(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Javed Ali , University of Michigan (THE CONVERSATION) Mention the FBI, and many older Americans will likely think of a time when the agency was run by J. Edgar Hoover , who spent much of his nearly half-century tenure at the agency harassing political dissidents and abusing his power. But as former FBI counterterrorism expert Javed Ali explains, the role of both the FBI and its leader have dramatically shifted over time. The Conversation’s politics editor Naomi Schalit asked Ali, who now teaches courses in national security and intelligence at the University of Michigan, to explain just what a modern FBI director does as President-elect Donald Trump aims to name his own director to replace current FBI head Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed in 2017 . Wray has said he will resign in January 2025. Naomi Schalit: Let’s start with FBI 101. What does the agency do? Javed Ali: The FBI began as the country’s lead federal criminal investigative agency in 1909, then named the Bureau of Investigation , or BOI. Previously, organizations like the Secret Service and the U.S. Marshall’s Service had responsibility for investigating federal crimes, but the introduction of the BOI began the tenure for what became the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1935 to now. Over this 100-plus-year stretch, the FBI has focused on investigating federal crimes on matters like racketeering, fraud, public corruption, illegal financial schemes and organized crime, to name a few. But despite the general public perceptions of the FBI as the nation’s premier crime-fighting organization, as revealed in the iconic FBI badge, logo and early depictions of “G-men,” the FBI has always focused on national security threats to the nation. That focus was evident as early as the 1910s – before World War I – as the FBI investigated suspected saboteurs and spies . During the 1930s and 1940s, the FBI focused on individuals linked to the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan, and communists and Bolsheviks as the Soviet Union grew in power. During the Cold War, in the FBI’s zeal to root out and prevent Soviet influence in the United States, it began arguably the darkest chapter in the organization’s history. Beginning in the mid-1950s and called COINTELPRO , these efforts through the 1960s included domestic surveillance, intelligence collection and disinformation campaigns without court-ordered approvals against Americans suspected of receiving money or other forms of support from the Soviet Union – even though the factual bases for these concerns were often flimsy, at best. The FBI’s focus on terrorists and spies continued for decades after and intensified in the 1990s with the emergence of jihadist threats in the United States and abroad. Despite the warning signs of attacks in the run-up to 9/11, a number of gaps and challenges remained within the FBI, which contributed to those attacks and led to major reforms within the organization. While counterterrorism and counterintelligence have remained significant priorities since 9/11, the FBI also increased its efforts on cybersecurity , demonstrating the continuing evolution of the organization’s national security focus as new threats emerge and legacy threats recede. Schalit: What is the role of the head of the FBI? Ali: The FBI director is presidentially appointed and Senate-confirmed, but is not a member of the cabinet. The FBI is a subagency within the Department of Justice , whose head, the attorney general, is a cabinet member. The FBI director is appointed to serve a full 10-year term that theoretically insulates the director from political pressure. There’s no one-size-fits-all background for the FBI director. Some have been chosen because of their familiarity and knowledge of federal law enforcement from the legal side or from the eyes of an agent. After Hoover, some have been former judges like William Webster , or former prosecutors or Department of Justice attorneys like James Comey , Robert Mueller , Christopher Wray or President Trump’s current nominee-designate, Kash Patel . One – Louis Freeh – was a former FBI special agent . Schalit: You were at the FBI working in the headquarters between 2007 and 2010. During this time, Robert Mueller was the director, and you worked closely enough that you were able to see how he ran the organization. What are the actual tasks that an FBI director undertakes? Ali: Mueller was very much focused on pulling the FBI as an organization into a different mindset, but also organizationally and bureaucratically, to face the terrorist threat landscape that the country was confronting after 9/11. Part of that entailed transforming the FBI into an intelligence-driven organization that used information to prevent national security threats from occurring, or disrupt them, rather than responding to and investigating crimes after they occurred. At times he would stay at the 50,000-foot level and think big picture thoughts and try to make sure that the bureau was moving in the direction that he had set forth, or doing what Congress and the White House wanted him to do. On the flip side, there were moments when Director Mueller would dive into the details of specific counterterrorism investigations and cases, and ask questions of his senior team in order to ensure he had a good understanding of what was happening in the field. These were the kind of questions any FBI director would ask of his staff about such investigations, such as: how many FBI resources were involved in conducting a particular operation, the value of any intelligence being collected, the ability of an individual or group under investigation to carry out an attack, and what, if any, legal basis existed to conduct an arrest on a federal criminal charge to prevent an attack from occurring. These kinds of high-stakes deliberations happened on a routine basis, underscoring the depth of the responsibilities an FBI director carries with the position. And knowing what is happening in the field is important, since the FBI is not just a Washington, D.C.