Can Trump save TikTok? Experts say its complicatedHallmark Fave Andrew Walker Goes Inside His Skincare Line and Shares Holiday Plans (VIDEO)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Creighton point guard Steven Ashworth likely won't play Tuesday in the No. 21 Bluejays' game against San Diego State in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Ashworth sprained his right ankle late in a loss to Nebraska on Friday, and coach Greg McDermott said he didn't know how long he would be out. “He stepped on a guy's foot on a 3-point shot and you're defenseless in that situation," McDermott said after the game. "He torqued it pretty good.” An athletic department spokesman said Monday that Ashworth's status was doubtful for the game against the Aztecs. Ashworth is Creighton's second-leading scorer with 16 points per game and leads the team with 6.4 assists per game. He also is 23 of 23 on free throws. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP collegebasketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
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. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. 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JERUSALEM — Israel’s attorney general has ordered police to open an investigation into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife on suspicion of harassing political opponents and a witness in the Israeli leader’s corruption trial. Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara made the announcement in a terse message late Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the “Uvda” investigative program into Sara Netanyahu. The program uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs. Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organize protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Mrs. Netanyahu by name, and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. But in a video released earlier Thursday, Netanyahu listed what he said were the many kind and charitable acts by his wife and blasted the Uvda report as “lies.” “My opponents on the left and in the media found a new-old target. They mercilessly attack my wife, Sara,” he said. He called the program “false propaganda, nasty propaganda that brings up lies from the darkness.” It was the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus — highlighted by the prime minister’s ongoing corruption trial. The pair have also had a rocky relationship with the Israeli media. Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favors with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. Netanyahu denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media. The report obtained correspondence between Sara Netanyahu and Hanni Bleiweiss, a former aide to the prime minister who died of cancer last year. The messages indicated that Sara Netanyahu, through Bleiweiss, encouraged police to crack down violently on anti-government protesters and ordered Bleiweiss to organize protests against her husband’s critics. She also told Bleiweiss to get activists in Netanyahu’s Likud party to publish attacks on Klein. Klein is an aide to billionaire Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and has testified in the corruption case about her role in delivering tens of thousands of dollars worth of champagne, cigars and gifts to Netanyahu for her boss. According to the report, Bleiweiss also was instructed to organize demonstrations outside the homes of the lead prosecutor in the corruption case, Liat Ben-Ari, and then Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who had issued the indictments, and protests and social media campaigns smearing political opponents. According to the report, Bleiweiss was a loyal aid to Netanyahu for decades. But while she was ill, it said Sara Netanyahu mistreated her, prompting her to share the messages with a reporter shortly before her death. Sara Netanyahu has been accused of abusive behavior toward her personal staff before. This, together with accusations of excessive spending and using public money for her own extravagant personal tastes, has earned her an image as being out of touch with everyday Israelis. In 2019, she was fined for misusing state funds. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees police and has repeatedly said the attorney general, Baharav-Miara should be fired over a series of grievances against her, said the latest announcement was another reason for her to be dismissed. “Someone who politically persecutes government ministers and their families cannot continue to serve as the attorney general,” he said. And Justice Minister Yariv Levin, another Netanyahu ally and critic of Baharav-Miara, accused her of focusing on “television gossip.” “Selective enforcement is a crime!” he said in a statement. AP correspondents Eleanor H. Reich in New York and Isaac Scharf in Jerusalem contributed reporting.In case you missed the first culture war of Australia Day 2025 on Monday, Australia’s second-largest hospitality group pledged not to celebrate the day , before backtracking after receiving a considerable response from Coalition politicians and punters. Liberal senator Jane Hume called the move “absolute nonsense”, while Nationals senator Matt Canavan called on the pub group to “drop the moral grandstanding”. Australian Venues Co, which operates 200 pubs and restaurants around the country, mostly in Queensland and Victoria, told staff at the weekend there would be no festivities to mark the national holiday in 2025. The ban would have affected pubs and hotels all over Brisbane and Queensland. Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt In a statement on Monday, a spokesman said issues had been raised by staff and patrons because of the “sadness” the day caused for some members of their community. But after the considerable media attention on the decision, Australian Venues Co walked back its decision, remarking that its original comments caused “concern and confusion”. “We sincerely regret that. Our purpose is to reinforce community in our venues, not divide it,” a spokesperson said. “It is not for us to tell anyone whether or how to celebrate Australia Day. We acknowledge that and we apologise for our comments. It certainly wasn’t our intention to offend anyone. “Whether you choose to celebrate Australia Day or not, everyone is welcome in our pubs, always.” The sale of Boost Mobile will deliver a significant payday to its co-founder, former prime minister Paul Keating. The Australian Financial Review reports that Keating will pocket at least $40 million in the sale of the budget mobile business to Telstra, in a deal to acquire the carrier for just under $140 million cash. Former prime minister Paul Keating is set for a financial boost. Credit: Oscar Colman Keating holds a 29 per cent stake in Boost Mobile, which he co-founded in 2000 with businessman Peter Adderton, who holds 32 per cent. In the acquisition, expected to be completed this month, Boost Mobile employees would be integrated