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Policies allowing out gay people to serve in the US military have been denounced as part of a “Marxist” agenda aimed at prioritising social justice above combat-readiness by Pete Hegseth , Donald Trump ’s embattled defence secretary pick. The assertion was among many contentious “anti-woke” views expressed in Hegseth’s latest book, The War on Warriors, published this year, in which he lambasted a previous policy – known as don’t ask, don’t tell (DADT) – that tolerated gay service members as long as they did not disclose their sexual orientation, while also excoriating its repeal. DADT was introduced as a compromise during Bill Clinton’s presidency in 1993 to allow lesbians and gay men to serve in the military in the face of opposition from senior commanders. The policy overturned a previous blanket ban that had been in place since the second world war. It was repealed in 2011 during the presidency of Barack Obama following numerous complaints of discrimination resulting from the dishonourable discharges of armed service personnel after their sexuality had come to light. Hegseth – whose nomination has become imperilled following allegations of drunkenness, sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement – has denounced DADT as the start of ideological “tinkering” with the armed forces for social justice ends, CNN reported . But he has also voiced regret over its repeal, calling it “a breach in the wire” that opened the path to a wider ideological and cultural change in the armed forces. Recalling how he was getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan when the policy was annulled, he wrote: “Our commander briefed the unit, peppered with a few jokes. You know, infantry stuff. “We mostly laughed it off and moved on. America was at war. Gays and lesbians were already serving in the military. I had seen the enemy with my own eyes. We needed everybody.” He now says that inclusive and tolerant attitude was a mistake, suggesting it paved the way for admitting transgender people into the military and allowing women to serve in combat roles, from which they were barred until a 2013 reform. “It started with Clinton under ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’,” Hegseth told the conservative broadcaster, Ben Shapiro, in an interview this year in which he cited a military recruitment advertisement of a soldier with two lesbian mothers as illustrative of a shift in military culture. “At least when it was an ‘Army of One’, they were, you know, [a] tough-looking, go get ’em army,” he said. “Now you just have the absurdity of ‘I have two mommies and I’m so proud to show them that I can wear the uniform too.’ So they, it’s just like everything else the Marxists and the leftists have done. At first it was camouflaged nicely and now they’re just open about it.” Hegseth’s aversion to gay people in the military and women in combat was expressed before Trump nominated him for a cabinet position that would give him decision-making power over both policies. Interviewed this week by CNN, Hegseth – a former army national guard soldier and Fox News host – declined to say whether he still believed it was a mistake to repeal don’t ask, don’t tell. He also said he supported “all women serving in our military” – despite previously arguing that their presence led to an “erosion in standards”. Hegseth repeatedly took issue with the concept of female combatants in a chapter of his latest book titled “The (deadly) obsession with women warriors”. “I’m going to say something politically incorrect that is perfectly commonsensical observation,” he wrote. “Dads push us to take risks. Moms put the training wheels on our bike. We need moms, but not in the military, especially in combat units.” In another provocative passage, he wrote: “If you train a group of men to treat women equally on the battlefield then you will be hard pressed to ask them to treat women differently at home.” Hegseth conflated the issue of women and gay people in the military in comments to Fox News in 2015, Meidas News reported . “Through don’t ask, don’t tell and women in the military and these standards, they’re going to inevitably start to erode standards because they want that one female special operator, that one female Green Beret, that one female Army Ranger, that one female Navy Seal, so they can put them on a recruiting poster and feel good about themselves – and [that] has nothing to do with national security,” he said.Panthers TE Ja'Tavion Sanders carted off field for neck injuryAs we enter the holiday season many young people are no doubt beginning to consider their future options. With a range of paths to pursue, a and a higher education sector it may seem logical to wonder if university is worth it. In my role as president of York University I see these issues play out every day in the lives of my students and faculty. However, I can say with certainty that, yes, university is worth it for both students and society. And while you might think that I might be biased, there is real data to back it up. Simply put, going to university enriches both students and society over the long