-based organization. There are 55 field offices throughout the United States and Puerto Rico , and the bulk of the FBI workforce is distributed across those – with Washington, D.C., New York City and Los Angeles the three biggest – in addition to FBI personnel posted overseas as part of the legal attache program or on temporary assignments around the world. Schalit: Who sets the agenda of the FBI? Ali: The FBI director has to manage multiple relationships in order to carry out the duties of the position effectively. The director reports both to the attorney general and the president, is overseen by judiciary and intelligence committees in Congress, and likewise has to maintain the trust and confidence of the American people to investigate crimes and prevent national security threats. In some administrations, the relationship between the president and the FBI director has been lukewarm. In those cases, the attorney general is the one setting the course for the FBI. That’s where the president or other senior White House staff, for the most part, either have confidence in the FBI director and the attorney general and what they’re doing or it’s just not as much of a priority for them. And then there are other times where the president really wants to know what the FBI director is doing, making sure that they are moving on the priorities that the president sets. But again, that has to be confined to staying within the Constitution and staying within the FBI internal guidelines . This story is part of a series of profiles of Cabinet and high-level administration positions. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/fbi-director-guides-the-agency-in-confronting-complex-international-threats-investigating-federal-crimes-and-running-55-field-offices-245506 . Licenced as Creative Commons - attribution, no derivatives.ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia quarterback Carson Beck will not return after he was hit on his throwing hand on the final play of an ugly first half Saturday in the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas. Beck was hit by outside linebacker Trey Moore, forcing a fumble recovered by Anthony Hill Jr., who then lost the ball on an errant attempt to extend the play with a lateral as time expired. Beck was one of the last players to return to the field following halftime. He was holding his helmet but did not warm up remained on the sideline as backup Gunner Stockton led the offense to its first touchdown on the Bulldogs’ first drive of the second half. Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN Beck would not return to the game and said he had no details on the hand injury. Beck had the right arm wrapped in ice on the Georgia bench. No. 2 Texas outgained No. 5 Georgia 260-54 but led only 6-3 at halftime. The Bulldogs netted minus-2 yards rushing and Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and

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NIGER has suspended the operations of the British media company, BBC, owing to the suspicion that the company is trying to disrupt the country’s peace. Niger’s government has suspended the UK-based broadcasting network, BBC, for three months, over its reporting of a terrorist attack that allegedly killed dozens of its soldiers and civilians. “BBC broadcasts false information aimed at destabilizing social calm and undermining the troops’ morale,” said Raliou Sidi Mohamed, Niger’s communications minister. His statement was aimed at local radio stations that rebroadcast BBC content. He instructed that they cut off all content that traces back to BBC. The British network on Wednesday reported that jihadists massacred 90 troops and up to 40 people in Chatoumane, located in the western Tera area bordering Burkina Faso and overflowing with armed rebels. However, Niger, on the same day, denied the details of the report, calling the allegations of the massacre “baseless assertions” and a “campaign of intoxication,” as seen on AP News. This is hardly the first time Niger has had a running-in with foreign media. In September, Wassim Nasr, a France 24 journalist was served a lawsuit by the Alliance of the Sahel States (AES), which consists of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. They alleged that the journalist was culpable for instigating acts of terrorism by contacting terrorists who are currently causing severe insecurity problems in the West African sub-region. These decisons to sanction Western media align with the AES’s new political stance to expel as much Western influence as possible. The nations that make up the AES in recent years have all been switched to military rule, after successful coups. For Niger, a group of soldiers from the presidential guard announced the ousting of Bazoum, on the the 26th of July 2023. The country has since been governed by the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, which is being commanded by the guard’s commander, Abdourahamane Tiani. However, on the 10th of August, Tiani issued an order establishing a transitional administration. Additionally, Niger, alongside fellow AES countries, opted to form their regional coalition outside of ECOWAS, despite being a part of West Africa. They did this noting that ECOWAS still had a strong affiliation with the West, which is counterproductive to what they are trying to achieve.

