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Of all the products that would be affected by President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Mexico , avocados stand out: 90% of avocados consumed in the U.S. are imported. And almost all of those imports come from Mexico. Trump has said he plans to impose a blanket tariff of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, along with an additional 10% tax on goods from China. It's unclear whether the tariffs will be implemented or if they will serve merely as a negotiating tactic. If enacted, they could have multiple effects on the avocado industry. "Broad tariffs, like what's being proposed, is not something that we've seen" before, says David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University. "We had the trade war with China back in 2018 that affected steel and aluminum, but when it comes to food, these types of policy proposals are not something that are very common or that we've seen recently." With one of the biggest guacamole-eating events of the year — the Super Bowl — approaching in February, here's what to know about avocados, tariffs, and why so many avocados are grown in Mexico. First, a 25% tariff on imports from Mexico would lead to higher avocado prices at the grocery store. But estimating just how much higher is hard to say. It's possible that producers and importers will absorb some of the costs to keep prices down and stay more competitive. Ortega says there could be "pretty significant increases in the price of avocados. Maybe not the full 25%, but pretty close, given that there's very little substitute ability with regards to where we would source avocados." But he cautions that because the tariffs apply only to the product's value at the border, and not to other costs like transportation and distribution within the U.S., prices may not go up by the full 25%. Regardless of these potential price increases, however, people in the U.S. love their avocados and they're willing to pay more. Avocado consumption tripled in the U.S. between 2000 and 2021 . "Given that avocado is a staple of our consumption here, I would say that the elasticity is not very high, meaning that even with a big increase in price, consumption is not going to change that much," says Luis Ribera, a professor and extension economist in the agricultural economics department at Texas A&M University. Mexico is the biggest producer of avocados in the world and exported $3.3 billion worth of avocados in 2023. A study funded by the industry estimated that avocado production supports 78,000 permanent jobs and 310,000 seasonal jobs in Mexico. "It's a very important business in Mexico, very lucrative," Ribera says. Mexico emerged as the largest foreign supplier of fruits and vegetables to the U.S. for a few reasons, he says. One: Its proximity to the U.S. market. With a perishable product, closer is better. Peru is the second-largest source of foreign avocados in the U.S., but its greater distance means avocados need to be shipped farther. The other reasons for Mexico are favorable weather that allows for year-round production of avocados and access to cheap labor, according to Ribera. Avocados are grown in the U.S. too, mostly in California and to a lesser extent Florida and Hawaii, but U.S. growers can't meet Americans' big appetite. Avocado production in the U.S. has declined, even as Americans grew fonder of the green fruit, according to the USDA. California avocado growers have faced droughts and wildfires in recent years, making it difficult to offer the year-round availability that American consumers crave, Ortega says. In addition, land is expensive and water is limited. If the goal of implementing tariffs is to force avocado production to move somewhere besides Mexico, that isn't easy. It takes about eight years for avocado trees to produce fruit, according to the USDA. "This is not a product that you can just simply plant more of this season and you get more of in a few months," Ortega says. Other countries where the U.S. sources avocados — Peru, the Dominican Republic and Chile — "just simply don't have the production capacity to replace Mexico's supply," he says. Tariffs could also alter the market dynamic when it comes to organic vs. conventional foods. If prices rise across the board, consumers who typically buy organic avocados might switch to conventional ones to save money. Organic produce makes up about 15% of total fruit and vegetable sales in the U.S., according to the Organic Trade Association, which represents hundreds of organic businesses and thousands of farmers. "My hypothesis is that the price of conventional products would increase more than