U.S. stock futures were little changed Sunday night after the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite posted their third straight winning week, ahead of key inflation data due out this week. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose by 23 points, or 0.05%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures gained 0.05% and 0.05%, respectively. > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed at fresh records Friday , rising 0.96% and 3.34% for the week, respectively. The Dow was the lone laggard, closing the week down 0.6%. Those moves come after the November jobs report showed stronger-than-expected growth, but not so much strength as to dent investor hopes the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates this month. The CME FedWatch Tool shows markets pricing in an 85% chance the target rate will be lowered by a quarter point at the conclusion of the Dec. 18 meeting. "Everything else is working exactly the way the Fed wants," Wharton School's finance professor Jeremy Siegel told CNBC's "Closing Bell" on Friday. "I think we're going to have one rate cut on that December 18 meeting, but truthfully, I think only two or three rate cuts next year. I think this strength could last." The Fed is now in a blackout period ahead for commentary of its policy-setting meeting, but investors will get one final piece of insight into their decision-making with key inflation data set to be released this week . The November consumer price index, due out Wednesday, is expected to show a slight uptick in pricing pressures. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect a 0.3% and 2.7% monthly and yearly increase, respectively. That would be up from 0.2% and 2.6%, respectively, from the prior month. On Monday, investors will await October wholesale inventories data, due at 10 a.m. ET. Corporate earnings continue on Monday, with Oracle's results expected after the close. Key inflation data due out this week The November consumer price index due out Wednesday is expected to show a slight uptick in pricing pressures. Economists polled by Dow Jones expect a 0.3% and 2.7% monthly and yearly increase, respectively. That would be up from 0.2% and 2.6% from the prior month . — Sarah Min Stock futures open little changed Stock futures opened little changed Sunday night. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures fell by 15 points, or 0.03%. S&P 500 futures and Nasdaq 100 futures dipped 0.05% and 0.12%, respectively. — Sarah MinTransgender Day of Remembrance vigil held in downtown Kelowna

By ZEKE MILLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team on Tuesday signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about ongoing government programs, an essential step for a smooth transiton of power. It also allows those nominees who are up for Senate confirmation to face the background checks lawmakers want before voting on them. Teams of investigators have been standing by to process clearances for Trump aides and advisers. “This agreement with the Department of Justice will ensure President Trump and his team are ready on Day 1 to begin enacting the America First Agenda that an overwhelming majority of our nation supported on Election Day,” said Susie Wiles, Trump’s designate to be White House chief of staff. The announcement comes a week after the Trump transition team signed an agreement with the Biden White House to allow transition staff to coordinate with the existing federal workforce before taking office on Jan. 20. The White House agreement was supposed to have been signed by Oct. 1, according to the Presidential Transition Act, and the Biden White House had issued both public and private appeals for Trump’s team to sign on. Security clearances are required to access classified information, including on ongoing operations and threats to the nation, and the Biden White House and outside experts have emphasized to Trump’s team the importance of having cleared personnel before Inauguration Day so they could be fully briefed and ready to run the government. Republican Senators have also insisted on FBI background checks for Trump’s nominees before they face confirmation votes, as has been standard practice for decades. Lawmakers have been particularly interested in seeing the findings of reviews into Trump’s designated nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, and for Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to be director of national intelligence. “That’s why it’s so important that we have an FBI background check, a committee review of extensive questions and questionnaires, and a public hearing,” said. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine on Monday. John Thune, the incoming Senate Republican leader, said the Trump team “understands there’s going to have to be a thorough vetting of all these nominees.” AP congressional correspondent Lisa Mascaro contributed.

‘Waves’ Review: Jiří Mádl Brings Compelling Life To Czech Oscar Entry"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.