They are a lovable couple — Dr. Chris Liebrum and his wife, Cindy — known for quickly-triggered smiles, positive attitudes, deep faith and commitment to close-knit families. Married for 52 years, they have reached highest peaks and navigated life’s storms — shortening them when possible — confident of a safe arrival on the other side. They’re the kind of folks whose company is treasured. Cindy has earned “life of the party” status, laughing — even cackling — all the way, sometimes way out on limbs. Comparatively, Chris is content in the shade of trees, maybe planting something to bloom later. In short, they personify the expression heard during long ago cattle drives: “They’ll do to ride the river with.” — They’re proud of their sons, Cory and Clay, their daughters-in-law and their four grandchildren. Chris and Cindy, who met as students at Howard Payne University, carve out “family time” admirably. This was difficult to accomplish during Chris’s schedule-packed professional years of denominational leadership. Even with their mid-70s now at hand, they press on, barely slowed in “semi-retirement.” Chris works parttime for his alma mater, and still preaches often on Sundays throughout Texas. They are beloved by everyone, even friends with other religious beliefs or political leanings. I deeply value their friendship, these thoughtful, caring Christians. He is studied, his words carefully chosen when serious topics are broached. Cindy can be serious, too, but most friends can’t remember the last time she was. She’s always “at the ready” to snap pictures. Fact is, the camera strap marks formerly marking the back of her neck are slowly disappearing. Now, she values her smartphone, handy not only for “yakking” but also for photography. Grandchildren are favorite targets, as are much else that moves, or — for that matter — stands still ... — I joke with them endlessly, sometimes even jabbing a bit, and they jab back, particularly Cindy. She’s a joyful soul, but probably would be a lousy poker player. Chris, with quiet reserve and contemplation, can steer around most workaday challenges, two of which will be addressed in this column. To most people, they’ll fit in the “minutia box,” probably even at the very bottom. Neither is mentioned critically, and typically broached jokingly. He can’t pronounce “New Braunfels,” and he’s colorblind. (I don’t intend to joke about his visual condition, but he does.) — First things first. Like television newsmen who never knew they’d need to pronounce “Uvalde” often until the shootings there, Chris never thought he’d need to pronounce — or try to pronounce — ”New Braunfels”on a regular basis. Not so fast! HPU has a branch campus there, so he’s often involved in discussions that include the community’s name. In the past, he’s been able to “mumble through it,” or simply go ahead and pronounce it “New Braunsfel” or “New Braunsfels,” like many others do. I have tried endlessly to help him conquer this slight pronunciational flaw, but so far have been unsuccessful. It’s his “blind spot,” so to speak, similar to my failure to understand the difference in “imply” and “infer.” Trying to do so makes my hair hurt ... — Now, let’s jump into his world which often isn’t “black and white,” but various other shades and hues, most of which he has learned to live with. He and Cindy are theater-go’ers, treasuring attendance at live productions like “Wicked,” a Broadway hit that opened in 2003. They’ve seen it at least a half-dozen times on various stages, most recently at Dallas Summer Musicals. At intermission, he heard a lady seated behind him mention the green-colored witch, Elphaba. Puzzled, he turned to Cindy, expressing that he’d never realized the witch’s greenish hue. Chris is doubly careful at traffic lights, too. “I try to go with the flow,” he says, “And I’ve learned that the shortest measurement of time is that brief moment between the light turning green and the horn honking behind me. Remember, I told you their faults are few ...

