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By KAREEM CHEHAYEB BEIRUT (AP) — In 2006, after a bruising monthlong war between Israel and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah militant group, the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted for a resolution to end the conflict and pave the way for lasting security along the border. But while there was relative calm for nearly two decades, Resolution 1701’s terms were never fully enforced. Now, figuring out how to finally enforce it is key to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal approved by Israel on Tuesday. In late September, after nearly a year of low-level clashes , the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah spiraled into all-out war and an Israeli ground invasion . As Israeli jets pound deep inside Lebanon and Hezbollah fires rockets deeper into northern Israel, U.N. and diplomatic officials again turned to the 2006 resolution in a bid to end the conflict. Years of deeply divided politics and regionwide geopolitical hostilities have halted substantial progress on its implementation, yet the international community believes Resolution 1701 is still the brightest prospect for long-term stability between Israel and Lebanon. Almost two decades after the last war between Israel and Hezbollah, the United States led shuttle diplomacy efforts between Lebanon and Israel to agree on a ceasefire proposal that renewed commitment to the resolution, this time with an implementation plan to try to bring the document back to life. In 2000, Israel withdrew its forces from most of southern Lebanon along a U.N.-demarcated “Blue Line” that separated the two countries and the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights, which most of the world considers occupied Syrian territory. U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, known as UNIFIL , increased their presence along the line of withdrawal. Resolution 1701 was supposed to complete Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon and ensure Hezbollah would move north of the Litani River, keeping the area exclusively under the Lebanese military and U.N. peacekeepers. Up to 15,000 U.N. peacekeepers would help to maintain calm, return displaced Lebanese and secure the area alongside the Lebanese military. The goal was long-term security, with land borders eventually demarcated to resolve territorial disputes. The resolution also reaffirmed previous ones that call for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon — Hezbollah among them. “It was made for a certain situation and context,” Elias Hanna, a retired Lebanese army general, told The Associated Press. “But as time goes on, the essence of the resolution begins to hollow.” For years, Lebanon and Israel blamed each other for countless violations along the tense frontier. Israel said Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force and growing arsenal remained, and accused the group of using a local environmental organization to spy on troops. Lebanon complained about Israeli military jets and naval ships entering Lebanese territory even when there was no active conflict. “You had a role of the UNIFIL that slowly eroded like any other peacekeeping with time that has no clear mandate,” said Joseph Bahout, the director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy at the American University of Beirut. “They don’t have permission to inspect the area without coordinating with the Lebanese army.” UNIFIL for years has urged Israel to withdraw from some territory north of the frontier, but to no avail. In the ongoing war, the peacekeeping mission has accused Israel, as well as Hezbollah , of obstructing and harming its forces and infrastructure. Hezbollah’s power, meanwhile, has grown, both in its arsenal and as a political influence in the Lebanese state. The Iran-backed group was essential in keeping Syrian President Bashar Assad in power when armed opposition groups tried to topple him, and it supports Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Yemen. It has an estimated 150,000 rockets and missiles, including precision-guided missiles pointed at Israel, and has introduced drones into its arsenal . Hanna says Hezbollah “is something never seen before as a non-state actor” with political and military influence. Israel’s security Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement late Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office. The ceasefire is set to take hold at 4 a.m. local time Wednesday. Efforts led by the U.S. and France for the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah underscored that they still view the resolution as key. For almost a year, Washington has promoted various versions of a deal that would gradually lead to its full implementation. International mediators hope that by boosting financial support for the Lebanese army — which was not a party in the Israel-Hezbollah war — Lebanon can deploy some 6,000 additional troops south of the Litani River to help enforce the resolution. Under the deal, an international monitoring committee headed by the United States would oversee implementation to ensure that Hezbollah and Israel’s withdrawals take place. It is not entirely clear how the committee would work or how potential violations would be reported and dealt with. The circumstances now are far more complicated than in 2006. Some are still skeptical of the resolution’s viability given that the political realities and balance of power both regionally and within Lebanon have dramatically changed since then. “You’re tying 1701 with a hundred things,” Bahout said. “A resolution is the reflection of a balance of power and political context.” Now with the ceasefire in place, the hope is that Israel and Lebanon can begin negotiations to demarcate their land border and settle disputes over several points along the Blue Line for long-term security after decades of conflict and tension.
