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love online game Delaware judge reaffirms ruling that invalidated massive Tesla pay package for Elon MuskWASHINGTON: The mother of Pete Hegseth , Trump's pick for secretary of defense, wrote him an email in 2018 saying he had routinely mistreated women for years and displayed a lack of character. "On behalf of all the women (and I know it's many) you have abused in some way, I say ... get some help and take an honest look at yourself," Penelope Hegseth wrote, stating that she still loved him. "I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth." Penelope Hegseth, in a phone interview with The New York Times on Friday, said that she had sent her son an immediate follow-up email at the time apologising for what she had written. She said she had fired off the original email "in anger, with emotion" at a time when he and his wife were going through a very difficult divorce. In the interview, she defended her son and disavowed the sentiments she had expressed in the initial email about his character and treatment of women. "It is not true. It has never been true," she said. She added: "I know my son. He is a good father, husband." She said that publishing the contents of the first email was "disgusting." Questions about Pete Hegseth's treatment of women have emerged in the weeks since Trump chose him, a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, to lead the Pentagon. The issue could be a subject of scrutiny during Senate confirmation hearings . Reports of his infidelity have focused attention on his character and leadership, particularly for a civilian overseeing the military, where active-duty service members can be subject to prosecution for adultery under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Another issue is how the senators will view a rape complaint against Hegseth filed to police in Oct 2017 after an incident at a political conference in Monterey, California. No charges were ever brought and the complainant has not come forward publicly. Hegseth has said he was falsely accused by a woman with whom he had a consensual sexual encounter. He secretly paid her a settlement a few years later - only because, according to his lawyer, he wanted to protect his job as weekend anchor at Fox & Friends. Penelope Hegseth emailed her son on April 30, 2018, during a turbulent period in his life. He was in the middle of a contentious divorce from his second wife, Samantha, the mother of three of his children. Samantha Hegseth filed for divorce after her husband impregnated a co-worker, part of a pattern of adultery that dated back to his first marriage. Pete Hegseth's mother wrote in the email that she was upset about his treatment of Samantha, writing: "For you to try to label her as 'unstable' for your own advantage is despicable and abusive. Is there any sense of decency left in you?" "She did not ask for or deserve any of what has come to her by your hand," she said. "Neither did Meredith," Penelope Hegseth added, referring to his first wife. Hegseth forwarded a copy of her email to Samantha the same night she sent it to her son. The NYT obtained a copy of the email from another person with ties to the Hegseth family. Hegseth told the daily on Friday she would consider providing with her apologetic follow-up email to her son but did not immediately do so.

By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Donald Trump that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a plan to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products , a Canadian minister who attended their recent dinner said Monday. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if they don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders with the United States. He said on social media last week that he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose responsibilities include border security, attended a dinner with Trump and Trudeau at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on Friday. Trudeau requested the meeting in a bid to avoid the tariffs by convincing Trump that the northern border is nothing like the U.S. southern border with Mexico . “The prime minister of course spoke about the importance of protecting the Canadian economy and Canadian workers from tariffs, but we also discussed with our American friends the negative impact that those tariffs could have on their economy, on affordability in the United States as well,” LeBlanc said in Parliament. If Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods. The Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, said last week that tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate. Canada is already examining possible retaliatory tariffs on certain items from the U.S. should Trump follow through on the threat. After his dinner with Trump, Trudeau returned home without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. “The idea that we came back empty handed is completely false,” LeBlanc said. “We had a very productive discussion with Mr. Trump and his future Cabinet secretaries. ... The commitment from Mr. Trump to continue to work with us was far from empty handed.” Joining Trump and Trudeau at dinner were Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department, and Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice to be his national security adviser. Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Kirsten Hillman, told The Associated Press on Sunday that “the message that our border is so vastly different than the Mexican border was really understood.” Hillman, who sat at an adjacent table to Trudeau and Trump, said Canada is not the problem when it comes to drugs and migrants. On Monday, Mexico’s president rejected those comments. “Mexico must be respected, especially by its trading partners,” President Claudia Sheinbaum said. She said Canada had its own problems with fentanyl consumption and “could only wish they had the cultural riches Mexico has.” Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs at the two countries’ border are vastly different. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security.Article content Two Second Cup café locations at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital have been shut down after the franchise owner was filmed making Nazi references at a pro-Palestinian protest on Thursday. The CEO of Foodtastic, which owns the Second Cup coffee chain, confirmed the news in an interview with The Gazette on Sunday. The franchisee was recorded outside Concordia University giving the Nazi salute and appearing to tell pro-Israel counter-protesters: “The final solution is coming your way, the final solution. You know what the final solution is?” The phrase, infamous for its association with Nazi Germany’s plan to exterminate Jews, sparked immediate outrage on social media. Foodtastic CEO Peter Mammas said Sunday morning that the company acted swiftly to address the incident. “We found out at around two o’clock on Saturday afternoon,” Mammas said, adding that he was watching Gladiator II in the theatre with his kids at the time. Given the magnitude of the incident, he said, the company moved quickly to then review video evidence and speak to employees and people on the ground to verify the allegations. “The final solution is coming your way.” Today in Montreal, a masked extremist, supposedly on strike, violently threatens a Jewish bystander, using Nazi terminology, demonstrating their intent to import the intifada here and kill Jews. This public hate speech, inciting... pic.twitter.com/XyB1hT601Z “We actually talked to her as well. We basically said, ‘Listen, we cannot allow this to happen.’ We spoke to our lawyers, and we prepared a press release. We could not send out the press release for a few hours, until the lawyers actually sent her a termination letter,” Mammas explained. He said the franchisee did not explicitly confirm the allegations during their discussions but “didn’t deny it either.” The franchisee is now seeking legal counsel, Mammas added. The franchisee and her family members are listed as business owners in Quebec’s registry, with the business’s primary sector of activity listed as takeaway services and coffee counters. One of her family members was featured in Second Cup’s 2015 annual report. Attempts to reach the franchisee for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication. Second Cup first announced the termination of the franchisee via a social media statement on Saturday, emphasizing its “zero tolerance for hate speech” and its commitment to inclusion and community values. Official Statement pic.twitter.com/7gSUjcjAJZ Reflecting on the situation, Mammas said the company stands completely against this type of “violent and hateful” remarks. “Political views are up to individuals, but things like this? We can’t tolerate that.” The two affected Second Cup locations have since been closed, with Foodtastic planning to bring them under temporary corporate ownership. “We’re going to figure out a way to reopen the stores quickly,” Mammas said, adding that the roughly 12 employees at the locations will continue to be paid during the transition. Mammas said that the response to the company’s decision has been “overwhelmingly positive,” including support from franchisees of diverse backgrounds. However he added he had seen some negative responses online, including “silly” threats like breaking Second Cup windows. Carl Thériault, a spokesperson for the Jewish General Hospital, said in a statement Sunday that the hospital was made aware of the videos relating to one of its franchisee and “fully supports” Second Cup’s decision. “This video is related to a franchisee of Second Cup, one of the private tenants operating within the Jewish General Hospital. We fully support Second Cup’s decision to take swift and decisive action in this matter by shutting down the franchisee’s cafes and terminating their lease agreement,” Thériault said. He added: “Our CIUSSS is deeply committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and stands firmly against antisemitism and any other form of discrimination or hate speech.” The incident comes amid heightened tensions in Montreal following a series of protests. Thursday’s pro-Palestinian demonstration saw students march through downtown Montreal in protest of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they say their universities are complicit in. On Friday, a pro-Palestinian, anti-Nato protest escalated into violent clashes , with two vehicles set ablaze, windows smashed, and three arrests made. Montreal police said Sunday that further arrests may follow concerning Friday’s protest. In regards to the Nazi reference, police said no hate crime investigation is underway as “ we have not received any complaints yet.”

