The Yomiuri Shimbun 7:00 JST, December 28, 2024 Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba expressed Thursday his ambition to establish and promote an AI system that could serve as a global model, with the aim of submitting related legislation to next year’s ordinary Diet session. At a lecture organized in Tokyo by the Yomiuri International Economic Society, Ishiba spoke on AI policy, emphasizing the importance of balancing technological innovation with risk management. “AI technology will determine the competitiveness of nations and the richness of societies,” he said. Ishiba also expressed hope that it would help address issues such as labor shortages in regional businesses and the manufacturing industry. At the same time, he acknowledged the risks involved and pointed out a sense of concern among the public. Referring to an instance where an AI-generated image of him dressed as Santa Claus was posted on X, Ishiba stressed the necessity of creating a system to distinguish between content created by AI and by humans. The AI-related legislation is expected to align closely with the interim proposals released Thursday by an expert advisory council on the government’s AI policies. These proposals recommend strengthening the government’s command structure to oversee everything from the research and development to the application of AI. The bill is also likely to include provisions for establishing an AI strategy headquarters composed of all Cabinet members. Regulatory measures are also being considered, such as investigative authority being granted to the government to address malicious copyright infringement.Sponsored by the US Department of State, The Asia Foundation (TAF) on Monday hosted an event to celebrate the culmination of a three-year flagship initiative aimed at empowering female entrepreneurs in the Northern and Southern Provinces. Themed ‘Improving the Economic Wellbeing of Vulnerable and Marginalised Women,’ the project focused on enhancing the economic wellbeing of 300 vulnerable and marginalised women during the series of economic, health, and political crises by strengthening the participation of women in the startup sector as micro and small business (MSB) owners. In partnership with the Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce (HDCC), Galle District Chamber of Commerce and Industries (GDCCI) and Jaffna Social Action Centre (JSAC), TAF worked with five districts – Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, and Galle – to boost female representation in business ownership by developing technical expertise, facilitating their adaptation to evolving market dynamics, offering financial assistance, and providing mentoring and networking opportunities. Through a series of extensive training workshops, personalised mentoring sessions, and a greater reach in the country as a result of participation in trade fairs, the program significantly leveraged their entrepreneurial capabilities. Key elements of the training included entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and digital marketing-equipping the beneficiaries with the vital skills to improve operational efficiency, gain market competitiveness, and ensure long-term sustainability. In addition to training, over 100 beneficiaries received grants to foster innovation and expansion, with a focus on digital competency development. Providing financial grants to women-owned MSBs helped address barriers to financial resources often faced by women, particularly those experiencing discrimination. Access to financial resources in the form of seed grants to and digital skills development grants was especially crucial post COVID-19, as it enabled product development, innovation, market entry and diversification, and income generation. This support, in addition to greater social capital due to mentorship and networking programs, also boosted the confidence and motivation of women entrepreneurs, empowering them to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities. Reiterating the far-reaching benefits of the project and expressing hope for the future, TAF Sri Lanka Country Representative Dinesha desilva Wickramanayake said: “By building capacity, agency, and leadership among women MSB owners, the program not only supports individual business growth but also contributes to broader goals of gender equality and rural economic development in Sri Lanka. These efforts underscore the critical role of targeted support in not only bridging market access gaps and catalysing sustainable economic empowerment for women in underrepresented regions, but also enhancing the overall wellbeing of the economy as household incomes are raised with more women earning.” She also reinforced the integration of mental health awareness campaigns within the workshops, providing stress management tools and fostering resilience that will aid women in mentally overcoming any hurdles they face in the business sector, ensuring their retainment in the entrepreneurship field. She believes that this trailblazing step taken by TAF in Sri Lanka will have ripple effects across the community, building women ready to lead, inspire and succeed. TAF Asia Policy Lead and Senior Program Manager Rukshanie Vidyaratne remarked on the tumultuous yet inspiring journey of these female entrepreneurs. “Initially, many of these young women started small, supplying their products to other shops. Today, they have grown remarkably, opening their own stores and becoming employers to multiple staff members. This growth has notably increased job opportunities for women in these communities. In addition to expanding their businesses, many owners have taken charge of their branding efforts, creating unique logos, business cards, and professional packaging for their products. Furthermore, they have successfully connected with mainstream markets, securing better value and consistent demand for their offerings.” Highlighting the project achievements and milestones, Vidyaratne emphasised that this program was directed towards victims of war, widows, survivors of gender-based violence, LGBTQ+ communities, women with disabilities, and those affected by caste considerations. She believes that these women in particular must be targeted because