Law targets 'weaponizing' of remote control GPS in vehicles against domestic violence survivorsTariffs, tax cuts core to Trump’s economic agenda

OTTAWA — Cowessess First Nation Chief Erica Beaudin accused Conservative House leader Andrew Scheer of using First Nations drinking water legislation as a political “tactic,” saying she’s disappointed in what transpired in the House of Commons on Thursday. Government legislation known as Bill C-61 recognizes that First Nations have an inherent right to clean drinking water, after amendments by the Indigenous and Northern affairs committee, and commits the government to providing “adequate and sustainable” funding for water services in First Nations. Liberal MP Jaime Battiste asked on Thursday for unanimous consent from members of Parliament to send the First Nations Clean Drinking Water Act to the Senate — but several MPs said no. Scheer, whose riding includes Cowessess, rose immediately afterward with a similar motion that also condemned the Liberal government for inaction, and that was also defeated. While Cowessess is not under a boil water advisory, Beaudin says people in her community rely on bottled water because they don’t trust what comes from their taps. “I’m very disappointed that he used clean drinking water as a tactic in this House in order to say, ‘If you do this, then we will do this,’ where there’s real lives that are being affected,” Beaudin told reporters at a news conference. “We’re not talking about toys, we’re not talking about items that are not essential, but water is essential and you either believe in clean drinking water for everybody or you don’t. And if you do, you do everything you possibly can to work towards that happening.” Beaudin added that she knows Scheer to be “very genuine” in representing the people of his riding and urged him to get the Conservative party to co-operate to get the legislation passed. According to government data, there are 31 long-term boil water advisories on First Nations across the country, and 36 short-term advisories. The situation in the House became heated when Battiste entered the aisle holding a glass of water. Battiste later said he considered throwing it at the Conservative benches after his motion was defeated. “This is about protecting water. In Nova Scotia, they poisoned our water in the Pictou Landing community for generations, if not decades. I had the chief in the audience with some of her councillors, and I feel like I let them down,” said a visibly upset Battiste. Indigenous Services Minister Patty Hajdu blasted the Conservative party’s record on ensuring there is clean water on First Nations, and accused them of ignoring First Nations leadership. “So it’s a bit rich for them to use that moment to exploit First Nations people and their need for water to play politics in the House. It’s appalling,” Hajdu said. Hajdu and Battiste were flanked by several chiefs, including Beaudin, and other First Nations representatives in a press conference following the vote. Originally, they planned to speak about the bill moving on to the Senate. The Assembly of First Nations held a special chiefs assembly in Ottawa this week, and on Tuesday the AFN executive endorsed a resolution to continue advocating for the approval of water legislation. The bill is stalled at third reading in the House of Commons because of an ongoing privilege debate that has taken precedence over nearly all other business since late September. The Conservative party did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. — With files from Alessia Passafiume David Baxter, The Canadian Press

NEW YORK (AP) — Bitcoin topped $100,000 for the first time as a massive rally in the world's most popular cryptocurrency, largely accelerated by the election of Donald Trump, rolls on. The cryptocurrency officially to rose six figures Wednesday night, just hours after the president-elect said he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to be the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bitcoin has soared since Trump won the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5. The asset climbed from $69,374 on Election Day, hitting as high as $103,713 Wednesday, according to CoinDesk. And the latest all-time high arrives just two years after bitcoin dropped below $17,000 following the collapse of crypto exchange FTX. Bitcoin fell below $102,000 by midday Thursday, but its price is still up nearly 7% over the last day. Even amid a massive rally that has more than doubled the value of bitcoin this year, some experts continue to warn of investment risks around the asset, which has quite a volatile history. Here’s what you need to know. Cryptocurrency has been around for a while now. But chances are you’ve heard about it more and more over the last few years. In basic terms, cryptocurrency is digital money. This kind of currency is designed to work through an online network without a central authority — meaning it’s typically not backed by any government or banking institution — and transactions get recorded with technology called a blockchain. Bitcoin is the largest and oldest cryptocurrency, although other assets like ethereum, XRP, tether and dogecoin have also gained popularity over the years. Some investors see cryptocurrency as a “digital alternative” to traditional money, but the large majority of daily financial transactions are still conducted using fiat currencies such as the dollar. Also, bitcoin can be very volatile, with its price reliant on larger market conditions. A lot of the recent action has to do with the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Trump, who was once a crypto skeptic, has pledged to make the U.S. “the crypto capital of the planet” and create a “strategic reserve” of bitcoin. His campaign accepted donations in cryptocurrency and he courted fans at a bitcoin conference in July. He also launched World Liberty Financial, a new venture with family members to trade