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Reagan , the biopic chronicling the life of beloved Republican president Ronald Reagan, is now available on streaming, DVD, and Blu-Ray months after a successful run in cinemas. Starring Dennis Quaid in the titular role, Reagan earned $30 million in the domestic box office on a $25 million budget and was generally well-regarded by audiences with a Popcorn Meter of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Then-candidate Donald Trump also endorsed the film during one of his campaign rallies earlier this year. “A good, wholesome, entertaining movie that’s easy to follow,” said one reviewer. “I thoroughly enjoyed with the fam on a pallet. Seems simple to do. I wish they’d make more movies like this like they used to.” The film was officially released on Blu-ray and DVD on November 19 after a little over a month of being available to rent or own on various streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. “From his small-town roots to the glitter of Hollywood where he meets actress Jane Wyman and Warner Brothers’ studio president Jack Warner, Reagan’s incredible story culminates in obtaining the presidency with the support of his loving wife Nancy. Told through the voice of a former KGB agent, Reagan offers a perspective as unique as it is captivating,” reads the synopsis. Speaking at the film’s Los Angeles premiere in August of this year, Dennis Quaid, who gives a heartfelt performance as the chipper Gipper, expounded on his love for Reagan — whom he called his favorite president. “It’s really an honor to have played Ronald Reagan and this is my favorite movie now that I have ever made. It was The Right Stuff for 40 years and it was toppled by this,” he said. “If you were born before 1985, I think, you’re going to be able to see how great this country used to be. If you were born after 1985, you’ll be to see how great this country still can be.” Quaid went on to note that Hollywood actors owe a debt of gratitude to Ronald Reagan for having been instrumental in giving them health insurance while head of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). “The best in the world, if you ask me,” Quaid remarked. “He was a great man. He was a humble man. He was my favorite president. That’s for sure,” he said of Reagan. After dedicating the movie to World War II veterans, including one who was in the audience, and “all of the greatest generation,” Quaid concluded his remarks with a message of hope for Americans, imploring them “to give our children a world even better, because that’s what you would want.” Quaid later went on to endorse Donald Trump in his bid for the White House against Kamala Harris. Reagan offers a love letter to the late president, taking the audience on an epic journey across several decades in history (a big credit goes to production designer Chris Rose for seamlessly achieving this). You see Quaid as Reagan from his days as an anti-Communist activist to his rise as a Hollywood star, his eventual ascension in politics as governor of California, and his road to the White House. The film offers something of a “greatest hits” gallery of many iconic Reagan moments, from his “evil empire” speech to his attempted assassination and his historic “tear down this wall” declaration in West Germany. True to Dennis Quaid’s point about past American greatness, the movie also wisely steers clear of partisan cheap shots by portraying former Democrat House Speaker Tip O’Neill (deftly played by Dan Lauria) as a decent man who befriended Reagan despite their political differences, recalling a time when Americans of varying persuasions could agree to disagree. Paul Roland Bois directed the award-winning Christian tech thriller , EXEMPLUM , which has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and can be viewed for FREE on YouTube , Tubi , or Fawesome TV . “Better than Killers of the Flower Moon,” wrote Mark Judge . “You haven’t seen a story like this before,” wrote Christian Toto . A high-quality, ad-free rental can also be streamed on Google Play , Vimeo on Demand , or YouTube Movies . Follow him on X @prolandfilms or Instagram @prolandfilms .11. SMU Mustangs 11-2 (8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season) What's next: at No. 6 Penn State, State College, Pa., Dec. 21, Noon ET Head coach: Rhett Lashlee (three seasons, 29-11 overall) About Lashlee: The 41-year-old is enjoying success in his first college head coaching gig and has guided the Mustangs to back-to-back 11-win seasons. He was offensive coordinator at SMU from 2018-19 before heading to Miami for two years and returning to take the head job. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year this season. Resume SMU notched ranked wins over then-No. 22 Louisville and then-No. 18 Pitt but really served notice while racking up 66 points in a win over TCU. The Mustangs lost two games by a total of six points: 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC title game and 18-15 to BYU. Postseason history This is SMU's first trip to the playoffs during the CFP era. The Mustangs have lost their past four bowl games, including two under Lashlee. The program had a memorable run in the early 1980s behind stars like Eric Dickerson and Craig James but numerous NCAA violations sank the Mustangs and they eventually served a two-year death penalty. The road to Atlanta SMU hits the road for the first-round matchup at No. 6 Penn State. The winner advances to play No. 3 Boise