into Telstra and there would be no changes for Boost’s thousands of prepaid customers. Boost’s prepaid plans are cheaper than Telstra’s but don’t offer access to the full Telstra network. The companies have been partnered for 13 years, with Telstra responsible for most of the operational parts of Boost’s business, including network access and customer service, while Boost has been responsible for its branding and marketing. Several streets around the RNA Showgrounds will be closed for five days from Thursday for the Good Things music festival. The council has advised that sections of Gregory Terrace, King Street and Alexandria Street will remain closed from December 5 to 10, and has advised motorists to seek alternative routes. The parking lane on Costin Street, between Gregory Terrace and Carriage Street, will also be closed. The annual Good Things festival started in 2018 and this year’s line-up features Korn, Violent Femmes and Sum 41. Already reeling from their November defeats, Democrats are now grappling with President Joe Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter for federal crimes after the party spent years slamming Donald Trump as a threat to democracy who disregarded the law. “He believes in the justice system, but he also believes that politics infected the process and led to a miscarriage of justice,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who along with Biden and other White House officials insisted for months that Hunter Biden would not get a pardon. President Joe Biden accompanied by his son Hunter Biden in Nantucket over the Thanksgiving holiday. Credit: AP That explanation did not satisfy some Democrats, angry that Biden’s reversal could make it harder to take on Trump, who has argued that multiple indictments and one conviction against him were a matter of Biden and Democrats turning the justice system against him. “This is a bad precedent that could be abused by later presidents and will sadly tarnish his reputation,” Colorado Governor Jared Polis wrote of Biden on the social media platform X. Arizona congressman Greg Stanton said on X: “This wasn’t a politically motivated prosecution. Hunter committed felonies and was convicted by a jury of his peers.” Certainly, the president has plenty of Democratic defenders who note Trump’s use of presidential powers to pardon a slew of his convicted aides, associates and friends, several for activities tied to Trump’s campaign and administration. “Trump pardoned Roger Stone, Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Paul Manafort, as well as his son-in-law’s father, Charles Kushner — who he just appointed US ambassador to France,” wrote prominent Democratic fundraiser Jon Cooper on X. “Sorry, but Biden was right to pardon his son Hunter to protect him against Kash Patel’s weaponised FBI,” Cooper concluded, referring to Trump’s apparent plan to oust FBI Director Christopher Wray in favour of a loyalist who has talked of going after political opponents and journalists. First Lady Jill Biden said on Monday from the White House: “Of course I support the pardon of my son.” A man has been jailed for five years over his knife-wielding attack on two police officers who made a split-second decision not to open fire. Paul Gali, 32, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to one count of unlawful wounding with intent to resist lawful detention, and one count of obstructing a police officer with an offensive instrument. Crown prosecutor Melissa Wilson said police had been called to Gali’s home at Rothwell, north of Brisbane, the morning of May 1, 2023, in response to him threatening family members with a knife. Judge Carl Heaton was shown bodycam footage that showed Gali, dressed in a yellow high-visibility shirt, climb over a police vehicle’s bonnet and roof before charging at the officer with a knife raised. “The officer repeatedly told [Gali] to drop the knife. He was in the process of holstering his firearm and drawing his Taser when [Gali] jumped down and ran at him,” Wilson said. Wilson said the officer was retreating and attempting to strike Gali with the Taser when he was stabbed in a shoulder area that was not covered by his protective vest. In the footage, blood could be seen dripping onto the road as the officer called for back-up and told his partner, who had his firearm drawn, not to shoot Gali. Gali told officers to shoot him throughout his attack and performed an act of self-harm during the standoff. He surrendered shortly after when reinforcement officers arrived and also pointed their firearms at him. Wilson said the wounded officer spent two days in hospital but had suffered ongoing psychological effects that had taken away the happiness and sense of purpose he took in police work. Gali was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and ordered immediately eligible to apply for parole, having spent 19 months in custody. We’re in for another cloudy summer’s day in Brisbane, with a top of 30 degrees. And the days to come are looking similar, with barely a chance of showers and top temperatures similar for the rest of week. Here’s the outlook: Stories making the rounds beyond Brisbane this morning include: The Reserve Bank is being accused by some of the nation’s top economists of putting the employment of hundreds of thousands of Australians at risk by keeping interest rates too high in order to reduce inflation. Longtime Neighbours star Ian Smith has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Sex offenders will be kicked out of the Australian Defence Force and potential leaders tested for emotional intelligence under a sweeping overhaul to combat the crisis of military personnel taking their own lives at alarming rates. Laurie Daley is back for a second stint in charge of the Blues, but the game has changed dramatically in his time away . “In finalising his cabinet,” writes author Nick Bryant , “Donald Trump has come to resemble an American Caligula, the Roman emperor rumoured to have considered appointing his beloved stallion as consul. So unorthodox have been the president-elect’s appointments that I half expected him to nominate his golf cart as the new transportation secretary.” Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Tuesday, December 3, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 30 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: One of Brisbane’s top music venues is appealing Brisbane City Council’s approval of a $1.5 billion Newstead project, warning its future residents could inundate them with noise complaints. We rely on essential workers to keep Brisbane running. But can they afford to live here? As the city’s housing squeeze continues, we look at the occupations where people would struggle to even rent a place on their own. A parliamentary inquiry into the LNP government’s proposed changes to youth justice laws has drawn heavy criticism from youth advocates and peak organisations, with concerns the legislation violates human rights and disregards evidence-based approaches.