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly: Reviewing Penn State's narrow win over Minnesota

Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Executive of Tyler Perry Studios dies when plane he was piloting crashes in Florida ATLANTA (AP) — The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios has died when the small plane he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The studio confirmed on Saturday that Steve Mensch, its 62-year-old president and general manager, had died Friday. The crash happened in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Photos from the scene show the plane having come to rest upside down on a road. Mensch helped advocate for Georgia’s film tax credit of more than $1 billion a year. Perry hired Mensch to run his namesake studio in 2016. Mensch died as Perry released his war drama, “The Six Triple Eight." The film was shot at the Atlanta studio. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” were written on the ammunition used to kill UnitedHealthcare's CEO. That's according to two officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday. The words are similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend.” That's how attorneys describe insurers denying services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the words. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. Michigan Democrats move to protect reproductive health data before GOP takes control of House LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democrats in Michigan are pressing to pass reproductive health care legislation before the party loses its majority with the new legislative session next year. A bill to protect digital reproductive health data including data logged on menstrual cycle tracking apps is a Democratic priority as lawmakers meet this month. Democratic women and supporters of the legislation say they are acting with new urgency before President-elect Donald Trump takes office because they don't believe his campaign promise to leave abortion to the states. The rush is also a reaction to Republicans taking control of the state House in January. Democrats kept control of the state Senate in the November election. Japan's Nippon Steel sets sights on a growing overseas market in its bid to acquire US Steel KASHIMA, Japan (AP) — The signs at Nippon Steel read: “The world through steel,” underlining why Japan’s top steelmaker is pursuing its $15 billion bid to acquire U.S. Steel. Japan's domestic market isn't growing, so Nippon Steel has its eyes on India, Southeast Asia and the United States, where populations are still growing. Nippon Steel gave reporters a tour of one of its plants in Japan on Friday. The bid for U.S. Steet is opposed by President-elect Donald Trump, President Joe Biden and American steelworkers. If the deal goes through, U.S. Steel will keep its name and its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but become subsidiary of Nippon Steel.TEHRAN - In a note, Hamshahri dealt with the increase of Iran's infiltration into Israel's security structures. It wrote: These days, concern about Iran's increasing infiltration into various structures of the Zionist regime has become one of the most important political-security concerns of Tel Aviv in facing the Islamic Republic. It seems that after the implementation of the "True Promise II" operation, the Zionist authorities were more worried about Iran's security infiltration into the occupied territories. Although the Zionists tried to hide the strikes by launching a propaganda campaign after Operation "True Promise I", during "True Promise II", the high volume of hits could not be hidden. More than anything else, the accurate hitting of the missile depots indicated Iran's precise information about the military-security goals of the Zionist regime. An issue that seems to have faced the security authorities of this regime with an important challenge called “Iran's security penetration.” In an article, Ettelaat addressed the developments in the Middle East, especially in Syria, and the performance of Iran after these events. The paper said: The Middle East has become the center of strange political and social developments. In such a situation, we need to know what direction the future conditions in the region will take and what the Islamic Republic of Iran can do. It seems that threats and sabotage attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran will intensify based on the expansionist and aggressive strategies of the Israeli regime. In such a situation, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Resistance Front should put themselves in a position of renewal and strength. The Islamic Republic of Iran is the leader of the resistance groups and more than others it is most exposed to threats and conspiracies. Therefore, it must take serious measures to strengthen its internal power because inciting and equipping forces opposed to the Islamic Republic, launching media wars and cyberattacks, creating public discontent among the people, etc. are on the list of programs of this regime against Iran. In an analysis, Etemad discussed the role of Syria in the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad. It wrote: The developments in the Middle East and the confrontation between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah changed the balance of power between Iran and Israel, and now the fall of Bashar al-Assad can affect the position of Iran and the resistance front. However, the wider consequence of recent developments is a change in the balance of power between Turkey and other regional and extra-regional actors. What is clear is that Turkey's achievements in Syria have been highlighted and Ankara's influence in Lebanon and Iraq may increase. Turkey's achievements