MDT Ventures Closes Fund III & IV at $570 Million, Exceeding $525 Million Target 11-26-2024 11:50 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: Brand Push MDT Ventures is a Chicago-based early growth stage venture capital fund launched in 2016 by a team of professionals with over 100 years of combined experience in the industry. Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/caa388160f1c0618c7d4049b7b8cc083.png The Chicago-based early growth stage venture capital fund MDT Ventures [ https://www.mdtventures.com/ ] has announced the successful closure of its third and fourth rounds of funding, noting both rounds were substantially oversubscribed and closing its hard cap while surpassing the $525 million target. The team pointed out that MDT Fund III closed at $480 million and will continue their investment thesis while expanding into the ESG or environmental, social, and governance space. MDT Fund IV, Chicago Diversity Growth Fund, closed at $90 million and will provide underrepresented founders with equity and resources to expand innovation and economic opportunity while creating additional jobs in Chicago in the technology, healthcare, and real estate sectors. Founder Michael Thompson stated that as a "diverse founder and business owner, I understand the hurdles and constraints these founders and businesses face to run their operations in this economy." "MDT is excited to begin making more significant investments in our hometown of Chicago," the founder added. "None of this is possible without the unwavering support of our investors and limited partners. We are excited to provide strong returns to our investors while embracing our key mission and values." The four pillars of the MDT Ventures investment criteria include a proven management team, differentiated products or services, plus capital efficiency and the immense desire for growth. The MDT Ventures [ https://www.mdtventures.com/ ] team has been in the industry for over 15 years, combining over 100 years of experience in its team of over half a dozen employees. Their primary focus remains on equity investments in companies that have a clear dynamic growth potential, mainly highly scalable business in technology and service areas. The company explained how they invest in many industry types but have developed a preference for education, healthcare, technology, financial services, and logistic supply chains over their past eight years of operation since the official 2016 launch. "Our company serves as a strategic partner to entrepreneurs who are dedicated to building world-class companies that are scalable and durable," an MDT Ventures representative stated. "As investors, we show our commitment to the business by becoming an extension of their team and by using our resources and experience to propel them to the next level of growth. We invest in entrepreneurs who have a vision, plan, and motivation." Image: https://www.getnews.info/uploads/9e7fa89f2730b1677f2eaacd40364872.jpg MDT Ventures was founded [ https://www.mdtventures.com/about-us/ ] in 2016 by Michael Thompson, who is responsible for overseeing the firm's investment sourcing, valuation, transaction structuring, and securing of acquisition financing. Four years ago, MDT Ventures closed its second round of funding with $170 million, once again surpassing its target, which was then set to $150 million. The reports at the time said that the company had fully entered "a new league." Thompson commented in 2020, "We're looking forward to leading rounds of funding now as opposed to just being a participant." The team is now moving up to another league again, highlighting how excited the team is to get to work doing what they do best, which is helping build world-class companies and providing our investors with strong returns. More information about MDT Ventures, their latest investments and the overall business approach can be found on the official website [ http://mdtventures.com/ ]. The company also retains an active presence through its official social media channels, including LinkedIn [ https://www.linkedin.com/company/mdt-ventures/ ], X, and Instagram. Media Contact Company Name: MDT Ventures Contact Person: Cathy Smith Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=mdt-ventures-closes-fund-iii-iv-at-570-million-exceeding-525-million-target ] Country: United States Website: https://www.mdtventures.com/ This release was published on openPR.

However, the N-Dubz star has since left the jungle following a public vote but viewers of the show are shocked at her actions since. Before heading into the Australian jungle, celebrities often share pictures of themselves in their camp uniforms and the ITV show also shares videos and images of them while they’re in there which they share to their own personal accounts. However, viewers noticed the lack of Instagram posts about Tulisa’s time in the jungle following her exit. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, fans of the show noticed the singer has deleted her posts about the ITV show and her involvement. After leaving the show, Tulisa would’ve been given her phone back so it’s likely she deleted the posts herself. One viewer said: “Why has Tulisa deleted everything from her socials in relation to #ImACeleb”. (function (d, s, n) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; js = d.createElement(s); js.className = n; js.src = "//player.ex.co/player/e581678b-798b-4990-96f0-b5cdd52a81fd"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); js.setAttribute('programmatic', 'true'); js.onload = function () { const playerApi237931 = ExCoPlayer.connect('e581678b-798b-4990-96f0-b5cdd52a81fd'); playerApi237931.init({ "autoPlay": false, "mute": true, "showAds": true, "playbackMode": "play-in-view", "content": { "playFirst": [ { "title": "How much is Ant and Dec's net worth?", "src": "https://large-cdn.ex.co/transformations/production/3dac3c05-257d-45d2-b760-c1524f8b72f3/720p.mp4" } ], "playlistId": "649d3cb479e0a90012b54cc2" }, "sticky": { "mode": "persistent", "closeButton": true, "pauseOnClose": true, "desktop": { "enabled": false, "position": "bottom-right" }, "mobile": { "enabled": false, "position": "upper-small" } }}); }; }(document, 'script', 'exco-player')); Another commented: “Why has Tulisa deleted all traces of I’m a celeb off her socials?” A third called the singer out, saying: “So grateful you delete all trace of I’m a Celeb on your Instagram ey Tulisa?” After public votes, three celebrities have been eliminated from the ITV show so far. Loose Women star Jane Moore was the first to leave while Dean McCullough, a BBC Radio 1 presenter, was the second to be reunited with loved ones. Recommended reading: N-Dubz star Tulisa was the third to leave the jungle and said: “It is tough in there, leaving is still a happy thing.” Speaking about her I'm A Celebrity experience, she added: “I just think you're more grateful for everything, the food you eat, being around the people you love, the home comforts, just makes you very appreciative of life.” Tonight (December 3), another celebrity will leave the jungle. I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues nightly at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX.New York state government to monitor its use of AI under a new law