Letter writers mark National Family Caregivers’ Month, discuss this month's election results, and celebrate "the sound of freedom" in Hampton Roads. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets Underground fire causes partial parking lot collapse at Williamsburg Premium Outlets Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution Underground fire still burning at Williamsburg Premium Outlets; officials advise caution 7 people in custody after barricade situation in Norfolk 7 people in custody after barricade situation in Norfolk New, old owners agree: NYC businessman’s push to save SS United States is too late New, old owners agree: NYC businessman’s push to save SS United States is too late Virginia live election results Virginia live election results Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83 Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83 Feeding with love: Williamsburg area’s 1st free grocery market opens in Grove community Feeding with love: Williamsburg area's 1st free grocery market opens in Grove community AUTO RACING BRIEFS: EARNHARDT TRIES TO END RUMORS AUTO RACING BRIEFS: EARNHARDT TRIES TO END RUMORS Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Army-Navy 2024: Navy specialty uniforms to honor Jolly Rogers aviation squadron Editorial: Judge correctly rules Youngkin acted unlawfully by ordering RGGI exit Editorial: Judge correctly rules Youngkin acted unlawfully by ordering RGGI exit Trending Nationally Series of racist text messages referencing slavery sent to New York state students, police say Netflix’s “Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey?” takes on Boulder murder in three parts Here’s how Orlando International Airport hopes to solve baggage delays A kayaker faked his own death and fled overseas. Now he’s telling how he did it Percival Everett, 2024 National Book Award winner, rereads one book oftenNone

Pakistan must play a balancing game A warm breeze swept through Islamabad as news spread: Donald Trump has won the US election and was heading back to the White House. His return brought a mix of excitement and worry. Pakistan still remembered Trump’s first term, a time of tense relations, unpredictable decisions, and difficult negotiations. The relationship often felt unstable, like navigating a risky deal. But this time, could Pakistan see Trump’s presidency as a chance rather than a problem? With his “ America First ” policies and unexpected moves, Trump is likely to shake up the world once again. However, this could also give Pakistan an opportunity to find its place in the changing global order and build a stronger strategy. Pakistan can learn from past lessons and confidently navigate the future. By being proactive and planning, Pakistan can safeguard its interests and take charge of shaping its future. Let’s explore some possibilities. Let’s start by reviewing some key lessons from the past; Pakistan’s primary concern and a lesson during Donald Trump’s first term was relying too heavily on its security relationship with the USA, focusing almost exclusively on military ties. This narrow approach left Islamabad vulnerable when Trump shifted his attention to cutting foreign aid and prioritizing his “America First” agenda. When Trump suspended $300 m illion security aid to Pakistan in 2018, it was a wake-up call about the fragility of our reliance on military ties alone. Another key lesson was Pakistan’s lack of engagement with US institutions outside the White House. When Trump suspended security aid in 2018, it became clear that Pakistan had underestimated the role of Congress and think tanks in shaping foreign policy. While Pakistan focused on the White House, it largely ignored Congress, which holds power over aid allocations, creating a gap in understanding and influence, especially during the moments of tension. To avoid these past inconveniences, Pakistan should shift its focus beyond defense and prioritize economic diplomacy, building stronger ties with US businesses, innovation sectors, and trade representatives. Pakistan also needs to understand that the key to a more robust US-Pakistan relationship lies in diversification. Engaging with Congress, think tanks, and even the US public is critical. By broadening its diplomatic approach, Pakistan can ensure a more resilient presence in US policy debates, regardless of who holds the presidency. In short, to thrive under a second Trump Administration, Pakistan must move beyond a one-dimensional relationship with the USA and adopt a multi-faceted diplomatic strategy that considers the broader geopolitical dynamics. With countries like India gaining more support to counter China’s rise, Pakistan faces the challenge of balancing its relationships with both the USA and China. By engaging with the full spectrum of US political and economic life while navigating global power shifts, Pakistan can establish a resilient, long-term diplomatic approach. Furthermore, with Trump’s return to the White House, Pakistan is likely to face more challenges. Imagine standing at the crossroads of two colossal forces, the USA and China, each pulling in opposite directions. Under Trump’s previous leadership, the USA took a firm stance against China, and his next Administration may push for an even sharper divide. This puts Pakistan in a difficult position by balancing its growing economic ties with China and its long-standing security relationship with the USA. The danger lies in being forced to choose sides, risking isolation from one of the global powers. Though there is no overt demand to choose but covert pressure may exist in future, in which case Pakistan may instead adopt a strategy of neutrality, managing its relationships with both the leading powers to protect its national interest without compromising it. Pakistan can serve as a bridge, engaging China through projects like CPEC while cooperating with the USA on shared security issues like counterterrorism. By highlighting its strategic importance in regional and global security, Pakistan can remain indispensable to both the nations, potentially avoiding conflict. Considering Trump’s agenda for reshaping global trade, and with protectionism on the rise, Pakistan can no longer rely heavily on US. trade and aid alone. For example, under Trump’s protectionist policies, Pakistan faced a slowdown in textile exports to the USA, while countries like Bangladesh benefited from GSP trade terms. Additionally, US military aid to Pakistan was reduced in 2018. To navigate Trump’s policies, Pakistan must seize this as a key opportunity to shift its economic strategy, building resilience by diversifying trade partnerships and reducing dependence on the U.S. as relying on the US market alone is risky, especially with Trump’s past rigid policies and Agenda 47 of tariffs and isolationist policies. Exploring alternatives like CPEC and RCEP can help Pakistan build resilience against global shifts. Pakistan should diversify its economic partnerships, tapping into opportunities in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Strengthening agriculture, textiles, and investing in technology and green energy can drive growth independent of U.S. influence. More importantly, Pakistan needs to shift from relying on aid to building stronger, more diverse economic partnerships. By forming new trade agreements and aligning with emerging markets, it can secure its economic future and reduce dependence on U.S. policies. Pakistan’s foreign policy needs to be proactive, especially with Trump back in office. Learning from the past, Pakistan needs to develop a broad diplomatic strategy, balance relations with global powers, and diversify its economic ties with other leading countries. Pakistan needs to act quickly and embrace strategic adaptability. It is not enough to simply react to a Trump-led Administration; Pakistan needs to proactively shape its future. To become strong in a turbulent world, Pakistan first needs to be strong at home. The real question is not whether Pakistan can navigate this shift, but whether it is prepared to seize the opportunity for resilience and growth. The time to act is now. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Eagles seek 7th straight win while Rams try to keep pace in crowded NFC West race

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The City of Edmonton is working on plans to sell two downtown office buildings and relocate hundreds of staff as part of a $22.7 million downtown workplace optimization project. Chancery Hall and Century Place are just steps away from Edmonton's city hall, but city officials think they are too expensive to hold onto. The city is aiming to consolidate operations into existing owned or leased spaces and prepare the two properties for sale. City officials say the move is intended to cut operating costs, streamline efficiency, and make better use of underutilized properties in the city's downtown core. "By moving, we can save on those future expenses," said Pascale Ladouceur, branch manager of infrastructure planning and design for the city. "It really allows us to optimize our workspaces in downtown, bring more people together and create more vibrant and connected office spaces as well." The plan involves renovating city-owned and leased spaces to accommodate 1,350 staff being relocated from the two office buildings. It will require buying new furnishings and managing the logistics of moving employees and technology infrastructure currently housed at Century Place. The office vacancy rate is at 21.4 per cent for downtown Edmonton. (Paige Parsons/CBC) If approved by council, the city says that funding for the project will come from the interim financing reserve and be repaid through proceeds from the sales of the buildings and savings from reduced costs. But the plan does come with risks. "Our biggest risk is how we're going to be able to sell and when we're going to be able to sell the buildings and get that investment going." said Ladouceur. In recent years, Edmonton's downtown office market has faced some challenges with high vacancy rates, partially driven by the pandemic's impact on commercial real estate and the ongoing shift to hybrid work. Downtown Edmonton 'education district' could spur revitalization, school leaders say Edmonton city council approves 8.9% property tax increase for 2024 In commercial real estate company CBRE's 2024 quarterly report, the data shows that the overall Edmonton market vacancy rate was 20.1 per cent, while the vacancy rate across the downtown submarkets was at 21.4 per cent. One commercial real estate expert says the move could be a good thing for the downtown. "Buildings that aren't well used are not a positive contributor to their neighbourhoods," said Cory Wosnack, managing director at Avison Young real estate agency. "But those buildings are contenders for a conversion to another use that would then activate that neighbourhood in a different way." City officials outlined strategies to mitigate the risks in private reports to council, framing the project as a potential opportunity, if the buildings are repurposed for residential or mixed-use developments. Business leaders call on governments to invest in downtown Edmonton "These buildings are not something we want to get rid of. They're assets and we really believe that they have value and that a private investor will see the opportunity to envision the space." said Ladouceur. The city hopes to start the move by the end of 2025, but a final timeline for relocating staff and listing the properties for sale will be discussed next week as part of the overall budget plan.A rape allegation against rapper Jay-Z, whose company Roc Nation has produced some of the NFL’s entertainment presentations including the Super Bowl halftime show, will not affect the league’s relationship with the music mogul. “We’re aware of the civil allegations and Jay-Z’s really strong response to that,” NFL (National Football League) commissioner Roger Goodell said on Wednesday after the conclusion of the league’s winter meetings. “We know the litigation is happening now. From our standpoint, our relationship is not changing with them, including our preparations for the next Super Bowl.” A woman who previously sued musician Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging she was raped at an awards show after-party in 2000 when she was 13 years old, amended the lawsuit on Sunday to include a new allegation that Jay-Z was also at the party and participated in the sexual assault. Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, said the rape allegation made against him is part of an extortion attempt. The 24-time Grammy Award winner called the allegations “idiotic” and “heinous in nature” in a statement released by Roc Nation. The NFL teamed up with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in 2019 for events and social activism. The league and the entertainment company extended their partnership a few months ago. Kendrick Lamar will perform the Super Bowl halftime show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9. Roc Nation and Emmy-winning producer Jesse Collins will serve as co-executive producers of the halftime show. Beyonce, who is married to Jay-Z, will perform at halftime of the Baltimore Ravens-Houston Texans game at Christmas. “I think they’re getting incredibly comfortable not just with the Super Bowl but other events they’ve advised us on and helped us with,” Mr Goodell said. “They’ve been a big help in the social justice area to us on many occasions. They’ve been great partners.” We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate. Last Updated: Are you sure you want to delete this comment?AP News Summary at 1:48 p.m. ESTSome tech industry leaders are pushing the incoming Trump administration to increase visas for highly skilled workers from other nations. Related Articles National Politics | Trump threat to immigrant health care tempered by economic hopes National Politics | In states that ban abortion, social safety net programs often fail families National Politics | Court rules Georgia lawmakers can subpoena Fani Willis for information related to her Trump case National Politics | New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns National Politics | Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen The heart of the argument is, for America to remain competitive, the country needs to expand the number of skilled visas it gives out. The previous Trump administration did not increase the skilled visa program, instead clamping down on visas for students and educated workers, increasing denial rates. Not everyone in corporate America thinks the skilled worker program is great. Former workers at IT company Cognizant recently won a federal class-action lawsuit that said the company favored Indian employees over Americans from 2013 to 2022. A Bloomberg investigation found Cognizant, and other similar outsourcing companies, mainly used its skilled work visas for lower-level positions. Workers alleged Cognizant preferred Indian workers because they could be paid less and were more willing to accept inconvenient or less-favorable assignments. Question: Should the U.S. increase immigration levels for highly skilled workers? Caroline Freund, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy YES: Innovation is our superpower and it relies on people. Sourcing talent from 8 billion people in the world instead of 330 million here makes sense. Nearly half our Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children. Growing them also relies on expanding our skilled workforce. The cap on skilled-worker visas has hardly changed since the computer age started. With AI on the horizon, attracting and building talent is more important than ever. Kelly Cunningham, San Diego Institute for Economic Research YES: After years of openly allowing millions of undocumented entrants into the country, why is there controversy over legally increasing somewhat the number having desirable skills? Undocumented immigration significantly impacts lower skill level jobs and wages competing with domestic workers at every skill level. Why should special cases be made against those having higher skills? Could they just not walk across the border anyway, why make it more inconvenient to those with desirable skills? James Hamilton, UC San Diego YES: Knowledge and technology are key drivers of the U.S. economy. Students come from all over the world to learn at U.S. universities, and their spending contributed $50 billion to U.S. exports last year. Technological advantage is what keeps us ahead of the rest of the world. Highly skilled immigrants contribute much more in taxes than they receive in public benefits. The skills immigrants bring to America can make us all better off. Norm Miller, University of San Diego YES: According to Forbes, the majority of billion-dollar startups were founded by foreigners. I’ve interviewed dozens of data analysts and programmers from Berkeley, UCSD, USD and a few other schools and 75% of them are foreign. There simply are not enough American graduates to fill the AI and data mining related jobs now exploding in the U.S. If we wish to remain a competitive economy, we need highly skilled and bright immigrants to come here and stay. David Ely, San Diego State University YES: Being able to employ highly skilled workers from a larger pool of candidates would strengthen the competitiveness of U.S. companies by increasing their capacity to perform research and innovate. This would boost the country’s economic output. Skilled workers from other nations that cannot remain in the U.S. will find jobs working for foreign rivals. The demand for H-1B visas far exceeds the current cap of 85,000, demonstrating a need to modify this program. Phil Blair, Manpower YES: Every country needs skilled workers, at all levels, to grow its economy. We should take advantage of the opportunity these workers provide our employers who need these skills. It should be blended into our immigration policies allowing for both short and long term visas. Gary London, London Moeder Advisors YES: San Diego is a premiere example of how highly skilled workers from around the globe enrich a community and its regional economy. Of course Visa levels need to be increased. But let’s go further. Tie visas and immigration with a provision that those who are admitted and educated at a U.S. university be incentivized, or even required, to be employed in the U.S. in exchange for their admittance. Bob Rauch, R.A. Rauch & Associates NO: While attracting high-skilled immigrants can fill critical gaps in sectors like technology, health care and advanced manufacturing, increasing high-skilled immigration could displace American workers and drive down wages in certain industries. There are already many qualified American workers available for some of these jobs. We should balance the need for specialized skills with the impact on the domestic workforce. I believe we can begin to increase the number of visas after a careful review of abuse. Austin Neudecker, Weave Growth YES: We should expand skilled visas to drive innovation and economic growth. Individuals who perform high-skilled work in labor-restricted industries or graduate from respected colleges with relevant degrees should be prioritized for naturalization. We depend on immigration for GDP growth, tax revenue, research, and so much more. Despite the abhorrent rhetoric and curtailing of visas in the first term, I hope the incoming administration can be persuaded to enact positive changes to a clearly flawed system. Chris Van Gorder, Scripps Health YES: But it should be based upon need, not politics. There are several industries that have or could have skilled workforce shortages, especially if the next administration tightens immigration as promised and expected. Over the years, there have been nursing shortages that have been met partially by trained and skilled nurses from other countries. The physician shortage is expected to get worse in the years to come. So, this visa program may very well be needed. Jamie Moraga, Franklin Revere NO: While skilled immigration could boost our economy and competitiveness, the U.S. should prioritize developing our domestic workforce. Hiring foreign nationals in sensitive industries or government-related work, especially in advanced technology or defense, raises security concerns. A balanced approach could involve targeted increases in non-sensitive high-demand fields coupled with investment in domestic STEM education and training programs. This could address immediate needs while strengthening the long-term STEM capabilities of the American workforce. Not participating this week: Alan Gin, University of San DiegoHaney Hong, San Diego County Taxpayers AssociationRay Major, economist Have an idea for an Econometer question? Email me at phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com . Follow me on Threads: @phillip020

Electric vehicles are growing in popularity but still make up a small percentage of total car sales. More than two decades of vehicle and infrastructure development have yielded only a 6.8% market share for EVs in the United States. Part of the problem is range anxiety — owners’ fear that they won’t be able to get where they need to go on a full charge. But as charging stations proliferate and EV range increases, that fear should fade. To help, Edmunds’ experts have compiled a list of five of the highest-range electric vehicles available for less than $50,000. The vehicles on this list are specific trims and configurations that offer the most range for the least money. The range ratings listed below are a combination of EPA and manufacturer estimates. Edmunds does its own independent EV range testing, which can be found on its website. Prices listed here include destination charges. With an ultra-low starting price, the Equinox EV is both affordable and practical. Chevy estimates its range at 319 miles. That, of course, is not a formal EPA estimate, but it’s identical to what the EPA estimated for the Equinox with this powertrain for 2024. The big difference for 2025 is a significantly lower starting price for a car with fewer features and slightly more power. Still, the Equinox includes several meaningful driver assist features, such as automated emergency braking and rear parking sensors, as standard. Equinox LT FWD price: $34,995 A max 320-mile EPA range rating helps make Ford’s iconically named EV reasonably practical. The Mach-E charges slower than other EVs in this price range, but it’s more engaging to drive than many competitors. Its hatchback body and low ride height represent a practical middle ground between a sedan and an SUV. There are also multiple powertrains available, including a more powerful GT version and a shorter-range variant that costs less. Overall, the Mach-E represents an attractive, fun and utilitarian EV for the money. Mach-E Premium Extended Range RWD price: $48,990 With up to 342 miles of EPA-estimated range and a sub-$44,000 starting price, the Ioniq 6 is a masterfully utilitarian electric sedan. Part of its appeal is compatibility with the latest quick-charging technology, which Hyundai says allows it to charge from 10% to 80% in less than 18 minutes. It can also fully replenish its battery on a home charger in less than seven hours. Edmunds verified Hyundai’s charging claims, but as always, they are condition-dependent. Though the Ioniq’s styling may not be for everyone, there’s no denying the appeal of Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Ioniq 6 SE RWD price: $43,850 Tesla’s Model Y was among the first all-electric SUVs and it remains the standard bearer for small electric SUVs. It offers an EPA-estimated range of up to 320 miles. We also like the Y’s utility. There’s decent storage behind the second-row seats, a handy rear underfloor storage area and even a front trunk. You can also make the most of the Model Y’s range on road trips thanks to Tesla’s nationwide network of easy-to-use Supercharger fast charging stations. 2025 Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive price: $44,990 Tesla made big updates to its Model 3 for the 2024 model year. Tesla estimates that the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive version can go 363 miles on a full charge. That’s an ample surplus of miles for most people’s needs. And the Model 3 has shown itself to be one of the most efficient EVs available, using less electrical power per mile driven than many competitors. What’s more, range is but one of the 3’s many merits. It accelerates quickly, handles well, and brings together luxury and affordability in a thoroughly modern design. 2024 Model 3 Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive price: $42,490 Every EV on this list offers more than 300 miles of range, which is as much as most people need. But it’s important to also keep in mind that maximum range can be reduced by cold weather, hilly terrain and aggressive driving styles. This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds. Josh Jacquot is a contributor at Edmunds.

