MAKING predictions for the coming year is a mug’s game. But there is one forecast I feel confident in making: That the people who are contributing least to economic growth will be the ones reaping the rewards. Figures from the Resolution Foundation confirm what has been obvious for months: That public sector workers have been the big winners from Labour’s general election victory. At the beginning of 2024 the average public sector worker was earning two per cent more than an equivalent worker in the private sector. Since then the gap has trebled to six per cent. The differential in salaries, though, is only half the story. Many public sector workers continue to enjoy salary-linked pensions . Private sector employers realised long ago that increasing longevity was making it unaffordable to offer workers guaranteed, index-linked pensions for life based on what they were earning while in work. READ MORE FROM ROSS CLARK Yet public sector employers have carried on getting these generous pensions regardless, relying on taxpayers to pick up the burden. Pleading poverty Another shocking set of figures released yesterday shows that across Britain a quarter of council tax receipts are now swallowed up by pension contributions for council staff. In some areas it is much more. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council managed to spend more on pension contributions last year (£10.1million) than it raised in council tax (£9.5million). Providing actual public services such as emptying the bins and running libraries and swimming pools has to be funded from other sources of revenue. Most read in The Sun We have become used to councils pleading poverty, bleating that “Tory austerity” has bled them dry. But now we know the truth: While the public sees services slashed, former council employees have been treated to extravagant pensions. The Local Government Pension Scheme, though, is in some ways the responsible one. It is one of the few public sector schemes which is “fully funded”, which means that today’s contributions are invested to pay tomorrow’s pensions. Most schemes, such as those for NHS workers, teachers , firefighters and so on, are “unfunded, which means that there is no pot of cash being invested to pay future pensioners. Instead, today’s pension contributions are going straight out of the door to meet current pension liabilities. Were they in the private sector, these pensions would be called Ponzi schemes — they are like the scam operated by the late US financier Bernie Madoff. They are committing future taxpayers to huge, unknown liabilities. If the public sector was working efficiently and well, it wouldn’t matter quite so much. Yet disgracefully, public sector workers are being allowed to get away with producing less and less each year. Astonishingly, the average public sector worker produces less now than when Tony Blair came to power nearly 28 years ago, with minor productivity gains in the years to 2019 wiped out since the pandemic . The Labour government has made things worse This has been a period of huge technological advance, offering numerous opportunities for making work more efficient. Instead, civil servants and others have been indulged with the right to work from home, or even from the beach. Valuable work time is frittered on endless diversity courses and team-bonding exercises. Some council staff have been put on four-day weeks without any loss of pay, based on the fantastical assumption that it will somehow make them so much happier that they will produce as much in four days as they used to in five. Far from addressing the problem of falling public sector productivity, the Labour government has made things worse. In one of its first acts it awarded fat pay rises to NHS staff, train drivers and others without any requirement to agree to improved working practices. We can’t go on like this. If the private sector worked like the public sector we would be stuck with 1990s standards of living. Like the Soviet Union in its last decades, Britain would have become the land which economic development forgot. Energy crisis As it is, we have a millstone of a public sector being dragged along by a private sector which is still just about able to generate enough wealth to stop the country falling into permanent recession . But it is a close-run thing. In the first three months of the Labour government the economy failed to grow at all. This was an economic downturn generated entirely in Downing Street . Unlike the economic retreat caused by Covid-19 and the energy crisis following the Ukraine invasion, Britain’s sudden step backwards is not echoed internationally. Rather, it has been caused by declining confidence in the face of higher business taxes coming into effect next year. Labour came to office promising “growth, growth, growth”. If they really want to achieve that, they need to be shrinking the unproductive public sector and boosting the private sector. They are doing the opposite, while failing to undertake reforms to public sector pensions needed to avoid fiscal disaster in future. READ MORE SUN STORIES The past few months have seen a generous payday for some. But none of us will be shielded from the long-term decline caused by a slothful public sector.
