game background

game background Police say suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing wasn't a client of the insurerBy MICHELLE L. PRICE and ROB GILLIES NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s recent dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his visit to Paris for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral were not just exercises in policy and diplomacy. They were also prime trolling opportunities for Trump. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? Throughout his first term in the White House and during his campaign to return, Trump has spun out countless provocative, antagonizing and mocking statements. There were his belittling nicknames for political opponents, his impressions of other political figures and the plentiful memes he shared on social media. Now that’s he’s preparing to return to the Oval Office, Trump is back at it, and his trolling is attracting more attention — and eyerolls. On Sunday, Trump turned a photo of himself seated near a smiling first lady Jill Biden at the Notre Dame ceremony into a social media promo for his new perfume and cologne line, with the tag line, “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist!” The first lady’s office declined to comment. When Trudeau hastily flew to Florida to meet with Trump last month over the president-elect’s threat to impose a 25% tax on all Canadian products entering the U.S., the Republican tossed out the idea that Canada become the 51st U.S. state. The Canadians passed off the comment as a joke, but Trump has continued to play up the dig, including in a post Tuesday morning on his social media network referring to the prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada.” After decades as an entertainer and tabloid fixture, Trump has a flair for the provocative that is aimed at attracting attention and, in his most recent incarnation as a politician, mobilizing fans. He has long relished poking at his opponents, both to demean and minimize them and to delight supporters who share his irreverent comments and posts widely online and cheer for them in person. Trump, to the joy of his fans, first publicly needled Canada on his social media network a week ago when he posted an AI-generated image that showed him standing on a mountain with a Canadian flag next to him and the caption “Oh Canada!” After his latest post, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Tuesday: “It sounds like we’re living in a episode of South Park.” Trudeau said earlier this week that when it comes to Trump, “his approach will often be to challenge people, to destabilize a negotiating partner, to offer uncertainty and even sometimes a bit of chaos into the well established hallways of democracies and institutions and one of the most important things for us to do is not to freak out, not to panic.” Even Thanksgiving dinner isn’t a trolling-free zone for Trump’s adversaries. On Thanksgiving Day, Trump posted a movie clip from “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ faces superimposed on the characters in a spoof of the turkey-carving scene. The video shows Trump appearing to explode out of the turkey in a swirl of purple sparks, with the former president stiffly dancing to one of his favorite songs, Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” In his most recent presidential campaign, Trump mocked Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, refusing to call his GOP primary opponent by his real name and instead dubbing him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” He added, for good measure, in a post on his Truth Social network: “I will never call Ron DeSanctimonious ‘Meatball’ Ron, as the Fake News is insisting I will.” As he campaigned against Biden, Trump taunted him in online posts and with comments and impressions at his rallies, deriding the president over his intellect, his walk, his golf game and even his beach body. After Vice President Kamala Harris took over Biden’s spot as the Democratic nominee, Trump repeatedly suggested she never worked at McDonalds while in college. Trump, true to form, turned his mocking into a spectacle by appearing at a Pennsylvania McDonalds in October, when he manned the fries station and held an impromptu news conference from the restaurant drive-thru. Trump’s team thinks people should get a sense of humor. “President Trump is a master at messaging and he’s always relatable to the average person, whereas many media members take themselves too seriously and have no concept of anything else other than suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome,” said Steven Cheung, Trump’s communications director. “President Trump will Make America Great Again and we are getting back to a sense of optimism after a tumultuous four years.” Though both the Biden and Harris campaigns created and shared memes and launched other stunts to respond to Trump’s taunts, so far America’s neighbors to the north are not taking the bait. “I don’t think we should necessarily look on Truth Social for public policy,” Miller said. Gerald Butts, a former top adviser to Trudeau and a close friend, said Trump brought up the 51st state line to Trudeau repeatedly during Trump’s first term in office. “Oh God,” Butts said Tuesday, “At least a half dozen times.” “This is who he is and what he does. He’s trying to destabilize everybody and make people anxious,” Butts said. “He’s trying to get people on the defensive and anxious and therefore willing to do things they wouldn’t otherwise entertain if they had their wits about them. I don’t know why anybody is surprised by it.” Gillies reported from Toronto. Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed to this report.Making the grade: Canada unveils world junior roster featuring plenty of youth