The Ducks will ring in December by hosting the Ottawa Senators on Sunday in a matchup of teams that are an eyelash under .500 with designs on gaining some upward momentum. They’ll enter the clash with identical .477 points percentages that situate them near the bottom of their respective divisions but not far behind a crowded pack of middling clubs. The Ducks have had more of a defensive inclination while the Senators have shown more scoring pop to date. Ducks coach Greg Cronin said his team hadn’t “had too many stinkers” of late, and that’s been reflected by their 5-3-1 record across their past nine games, with four of their five-plus-goal games this season arriving in that span. “Since we got back from that New York trip, I think we’ve been on a pretty good path in terms of playing with an identity and competing,” Cronin said. They had to grind hard on Black Friday, when they played what Cronin described as something of a postseason-style game against the Kings at Honda Center. Though they fell 2-1 to what veteran forward Ryan Strome described as a “mature, veteran team” that they couldn’t quite edge past despite playing a “disciplined, structured and north-south” game, the Ducks still felt they carried forward some positive indicators from their recent play. “It was a good hockey game. We competed hard. I thought we dictated a lot of the game. We played similar to the way we’ve been playing,” Strome said. Kings coach Jim Hiller concurred. With teams frequently playing the Southern California franchises back to back, he and Cronin get constant looks at one another’s teams during pre-scouts, and Hiller assessed the Ducks’ performance quite favorably. “I thought – we’ve played them this year, I’ve scouted them this year – I thought that’s the best game they’ve played this year. I thought they played very well,” Hiller said. Time will tell if Sunday’s match elicits similar plaudits from Ottawa coach Travis Green, who spent parts of two seasons with the Ducks as a player and is in his first year as the Sens’ head coach after previously guiding the Vancouver Canucks and New Jersey Devils briefly. Though Brock McGinn has made some progress in his return, he and Robby Fabbri remained unavailable. So, too, did Leo Carlsson, whose upper-body injury has kept him out of the Ducks’ past two matches. Cam Fowler will be a game-time decision. Related Articles Troy Terry has four points across his three-game scoring streak, while Trevor Zegras just snapped a four-gamer that saw him compile six points. For Ottawa, forwards Tim Stützle and Drake Batherson each have seven points in the Sens’ past five outings. Captain Brady Tkachuk, whom Cronin suggested could be a model for his own power forward Mason McTavish, has racked up five points during a three-game surge. Those are the three Senators scoring above a point per game this season, with Stützle’s 28 points in 22 games leading the way. When: 5 p.m. Sunday Where: Honda Center How to watch: Victory+Man ‘left permanently scarred’ after horror ‘XL Bully attack’ at Scots flatsFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Republican senators pushed back on Sunday against criticism from Democrats that Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s pick to lead U.S. intelligence services, is ‘’compromised’' by her comments supportive of Russia and secret meetings, as a congresswoman, with Syria’s president, a close ally of the Kremlin and Iran. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a veteran of combat missions in Iraq, said she had concerns about Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice to be director of national intelligence. ''I think she's compromised," Duckworth said on CNN's ''State of the Union," citing Gabbard's 2017 trip to Syria, where she held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. Gabbard was a Democratic House member from Hawaii at the time. ''The U.S. intelligence community has identified her as having troubling relationships with America's foes. And so my worry is that she couldn't pass a background check,'' Duckworth said. Gabbard, who said last month she is joining the Republican party, has served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades. She was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait and, according to the Hawaii National Guard, received a Combat Medical Badge in 2005 for ''participation in combat operations under enemy hostile fire in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III." Duckworth's comments drew immediate backlash from Republicans. ''For her to say ridiculous and outright dangerous words like that is wrong," Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, said on CNN, challenging Duckworth to retract her words. ''That's the most dangerous thing she could say — is that a United States lieutenant colonel in the United States Army is compromised and is an asset of Russia.'' In recent days, other Democrats have accused Gabbard without evidence of being a ''Russian asset.'' Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, has claimed, without offering details, that Gabbard is in Russian President Vladimir ''Putin's pocket.'' Mullin and others say the criticism from Democrats is rooted in the fact that Gabbard left their party and has become a Trump ally. Democrats say they worry that Gabbard's selection as national intelligence chief endangers ties with allies and gives Russia a win. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat just elected to the Senate, said he would not describe Gabbard as a Russian asset, but said she had ''very questionable judgment.'' ''The problem is if our foreign allies don't trust the head of our intelligence agencies, they'll stop sharing information with us,'' Schiff said on NBC's ''Meet the Press.'' Gabbard in 2022 endorsed one of Russia's justifications for invading Ukraine: the existence of dozens of U.S.-funded biolabs working on some of the world's nastiest pathogens. The labs are part of an international effort to control outbreaks and stop bioweapons, but Moscow claimed Ukraine was using them to create deadly bioweapons. Gabbard said she just voiced concerns about protecting the labs. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said he thought it was ''totally ridiculous'' that Gabbard was being cast as a Russian asset for having different political views. ''It's insulting. It's a slur, quite frankly. There's no evidence that she's a asset of another country,'' he said on NBC. Sen. James Lankford, another Oklahoma Republican, acknowledged having ''lots of questions'' for Gabbard as the Senate considers her nomination to lead the intelligence services. Lankford said on NBC that he wants to ask Gabbard about her meeting with Assad and some of her past comments about Russia. ''We want to know what the purpose was and what the direction for that was. As a member of Congress, we want to get a chance to talk about past comments that she's made and get them into full context,'' Lankford said.

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has launched the distribution of cash grants to 9,700 beneficiaries under the Livelihood Grant and Social Cash Transfer Payment schemes, part of the Sokoto Community Action for Resilient and Economic Stimulus (SOSCARES) program. This initiative aims to improve living conditions, reduce poverty, and promote self-reliance among residents. Since assuming office, Governor Aliyu’s administration has disbursed financial support to thousands of beneficiaries under the Sokoto CARES program. Aliyu stated this at the flag-off payment of Livelihood and Social Cash Transfer Grants to beneficiaries under the Sokoto State CARES Programme. The programme is among many programmes being introduced by Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration to improve the living conditions of people, reduce poverty as well promote their self-dependency. Gov Aliyu said his administration on Assumption of leadership, disbursed several financial supports to thousands of beneficiaries under the Sokoto CARES programme. Under the Small and Medium Enterprises Scheme state government disbursed N1.5 billion to over 8,300 beneficiaries with the lowest grant size of One hundred thousand and a maximum size of Five hundred. Similarly, Under Fadama CARES a total of over 48,000 smallholder farmers received various agricultural inputs. ‘We have equally constructed many rural roads across the 3 senatorial zones across the state to facilitate transportation of farm produce to markets. This is in addition to the disbursement of grinding machines and small ruminants to hundreds of beneficiaries free of charge. ‘Today’s event is yet another ground-breaking one, we would insha Allah commence the disbursement of Livelihood Grant to Economically Active beneficiaries to support their livelihood. According to him, a total of 9,700 beneficiaries will start receiving their alert today, of N75,000, N100,000 and N150,000 each. This grant is to support and encourage your livelihood endeavours. Aliyu said his administration has equally inherited a payment backlog of 4 months of Social Cash Transfers of 40,000 each to 1,950 beneficiaries. A total of 640 beneficiaries have so far corrected their BVN with their NIN in line with the CBN provisions, and they will start receiving their alert today. He further said reconciliation of the remaining will continue simultaneously with their payment, No one will be left behind. The State government has already made funds available to the Delivery Platforms for the enrolment of a new set of beneficiaries. 3,000 new beneficiaries would be enrolled under Social Cash Transfers, 10,000 beneficiaries under Livelihood and over 13,000 new beneficiaries under Operational Grants to SMEs, all of these are with immediate effect. He reiterates his administration’s determination to continue to introduce poverty reduction initiatives to make teeming Populace productive and enterprising. He calls on the beneficiaries of the social cash transfer, Operational Grants and other forms of interventions to make the best use of the monies given to them by investing the money in the best way that it will generate income for them. While commending other partners in the poverty reduction interventions for their uncommon support towards making our programmes successful.The cost of beef continues to rise, reaching record highs on grocery store shelves ahead of the busiest time for many grocers and butchers before the holiday season. One kilogram of ground beef is now averaging at $13 compared to $10 in 2020. A sirloin steak is averaging around $22, compared to under $16 in 2016, according to Statistics Canada. Joel Orlik, owner of Wellington Butchery in Ottawa's west end, says saw the rises coming and ordered his cuts ahead of time. Even though he doesn't want to scare customers away, he knows where the market is at. "We charge what we think we have to charge, but we're always cognizant of the fact that we're also the community store." he said. Orlik considers Wellington Butchery a fine craft butcher but says over the years, the price difference isn't far off that of retail grocers. "The grocery stores have been actually catching up to me on price. When they're selling something similar to our quality, they're not far off," said Orlik. The beef market has seen other setbacks in the past, including mad cow disease 20 years ago and the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw cattle ranchers sell off most of their herds. Sylvain Charlebois, a food distribution expert and professor at Dalhousie University, says the increasing prices is due in part to North American farmers parting ways with their herds due to an increased cost of feed. With the price of a steer up 64 percent since 2019, grocers, butchers and consumers are being being affected. "They're likely going to rise even more, over the next couple of years unfortunately." Charlebois said. "They went through a major crisis with mad cow 20 years ago, and when prices are up, a lot of people are saying, 'let's sell now. Let's get out and do something else.' That's really what's going on. that's why prices are so high. and who can blame them?" Charlebois said the size of herds in Canada is at the same level as in 1987. In the United States, levels that high haven't been seen since 1951. "Because of droughts, feed costs went up and when feed costs go up dramatically, cattle ranchers tend to sell off their herd," Charlebois said. He believes with beef being priced the way it is, people will turn to other alternatives for their protein that are more reasonably priced during the holidays. "I do think that turkeys are actually going to be priced appropriately this year, as we saw at Thanksgiving. In some parts of Ontario, we saw turkey sold at $0.90 a pound." Charlebois said. "Beef is arguably one of the most volatile products at a supermarket. it's been like that for many years now." Strong demand in North America for steaks and ground beef is also contributing to higher prices. Charlebois notes that if farmers don't reinvest in the market, prices will only continue to rise over the next two to three years. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Toronto man accused of posing as surgeon, performing cosmetic procedures on several women A 29-year-old Toronto man has been charged after allegedly posing as a surgeon and providing cosmetic procedures on several women. Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage young girl with hug and kiss A Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage and reassure a young girl when he hugged and kissed during his testimony at Saskatoon Provincial Court Friday. Bob Bryar, drummer for rock band My Chemical Romance, dead at 44 Bob Bryar, former drummer for the band My Chemical Romance, has died. He was reportedly 44. Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations if they act to undermine U.S. dollar U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Saturday threatened 100 per cent tariffs against a bloc of nine nations if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. W5 Investigates | 'I never took part in beheadings': Canadian ISIS sniper has warning about future of terror group An admitted Canadian ISIS sniper held in one of northeast Syria’s highest-security prisons has issued a stark warning about the potential resurgence of the terror group. 'Disappointing': Toronto speed camera cut down less than 24 hours after being reinstalled A Toronto speed camera notorious for issuing tens of thousands of tickets to drivers has been cut down again less than 24 hours after it was reinstalled. Bruce the tiny Vancouver parrot lands internet fame with abstract art Mononymous painter Bruce has carved a lucrative niche on social media with his abstract artworks, crafted entirely from the colourful juices of fruits. Poilievre suggests Trudeau is too weak to engage with Trump, Ford won't go there While federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has taken aim at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week, calling him too 'weak' to engage with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, Ontario Premier Doug Ford declined to echo the characterization in an exclusive Canadian broadcast interview set to air this Sunday on CTV's Question Period. Atlantic Furry fashionista’s turn Halifax street into Maritimes’ cutest runway The annual pet parade, an adored holiday tradition, returned to Halifax on Saturday. 3,500 people without power in New Brunswick after heavy snowfall Roughly 3,500 people in New Brunswick are still without power after wet, heavy snowfall caused trees to come into contact with power lines early Friday morning. Port Elgin, N.B., rallies behind woman's plan to light historic landmark at Christmas Jackie Giles received overwhelming support when she asked her community to help her decorate the historic bridge in Port Elgin, N.B., for Christmas Toronto Toronto man accused of posing as surgeon, performing cosmetic procedures on several women A 29-year-old Toronto man has been charged after allegedly posing as a surgeon and providing cosmetic procedures on several women. Why this Toronto man ran so a giant stickman could dance Colleagues would ask Duncan McCabe if he was training for a marathon, but, really, the 32-year-old accountant was committing multiple hours of his week, for 10 months, to stylistically run on the same few streets in Toronto's west end with absolutely no race in mind. It was all for the sake of creating a seconds-long animation of a dancing stickman for Strava. 'Disappointing': Toronto speed camera cut down less than 24 hours after being reinstalled A Toronto speed camera notorious for issuing tens of thousands of tickets to drivers has been cut down again less than 24 hours after it was reinstalled. Montreal Canada Post strike threatens holiday fundraising for charities Charities across Canada are bracing for a tough holiday season as the Canada Post workers’ strike disrupts donation drives and fundraising efforts. Buying a home? Here's everything you need to know about Quebec's 'welcome' tax Anyone who has bought a home in Quebec knows the rollercoaster high of making that big, life-changing purchase – and the sudden crash that occurs when the welcome tax bill comes in the mail, alongside its 30-day payment deadline. Immigrants take to the streets to protest against the freezing of immigration programmes In response to the freeze on immigration programmes announced by Ottawa, an organization that defends the rights of immigrants is organising a demonstration in front of the Montreal office of the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration early on Saturday afternoon. Northern Ontario Saultites keep digging as the snow keeps falling Snowfall in Sault Ste. Marie seemed to be delayed this year, but the cruel joke by Mother Nature saw a single dump make up for weeks of fall-like weather. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Man fined $10K for abandoning homemade barge in Lake Nipissing A man from Lavigne, Ont., has been fined $10,000 for abandoning a homemade barge in Lake Nipissing. Windsor Dancing With The Stars in Windsor raises $60K for Easter Seals Windsor city councillor Renaldo Agostino and fitness coach Scott Tousignant were among the local celebrities who competed at the 2nd annual Dancing With The Easter Seals Stars event in Windsor. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Habitat Windsor-Essex marks milestone as it adapts to growing housing crisis Habitat for Humanity Windsor-Essex is marking a major milestone for the number of homes it has built, repaired or restored over the past 30 years. London 'We have to remain strong': Striking London postal workers hold solidarity rally Dozens of striking postal workers with London local 566 rallied Saturday outside the Canada Post administration building on Highbury Avenue. Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Collision closes Wellington Road northbound A two vehicle collision had crews on the scene this morning in the south end of the city. Kitchener developing | Shooting investigation underway in Kitchener, one taken to hospital: police Police received a report of a shooting at 49 Ardelt Ave. near the area of Ottawa Street South and Homer Watson Boulevard around 3:55 p.m. Saturday. SIU invokes mandate after OPP-involved shooting on Highway 401 in Cambridge Highway 401, through Kitchener, was brought to a standstill Friday due to a police-involved shooting. Missing teenager last seen in Kitchener The Waterloo Regional Police Services (WRPS) is searching for a 14-year-old girl who was last seen in Kitchener on Nov. 28. Barrie Muskoka reacts to major snowfall From road closures, power outages, weather declarations and nonstop shovelling, Muskoka residents were faced with nearly a metre of persistent snowfall on Saturday. Snow closes portion of Highway 11 OPP have closed a segment of Highway 11 in South Muskoka due to unsafe driving conditions caused by weather. Muskoka declares significant weather event The District Municipality of Muskoka has declared a significant weather event in response to the snow that continues to fall in the region. Winnipeg Manitoba Métis Federation signs historic self-governing treaty with Canada The Manitoba Métis Federation has signed a self-governing treaty with Ottawa, becoming the first Métis group to do so in the country’s history. City shuts out province with 6-0 win in Winnipeg 150 hockey game The provincial government opened the floodgates to the City of Winnipeg Saturday, falling 6-0 in a match-up 50 years in the making. Animal welfare advocates call for new regulations in online pet sales Animal welfare advocates are calling for new regulations and practices in place for people giving pets away online. Calgary Man hospitalized following back alley assault early Saturday in southeast A man was hospitalized with serious injuries after being assaulted early Saturday morning. Calgary Swifties gather at Brownstone to shake off missing out on tickets at Swiftie Squad Pop-Up Party Talk about glass half full people! Man who died trying to help stranded motorist identified as Khalid Farooq, father of 5 The man who lost his life trying to help a stranded motorist Wednesday has been identified as Khalid Farooq. Edmonton Canadian team told Trump's tariffs unavoidable right now, but solutions on the table in surprise Mar-a-Lago meeting During a surprise dinner at Mar-a-Lago, representatives of the federal government were told U.S. tariffs from the incoming Donald Trump administration cannot be avoided in the immediate term, two government sources tell CTV News. Fire breaks out in southeast Edmonton business A fire broke out at a trucking company in southeast Edmonton on Saturday afternoon. Massage therapist charged in connection with sexual assault at Mill Woods clinic An Edmonton massage therapist has been charged with sexual assault in connection with an incident earlier this year. Regina Mistletoe Market returns to RCMP Heritage Centre The RCMP Heritage Centre was abuzz on Saturday afternoon with artists and Christmas shoppers. Regina's LED volume wall leaving Sask. months after opening Less than a year after an LED volume wall was introduced to the film world in Saskatchewan, the equipment is making its exit from the province. Over 400 volunteers play a part in 2024 Canadian Western Agribition As the Canadian Western Agribition (CWA) comes to s close, organizers are celebrating the volunteers who have helped make the event a success over the years. Saskatoon Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage young girl with hug and kiss A Saskatoon priest accused of sexual assault says he meant to encourage and reassure a young girl when he hugged and kissed during his testimony at Saskatoon Provincial Court Friday. One dead, two injured in Sask. highway collision A 61-year-old man was killed and two others were taken to hospital following a collision between an SUV and a truck near Prince Albert on Friday night. Saskatoon temporary smudge location to be taken down While the City of Saskatoon says it granted a temporary permit for smudging and a ceremonial open fire, that expired at 6p.m. Tuesday night. Vancouver Watch: Noisy throng of sea lions frolic near Jericho Beach A large swarm of California sea lions have converged in the waters near Vancouver’s Jericho and Locarno beaches. Potential unmarked graves identified at former residential school in central B.C. The chief of a First Nation in central British Columbia says potential unmarked graves have been identified at the site of the former Lejac Indian Residential School after nearly two years of geophysical survey work. B.C. Métis Nation votes to withdraw immediately from Métis National Council Members of the Métis Nation British Columbia have voted to leave the national organization, the Métis National Council, effective immediately. Vancouver Island Yuletide festivities help kick off holiday season in Greater Victoria Greater Victoria has a host of yuletide festivities this weekend for residents ready to kick off the holiday season. Supreme Court clears way for B.C. to include other governments in opioid lawsuit B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says a Supreme Court of Canada victory has cleared a "pathway" for governments across the country to go after opioid makers and distributors for damages arising from the opioid crisis. Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna Study of 2023 Okanagan wildfires recommends limiting development in high-risk areas A study into the devastating wildfires that struck British Columbia's Okanagan region in 2023 has recommended that government and industry limit development in high-fire-risk areas. Kelowna, B.C., to host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026 The Western Hockey League's Kelowna Rockets will host the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026, the Canadian Hockey League said Wednesday. 545 vehicles impounded in 332 days: BC Highway Patrol pleads for drivers to slow down Mounties with the BC Highway Patrol in Kelowna say they've impounded more than 545 vehicles for excessive speed and aggressive driving so far this year. That works out to more than 1.6 per day. Stay Connected

