Hello Taoiseach Micheál Martin: The winners and losers of the 2024 General ElectionNoneB.C. Premier David Eby is promising to seek new export opportunities for the province after U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25-per-cent tariff on all Mexican and Canadian goods. British Columbia exports billions of dollars’ worth of commodities and products – coal and lumber, plastics and machinery – every month, with just over half bound for the United States. It could be worse. Canada as a whole sends three-quarters of its exports to the U.S. B.C. has less exposure to that single market thanks to a long-running policy, embraced by political parties of every stripe, of maintaining a diversified trade portfolio. “We’re going to continue to do our work to expand those trading opportunities,” Mr. Eby told reporters Wednesday. In the 1980s, B.C.’s political leaders set their economic sights on Asia, opening trade offices in Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan with the intent of reducing the province’s dependence on its dominant customer to the south. The province has bankrolled countless trade missions and now maintains 19 overseas trade offices. Yet the U.S. has consistently remained its most important trading partner over the past four decades. At best, the diversification strategy has dampened the siren call of the behemoth at its doorstep. “Canada is so privileged to be next door to this giant economic engine of the United States,” noted former B.C. premier Glen Clark in an interview. “We understand the laws there, we understand the language, we understand the people, and it’s very close, so it’s a natural.” But too much dependence on a single market – no matter how big, no matter how easy – comes with risk. Mr. Trump’s tariff threat should be a catalyst for a fresh commitment to cultivate new markets, said Mr. Clark, who led 13 trade missions to China alone during his term as premier, from 1996 to 1999. “Reviving that trade policy, only with different focus on parts of the world, makes a lot of sense as we move forward in this kind of dangerous time.” In 1987, Mike Harcourt, then the NDP opposition leader, stood up in the legislature and endorsed the Social Credit government’s early trade missions. Even as some Socred backbenchers dismissed the trips as “boondoggles,” Mr. Harcourt pressed for a more aggressive strategy. “We support those initiatives, but we’re not bold enough,” he said, insisting that the province needed to establish outposts in China and India. At the time, the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute was demonstrating the ability of the U.S. to cripple the province’s forest sector. That conflict continues today – a textbook example for Canada of how U.S. protectionism can supersede good trade relations. British Columbia’s position as a trade gateway for Pacific Rim countries was already a reality before politicians tried to help. The year Mr. Harcourt was calling for trade offices in China, just 46 per cent of the province’s exports went to the United States. When he became Premier in 1991, Mr. Harcourt took the opportunity to pursue new markets aggressively. “I started talking about Vancouver being, not the last stop of the CPR railway, but the front door to Asia for Canada,” he said in an interview. But today he believes the province’s trade strategy needs an urgent update to prepare for 2025, when Mr. Trump returns to office. B.C.’s Trade Diversification Strategy was updated in 2023, but much has changed since. The value of softwood lumber exports has stagnated and is now rivalled by sales of machinery and equipment. Meanwhile, energy exports – especially coal – are climbing in value. Mr. Trump’s tariff threats aside, global trade relations are also more complex, particularly with China and India. The two countries are host to almost half of B.C.’s international trade offices outside the U.S. David Emerson helped steer Canada toward trade diversification. As deputy finance minister under then-Premier Bill Bennett and deputy minister to Premier Bill Vander Zalm, he crafted B.C.’s Asian Pacific trade strategy and later introduced the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative as the federal Minister of International Trade. He also was the minister who negotiated the one and only settlement on softwood lumber, in 2006. That agreement expired in 2015. Mr. Emerson says this is not a good time for British Columbia – and Canada – to face a strong protectionist leader in the U.S., because the alternatives are limited. “I do believe we need to grow market penetration in markets other than the U.S., but the greatest potential is in markets where we now have terrible relations,” he said. “Today, relations with China and India are a mess, and the great trade diversification strategy has run into serious trouble.” China is B.C.’s second-largest export destination – one that is growing in value. But Canada and China are in the midst of a trade spat. In August, Ottawa announced a 100-per-cent import tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and a 25-per-cent tariff on steel and aluminum products from China, after the U.S. and the European Union introduced similar measures. The following month, Beijing launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of rapeseed from Canada. Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has signalled he is prepared to reignite trade tensions between the U.S. and China, which could put other trading partners in the crossfire. Canada’s relations with India soured after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last year that there were credible allegations the Indian government had links to the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. Canada has since alleged that India’s Home Affairs Minister, Amit Shah, ordered the targeting of Sikh activists in Canada. Both countries have now expelled each other’s top diplomatic officials. Mr. Trump’s rationale for slapping tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports is to punish both countries for lax border security, allowing illegal migrants and illicit drugs to slip through into the U.S. On Wednesday, Mr. Trudeau met with the premiers to strategize and emerged with a promise to strengthen border security by pumping more money into the Canada Border Services Agency and the RCMP. Mr. Eby, who advocated for that investment as an answer to Mr. Trump’s complaints, said Canada should put up a united front to take on the U.S. trade threat. But in the meantime, he said, he’ll renew his government’s commitment to diversification. “This was definitely the right direction, obviously, in hindsight, and we do have to redouble those efforts, given the instability south of the border.” The decades of previous efforts have shown, however, that changing those trade patterns will be exceptionally difficult.
Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Announces Reverse Stock SplitWEXFORD, PA., Dec. 27, 2024 – Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: COEP) disclosed its plans to undergo a 1-for-40 reverse stock split (the “Reverse Split”) for its common stockThe Australian Parliament’s decision to set the minimum age for making social media profiles at 16 isn’t just a legislative change. It’s a social change that puts the safety and well-being of the next generation first. Until now, social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have required users to be at least 13 years old. Yet as digital technology has evolved, so have the risks. Social media isn’t just a playground of memes, games and online chinwags. It’s also rife with scammers, hackers, predators, recruiters and harmful content. Even adults have proven vulnerable to experiencing depression, anxiety and self-harm — let alone teens. Psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein in her Macquarie Uni article 'Teens’ social media damage can’t be fixed without legislation' argues that social media intensifies teen anxiety by triggering fear of missing out and harms mental health. On top of this, the August 2023 report from the Senate’s Select Committee on Foreign Interference through Social Media found that social media platforms were vulnerable to foreign interference that runs contrary to Australia’s national interest. Social media isn’t just a tool. It’s an environment. Like any, it too requires boundaries to ensure safety. Concern that the reforms may compel users to provide sensitive identity docs and expose them to data breaches is overstated. Thanks to amendments negotiated by the Coalition, platforms can’t compel users to provide official identity docs like a driver’s licence or passport. Besides, any data collected has to be deleted once age verification is completed, unless the user consents to its retention. Bear in mind, social media platforms already hold vast amounts of our personal data, from chat logs and photos to browsing habits. Yet we continue to use their services daily. We trust them the same way we trust banks not to run away with our life savings. If tech giants intended to misuse our private info, they wouldn’t need access to our identity docs anyway. Leaking chat logs, photos and browsing habits (which they already have) is far more concerning than a jpeg of our driver’s licence. Like banks, tech companies have zero incentive to intentionally misuse our data. As for unintentional breaches, these risks aren’t just with tech giants. They can happen with any corporation or government agency. But that doesn’t stop us from engaging with mobile and internet service providers, hospitals, our employers, the tax office, Medicare and the list goes on. In any case, for our peace of mind, these reforms impose penalties of up to $50 million for potential breaches. Some critics seem to be using dramatic language, calling these reforms "draconian" and a case of "nanny state" intervention. Rule of law is the backbone of civilised society. There’s nothing draconian about minors not being allowed to buy booze or ciggies, place bets, gamble, get tattoos, enter nightclubs, drive cars or cast a vote in elections. These are sensible safeguards that rest on the understanding that minors aren’t yet ready to make responsible choices in high impact environments. Applying the same approach to social media acknowledges the digital world is a significant part of children’s lives today, with its own risks that warrant similar safeguards. These reforms are neither about overreach nor about depriving minors from digital