their economic state and the deeply entrenched social and cultural norms within their households hinder their access to opportunities, making entrepreneurship a necessary pathway to their financial independence. Elaborating on its process, she said: “90 from each district were chosen. We received 110 women from Mullaitivu, but we had to shortlist only 34. Nevertheless, this demonstrates the significant progress the nation is making.” “Our strategies included bridging the language barriers between various communities, as it is essential to ensure that communication gaps do not prevent women from accessing knowledge and expressing their ideas. We would like to thank all our partners including University of Ruhuna, University of Vavuniya, and Lanka Angel Network for their unwavering commitment to translation techniques. Furthermore, our 30 seed grants to six beneficiaries from each district and 72 digital marketing grants underscore the necessity of financial assistance in empowerment, while the six-month advisory sessions conducted equipped them with the skills required. In addition to these groundbreakers learning from us, we have also learned several lessons from them, including flexibility, collaboration, adaptive programming and requirement assessments,” she opined. Keynote speaker Counsellor for Public Affairs Heidi Hattenbach expressed awe over this initiative, by highlighting its potential in challenging corruption by building businesses rooted in trust and transparency. She also stressed on the creation of gender equality at all levels in the economic sector as more women join the workforce due to the growth of female-oriented businesses that offer employment. “The Asia Foundation’s efforts despite the forex crisis, political instability, power cuts, and hyperinflation persevered to ensure financial inclusion regardless of age, gender, and economic status. By equipping women of all ethnicities and backgrounds with the know-how, you are carving a better future not only for them but the country as a whole, showing us possibility in the face of impossibility.” The panel discussion held soon after, moderated by Zahra Cader spotlighted how although women comprised 52% of the Sri Lankan population, only 32% are involved in the local labour force and even less in entrepreneurship. She acknowledged that while female literacy rates, and access and participation in healthcare were relatively stabilised, the country was lacking in female political and economic participation. In Sri Lanka, empowering women to actively contribute across sectors could add $ 20 billion to the country’s GDP. On a global scale, closing the gender earnings gap and increasing female participation in the workforce could generate an astounding $ 28 trillion in additional GDP. Speaking about the challenges encountering women who seek work opportunities, Achala Samaradiwakara noted that access to capital was a key obstacle to female startups. Globally, women are 20% less likely to get finance compared to men, and in Sri Lanka, only 10% of women have adequate access to adequate financing. She also emphasised that while female literacy rates are high in this country, financial literacy is severely lacking. Women must be increasingly enlightened to alternative sources of start-up capital and effective legal mechanisms must be put in place and monitored to prevent gender discrimination when seeking loans from financial institutions. Other challenges that were pointed out was the digital divide, with only 17% of rural women accessing smartphones and computers. World University Service of Canada Country Director Mumtaz Faleel expressed hope in the current administration’s efforts toward greater economic digitalisation, fostering female empowerment by enhanced access to online education, remote work opportunities and exposure to international entrepreneurship platforms. Faleel also noted that the availability of mentorship and peer networks to women were significantly less when compared to their male counterparts. To solve this imbalance, she recommended the need for matching the skills of these women to market conditions, and spreading technical expertise evenly in all regions’ ensuring knowledge is not just concentrated in Colombo. Tailored training on technologies, coupled with detailed curation processes identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing these budding female entrepreneurs can eventually mobilise them as a company Sri Lanka Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce Chairperson Gayani De Alwis spoke about the gender biases and ingrained societal values hindering women. She expressed how society stereotypes men as the ‘breadwinners’ and women as ‘homemakers’ and ‘çhildbearers’ perpetuating misconceptions surrounding a woman’s capabilities, limiting her from engaging in work and further personal growth. In response to legal and political frameworks that can challenge such false perceptions, De Alwis suggested increased social marketing campaigns aimed at raising awareness, in addition to revisions in the local education system that teaches people to respect all regardless of gender, racial or any differences. Being educated on these pressing concerns from a young age is fundamental in establishing a new value system based on mutual respect and opportunity to all. The Asia Foundation is a non-profit international development organisation committed to elevating livelihoods and expanding opportunities across Asia and the Pacific. Informed by 70 years of experience and deep local knowledge, their work revolves around governance, climate action, gender equality, education and leadership, inclusive growth, and international cooperation. They work in more than 20 countries through their 17 permanent country offices and programs across Asia and the Pacific, supported by a headquarters in San Francisco and an office in Washington DC. Their funding comes from a wide array of bilateral and multilateral development agencies, foundations, corporations, and individuals. The organisation will soon commence phase 2 titled, ‘Becoming export ready’ which aims to facilitate greater dialogue with policymakers over these projects, while enabling market opportunities for these women on a global sphere.

