberg. Falcon 9 | Astranis: From One to Many This launch was postponed following a rare engine abort at ignition on the first launch attempt on Friday, Dec. 20. Falcon 9 will now launch the Astranis: From One to Many mission on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC). The payload for this mission consists of four MicroGEO satellites built by Astranis Space Technologies Corp. in San Francisco, California. Designed to be smaller than typical geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) satellites, the MicroGEO satellites will provide broadband access and on-orbit services for various Astranis customers. One satellite will provide the Philippines with broadband access via Orbits Corp, two satellites will provide internet connectivity services to aircraft and cruise ships through Anuvu, and the final satellite, Utilitysat, will be used by Astranis for unknown purposes. Falcon 9 will launch the four satellites to GEO after flying east out of the Cape. Following liftoff, the currently unknown booster will land on one of SpaceX’s autonomous droneships, which will be stationed downrange in the Atlantic. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 12-6 SpaceX will launch another batch of Group 12 Starlink v2-Mini satellites into low-Earth orbit on Sunday, Dec. 29, at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC) from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This late addition to the launch manifest will see Falcon 9 flying southeast, where an autonomous droneship will be stationed for the attempted booster landing. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 12-3 The final launch of 2024 from SLC-40 in Florida will occur on Sunday, Dec. 29. Starlink Group 12-3 will consist of 23 more Starlink v2-Mini satellites, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities. Falcon 9 will launch the satellites to a 43-degree inclination orbit on a southeastern trajectory. This will be the 132nd Falcon 9 launch of 2024 and the 134th SpaceX mission of 2024. With just two days remaining in the year after this mission, it appears that SpaceX will miss its 136 Falcon launch target. 🚀 PSLV-C60/SPADEX Update: The launch vehicle has been integrated and now moved to the First Launch Pad, for further integration of satellites and launch preparations. Stay tuned for updates on #PSLV -C60 and watch this space for exciting info on the upcoming PSLV-C60/SPADEX... pic.twitter.com/HNUW1SnUdG — ISRO (@isro) December 21, 2024 ISRO PSLV-CA | SPADEX On Monday, Dec. 30, at 16:28 UTC, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch two satellites as part of the Space Docking Experiment (SPADEX) mission. Each satellite masses 220 kg and will demonstrate autonomous docking technologies in orbit. SPADEX will launch atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket from First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India. Ananth Technologies Private Limited (ATL) completed the integration of the two satellites for ISRO and handed them over to ISRO at the UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru. The SPADEX satellites were then transported to the Indian Spaceport at Sriharikota, where they underwent final testing and preparations for launch. ISRO generally builds its satellites at the URSC, but this is the first time that ISRO is having its satellites completely assembled, integrated, and tested by the Indian private industry at a private facility. This shift is enabled by space sector reforms that grant more opportunities to India’s private aerospace sector. In the Core Alone (CA) configuration being used for this mission, India’s PSLV rocket stands 44 meters tall. Four stages power the vehicle into orbit, with no strap-on stages being utilized. The first and third stages utilize solid rocket motors, with the second and fourth stages using liquid propellants. The solid stages provide the power needed to launch PSLV’s payloads, while the liquid stages adjust for any variance from the solid motors’ performance. Once in orbit, the two satellites, Target and Chaser, will be deployed into a 470 km circular orbit at a 55-degree inclination. The PSLV fourth stage will provide the two spacecraft with slightly different velocities, resulting in Target being deployed “ahead” of Chaser. Chaser will then make up the difference, rendezvous with Target, and perform an autonomous docking. Following successful systems checks, Target and Chaser will separate to perform individual tasks for the remainder of their missions. The PSLV fourth stage is also equipped with the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module 4 (POEM-4) spacecraft, which will carry several experiments. SpaceX Falcon 9 | Thuraya 4-NGS SpaceX’s first launch and first customer launch of 2025 will see Falcon 9 launch the Thuraya 4-NGS mission. Launch is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 12:00 AM EST (05:00 UTC ) from SLC-40 in Florida. The payload for this mission is an Airbus-built satellite for Al Yah Satellite Communications Company (Yahsat) of the United Arab Emirates. Thuraya 4-NGS is a next-generation mobile telecommunications system that will deliver higher communications capabilities and flexibility while increasing capacity and coverage across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East. Based on the all-electric Airbus Eurostar Neo Platform, Thuraya 4-NGS will incorporate a 12 m L-band antenna and a payload providing onboard processing. This will give the satellite advanced routing flexibility of up to 3,200 channels and dynamic power allocation over many spot beams. (Lead image: Sunset liftoff of Falcon 9 from LC-39A in December 2024. Credit: Max Evans for NSF)