tools entirely. That’s precisely why platforms with clear educational or health benefits like YouTube, Messenger Kids and Google Classroom have been exempt. This will ensure that technology continues to play a role in children’s learning and development. What these reforms do target are platforms where the risks of unregulated interaction far outweigh the benefits. TikTok recently revealed it had to remove one million Australian accounts suspected of belonging to users under 13. While tech companies have taken steps to address these challenges, they’ve fallen short of what was needed. Passed with support from both Labor and Liberal, these reforms fill that gap. Australia is now a world leader in establishing safety standards for online environments consistent with the physical world. Some critics are also saying it should be up to parents — not legislation — to manage what kids do online. Parental involvement is critical. Yet modern parenting faces unprecedented challenges. Many struggle to monitor children’s online activity, especially given that social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible. These reforms at last offer parents a long overdue ally. Age brackets on booze, ciggies, betting, gambling, tattoos, clubbing, driving and voting only help parents do their job better. By raising the age for social media, Parliament isn’t replacing parental responsibility. It’s reinforcing it. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has rightly pointed out that saving children from social media’s adverse impact is one of the defining issues of our time. This legislation isn’t perfect. No law is. Some teens will still find ways around it, just as some manage to sneak into nightclubs and casinos. But the occasional rule-breaker doesn’t negate the need for rules in the first place. If we started deregulating every area of policy perceived as unenforceable, we’d be living in a lawless society. Perfection isn’t our goal. Making a meaningful difference is. With 77 per cent of Australians supporting these reforms, it’s clear the wider community recognises the wisdom that underlies them. Social media has revolutionised how we live, work and communicate. It’s brought us both benefits and risks that can’t be ignored. Australians have long criticised Labor and the Liberals for constantly disagreeing with each other instead of joining forces to serve the community. For a change, the bipartisan support for these social media reforms is precisely what Australians have long hoped to see happen. It’s time to embrace the reforms, not as perceived intrusion, but as an actual commitment to safeguarding the next generation. Dr Sherry Sufi is a Western Australian author and columnist. He has since 2015 served as Chairman of the Policy Committee for the Liberal Party of Western Australia. His latest book, Australia On Trial: Accusations and Defence argues that Australia is not a racist country built on "stolen land" and that it does have a way of life worth defending.TSB investigating plane landing incident at Halifax Stanfield International AirportGerman politicians have criticised Elon Musk for an opinion piece he wrote backing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), claiming his support for the party was “intrusive”. The support of the AfD from Musk, who is set to serve in US President-elect Donald Trump's administration, comes as Germans are set to vote on February 23. The vote was triggered after a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed in a dispute over how to revitalise Germany’s stagnant economy. Mr Musk wrote an op-ed in German in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper claiming that “only the AfD can save Germany" and praised the party's approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation. He went on to say the party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality.” The editor of the newspaper’s opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, resigned after the publication of the article. She wrote on X: “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print.” Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats and current favourite to succeed Scholz as chancellor, said in an interview with the Funke Media Group: "I cannot recall a comparable case of interference, in the history of Western democracies, in the election campaign of a friendly country." Mr Merz described the commentary as "intrusive and pretentious". Saskia Esken, co-leader of Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), vowed fierce resistance to attempts by state actors as well as the rich and influential to influence Germany's elections. “In Elon Musk's world, democracy and workers' rights are obstacles to more profit,” she told Reuters. “We say quite clearly: Our democracy is defensible and it cannot be bought.” Welt's editor-in-chief designate defended the decision to publish the commentary, saying that democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of opinion, including polarising positions. The AfD is currently second in the opinion polls and might be able to thwart a centre-right or centre-left majority. However, the party has no realistic possibility of entering power because other parties refuse to work with them.