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Wall Street indices took a tumble as the year drew to a close, with investors engaging in profit-taking and tax harvesting activities. This movement heightened market volatility as U.S. stocks, despite a stellar year, ended down on Friday. The U.S. dollar stayed strong with a nearly 7% annual gain, while the Japanese yen faced another year of losses, down against multiple currencies. Markets have remained thin, intensifying these shifts as traders braced for a shorter holiday week. Leading the declines were significant tech players, including Tesla and Amazon, as the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite saw notable losses. Traders cited pension fund rebalancing as a potential cause for the abrupt sell-off, hitting megacap stocks more severely. (With inputs from agencies.)

There’s no better time than now to purchase a dash cam, and Walmart is about to make that easier than ever with their exceptional Cyber Monday deal. Dashboard cameras record everything that is happening in front of, inside, or even around your vehicle, depending on the type of tech and its placement. They are useful for everything from ensuring your car’s security to capturing road trip memories. Dash cams are also often used to collect evidence of incidents on the road. Now is the time to prepare ahead and be ready for anything unexpected that could occur on the road, as experts have warned that staged accidents are on the rise . Just within the past few months, fraudsters targeted a woman on Queens, NY’s Belt Parkway and, thanks to her dash cam, were not only caught in the act but also found to be repeat offenders , potentially involved in a larger criminal scheme. When you want a dash cam that can help you in any scenario, you want to look for high quality that won’t break the bank, and you can find that with the 3-Channel Dash Cam on sale with Walmart . Complete with a 2.5K front cam, lR light inside cam, and waterproof rear cam, the device provides comprehensive coverage that will come in handy for any potential insurance claims or legal disputes. With the ability to freely switch between any of the three cameras, you have full control to make the most out of your purchase and use it as you see fit. ALDF 3 Channel Dash Cam Enjoy an astounding 79% off this dash cam built with three powerful display screens and cameras that can record everything in front, within or behind your vehicle. Using 4 IR Cabin Light and Clearer Night Vision technology, the dash cam provides crisp visibility and video quality whether it’s day or night. No need to worry about the important footage getting lost in the device’s memory, thanks to a built-in G-senor that can automatically lock and save any videos taken during a collision. Even when your car is parked, you can activate a Parking Guard mode to help you go about your day with ease, knowing that the dash cam’s front and back parking monitors automatically capture any destructive or suspicious behavior. With all of these capabilities and more, there are endless ways to use this 3-channel dash cam in your everyday life, so be sure to take advantage of this exceptional offer while it lasts. Don’t wait until it’s too late to think about your vehicle’s security. After all, peace of mind has never been so affordable! Your Black Friday FAQs, answered by shopping experts This year, the online shopping holiday Cyber Monday takes place on Monday, December 2 , 2024. Many Cyber Monday sales start even earlier! The short answer is, it depends. Some retailers approach Black Friday and Cyber Monday differently, discounting various brands and products throughout the days after Thanksgiving, sometimes at different price points. Traditionally, Cyber Monday offers retailers an opportunity to drop deeper discounts on already on-sale products. However, consumers should take caution: waiting for Cyber Monday is a risk that products, or certain sizes or models, may sell out. Conversely, some stores don’t differentiate between their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Jet-setters rejoice: Travel Tuesday , with its great deals on flights, hotels, cruises, all-inclusives, and more, will take place on Tuesday, December 3 , 2024. Right here! Follow Post Wanted shopping coverage for all the Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Travel Tuesday deals worth your coin in 2024.The social media site known as TikTok has been banned from all township devices. Chief Administrative Officer Kristi Honey said staff made the decision for IT and cyber protection. The ban extends to any corporate devices councillors might use for township business. Honey said the decision followed the federal government’s concerns over TikTok and national security. The township ban is just the latest example of governments around the world, from federal to municipal, banning the Chinese-based platform. According to a Nov. 7 article by the CBC, the bans are based on fears that user data could fall into the possession of the Chinese government. The CBC piece said that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has even warned Canadians against using TikTok. “Former CSIS director David Vigneault told CBC...it’s “very clear” from the app’s design that data gleaned from its users “is available to the government of China.” The Canadian government recently ordered TikTok’s Canadian operations to end. However, the app itself is still available.