may affect Tehran's interactions and have consequences for other regional actors. From Iran's point of view, the fall of Assad may provide the basis for changing Tehran’s strategy. But as observers say, Turkey's achievements in Syria can be worrying signs for the whole region. Iran sees Turkey as a regional competitor. A rival who secretly challenges Tehran's influence in the Middle East and the Caucasus. A geography where the two players have been competing for a long time. In an explanation, Arman-e-Emrooz analyzed Iran's future policy after Assad and wrote: Considering the anti-Israeli nature of the Islamist movement in Syria and the closeness of some of them to Hamas, perhaps this channel will provide an opportunity for Tehran to play a role in this regard in the future. The continuation of Israel's attacks on Syria and serious hatred toward the occupation and apartheid regime can increase the chance of creating this opportunity for Iran. Considering the escalation of tension in the future, Tehran may be led to redefine its regional priorities and strengthen relations with Syria’s actors to pass this stage. It is also possible that the Iranian government will focus more on strengthening its internal front and solving its problems and negotiations to lift sanctions. Of course, before the formation of such negotiations, it is not unlikely that Israel will take action against Iran's nuclear program with a green light from the United States. Apart from these goals, another goal may be to remove Iran's nuclear leverage in order to get concessions in the negotiations.Scrim, a 17-pound mutt that's mostly terrier, has become a folk hero, inspiring tattoos, t-shirts and even a ballad as he eludes capture from the posse of volunteers. And like any antihero, Scrim has a backstory: Rescued from semi-feral life at a trailer park and adopted from a shelter, the dog broke loose in April and scurried around the city until he was cornered in October and brought to a new home. Weeks later, he'd had enough. Scrim leaped out of a second-story window, a desperate act recorded in a now-viral video. Since then, despite a stream of daily sightings, he's roamed free. The dog’s fans include Myra and Steve Foster, who wrote “Ode to Scrim” to the tune of Ricky Nelson’s 1961 hit, “I’m a Travelin’ Man.” Leading the recapture effort is Michelle Cheramie, a 55-year-old former information technology professional. She lost everything — home, car, possessions — in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and in the aftermath, found her calling rescuing pets. “I was like, ‘This is what I should be doing,’” Cheramie said. “I was born to rescue.” She launched Zeus’ Rescues, a nonprofit shelter that now averages 600 cat and dog adoptions a year and offers free pet food to anyone who needs it. She helped Scrim find the home he first escaped from. It was Cheramie's window Scrim leaped from in November. She's resumed her relentless mission since then, posting flyers on telephone poles and logging social media updates on his reported whereabouts. She's invested thousands of dollars on wildlife cameras, thermal sensors and other gear. She took a course offered by the San Diego Zoo on the finer points of tranquilizing animals. And she's developed a network of volunteers — the kind of neighbors who are willing to grid-search a city at 3 a.m. People like writer David W. Brown, who manages a crowd-sourced Google Map of all known Scrim sightings. He says the search has galvanized residents from all walks of life to come together. As they search for Scrim, they hand out supplies to people in need. "Being a member of the community is seeing problems and doing what you can to make life a little better for the people around here and the animals around you," Brown said. And neighbors like Tammy Murray, who had to close her furniture store and lost her father to Parkinson's Disease. This search, she says, got her mojo back. “Literally, for months, I’ve done nothing but hunt this dog,” said Murray, 53. “I feel like Wile E. Coyote on a daily basis with him.” Murray drives the Zeus' Rescues' van towards reported Scrim sightings. She also handles a tactical net launcher, which looks like an oversized flashlight and once misfired, shattering the van's window as Scrim sped away. After realizing Scrim had come to recognize the sound of the van's diesel engine, Murray switched to a Vespa scooter, for stealth. Near-misses have been tantalizing. The search party spotted Scrim napping beneath an elevated house, and wrapped construction netting around the perimeter, but an over-eager volunteer broke ranks and dashed forward, leaving an opening Scrim slipped through. Scrim's repeated escapades have prompted near-daily local media coverage and a devoted online following. Cheramie can relate. “We’re all running from something or to something. He's doing that too,” she said. Cheramie's team dreams of placing the pooch in a safe and loving environment. But a social media chorus growing under the hashtag #FreeScrim has other ideas — they say the runaway should be allowed a life of self-determination. The animal rescue volunteers consider that misguided. “The streets of New Orleans are not the place for a dog to be free,” Cheramie said. “It’s too dangerous.” Scrim was a mess when Cheramie briefly recaptured him in October, with matted fur, missing teeth and a tattered ear. His trembling body was scraped and bruised, and punctured by multiple projectiles. A vet removed one, but decided against operating to take out a possible bullet. The dog initially appeared content indoors, sitting in Cheramie's lap or napping beside her bed. Then while she was out one day, Scrim chewed through a mesh screen, dropped 13 feet to the ground and squeezed through a gap in the fence, trotting away. Murray said Cheramie's four cats probably spooked him. “I wholeheartedly believe the gangster-ass cats were messing with him,” Murray said. Cheramie thinks they may have gotten territorial. Devastated but undeterred, the pair is reassessing where Scrim might fit best — maybe a secure animal sanctuary with big outdoor spaces where other dogs can keep him company. Somewhere, Murray says, “where he can just breathe and be." Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96