term. We must ensure that students and universities are supported to help ensure as broad access as possible. While many students entering the market fresh out of university will make entry-level wages, the reality is that . Those with a bachelor’s degree earn 24 per cent more than the national average. The more education, the higher the earning potential. Students with a university degree are more likely to have stable employment even amidst economic disruption, . Graduates are also more likely to gain employment that offers a wider range of benefits. Simply put, an education increases one’s chances of finding fulfilling employment and living a longer and healthier life. Beyond individual benefits, there are also key benefits to society. Canada . Further To quote Nelson Mandela: “ .” The world faces a host of wicked problems ranging from economic inequality to climate change, geopolitical conflict and ongoing wars. Universities and graduates play a key role in addressing these challenges. Technology is not going away and it is not slowing down. A recent study revealed that the jobs of more than . Moreover, an estimated one out of 10 employees in Canada could be at a high risk of automation-related job redundancy. Canada’s already volatile job market will continue to be impacted. Those with . Graduates are also more likely to have the transferable skills needed to withstand workforce disruption. , AI technologies pose less of a risk for highly-skilled workers. In fact, their jobs are less likely to be replaced by automation because they possess the critical thinking skills needed to provide oversight to tasks that use AI and automation. While these technologies are sophisticated and becoming even more so each day, they currently cannot replicate human cognitive, critical and decision-making skills. There is also compelling research that shows to upgrade and reskill, a quality that makes students more agile in a shifting labour market. Universities have also been increasing , programs which help learners re-skill while they are holding employment and balancing familial obligations, to support lifelong learning and build a more resilient Canadian workforce. If Canada is to meet the expanding needs of students and of the country then we must invest now in higher education. Access is something I worry deeply about to ensure that we are not leaving any talent behind. Data from the indicates that 48 per cent of first- and fourth-year undergrad students at York came from households where neither parent held a bachelor’s degree. What’s more, York’s revealed that 59 per cent of students could not have attended university without financial support. Creating accessible educational opportunities for diverse learners to develop responsive skills is critical for a vibrant future workforce and for resilient communities. York and other universities in Canada have a good track record for this. At the same time, . Continuing to ensure that eligible students have access to university education including at the graduate level is imperative to address these trends. The significant numbers of Canadian . These are troubling trends which Canadian universities are committed to addressing. While the commitment and innovation of universities is evident, the unfortunate truth is that universities across much of Canada have seen a steady decline in real dollar funding for years. In Ontario, . To meet the changes in Canada’s labour market, . We have also worked to enhance access through flexible teaching formats and . Universities have also . In short, universities in Canada are one of the country’s most important assets. If we are to continue delivering the high-quality education for which we are known and serving the needs of the communities who rely on us, especially given fierce global competition for talent, it is essential that we secure a financially sustainable model for universities. Canada’s high youth unemployment has many people anxious about how they will fare in a job market that bears a striking resemblance to the Hunger Games. Expanding employment opportunities is necessary and will require collaboration across all sectors. But the data are clear. A university education will provide our youth with a running start and the ability to adapt as they go.Cowboys set to host Bengals under open roof after falling debris thwarted that plan against Texans

NoneFormer President Jimmy Carter, right, embraces his secretary of state, Edmund Muskie, during the 1985 dedication of the Muskie Archives at Bates College in Lewiston. Bates College photo Despite his Georgia roots, former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday in his hometown in Georgia, had closer ties to Lewiston and Auburn than most would expect from a former peanut farmer. He visited the twin cities on a handful of occasions, speaking at least twice at Bates College and scrounging for votes in Auburn during his long-shot presidential campaign in 1975. At the Holiday Inn in Auburn that long-ago December, Carter told a small crowd the country was drifting “in the absence of leadership from the president” and called for someone in the White House who could “inspire the