Langley's Thunderbird Show Park inaugural holiday market is underway at its indoor ring off 72 Avenue. For the first time, tbird is hosting 'Christmas in the Country' – a family-friendly holiday event that will feature light displays, holiday-themed tractor rides, pictures with Santa, farm animals, and much more. Drew Harkness, brand and guest relations manager, said tbird wanted to offer something during its off-season and celebrate the Christmas cheer. "We're a keen group of individuals, and we have a great event space, great staff, and in our off-season it's an opportunity for people who haven't been to tbird before can come out to this event and then maybe want to come back in the summer," she said. Chris Pack, president and CEO at tbird, said he is excited for the new holiday event. "Whether you’re coming for festive shopping, delicious treats, looking to meet the farm animal friends or to make unforgettable memories with family, we can’t wait to celebrate with you," he said. The indoor riding arena is decked in holiday decor, including a tall Christmas tree that nearly touches the ceiling. "[Plus] a festive winter dome... let it snow, let it rain – it will be a fun-filled celebration packed with holiday spirit for everyone," Pack added. Food trucks are on site, in addition to a beer garden and a variety of vendors for an artisan market selling holiday mementos, stocking stuffers, and more. Harkness said her favourite part is the animal pens. "We got piglets, mini donkeys, goats, cows, and a baby horse people can submit names for," she said. She recommends people dress warm due to the cool evening temperatures. By donation, visitors can have their photo taken with Santa. Donations support the George and Dianne Tidball Legacy Foundation, which supports local charities. People can also write Santa a letter or wish list to send to him. Free pony and tractor rides will complete the country farm experience. Langley Hospice Society also has a 'Celebrate-A-Life Memorial' tree display at tbird, which will be there for the duration of the event. "[The tree] enables folks to stop by and remember a loved one by personalizing an ornament on our memorial trees, and learn more about our programs and services," explained hospice executive director Shannon Todd Booth. The event runs Thursdays to Sundays until Dec. 29. Saturday evenings will feature a holiday movie starting at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at . Thunderbird Show Park is located at 24550 72 Ave.
Steven White/iStock via Getty Images Back in early January of this year, one company that I decided to revisit was Traeger, Inc. ( NYSE: COOK ). As its ticker symbol hints at, the business focuses on producing and selling grills, cooking Crude Value Insights offers you an investing service and community focused on oil and natural gas. We focus on cash flow and the companies that generate it, leading to value and growth prospects with real potential. Subscribers get to use a 50+ stock model account, in-depth cash flow analyses of E&P firms, and live chat discussion of the sector. Sign up today for your two-week free tria l and get a new lease on oil & gas! Daniel is an avid and active professional investor. Crude Value Insights Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
NoneLISBON, Portugal (AP) — Arsenal defender Gabriel kept Viktor Gyokeres quiet — then had the audacity to steal the in-demand Sporting Lisbon striker's trademark goal celebration. After heading in Arsenal's third first-half goal in the Champions League on Tuesday, Gabriel linked the fingers of his hands and placed them over his eyes, before laughing with his teammates. It was most likely a dig at Gyokeres, the Sweden striker who has quickly become one of European soccer's hottest properties . That is how Gyokeres celebrates his goals — and he has scored plenty of those this season. Gyokeres has scored 24 goals for Sporting in all competitions and was coming off netting four for Sweden in a Nations League match against Azerbaijan. Earlier in the first half, Gabriel had enjoyed tackling and dispossessing Gyokeres near the Arsenal area — waving both his arms in a gesture to the crowd. Gabriel's goal made it 3-0 to Arsenal at halftime and the English team went on to win 5-1, with Gyokeres failing to score. He did hit the post with a shot late in the game, however — after Gabriel had gone off with an injury. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