Ohtani in early stages of rehab from shoulder surgery; hopes to be ready for opening dayAPS takeover of HSBC is 'far from a done deal', Archbishop says
ICICI Securities has a buy call on Hatsun Agro Products with a target price of Rs 1,250. The current market price of Hatsun Agro Products is Rs 1131. Hatsun Agro, incorporated in 1986, is a Mid Cap company with a market cap of Rs 25147.17 crore operating in the FMCG sector. Hatsun Agro Products Ltd. key products/revenue segments include Milk & Milk Products, Scrap & Others for the year ending 31-Mar-2024. Financials For the quarter ended 30-09-2024, the company has reported a Standalone Total Income of Rs 2078.72 crore, down -12.56 % from last quarter Total Income of Rs 2377.23 crore and up 8.29 % from last year same quarter Total Income of Rs 1919.52 crore. The company has reported net profit after tax of Rs 64.32 crore in the latest quarter. Investment Rationale ICICI Securities expects margins of Hatsun Agro's ice cream business to expand from current levels, driving up overall margins. Their expectation is premised on (1) higher capacity utilisation at Govindapur plant and operating leverage, (2) lower trade margins vs peers as Hatsun provides access to refrigeration and also leverages HAP Daily for distribution and (3) launch of premium variants/SKUs. The brokerage maintains a BUY call. They model Hatsun to report FY24?27E revenue/PAT CAGR of 14.0%/37.2%. Our DCF-based TP stands at INR 1,250, implying a P/E of 53/40x FY26/27E. Stock Trading Stock Markets Made Easy By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading RSI Made Easy: RSI Trading Course By - Souradeep Dey, Equity and Commodity Trader, Trainer View Program Stock Trading A2Z of Stock Trading - Online Stock Trading Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Market 103: Mastering Trends with RMI and Techno-Funda Insights By - Rohit Srivastava, Founder- Indiacharts.com View Program Stock Trading Renko Chart Patterns Made Easy By - Kaushik Akiwatkar, Derivative Trader and Investor View Program Stock Trading Mastering Options Selling: Advanced Strategies for Success By - CA Manish Singh, Chartered Accountant, Professional Equity and Derivative Trader View Program Stock Trading Commodity Markets Made Easy: Commodity Trading Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Complete Guide to Stock Market Trading: From Basics to Advanced By - Harneet Singh Kharbanda, Full Time Trader View Program Stock Trading Cryptocurrency Made Easy: Cryptocurrency Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Stock Trading Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By - Dinesh Nagpal, Full Time Trader, Ichimoku & Trading Psychology Expert View Program Stock Trading Dow Theory Made Easy By - Vishal Mehta, Independent Systematic Trader View Program Stock Trading Macroeconomics Made Easy: Online Certification Course By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Promoter/FII Holdings Promoters held 73.17 per cent stake in the company as of 30-Sep-2024, while FIIs owned 3.29 per cent, DIIs 10.17 per cent. (You can now subscribe to our ETMarkets WhatsApp channel )Soccer player dies from gunshot in fight between neighbors at Christmas
If you're gearing up for the festive season or hunting for that elusive perfect present for a dad who won't drop any hints, you can't go wrong with a classic bottle of Jack Daniel's. Often praised and recognized as an emblematic tipple, its original Tennessee Whiskey is legendary, but whisper it, there's an alternative Jack that connoisseurs rave about. For a limited time, you can indulge your taste buds and snag yourself a 70cl bottle of Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey at Amazon for £20 —a big drop from the standard £36. Lauded as the one and only double-mellowed whiskey in existence, Gentleman Jack brings a uniquely velvety character paired with a rich, premium taste. Ideal straight, on the rocks, or jazzing up a cocktail, this particular Jack undergoes the same initial crafting process as the iconic No 7, but gains an extra smoothing touch thanks to another round of charcoal filtering, bringing about more maturity without sacrificing the cherished JD essence. The flavour bouquet boasts hints of maple, fruit, and vanilla spice, reports the Express . And it's not just smooth by nature—it's a hit among Amazon shoppers too, where it's bagged an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars across a whopping 18,760 ratings. Echoing the sentiment of countless satisfied customers, one elated five-star critic commented: "Smooth, mellow, great taste and makes the perfect JD and Coke," further affirming, "Slightly smoother that the normal blend and worth the price as a treat." " Jack Daniel's Gentleman Jack Tennessee Whiskey is the epitome of smoothness and sophistication," gushed one satisfied customer. They further enthused, "With its double-mellowed process and balanced flavor profile, it offers a premium whiskey experience that delights the senses." Another chimed in with their own glowing review: "I have bought this before for family and they were absolutely delighted with the Jack Daniels whiskey. It has a pleasant taste and comes in an unique bottle." Yet taste is subjective, as one critique pointed out: "Just not enough in the taste department for me," In agreement was another, who commented, "Not quite sure what the fuss is about concerning Gentleman Jack. While a little smoother, to me there is less flavour than offered up in the original No.7 Jack Daniel's." If your taste buds are keen to try something different, the Burnt Ends Blended Whiskey available at Debenhams is up for grabs at £29.93, presented in an elegant bottle to spruce up any liquor collection.