Patriots face more coaching questions after blowout loss2024: A year of impact and innovation for Aboitiz Foundation

Failing Joe Biden has brutally exposed the limits of American power and left the world in chaos. It's time for 'Trumpian realism' - and the return of diplomacy to Washington

With Donald Trump’s return to the White House and Republicans taking full control of Congress in 2025, the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion is back on the chopping block. By Phil Galewitz , for KFF Health News More than 3 million adults in nine states would be at immediate risk of losing their health coverage should the GOP reduce the extra federal Medicaid funding that’s enabled states to widen eligibility, according to KFF , a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, and the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families . That’s because the states have trigger laws that would swiftly end their Medicaid expansions if federal funding falls. The states are Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia. The 2010 Affordable Care Act encouraged states to expand Medicaid programs to cover more low-income Americans who didn’t get health insurance through their jobs. Forty states and the District of Columbia agreed, extending health insurance since 2014 to an estimated 21 million people and helping drive the U.S. uninsured rate to record lows. In exchange, the federal government pays 90% of the cost to cover the expanded population. That’s far higher than the federal match for other Medicaid beneficiaries, which averages about 57% nationwide. Conservative policy groups, which generally have opposed the ACA, say the program costs too much and covers too many people. Democrats say the Medicaid expansion has saved lives and helped communities by widening coverage to people who could not afford private insurance. If Congress cuts federal funding, Medicaid expansion would be at risk in all states that have opted into it—even those without trigger laws—because state legislatures would be forced to make up the difference, said Renuka Tipirneni, an associate professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health. Decisions to keep or roll back the expansion “would depend on the politics at the state level,” Tipirneni said. For instance, Michigan approved a trigger as part of its Medicaid expansion in 2013, when it was controlled by a Republican governor and legislature. Last year, with the government controlled by Democrats, the state eliminated its funding trigger. Six of the nine states with trigger laws—Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, and Utah—went for Donald Trump in the 2024 election. RELATED STORY: Washington power has shifted. Here’s how the ACA may shift, too Most of the nine states’ triggers kick in if federal funding falls below the 90% threshold. Arizona’s trigger would eliminate its expansion if funding falls below 80%. Montana’s law rolls back expansion below 90% funding but allows it to continue if lawmakers identify additional funding. Under state law, Montana lawmakers must reauthorize its Medicaid expansion in 2025 or the expansion will end. Across the states with triggers, between 3.1 million and 3.7 million people would swiftly lose their coverage, researchers at KFF and the Georgetown center estimate. The difference depends on how states treat people who were added to Medicaid before the ACA expansion; they may continue to qualify even if the expansion ends. Three other states—Iowa, Idaho, and New Mexico—have laws that require their governments to mitigate the financial impact of losing federal Medicaid expansion funding but would not automatically end expansions. With those three states included, about 4.3 million Medicaid expansion enrollees would be at risk of losing coverage, according to KFF. The ACA allowed Medicaid expansions to adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, or about $20,783 for an individual in 2024. Nearly a quarter of the 81 million people enrolled in Medicaid nationally are in the program due to expansions. “With a reduction in the expansion match rate, it is likely that all states would need to evaluate whether to continue expansion coverage because it would require a significant increase in state spending,” said Robin Rudowitz, vice president and director of the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured at KFF. “If states drop coverage, it is likely that there would be an increase in the number of uninsured, and that would limit access to care across red and blue states that have adopted expansion.” States rarely cut eligibility for social programs such as Medicaid once it’s been granted. The triggers make it politically easier for state lawmakers to end Medicaid expansion because they would not have to take any new action to cut coverage, said Edwin Park, a research professor at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. To see the impact of trigger laws, consider what happened after the Supreme Court in 2022 struck down Roe v. Wade and, with it, the constitutional right to an abortion. Conservative lawmakers in 13 states had crafted trigger laws that would automatically implement bans in the event a national right to abortion were struck down. Those state laws resulted in restrictions taking effect immediately after the court ruling, or shortly thereafter. States adopted triggers as part of Medicaid expansion to win over lawmakers skeptical of putting state dollars on the hook for a federal program unpopular with most Republicans. It’s unclear what Trump and congressional Republicans will do with Medicaid after he takes office in January, but one indicator could be a recent recommendation from the Paragon Health Institute, a leading conservative policy organization led by former Trump health adviser Brian Blase. Paragon has proposed that starting in 2026 the federal government would phase down the 90% federal match for expansion until 2034, when it would reach parity with each state’s federal match for its traditional enrollees. Under that plan, states could still get ACA Medicaid expansion funding but restrict coverage to enrollees with incomes up to the federal poverty level. Currently, to receive expansion funding, states must offer coverage to everyone up to 138% of the poverty level. RELATED STORY: Americans without health insurance surged with Trump—and plummeted under Biden Daniel Derksen, director of the Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona, said it’s unlikely Arizona would move to eliminate its trigger and make up for lost federal funds. “It would be a tough sell right now as it would put a big strain on the budget,” he said. Medicaid has been in the crosshairs of Republicans in Washington before. Republican congressional leaders in 2017 proposed legislation to cut federal expansion funding, a move that would have shifted billions in costs to states. That plan, part of a strategy to repeal Obamacare, ultimately failed. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF . Subscribe to KFF Health News' free Morning Briefing. This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.What should I do when disaster strikes? Here's a place to start

The hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's elusive killer yields new evidence, but few answersOTTAWA—NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Tuesday his party won’t support the Trudeau government’s unless the Liberals put a proposal to pause the GST in a separate bill and expand the number of Canadians who would be eligible to receive $250 cheques. But as he said he wanted Canadians to get an immediate “GST holiday,” the New Democrats leader also made an ultimatum that puts at risk Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s GST plan, a proposal that would pause the federal tax on a number of items including grocery and holiday essentials. Canadians repeatedly tell pollsters that the high cost of living is a top priority, and Justin “If they want New Democrat support, first, put the GST holiday separate, and let’s get that done right away, so people get that GST holiday right away, and then fix the cheques to include seniors and people living with disabilities and people that weren’t able to work in 2023,” he told reporters in Ottawa following a town hall event with the Canadian Labour Congress. “We will not support what they presented with putting it together.” Last week, the government introduced a $6.3-billion plan to cut the federal GST on a long list of items from Dec. 14 to Feb. 15 and also send one-time $250 cheques in April to 18.7 million Canadians who worked and made under $150,000 last year. That tax cut would cover pre-made meals, salads and snacks, children’s toys, clothes, car seats, Christmas trees, beer, wine and other alcoholic drinks, as well as restaurants meals. But the Liberals must now find another party willing to break a weeks-long and support the legislation to pass those measures. Although the NDP — which a week before presented its own plan for on several “essential” items — initially signalled its support, both the New Democrats and the Bloc Québécois that eligibility for the cheques be expanded. On Monday, Singh said the cash handouts should include seniors and people with disabilities, while Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet described the cheques as a crude move to win votes and said those “who have actually worked all their lives” must be included. They were joined by Liberal MP Chad Collins who said he was not the only Liberal to feel that way. Singh upped the stakes on Tuesday, saying he wants to see the GST relief measures in separate legislation first, and reiterated his calls for the Liberals to “fix” eligibility for the cheques. He said his party “is not prepared to pause” the debate that has paralyzed the House of Commons unless the Liberals meet their demands. For more than a month now, government legislation and most parliamentary business has been halted as MPs debate a “privilege motion” over the federal government’s refusal to hand over documents related to a green fund scandal. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said on Tuesday his party would decide its stance on the Liberals’ plan on Wednesday, but suggested Conservatives would not support it. “With our GDP collapsing, with half a trillion dollars pouring out of our country, and with Canadians lined up at food banks, our priority is not to save you 10 cents on a bag of potato chips right before quadrupling the carbon tax on your heat, housing, gas and groceries,” Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland did not answer reporters’ questions about whether the government was willing to expand eligibility for the cheques on Tuesday.Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100