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In Civilization 7 , unlike previous games in the series, any leader can lead any civilization. So your choice of civilization is completely independent, allowing for a huge set of possible bonuses. And while your chosen leader will follow you all the way to the end, you'll choose a new civilization for each of the three acts: Antiquity, Exploration, and Modern. Each civ comes with a unique ability, unique civics, at least two unique units, and one or more unique infrastructures (which is basically the new name for unique buildings). They also specialize in two of the six civ attributes (Cultural, Economic, Diplomatic, Expansionist, Militarist, and Scientific). Here are all of the civs we know about so far: Age: Antiquity Historical context: Founded in the 1st century CE and hitting its height around the 500s, the Aksumite Empire was based around what is now Northern Ethiopia, and was considered by some an equal to Rome and Persia. Attributes: Cultural, Economic Unique ability: Kingdom of Natural Wealth. All resources that produce Gold produce more of it. Unique military unit: Dhow. An early naval unit with increased strength on coasts and the ability to create a naval trade route. Unique civilian unit: Tankwa. A trade ship that cannot be pillaged and has increased trade route range. Unique improvement: Hawlit. Produces culture for each adjacent wonder, but can only be built on flat land. Our advice: The Asksumites are poised to dominate in coastal trade, with safe shipping lanes and an advantage in coastal naval combat. Saving up some gold for later ages while your culture flourishes seems like a wise plan. Age: Antiquity Historical context: One of the oldest complex agricultural civilizations, they're known today for some rather large triangles and many of the earliest depictions of furries and scalies. Fun fact: Cleopatra lived closer to the present day than to the last time you finished an entire campaign of Civ on Marathon speed. Attributes: Cultural, Economic Unique ability: Gifts of Osiris. Tiles on navigable rivers give more Production. Unique military unit: Medjay. Infantry with increased strength in friendly territory, and an even higher bonus for being stationed in an owned settlement. Unique civilian unit: Tjaty. Produced in any city with a Necropolis, granting one of several randomized historical figures with unique bonuses. It's like if a loot box was a guy with a cool hat. Basically you're replacing one of the standard Great Person lists (in this case the Vizier) with a unique, Egypt-specific list that is better. Unique quarter: Necropolis. Gain Gold every time a wonder is completed in this city. Unique building: Mastaba. Produces Culture, as well as bonus Gold for adjacent Desert tiles. Unique building: Mortuary Temple. Produces Gold, as well as bonus Happiness for adjacent navigable rivers. Our advice: Settling near navigable rivers is obviously a must. But beyond that, Egypt is deceptively flexible, and could fit a lot of different playstyles. Even if you want to play aggressively, it may be better to let your enemies come to you first, so you can take advantage of your home turf combat bonuses. The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team. Age: Antiquity Historical context: The starting point for the majority of national myths that seek to set everything West of the Levant as a special, cool place where all the special-est, coolest people came from, they are credited with the Olympics, Western philosophy, and some pretty damn impressive beards. Attributes: Cultural, Diplomatic Unique ability: Demokratia. Increased Influence (that'd be the new diplomatic currency in Civ 7) on Palaces. Unique military unit: Hoplite. Increased strength when adjacent to another Hoplite. Unique civilian unit: Logios. Similar to Egypt's Tjaty, this is like a unique Great Person that can spawn as one of several randomized historical figures with different bonuses. Aristotle, Plato, Sappho—the gang's all here. They replace the vanilla Scholar and can only be built in cities with an Acropolis. Unique quarter: Acropolis. For every city-state you are suzerain of, your Parthenon building produces extra Gold. Unique building: Parthenon. Produces Culture, as well as bonus Influence if placed on rough terrain. Unique building: Odeon. Produces Happiness, as well as bonus Culture for each adjacent quarter. Our advice: The Greeks are definitely set up to master the Culture game, but you could also get some early conquest done with Hoplites if you make the most of their formidable formation fighting. Building a league of city-states should also be a major priority. Age: Antiquity Historical context: The Han dynasty of China reigned from the 200s BCE to the 200s CE, laying many of the foundations for later Chinese civilization and even giving their name to the Han ethnicity that most Chinese people identify with today. Attributes: Diplomatic, Scientific Unique ability: Nine Provinces. The Capital and new Towns gain two population the first time they get a growth event, instead of just one. Unique military unit: Chu-Ko-Nu. You've seen these guys, I'm sure. It's like a repeater crossbow. They have a zone of control (which most ranged units do not) to prevent other units from simply marching right past them, and higher defense than other early archers. While they can engage from up to one tile away, they also get increased strength at point-blank range. Unique civilian unit: Shì Dàfū. It's another one of those loot box guys, replacing the Scholar just like Greece's Logios, and representing a variety of important figures in early Chinese history from Laozi to Meng Ke (known as Mencius to Western scholars). Unique improvement: Great Wall. We're back to building this thing in individual segments. Each one gives Culture, as well as bonus Happiness for each adjacent Great Wall segment. Also increased combat strength for defenders on the same tile. Wall segments have to be built in a continuous line. They can eventually loop around, but they can't branch off. Our advice: A very defensible capital and early bonuses to population growth give you a lot of options, and as usual for a Chinese civ in Civ, they will be a natural pick for a Science-focused playstyle, albeit one that now depends a bit more on RNG. Age: Antiquity Historical context: The Khmer Empire was founded around 800 CE, making it one of the youngest starter civs in Civ 7, centered on what is today Cambodia. They came to control most of mainland Southeast Asia at their height. Attributes: Expansionist, Scientific Unique ability: Ksekam Chamnon. Urban districts next to rivers retain the output of any natural resources they were built on top of. Unique military unit: Yuthahathi. A cavalry unit with increased combat strength but reduced speed. It cannot be damaged by floods. Unique civilian unit: Vaishya. A merchant that cannot be damaged by floods and ignores movement penalties in flooded tiles. Unique improvement: Baray. Produces Food, increasing based on the number of floodplains within the borders of the settlement it is built. You can only build one per settlement and it must be on flat ground. Our advice: Natural disasters from Civ 6's Gathering Storm expansion are getting folded into the base game in Civ 7, and the Khmer are particularly well-equipped to survive and thrive with the natural flood cycles. Boosted food production and lower opportunity costs for urbanization will allow them to pursue many different strategies. Age: Antiquity Historical context: Founded in 322 BCE, the Maurya Empire grew to be the largest empire in South Asia up to that point. Controlling land from what is now Afghanistan all the way to the Bengal Delta, they were the cultural and political predecessors of most Indian subcontinent civilizations that came after them. Attributes: Militaristic, Scientific Unique ability: Dhamma Lipi. When you unlock Mysticism in the civics tree, you can choose an additional Pantheon bonus to represent your diverse religious beliefs. Unique military unit: Purabhettarah. A cavalry unit that has increased strength when fighting fortifications. Unique civilian unit: Nagarika. A settler that gives bonus Happiness on city halls. Unique quarter: Matha. Increases Happiness in the city where it is built. Unique building: Dharamshala. Produces Happiness, as well as bonus Science for every adjacent quarter. Unique building: Vihara. Produces Happiness, as well as bonus Culture for adjacent mountains. Our advice: Indian civs tend to focus on growth in Civ, and the Maurya seem to be no exception. But rather than speeding things up with food, they provide a lot of ways to keep your population centers happy. So you might grow slower, but the maximum population you can manage is greater. They are well-equipped for conquest and aggressive settling, as well as culture and science. Age: Antiquity Historical context: Less of an empire than a series of related societies that existed mainly in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula from at least 2000 BCE, they were renowned for their early discoveries in astronomy and the development of a complex writing system. Attributes: Diplomatic, Scientific Unique ability: Skies of Itzamna. Palaces produce bonus Science for every adjacent tile with vegetation. Unique military unit: Hul'che. A ranged unit that can see and move through tiles with vegetation as if they were open land. Unique civilian unit: Jaguar Slayer. A replacement for the Scout that can place a hidden Jaguar Trap on vegetation tiles. Enemy units that enter the tile take damage and immediately end their movement. Unique quarter: Uwaybil K'uh. Gains bonus production every time you research a technology. Unique building: Jalaw. Produces Happiness, as well as bonus Culture for every adjacent quarter. Unique building: K'uh Nah. Produces Science, with a bonus for every adjacent tile with vegetation. Our advice: Mayans were my pick for the best Science civ in Civ 6, and they still definitely lean in that direction. Though, as with other civs we've seen so far, it seems like their bonuses are more focused on giving you extra bonuses for doing science rather than making your science go faster. They also seem like they're going to be one of the most difficult and advanced civs, since you have to preserve the natural spaces around you to make the most of their bonuses. Age: Antiquity Historical context: Arising some time around 800 CE, the Mississippian cultures built the largest pre-Columbian city we know of in what is now the United States at Cahokia, as well as most of the examples of monumental architecture from that region. They went into decline some time before European contact for what are still poorly-understood reasons. Attributes: Economic, Expansionist Unique ability: Goose Societies. All buildings produce bonus Food for each adjacent resource. Unique military unit: Burning Arrow. An archer with increased strength against fortified districts and siege units. Its attacks apply a burning status to the targeted tile that deals damage to units on the burning tile for a number of turns. Unique civilian unit: Watonathi. A merchant that gains bonus Gold for every resource