American people to reach for greatness.” At Bates that same day, Carter pledged to several hundred students and resident that he would “never tell a lie, never make a misleading statement, never betray your confidence and never avoid a controversial issue.” Rosalynn Carter, the former president’s wife who died last November, spent even more time in the area in the months leading up to the Maine presidential caucus in 1976, including a couple of overnight stays in Auburn with supporters of her husband and a tea at a Chamberlain Avenue home in Lewiston. Carter, largely unknown to most of the country, wound up winning more delegates in Maine than all the other Democratic contenders combined, providing him with a boost that helped him win the New Hampshire primary a few weeks later and then his party’s nomination in 1976. One of the people who met Carter on that trip, former state Rep. James Handy of Lewiston, told the oral history project at the Muskie Archives at Bates College that the former president “probably more influence on me than any other politician.” “His commitment to other people to me was what I wanted to do,” Handy said. “He really illustrated to me that you can be successful, and your success can be measured in what you do for others and putting other people before yourself.” Handy said that Carter’s commitment to human rights, both internationally and in his own country, exemplified his ethics and helped make him “very inspirational.” Carter defeated incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford in November 1976. In the final year of his one-term presidency, he appointed former U.S. Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine to serve as his secretary of state, cementing a special tie between the president and the Pine Tree State. When Carter sought a second term, he spent a couple of evenings making phone calls to ordinary people across Maine who were working on his campaign. One of them, Cecilia Treworgy, who taught home economics at Lewiston High School at the time, picked up the phone one night in February 1980 to find Carter on the other end of the line. “I was so taken aback I couldn’t think of anything to say,” Treworgy recalled recently. But Carter lost his reelection bid to Republican Ronald Reagan that year. “I felt very sad when he didn’t win,” Treworgy said. She called him “a very decent man.” After his defeat, Carter began a new career as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and promoter of peace in troubled areas worldwide. Just days after Hurricane Gloria slammed New England in September 1985, Carter flew to Lewiston for the dedication of the Muskie Archives at Bates. A college professor, Carl Straub, said at the time: “There is more than the Appalachian Trail which binds Maine to Georgia. There is a common heritage which rises from the simple decency of our people: We share a sense of what is good and just and beautiful. “We share gratitude for the common leadership given us by Jimmy Carter. On this festive occasion when we honor a son of Maine and of Bates, we pause to thank this son of Georgia. “ “His journey has been one of human adventure,” Straub said as the college conferred an honorary doctorate on the former president. “When he reached his highest office, he did not forget the lessons from that journey, for they taught him what is important to the American people.” Carter and Muskie, a former governor from Rumford and a 1936 Bates graduate, were friends. Awarding Muskie the Medal of Freedom in 1981, Carter said he had admired Muskie “ever since I’ve been aware of his public service and been interested myself in going into the political arena.” Carter appreciated the Mainer’s “quiet sense of inner strength and demonstrated courage.” He said that Muskie “has never yielded to temptation to lower his own standards or the standards which make all public servants proud” and despite being “a loyal Democrat,” his service transcended party. In addition to Muskie, the former president also had close ties to another Bates graduate, civil rights leader Benjamin Mays, a leader in the class of 1920 who would later mentor Martin Luther King Jr. During his 1985 speech at Bates, Carter thanked the college “for making it possible for Dr. Benjamin Mays to overcome the handicaps of white supremacy and racism and to take his place among the prominent leaders of our nation and the world.” The address at Bates also touched on some of the recurrent themes of Carter’s public life, including his insistence a country should be measured by its commitment to human rights. “In order to be truly great, we must use our power for the enhancement of peace for ourselves and for others,” he said. “This includes forgoing belligerence and force wherever possible and relying wherever possible on diplomacy.” Comments are not available on this story. Send questions/comments to the editors. « Previous