A key figure in a trucker protest that jammed Canada's capital and sparked a global movement against Covid mandates was found guilty Friday for his role in the blockade. The self-styled "Freedom Convoy" of big rig drivers and protesters rolled into Ottawa in early 2022 from across Canada to express anger at government protocols imposed to contain Covid-19. After three weeks of turmoil, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked rarely used emergency powers to dislodge the protesters. Pat King was among hundreds of people arrested, and the first of the protest leaders to be convicted. Two other organizers, Tamara Lich and Chris Barber faced a separate criminal trial but those verdicts are not expected until 2025. King faces up to 10 years in prison after being convicted on five charges, including mischief, counselling others to commit mischief and disobeying a court order. Acquitted of more serious charges, he smiled at a packed courtroom of supporters as the judge read the verdict. "Mr King was not merely engaging in political speech," Justice Charles Hackland said. "Rather, he was inciting the protesters to continue their ongoing blockade of downtown Ottawa." King led hundreds of big rigs and thousands of protestors to Ottawa, bringing the capital to a standstill for more than three weeks. Residents and business owners complained of incessant honking and harassment. As the demonstrators' demands expanded to a broader anti-establishment agenda, solidarity rallies popped up at Canada-US trade corridors and various places abroad. Most of the evidence at trial consisted of videos King posted on social media in which he urged his nearly 300,000 followers to rail against government overreach. "Hold the line," he said in video posts, appearing also to delight in the gridlock and misery of locals: "Pretty hilarious that people haven't been able to sleep for 10 days." Trudeau faced strong criticisms from civil liberties groups and the opposition Conservatives for invoking the Emergencies Act to dislodge the protestors. But a commission of inquiry ruled it had been "appropriate," calling it "a drastic move, but... not a dictatorial one." amc/bs/bfmXP Inc. Q3: Modest And Without Triggers For Abrupt Improvement

Their ages vary. But a conspicuous handful of filmmaking lions in winter, or let’s say late autumn, have given us new reasons to be grateful for their work over the decades — even for the work that didn’t quite work. Which, yes, sounds like ingratitude. But do we even want more conventional or better-behaved work from talents such as Francis Ford Coppola? Even if we’re talking about ? If Clint Eastwood’s gave audiences a less morally complicated courtroom drama, would that have mattered, given Warner Bros.’ butt-headed decision to plop it in less than three dozen movie theaters in the U.S.? Coppola is 85. Eastwood is 94. Paul Schrader, whose latest film “Oh, Canada” arrives this week and is well worth seeking out, is a mere 78. Based on the 2021 Russell Banks novel “Foregone,” “Oh, Canada” is the story of a documentary filmmaker, played by Richard Gere, being interviewed near the end of his cancer-shrouded final days. In the Montreal home he shares with his wife and creative partner, played by Uma Thurman, he consents to the interview by two former students of his. Gere’s character, Leonard Fife, has no little contempt for these two, whom he calls “Mr. and Mrs. Ken Burns of Canada” with subtle disdain. As we learn over the artful dodges and layers of past and present, events imagined and/or real, Fife treats the interview as a final confession from a guarded and deceptive soul. He’s also a hero to everyone in the room, famous for his anti-Vietnam war political activism, and for the Frederick Wiseman-like inflection of his own films’ interview techniques. The real-life filmmaker name-checked in “Oh, Canada” is documentarian Errol Morris, whose straight-to-the-lens framing of interview subjects was made possible by his Interrotron device. In Schrader’s adaptation, Fife doesn’t want the nominal director (Michael Imperioli, a nicely finessed embodiment of a second-rate talent with first-rate airs) in his eyeline. Rather, as he struggles with hazy, self-incriminating memories of affairs, marriages, one-offs with a friend’s wife and a tense, brief reunion with the son he never knew, Fife wants only his wife, Emma — his former Goddard College student — in this metaphoric confessional. Schrader and his editor Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. treat the memories as on-screen flashbacks spanning from 1968 to 2023. At times, Gere and Thurman appear as their decades-young selves, without any attempt to de-age them, digitally or otherwise. (Thank god, I kind of hate that stuff in any circumstance.) In other sequences from Fife’s past, Jacob Elordi portrays Fife, with sly and convincing behavioral details linking his performance to Gere’s persona. We hear frequent voiceovers spoken by Gere about having ruined his life by age 24, at least spiritually or morally. Banks’ novel is no less devoted to a dying man’s addled but ardent attempt to come clean and own up to what has terrified him the most in the mess and joy of living: Honesty. Love. Commitment. There are elements of “Oh, Canada” that soften Banks’ conception of Fife, from the parentage of Fife’s abandoned son to the specific qualities of Gere’s performance. It has been 44 years since Gere teamed with Schrader on “American Gigolo,” a movie made by a very different filmmaker with very different preoccupations of hetero male hollowness. It’s also clearly the same director at work, I think. And Gere remains a unique camera object, with a stunning mastery of filling a close-up with an unblinking stillness conveying feelings easier left behind. The