you gain access to when it creates a trade route. Unique improvement: Potkop. Produces Gold, as well as bonus Food for every adjacent resource, and must be built on flat land. Our advice: The Burning Arrow is a really interesting early game unit, letting you do some battlefield control that no one else has access to, which makes the Mississippians a really interesting pick for a militaristic playstyle. Otherwise, their ways to get bonus food will enable a lot of different playstyles. Age: Antiquity Historical context: The Achaemenid Persian Empire was founded in 550 BCE and was one of the great powers of the ancient world. At its height, they controlled land from India all the way to modern Libya and had a complex system of local governors. Attributes: Economic, Militaristic Unique ability: Hamarana Council. Infantry units have increased combat strength when attacking. Unique military unit: Immortal. A melee infantry unit that heals for a small amount after defeating an enemy unit. Unique civilian unit: Hazarapatis. A replacement for the Commander that starts with the Initiative promotion, allowing your units to move after "unpacking" from a commander. (In Civ 7, Commanders basically scoop up all of your adjacent units onto its tile to make armies easier to move, but you can't fight without unpacking them.) Unique improvement: Pairidaeza. Produces Culture and Gold, but cannot be built adjacent to one another. Our advice: Being able to sustain a conquest with self-healing Immortals lends itself to being very aggressive very early. You always want to be going on the attack, even when defending. I haven't played around with it yet, but I also think that having all your commanders start with Initiative is going to be huge. The Persians might be the best early warmonger civ. Age: Antiquity Historical context: Come on, even FPS players know this one. They built some roads and aqueducts. They did some conquests with their legions. They did a lot of arguing in elaborate spaces, and eventually had their government overthrown by a dictator. We can probably learn from at least a couple of those things, even today. Attributes: Cultural, Militaristic. Unique ability: Twelve Tables. Bonus Culture on all districts in the Capital and in Towns. The notable thing here is that it does not apply to Cities that are not the Capital, which encourages building a single, super tall capital and keeping all your other settlements as Towns. Unique military unit: Legion. A melee infantry unit that gains increased strength for every Roman-specific tradition you have adopted into your Government. Unique civilian unit: Legatus. A Commander that is able to found new settlements after gaining enough promotions. Unique quarter: Forum. Produces Cultures, as well as bonus Gold for every Roman-specific tradition you have adopted into your Government. Unique building: Temple of Jupiter. Produces Happiness, as well as bonus Culture for adjacent Happiness-producing buildings. Unique building: Basilica. Produces Gold, as well as Influence for adjacent Culture buildings. Our advice: Rome can certainly conquer, but they seem to be, perhaps, even better as a culture/settler rush civ this time around. The playstyle of all roads leading back to Rome with Towns serving as your outposts means you'll need to be extra careful building and defending your capital for maximum imperium. Age: Exploration Historical context: The third Islamic Caliphate, established in 750 CE, they oversaw the flourishing of culture and science known as the Islamic Golden Age and ultimately repelled the Crusades. At their height, their territory stretched from Tunisia to modern Pakistan. Attributes: Cultural, Scientific Unique ability: Medina. When a Specialist is created, you gain Gold for each population living in a rural district in that city. Unique military unit: Mamluk. A cavalry unit that gets increased combat strength for every population in urban districts when occupying a settlement. Unique civilian unit: Ālim. A unique Great Person created in a city with an Ulema, which can appear as one of several important figures from the Islamic Golden Age such as Ibn Sina and Ibn Fadlan. Unique quarter: Ulema. All specialists in the city where it's built produce bonus Science. Unique building: Madrasa. Produces Science, with a bonus to Science for each adjacent quarter and Science building. Unique building: Mosque. Produces Happiness, with a bonus to Happiness for adjacent Culture buildings and bonus Culture for adjacent Happiness buildings. If you don't already have the ability to do so, this will unlock the ability to found a Religion. Our advice: The Abbasids may be the real Science powerhouse in Civ 7, with pretty decent bonuses to Gold and Culture as well. Mamluks are specialized for urban fighting, so you'll not only want to urbanize your own settlements, but focus on attacking highly urbanized ones. Age: Exploration Historical context: A Tamil empire founded in Southern India in 848 CE, they came to command a large trade empire with bases as far away as modern Indonesia, and were influential in the spread of Hinduism into Southeast Asia. Attributes: Diplomatic, Economic Unique ability: Samayam. You get an extra trade route from every trade agreement. Unique military unit: Kalam. A naval unit that can attack twice per turn. Unique civilian unit: Ottru. A naval commander replacement that reduces the strength of all military units within its command radius. Unique quarter: Five Hundred Lords. Increases the range of your trade routes. Unique building: Manigramam. Produces Happiness, with a bonus to Happiness for each adjacent trade building and bonus gold for each adjacent quarter. Unique building: Anjuvannam. Produces Gold, with a bonus to Gold for adjacent coasts and navigable rivers, and a bonus to Production for naval units. Can only be built on the coast. Our advice: Unsurprisingly, the Chola are highly specialized to be a maritime trade empire. In addition to supporting a formidable navy, the Ottru will also aid with coastal land battles. Beyond that, they aren't particularly biased toward any specific victory objectives. Age: Exploration Historical context: While the Hawaiian islands may have been settled by Polynesians as early as the 100s CE, they were united into a single kingdom in 1795 by king Kamehameha. So far, very little has been announced about this civ beyond the name. Age: Exploration Historical context: A powerful Hindu kingdom that existed in modern-day Indonesia from the late 1200s through the early 1500s. Its rise to power saw it allying with and then betraying Kublai Khan's forces when they invaded Java in 1293. Attributes: Economic, Cultural Unique ability: Negara. All Cities except the Capital have an increased Specialist Limit. After the Exploration Age, the Specialist Limit increase goes away, and the Specialists become inactive until you increase the Specialist Limit. Unique Quarter: Pura. Receive a Relic when completed. Unique Building: Candi Bentar. Receive a Culture Adjacency for Coast and Navigable River tiles. Unique Building: Meru. Ageless. Receive a Happiness Adjacency for Mountains and Wonders. Increased Happiness on Natural Wonder tiles. Unique civilian unit: Pedanda. Unique Missionary Unit. Receive Culture when you convert a Settlement to your Religion. Requires a Temple. Unique military unit: Cetbang. Unique Naval Unit. Has increased Combat Strength against Naval Units. Can pillage tiles at range with a reduced Movement cost. Associated Wonder: Borobudur. Adds Happiness. Increase Happiness on Quarters. Must be built adjacent to a Coast tile. Age: Exploration Historical context: Established in 1368, the Ming dynasty restored Chinese rule to China after a period of Mongol domination under the Yuan, founded by Genghis Khan and his successors. They were responsible for expanding the Great Wall of China into what we know it as today. Attributes: Economic, Scientific Unique ability: Great Canon of Yongle. You gain increased Science in the capital, but decreased Science per turn for every social policy you have added to your government. Unique military unit: Xunleichong. A melee infantry unit that also has a ranged attack, they gain bonus strength in flat terrain with no vegetation. Unique civilian unit: Mandarin. A replacement for the Merchant that gives you a large amount of Gold every time you build a road. Unique improvement: Ming Great Wall. Like the Han equivalent, it can only be built in a single, continuous line. Produces Gold for every adjacent fortification (including other Great Wall segments). Our advice: The Ming still excel in Science, but things get a bit trickier due to the social policy restriction. It's sort of an interesting way to model their later decline. Luckily, their focus on Gold should make up for this, or allow you to pivot to a different strategy entirely. Age: Exploration Historical context: Under Genghis Khan and his heirs in the 1200s, the Mongol Empire created a vast confederation of steppe people across Eurasia that controlled the largest land empire, by area, in history. They ruled all the way from Southern China to parts of modern Turkey and Romania. Attributes: Expansionist, Militaristic Unique ability: Bokh. When capturing a settlement, you get a copy of the strongest cavalry unit you can currently build. However, you have -50% production toward Settlers. You also gain victory points for the conquest victory objective differently from other civs. Unique military unit: Keshig. A ranged cavalry unit with increased movement that heals after defeating enemies. Unique civilian unit: Noyan. A Commander replacement with increased movement, it grants improved Flanking ability to cavalry units. Unique improvement: Ortöö. Produces Gold, and resets the movement allowance for any unit that lands on it. Can't be placed on rough terrain, vegetation, or rivers. Our advice: Hoo boy. This is gonna be fun. As you'd expect, the Mongolians are honed for fast conquests and controlling large land areas. Sustaining assaults with Keshigs will be trivial if you know what you're doing, but remember that they're probably not sufficient on their own to win sieges. Creating networks of ortöös will allow you to move startlingly fast across the open plains, but rocky, coastal areas, forests, and rivers will present strategic obstacles. Age: Exploration Historical context: In 1066, William the Bastard and a bunch of his bandit friends crossed the channel to seize the Kingdom of England on a dubious claim and make our eventual language of global communication way more complicated than it needed to be. Attributes: Diplomatic, Militaristic Unique ability: Normannitas. Land units get +1 movement when embarked, and +5 strength when adjacent to a coast. Unique military unit: Chevaler. A cavalry unit with increased strength against any unit that has less movement speed. Unique civilian unit: Sokeman. A Settler replacement that automatically builds a wall when a new town is created. Unique quarter: Donjon. Creates a Chevaler for free when built. Unique building: Motte. Produces Happiness if built on rough terrain, and functions as a fortification. Unique building: Bailey. Produces Culture for adjacent walls, and functions as a fortification. Our advice: Castles. That's it, that's the post. The Normans excel at protecting their outposts and building up defensive infrastructure, while also enjoying some residual benefits to amphibious warfare from their viking—with a lower-case v because it's a job and not an ethnicity but I realize I may have lost that battle for good—roots. They don't really excel at anything besides warfare though, just like William and his pack of pillagers. Age: Exploration Historical context: A North American people originally from what is now Ohio, and the namesake of the town where this author went to high school, they formed the core of a great confederacy that represented one of the most concerted Native efforts to curb US Westward expansion, under their chief Tecumseh. Attributes: Diplomatic, Economic. Unique ability: Nepekifaki. Settlements next to navigable rivers produce more Food on river tiles, but settlements that are not next to a