Most Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s Sunrise if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s Today , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the Resolve Political Monitor found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Israel and Hezbollah’s ceasefire agreement “good news” and expressed hope the pause in more than 13 months of fighting will be the catalyst to also end the war in Gaza. Biden made his comments in a Rose Garden speech. He stressed that Israel reserved the right to quickly resume operations in Lebanon if Hezbollah broke the terms of the truce. US President Joe Biden administration has been trying to calm relations with Beijing. Credit: AP Biden added that the deal between Israel and Hezbollah “was designed to be a permanent cessation of hostilities”. The president’s comments come as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security Cabinet approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah, clearing the way for the truce to take effect. Netanyahu’s office said the plan was approved by a 10-1 margin. The late-night vote came shortly before President Joe Biden was expected to announce details of the deal in Washington. Earlier, Netanyahu defended the ceasefire, saying Israel has inflicted heavy damage on Hezbollah and could now focus its efforts on Hamas militants in Gaza and his top security concern, Iran. Netanyahu vowed to strike Hezbollah hard if it violates the expected deal. Read more about the ceasefire deal in the full story here. Most Australians feel they are poorer now than they were three years ago, as a poll reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the Albanese government’s priorities. A new Redbridge poll found 52 per cent of those surveyed either disagreed or strongly disagreed with the proposition that the government has the right focus. 40 per cent of voters said Peter Dutton was ready for office, slightly more than the 39 per cent who said he was not. Asked on Seven’s Sunrise if the polling meant Australia was “in the mood for change”, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was focused on the cost of living, while the Coalition was blocking bills. Directing her comments to Liberal senator Jane Hume, Rishworth said: “You’ve voted against our housing bills. Blocked our cost of living measures. Fought against our energy price measures. Everything we’ve done, the Liberal Party have fought against it...” Hume repeatedly interjected Rishworth’s response, asking “Where have you been for 21⁄2 years?” “You spent a year concentrating on the Voice referendum,” she quipped. Meanwhile, on Nine’s Today , Nationals senator Matt Canavan also responded to the poll, saying Australians were poorer because “we’ve adopted a lot of stupid policies that deny Australians the use of their own energy resources that load our country with way too much red tape”. Last month, the Resolve Political Monitor found Australians hold Labor accountable for the financial pain of rising prices and the cost of housing. Thirty-six per cent believe the federal government is responsible for their rising living costs – far greater than the 13 per cent who blame global factors outside Australia’s control. It’s likely to be another cloudy day in Brisbane, with a medium chance of showers throughout the day. And the temperature is forecast to reach a maximum just short of 30 degrees. The weather bureau predicts a slight breeze throughout the day also, dropping off into the evening. Here’s the seven-day outlook: Stories making the rounds further afield this morning: The grieving families of two backpackers who died after a suspected mass methanol poisoning have returned to Australia with the bodies of their daughters after living every parents’ nightmare. The Australian economy has been destabilised by incoming US president Donald Trump’s declaration of a tariff war on three of America’s biggest trading partners. Natalie Harp watches Donald Trump. Credit: Doug Mills/The New York Times Trump has always demanded loyalty from his aides but few have answered the call quite like Natalie Harp . A 33-year-old former far-right cable TV host, Harp is nearly always at Trump’s side and has written him a series of devotional letters. Now she is poised to play an influential role in his White House. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will recommend a proposal for a ceasefire with Hezbollah to his cabinet for approval, setting the stage for an end to nearly 14 months of fighting. And from January 8, Australians will need an electronic travel authorisation to enter the UK. You can apply for yours now. Good morning, thanks for joining us for Brisbane Times’ live news blog. It’s Wednesday, November 27, and we’re expecting a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 29 degrees. In this morning’s local headlines: Did Brisbane’s buses get more crowded after 50¢ fares? What impact has working from home had on public transport? We have the latest figures from Translink . Queensland’s new LNP government will push a regular end-of-year budget update into early 2025 to give it time to “get our head around” Labor’s cost blowouts, says Treasurer David Janetzki. Queensland remains in the grip of a whooping cough outbreak , with staff at Brisbane public hospitals reporting up to 28 times the number of cases normally seen by this time of year. Thirty-four years ago, former umpire Ian Stewart was viciously assaulted . As he reflects on the damage caused by an angry player, a Queensland academic explains why decision-makers shouldn’t be surprised by “concussion crises”. And it took just a $30 investment and a tug on his heartstrings to convince former St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt that he belonged back at the Broncos , where his career began. Ben Hunt has agreed to a two-year Broncos deal worth about $550,000 annually – significantly less than what he was earning at St George Illawarra. Credit: Getty

By JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.Jason Kelce is taking to the streets to interview random fans. Jason, 37, was spotted at Venice Beach, California, on Friday, November 22, conducting man-on-the-street interviews with random guests. The retired NFL star had a camera crew in tow as they filmed a segment for his upcoming late-night talk show, They Call It Late Night with Jason Kelce , which is set to premiere on ESPN in January. Per footage from the Daily Mail , Jason sported a yellow visor and, at one point, a large Philadelphia Eagles poncho as he approached unsuspecting strangers on the street with funny questions or unique challenges. He jokingly introduced himself to one fan by saying, “I’m Taylor Swift’s boyfriends’ brother.” Jason’s brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce , has been dating pop star Taylor Swift since 2023. It was announced earlier this week that Jason would be hosting his own talk show for ESPN. “I am starting, I believe it’s January 3rd ... we’re going to be doing a late-night show during the postseason on ESPN,” Kelce shared on the Thursday, November 21, episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live . According to The Hollywood Reporter , They Call It Late Night was picked up for five episodes and will air weekly at 1 a.m. on Fridays/Saturdays, and will be filmed in front of a live studio audience at Philadelphia’s Union Transfer. “When I first approached ESPN with potentially working for them ... I love late-night shows. I remember sleepovers watching Conan O’Brien with my friends,” Kelce told host Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday. “The biggest thing players say they miss when they leave the sport is being around the guys, the locker room, the banter,” he shared. “Being able to have this show, we’re going to have a bunch of guys up there — legends of the game, friends I’ve played the game with, coaches, celebrities.” You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News Shortly after his talk show was announced, Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce , revealed that she was pregnant with the couples’ fourth child. “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister,” Kylie, 32, wrote via Instagram on Friday, November 22. “At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page! 🤷‍♀️.” Jason and Kylie, who tied the knot in April 2018, already share three daughters: Wyatt, 5, Elliotte, 3, and Bennett, whom they welcomed in February 2023. In the accompanying photo, the couple’s three older girls wore matching pink sweaters saying, “Big sister.”Retail giant Tesco also said a whiskey product promoted by Mr McGregor would be removed from its UK outlets as well as in Ireland. The move by retailers to boycott brands associated with Mr McGregor came days after a High Court jury found he had assaulted a woman in a Dublin hotel six years ago. Nikita Hand had alleged in her civil action that she was raped by the mixed martial arts fighter. He denied the claim. She was awarded €248,603. Stores that will no longer sell products linked to Mr McGregor include the Supervalu chain, Costcutter stores and Carry Out off licences. BWG Foods, a leading retail and wholesale company, said whiskey and stout products associated with Mr McGregor would no longer be listed for distribution across its network of Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL stores. This could see brands removed from about 1,000 outlets. Separately the company that bought Mr McGregor’s whiskey brand will stop using his “name and likeness” in marketing. McGregor sold his Proper No. Twelve whiskey brand to Mexican-owned Proximo Spirits in 2021, in a deal that was said at the time to have valued the business at some $130 million (€123.9 million). The image of the mixed martial arts fighter remained visible on Proximo websites on Tuesday, and the drink remained listed among “McGregor brands” on his personal website. But Proximo has now indicated he will no longer feature in company marketing. “Since 2021, Proximo Spirits has been the 100 per cent owner of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey,” the company said in response to questions. “Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand.” There was no immediate comment from Mr McGregor’s representative. Mr McGregor entered the brewing business in recent years with a product called Forged Irish Stout which has been sold in some off-licences, supermarkets and several pubs On Sunday the Rape Crisis Network Ireland urged retailers to stop selling products associated with Mr McGregor. Before lunchtime on Tuesday the Barry Group, which operates the Costcutter stores and Carry Out off-licences, became the first to say it was dropping Forged Irish Stout and Proper Twelve Whiskey . “This action reflects our commitment to maintaining a retail environment that resonates with the values of our customers and partners,” it said. Shortly afterwards Musgraves, which owns the Supervalu and Centra outlets, followed suit. Tesco said it would be removing Proper No 12 whiskey from sale. It does not stock Forged Irish Stout. . [ Court battle looms over who will pay legal costs in Conor McGregor case Opens in new window ] The Barry Group, one of Ireland’s leading retail food and alcohol wholesale providers which operates the Costcutter and Carry Out off-licence outlets told The Irish Times on Tuesday that it had “made the decision to remove Forged (Irish) Stout and Proper Twelve (whiskey) from circulation to our network”. Meanwhile, it is understood that BWG Foods, one of the country’s leading retail and wholesale companies, has decided to delist products linked to Mr McGregor and will no longer be distributing them across its network of Spar, EUROSPAR, Mace, Londis and XL stores. On Monday, the developer of the ‘Hitman’ video game series said it was removing content featuring Conor McGregor. IO Interactive said in a statement on social media: “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has made the decision