AMID the proliferation of disinformation in the 21st century, there is a need for “collaborative, cross-border” journalism to combat the global spread of disinformation. SunStar Publishing Inc. Digital content director Laureen Jean Mondoñedo re-echoed this during an intimate media gathering organized by Stet Women in Cebu Media, on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. Her talk on Saturday, entitled, “The Business of Disinformation,” highlighted key recommendations against disinformation that were tackled during the training she attended with the World Association of News Publishers Newsroom (Wan-Ifra) Summit held in Zurich, Switzerland on Oct. 21-23. Among these recommendations are the need for journalists to strengthen verification techniques, collaborate among newsrooms, strengthen media literacy campaigns, and work on exposing disinformation networks. She said there is a need for greater collaboration between news organizations and journalists to address and mitigate the challenges posed by disinformation. “Some issues are so complex that a single newsroom finds it challenging to tackle one particular issue. So, it is important to collaborate with other journalists and other newsrooms. Maybe it’s possible also here in Cebu if we can collaborate to expose or counter disinformation,” said Mondoñedo. Disinformation, unlike misinformation, refers to false information spread to mislead. ‘Exposing disinformation networks’ Mondoñedo presented the works of forbidden stories.org, a non-profit organization established in 2017. This international network of investigative journalists aims to continue the investigations of other reporters who have been killed. These include the project called “Story Killers,” which was done to continue the work of Indian journalist Gauri Lankesh who was killed in 2017 before she could publish an editorial entitled “In the Age of False News.” It also aims to “expose the inner workings of the global, secretive world of disinformation mercenaries,” according to the Online Journalism Awards website, which honors excellence in digital journalism worldwide. Part of the project is “Team Jorge,” an investigation that revealed a disinformation unit made up of highly sophisticated hackers from Israel that utilizes an army of avatars or “bots” to conduct manipulation services. ‘Disinformation as business’ Mondoñedo said, based on the discussions during the Wan-Ifra Summit, that the ultra-secretive Israeli company has been active since 2015 and claimed responsibility for manipulating 33 presidential elections worldwide, many of them in Africa, with 27 of these considered successful. Team Jorge was said to have managed thousands of fake social media profiles, operating the system as a business. Furthermore, the global network is claimed to have approximately 100 employees worldwide which operates across multiple regions and allegedly involves “experts in media”, participating in international disinformation campaigns. Anti-disinformation campaign In the Philippine landscape, Mondoñedo said disinformation can be countered by fact-checking and flagging or blacklisting content as part of identification and monitoring of sources. She added that one way to prevent such instances is by implementing trust-enhancing practices or technological initiatives, such as the use of reliable media websites. The attendees also engaged in an open forum that tackled gatekeeping practices in various newsrooms in Cebu, both digital and legacy media.Amarion Dickerson guides Robert Morris past Northern Kentucky 97-93 in triple OT
NoneUNT_Sheffield 14 pass from C.Morris (Nguma kick), 12:19. UNT_FG Nguma 36, 12:01. TEM_FG Trujillo 44, 4:49. UNT_McGill 39 run (Nguma kick), 3:02. UNT_McGill 51 run (Nguma kick), 14:52. TEM_Jo.Smith 1 run (Trujillo kick), 4:04. TEM_Simon 1 run (Trujillo kick), :56. RUSHING_North Texas, McGill 14-155, Sibley 9-41, Porter 11-36, Morris 2-17, Coleman 1-8, (Team) 1-(minus 4). Temple, J.Smith 8-39, T.Stewart 3-28, Douglas 7-18, Evert 1-2, Worthy 3-2, (Team) 1-(minus 1), Simon 6-(minus 11). PASSING_North Texas, Morris 21-40-0-180. Temple, Simon 27-44-1-268. RECEIVING_North Texas, Coleman 8-32, Sheffield 4-47, Conwright 3-41, Sides 1-23, Carnes 1-12, Kautai 1-11, Ward 1-7, B.Young 1-4, McGill 1-3. Temple, Allen 6-62, Adams 4-63, T.Stewart 4-58, A.Jones 4-18, Della Pesca 3-28, J.Taylor 2-12, Evert 1-18, Hollawayne 1-4, Worthy 1-3, J.Smith 1-2. MISSED FIELD GOALS_North Texas, Nguma 29. Temple, Trujillo 38.The French government has been toppled in a vote of no confidence Wednesday, plunging the euro zone’s second-largest economy into a period of deep political uncertainty. A total of 331 lawmakers from both the leftwing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance and the far-right National Rally (RN) supported a no-confidence motion in the country’s lower house, far exceeding the 288 votes needed to pass the motion. Motions had been tabled by both the left and rightwing blocs on Monday after Prime Minister Michel Barnier used special constitutional powers to without a vote. National Rally had said it would vote for both its own “motion de censure” against