State (12-1) in the quarterfinals in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Names to Know QB Kevin Jennings He threw for 304 yards and three TDs in the ACC title game, his fourth game over 300 yards passing this season. Jennings had a strong regular season with 2,746 yards and 19 TDs in the air and four scores on the ground. He can hurt teams with his feet, proven by a 113-yard outing against Louisville. "What is new now is the amount of criticism I receive from everyone. I get a lot of comments and messages from people on social media always criticizing everything after each game," Jennings said. RB Brashard Smith Stellar runner averaging 5.9 yards per carry to go with 1,270 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. LB Kobe Wilson Stands out against both the run and the pass, leading the team in tackles (110) and adding three sacks and two interceptions. S Isaiah Nwokobia He has enjoyed an outstanding season with 91 regular-season tackles and three interceptions while patrolling the back end. He has nine career interceptions. DT Jared Harrison-Hunte A force with 6.0 sacks, one interception and 38 tackles. He's in his first season with SMU after four at Miami. He has 15 career sacks. --Field Level Media
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The New England Patriots will have another starting combination on the offensive line going forward. The organization claimed guard Lester Cotton off waivers from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday. To make room on the 53-man roster, an 11-game starting guard in Michael Jordan has been waived. Cotton, 28, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama in 2019. The two-time Crimson Tide national champion began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders before heading to the AFC East as part of the practice squad late in the 2022 season. He has appeared in 43 games between work at left guard and right guard, making nine starts. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound blocker saw action on special teams against the Patriots last Sunday in Miami Gardens. Jordan, 26, played 87.7 percent of the offensive snaps in Foxborough this fall — a rate standing behind only right guard Mike Onwenu. After making the initial active roster only to be released, the vested veteran at left guard twice served as a standard elevation from the practice squad before rejoining the 53 midway through September. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Ohio State product entered the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2019 class at No. 136 overall. Additional stops were made with the Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers before he reached a futures contract in January. Jordan’s career spans 66 games and 40 starts. New England started the same five for three consecutive weeks and recently opened interior lineman Cole Strange’s 21-day window to return from the non-football injury list. The Indianapolis Colts visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.11. SMU Mustangs 11-2 (8-0 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season) What's next: at No. 6 Penn State, State College, Pa., Dec. 21, Noon ET Head coach: Rhett Lashlee (three seasons, 29-11 overall) About Lashlee: The 41-year-old is enjoying success in his first college head coaching gig and has guided the Mustangs to back-to-back 11-win seasons. He was offensive coordinator at SMU from 2018-19 before heading to Miami for two years and returning to take the head job. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year this season. Resume SMU notched ranked wins over then-No. 22 Louisville and then-No. 18 Pitt but really served notice while racking up 66 points in a win over TCU. The Mustangs lost two games by a total of six points: 34-31 to Clemson in the ACC title game and 18-15 to BYU. Postseason history This is SMU's first trip to the playoffs during the CFP era. The Mustangs have lost their past four bowl games, including two under Lashlee. The program had a memorable run in the early 1980s behind stars like Eric Dickerson and Craig James but numerous NCAA violations sank the Mustangs and they eventually served a two-year death penalty. The road to Atlanta SMU hits the road for the first-round matchup at No. 6 Penn State. The winner advances to play No. 3 Boise State (12-1) in the quarterfinals in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31. Names to Know QB Kevin Jennings He threw for 304 yards and three TDs in the ACC title game, his fourth game over 300 yards passing this season. Jennings had a strong regular season with 2,746 yards and 19 TDs in the air and four scores on the ground. He can hurt teams with his feet, proven by a 113-yard outing against Louisville. "What is new now is the amount of criticism I receive from everyone. I get a lot of comments and messages from people on social media always criticizing everything after each game," Jennings said. RB Brashard Smith Stellar runner averaging 5.9 yards per carry to go with 1,270 yards and 14 TDs on the ground. LB Kobe Wilson Stands out against both the run and the pass, leading the team in tackles (110) and adding three sacks and two interceptions. S Isaiah Nwokobia He has enjoyed an outstanding season with 91 regular-season tackles and three interceptions while patrolling the back end. He has nine career interceptions. DT Jared Harrison-Hunte A force with 6.0 sacks, one interception and 38 tackles. He's in his first season with SMU after four at Miami. He has 15 career sacks. --Field Level Media