musical score is pretty watery, and with Schrader you always get a few lines of tortured rhetoric interrupting the good stuff. In the end, “Oh, Canada” has an extraordinarily simple idea at its core: That of a man with a movie camera, most of his life, now on the other side of the lens. Not easy. “I can’t tell the truth unless that camera’s on!” he barks at one point. I don’t think the line from the novel made it into Schrader’s script, but it too sums up this lion-in-winter feeling of truth without triumphal Hollywood catharsis. The interview, Banks wrote, is one’s man’s “last chance to stop lying.” It’s also a “final prayer,” dramatized by the Calvinist-to-the-bone filmmaker who made sure to include that phrase in his latest devotion to final prayers and missions of redemption. No MPA rating (some language and sexual material) Running time: 1:34 How to watch: Opens in theaters Dec. 13, running 1in Chicago Dec. 13-19 at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.;The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) is aiming to improve standards for crew aboard fishing vessels operating in the region. At its just-finished conference in Suva, the Commission agreed to implement measures aimed at ensuring fair pay, safe and decent working conditions, and protections against forced labour and other abuses. Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) deputy director general Dr Pio Manoa said the new labour standards are crucial to ensure the safety and dignity of crew. Pio said the FFA members have been key drivers of this initiative, reflecting the agency's collective commitment to social responsibility in fisheries management. Meanwhile, non-government organisation Pew Charitable Trust said the WCPFC is making a critical effort to modernise oversight of the world's largest tuna fishery. The Commission has adopted interim electronic monitoring standards - after ten years of effort - which will ultimately help improve oversight of the region's valuable fisheries. The move means the work of human observers will be augmented by onboard cameras and other technology. An officer for the Pew Charitable Trusts' international fisheries project Dave Gershman said electronic monitoring will increase data collection and help ensure that fishers are following the Commission's rules. However, he said the Commission has again failed to agree to on ways to improve the transparency of transshipment of fish catches. Pew said the Commission's rules on transshipment remain out of alignment with UN recommendations and lag behind standards adopted by the other four tuna regional fisheries management organisations.

Abaxx Files Early Warning Report with Respect to MineHubPoet, activist and former Virginia Tech professor Nikki Giovanni showed us that poetry could be a path to liberation. Now, it's our turn to walk that path, preacher and author F. Willis Johnson writes. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on X (Opens in new window) Most Popular Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area Get healthier in the new year with these resources in the Williamsburg area Chinese student’s drone got stuck in tree near Newport News Shipbuilding, leading to Espionage Act prosecution Chinese student’s drone got stuck in tree near Newport News Shipbuilding, leading to Espionage Act prosecution James City County officer, 17-year-old injured in Christmas Eve crash James City County officer, 17-year-old injured in Christmas Eve crash Longtime Phoebus Auction Gallery to close after New Year’s Day event Longtime Phoebus Auction Gallery to close after New Year’s Day event How to dispose of natural Christmas trees in Hampton Roads How to dispose of natural Christmas trees in Hampton Roads Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project Williamsburg leaders to prioritize funding for regional Trail757 project ‘We’re buddies now’: William & Mary students work with dementia patients as part of new program 'We're buddies now': William & Mary students work with dementia patients as part of new program Juvenile humpback whale washes ashore on Outer Banks Juvenile humpback whale washes ashore on Outer Banks New Kent administrator’s capital improvement plan has some big ticket items New Kent administrator's capital improvement plan has some big ticket items RUSSIANS, U.S. FLY SIDE-BY-SIDE RUSSIANS, U.S. FLY SIDE-BY-SIDE Trending Nationally Body found in wheel well of plane from Chicago to Maui How Diddy and Luigi Mangione spent Christmas in Brooklyn jail Massive invasive python is freed into the Palm Beach County wilderness. Here’s why ‘Baby Driver’ actor Hudson Meek dead at 16 Pregnant woman stabbed multiple times by pizza deliverer disgruntled about tip, sheriff says

Key Natural Antioxidants Market Trend 2024-2033: Strategic Partnerships for Geographical ExpansionSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The president of South Korea early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed on the country hours earlier, bending to political pressure after a tense night in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who appeared likely to be impeached over his actions, imposed martial law late Tuesday out of frustration with the opposition, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against opponents who control parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote to overrule the president, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Parliament acted swiftly after martial law was imposed, with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declaring that the law was “invalid” and that lawmakers would “protect democracy with the people.” In all, martial law was in effect for about six hours. The president’s surprising move harkened back to an era of authoritarian