the government, as well as lending its support to the NFP’s motion. Either motion needed the support of at least 288 deputies, out of 574 deputies in the National Assembly, . Combined, the far-right bloc and leftwing alliance have roughly 333 lawmakers in Parliament, although some lawmakers had been expected to abstain from the vote. During a debate ahead of the vote, Barnier told lawmakers he was “not afraid” of being voted out but called on parties to work together and to “go above the general interest” to overcome divisions. He said it had “been an honor” to serve as prime minister, before receiving a standing ovation from French politicians. Losing the confidence vote means Barnier will be forced to tender his resignation to French President Emmanuel Macron just three months after he was installed as premier on Sept. 5; Barnier’s administration will be the shortest-lived in France’s Fifth Republic, which began in 1958. The prime minister’s downfall comes after several weeks of negotiations with opposition parties to try to find agreement over just one part of the wider 2025 budget, which included 60 billion euros ($63 billion) worth of spending cuts and tax hikes seen as necessary to tame France’s budget deficit which is . In the end, however, Barnier’s minority government failed to win over opponents on either side of the political spectrum. It faced the prospect of more haggling over the broader budget that had to be passed by Dec. 21, and was vulnerable to the whims of the National Rally, . The appointment of Barnier — a right-leaning conservative with Les Républicains party — was controversial from the off in September as it came after the RN and NFP won respective rounds of a parliamentary election held in June and July. On Wednesday, the ideologically-distant blocs’ shared antipathy toward Barnier, the government and its budget plans brought them together, in what some analysts described as an “unholy alliance” of political foes. Barnier is expected to resign immediately although Macron is likely to ask him to continue as a caretaker prime minister while he searches for a replacement. New parliamentary elections cannot take place until next June-July, 12 months on from the last vote. As for the budget, the fall of Barnier and the government means that “all their unfinished legislative business falls with them,” according to Mujtaba Rahman, managing director of Europe at Eurasia Group. An emergency budget is likely be passed within the month, effectively rolling over 2024 tax legislation until a 2025 budget is agreed, Rahman said in emailed comments Monday. But time is of the essence to appoint a new prime minister, as a 2025 budget cannot be passed by a caretaker government. That puts pressure on Macron to select a new prime minister quickly. Government formation will be watched closely, according to Carsten Nickel, deputy director of research at risk consultancy Teneo, “including the degree of Macron’s personal involvement in the process.” Nickel warned that Barnier’s caretaker status could drag on, as new elections are not possible before the summer. Barnier’s fate will be a strong warning to whoever Macron picks as his next prime minister as to the hazards and tripwires he or she will face when trying to reach a consensus over the budget, and other major policy decisions, given deep divisions in French politics laid bare since Macron’s ill-judged decision to call snap elections earlier this year. Macron returned from a three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia Wednesday evening, having kept a low profile in recent weeks amid the ongoing political turmoil engulfing the government — turmoil that ultimately resulted from his own decision-making. Now, Macron will face pressure over his appointment of a new prime minister, and over his own position. “Macron can appoint any Prime Minister that he chooses to replace Barnier — including Barnier himself,” Rahman said, but France’s Parliament can also “censure his new choice whenever it wants to,” Rahman added. “But both Macron and the much-divided parliamentary majority which opposes him have to calculate their strategy carefully,” Rahman said. “The left and the far right must ... be cautious. If they censure the new PM, there will be no legal authority to propose a rolled-over, stopgap budget. Government could, in theory, close on 1 January if there is no legal basis to raise taxes to pay for pensions or police or health care or defence — or [National] Assembly deputies’ salaries,” he noted. In the meantime, the president is likely to face demands from the left and right that he resign in order for a new presidential election to be held far earlier than the one slated for 2027. Resignation by Macron would trigger presidential elections within 35 days, analyst Carsten Nickel noted, adding that “while this seems unlikely, the snap polls earlier this year should at least serve as a reminder of Macron’s penchant for lonely decisions.” Macron will likely ignore all pressure to resign, according to Eurasia Group’s Mujtaba Rahman, but “the new crisis puts him at the centre of the political game once again.”