This year brought many surprises and not all of them were pleasant ones. In the automotive space there were also plenty of things that happened in 2024 in Australia, and 2025 doesn’t look like being any different. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, here’s a rundown of what each member of the CarExpert editorial was surprised about in 2024. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 100s of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . Paul Maric: The Kia Tasman’s design Styling is entirely subjective, but I thought the direction Kia went in for styling the Tasman was ambitious and brave to a degree. But it was more of a surprise with the drivetrain they chose to go with. It enters the segment significantly under its main rivals and doesn’t offer a compelling on-paper reason to buy it ahead of those rivals. Perhaps Kia is going with a value proposition and will price the Tasman in line with some of the value Chinese propositions. But then the interior tech level and finish suggests it’s going for a premium approach. It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out, because the ute segment is very different to what it was when Kia would have commenced product planning for Tasman. Marton Pettendy: The speed at which Chinese carmakers are arriving in Australia When the Volkswagen Polo Classic sedan controversially became the first Chinese-made model to arrive in Australia in 2004, who would have predicted that five major Chinese auto brands would be popular here within just two decades? And when Great Wall Motors (now GWM) became the first Chinese carmaker to set up shop in the local auto market in 2009, who would have been unsurprised by the presence of at least 10 Chinese car brands here little more than 15 years later? The rate at which Chinese auto brands have arrived Down Under this year has been literally awesome – and frightening for many legacy carmakers – even given Australia’s geographical proximity to the world’s largest auto market, and its suitability as a testbed for ambitious Chinese auto exporters in terms of this market’s safety, technology and emissions requirements. If carmakers can be profitable in a car market as mature and competitive as Australia’s, it’s likely to be successful in other larger Western countries, except perhaps in a tariff-protected US market under Trump. SAIC is China’s largest carmaker and its biggest brand, MG, was relaunched in Australia in 2016 (two years after SAIC sister brand LDV), before becoming China’s major export auto brand in 2019, cracking the list of top-10 brands here in 2021 and placing seventh in last year’s record new-vehicle market. Since MG reincarnated itself here just eight years ago, GWM has launched its Tank sub-brand, Chery has reintroduced itself and announced its Jaecoo sister brand, and BYD has captured a solid foothold since arriving here in earnest in late 2022. And while Polestar has joined fellow Geely brands Volvo and Lotus on sale here (followed this month by Zeekr), Chinese-produced Teslas have also become Australia’s top-selling EVs. So far there’s no sign of the FAW Group or Dongfeng in Australia, but the final member of China’s big-four carmakers, Changan, is also landing here this month via the Deepal brand, courtesy of Subaru and Peugeot distributor Inchcape. Other Chinese brands confirmed to target the best-selling Tesla Model Y with all-new mid-sized electric SUVs within weeks include Xpeng, Skywell, Leapmotor (via Jeep parent Stellantis), followed by Geely, which may also bring its Radar/Riddara and Lynk&Co sister brands. Foton will relaunch itself here in early 2025 with two big new utes, and there’s also GAC Motor brand Aion, and perhaps Nio and Chery’s Jetour as well. Of course, while BYD boldly claims it will eventually outsell Toyota in Australia, and MG plans to be a top-three auto brand here, some Chinese brands could well disappear from the local market as quickly as they appeared here. But many of them will go on to become household names – just as Korean marques like Hyundai and Kia have, and before them Japanese brands led by Toyota. James Wong: The anti-PHEV agenda It still boggles my mind that there are vocal factions in Australia that are very anti-PHEV, since on paper they’re a great middle ground for local car buyers looking to step into electrification. With the right consumer education and more choice, PHEVs have the potential to do a lot of good Down Under and become a mainstay option in the local auto market, in the same way they have become in Europe. However, the EV-angelists and greenwashing governing bodies wanting to appear more progressive than they really are continue to poo-poo the powertrain technology as if it has no benefit at all. Have they forgotten that a big part of the substantial increase in EV sales (and PHEV sales, to an even greater extent) in recent years has been due to government incentives at both the state and federal level? Rather than forcing consumers to jump directly from ICE to EV overnight, we should be incentivising the majority to move more progressively across to HEVs and PHEVs (and EVs, where appropriate), because when used as intended they can have a bigger impact on overall emissions reductions, while putting less pressure on infrastructure and eliminating range anxiety. For me personally, I’m much closer