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Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised by Tories after promising a further £13 million to the UN’s aid agency in Gaza . The Prime Minister met UNRWA commissioner Philippe Lazzarini and committed the extra cash to support refugees in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPTs). The Conservatives paused funding for UNRWA in office following allegations that members of its staff were linked to Hamas and involved in the October 7 atrocities on Israel. The agency fired nine staff members in August after an internal investigation found they may have been involved in the Hamas-led attack. By then, the new Labour government had resumed funding for the agency. Following Sir Keir’s meeting with the aid agency chief on Wednesday, a Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister began by expressing his deep condolences for the many UNRWA staff who have been killed in conflict and they both agreed that more must be done to protect aid workers in Gaza. “The commissioner thanked the Prime Minister for the UK’s resolute support for UNRWA, and they both underscored the importance of upholding international humanitarian law. “On funding, the Prime Minister committed to an additional £13 million to UNRWA to support vital services for Palestinian refugees in the OPTs and the region. “The two reiterated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and an increase of humanitarian aid. “They agreed to continue to work together with international partners to strive for peace in the Middle East.” Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “Securing the release of hostages in Gaza, getting more aid in to alleviate the humanitarian crisis faced and establishing a sustainable peace must be a priority for the Government. “The Prime Minister needs to explain how these priorities were advanced in his discussions with Philippe Lazzarini. “UNRWA had to fire nine staff after investigations into their involvement in the appalling attack on Israel on October 7 last year. All links to the Hamas terrorist group must be severed.” She said the UN must ensure “adequate vetting of personnel and activities”, adding: “Ministers have now committed more taxpayers’ money to UNWRA, but they need to prove to us that the £21 million of funding they released in summer reached those most in need. “There are deeply worrying reports that criminal gangs are ambushing aid in Gaza. “It would be unacceptable for British aid to be abused, used by terrorists, or if it failed to reach the most in need civilians.“ Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said: “The UK Government should not be providing any aid to UNRWA until it has ridded itself of Hamas operatives.”
The Oyo State Government has increased the 2025 capital budgetary allocation for Persons with Disabilities by over 70 per cent of what they received in 2024. The Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, disclosed this in Ibadan during the celebration of the 2024 Stakeholders’ Summit and International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Makinde, represented by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, said the government had prioritised the welfare of the disability community in his over four-year administration. The governor noted that all the requests of persons with disabilities for the next year’s budget plans, as submitted during the last Budget Town Hall meetings, contributed to the increase in their capital budget to N877,500,000. Makinde added that their capital budget was initially N492,000,000, while the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities’ overhead cost has increased from N315,000,000 to N345,000,000. He said, “It is believed that both will take care of their requests, which include transportation empowerment, training of the relevant agency with roles for persons with disabilities, training of enforcement agencies for compliance, purchase of assistive devices, mobility equipment, among others.” The governor added that Oyo State has recruited 510 persons with disabilities into the Oyo State Civil Service. He said, “I have also given the directive that henceforth, in every ministry, the quota for persons with disabilities must be protected.” Makinde recalled that, as soon as he assumed office on May 29, 2023, he appointed Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi as the pioneer Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities. READ ALSO: Makinde attends Ashimolowo’s Ibadan crusade, applauds cleric Makinde said he equally appointed Mr Timothy Olufemi as the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Disability Matters to ensure that PWDs are carried along in governance. His words: “And when God granted me the grace of a second term, I reappointed Barrister Adekanmbi again, but this time as the Pioneer Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and I gave him the mandate to draw a budget line for the agency, find a suitable and conducive office environment to use, and oversee the redeployment of staff to kick-start the agency for persons with disabilities. I am glad to inform you that all these have been done within 1 year and 6 months of Omituntun 2.0. “Presently, as we speak, disability cluster groups’ grants and subventions have been approved, and in no distant time, three operational vehicles will be delivered for the smooth