Ex-Flyers Tough Guy Placed On Waivers

Because of the career choices that I made in life, the professional and personal circles that I run around in tend to be composed of those who would rather have a piece of wood as president over Donald Trump. Not a nice piece of curly maple or a beautiful spalted oak – the kind that would typically be made into toothpicks or ground down to put into low-quality parmesan to prevent it from clumping. I remember in 2016 when Trump beat Hillary Clinton to win his first term how many of those around me reacted so extremely. Some were appalled and disgusted. Most were deeply concerned and anxious about the damage Trump could do to our country. We had many discussions where I attempted to argue that the impact that Trump’s presidency would have on the average American would likely be negligible. I argued that they were being excessively apocalyptic and fearful. As predicted, life went on. Unless you insisted on waiting with bated breath to be appalled by the next outrageous thing that Trump said on Twitter or on the podium, everyday life just didn’t change much for the vast majority of people. The extent to which what happens in the capital affects us is sometimes significantly inflated by our own expectations and emotional responses. Similarly to Trump’s recent campaign, in 2016 he also ran on being tough on immigration. Despite his promises, all of the many illegals that I know continued their peacefully illegal lives undisturbed – some even visited their families in Mexico, only to once again very gracefully cha-cha their way past the best efforts of the Border Patrol. Forgive my abuse of anecdotal evidence, I can’t help myself. For what it’s worth, Obama deported many more people than Trump. On the other hand, it would be a departure from reality to claim that federal politics play no significant role in our lives. If it wasn’t for Trump, we would still have nationwide access to abortion, among other things. Those living in states with heavy restrictions on abortion can go to another state to undergo the procedure. It’s an annoyance and an unnecessary burden that no woman should have to shoulder, but it’s a temporary one. Some court decision or some act of Congress will inevitably reestablish universal access to abortion. In the meantime, even Republican states are gradually restoring abortion rights. Currently, one of the most prominent sources of outrage with respect to the next Trump administration stems from the choices that he’s making in staffing his cabinet and other positions. What sort of havoc will Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wreak as the head of the Department of Health and Human Services? Will all of our teeth fall out simultaneously after he removes the fluoride from the water? Only time will tell. Pete Hegseth to lead the Pentagon is another bold choice by our future president. He’s completely unqualified and wants to remove women from positions of combat, being the chivalrous gentleman that he is. Will his appointment have any impact at all on our lives? Related Articles Opinion Columnists | Elon Musk gets it: America’s legal immigration process need to change Opinion Columnists | Susan Shelley: The mundane reality of UFOs Opinion Columnists | Larry Wilson: On climate change, Trump is no King Canute Opinion Columnists | Blame Schwarzenegger for ‘terminating’ affordable housing in California Opinion Columnists | Every Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for free markets and private property All this is to say that it’s not unreasonable to be concerned for the future of our country when we have a president who attempted to undermine the democratic process. But this constant obsession about what is going on in government is counterproductive to our health and wellbeing. The vast majority of the time, what politicians decide to do has very little appreciable impact on us, particularly when compared to everything else that is going on in our lives. It makes it so much more perplexing that many allow their mental lives to be disproportionately consumed by the poor decisions of the government. There are countless stories out there of individuals shunning their loved ones for simply supporting one candidate or another. Many are now considering refusing to attend the same holiday gatherings as their brothers or sisters, all over silly political disagreements. This is a time to appreciate your loved ones despite whatever flaws you believe them to have, so retire the pitchfork and relax a little bit. Rafael Perez is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. He is a doctoral candidate in philosophy at the University of Rochester. You can reach him at rafaelperezocregister@gmail.com.None

Dolby Laboratories (NYSE:DLB) Earns “Outperform” Rating from Barrington Research

‘We didn’t have a good day’: Greens set to suffer significant election lossesNEW YORK , Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CELH) between February 29, 2024 and September 4, 2024 , both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

Los Alamos Chief Engineer Joins Nuclear Fusion Startup Fuse to Lead Federal BusinessPrairie View fires football coach Bubba McDowellMalik Nabers vents frustration after Giants' loss: 'It ain't the quarterback' | Sporting News