leaders that the country has not seen since the 1980s, and it was immediately denounced by the opposition and the leader of Yoon’s own conservative party. Lee Jae-myung , leader of the liberal Democratic Party, which holds the majority in the 300-seat parliament, said the party’s lawmakers would remain in the Assembly’s main hall until Yoon formally lifted his order. Woo applauded how troops quickly left the Assembly after the vote. “Even with our unfortunate memories of military coups, our citizens have surely observed the events of today and saw the maturity of our military,” Woo said. While announcing his plan to lift martial law, Yoon continued to criticize parliament’s attempts to impeach key government officials and senior prosecutors. He said lawmakers had engaged in “unscrupulous acts of legislative and budgetary manipulation that are paralyzing the functions of the state.” Jo Seung-lae, a Democratic lawmaker, claimed that security camera footage following Yoon’s declaration showed that troops moved in a way that suggested they were trying to arrest Lee, Woo and even Han Dong-hoon, the leader of Yoon’s People Power Party. Officials from Yoon’s office and the Defense Ministry did not respond to requests for comment early Wednesday. Seemingly hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Assembly, waving banners and calling for Yoon’s impeachment. Some protesters scuffled with troops ahead of the lawmakers’ vote, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or major property damage. At least one window was broken as troops attempted to enter the Assembly building. One woman tried unsuccessfully to pull a rifle away from one of the soldiers, while shouting “Aren’t you embarrassed?” Under South Korea’s constitution, the president can declare martial law during “wartime, war-like situations or other comparable national emergency states” that require the use of military force to maintain peace and order. It was questionable whether South Korea is currently in such a state. When martial law is declared, “special measures” can be employed to restrict freedom of press, freedom of assembly and other rights, as well as the power of courts. The constitution also states that the president must oblige when the National Assembly demands the lifting of martial law with a majority vote. Following Yoon’s announcement of martial law, South Korea’s military proclaimed that parliament and other political gatherings that could cause “social confusion” would be suspended, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency said. The military said anyone who violated the decree could be arrested without a warrant. In Washington, the White House said the U.S. was “seriously concerned” by the events in Seoul. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said President Joe Biden’s administration was not notified in advance of the martial law announcement and was in contact with the South Korean government. Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said there was no effect on the more than 27,000 U.S. service members based in South Korea. The South Korean military also said that the country’s striking doctors should return to work within 48 hours, Yonhap said. Thousands of doctors have been striking for months over government plans to expand the number of students at medical schools. Soon after martial law was declared, the parliament speaker called on his YouTube channel for all lawmakers to gather at the National Assembly. He urged military and law enforcement personnel to “remain calm and hold their positions. All 190 lawmakers who participated in the vote supported the lifting of martial law. At one point, television footage showed police officers blocking the entrance of the National Assembly and helmeted soldiers carrying rifles in front of the building. An Associated Press photographer saw at least three helicopters, likely from the military, that landed inside the Assembly grounds, while two or three helicopters circled above the site. The leader of Yoon’s conservative party called the decision to impose martial law “wrong.” Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election, said Yoon’s announcement was “illegal and unconstitutional.” Yoon said during a televised speech that martial law would help “rebuild and protect” the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” He said he would “eradicate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional democratic order.” “I will eliminate anti-state forces as quickly as possible and normalize the country,” he said, while asking the people to believe in him and tolerate “some inconveniences.” Yoon — whose approval rating dipped in recent months — has struggled to push his agenda against an opposition-controlled parliament since taking office in 2022. His party has been locked in an impasse with the liberal opposition over next year’s budget bill. The opposition has also attempted to impeach three top prosecutors, including the chief of the central Seoul prosecutors’ office, in what the conservatives have called a vendetta against their criminal investigations of Lee, who has been seen as the favorite for the next presidential election in 2027 in opinion polls. During his televised announcement, Yoon also described the opposition as “shameless pro-North Korean anti-state forces who are plundering the freedom and happiness of our citizens.” He did not elaborate. Yoon has taken a hard line on North Korea over its nuclear ambitions, departing from the policies of his liberal predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who pursued inter-Korean engagement. Yoon has also dismissed calls for independent investigations into scandals involving his wife and top officials, drawing quick, strong rebukes from his political