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ATLANTA (AP) — Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats now are grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son for federal crimes, with some calling the move misguided and unwise after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. The president pardoned Hunter Biden late Sunday evening, reversing his previous pledges with a grant of clemency that covers more than a decade of any federal crimes his son might have committed. The 82-year-old president said in a statement that his son’s prosecution on charges of tax evasion and falsifying a federal weapons purchase form were politically motivated. “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 Gov. Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. “When you become President, your role is Pater familias of the nation,” the governor continued, a reference to the president invoking fatherhood in explaining his decision. “Hunter brought the legal trouble he faced on himself, and one can sympathize with his struggles while also acknowledging that no one is above the law, not a President and not a President’s son.” Rep. Greg Stanton, D-Ariz., said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet said Biden “put personal interest ahead of duty” with a decision that “further erodes Americans’ faith that the justice system is fair and equal for all.” Michigan Sen. Gary Peters said the pardon was “an improper use of power” that erodes faith in government and “emboldens others to bend justice to suit their interests.” Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt., called the pardon “understandable” if viewed only as the “action of a loving father.” But Biden's status as “our nation's Chief Executive," the senator said, rendered the move “unwise.” Certainly, the president has Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential power to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and first 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. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said there “is no standard for Donald Trump, and the highest standard for Democrats and Joe Biden.” Harrison pointed to Trump's apparent plans to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray and replace him with loyalist Kash Patel and suggested the GOP's pursuit of Hunter Biden would not have ended without clemency. “Most people will see that Joe Biden did what was right,” Harrison said. First lady Jill Biden said Monday from the White House, “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” Democrats already are facing the prospects of a Republican trifecta in Washington, with voters returning Trump to the White House and giving the GOP control of the House and Senate. Part of their argument against Trump and Republican leaders is expected to be that the president-elect is violating norms with his talk of taking retribution against his enemies. Before beating Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump faced his own legal troubles, including two cases that stemmed from his efforts to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Those cases, including Trump’s sentencing after being convicted on New York state business fraud charges, have either been dismissed or indefinitely delayed since Trump’s victory on Nov. 5, forcing Democrats to recalibrate their approach to the president-elect. In June, President Biden firmly ruled out a pardon or commutation for his son, telling reporters as his son faced trial in the Delaware gun case: “I abide by the jury decision. I will do that and I will not pardon him.” As recently as Nov. 8, days after Trump’s victory, Jean-Pierre ruled out a pardon or clemency for the younger Biden, saying: “We’ve been asked that question multiple times. Our answer stands, which is no.” The president’s about-face came weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on tax charges. It capped a long-running legal saga for the younger Biden, who disclosed he was under federal investigation in December 2020 — a month after his father’s 2020 victory. The sweeping pardon covers not just the gun and tax offenses against the younger Biden, but also any other “offenses against the United States which he has committed or may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014, through December 1, 2024.” Hunter Biden was convicted in June in Delaware federal court of three felonies for purchasing a gun in 2018 when , prosecutors said, he lied on a federal form by claiming he was not illegally using or addicted to drugs. He had been set to stand trial in September in a California case accusing him of failing to pay at least $1.4 million in taxes. But he agreed to plead guilty to misdemeanor and felony charges in a surprise move hours after jury selection was set to begin. In his statement Sunday, the president argued that such offenses typically are not prosecuted with the same vigor as was directed against Hunter Biden. “The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election,” Biden said in his statement. “No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son. ... I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision.” Associated Press journalists Will Weissert aboard Air Force One and Darlene Superville, Mary Claire Jalonick and Michael Tackett in Washington contributed to this report.FTC opens Microsoft antitrust investigation that Trump administration must carry on or dropSan Diego State stymies Ryan Kalkbrenner, Creighton struggles from 3 again in loss