How to Watch Top 25 Women’s College Basketball Games – Friday, November 22TROY, Ala. (AP) — Damien Taylor rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns, Matthew Caldwell threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and Troy scored 21 points in less than two minutes in the fourth quarter to beat Southern Miss 52-20 on Saturday. Taylor went straight up the middle from 56-yards out to give Troy a 24-8 lead midway through the third quarter. He added a 35-yard scoring run for a 38-20 lead with 5:50 left in the fourth. On the ensuing possession, Ian Conerly-Goodly intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 31 yards for a 25-point lead. Southern Miss quarterback Tate Rodemaker was intercepted again and LJ Green returned it 49 yards to the Golden Eagles' 16-yard line. Jordan Lovett capitalized on the short field by running it in from the 5. Taylor reached the 1,000-yard mark on the season for Troy (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference). Caldwell was 14 of 26 for 187 yards and he carried it seven times for 30 yards. Rodemaker threw for 234 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Southern Miss (1-11, 0-8). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballPenn State seeks to stay perfect, takes on Fordham

hile the playoff hopes dimmed further after a disheartening 12-6 loss to the s, , wife of fullback , proved that even under stormy skies, she knows how to steal the spotlight. At Levi's Stadium on Thursday, , paired with a black leather skirt, gloves, and sky-high heels. Despite the rainy conditions, , shielding herself with a black jacket while kissing Kyle in a chic Instagram post captioned, Kristin's impeccable style has recently earned her a spot on the , alongside icons like . Known for her NFL-themed jackets, Kristin has caught the attention of celebrities like , who have donned her creations at games. Marketing analyst Krista Corrigan earlier this year, saying, Kristin always finds the silver lining As the grapple , Kristin remains a beacon of positivity in the WAG (wives and girlfriends) community. Speaking to PEOPLE in October, , saying, The Juszczyks and the 49ers as they face the on December 22. While fans anxiously await a turnaround, , proving that style and optimism go hand in hand-even when the season's outlook is cloudy.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans decreased its stake in shares of SPX Technologies, Inc. ( NYSE:SPXC – Free Report ) by 5.4% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 36,305 shares of the company’s stock after selling 2,074 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in SPX Technologies were worth $5,789,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Crewe Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of SPX Technologies during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in shares of SPX Technologies in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC bought a new position in shares of SPX Technologies during the 3rd quarter worth $28,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of SPX Technologies by 965.0% during the second quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 213 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 193 shares during the period. Finally, Hilltop National Bank bought a new stake in shares of SPX Technologies in the second quarter valued at about $39,000. 92.82% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. SPX Technologies Stock Up 2.0 % Shares of SPX Technologies stock opened at $176.01 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.85 and a quick ratio of 1.19. The stock has a market cap of $8.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.31, a PEG ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.22. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $161.84 and its two-hundred day moving average is $151.13. SPX Technologies, Inc. has a 1 year low of $83.98 and a 1 year high of $176.35. SPX Technologies Profile ( Free Report ) SPX Technologies, Inc supplies infrastructure equipment serving the heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC); and detection and measurement markets worldwide. The company operates in two segments, HVAC and Detection and Measurement. The HVAC segment engineers, designs, manufactures, installs, and services package and process cooling products and engineered air movement solutions for the HVAC industrial and power generation markets, as well as boilers, heating, and ventilation products for the residential and commercial markets. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SPXC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPX Technologies, Inc. ( NYSE:SPXC – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for SPX Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SPX Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Yesterday at the FCC’s open meeting, two things happened. First Chairwoman Rosenworcel addressed that she will be stepping down on January 20 th from her role at the FCC. It was announced over the weekend that Commissioner Carr will be stepping into that role in 2025. The second thing that happened yesterday was the FCC commissioners all voted unanimously to adopt the Report and Order around enhancing the Caller ID authentication rules. Here is what the report and order will do: Define “third-party authentication” to provide a clear scope of the third-party authentication practices authorized and prohibited by the new rules. Authorize providers with a STIR/SHAKEN implementation obligation to engage third parties to perform the technological act of digitally “signing” calls consistent with the requirements of the STIR/SHAKEN technical