He is not yet in power but President-elect Donald Trump rattled much of the world with an off-hours warning of stiff tariffs on close allies and China — a loud hint that Trump-style government by social media post is coming back. With word of these levies against goods imported from Mexico, Canada and China, Trump sent auto industry stocks plummeting, raised fears for global supply chains and unnerved the world’s major economies. For Washington-watchers with memories of the Republican’s first term, the impromptu policy volley on Monday evening foreshadowed a second term of startling announcements of all manner, fired off at all hours of the day from his smartphone. “Donald Trump is never going to change much of anything,” said Larry Sabato, a leading US political scientist and director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “You can expect in the second term pretty much what he showed us about himself and his methods in the first term. Social media announcements of policy, hirings and firings will continue.” The first of Trump’s tariff announcements — a 25 percent levy on everything coming in from Mexico and Canada — came amid an angry rebuke of lax border security at 6:45 pm on Truth Social, Trump’s own platform. The United States is bound by agreements on the movement of goods and services brokered by Trump in a free trade treaty with both nations during his first term. But Trump warned that the new levy would “remain in effect until such time as Drugs, in particular Fentanyl, and all Illegal Aliens stop this Invasion of our Country” — sowing panic from Ottawa to Mexico City. Seconds later, another message from the incoming commander-in-chief turned the focus on Chinese imports, which he said would be hit with “an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs.” The consequences were immediate. Almost every major US automaker operates plants in Mexico, and shares in General Motors and Stellantis — which produce pickup trucks in America’s southern neighbor — plummeted. Canada, China and Mexico protested, while Germany called on its European partners to prepare for Trump to impose hefty tariffs on their exports and stick together to combat such measures. – Framing the debate – The tumult recalls Trump’s first term, when journalists, business leaders and politicians at home and abroad would scan their phones for the latest pronouncements, often long after they had left the office or over breakfast. During his first four years in the Oval Office, the tweet — in those days his newsy posts were almost exclusively limited to Twitter, now known as X — became the quasi-official gazette for administration policy. The public learned of the president-elect’s 2020 Covid-19 diagnosis via an early-hours post, and when Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani was assassinated on Trump’s order, the Republican confirmed the kill by tweeting a US flag. The public and media learned of numerous other decisions big and small by the same source, from the introduction of customs duties to the dismissal of cabinet secretaries. It is not a communication method that has been favored by any previous US administration and runs counter to the policies and practices of most governments around the world. Throughout his third White House campaign, and with every twist and turn in his various entanglements with the justice system, Trump has poured his heart out on Truth Social, an app he turned to during his 20-month ban from Twitter. In recent days, the mercurial Republican has even named his attorney general secretaries of justice and health via announcements on the network. “He sees social media as a tool to shape and direct the national conversation and will do so again,” said political scientist Julian Zelizer, a Princeton University professor. AFP
Countries criticize Trump tariff plans, which could flout trade pactsWASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. People are also reading... Foxy Roxy's Pizza prepares to bring pizza perfection to downtown Statesville, one slice at a time 2 troopers, 1 Statesville man injured in in head-on crash after Alexander County chase Initial realignment draft puts 5 Iredell schools in same 6A/7A conference Efficiency and versatility of Flowers a winning combination for North Iredell volleyball North Iredell Holiday Classic Basketball Schedule Garbage pickup, holiday hours listed for Statesville, Mooresville, Iredell County North Iredell dominates second basketball meeting with South Iredell West Iredell’s Moore, Lake Norman’s Dingman shine brightest in cross country Iredell Memorial Hospital named one of nation’s top hospitals 2 US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent 'friendly fire' incident, US military says See balloons light up Statesville Park and Soccer Complex on Saturday Mooresville duo leads list of Iredell's top football players in 2024 Get to know Statesville basketball player Jay'Veon Lackey 3 injured in car-chase crash on Old Mountain Road in Alexander County 160-home development rejected by Statesville City Council Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 4,058 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed, with 76 flights canceled. The site had not posted any American Airlines flights on Tuesday morning, but showed in the afternoon that 961 American flights were delayed. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated Flight nightmare? Here's how to get compensated "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Lost Luggage Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: Alert the airline, both in person and in writing, of any missing bags. Remember, the clock starts ticking immediately. After 21 days, the baggage is considered lost and the airline is liable for it and its contents. Contact the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) or Canadian Transportation Agency , who will query the airline on your behalf and give them a 30-day deadline to respond. Usually, the airline will resolve the issue, but if it doesn't, or if you're unsatisfied with the offer, the next level is mediation. Beyond that, the case could move to adjudication, a court-like process with a panel deciding on the outcome. On international flights, you have up to two years to file litigation. If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Delayed/Cancelled Flights Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Flight Compensation in the U.S. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." Flight Compensation in Canada The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: A plane must return to its gate after three hours on the tarmac. Minimum requirements will be set for procuring food, drink, lavatories, ventilation, and access to electronic communications during the delay. For larger airlines, payouts will range from $400 for a 3-6 hour delay, to $700 for 6-9 hours, and $1,000 for more than nine hours. For smaller carriers, the compensation would be $125, $250, and $500, respectively. Here's the loophole: If the delay is related to the air carrier's maintenance problems, no compensation is required. The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Bumped Off the Flight Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!What's New Eric Trump posted on social media Monday night, in an apparent joke about the United States being able to buy territories on Amazon , after his father, President-elect Donald Trump said he would take back the Panama Canal and buy Greenland. The post on X, formerly Twitter , received over 7,000 replies, with some calling the mock-up of an online shopping cart "disrespectful" and "disturbing", while others backed Trump's caption of: "We are so back!!!" Why It Matters The post, while seemingly in jest, comes after the President-elect made more serious comments about owning and controlling Greenland, demanding the return of the Panama Canal , and that Canada could be the next U.S. state. The comments were met with backlash from international leaders and experts. What To Know Eric Trump's post showed map outlines of the Panama Canal, Greenland and Canada as items in an Amazon shopping cart, along with a mock-up of his father looking at his phone with the same Amazon app screen open. The caption read: "We are so back!!!" The post, which has also been shared over 13,000 times, came after a similar post on December 21, responding to a post from the President-elect on Panama, in which Eric Trump said: "The grown-ups are back in charge". We are so back!!! pic.twitter.com/PvybVULeAz The President-elect's first assertion that he could expand the U.S. came after announcing tariffs on Mexico, China and Canada over immigration and fentanyl flows, after which he said Canada could "become the 51 st State". He then suggested the U.S. should buy Greenland , an autonomous territory that has been part of Denmark for 600 years. Trump previously floated the idea during his first term in the White House, and Greenland's leaders pushed back earlier this week saying: "We are not for sale". The President-elect also then threatened a demand for the return of the Panama Canal to U.S. control , if the Central American country failed to reduce the fees it charges American ships. His son's post was not received well by all, with some viewing it as aggressive toward other nations and hypocritical when Republicans have been vocal against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Others, however, did view the post as a tongue-in-cheek way of touting Trump's return to the world stage. Panama has been working with the U.S. in recent months to curb immigration through the Darien Gap - a notorious jungle route used by thousands of immigrants each year, headed for Mexico and the U.S. What People Are Saying Richard W. Painter, a former Chief White House ethics lawyer, on X: "Leaders of peaceful nations do not threaten their neighbors during Christmas, or any other time." PatriotTakes, an account speaking out on right-wing extremism, on X: "Eric Trump's post. Threatening other countries is a joke to them." Lakshya Jain, an election polls and modeling expert at Split Ticket on X: "Never going to happen, so not worth discussing in much more detail, but [for what it's worth] every single one of these seats would be safe Democratic." Republican Helen Qiu, running for New York City Council, on X: "Canada: 51st State (downside is we will be a permanent Democrat control government unless we make them a territory). Greenland: all good after we rename it Orangeland. Panama Canal: all good after we rename it United States Canal!" What's Next The likelihood of any of these moves advancing appears unlikely, at least in the near future. The Panama Canal was under joint U.S. control until 1999, when it was handed over to the Panamanian government and the country's President José Raúl Mulino said this week that it would stay that way.