Eagle-eyed viewers spot Tulisa was eager to remove 'all traces' of I'm A CelebIn case you missed the first culture war of Australia Day 2025 on Monday, Australia’s second-largest hospitality group , before backtracking after receiving a considerable response from Coalition politicians and punters. Liberal senator Jane Hume called the move “absolute nonsense”, while Nationals senator Matt Canavan called on the pub group to “drop the moral grandstanding”. Australian Venues Co, which operates 200 pubs and restaurants around the country, mostly in Queensland and Victoria, told staff at the weekend there would be no festivities to mark the national holiday in 2025. In a statement on Monday, a spokesman said issues had been raised by staff and patrons because of the “sadness” the day caused for some members of their community. But after the considerable media attention on the decision, Australian Venues Co walked back its decision, remarking that its original comments caused “concern and confusion”. “We sincerely regret that. Our purpose is to reinforce community in our venues, not divide it,” a spokesperson said. “It is not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day. We acknowledge that and we apologise for our comments. It certainly wasn’t our intention to offend anyone. “Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always.” The sale of Boost Mobile will deliver a significant payday to its co-founder, former prime minister Paul Keating. reports that Keating will pocket at least $40 million in the sale of the budget mobile business to Telstra, in a deal to acquire the carrier for just under $140 million cash. Keating holds a 29 per cent stake in Boost Mobile, which he co-founded in 2000 with businessman Peter Adderton, who holds 32 per cent. In the acquisition, expected to be completed this month, Boost Mobile employees would be integrated into Telstra and there would be no changes for Boost’s thousands of prepaid customers. Boost’s prepaid plans are cheaper than Telstra’s but don’t offer access to the full Telstra network. The companies have been partnered for 13 years, with Telstra responsible for most of the operational parts of Boost’s business, including network access and customer service, while Boost has been responsible for its branding and marketing. Several streets around the RNA Showgrounds will be closed for five days from Thursday for the Good Things music festival. The council has advised that sections of Gregory Terrace, King Street and Alexandria Street will remain closed from December 5 to 10, and has advised motorists to seek alternative routes. The parking lane on Costin Street, between Gregory Terrace and Carriage Street, will also be closed. The annual Good Things festival started in 2018 and this year’s line-up features Korn, Violent Femmes and Sum 41. Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats are now grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter for federal crimes after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump, who has argued that multiple indictments and one conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. Arizona congressman Greg Stanton said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Certainly, the president has plenty of Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential powers to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on X. “Sorry, but Biden was right to pardon his son Hunter to protect him against Kash Patel’s weaponised FBI,” Cooper concluded, referring to Trump’s apparent plan to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray in favour of a loyalist who has talked of going after political opponents and journalists. First Lady Jill Biden said on Monday from the White House: “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” A man has been jailed for five years over his knife-wielding attack on two police officers who made a split-second decision not to open fire. Paul Gali, 32, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to one count of unlawful wounding with intent to resist lawful detention, and one count of obstructing a police officer with an offensive instrument. Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson said police had been called to Gali’s home at Rothwell, north of Brisbane, the morning of May 1, 2023, in response to him threatening family members with a knife. Judge Carl Heaton was shown bodycam footage that showed Gali, dressed in a yellow high-visibility shirt, climb over a police vehicle’s bonnet and roof before charging at the officer with a knife raised. “The officer repeatedly told [Gali] to drop the knife. He was in the process of holstering his firearm and drawing his Taser when [Gali] jumped down and ran at him,” Wilson said. Wilson said the officer was retreating and attempting to strike Gali with the Taser when he was stabbed in a shoulder area that was not covered by his protective vest. In the footage, blood could be seen dripping onto the road as the officer called for back-up and told his partner, who had his firearm drawn, not to shoot Gali. Gali told officers to shoot him throughout his attack and performed an act of self-harm during the standoff. He surrendered shortly after when reinforcement officers arrived and also pointed their firearms at him. Wilson said the wounded officer spent two days in hospital but had suffered ongoing psychological effects that had taken away the happiness and sense of purpose he took in police work. Gali was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and ordered immediately eligible to apply for parole, having spent 19 months in custody. We’re in for another cloudy summer’s day in Brisbane, with a top of 30 degrees. And the days to come are looking similar, with barely a chance of showers and top temperatures similar for the rest of week. Here’s the outlook: Stories making the rounds beyond Brisbane this morning include: The Reserve Bank is being accused by some of the nation’s of putting the employment of hundreds of thousands of Australians at risk by keeping interest rates too high in order to reduce inflation. Longtime has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Sex offenders will be kicked out of the Australian Defence Force and potential leaders tested for emotional intelligence under a to combat the crisis of military personnel taking their own lives at alarming rates. Laurie Daley is back for a second stint in charge of the Blues, . “In finalising his cabinet,” , “Donald Trump has come to resemble an American Caligula, the Roman emperor rumoured to have considered appointing his beloved stallion as consul. So unorthodox have been the president-elect’s appointments that I half expected him to nominate his golf cart as the new transportation secretary.” Good morning, thanks for joining us for live news blog. It’s Tuesday, December 3, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 30 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: One of Brisbane’s top music venues is warning its future residents could inundate them with noise complaints. We rely on essential workers to keep Brisbane running. But can they afford to live here? As the city’s housing squeeze continues, A parliamentary inquiry into the LNP government’s proposed changes to youth justice laws has drawn with concerns the legislation violates human rights and disregards evidence-based approaches.