What’s in store for Bitcoin in 2025?
Back trouble and brain fog bothered suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, his posts show Social media posts from Luigi Mangione show the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson underwent successful back surgery last year that alleviated debilitating chronic pain. He repeatedly posted on Reddit about his recovery and offered words of encouragement for other people with similar conditions. But notably absent from the posts are explicit concerns about corporate greed within the health insurance industry. Those appear to have surfaced only later: in the handwritten manifesto recovered this week by police. Despite recent revelations about a potential motive, Mangione’s descent into rage and violence remains largely a mystery. Watchdog finds FBI intelligence missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were present WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI should have done more to collect intelligence before the Capitol riot even though the bureau did prepare for the possibility of violence on Jan. 6, 2021, according to a watchdog report. It also says no undercover FBI employees were present that day and none of the bureau’s informants was authorized to participate. The report Thursday from the Justice Department inspector general’s office knocks down a fringe conspiracy theory advanced by some Republicans in Congress that the FBI played a role in instigating the events of Jan. 6, when rioters determined to overturn Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss stormed the building in a violent clash with police. Biden commutes roughly 1,500 sentences and pardons 39 people in biggest single-day act of clemency WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic and pardoning 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. The White House says it’s the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history. The clemency follows a broad pardon for his son Hunter, who was prosecuted for gun and tax crimes. Biden is under pressure from advocacy groups to pardon broad swaths of people before the Trump administration takes over in January. He’s also weighing whether to issue preemptive pardons to those who investigated Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election and are facing possible retribution when he takes office. Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurer NEW YORK (AP) — Police say the man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione did mention the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald’s. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania. His lawyer there says he hasn’t seen any evidence yet linking him to the crime. Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what's next for those who oppose Trump WASHINGTON (AP) — Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst is an Iraq War veteran and sexual assault survivor who has advocated for years to improve how the military handles claims of sexual misconduct. But she now finds herself in the position of seriously considering Pete Hegseth to serve as defense secretary. Hegseth once said women should not serve in combat and has been accused of sexual assault. The Republican senator is facing an aggressive pressure campaign from President-elect Donald Trump’s allies, complete with threats of primary challengers. It serves a warning to Ernst's colleagues who may have qualms about Trump’s other controversial picks for his Cabinet. Trump extends unprecedented invites to China's Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders to his inauguration next month. It's an unorthodox move that would fold U.S. allies and adversaries into a very American political tradition. Incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed during a Thursday morning appearance on “Fox & Friends” that Trump had invited Xi and other world leaders for his Jan. 20 swearing in. Trump on Thursday said he’s been “thinking about inviting certain people to the inauguration” without referring to any specific individuals. No head of state has previously made an official visit to the U.S. for the inauguration. Israeli strike in Gaza kills 25 people as US makes new push for a ceasefire DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian medics said an Israeli airstrike hit a refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least 25 Palestinians and wounding dozens more. The strike Thursday evening came just hours after President Joe Biden’s national security adviser was in Jerusalem and raised hopes about a ceasefire deal to end the war in Gaza. Officials at two hospitals in the Gaza Strip, al-Awda Hospital in the north and al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, reported they received a combined total of 25 bodies. Health officials said Israel struck on a multistory house in the urban Nuseirat refugee camp. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the strike. US senator says mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey should be 'shot down, if necessary' TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — A U.S. senator says mysterious drones spotted flying at night over sensitive areas in New Jersey should be “shot down, if necessary." The unmanned aircraft have also been seen in other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. It remains unclear who owns them. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut says Americans urgently need some intelligence analysis on the issue. The Democrat's remarks Thursday come as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to threaten public safety and the White House on Thursday concurred. Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department and the city of Louisville have reached an agreement to reform the city’s police force after an investigation prompted by the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor. That is according to an announcement on Thursday. The consent decree, which must be approved by a judge, follows a federal investigation that found Louisville police have engaged in a pattern of violating constitutional rights and discrimination against the Black community. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. Belichick's five-year deal pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year. It is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes. There is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses.