cryptocurrencies. On Thursday morning, hours after bitcoin surpassed the $100,000 mark, Trump congratulated “BITCOINERS” on his social media platform Truth Social. He also appeared to take credit for the recent rally, writing, “YOU’RE WELCOME!!!” Top crypto players welcomed Trump’s election victory last month, in hopes that he would be able to push through legislative and regulatory changes that they’ve long lobbied for — which, generally speaking, aim for an increased sense of legitimacy without too much red tape. Trump made a move in that direction Wednesday when he said he intends to nominate Atkins to chair the SEC. Atkins was an SEC commissioner during the presidency of George W. Bush. In the years since leaving the agency, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. He joined the Token Alliance, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization, in 2017. Under current chair Gary Gensler, who will step down when Trump takes office, the SEC has cracked down on the crypto industry — penalizing a number of companies for violating securities laws. Gensler has also faced ample criticism from industry players in the process. One crypto-friendly move the SEC did make under Gensler was the approval in January of spot bitcoin ETFs, or exchange trade funds, which allow investors to have a stake in bitcoin without directly buying it. The spot ETFs were the dominant driver of bitcoin's price before Trump's win — but, like much of the crypto’s recent momentum, saw record inflows postelection. Bitcoin surpassing the coveted $100,000 mark has left much of the crypto world buzzing. “What we’re seeing isn’t just a rally — it’s a fundamental transformation of bitcoin’s place in the financial system,” Nathan McCauley, CEO and co-founder of crypto custodian Anchorage Digital, said in a statement — while pointing to the growth of who's entering the market, particularly with rising institutional adoption. Still, others note that the new heights of bitcoin's price don't necessarily mean the asset is going mainstream. The $100,000 level is “merely a psychological factor and ultimately just a number,” Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at British investment company AJ Bell, wrote in a Thursday commentary. That being said, bitcoin could keep climbing to more and more all-time highs — particularly if Trump makes good on his promises for more crypto-friendly regulation once in office. If Trump actually makes a bitcoin reserve, for example, supply changes could also propel the price forward. Still, as with everything in the volatile cryptoverse, the future is never promised. Worldwide regulatory uncertainties and environmental concerns around bitcoin “mining" — the creation of new bitcoin, which consumes a lot of energy — are among factors that analysts like Coatsworth note could hamper future growth. And, as still a relatively-young asset with a history of volatility, longer-term adoption has yet to be seen through. Today's excitement around bitcoin may make many who aren't already in the space want to get in on the action, but experts continue to stress caution around crypto “FOMO," or the fear of missing out, especially for small-pocketed investors. “A lot of people have got rich from the cryptocurrency soaring in value this year, but this high-risk asset isn’t suitable for everyone,” Coatsworth noted Thursday. “It’s volatile, unpredictable and is driven by speculation, none of which makes for a sleep-at-night investment.” In short, history shows you can lose money in crypto as quickly as you’ve made it. Long-term price behavior relies on larger market conditions. Trading continues at all hours, every day. Coatsworth points to recent research from the Bank for International Settlements, a Switzerland-based global organization of central banks, which found that about three-quarters of retail buyers on crypto exchange apps likely lost money on their bitcoin investments between 2015 and 2022. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, bitcoin stood at just over $5,000. Its price climbed to nearly $69,000 by November 2021, during high demand for technology assets, but later crashed during an aggressive series of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve. And the late-2022 collapse of FTX significantly undermined confidence in crypto overall, with bitcoin falling below $17,000. Investors began returning in large numbers as inflation started to cool — and gains skyrocketed on the anticipation and then early success of spot ETFs, and again, now the post-election frenzy. But lighter regulation from the coming Trump administration could also mean less guardrails. “I would say, keep it simple. And don’t take on more risk than you can afford to,” Adam Morgan McCarthy, a research analyst at Kaiko, previously told The Associated Press — adding that there isn’t a “magic eight ball” to know for certain what comes next. This story has been corrected to refer to Anchorage Digital as a crypto custodian, not a crypto asset manager.GitLab Inc. GTLB reported its third-quarter results after Thursday's closing bell. Here's a look at the key figures from the quarter. The Details: GitLab reported quarterly earnings of 23 cents per share, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 16 cents. Quarterly revenue came in at $196 million, which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $187.93 million and is an increase over sales of $149.67 million from the same period last year. Customers with more than $5,000 of ARR reached 9,519, an increase of 16% year-over-year. Customers with more than $100,000 of ARR reached 1,144, an increase of 31% year-over-year. Dollar-Based Net Retention Rate was 124%. Total RPO grew 48% year-over-year to $811.8 million, while cRPO grew 39% to $515.2 million. GitLab also announced Bill Staples was named CEO and a member of the board of directors effective immediately. Staples succeeds co-founder and CEO Sid Sijbrandij , who