the premium organic product," Ortega says. He reasons that because people who are used to buying organic avocados would move to buy conventional ones, "that in turn increases the demand and would make prices rise more for that category." Matthew Dillon, co-CEO of the Organic Trade Association, says those in the organic food industry are looking at diversifying their supply chains away from Mexico, but there's a three-year transition period required for farmers to switch from producing conventional to organic produce. "Supply chains are not incredibly elastic in organic. It takes more time to pivot and change when there's a supply chain disruption. And tariffs are in some ways a form of supply chain disruption for a company, because it creates unpredictable pricing," he says. Together with grocery prices that have gone up more than 26% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump's plans for tariffs on Mexico, along with mass deportations , could create "a perfect storm of high inflationary pressure on the organic sector," Dillon says. Furthermore, retaliatory tariffs from Mexico could have their own impacts . Aside from the threat of tariffs, the avocado industry has other challenges to deal with: climate change presents several problems , and avocados require a large amount of water to grow. Meanwhile, environmentalists say some avocado growers are cutting down forests to plant avocados. Producers also face extortion from criminal gangs in Mexico . And now with Trump's tariff threats, producers are left to wonder about their next steps. "Producers, they react to market fundamentals," Ribera says. For example, people can foresee how bad weather in Mexico would affect avocado prices. Producers and retailers will adjust to higher and lower demand. "The issue with a tariff is it's not a market fundamental — it's a policy. It's a political move," he says. "It could happen or it could not happen, or it could be increased or it could be decreased, you know. So it's hard for the whole supply chain to adjust." Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit npr.org .Federalism Is Not the Solution to Afghanistan’s Crisis

SURREY, B.C. - Mounties say a Chilliwack, B.C., man has been charged with three criminal offences after a crash between a tractor and BC Highway Patrol vehicle during a 2023 protest. They say the 54-year-old was arrested on Dec. 18 and will appear in Surrey Provincial Court on Jan. 16, charged with fleeing police, dangerous operation of a vehicle and assaulting a police officer with a weapon. RCMP said last year that the tractor was one of several vehicles involved in a convoy that began in Chilliwack and was travelling to Vancouver. The tractor driver sustained serious injuries in the crash that left an officer with minor injuries. Photos from the collision posted to social media at the time showed a John Deere tractor on its side, and that it was flying a black and white flag that read “stop SOGI 123,” an apparent reference to a set of classroom guidelines on sexual orientation and gender identity. Several protests erupted in cities across Canada last fall by those opposed to the educational resource intended to create more inclusive classrooms. The Independent Investigations Office issued a statement in February after concluding its investigation into the Highway 17 crash in Surrey, saying it had cleared police of any wrongdoing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 23, 2024.

Celtics host Pistons looking to avoid first back-to-back lossesQatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha Sidra Medicine, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), celebrated a decade of innovation in genomic medicine with the opening of its 10th annual Precision Medicine and the Future of Genomics (PMFG 2024) Summit at QNCC. Day 1 of PMFG 2024, being held in Doha from December 3-5, welcomed 1,100 attendees, featured more than 50 distinguished speakers and showcased over 42 booths from sponsors and partners, who have gathered to explore the latest advancements in personalised healthcare, genomic research, and the ethical considerations surrounding this rapidly evolving field. Khadija Benganna from Al Jazeera Arabic was the Master of Ceremonies who opened the event with stories of hope featuring patient narratives. PMFG 2024 Chairs, Dr Ammira Al-Shabeeb Akil and Prof Khalid Fakhro, said: “PMFG serves as a vital platform for collaboration in precision health, bringing together the brightest minds to drive innovation and progress. Let’s all work towards hope for future generations by building partnerships and pushing the boundaries of personalized healthcare.” Sessions on Day 1 of PMFG 2024 