SEATTLE (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks took a bumpy path to sole possession of first place in the NFC West. Sunday's 26-21 win over the Jets featured several special teams miscues, including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by New York. On the flip side, the Seahawks got their second pick-6 in as many weeks and just enough production by Geno Smith and the offense. The Seahawks' uneven performance was characteristic of a season in which they started 3-0, then lost five of six before winning another three in a row to take command of their underachieving division. Seattle (7-5) leads Arizona by one game, with a matchup against the Cardinals looming next weekend. Zach Charbonnet gave Seattle its first lead of the day on an 8-yard touchdown run with 5:37 to go, and the Seahawks' defense capped another strong outing with a game-sealing stop on fourth down. After a sack by Leonard Williams gave the Jets a fourth-and-15 at the 34-yard line, Aaron Rodgers threw a desperation pass to Garrett Wilson that fell incomplete, giving Seattle the ball with 33 seconds left. Williams is on a tear. After losing out on NFC defensive player of the week honors last week to teammate Coby Bryant despite 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits, “Big Cat” had an even better game. Williams finished with two sacks, three tackles for loss, a 92-yard interception return for a touchdown that was the longest pick-6 in NFL history by a defensive lineman, and a blocked extra point. The touchdown was the first of Williams’ career. He became the first player since 1982 with multiple sacks, an interception return for a touchdown and a blocked kick in a game. Maybe this week the league will agree he was the NFC's best defender. The special teams could not have been much worse in the first half. The Seahawks fumbled three kickoffs, losing two, and allowed Kene Nwangwu's 99-yard kickoff return for a TD. Dee Williams fumbled on a kickoff in the first quarter to give New York the ball at the 27-yard line, and four plays later, Rodgers hit Isaiah Davis for a touchdown to give the Jets a 14-0 lead. Laviska Shenault Jr. muffed two kicks and fumbled at the Seattle 38-yard line in the second quarter. Seattle also had an extra point blocked. Smith led his third game-winning drive of the season and his 11th since he became Seattle’s starting quarterback in 2022. Facing the team that drafted him in 2013, Smith went 20 of 31 for 206 yards and a touchdown. For the first time in five weeks, he was not intercepted. The Seahawks trailed by 14 points on two occasions, but Smith brought Seattle back while avoiding the untimely picks that dogged him recently. He threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Barner in the second quarter, and led the Seahawks on a go-ahead nine-play, 71-yard touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Coach Mike Macdonald and his staff have to address the problem with their kick returners, Shenault and Dee Williams. Two lost fumbles and several muffs could have easily cost Seattle the game. WR DK Metcalf left the game briefly with a knee issue but returned. ... P Michael Dickson was unavailable in the fourth quarter because of back spasms. 38 — The Seahawks decided to go for it on fourth-and-6 at their own 33-yard line with 9:34 left in the game. A primary reason was that Dickson was unavailable to punt because of back spasms. The Jets were flagged for having 12 men on the field after sending a punt returner out, which gave Seattle fourth-and-1 at the 38. The Seahawks got a first down after Jets cornerback Quantez Stiggers was flagged for pass interference on Metcalf, and eight players later, Charbonnet scored to put Seattle ahead. Without going for it on fourth down from their own 38, the Seahawks likely would’ve lost. The Seahawks will seek a season sweep of the Cardinals. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflAGON by AOC upcoming Black Friday Cyber Monday holiday deals, up to 55% off from 11/21-12/02! Post this AOC AGON PRO AG274QZM 27" is a High-End Tournament Gaming Monitor featuring ULTRA-HIGH CLARITY with 2K Quad HD 2560x1440 resolution IPS panel for excellent visuals and superb colors, BLAZING FAST SPEED with a 240Hz refresh rate and rapid 1ms response time helps you hit moving targets with precision and get you ahead of the competition by milliseconds and PRECISION TO THE MAX with G-SYNC compatible VRR technology ensuring ultra-smooth, tear-free team fights for flawless skill shots and stutter-free loading times. 