rivals. Yoon’s move was the first declaration of martial law since the country’s democratization in 1987. The country’s last previous martial law was in October 1979, following the assassination of former military dictator Park Chung-hee. Sydney Seiler, Korean chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argued that the move was symbolic for Yoon to express his frustration with the opposition-controlled parliament. “He has nothing to lose,” said Seiler, comparing Yoon’s move to the Hail Mary pass in American football, with a slim chance of success. Now Yoon faces likely impeachment, a scenario that was also possible before he made the bold move, Seiler said. Natalia Slavney, research analyst at the Stimson Center’s 38 North website that focuses on Korean affairs, said Yoon’s imposition of martial law was “a serious backslide of democracy" that followed a “worrying trend of abuse” since he took office in 2022. South Korea “has a robust history of political pluralism and is no stranger to mass protests and swift impeachments,” Slavney said, citing the example of former President Park Geun-hye, the country’s first female president, who was ousted from office and imprisoned for bribery and other crimes in 2017 . Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, and Matt Lee, Didi Tang and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump loved to use tariffs on foreign goods during his first presidency. But their impact was barely noticeable in the overall economy, even if their aftershocks were clear in specific industries. The data show they never fully delivered on his promised factory jobs. Nor did they provoke the avalanche of inflation that critics feared. This time, though, his . The president-elect is talking about going much bigger — on a potential scale that creates more uncertainty about whether he’ll do what he says and what the consequences could be. “There’s going to be a lot more tariffs, I mean, he’s pretty clear,” said Michael Stumo, the CEO of Coalition for a Prosperous America, a group that has supported import taxes to help domestic manufacturing. The president-elect posted on social media Monday that on his first day in office he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada until those countries satisfactorily stop illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. Those tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his initial term. Chinese imports would face additional tariffs of 10% until Beijing cracks down on the production of materials used in making fentanyl, Trump posted. Business groups were quick to warn about , while said she would counter the move with tariffs on U.S. products. House Democrats put together legislation to strip a president’s ability to unilaterally apply tariffs this drastic, warning that they would likely lead to higher prices for autos, shoes, housing and groceries. Sheinbaum said Wednesday that her administration is already working up a list of possible retaliatory tariffs “if the situation comes to that.” “The economy department is preparing it,” Sheinbaum said. “If there are tariffs, Mexico would increase tariffs, it is a technical task about what would also benefit Mexico,” she said, suggesting her country would impose targeted import duties on U.S. goods in sensitive areas. House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a bill that would require congressional approval for a president to impose tariffs due to claims of a national emergency, a largely symbolic action given Republicans’ coming control of both the House and Senate. “This legislation would enable Congress to limit this sweeping emergency authority and put in place the necessary Congressional oversight before any president – Democrat or Republican – could indiscriminately raise costs on the American people through tariffs,” said Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. But for Trump, tariffs are now a tested tool that seems less politically controversial even if the mandate he received in November’s election largely involved restraining inflation. The tariffs he imposed on China in his first term were continued by President Joe Biden, a Democrat who even expanded tariffs and restrictions on the world’s second largest economy. Biden administration officials looked at removing Trump’s tariffs in order to bring down inflationary pressures, only to find they were unlikely to help significantly. Tariffs were “so new and unique that it freaked everybody out in 2017,” said Stumo, but they were ultimately somewhat modest. Trump imposed tariffs on at the start of 2018, moves that might have pushed up prices in those sectors even though they also overlapped with plans to open washing machine plants in Tennessee and South Carolina. His administration also levied tariffs on steel and aluminum, including against allies. He then increased tariffs on China, leading to a trade conflict and a limited 2020 agreement that failed to Still, the dispute changed relations with China as more U.S. companies looked for alternative suppliers in other countries. also found the United States may have sacrificed some of its “soft power” as the Chinese population began to watch fewer American movies. The Federal Reserve kept inflation roughly on target, but factory construction spending never jumped in a way that suggested a lasting gain in manufacturing jobs. found the tariff war with China did nothing economically for the communities hurt by offshoring, but it did help Trump and Republicans in those communities politically. When Trump first became president in 2017, the federal government collected $34.6 billion in customs, duties and fees. That sum more than doubled under Trump to $70.8 billion in 2019, according to Office of Management and Budget records. While that