to buying a PHEV as my next car rather than an EV. William Stopford: The sheer number of Chinese brands announcing Australian launches I knew more Chinese brands would come to Australia. It seemed entirely inevitable, as they continue to be frozen out of the US market and earlier this year the European Union increased tariffs. Competing in Australia now seems to be a feather in Chinese brands’ caps – if you can make it here, you’ve shown you likely have product that meets tough safety standards and which can hold its own against a legion of more established brands in an extremely competitive market. What I wasn’t expecting was the sheer number of brands announcing their entry into Australia. Geely, for example, wants to throw yet another brand into the mix here with its namesake marque. Chinese big four player Changan had unusually stayed out of Australia all this time, only to announce a play at our market with its Deepal EV brand, distributed via Inchcape. This came shortly after the same distributor announced it was bringing back the Foton brand. What we end up having is a dizzying number of Chinese brands coming here. It’s hard to keep track of them all, and while some are coming through established distributors, others are arriving through new importers, which is making things even more interesting. Let’s see what shakes out in 2025. Jordan Mulach: Hybrid vehicle sales Hybrid vehicle sales hitting the afterburner in Australia isn’t something many expected to happen, but looking back it was probably the most inevitable and logical outcome. We’ve been told for years that fully-electric vehicles (EVs) and even plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) would be the way forward, but Australian buyers are now being offered more conventional hybrid models than ever before, and they’re buying them in droves. Plugless hybrids now account for almost 15 per cent of new car sales in Australia. While this is largely due to Toyota clearing its order backlogs, traditional hybrid powertrains are now more widely available across a wide spectrum of the market. This could be the shot in the arm Australia needs to reduce its overall transport emissions, and the encouragement some car companies require to start bringing more efficient vehicles to local showrooms. Jack Quick: Toyota Tundra pricing We all knew the Tundra wouldn’t be cheap and the infamous ‘Toyota tax’ is always pretty hefty, but my socks were blown off when this pricing news dropped. At $155,990 before on-roads, the Tundra is the most expensive full-sized pickup available in Australia before you start looking at heavy-duty options like the Chevrolet Silverado HD and Ram 2500 / 3500 variants, some of which require a heavy vehicle license. And it makes the Tundra the most expensive Toyota model ever sold in Australia. I know Toyota needs to recoup the cost of local right-hand drive development and conversion by Walkinshaw, but in the US the equivalent Tundra Limited i-Force Max pickup starts at US$58,005 (~A$90,500). Josh Nevett: Toyota’s shock Supercars entry Well, this certainly wasn’t on my bingo card. Japanese giant Toyota will join the Australian Supercars Championship grid from 2026, pitting the Supra up against American muscle in Australia’s biggest motorsport category. While the homegrown series is best known for fostering the rivalry between Ford and Holden (now Chevrolet), it’s not unheard of for manufacturers to come from further afield – who can forget the domination of the Nissan Skyline GTR, otherwise known as ‘Godzilla’, in the 1990s? More recently, European players Mercedes-Benz and Volvo both tried their hand at the Supercars formula. However, after Ford and Chevrolet were announced as the brands to debut under the latest Gen3 regulations back in 2020, the manufacturer rumour mill went quiet. It was widely accepted that Supercars would remain a two-horse race... until a couple of months ago. Toyota’s entry came out of nowhere, and it left us with more than a few questions. Why would Toyota jump into a declining race category when it already has extensive motorsport exposure Down Under? And why race the Supra, a model that’s expected to be axed at least in its current form in the not-so-distant future? Those questions remain, but Toyota’s leap of faith can only be a good thing for motorsport and the dominant auto brand’s road-going performance vehicles in Australia. Max Davies: The Kia Tasman’s design There was a lot of talk for a long time in the lead up to the Tasman’s reveal in October, and plenty more after Kia’s first ute broke cover. And the simplest way to describe its design is... surprising. I won’t say it looks good, but it will certainly get people talking and set it apart from the competition. In a segment where most of the choices look pretty similar, Kia has at least managed to design something that’s unique and will stand out in the real world, which isn’t easy these days. I can vouch for that because I was able to instantly recognise a camouflaged Tasman on the Hume Freeway just last month, when I was equally surprised by just how massive it looks compared to regular traffic. While (single- and dual-cab) body options and (diesel) drivetrain choices will be less of a surprise, the biggest factor in whether the Tasman hits Kia’s relatively conservative sales target (at least the one it’s stated publicly) in Australia’s sprawling ute landscape is likely to be price. But knowing Kia, it’s likely to be sharp, and backed by a long warranty. As for the controversial styling, there will definitely be some fairly major tweaks to improve the Tasman’s controversial appearance down the track, perhaps even before it’s released here in mid-2025. As it stands though, it caught my attention in a way I didn’t quite expect it to.SEC Threatens Elon Musk with Charges