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AGON by AOCSteep price hikes could be on the way if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on his pledge to impose sweeping new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada and China. He threatened to implement the tariffs on the country’s top three trading partners on his first day back in office, including a 10% tariff on products from China. In a pair of social media posts, he explained the decision as a way to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States,” he said. “It is time for them to pay a very big price!” Ultimately, consumers could end up absorbing the brunt of those costs. When tariffs are levied on imports, American companies have to pay taxes to the U.S. government on their purchases from other countries; the companies often pass on those extra costs to customers. “This is a bully effort to put everybody on notice,” said economist Chris Thornberg, founding partner of Beacon Economics in Los Angeles. “One of the reasons he uses tariffs is because it’s one of the few places that he actually has some leverage.” Though Thornberg noted it’s still a “giant remains-to-be seen” whether and how Trump’s proposed tariffs are implemented, consumer goods across the board could be dramatically affected. Here are a few top categories: Mexico was the U.S.’s top goods trading partner last year, surpassing China. Mexico is a major manufacturer of passenger vehicles, light vehicles, trucks, auto parts, supplies and electric-vehicle technologies. Eighty-eight percent of vehicles produced there are exported, with 76% headed for the U.S., the International Trade Administration says. Automakers with manufacturing operations in Mexico include General Motors, Ford, Tesla, Audi, BMW, Honda, Kia, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. “If we get tariffs, we will pass those tariff costs back to the consumer,” Phil Daniele, chief executive of AutoZone, said in the company’s most recent earnings call. “We’ll generally raise prices ahead of ... what the tariffs will be.” Last year, China accounted for 77% of toy imports — about 25 times greater than the total value of toy imports from Mexico, the next largest foreign source of supply, according to the National Retail Federation. U.S. producers account for less than 1% of the toy market. The federation recently released a study that found the tariffs Trump proposed during his campaign — a universal 10% to 20% tariff on imports from all foreign countries and an additional 60% to 100% tariff on imports specifically from China — would apply to a wide range of toys imported into the U.S., including dolls, games and tricycles. “Prices of toys would increase by 36% to 56%,” the study concluded. The National Retail Federation study also analyzed more than 500 items of clothing and found prices “would rise significantly” — as much as 20.6%. That would force consumers to pare spending on apparel. Low-income households would be hit especially hard, the group said, because they spend three times as much of their after-tax income on apparel compared with high-income households. “U.S. apparel manufacturers would benefit from the tariffs, but at a high cost to families,” the study said. “Even after accounting for domestic manufacturing gains and new tariff revenue, the result is a net $16 billion to $18 billion loss for the U.S. economy, with the burden carried by U.S. consumers.” Imported footwear products already face high U.S. duties, particularly those made in China. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America expressed concern that new tariffs would make it more difficult for consumers to afford shoes and other everyday essentials. Trump’s proposed tariffs would increase the costs of several imported fruits and vegetables, said Jerry Nickelsburg, faculty director of UCLA Anderson Forecast, an economic forecasting organization. The vast majority of U.S. produce imports come from Mexico and Canada, including avocados, cucumbers, potatoes and mushrooms. The U.S. spent $88 billion on agricultural imports from the two countries in fiscal year 2024. Big-ticket electronic products such as televisions, laptops, smartphones, dishwashers and washing machines — many of which are manufactured in Mexico and China, or made with parts imported from those countries — likely would become more expensive. The U.S. imported $76 billion worth of computers and other electronics from Mexico in 2023, and more than a quarter of U.S. imports from China consist of electronic equipment. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
JACKSONVILLE STATE 86, EAST CAROLINA 78NoneIan Schieffelin, Clemson topple Penn State to win Sunshine Slam
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Since the first College Football Playoff rankings were released on Nov. 5, Tuesdays have been nothing more than a formality for Ohio State . The Buckeyes were the No. 2 team in the initial rankings, sitting only behind Oregon — an undefeated team that handed OSU its only loss. Every week that followed, Ohio State and Oregon won. Tuesday would arrive. ESPN would air its CFP rankings show. Oregon would be No. 1 and Ohio State would be No. 2. That won’t be the case this Tuesday. After losing vs. Michigan , Ohio State is set to drop in the rankings. Here’s how we project the College Football Playoff rankings to look along with what those rankings would mean for the Buckeyes. Latest Ohio State Buckeyes news What Ohio State’s latest 5-star quarterback commit says about the program’s future under Ryan Day: Buckeyes