SADO, Japan (AP) — Japan held a memorial ceremony on Sunday near the Sado Island Gold Mines , listed this summer as a UNESCO World Heritage site after the country moved past years of historical disputes with South Korea and reluctantly acknowledged the mines' dark history. However, it has not offered an apology. At these mines, hundreds of Koreans were forced to labor under abusive and brutal conditions during World War II, historians say. Japanese officials at Sunday’s ceremony time paid tribute for the first to “all workers” including Korean laborers who died at the mines, without acknowledging they were forced laborers — part of what critics call a persistent policy of whitewashing Japan's history of sexual and labor exploitation before and during the war. The ceremony, supposed to further mend wounds, renewed tensions between the two sides. South Korea boycotted Sunday's memorial service citing unspecified disagreements with Tokyo over the event. “As a resident, I must say (their absence) is very disappointing after all the preparations we made,” said Sado Mayor Ryugo Watanabe. “I wish we could have held the memorial with South Korean attendees.” The Associated Press explains the Sado mines, their history and the controversy. The 16th-century mines on the island of Sado, about the size of the Pacific island of Guam, off the western coast of Niigata prefecture, operated for nearly 400 years, beginning in 1601, and were once the world’s largest gold producer. They closed in 1989. During the Edo period, from 1603 to 1868, the mines supplied gold currency to the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate. Today, the site has been developed into a tourist facility and hiking site where visitors can learn about the changes in mining technology and production methods while looking at the remains of mine shafts and ore dressing facilities. Critics say the Japanese government only highlights the glory of the mines and covers up its use of Korean victims of forced labor and their ordeals. The mines were registered as a cultural heritage site in July after Japan agreed to include an exhibit on the conditions of Korean forced laborers and to hold a memorial service annually after repeated protests from the South Korean government. A few signs have since been erected, indicating former sites of South Korean laborers’ dormitories. A city-operated museum in the area also added a section about Korean laborers, but a private museum attached to the main UNESCO site doesn't mention them at all. At the UNESCO World Heritage Committee July meeting, the Japanese delegate said Tokyo had installed new exhibition material to explain the “severe conditions of (the Korean laborers’) work and to remember their hardship.” Japan also acknowledged that Koreans were made to do more dangerous tasks in the mine shaft, which caused some to die. Those who survived also developed lung diseases and other health problems. Many of them were given meager food rations and nearly no days off and were caught by police if they escaped, historians say. But the Japanese government has refused to admit they were “forced labor.” South Korea had earlier opposed the listing of the site for UNESCO World Heritage on the grounds that the Korean forced laborers used at the mines were missing from the exhibition. South Korea eventually supported the listing after consultations with Japan and Tokyo’s pledge to improve the historical background of the exhibit and to hold a memorial that also includes Koreans. Historians say Japan used hundreds of thousands of Korean laborers, including those forcibly brought from the Korean Peninsula, at Japanese mines and factories to make up for labor shortages because most working-age Japanese men had been sent to battlefronts across Asia and the Pacific. About 1,500 Koreans were forced to work at the Sado mines, according to Yasuto Takeuchi, an expert on Japan’s wartime history, citing wartime Japanese documents. The South Korean government has said it expects Japan to keep its pledge to be truthful to history and to show both sides of the Sado mines. “The controversy surrounding the Sado mines exhibit underscores a deeper problem” of Japan’s failure to face up to its wartime responsibility and its growing “denialism” of its wartime atrocities, Takeuchi said. All workers who died at the Sado mines were honored. That includes hundreds of Korean laborers who worked there during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonization of the Korean Peninsula. At Sunday’s ceremony, four Japanese representatives, including central and local government officials and the head of the organizing group, thanked all mine workers for their sacrifice and mourned for those who died. None offered any apology to Korean forced laborers for the harsh treatment at the mines. Attendants observed a moment of silence for the victims who died at the mines due to accidents and other causes. The ceremony dredged up long-standing frustrations in South Korea. About 100 people, including officials from Japan’s local and central government, as well as South Korean Foreign Ministry officials and the relatives of Korean wartime laborers, were supposed to attend. Because of South Korea's last-minute boycott, more than 20 seats remained vacant. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday it was impossible to settle the disagreements between both governments before the planned event on Sunday, without specifying what those disagreements were. There has been speculation that the South Korean boycott might have been due to the presence of parliamentary vice minister Akiko Ikuina at Sunday's ceremony. In August 2022, Ikuina reportedly visited Tokyo’s controversial Yasukuni Shrine , weeks after she was elected as a lawmaker. Japan’s neighbors view Yasukuni, which commemorates 2.5 million war dead including war criminals, as a symbol of Japan’s past militarism. Her visit could have been seen as a sign of a lack of remorse. Some South Koreans criticized the Seoul government for throwing its support behind an event without securing a clear Japanese commitment to highlight the plight of Korean laborers. There were also complaints over South Korea agreeing to pay for the travel expenses of Korean victims’ family members who were invited to attend the ceremony. Critics say Japan’s government has long been reluctant to discuss wartime atrocities. That includes what historians describe as the sexual abuse and enslavement of women across Asia, many of them Koreans who were deceived into providing sex to Japanese soldiers at frontline brothels and euphemistically called “comfort women,” and the Koreans who were mobilized and forced to work in Japan, especially in the final years of World War II. Korean compensation demands for Japanese atrocities during its brutal colonial rule have strained relations between the two Asian neighbors, most recently after a 2018 South Korean Supreme Court ruling ordered Japanese companies to pay damages over their wartime forced labor. Japan’s government has maintained that all wartime compensation issues between the two countries were resolved under the 1965 normalization treaty. Ties between Tokyo and Seoul have improved recently after Washington said their disputes over historical issues hampered crucial security cooperation as China’s threat grows in the region. South Korea’s conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol announced in March 2023 that his country would use a local corporate fund to compensate forced labor victims without demanding Japanese contributions. Japan’s then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida later expressed sympathy for their suffering during a Seoul visit. Security, business and other ties between the sides have since rapidly resumed. Japan’s whitewashing of wartime atrocities has risen since the 2010s, particularly under the past government of revisionist leader Shinzo Abe . For instance, Japan says the terms “sex slavery” and “forced labor” are inaccurate and insists on the use of highly euphemistic terms such as “comfort women” and “civilian workers” instead. Takeuchi, the historian, said listing Japan’s modern industrial historical sites as a UNESCO World Heritage is a government push to increase tourism. The government, he said, wants “to commercialize sites like the Sado mines by beautifying and justifying their history for Japan’s convenience.” Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea contributed to this report.Beyond Gaming (BG) Public Chain Sets Sail: BEBE and GameOn Forge (GO4) Shine at WOW Summit Bangkok, Ushering in a New Era of Blockchain Gaming

By Kimberly Palmer, NerdWallet The festivity of December is replaced all too quickly by the due dates of January, when the bills from holiday spending and travel arrive. This kind of financial hangover can make the start of the year a little less joyful, but there are ways to prevent it. “People often go into the holiday season without a plan. They might know who they want to give gifts to, but may not put numbers to it or think of what they want to spend overall, and that’s where people get into trouble,” says Rob Wurzburg, a Chicago, Illinois-based financial advisor at Forum Financial Management, a registered investment adviser. To counteract the tendency to overspend, financial experts recommend the following six strategies: 1. Plan early and often Wurzburg urges people to start planning for holiday spending as soon as possible. Related Articles Business | The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees Business | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people Business | Catholic United Financial to merge with Trusted Fraternal Life, becoming 6th largest U.S. fraternal organzation Business | How long does it take to buy a house? Business | Survey: Impulse buys may be ruining some Americans’ finances “The earlier you start planning, the better. Some people do a yearly budget in January,” he says. While it’s too late for 2024, you can start planning for the 2025 holidays soon. Setting aside money each month for the big end-of-year celebrations can reduce the risk of overspending or turning to debt, he adds. Giving yourself a goal for the amount you want to save in time for the holiday season can help you stay on track, says Tiffany Murray, managing director at the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development, a nonprofit based in Alexandria, Virginia. “Make sure it’s achievable and realistic within your budget,” she says. Then, when you see an item on your list go on sale , you’ll have the money ready to make the purchase, even if it’s well before the start of the holiday shopping season. 