running of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. “It is on record that I am the first governor to politically empower persons with disabilities by appointing them as Supervisory Councilors and SAs across the entire Local Governments of Oyo State, which is what made us stand out as an all-inclusive government across the country.” Speaking earlier, the Director-General of the Oyo State Agency for Persons with Disabilities, Ayodele Adekanmbi, said Makinde’s administration is truly committed to providing opportunities for People Living with Disabilities (PwDs). “The Agency has continued to receive all the necessary support from the administration to ensure that PwDs are carried along. “Since the coming of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, there have been some deliberate initiatives the governor has put in place to improve access to governance and the quality of service to persons with disabilities,” he said.Frustrated Bedard: '100 things' I could do better
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California quarterback Miller Moss is entering the transfer portal after losing the Trojans' starting job last month. Moss made his announcement on social media Monday. Moss started the Trojans ' bowl victory last season and their first nine games this season before coach Lincoln Riley replaced him with Jayden Maiava in early November. “Being a USC Trojan was a lifelong dream of mine,” Moss wrote. “Putting on the cardinal and gold and competing on behalf of my teammates and school is something I will forever take pride in. I poured everything I have into this — body, heart, mind and soul — and am humbled by and proud of what my teammates and I accomplished.” Moss, who was born in Los Angeles and went to high school in the San Fernando Valley, signed with USC before Riley arrived at the school. Moss also stayed with the Trojans after Caleb Williams transferred from Oklahoma to rejoin Riley, and he served as Williams’ backup for two seasons before getting his chance to play with six touchdown passes in last year's Holiday Bowl. Moss completed 64.4% of his passes this season for 2,555 yards with 18 touchdowns and nine interceptions. After a spectacular 378-yard performance to beat LSU in the Trojans' season opener, Moss didn't play poorly as a starter, but he also wasn't a difference-maker while USC stumbled to a 4-5 record. Moss threw seven interceptions in his final five starts before losing the job to Maiava. The Trojans went 1-4 in that stretch under Moss, who plays as a more traditional pocket passer while Maiava has the mobility usually favored for quarterbacks in Riley's spread offense. “Looking towards the future, I'm unwaveringly committed to becoming an even better quarterback and leader, and to achieving this at the next level,” Moss wrote. Moss has already graduated from USC, putting him in the portal as a graduate student. USC (6-6) is headed to a lower-tier bowl game again to finish this season, its third under Riley. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballGerman politicians have criticised Elon Musk for an opinion piece he wrote backing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), claiming his support for the party was “intrusive”. The support of the AfD from Musk, who is set to serve in US President-elect Donald Trump's administration, comes as Germans are set to vote on February 23. The vote was triggered after a coalition government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed in a dispute over how to revitalise Germany’s stagnant economy. Mr Musk wrote an op-ed in German in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper claiming that “only the AfD can save Germany" and praised the party's approach to regulation, taxes and market deregulation. He went on to say the party “can lead the country into a future where economic prosperity, cultural integrity and technological innovation are not just wishes, but reality.” The editor of the newspaper’s opinion section, Eva Marie Kogel, resigned after the publication of the article. She wrote on X: “I always enjoyed leading the opinion section of WELT and WAMS. Today an article by Elon Musk appeared in Welt am Sonntag. I handed in my resignation yesterday after it went to print.” Friedrich Merz, leader of the opposition Christian Democrats and current favourite to succeed Scholz as chancellor, said in an interview with the Funke Media Group: "I cannot recall a comparable case of interference, in the history of Western democracies, in the election campaign of a friendly country." Mr Merz described the commentary as "intrusive and pretentious". Saskia Esken, co-leader of Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), vowed fierce resistance to attempts by state actors as well as the rich and influential to influence Germany's elections. “In Elon Musk's world, democracy and workers' rights are obstacles to more profit,” she told Reuters. “We say quite clearly: Our democracy is defensible and it cannot be bought.” Welt's editor-in-chief designate defended the decision to publish the commentary, saying that democracy and journalism thrive on freedom of opinion, including polarising positions. The AfD is currently second in the opinion polls and might be able to thwart a centre-right or centre-left majority. However, the party has no realistic possibility of entering power because other parties refuse to work with them.