focused on advancements in genomic newborn screening, rare disease diagnosis, and population genomic cohorts. Discussions explored the ethical, legal, and social implications of integrating genomic data into healthcare, strategies for early detection and personalized treatment, and the role of international collaborations in shaping global genomic research. Dr Iyabo Tinubu-Karch, chief executive officer of Sidra Medicine, delivered her welcoming remarks at the opening ceremony of the PMFG 2024 Summit. Speaking about the significance of the event, she stated: “Our shared insights into the latest research and best practices have a profound impact on patient populations globally, especially in the areas of genetic and rare diseases.” Day 2 of PMFG 2024 on December 4 will feature: • Morning Session: Implementing Genomics – Bridging Science and Healthcare • Keynote speaker, Dr Nancy B. Spinner, Chief of Genomic Diagnostics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, will discuss “Successes and Challenges of Genomic Testing in the NICU.” • Afternoon Session: Global Health Innovations • Keynote speaker, Dr Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, will deliver a special lecture on “Innovating in Genomics: Journey of a Health Spin-off.” • Late Afternoon Session: Capacity Building for Precision Medicine • Talks by Dr Markus Wenk (HBKU), Dr Medhat Askar (Qatar University), and Dr Khaled Machaca (Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar). Day 3 of PMFG 2024 on December 5 will feature: • Morning Session: Expert Forum on Custom-Made Therapies and Clinical Trials • Keynote speaker, Dr Hakon Hakonarson (Director, Center for Applied Genomics, CHOP) will discuss Genomically-Informed Clinical Trials. • Keynote speaker, Dr Chantal Mathieu (President, EASD) will discuss Arresting Type 1 Diabetes: Insights and Innovations from Leading Experts and Clinical Trials. • Afternoon Session: Dialogue in Gene Therapy • Keynote speaker, Dr James Wilson (President/CEO Gemma Biotherapeutics) will discuss Genetic Medicines for Rare Diseases. • Closing Session: Precision Medicine in Qatar: Shaping the Future of Health through Genomics, Innovative Care, and Philosophies of Medicine • Talks by Dr Paul Franks, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at Lund University, Sweden and Dr Ed Liu, Former President and CEO of The Jackson Laboratory, and Director of NCI-designated Cancer Center, USA. Copy 04/12/2024 10North Carolina has forever been college football’s biggest mystery. It’s the flagship university in a big state that produces a good amount of talent. It’s one of the most prominent brands in all of sports thanks to an alumnus named Michael Jeffrey Jordan, who almost singlehandedly changed how athletes were marketed around the world. (He also won a few basketball games along the way.) And most of all, North Carolina wins in pretty much everything with national championships in men’s basketball, field hockey, men’s lacrosse and women’s lacrosse, women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s tennis just in the last 10 years alone. But Carolina football is the sleeping giant that can’t stop swallowing Ambien by the handful. Decade after decade, coach after coach, it never wakes up. Now here comes Bill Belichick, arguably the best NFL coach of all time, 72 years old and desperate for a last shot that no professional franchise seems to want to give him. In his possession is a 400-page manifesto on how to win in modern college football, a staff of familiar names from his New England Patriots days and an aura that even Nick Saban couldn’t live up to. It’s wild to say it, but it’s true: Belichick is next up to try his hand at turning this perpetually tantalizing job into a winner. He’s going to be the Tar Heels football coach, according to multiple reports . After 467 regular season games coached in the NFL, 44 more in the playoffs and six Super Bowl titles, Belichick and North Carolina are about to consummate perhaps the most unlikely marriage in the history of college football. NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more. Do either one of them know what they’re getting into? For a lot of people who have long observed or coached in college football, the immediate reaction to Belichick’s arrival will be skeptical or even dismissive. In a coaching career that stretches back to 1975, he’s never worked a day on a college campus. His last couple years in New England, after the dynasty he created with Tom Brady crumbled, were not a masterpiece of coaching or roster-building. When you read accounts of how he ruled Foxboro with unrelenting, cold-blooded intimidation and fear, the notion of him