is stepping down from his day-to-day role to focus on his health. Sijbrandij will transition to executive chair of the GitLab board of directors. Read Next: UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Fatally Shot Outside NYC Hotel “GitLab’s growth at scale is a testament to the demand for a platform approach to software development,” said Sid Sijbrandij , co-founder and executive chair of the board of directors. “Our end-to-end DevSecOps platform addresses our customers’ need to accelerate the pace of software development to remain competitive, innovate faster, and ship software more securely,” Sijbrandij added. Outlook: GitLab sees fourth-quarter revenue in a range of $205 million to $206 million, versus the $204.36 million estimate and adjusted earnings of between 22 cents and 23 cents per share, versus the 14-cent estimate. GTLB Price Action: According to Benzinga Pro , GitLab shares are up 7.54% after-hours at $71.02 at the time of publication Thursday. Read More: Art Cashin’s Lessons: Cuban Crisis Trades To Timeless Wall Street Wit Photo: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

NoneKENORA — A tragic accident outside Kenora on Monday morning has left two people dead. Ontario Provincial Police said a multi-vehicle collision at about 9 a.m. on Highway 17A resulted in the deaths of the drivers of two transport trucks. A third tractor-trailer was also involved in the collision, which occurred between Beryl Winder Road and Highway 596. Police said the driver of the third transport truck suffered minor injuries. Video posted on social media showed one of the vehicles on fire. The collision forced an extended closure of the highway in both directions between Highway 658 and the west junction with Highway 17. OPP are asking anyone with pertinent information about the collision to contact Kenora OPP at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. A cash reward of up to $2,000 may be available. Motorists are advised to check Ontario 511 for updates on the status of the road closure.

Palermo (California), Dec 5 (AP) There was a shooting Wednesday at a Northern California elementary school and the suspect is dead, sheriff's officials say. Deputies were “on scene of an active incident involving a shooting” at Feather River School of Seventh-Day Adventists in Palermo, the Butte County Sheriff's Office said on the social platform X. Also Read | Earthquake in Japan: Quake of Magnitude 4.3 on Richter Scale Rocks Ibaraki. It wasn't immediately known if anyone at the school was hurt. “The suspected shooter is deceased,” according to the sheriff's office. Also Read | Israel-Gaza Conflict: At Least 21 People Killed in Israeli Air Strike on Tent Camp in Khan Younis. A phone call and email to the sheriff's office were not immediately returned. A representative from the Butte County Fire Department did not immediately have any information about the shooting. Students were being taken to the Oroville Church of the Nazarene to be reunited with their families, the sheriff's office said. Palermo — home to about 5,500 people — is about 65 miles (104 km) north of Sacramento. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s federal police on Thursday formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Police said their sealed findings were being delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who decides either to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Bolsonaro told the website Metropoles that he was waiting for his lawyer to review the accusation, reportedly about 700 pages long. But he said he would fight the case and dismissed the investigation as being the result of “creativity.” The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were accused “to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news.” Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were accused, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. Other investigations produced formal accusations of Bolsonaro’s roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country’s voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030. Still, he has insisted that he will run in 2026, and many in his orbit were heartened by the recent U.S. election win of Donald Trump, despite his own swirling legal threats. But the far-reaching investigations already have weakened Bolsonaro’s status as a leader of Brazil’s right wing, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. “Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections,” Melo told the The Associated Press. “And if he is convicted he could also be jailed by then. To avoid being behind bars, he will have to convince Supreme Court justices that he has nothing to do with a plot that involves dozens of his aides. That’s a very tall order,” Melo said. A formal accusation of an attempted coup means the investigation has gathered indications of “a crime and its author,” said Eloísa Machado de Almeida, a law professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. She said she believed there was enough legal grounds for the prosecutor-general to file charges. Bolsonaro’s allies in Congress have been negotiating a bill to pardon individuals who stormed the Brazilian capital and rioted on Jan. 8, 2023 in a failed attempt to keep the former president in power. Analysts have speculated that lawmakers want to extend the legislation to cover the former president himself. However, efforts to push a broad amnesty bill may be “politically challenging” given recent attacks on the judiciary and details emerging in investigations, Machado said. On Tuesday, Federal Police arrested four military and a Federal Police officer, accused of plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as a means to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections. And last week, a man carried out a bomb attack in the capital Brasilia . He attempted to enter the Supreme Court and threw explosives outside, killing himself.