World News | 21 Dead as Mozambique Erupts in Violence After Election Court RulingLewandowski scores his 100th Champions League goal. He is the 3rd player to reach the milestoneISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani security forces launched an operation Tuesday night to disperse supporters of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan who had gathered in the capital to demand his release from prison. The latest development came hours after thousands of Khan supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former prime minister began a “long march” from the restive northwest to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for over a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing nighttime operation, and police are also seeking to arrest Bibi. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorized the police to respond as necessary,” Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Ali said. “If they fire bullets again, we will respond with bullets,” he said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for The Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in a hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Most demonstrators had the flag of Khan’s party around their shoulders or wore its tricolors on accessories. Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information Minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. He said the government did not want Bushra Bibi to achieve her goal of freeing Khan. “She wants bodies falling to the ground. She wants bloodshed,” he said. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed. Pakistan's Stock Exchange lost more than $1.7 billion Tuesday due to rising political tensions, according to economist Mohammed Sohail from Topline Securities. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Asim Tanveer in Multan, Pakistan, contributed to this report.
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The Coalition for Protection of Democracy, COPDEM, has urged the federal government to move beyond assigning blame for the recent tragic stampede incidents in the country and instead focus on a comprehensive overhaul of systems and accountability across all levels of governance. Furthermore, the group called for the implementation of robust social security measures for Nigerians. Comprised of Nigerian residents both within and outside the country, COPDEM made this plea while expressing sorrow over the loss of lives in the recent stampedes that occurred in Maitama, Ibadan, and Okija, in the FCT Abuja, Oyo, and Anambra states, respectively. COPDEM attributed these incidents to the dire economic conditions prevailing in the country. In Maitama, Abuja, specifically, a tragic event unfolded as at least 20 individuals lost their lives in a stampede while competing for gifts meant to provide relief during the end-of-year festivities. The stampede in Ibadan resulted in the tragic deaths of over 35 children during a Christmas gathering, enticed by promises of food and gifts. Inadequate crowd control and the frantic rush of attendees to gain entry to the venue contributed to this devastating occurrence. Likewise, in Okija, Anambra, a fatal crush transpired during a distribution of rice, shedding light on the hardships faced by individuals in Anambra State. “These heart-wrenching incidents, claiming the lives of innocent Nigerians, are but a few illustrations of the distressing events that challenge human compassion in Nigeria. “They further underscore the deepening desperation and systemic deficiencies in our society, serving as a poignant reminder of the governance inadequacies that undermine the dignity of our citizens,”stated COPDEM in a press release signed by Rwang Pam Junior, the group’s national president. According to him, the tragedies are not mere logistical lapses but rather a manifestation of the profound poverty, inequality, and neglect that plague the nation. Subsequently, the group called on the Federal government to demonstrate greater accountability, bolster social security measures, set higher standards in humanitarian policies, undertake a comprehensive system overhaul, and take proactive measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. “It is disheartening to acknowledge the leadership’s failure to implement sustainable solutions that elevate the most vulnerable members of society. “The desperation driving citizens to jeopardize their lives for basic necessities underscores the systemic neglect and short-sightedness of those in positions of power,”COPDEM emphasized.