connecting with undeveloped 18 year olds and their impatient parents seems impossible. For goodness sakes, North Carolina just fired 73-year old Mack Brown because the game had passed him by. And the rest of Brown’s contemporaries have either retired or fled to the NFL , where they don’t have to deal with the headaches of 365-days-per-year recruiting in the era of revenue sharing and name, image and likeness. WHO WINS IT ALL?: Our College Football Playoff bracket prediction FROM NO. 1 TO NO. 12: Ranking the national championship contenders It’s fair to wonder how this can possibly work. On the other hand, what do the Tar Heels really have to lose? Just look at their coaching history in the 21 st century. John Bunting, a beloved alum with NFL coordinator bona fides, was a disaster. They hired a proven college winner in Butch Davis, who not only failed to push the program past mediocrity, he was fired after a raft of NCAA violations. They tried the up-and-comer with Larry Fedora, who had one pretty good year and then burned out completely. And after that, they brought Brown back for a second stint at the school that never yielded a season better than 9-5. North Carolina has tried pretty much everything. Since 1997, they have finished in the Top 25 just twice. It’s no surprise that the moment Belichick started lobbying for the job that school officials and boosters began to talk themselves into it. If nothing else, merely hiring Belichick and agreeing to his demands on resources, staffing and player compensation will inspire a level of seriousness and commitment that North Carolina has never put into its football program. So why not? The better question here is why does Belichick want anything to do with this? After decades of scouting college players for the NFL draft and building relationships with coaches, maybe Belichick thinks he can X-and-O circles around these guys. Perhaps that’s true. But as any college coach will tell you, even at a time when the top college programs structurally resemble NFL franchises more than ever, their on-field responsibilities are only a fraction of what goes into winning. Belichick may feel familiarity working in an environment where he has to decide how to allocate money on player acquisition and retention, but connecting with and teaching and motivating college players is a far more volatile and difficult job than the fully-developed adult professionals you draft into NFL locker rooms. Belichick may just be so good that he can make it work. But there are a hundred ways it can go wrong, and there’s at least some risk to his legacy if it does. Keep in mind: There were seven NFL franchises that could have hired Belichick last year and did not, including the Atlanta Falcons who got fairly far down the road with him during the interview process. There are going to be at least that many jobs open this year, and it’s hard to believe Belichick would take North Carolina if he thought he had a good chance at any of them. That isn’t just a reflection of his age but the fact that the NFL collectively determined that he had lost his touch both on the coaching and player evaluation side after the breakup with Brady. And, perhaps, because teams were skeptical that Belichick just wanted to coach football and not have control of the entire organization the way he did in New England. The fact Belichick entertained college jobs supports that theory. At North Carolina, he will be the most powerful person on campus. He’ll rarely be told no. Of all the schools willing to make that deal, it’s surprising that North Carolina – a famously staid athletic department that treasures its reputation for coloring inside the lines – is willing to turn the whole place over to a guy who has never spent even a minute coaching in college. Nobody can ever take Belichick’s accomplishments away from him. Six Super Bowls is six Super Bowls. But if he flames out at North Carolina, it will be an unceremonious and uncomfortable end to a career that has had many opportunities to finish on a graceful, winning note. But even as an old man whose best coaching years are almost certainly behind him, Belichick is chasing one last high in Chapel Hill. If he can wake North Carolina from its decades-long slumber, it may solidify his reputation as the sport’s greatest-ever football coach – regardless of level – even without the NFL all-time wins record that he once hoped would be his. Nobody could have seen this coming even a few weeks ago, but now it’s real. It may work, or it may blow up spectacularly. But it’s going to be fascinating for however long it lasts.

First dog-friendly cruise scheduled for 2025. Organizers hope it turns into a recurring event.