The United Arab Emirates is a rapidly developing nation with strong economic and political ambitions. Pursuing strategic goals of diversification, the UAE is actively expanding its international connections and aiming to strengthen its position on the global stage. This initiative is taking place amid significant changes in global politics, as the longstanding world order, which has shaped the rules of engagement for many years, increasingly shows its inability to account for the interests of non-Western countries like the UAE. Faced with the challenges of the old system, the UAE is actively seeking ways to reinforce its independence. Joining BRICS on January 1, 2024 was a crucial step in this direction, providing not only a reduction in reliance on Western countries but also the opportunity to promote its own interests on a global level. The BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, China, India, and South Africa, serves as an alternative platform where the interests of developing and rapidly growing economies are considered equally. For Abu Dhabi, membership of BRICS represents a significant strategic reorientation. The UAE is aiming to build its international relations with greater flexibility and to diversify its economic partnerships, which will be a key step in reinforcing its sovereignty and resilience amid global uncertainty. Membership of BRICS opens significant opportunities for the UAE to strengthen its position on the global stage. With one of the most rapidly developing economies in the region, the UAE aims to diversify its international economic ties and reduce dependence on traditional partners. Joining BRICS grants the UAE better access to several large and promising markets, which will allow it to expand trade and reinforce investment ties. The combined GDP of BRICS countries constitutes a substantial part of the global economy, and participation in this alliance creates new prospects for the UAE to grow its exports and imports. In 2023, for example, China’s GDP reached $17.96 trillion, India’s $3.4 trillion, and Russia’s $1.7 trillion. These figures demonstrate the immense economic potential now accessible to the UAE. Membership of BRICS also opens pathways for attracting significant investment, which is particularly important for the development of the UAE’s infrastructure, technology, and industry. In 2023, BRICS countries saw a substantial increase in foreign direct investment, highlighting high investor interest and presenting new opportunities for the UAE. Another key advantage of BRICS membership is access to the organization’s financial resources. The BRICS-established New Development Bank provides funding for major infrastructure projects and fosters economic development among member states. The UAE can leverage these resources to undertake large-scale projects that will contribute to its economic growth and modernization. Additionally, BRICS membership aligns with the UAE’s political ambitions by allowing it to actively shape the global agenda and ensure its influence in international processes. As the world transitions toward a multipolar system in which developing countries play a more prominent role, BRICS participation offers the UAE a platform from which to promote its own interests, such as energy security, sustainable development, and trade issues. Moreover, BRICS membership reduces dependence on traditional Western partners, enabling the UAE to conduct a more flexible and balanced foreign policy, establishing relationships with various countries and blocs on equal terms. Despite the clear advantages, BRICS membership presents certain challenges. The UAE may face difficulties in adapting to the economic and political approaches of BRICS countries, as the alliance comprises nations with diverse economic structures and development levels. However, the UAE’s flexibility and willingness to compromise, core to its foreign policy strategy, will help it overcome these challenges. Another potential risk is the reaction from traditional Western partners, who may view this step as a threat to their influence in the region. Nonetheless, for the UAE, participation in BRICS is fundamentally a path to strengthening its independence and autonomy, while remaining committed to the principles of multilateral diplomacy and cooperation. Overall, despite the challenges, the benefits of BRICS membership for the UAE far outweigh any possible risks. Participation in the bloc enables the UAE to develop trade and investment relations, advance its interests globally, and establish stable mechanisms for economic growth. Amid global instability and change, the UAE can, through BRICS, reinforce its position in international politics and the economy, contributing to a more balanced and multipolar global order. The entry of the UAE, with one of the most advanced economies in the Arab world, opens new horizons for all BRICS members by granting access to a strategically significant region and a rapidly growing economy. With a GDP of $421 billion in 2023, the UAE already holds a leading position in the Arab