2. Select an all-inclusive spending number Starting with the total amount you want to spend for the holidays — perhaps based on those previous savings and inclusive of gifts, travel, meals and any other costs — makes it easier to develop a game plan, says Brian Gawthrop, a certified financial planner in Kirkland, Washington and founder of Five Cedars Financial. “Set a total spending budget before you make the list of people,” he says. Then you can prioritize and cut back on recipients, if needed. “Almost everyone needs to revise the gifting list,” he says, because once you write it out in full, it is often pricier than anticipated. 3. Cut costs creatively Gawthrop suggests downsizing to more modest gifts or reducing the number of gifts per person. Often, making the gift more personal — such as framing a photo — makes it easier to spend less because it still feels special, he says. Some people might be happy with a card and handwritten note, perhaps paired with a modest charitable contribution. “People want to express their love and how much they care for someone with a gift, and in today’s culture that can feel like a dollar amount translates to how much they care about you,” Gawthrop says. “But I think a heartfelt card and something simple like, ‘I know you like fidgets and found this one,’ or ‘I’m glad I have you in my life,’ can show how much you mean to someone,” he says. Gawthrop adds that recipients might be relieved to know you spent less. “The last thing you want is to have someone open your expensive gift and then they feel awkward because it’s so expensive.” 4. Stay calm and shop online The frenzy of sales and advertising during the holiday season, combined with the strong emotions the season evokes, can easily lead to overspending, Wurzburg says. “Anything you can do to get yourself in a calmer state helps,” he says. Calming techniques can include taking a break from shopping, going for a walk or reviewing your original spending plan. Wurzburg also recommends simply staying home. “Stick with online shopping so you don’t get sucked in,” he says. 5. Minimize high-interest debt Using cash to buy gifts helps minimize debt , since financing purchases with credit cards or other forms of debt can be expensive, says Tim Bauer, a CFP and founder of Evergreen Financial Group in Billings, Montana. “It sounds old-fashioned, but if you don’t have it, don’t spend it,” he says, adding that many friends and family would rather not receive a gift than know it caused financial strain. If you need to finance essential purchases, Wurzburg recommends a low- or no-interest method such as buy now, pay later , where shoppers can spread out their purchases over installments. That often means avoiding fees and interest, as long as you make the installment payments on time. Still, he cautions against overcommitting yourself to future installment payments. He suggests scaling back instead. “If you don’t have the funds today, are you hampering yourself in the future by overspending at the holidays?” 6. Find a budget buddy Connecting with a friend who is also aiming to stick to a budget this season can help keep you on track, Gawthrop says. “Both of you can commit to sticking with your budget,” he says. You can check in with each other and even share what you’re buying. Raising the topic with family members and encouraging everyone to stick with a budget — or the same spending limit per gift — can also help, Bauer says. “People are scared and don’t want to talk about money, but defining how much to spend helps set expectations.” More From NerdWallet Kimberly Palmer writes for NerdWallet. Email: kpalmer@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @kimberlypalmer. The article 6 Ways to Avoid a Financial Hangover originally appeared on NerdWallet .One in 10 NSW test positive for illegal drugs

Maupay also had a dig at Everton when he departed on loan to Marseille in the summer and his latest taunt has further angered the Premier League club’s supporters. The 28-year-old said on X after Sean Dyche’s side had lost 2-0 to Nottingham Forest at Goodison Park on Sunday: “Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile.” Whenever I’m having a bad day I just check the Everton score and smile 🙂 — Neal Maupay (@nealmaupay_) December 29, 2024 Former boxer Tony Bellew was among the Toffees’ supporters who responded to Maupay, with the ex-world cruiserweight champion replying on X with: “P****!” Maupay endured a miserable spell at Everton, scoring just one league goal in 29 appearances after being signed by the Merseysiders for an undisclosed fee in 2022. He departed on a season-long loan to his former club Brentford for the 2023-24 season and left Goodison for a second time in August when Marseille signed him on loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent. After leaving Everton in the summer, Maupay outraged their fans by posting on social media a scene from the film Shawshank Redemption, famous for depicting the main character’s long fight for freedom.Neal Maupay: Whenever I’m having a bad day I check Everton score and smileTrump brings back government by social media