SÃO PAULO , Dec. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigma Lithium Corporation SGML BVMF: S2GM34)) (" Sigma Lithium " or the " Company "), a leading global lithium producer dedicated to powering the next generation of electric vehicles with carbon-neutral, socially and environmentally sustainable lithium concentrate, announces that it is in the process of loading 27,500 tonnes of its already produced Quintuple Zero Green Lithium for shipment from the Port of Vitoria to IRH Global Trading LTD in Abu Dhabi , demonstrating its increased operational excellence and its ability to meet both operational and sales targets. The provisional price (6% Li 2 O, CIF China) for this shipment is set at 8.25% of the battery-grade lithium carbonate price quoted on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange (GFEX) as of the shipment date. Sigma Lithium's operational and shipping consistency highlights the Company's robust production capabilities following the successful implementation of several efficiency initiatives at the Greentech Industrial Plant during the four-day annual maintenance shutdown in November. During this month we achieved continuous production of over 850 tonnes per day of lithium oxide for several consecutive days, reaching peak days of 900 tonnes per day, demonstrating the enhanced production capabilities of the Greentech Industrial Plant. As a result, the annualized production run rate reached full capacity of 270,000 tonnes and the Company expects to maintain this annualized production level going forward. " Our ability to maintain a consistent monthly shipment cadence is a clear reflection of our operational excellence, and reliability as a mature producer. It also highlights the stability we have achieved in the use of our proprietary dense media separation technology to produce lithium oxide at our Greentech Industrial Plant, " said Ana Cabral , CEO of Sigma Lithium. "We are delighted with ongoing partnership with IRH in Abu Dhabi which enhances our commercial flexibility to effectively navigate lithium demand seasonality. This collaboration enables us to capitalize on every opportunity to maximize business performance and secure better lithium pricing, even in the current market environment. With Phase 1 now operating at full capacity, we are working relentlessly to replicate this industrial success as we move forward with the construction of our second Greentech Industrial Production Plant. " ABOUT SIGMA LITHIUM Sigma Lithium SGML BVMF: S2GM34)) is a leading global lithium producer dedicated to powering the next generation of electric vehicle batteries with carbon-neutral, socially and environmentally sustainable chemical-grade lithium concentrate. Sigma Lithium is one of the world's largest lithium producers. The Company operates at the forefront of environmental and social sustainability in the electric vehicle battery materials supply chain at its Grota do Cirilo Operation in Brazil . Here, Sigma produces Quintuple Zero Green Lithium at its state-of-the-art Greentech lithium beneficiation plant, delivering net zero carbon lithium, produced with zero carbon intensive energy, zero potable water, zero toxic chemicals and zero tailings dams. Phase 1 of the Company's operations entered commercial production in the second quarter of 2023. The Company has issued a Final Investment Decision, formally approving construction to double capacity to 520,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate through the addition of a Phase 2 expansion of its Greentech Plant. For more information about Sigma Lithium, visit https://www.sigmalithiumresources.com/ Sigma Lithium LinkedIn: Sigma Lithium Instagram: @sigmalithium Twitter: @SigmaLithium FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including but not limited to statements relating to timing and costs related to the general business and operational outlook of the Company, the environmental footprint of tailings and positive ecosystem impact relating thereto, donation and upcycling of tailings, timing and quantities relating to tailings and Green Lithium, achievements and projections relating to the Zero Tailings strategy, achievement of ramp-up volumes, production estimates and the operational status of the Groto do Cirilo Project, and other forward-looking information. All statements that address future plans, activities, events, estimates, expectations or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur is forward-looking information, including statements regarding the potential development of mineral resources and mineral reserves which may or may not occur. Forward-looking information contained herein is based on certain assumptions regarding, among other things: general economic and political conditions; the stable and supportive legislative, regulatory and community environment in Brazil ; demand for lithium, including that such demand is supported by growth in the electric vehicle market; the Company's market position and future financial and operating performance; the Company's estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves, including whether mineral resources will ever be developed into mineral reserves; and the Company's ability to operate its mineral projects including that the Company will not experience any materials or equipment shortages, any labour or service provider outages or delays or any technical issues. Although management believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information inherently involves and is subject to risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to that the market prices for lithium may not remain at current levels; and the market for electric vehicles and other large format batteries currently has limited market share and no assurances can be given for the rate at which this market will develop, if at all, which could affect the success of the Company and its ability to develop lithium operations. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. For more information on the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause our actual results to differ from current expectations, please refer to the current annual information form of the Company and other public filings available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com . Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT Matthew DeYoe , EVP Corporate Affairs & Strategic Development matthew.deyoe@sigmalithium.com.br Irina Axenova , Vice President Investor Relations irina.axenova@sigmalithium.com.br View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sigma-lithiums-production-at-full-capacity-record-shipment-of-27-500t-of-quintuple-zero-green-lithium-to-abu-dhabis-irh-trading-company-302321451.html SOURCE Sigma Lithium Corporation © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70None