Ruben Amorim impressed with Arsenal’s corners after first defeat as Man Utd boss
Jeremy Clarkson backpedals on previous claim he bought farm for tax reasons
NoneReps Will Work With NAPTIP To Tackle Human Trafficking – Abbas
A member of the Question Time audience sparked laughter and applause this evening after she remarked she’s “starting to think Labour doesn’t actually know what it’s doing”. The observation came after a tense row between senior minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and Fiona Bruce over how many farms will actually be affected by Rachel Reeves’ planned tractor tax. Turning to the audience, the BBC Question Time host went to a woman who blasted Labour over their incompetence and love of tax rises. She quipped: “I’m starting to think that Labour doesn’t actually know what it’s doing. “You’ve taxed people who grow and make food, you want to make people poorer who have actually worked and contributed - what are you doing? “I think it’s just a stalling tactic just to tax people in the end. What are you doing? I don’t know!” The camera then cut to Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds shaking his head as the audience applauded. A second audience member also criticised the government’s inheritance tax policy, saying farmers don’t just hand out a business but a livelihood. The man said: “I thought inheritance tax was to tax the wealth that somebody inherits, whereas these farmers are inheriting a way of life, a livelihood. “Therefore they’re not gaining anything in wealth, so if they were to sell [the farm] ok yes go for the capital gains and other taxes. But inheritance tax, no, this is one they shouldn’t get burdened with.” A farmer in the Wiltshire audience said that while he accepts there is a burden on the country’s tax pot at the moment, he worries that at the point inheritance tax becomes due “you aren’t in a position to pay it without selling an asset that then destabilises the exact entity you’ve built up to create a profit from.” He explained that his parents who own the farm are in their 80s, and therefore the 7-year rule around gifting to avoid inheritance tax “is not relevant to many many people to parents who are farming with their children.” Conservative MP Harriett Baldwin recounted the emotional stories she had heard from her local farmers who attended this week’s rally in Westminster. Ms Baldwin said they were in floods of tears over their family livelihoods, and insisted all family farms will eventually be caught out by the tax over time. She explained family farms “do something very precious for us”. “They provide food security to the UK. One of the things that I learned this week was a phrase from Clement Attlee, about whom Nick [Thomas Symonds] has written a biography, which was that after the First World War when we ran into food security issues he vowed that the UK should never find itself in that position again. “So that I think is what makes this different from the ordinary family who is caught in an inheritance tax situation. “These are people who put food on our table, who provide the milk in our supermarket, who feed us. “To take away a fifth of their farm every time it changes generation you can see how over the long term that is going to erode their ability not only to pass down the land but really importantly to pass down those traditions of dairy farming, arable farming.” She won a large round of applause from the Wiltshire audience for her opposition to Labour’s policy.Banque Cantonale Vaudoise acquired a new stake in Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. ( NASDAQ:BWMX – Free Report ) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 12,223 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $155,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Acadian Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. by 195.0% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 32,473 shares of the company’s stock worth $642,000 after buying an additional 21,467 shares during the period. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its position in Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. by 11.3% during the 1st quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 74,906 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,497,000 after acquiring an additional 7,610 shares during the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new position in shares of Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. during the 1st quarter worth approximately $497,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. by 56.6% in the first quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 14,121 shares of the company’s stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 5,104 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Caprock Group LLC acquired a new position in Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. during the second quarter worth $169,000. 12.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. Price Performance Shares of BWMX stock opened at $12.24 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $12.83 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.07, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.85. Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. has a 1 year low of $11.67 and a 1 year high of $21.28. Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. Cuts Dividend Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. Profile ( Free Report ) Betterware de México, SAP.I. de C.V. operates as a direct-to-consumer selling company in the United Staes and Mexico. It operates through two segments, Home Organization Products; and Beauty and Personal Care Products. The Home Organization Products segment provides a portfolio of products comprising kitchen and food preservation; home solutions; bedroom; bathroom; laundry and cleaning; wellness; and technology and mobility. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BWMX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Betterware de México, S.A.P.I. de C.V. ( NASDAQ:BWMX – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Betterware de México S.A.P.I. de C.V. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Betterware de México S.A.P.I. de C.V. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