Recruiting What Ohio State’s newest five-star quarterback commitment means moving forward Brody Lennon, 4-star tight end: Ohio State Signing Day 2025 player profile Ohio State gets commitment from 2027 five-star quarterback Who are The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports when it comes to fan happiness? See our list and how we ranked them. Projecting College Football Playoff rankings (top 15) No. 1 Oregon No. 2 Texas No. 3 Penn State No. 4 Notre Dame No. 5 Georgia No. 6 Ohio State No. 7 Tennessee No. 8 Southern Methodist No. 9 Indiana No. 10 Boise State No. 11 Alabama No. 12 Ole Miss No. 13 South Carolina No. 14 Arizona State No. 15 Miami College Football Playoff seeding based on our projections No. 1 Oregon (Big Ten) No. 2 Texas (SEC) No. 3 SMU (ACC) No. 4 Boise State (Mountain West) No. 5 Penn State No. 6 Notre Dame No. 7 Georgia No. 8 Ohio State No. 9 Tennessee No. 10 Indiana No. 11 Alabama No. 12 Arizona State (Big 12) Key points in our CFP projections Ranking between Ohio State and Tennessee will be crucial Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio State own the same 10-2 record. It’s likely UGA will rank above the other two due to its quality of losses. Ohio State and Tennessee have lost to unranked teams (Michigan and Arkansas, respectively) and Georgia has a head-to-head advantage over the Vols. The real debate sparks between Ohio State and Tennessee, and it’ll be pivotal to see who ranks ahead. The Buckeyes and Vols could be in a battle for the No. 8 seed, which marks the lowest-ranked team to host in the first round. The gap between the No. 8 seed and the No. 9 seed is critical. With Ohio State and Tennessee off this weekend, Tuesday’s rankings will be telling. What does a loss do to Penn State or Georgia? Conference championship games always create a difficult dialogue. Should the losing team drop in the rankings despite playing an extra game? Penn State or Georgia could force the committee to show their beliefs on the matter. If the Nittany Lions fall to 11-2, they’ll have the same number of losses as the Buckeyes while dropping a head-to-head contest between the teams. If UGA loses, it’ll have three losses. Could Ohio State jump Penn State or Georgia while not playing this weekend? Texas would also drop to 11-2 with a loss in the SEC title game against Georgia. However, with a nonconference win against Michigan, it’s hard to envision the Longhorns dropping below the Buckeyes.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sharply criticized a former Rivers State governor, Dr. Peter Odili, accusing him of self-interest. Wike also asked between himself and Odili, who has turned Rivers State into his personal estate? Speaking at a thanksgiving service organised by the factional Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, at the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Oro-Igwe/Eliogbolo Archdeaconry Church of the Holy Spirit, Eliozu Parish, Port Harcourt, on Sunday, Wike, through a statement by his media aide Lere Olayinka, lamented Odili’s alleged habit of prioritizing personal gain over statesmanship. Olayinka quoted Wike as saying that it was unfortunate that somebody who is supposed to be seen as an elder statesman and called a father can reduce himself to a sycophant and a trader. He asked; “Must you be a trader all the time? As governor for eight years, what else are you looking for?” The Minister said; “You know, I didn’t want to say anything. But somebody called me last night and told me what someone said on social media. I said until I read it myself. This morning, I read in the newspapers what our former governor, Sir Dr Peter Odili, said.“What did he say? He said that the present governor has been able to stop one man who wanted to convert Rivers State to his personal estate. Wike pointed to several appointments allegedly dominated by Odili’s family members and questioned his past contributions as governor. He said, “Between him and myself, who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? His wife is a chairman of Governing Council, his daughter is a Commissioner, his other daughter is a Judge, and he is the general overseer. Who has now turned Rivers State to his private estate? I am sure if care is not taken, if there is a chance, he can even arrange a marriage for the governor. “It was his nephew, his late senior brother’s son that was recommended for Commissioner. He took the slot and gave it to his own daughter. Someone who didn’t remember to stand for the son of his late elder brother, is that an elder statesman? He added, “All of you here remember when I was governor, this same Odili praised me to high heaven. In fact, he said then that all past governors in Rivers State combined did not do better than me. “In 2007, after he left office, he couldn’t come near power in the State because Amaechi was the governor then. He was gone! “Like somebody said that God will use someone to lift up someone. When I came in as governor in 2015, I won’t use the word resurrected, but I brought him back to life. “All of us know about Pamo University. But for us, there wouldn’t have been anything called Pamo University. Rivers State was sponsoring 100 students per session and for every