world. The country’s economy is characterized by high growth rates, diversification, and a high per capita income of around $47,000. These indicators make the UAE an attractive partner for BRICS, expanding the bloc’s economic potential. The UAE's membership of BRICS strengthens its overall economic weight, providing access to financial resources and substantial investment opportunities in the Gulf region, which is considered one of the most promising in the world by capital volume. In addition, the UAE occupies a strategically important geographical position at the intersection of trade routes between Asia, Europe, and Africa. This offers BRICS the potential to strengthen its logistics and trade links with various regions, increasing trade volumes and investment flows. Currently, approximately 40% of global maritime shipping passes through the Strait of Hormuz, controlled by Gulf countries, including the UAE. The UAE’s position on this trade route makes it an ideal partner for supporting the development of infrastructure and logistics projects, especially within the framework of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, backed by some BRICS countries. Thus, the UAE’s participation may accelerate the implementation of strategic projects that enhance BRICS’ role in international trade. Beyond economic factors, the UAE’s participation in BRICS brings substantial political advantages. The UAE wields significant influence in the Arab and Muslim world, making it a crucial partner for BRICS in expanding the bloc’s political influence in the region. As BRICS aims to create a more multipolar world and reduce the influence of Western countries in international processes, UAE membership provides additional diplomatic leverage to the bloc. The UAE, like other BRICS countries, supports the idea of an international system where the interests of developing nations are considered equally alongside those of Western states. In this way, the UAE’s involvement helps strengthen BRICS as a global coalition of nations striving for a fairer distribution of power worldwide. However, despite all these benefits, UAE membership of BRICS may present certain challenges. One of these relates to differences in economic and political priorities. The economic interests of BRICS countries are not uniform, and the integration of a new country requires effort to reach consensus on key issues such as energy and trade. Differences in approaches to foreign policy and the potential impact on relations with Western countries may also be obstacles. It is important to note, however, that the UAE’s multivector foreign policy approach allows it to flexibly balance its interests, which mitigates these potential risks. Overall, the benefits of UAE membership in BRICS far outweigh the potential difficulties. The bloc’s strength and resilience grow with this new partner, which brings a developed economy and strategically important location. The UAE’s involvement boosts the investment and trade potential of BRICS, providing access to the financial resources and opportunities of the Gulf region. As previously noted, BRICS and the United Arab Emirates share a common goal of creating a more fair and balanced global order in which the economic and political interests of all countries are valued equally alongside those of traditional Western powers. At the heart of this vision lies the idea of moving away from an outdated model of global governance dominated by a few developed nations and towards a multipolar system that places greater emphasis on state sovereignty and equality. The foreign policy stance of BRICS countries is aimed at establishing conditions where not only the major Western economies but also developing nations can participate equally in addressing global issues. This approach is reflected in initiatives such as the New Development Bank and BRICS cooperation mechanisms, which provide developing countries with access to financial resources and alternatives to Western financial institutions. The UAE, despite its historically close ties with the West, also supports a multi-directional approach, seeking to reinforce its economic and political independence. Joining BRICS allows the UAE to complement its existing partnerships within an emerging multipolar world and to avoid dependence on any one side. The alignment between BRICS and the UAE lies in their shared understanding of the need for a more equitable global framework, where the interests of economies in development are considered equally with those of traditional global centers. Combining efforts in this direction creates potential for establishing more favorable conditions that support sustainable development, protect economic interests, and maintain political autonomy for each bloc member. BRICS and the UAE see this partnership as an opportunity to strengthen their positions in global politics and economics, safeguarding their interests and advancing the principles of equal participation. The similarity in their approaches is also evident in the desire to reduce dependency on the US dollar and