https://arab.news/zzkk5 LONDON: Eddie Howe hopes his current Newcastle team have “moved on” from the one which finished fourth in the Premier League two seasons ago. The Magpies continued an impressive run of results on Thursday by beating 10-man Aston Villa 3-0 at St. James’ Park — their fourth straight win in all competitions. Newcastle climbed to fifth in the table and within six points of second-placed Chelsea. Newcastle reached the Champions League for the first time in 20 years when they qualified for last season’s competition. “I’d hope we’ve moved on from that team,” Howe said. “You can never go back in time and replicate what that team was. That team was an outstanding side... “But you can never go back. It’s all about the future. We’ve signed some new players, the dynamic is slightly different and for me, the evolution of the team always had to be that we wanted to be better with the ball, we wanted to control the game more with the ball.” Newcastle went ahead in just the second minute through Anthony Gordon’s strike before Villa striker Jhon Duran was controversially sent off. Further goals from Alexander Isak — his 10th in as many league games — and Joelinton secured all three points. Newcastle slipped to 12th place after a 4-2 defeat at Brentford on December 7, but have since rallied. “We’re shooting for whatever we can shoot for,” Howe said when asked about Newcastle’s top-four hopes. “We’ll take small steps, we’ll go game-by-game, but I’m really heartened by how the team is playing.”WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month — extending a diplomatic olive branch even as Trump threatens to levy massive tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump's incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed Thursday that Trump invited Xi but said it was “to be determined” if the leader of the United States' most significant economic and military competitor would attend. Xi is likely to see the invitation as too risky to accept, and the gesture from Trump may have little bearing on the increasingly competitive ties between the two nations as the White House changes hands, experts say. Danny Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Xi would not allow himself to “be reduced to the status of a mere guest celebrating the triumph of a foreign leader — the U.S. president, no less.” Still, Leavitt saw it as a plus. “This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies, but our adversaries and our competitors too,” she said in an appearance on Fox News' program ”Fox & Friends." “We saw this in his first term. He got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around this world. He is willing to talk to anyone and he will always put America’s interest first.” CBS News first reported the invitation to Xi. Asked at a Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing on Thursday about Trump's invitation, spokesperson Mao Ning responded: “I have nothing to share at present.” Leavitt said that other foreign leaders have also been invited but did not provide any details. The move by Trump to invite a leader of an adversarial nation to the American moment that is Inauguration Day is unorthodox. But it also squares with his belief that foreign policy—much like a business negotiation—should be carried out with carrots and sticks to get the United States' opponents to operate closer to his administration's preferred terms. Jim Bendat, a historian and author of “Democracy’s Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President,” said he was not aware of a previous U.S. inauguration attended by a foreign head of state. “It's not necessarily a bad thing to invite foreign leaders to attend,” Bendat said. “But it sure would make more sense to invite an ally before an adversary.” Edward Frantz, a presidential historian at the University of Indianapolis, said the invitation helps Trump burnish his “dealmaker and savvy businessman” brand. “I could see why he might like the optics," Frantz said. “But from the standpoint of American values, it seems shockingly cavalier." White House officials said it was up to Trump to decide whom he invites to the inauguration. “I would just say, without doubt it's the single most consequential bilateral relationship that the United States has in the world,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. “It is a relationship both fraught with peril and responsibility.” Trump on Thursday during an appearance at the New York Stock Exchange , where he was ringing the opening bell to open the market, said he’s been “thinking about inviting certain people to the inauguration” without referring to any specific individuals. “And some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it?’” Trump said. “And I said, ‘Maybe it is. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens.’ But we like to take little chances.” Meanwhile, a top aide to Hungarian President Viktor Orban, one of Trump's most vocal supporters on the world stage, said Thursday that Orban isn't slated to attend the inauguration. “There is no such plan, at least for the time being," said Gergely Gulyás, Orban's chief of staff. The nationalist Hungarian leader is embraced by Trump but has faced isolation in Europe as he's sought to undermine the European Union's support for Ukraine, and routinely blocked, delayed or watered down the bloc’s efforts to provide weapons and funding and to sanction Moscow for its invasion. Orban recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Every country's chief of mission to the United States will also be invited, according to a Trump Inaugural Committee official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Xi invitation comes as Trump has threatened to enact massive tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to get those countries to do more to reduce illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He has said that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada and that China could be hit with even higher tariffs. China produces precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, but Beijing has stepped up efforts over the last year to crack down on the export of the chemicals. “We’ve been talking and discussing with President Xi, some things, and others, other world leaders, and I think we’re going to do very well all around,” Trump said in a CNBC interview Thursday. Xi during a meeting with President Joe Biden last month in Peru urged the United States not to start a trade war. “Make the wise choice,” Xi cautioned. “Keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also pushed back on Trump's threats, warning such a tariffs move would be perilous for the U.S. economy as well. Trudeau earlier this week said that Americans “are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive” and said he will retaliate if Trump goes ahead with them. Trump responded by calling Canada a state and Trudeau the governor. In addition to the tariff dispute, U.S.-China relations are strained over other issues, including what U.S. officials see as Beijing indirectly supporting Russia's war on Ukraine. The Biden administration says China has supported Russia with a surge in sales of dual use components that help keep its military industrial base afloat. U.S. officials also have expressed frustration with Beijing for not doing more to rein in North Korea's support for the Russian war. China accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dispatched thousands of troops to Russia to help repel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk border region. The North Koreans also have provided Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials. Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration takes place a day after the U.S. deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of social media giant TikTok, to sell the social media app or face a ban in the United States.