standards, subject to two conditions: (1) The provider with the implementation obligation itself makes the critical “attestation-level” decisions for authenticating caller ID information associated with its calls; and (2) All calls are signed using the certificate of the provider with the implementation obligation—not the certificate of a third party. Explicitly require all providers with an implementation obligation to obtain a Service Provider Code (SPC) token from the Policy Administrator and present that token to a STIR/SHAKEN Certificate Authority to obtain a digital certificate. Require any provider certifying to partial or complete STIR/SHAKEN implementation in the Robocall Mitigation Database to have obtained an SPC token and digital certificate and sign all its calls with that certificate, either themselves or when working with a third party to perform the technological act of signing calls. Adopt recordkeeping requirements for third-party authentication arrangements to monitor compliance with and enforce the Commission’s rules. Chairwoman Rosenworcel stated the following in response to the Report and Order adoption “The scammers behind illegal robocalls are relentless. Now we close a loophole they use to send unwanted calls, they look for new ways to flood our networks with this junk. This means that the FCC– this agency needs to be just as tireless in its efforts to identify these loopholes and stop bad actors from exploiting them. That is true today, tomorrow, and in the future. Here, we take steps to close a loophole that involves STIR/SHAKEN. STIR/SHAKEN is a technology that three years ago we required carriers to use when they originate and terminate calls.” And she went on to say “...But to really stop the flood of illegal robocalls, we are going to need some bigger changes. We need Congress to fix the gaping loophole left by the Supreme Court in a decision narrowing the definition of autodialer, which substantially reduces our ability to protect consumers from junk robocalls and robo texts. We also need to make sure that when this agency issues big fines, we can hold the bad actors responsible by taking them to court, and not just rely on the Department of Justice to do so. When coupled with the work of the industry traceback group and the 49th state attorneys general I now have partnering with this agency to help stop robocalls, these changes will make a big difference.” Check out the Caller ID Report and Order HERE .

NoneCELH Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Celsius Holdings, Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday named Andrew Ferguson as the next chair of the Federal Trade Commission . He will replace Lina Khan, who became a lightning rod for Wall Street and Silicon Valley by blocking billions of dollars’ worth of corporate acquisitions and suing Amazon and Meta while alleging anticompetitive behavior . Ferguson is already one of the FTC’s five commissioners, which is currently made up of three Democrats and two Republicans. “Andrew has a proven record of standing up to Big Tech censorship, and protecting Freedom of Speech in our Great Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding, “Andrew will be the most America First, and pro-innovation FTC Chair in our Country’s History.” Related Articles National Politics | Biden issues veto threat on bill expanding federal judiciary as partisan split emerges National Politics | Trump lawyers and aide hit with 10 additional felony charges in Wisconsin over 2020 fake electors National Politics | After withdrawing as attorney general nominee, Matt Gaetz lands a talk show on OANN television National Politics | What will happen to Social Security under Trump’s tax plan? National Politics | Republican-led states are rolling out plans that could aid Trump’s mass deportation effort The replacement of Khan likely means that the FTC will operate with a lighter touch when it comes to antitrust enforcement. The new chair is expected to appoint new directors of the FTC’s antitrust and consumer protection divisions. “These changes likely will make the FTC more favorable to business than it has been in recent years, though the extent to which is to be determined,” wrote Anthony DiResta, a consumer protection attorney at Holland & Knight, in a recent analysis . Deals that were blocked by the Biden administration could find new life with Trump in command. For example, the new leadership could be more open to a proposed merger between the country’s two biggest supermarket chains, Kroger and Albertsons, which forged a $24.6 billion deal to combine in 2022. Two judges halted the merger Tuesday night. The FTC had filed a lawsuit in federal court earlier this year to block the merger, claiming the deal would eliminate competition, leading to higher prices and lower wages for workers. The two companies say a merger would help them lower prices and compete against bigger rivals like Walmart. One of the judges said the FTC had shown it was likely to prevail in the administrative hearing. Yet given the widespread public concern over high grocery prices, the Trump administration may not fully abandon the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, some experts have said. And the FTC may continue to scrutinize Big Tech firms for any anticompetitive behavior. Many Republican politicians have accused firms such as Meta of censoring conservative views, and some officials in Trump’s orbit, most notably Vice President-elect JD Vance, have previously expressed support for Khan’s scrutiny of Big Tech firms. In addition to Fergson, Trump also announced Tuesday that he had selected Jacob Helberg as the next undersecretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment.NEW YORK (AP) — The man charged with killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was not a client of the medical insurer and may have targeted it because of its size and influence, a senior police official said Thursday. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told NBC New York in an interview Thursday that investigators have uncovered evidence that Luigi Mangione had prior knowledge UnitedHealthcare was holding its annual investor conference in New York City. Mangione also mentioned the company in a note found in his possession when he was detained by police in Pennsylvania. “We have no indication that he was ever a client of United Healthcare, but he does make mention that it is the fifth largest corporation in America, which would make it the largest healthcare organization in America. So that’s possibly why he targeted that company,” said Kenny. UnitedHealthcare is in the top 20 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization but is not the fifth largest. It is the largest U.S. health insurer. Mangione remains jailed without bail in Pennsylvania, where he was arrested Monday after being spotted at a McDonald's in the city of Altoona, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of New York City. His lawyer there, Thomas Dickey, has said Mangione intends to plead not guilty. Dickey also said he has yet to see evidence decisively linking his client to the crime. Mangione's arrest came five days after the caught-on-camera killing of Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel. Police say the shooter waited outside the hotel, where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, early on the morning of Dec. 4. He approached Thompson from behind and shot him before fleeing on a bicycle through Central Park. Mangione is fighting attempts to extradite him back to New York so that he can face a murder charge in Thompson's killing. A hearing has been scheduled for Dec. 30. The 26-year-old, who police say was found with a “ ghost gun ” matching shell casings found at the site of the shooting, is charged in Pennsylvania with possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Mangione is an Ivy League graduate from a prominent Maryland real estate family. In posts on social media, Mangione wrote about experiencing severe chronic back pain before undergoing a spinal fusion surgery in 2023. Afterward, he posted that the operation had been a success and that his pain had improved and mobility returned. He urged others to consider the same type of surgery. On Wednesday, police said investigators are looking at his writings about his health problems and his criticism of corporate America and the U.S. health care system . Kenny said in the NBC interview that Mangione's family reported him missing to San Francisco authorities in November.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has nvited Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration next month — extending a diplomatic olive branch even as Trump threatens to levy massive tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump's incoming press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, confirmed on Thursday that Trump invited Xi, but said it was “to be determined” if the leader of the United States' most significant economic and military competitor would attend. In fact it seems unlikely. Xi is likely to see the invitation as too risky to accept, and the gesture from Trump may have little bearing on the increasingly competitive ties between the two nations as the White House changes hands, experts say. Danny Russel, vice president for international security and diplomacy at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Xi would not allow himself to “be reduced to the status of a mere guest celebrating the triumph of a foreign leader — the U.S. president, no less.” Still, Leavitt saw it as a plus. “This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies, but our adversaries and our competitors too,” she said in an appearance on Fox News' program ”Fox & Friends." “We saw this in his first term. He got a lot of criticism for it, but it led to peace around this world. He is willing to talk to anyone and he will always put America’s interest first.” CBS News first reported the invitation to Xi. Asked at a Chinese Foreign Ministry briefing on Thursday about Trump's invitation, spokesperson Mao Ning responded: “I have nothing to share at present.” Leavitt said that other foreign leaders have also been invited, but did not provide any details. The move by Trump to invite a leader of an adversarial nation to the American moment that is Inauguration Day is unorthodox. But it also squares with his belief that foreign policy—much like a business negotiation—should be carried out with carrots and sticks to get the United States' opponents to operate closer to his administration's preferred terms. Jim Bendat, a historian and author of “Democracy’s Big Day: The Inauguration of Our President,” said he was not aware of a previous U.S. inauguration attended by a foreign head of state. “It's not necessarily a bad thing to invite foreign leaders to attend,” Bendat said. “But it sure would make more sense to invite an ally before an adversary.” Edward Frantz, a presidential historian at the University of Indianapolis, said the invitation helps Trump burnish his “dealmaker and savvy businessman” brand. “I could see why he might like the optics," Frantz said. “But from the standpoint of American values, it seems shockingly cavalier." White House officials said it was up to Trump to decide whom he invites to the inauguration. “I would just say, without doubt it's the single most consequential bilateral relationship that the United States has in the world,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said. “It is a relationship both fraught with peril and responsibility.” Trump on Thursday during an appearance at the New York Stock Exchange , where he was ringing the opening bell to open the market, said he’s been “thinking about inviting certain people to the inauguration” without referring to any specific individuals. “And some people said, ‘Wow, that’s a little risky, isn’t it?’” Trump said. “And I said, ‘Maybe it is. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens.’ But we like to take little chances.” Meanwhile, a top aide to Hungarian President Viktor Orban, one of Trump's most vocal supporters on the world stage, said Thursday that Orban isn't slated to attend the inauguration. “There is no such plan, at least for the time being," said Gergely Gulyás, Orban's chief of staff. The nationalist Hungarian leader is embraced by Trump but has faced isolation in Europe as he's sought to undermine the European Union's support for Ukraine, and routinely blocked, delayed or watered down the bloc’s efforts to provide weapons and funding and to sanction Moscow for its invasion. Orban recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Every country's chief of mission to the United States will also be invited, according to a Trump Inaugural Committee official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Xi invitation comes as Trump has threatened to enact massive tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China to get those countries to do more to reduce illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the United States. He has said that, on his first day in office in January, he would impose 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Mexico and Canada and that China could be hit with even higher tariffs. China produces precursor chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, but Beijing has stepped up efforts over the last year to crack down on the export of the chemicals. “We’ve been talking and discussing with President Xi, some things, and others, other world leaders, and I think we’re going to do very well all around,” Trump said in a CNBC interview Thursday. Xi during a meeting with President Joe Biden last month in Peru urged the United States not to start a trade war. “Make the wise choice,” Xi cautioned. “Keep exploring the right way for two major countries to get along well with each other.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also pushed back on Trump's threats, warning such a tariffs move would be perilous for the U.S. economy as well. Trudeau earlier this week said that Americans “are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive” and said he will retaliate if Trump goes ahead with them. Trump responded by calling Canada a state and Trudeau the governor. In addition to the tariff dispute, U.S.-China relations are strained over other issues, including what U.S. officials see as Beijing indirectly supporting Russia's war on Ukraine. The Biden administration says China has supported Russia with a surge in sales of dual use components that help keep its military industrial base afloat. U.S. officials also have expressed frustration with Beijing for not doing more to rein in North Korea's support for the Russian war. China accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has dispatched thousands of troops to Russia to help repel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk border region. The North Koreans also have provided Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to U.S. and South Korean intelligence officials. Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration takes place a day after the U.S. deadline for ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of social media giant TikTok, to sell the social media app or face a ban in the United States. — Associated Press writers Didi Tang in Washington and Balint Domotor in Budapest, Hungary, contributed reporting.Kicker misses an extra point late as Commanders lose a wild one to the Cowboys

Javon Leake is staying put. A CFL source said Friday the veteran running back-returner has agreed to terms on a two-year extension with the Edmonton Elks. Leake was slated to become a free agent in February. The source added the deal — which was negotiated by Kenny Kim of Summit Athletes — was worth more than $270,000 in hard money. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity as the Elks hadn’t formally announced the move. The six-foot, 205-pound Leake ran for a career-high 661 yards on 102 carries (6.5-yard average) with six TDs in 15 games this past season, his first with Edmonton. Leake also had two 100-yard rushing contests in 2024 while adding 34 catches for 301 yards and a touchdown. Leake also had 23 punt returns for 214 yards and 25 kickoff returns for 539 yards. Leake joined the Elks as a free agent after spending two seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, winning a Grey Cup with the club in 2022. Leake was used predominantly as a returner with Toronto and was the CFL’s top special-teams player in 2023 after registering 81 punt returns for 1,216 yards and four TDs. He had 38 kickoff returns for 793 yards. Leake had 15 carries for 52 yards over his two seasons with the Argos. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. The Canadian Press