navigable river produce less. Unique military unit: Kispoko Nena'to. A melee infantry unit with increased strength for every Empire Resource you possess. (The currently known Empire Resources include Gold, Iron, Ivory, Marble, and Wine.) Unique civilian unit: Hoceepkileni. A Missionary replacement that has increased movement, and that can cross rivers without ending its movement. Unique improvement: Mawaskawe Skote. Produces food, as well as bonus Gold for every adjacent resource. Can only be placed on tiles with vegetation, and not adjacent to another Mawaskawe Skote. Our advice: This is another one of those river valley boom civs, with the added twist that you can have a very deadly army if you manage to accumulate a lot of resources through expansion and trade. They aren't particularly biased toward any specific victory type. Age: Exploration Historical context: Founded in the 1430s, the Songhai Empire conquered much of inland West Africa, with its center in what is today the country of Mali. They were influential in the spread of Islam to sub-Saharan Africa. Attributes: Economic, Militaristic Unique ability: Tarikh al-Sudan. +15 trade route range for cities on navigable rivers. Trade ships can't be plundered while sailing on navigable rivers. Unique military unit: Gold Bangles Infantry. (Stats not yet shown.) Unique civilian unit: Tajiro. (Stats not yet shown.) Unique infrastructure: Caravansarai. (Stats not yet shown.) Our advice: We don't have the full picture of Songhai yet, but they seem tooled to be a strong inland trade civ, with the ability to secure routes overland and via rivers. Judging by their attributes and their historical reputation, they will also likely turn out to be a strong military civ. Age: Exploration Historical context: This civ represents the Spanish Empire as it existed from 1492 onwards. At the forefront of the European Age of Discovery, it came to control territory from modern-day Canada all the way down to Chile and Argentina, supported by influential religious missions and a powerful armada. Attributes: Expansionist, Militaristic Unique ability: Sigio de Oro. You get a 15% discount on converting a Town into a City, increasing to 30% if that town is considered part of the "Distant Lands." Unique military unit: Tercio. An infantry unit that has increased strength, and grants any adjacent units an additional +3 strength against cavalry (not stackable). Unique civilian unit: Conquistador. Another unique type of Great Person, which can appear as a number of significant figures from the Age of Exploration such as Christopher Columbus or Hernán Cortés. They each have a unique ability that can only be activated in "Distant Lands" (far from your starting Homelands), and start with the ability to cross ocean tiles. Unique quarter: Plaza. Produces bonus gold in the settlement where it's built for every settlement you own in Distant Lands. Unique building: Casa Consistorial. +5 Culture, and an additional +1 for every adjacent quarter and wonder. Can only be built in your Homelands next to a coast. Unique building: Casa de Contratación. +5 Gold, and an additional +1 for adjacent navigable rivers, resources, and wonders. Can only be built in your Homelands. Our advice: If you guessed the Spanish would be focused on exploration and overseas colonization, you would have guessed right. They will benefit greatly from settling tons of towns and cities in places distant to their capital, and should have a fairly easy time doing so. Culture seems to be their forte, but with all that imperial Gold coming in, you can probably go for any strategy you want. We haven't seen much about the Modern Age civs yet other than their names, but here's a little bit of historical context for each. Buganda : The Baganda people of modern Uganda (I know, this is a lot of similar-sounding proper nouns—the people are Baganda, the kingdom is Buganda, and the modern state is Uganda) unified under a single king in the 1200s, and it retains the status of a traditional kingdom under the Ugandan state to this day. They were one of the most powerful states in East Africa from the 1700s up until they were eventually colonized by the British in 1884. France: This civ is based on the First French Empire, ruled by Napoleon Bonaparte. It only lasted for about three years, but in that time, managed to conquer the lion's share of continental Europe before succumbing to a coalition of a bunch of other nations who didn't like that very much. Japan: This civ represents the Japanese Empire, which lasted from the Meiji Restoration of 1868 up until their defeat in World War II in 1945. It was a time of great nationalism, expansionism, and militarism. So, like the French, I think we can expect them to have a pretty aggressive playstyle. Mexico: Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, at the time controlling most of Central America and much of what is now the Western and Southwestern United States. This civ is simply described as representing the "modern nation," rather than any specific historical government like the French and Japanese civs. Mughal Empire : A little bit of a stretch for the label of "Modern," the Mughal Empire existed from 1526 until it was finally absorbed into the British Raj in 1867. At its height, it controlled nearly all of modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and even parts of Afghanistan. They had a very effective military for the time, so this will probably be yet another aggressive modern civ. Since any of these civs can be played with any leader, be sure to also check out our Civilization 7 Leaders guide to start planning how you'll mix and match your way to global pre-eminence.( MENAFN - Gulf Times) The 45th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), slated for Sunday in the sisterly State of Kuwait, is expected to make many recommendations that align with the serious challenges facing the Arab region, including the situation in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as the difficult political, economic and security circumstances that cast their shadows over many countries, Political analysts said. In statements to Qatar News Agency (QNA), analysts expected the discussions to focus on economic challenges and pushing the wheel of development towards achieving more accomplishments. In this context, they stressed the importance of exploring means to promote the GCC Common Market and Customs Union, given the great importance of this file for the countries of the region. Nasser Al Otaibi, political analyst and editor-in-chief of the Kuwait's Al-Jarida newspaper, said the upcoming GCC Supreme Council Summit is being held at a critical time while the entire region is facing devastating wars and conflict, fateful issues and a crossroads. These critical circumstances cast their shadows on the GCC countries, making them a main focus on the Summit's agenda. Al Otaibi added that joint defense and security cooperation will also occupy a prominent place on the agenda in light of the tense conditions sweeping the Middle East. He also expected that the discussions will include ways to address the continued Israeli aggression, violations and crimes, while calling on the international community to support the steps of the International Court of Justice that condemns the violations of the Israeli Prime Minister and his former Defense Minister. The GCC summit will also address all pending issues for the member states with other countries outside the council, such as the maritime borders issue between Kuwait and Iraq, which still needs to be resolved by the Iraqi government, he added. Among the most prominent issues that will be addressed at the upcoming GCC Summit is navigation security in the Arabian Gulf and oil tankers protection, in order to ensure the stability of global markets and protect the vital energy artery, Al Otaibi emphasised. The Summit will confirm the cohesion of the GCC states in addressing new developments, emphasizing the unity of the Gulf house, based on deep-rooted common ties, he indicated. As for the expected recommendations, Al Otaibi said the Summit may call on the international community to assume its responsibilities and acheive a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and to put an end to the ongoing Israeli attacks and violations against the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples. In addition, the recommendations may call for building on the two arrest warrants issued by the International Court of Justice against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant, sending a decisive message to countries supporting Israel that Arab countries, including the GCC countries, are exasperated by the systematic attacks and ongoing bloodshed under the pretext of "self-defense." Dr. Ahmed Qasim Hussein, a researcher at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies and editor-in-chief of Arab Policies journal, said the upcoming GCC Summit is being held amid complex security and political challenges, including the regional situation in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon, and the ongoing unrest in the region. He indicated that these conditions combined cast a shadow over the security of the Arab region in general, and the security of the GCC in particular. He indicated that the repercussions of the Israeli war on Palestine and Lebanon will be one of the pivotal issues that will be addressed at the GCC Supreme Council Summit. He also expected that economic challenges, including strengthening the GCC Common Market and Customs Union, will receive special importance, given their vital role in supporting economic integration among the GCC countries. The Summit is expected to pay special attention to technology and digital development, with a focus on the rapid transformations in the artificial intelligence sector. Such issues require effective responses and joint strategies to enhance the capabilities of the GCC countries in dealing with these developments, in a way that achieves sustainable economic growth and contributes to consolidating the region's position as a global center in the field of innovation and technology, Hussein said. Hussein pointed out that strengthening joint GCC action is pivotal to confronting the current security and economic challenges facing the region. To this end, he expected the recommendations to include the establishment of effective mechanisms to deal with emergency crises, in light of the increasing military escalation between Iran and Israel. Hussein called on the GCC states to adopt a pioneering role by launching a regional initiative aimed at mobilizing international support to end the suffering of the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples as a result of the Israeli aggression. He stressed the importance of investing the diplomatic and political capabilities of the GCC states and their leaders to influence the course of events and stop this aggressive war, in order to realize regional peace and stability. Dr. Tarek Hamoud, Professor of Political Science at Lusail University, said the Gulf Cooperation Council reflects the most successful Arab experience in terms of joint regional cooperation, which highlights the importance of its meetings in general; stressing the significance of the upcoming GCC Supreme Council Summit in Kuwati in light of the current circumstances that the region is going through. The current session is being held at a time when two Arab countries, Palestine and Lebanon, are being subjected to a brutal Israeli war, in addition to the political, economic and security crises suffered by other countries such as Syria, Sudan, Iraq and Yemen, which represent a great geopolitical importance for the GCC states, Hamoud said. These regional issues will occupy a prominent place on the summit agenda, in addition to internal issues specific to the GCC countries, such as enhancing cooperation in areas of strategic connectivity, whether in employment or facilitating movement between the GCC countries, he added. MENAFN30112024000067011011ID1108941655 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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