One cannot expect to see a goaltender become a star player in their first few seasons in the NHL. The development of goalies takes time. However, the Canadiens could no longer afford to trust Cayden Primeau , who will be placed on waivers Saturday. This doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the end of the road for Primeau in the Canadiens organization, but it remains a possibility. Eric Engels from Sportsnet drew a parallel between Primeau’s current situation and that of Samuel Montembeault when the Canadiens claimed him off waivers in 2021. It was entirely foreseeable that the Montreal Canadiens would be calling goaltender Jakub Dobes up from the Laval Rocket and bringing him with them to South Florida on Friday. But there will be fallout, writes @EricEngels . https://t.co/Fh9ipIqK0M — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 27, 2024 Two things stand out. Montembeault was 28 days away from celebrating his 25th birthday when he was claimed by Montreal, while Primeau is already 25. We are also talking about two young goalies who had shown promise during their development, but struggled in their early days. However, Montembeault’s sample size in the NHL was very small when he was placed on waivers. He had played only 25 games in the NHL, but had an efficiency rate of less than .900. Primeau has more experience in the NHL, having made 55 appearances in net for the Canadiens in his career. His statistics are also very poor, with an efficiency rate of .886 and a goals against average of 3.69. In the case of the Panthers, placing Montembeault on waivers was a way to make room for their prospect Spencer Knight. This is somewhat similar to what the Canadiens are doing now with Jakub Dobes, who is excelling with the Rocket this season. We know the outcome for Montembeault. After a bit of patience, he eventually secured his spot as the number one goalie for the Canadiens, but he still needs to find consistency. It is possible that Primeau will not be claimed off waivers. His statistics are not attractive at all for a team looking for a second goalie this season. A brief return to Laval might help him regain his confidence. It feels strange to see that the Canadiens struggled with a three-way goaltending situation for most of the 2023-24 season, before trading Jake Allen and finally placing Primeau on waivers a few months later. In brief – The Alouettes extend Evans’ contract. #Alouettes re-sign QB Caleb Evans to a 1-year deal Won both his starts in 2023 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Hamilton last August. Threw a beautiful TD pass to David Dallaire in that game too. Very good at short yardage too! — Joey Alfieri (@joeyalfieri) December 27, 2024 – Bergevin didn’t only make bad moves in Montreal. Another product of former #Habs GM Marc Bergevin tenure will graduate tomorrow. Jakub Dobes 2020 #NHL draft 136 overall. Look at the #Canadiens roster. the numbers are there. Hockey people love numbers.... — Stormin Norman (@Stormin1Norman) December 27, 2024 – Heavy loss for Ottawa. Linus Ullmark devrait rater les 5 prochains matchs https://t.co/5g6qcyPTwF — RDS (@RDSca) December 27, 2024 – Coaching change in Sacramento. Breaking: The Sacramento Kings have fired head coach Mike Brown, sources told @ShamsCharania . Sacramento is in the midst of a five-game losing streak and has lost 12 of its last 17 games. pic.twitter.com/8KQWjQaVzf — ESPN (@espn) December 27, 2024 This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.