Western financial systems, thereby granting more freedom to developing markets. Within BRICS, initiatives are being discussed to create mechanisms for transactions in national currencies and to reduce the role of the dollar, which would enable countries to avoid currency risks and dependence on US foreign policy decisions. With its strong economy and status as one of the largest exporters of oil and gas, the UAE can support this initiative, contributing to greater economic independence from Western financial centers. UAE support strengthens BRICS’ initiatives to build a more independent and fair financial system, which will create more favorable and stable conditions for economic growth and cooperation. In summary, it can be assumed that UAE membership in BRICS is beneficial for both sides. BRICS gains access to the resources and economic opportunities of the Gulf region, while the UAE enhances its international standing as part of a bloc focused on establishing a fair global order. Amid rising global instability and an increasing need for resilient international connections, the combined efforts of BRICS countries and the UAE could form a foundation for a more balanced and stable international system, ensuring a future where the interests of all nations are respected and valued.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” Michael Andretti posted on social media. “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

TUCSON, Ariz. — Snoop Dogg has nearly as many ties to football as he does to rap music. The entertainer coached youth football for years and created the Snoop League, an after-school program for inner city Los Angeles youths. Snoop has been a guest analyst on football broadcasts and his son, Cordell Broadus, played Division I football. When Snoop took his latest step, becoming the sponsor of a bowl game, he had a demand: Find a way for all players in the game to receive name, image and likeness (NIL) money. “This was Snoop’s idea,” said Kym Adair, executive director of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl presented by Gin & Juice. “He was having conversations with people he knows in the college football world and I got a call that said he wants us to be the first bowl to make this commitment and that’s what we did.” The beneficiaries are Colorado State and Miami (Ohio), who will conclude their seasons Saturday at Arizona Stadium in the Arizona Bowl. The bowl is classified as a 501©(3), so all revenue goes to charity. And, being one of the few bowls not tied to ESPN, it opens the door for unique sponsorship opportunities. The bowl was previously sponsored by Barstool Sports and the digital media company used its own cast of characters on the broadcast, which was streamed on its digital platforms. Snoop Dogg takes over this year. The rapper/entertainer is the latest celebrity to sponsor a bowl, following the footsteps of Jimmy Kimmel and Rob Gronkowski at the LA Bowl. And, Snoop being Snoop, he wanted to put his own spin on his own bowl. “College football fans are exhausted by the constant talk around NIL, conference realignment, coach movement, transfer portal and super conferences,” Snoop said in a video posted on social media. “So it’s time that we get back to the roots of college football — when it was focused on the colleges, the players and the competition, the community, the fan experience and the pageantry.” With that will be an NIL component. The bowl can’t pay players just for playing in the bowl, but both teams participated in football clinics on Friday and will get paid for their services. Other bowls have given single players NIL opportunities, but this is believed to be the first to offer it to every player on both teams. “I love the fact that the Arizona Bowl is unique and tries new things, and obviously having Snoop here is unique,” Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said. “The NIL component, it’s the future. It’s what football has become now. We think it’s fantastic for our kids and then the interaction with the kids is the hidden gem of the whole thing.” The NIL component of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl comes a month after a similar effort in The Players Era Festival basketball tournament in Las Vegas. The eight-team tournament said it paid out $9 million in NIL money to participating players for activities outside the competition. It also offered $50 million in NIL opportunities over the next three years for services and activities compliant with NCAA regulations. Are the Players Era Festival and Arizona Bowl the start of a new future? It is not out of the question in big-time college athletics, where schools are already preparing for the era of revenue sharing with players next year. “Revenue sharing between the players and the athletic departments is already on the horizon, so whether that takes the place of these types of arrangements or they’re completely separate has yet to be determined,” Adair said. “We’re just trying to be flexible, ahead of the curve and make an impact any way we can.” Just the way Snoop wants it.