sum might seem meaningful, it was relatively small compared to the overall economy. America’s gross domestic product is now $29.3 trillion, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The total tariffs collected in the United States would equal less than 0.3% of GDP. The new tariffs being floated by Trump now are dramatically larger and there could be far more significant impacts. If Mexico, Canada, and China faced the additional tariffs proposed by Trump on all goods imported to the United States, that could be roughly equal to $266 billion in tax collections, a number that does not assume any disruptions in trade or retaliatory moves by other countries. The cost of those taxes would likely be borne by U.S. families, importers and domestic and foreign companies in the form of higher prices or lower profits. Former Biden administration officials said they worried that companies could piggyback on Trump’s tariffs — if they’re imposed — as a rationale to raise their prices, just as many companies after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 boosted food and energy costs and gave several major companies the space to raise prices, according to their own earnings calls with investors. But what Trump didn’t really spell out is what might cause him to back down on tariffs and declare a victory. What he is creating instead with his tariff threats is a sense of uncertainty as companies and countries await the details to figure out what all of this could mean. “We know the key economic policy priorities of the incoming Trump administration, but we don’t know how or when they will be addressed,” said Greg Daco, chief U.S. economist at EY-Parthenon.What Trump's Ukraine-Russia Special Envoy Nominee Has Said About the War

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Southern Illinois quarterback Michael Lindauer's coming-out party also was a dazzling farewell. The senior graduate assistant, pressed into duty as a player again when injuries left the Salukis in need of a quarterback, made his first career start — on Senior Day, no less — and threw for a school-record seven touchdowns in a 62-0 victory over Murray State on Saturday. “This was incredible,” Lindauer said. “The guys around me — thank the guys. The receivers were making plays, the O-line's blocking. When you get on a roll like that, stuff just starts happening.” The fifth-year senior, a transfer from Cincinnati, completed 20 of 33 passes for 283 yards. Keontez Lewis caught scoring passes of 4 and 64 yards. Bradley Clark had TDs of 35 and 23 yards. Nah’shawn Hezekiah had touchdowns of 19 and 35 yards on his two catches. And Jay Jones caught one pass for 1 yard — also a touchdown. Before the game, Lindauer had attempted 27 career passes. “Now, he's in the record book,” Salukis coach Nick Hill said. “It will be a hard record to beat, seven TDs in one game. ... What he's done ... just being so selfless and coming back and being a player. The team needed it. ... It’s a testament that if you stay committed, do the right things, have a great attitude, you’re going to get rewarded at some point, and he was rewarded in a big way today.” Southern Illinois finished the season 4-8 overall and 2-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference, but “to go out like that, that's a good way to go out,” Hill said. Lindauer was named the MVC offensive player of the week for his performance in his first and last career start. He plans to return in the spring, again as a graduate assistant coach, but this time with a resume to lean on. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballEven blue states are embracing a tougher approach to crime

'Still a narc': Oregon's Duck mascot trolls Washington's Harry the Husky on social mediaCBC is restoring its live New Year’s Eve celebration. A year after the national broadcaster cancelled the 2024 countdown due to “financial pressures,” it says the special event is back on the TV schedule to mark the dawn of 2025. Festivities begin Dec. 31 with the one-hour “22 Minutes New Year’s Eve Pregame Special,” a satirical reflection on the events of 2024 with the cast of the political comedy series “This Hour Has 22 Minutes.” It will be followed by “Canada Live! Countdown 2025,” a special hosted by news anchor Adrienne Arsenault and singer Jann Arden broadcasting live from Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre, and anchor Ian Hanomansing and comedian Ali Hassan at Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden. A representative for the CBC says the coast-to-coast show will feature reporters at more than a dozen community events across the country while a countdown to the new year will take place in each of the six time zones. Throughout the seven-and-a-half-hour program, “many Canadian celebrity guests” will appear in live and pre-taped messages. “Canada Live! Countdown 2025” begins at 8 p.m. ET on CBC News Network and CBC Gem with CBC-TV and CBC Radio picking up the feed at 9 p.m. in local markets. Last year, the CBC replaced its live New Year’s Eve programming with a taped Just For Laughs special hosted by comedian Mae Martin. That left Canadians without a homegrown countdown on any of the major networks, which sparked blowback on social media from some viewers. The CBC began its annual specials in 2017 to mark Canada’s sesquicentennial year. Some of the more recent broadcasts were hosted by comedian Rick Mercer and featured fireworks and musical performances in key cities. But when CBC paused those plans last year, it said the show had become “increasingly expensive to produce.” The decision to sideline the program was made shortly after members of Parliament summoned outgoing CBC president Catherine Tait to testify about job cuts and her refusal to rule out bonuses for CBC executives.