semester, each of the students was paying nothing less than N5m. Then, Rivers people were attacking me up and down. “I personally called Julius Berger to build a mansion for him to live. He was calling everyone to the house then, telling them, come and see what Wike has done for me. Wike has shown me love. He was taking them round the house. Related News You gave me encouragement, Fubara tells Rivers residents I have done more for Rivers, Wike slams Secondus, Omehia Firms award scholarships to 611 Rivers students “Now, because you have organised a Christmas Carol for the governor, I didn’t say you should not do your Christmas Carol. But why reduce yourself to such a laughing stock? People will still see it on television how he was telling the whole world then how God used me to bring him back to life politically. “Why not do your Christmas Carol, collect what you can collect and leave me alone? Wike also expressed disappointment in Odili’s recent comments praising the current Rivers State governor while undermining Wike’s achievements. “The governor that all of us made has not spent one year in office and the same Odili was already saying that the governor has beaten the records of all the past governors of Rivers State. “When I was there, he said I had surpassed the records of all the past governors, including himself. What can he even show that he did in his eight years as governor? But a governor has not spent one year, you are saying he has done more than all the past governors. “You spent eight years as governor and someone who hasn’t spent one year has surpassed your records, what manner of elder talk like that? Is that what an elder statesman should be known for? “When I was governor, my pictures were everywhere in his house. Sitting room, bedroom, kitchen, even in the toilet, my picture was everywhere. But today, all the pictures have been removed. Asking what can be learned from such an elder statesman, Wike said; “What can I learn from this kind of elder? What kind of advice can one get from him? This moment you are saying something, the next moment you are saying something else. “You see, if your children begin to ask you, is this not the same man you were praising before? What would you tell them?” On the state’s governorship issue, the Minister asked; “When I was plotting who will be governor after me, was he (Odili) there? Then, he was complaining about this governor, saying that he couldn’t stand before the public to talk. But today, he is organising Christmas Carol for the same governor he was against then. “He has forgotten all that he said in the past. I named this after you, I named that after your wife. What have I not done? “You said we should not be part of the government, we have left. We are managing, you have taken assembly money, they are not dying of hunger and they will not die of hunger. We are okay. I’m focusing on my job in Abuja and all this sycophancy won’t take him to the level I have attained. “This is a man who wanted to run for president then, he didn’t have the balls, he chickened out. Simply because Obasanjo said no, he would not contest, he ran away. Because of him, I never invited Obasanjo to Rivers State to commission projects. I felt it would humiliate him.” Click the link below to watch the video: https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1873482169102028823?t=FkZAEo721HmMp1mbzeEjXg&s=19If Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is trying to make a statement against Michigan this afternoon, he's got a funny way of showing it. Despite being 20-point favorites over Michigan this weekend, Ohio State hasn't been able to create any separation. Fans thought the Buckeyes would finally get the upper hand in the third quarter when the defense intercepted a pass from Davis Warren to given the offense incredible field position, but Day's coaching ultimately doomed the team. After wasting a first-down play on a run that gained zero yards, Day dialed up a short pass and then another run on 3rd and 10. Naturally, fans at Ohio Stadium booed the coaching staff for its lack of aggression. To make matters worse, kicker Jayden Fielding missed a 34-yard field goal. Even though Day doesn't call the plays for Ohio State, he's under fire for allowing Chip Kelly's offense to be so conservative all game long. Ben Jackson/Getty Images "Ryan Day is a coward. A damn coward," one fan said. Another fan declared, "Fire Ryan Day immediately after this game." "This is on Ryan Day now because he keeps allowing Chip Kelly to call these plays," a social media user commented. "Ryan Day is going to mess around and get fired when he actually wins against Michigan.. this is worse than any of the 3 times he lost," a fourth person wrote. Day came into this weekend with a 1-3 record all-time against Michigan. He won his first meeting before dropping three in a row. If Ohio State ends up losing this game, Day should be fired. There's no reason for the Buckeyes to be struggling in this matchup. As crazy as this may sound, the final quarter of "The Game" could very well decide Day's future in Columbus. Related: Ryan Day Has To Be Fired If Ohio States Loses To Michigan As Double-Digit Favorites
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