The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on the founder of Georgia’s ruling political party, which has steered the country away from a pro-Western stance and towards Russia, US officials said. The US State and Treasury departments said they hit Georgian Dream party founder and honorary chairman Bidzina Ivanishvili with penalties “for undermining the democratic and Euro-Atlantic future of Georgia for the benefit of the Russian Federation”, according to a statement. The designation of Mr Ivanishvili is the latest in a series of sanctions the US has placed on Georgian politicians and others this year. Those sanctions include freezes on assets and properties those targeted may have in US jurisdictions or that might enter US jurisdictions as well as travel bans on the targets and members of their families. “We strongly condemn Georgian Dream’s actions under Ivanishvili’s leadership, including its ongoing and violent repression of Georgian citizens, protesters, members of the media, human rights activists, and opposition figures,” the State Department said in a statement. “The United States is committed to promoting accountability for those undermining democracy and human rights in Georgia.” Mr Ivanishvili is a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and served briefly as Georgia’s prime minister. In 2012, he founded Georgian Dream, Georgia’s longtime ruling party. Critics have accused Georgian Dream of becoming increasingly authoritarian and tilted towards Moscow. The party recently pushed through laws similar to those used by the Kremlin to crack down on freedom of speech and LGBT+ rights, prompting the European Union to suspend Georgia’s membership application process indefinitely. In October, Georgian Dream won another term in a divisive parliamentary election that has led to more mass protests. Last month, the country’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced a four-year suspension of talks on Georgia’s bid to join the European Union, fuelling further public outrage.ORCHARD PARK — The Los Angeles Rams equipment staff probably didn’t have to use extra rinse for Matthew Stafford’s jersey. Stafford entered Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills having been hit more times than any quarterback in the NFL this season. The Bills managed to hit him three times, pressure him five times and generate zero sacks. The Bills have expended a lot of capital — financially and in the draft — on their defensive line, and in return, the scheme asks them to produce an awful lot. The defensive line has moments of being impenetrable and others when they are undesirable . For the first time this season, the Bills did not record a sack against the Rams, and unsurprisingly, also didn’t register a takeaway for the first time . In eight games the Bills have at least two sacks, have allowed 299.4 yards and have 18 turnovers, compared to games with one sack or fewer, they have 383 yards and six takeaways. Because the Bills primarily use four pass rushers to apply pressure on quarterbacks, games in which they don’t get pressure are usually rough days for the defense. “They set the table,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “The line of scrimmage has to be set usually by the defensive line, but also not just them. In this case, it’s linebackers, safeties, corners, it takes all 11. So I think there’s been some really good moments, and I think there’s some things for sure that need to be better.” The #Bills and #Sabres had a forgettable weekend. @billhoppe.bsky.social and I get into Allen's historic game, McDermott's tough day and postgame comments, the Sabres' skid and Kevyn Adams's press conference. fireside.fm/episode/sMvb... [image or embed] The player taking the brunt of the blame along the defensive line is Ed Oliver. After signing a $68.5 million extension last season, Oliver had a breakout year with career-highs of 14 tackles for a loss and 9 1⁄2 sacks, but this season he’s got just two tackles for a loss and one sack. Against the run, Oliver’s numbers can be deceiving. On the field for 21 running plays against the Rams, Oliver was double-teamed 13 times and the Rams averaged just 2.2 yards per carry. On the eight plays he wasn’t doubled, the Rams ran away from him five times and all three runs in his direction were stopped for no gain. “Sometimes what gets hidden in some of that is some of the factors that freed somebody else up,” McDermott said. “Could be him moving the quarterback off the spot and Greg (Rousseau) gets a sack. So there’s some things hidden in there. But overall, I think, there’s some things that he can do better, and then collectively we can do better as a whole.” Oliver though has a tendency to become frustrated when opponents run away from and he can become overly aggressive. At times, Oliver has overrun a play and it leaves a gaping hole for the offense, much like when Derrick Henry ran for 87 yards on the first defensive play against the Ravens. “I go back to the times, even when I was coaching the safeties here, you get really impatient,” Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said. “The ball is not showing up. You just keep doing your job at a high level, and the ball will show up. So that’s the message to all our guys all the time. And if Ed just does that, does his job at a high level, when the ball shows up, make a play that’ll be productive football.” Oliver’s play in passing situations, however, is much different. He has eight quarterback hits after posting 44 in the previous three seasons combined, but he is not alone among defensive linemen. The Bills do not have a player who commands extra attention in pass-rush situations. It’s among the reasons Leonard Floyd was the first player in McDermott’s tenure to record double-digit sacks last season. Rousseau has some issues similar to Oliver. Rousseau is tied for third in the NFL in tackles for a loss (15), third in hurries (15) and eighth in quarterback knockdowns (12), but he has just 6 1⁄2 sacks. Bills coaches and players have minimized sack numbers because they pride themselves on collapsing the pocket or moving the pocket so the quarterback makes an uncomfortable throw. But in lacking a player with a quick first step as a rusher, the Bills can be exposed when quarterbacks get the ball out quickly or they can’t win one-on-one. Fifty-three percent of passing yards allowed have come when the ball is released 2.5 seconds or less and they have generated just one sack and four turnovers in 215 dropbacks. That’s compared to 28 sacks and 12 turnovers on 238 dropbacks of over 2.5 seconds. “I’m not pressing any panic button,” Bills defensive tackle DaQuan Jones said. “I’m confident. It’s going to start this week in practice. I’m not worried about taking a step back or being in a hole or anything like that.” NOTES: Due to driving bans in Orchard Park and the surrounding towns, the Bills conducted meetings virtually Thursday.

NoneStocks closed higher on Wall Street as the market posted its fifth straight gain and the Dow Jones Industrial Average notched another record high. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%. The benchmark index’s 1.7% gain for the week erased most of its loss from last week. The Dow rose 1% as it nudged past its most recent high set last week, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%. Markets have been volatile over the last few weeks, losing ground in the runup to elections in November, then surging following Donald Trump's victory, before falling again. The S&P 500 has been steadily rising throughout this week to within close range of its record. It's now within about 0.5% of its all-time high set last week. “Overall, market behavior has normalized following an intense few weeks,” said Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide, in a statement. Several retailers jumped after giving Wall Street encouraging financial updates. Gap soared 12.8% after handily beating analysts' third-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, while raising its own revenue forecast for the year. Discount retailer Ross Stores rose 2.2% after raising its earnings forecast for the year. EchoStar fell 2.8% after DirecTV called off its purchase of that company's Dish Network unit. Smaller company stocks had some of the biggest gains. The Russell 2000 index rose 1.8%. A majority of stocks in the S&P 500 gained ground, but those gains were kept in check by slumps for several big technology companies. Nvidia fell 3.2%. Its pricey valuation makes it among the heaviest influences on whether the broader market gains or loses ground. The company has grown into a nearly $3.6 trillion behemoth because of demand for its chips used in artificial-intelligence technology. Intuit, which makes TurboTax and other accounting software, fell 5.7%. It gave investors a quarterly earnings forecast that fell short of analysts’ expectations. Facebook owner Meta Platforms fell 0.7% following a decision by the Supreme Court to allow a multibillion-dollar class action investors’ lawsuit to proceed against the company. It stems from the privacy scandal involving the Cambridge Analytica political consulting firm. All told, the S&P 500 rose 20.63 points to 5,969.34. The Dow climbed 426.16 points to 44,296.51, and the Nasdaq picked up 42.65 points to close at 2,406.67. European markets closed mostly higher and Asian markets ended mixed. Crude oil prices rose. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.41% from 4.42% late Thursday. In the crypto market, bitcoin hovered around $99,000, according to CoinDesk. It has more than doubled this year and first surpassed the $99,000 level on Thursday. Retailers remained a big focus for investors this week amid close scrutiny on consumer spending habits headed into the holiday shopping season. Walmart, the nation's largest retailer, reported a quarter of strong sales and gave investors an encouraging financial forecast. Target, though, reported weaker earnings than analysts' expected and its forecast disappointed Wall Street. Consumer spending has fueled economic growth, despite a persistent squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. Inflation has been easing and the Federal Reserve has started trimming its benchmark interest rates. That is likely to help relieve pressure on consumers, but any major shift in spending could prompt the Fed to reassess its path ahead on interest rates. Also, any big reversals on the rate of inflation could curtail spending. Consumer sentiment remains strong, according to the University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index. It revised its latest figure for November to 71.8 from an initial reading of 73 earlier this month, though economists expected a slight increase. It's still up from 70.5 in October. The survey also showed that consumers' inflation expectations for the year ahead fell slightly to 2.6%, which is the lowest reading since December of 2020. Wall Street will get another update on how consumers feel when the business group The Conference Board releases its monthly consumer confidence survey on Tuesday. A key inflation update will come on Wednesday when the U.S. releases its October personal consumption expenditures index. The PCE is the Fed's preferred measure of inflation and this will be the last PCE reading prior to the central bank's meeting in December.

Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on treatments for transgender minors