to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately”. “We take this matter very seriously and cannot ignore its implications. Consequently, we will begin removing all content featuring Mr McGregor from our storefronts starting today.” A number of industry sources maintained that while Forged Irish Stout is on sale in some pubs, it is not widely available. The Press Up Group, the country’s largest hospitality group, said it “never stocked any of Conor McGregor’s brands”. One Dublin off-licence operator said on Monday that his store would not be selling McGregor products again. Damien Martin of Martin’s off-licence in Marino in Dublin said his store did not generally stock such products but had previously secured a case on request for a customer. He said in the aftermath of the court case last week, his store had no interest doing so in the future. [ ‘I know what happened in that room’: the full story of the Conor McGregor case Opens in new window ] Supermarkets Lidl and Aldi also said they did not sell any products owned by Mr McGregor. On Sunday, the Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) urged retailers to stop selling Mr McGregor’s stout and whiskey products in the aftermath of the jury’s decision in the High Court. Clíona Saidléar, RCNI executive director, said companies making money from his alcohol and other products need to look at whether they want to align themselves with a man found by a civil jury to have sexually assaulted a woman. Ms Saidléar said on Monday that she had not heard anything back from retailers on the issue. Separately the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said following the jury decision on Friday, calls to the national helpline had almost doubled over the weekend while the number of first-time callers have increased by 50 per cent. Arthur Beesley is Current Affairs Editor of The Irish Times Martin Wall is the former Washington Correspondent of The Irish Times. He was previously industry correspondentMINING.COM’s ranking of world’s 50 most valuable miners enjoyed a combined market capitalization of $1.51 trillion at the end of Q3, up by single digits since the start of the year compared to rip-roaring broader US and world markets. Much of the drag on the index comes from the top – the mining industry’s traditional Big 5 – BHP, Rio Tinto, Glencore, Vale and Anglo American. With the exception of Anglo, which received a fillip from BHP’s approach, the stocks are deep in the red for 2024. Together, the large diversified companies have lost nearly $60 billion in value this year. One bad week – say copper retreats further and iron ore goes into double digits – would see them hit new 52-week lows. As the table shows, on a longer horizon their underperformance is even more startling. In the past these stocks would consistently occupy the top five slots in the ranking, supported by vast asset portfolios covering a range of commodities across many regions. In a boom and bust industry that was the key to success (if not survival) for companies that trace roots back many decades if not more than a century. In a new report, Boston Consulting Group points out mining companies’ underperformance over the last decade when only about one in four companies delivered a total shareholder return (TSR) greater than the bellwether MSCI World Index and return on capital has been equally inferior: “In their pursuit of growth, miners triggered price crashes that destroyed value. Given this performance, it’s not surprising that many investors commonly view mining companies as a “trade,” and that many active and specialist investors have abandoned the market.” While the industry faces many common challenges including grade fade, geopolitical and policy uncertainty, particularly in permitting (more than 90% of exploration projects fail to turn into physical mines), climate disruption, and social pressures, BCG’s study of 77 companies across commodities and regions did find some industry darlings. The top-quartile performers, many of them based in frontier jurisdictions, achieved an average TSR of 22% over the past decade (year-end 2013 through year-end 2023), outperforming the other industry participants by 18 percentage points. While the first quartile were able to deliver stellar results through revenue growth and margin expansion, the mining majors have been unable to increase production to a meaningful extent, and margins shrank on average by around 20%, says BCG. BCG sees two reasons for the struggles of the majors: “First, their strategic choices have limited their degree of freedom. The focus on large, long-life, and low-cost assets may have improved their resilience through cycles, but good assets alone do not yield TSR outperformance. The focus on low-risk jurisdictions has constrained their ability to quickly develop and access high-grade ore. “Furthermore, their reluctance to invest in smaller (and somewhat easier to build) mines has made it harder for them to adapt to development challenges and consistently deliver steady growth. “In addition, diversification has increased the complexity of the majors’ businesses without an apparent corresponding payoff for shareholders. By complexity, we mean everything from organizational structure and business systems to different types of operations and value-chain integration.” BCG’s remedies for this drag on performance include “having a playbook for value-creating M&A,” committing to new locations and adopting new mining methods: The process of simplifying operations, shedding assets, spin-offs and the like is well underway at the top tier. But as BHP’s failed takeover of Anglo, which indeed did come with demands for non-core asset sales and divestment from certain locations, shows value-creating M&A is easier said than done.

Descendants of Slavery Will Receive Priority at Public Universities If This California Lawmaker Gets His WayWill Utah State or Boise State forfeit vs. San Jose State in the Mountain West semifinals?

WASHINGTON — A federal judge dismissed the gun case against Hunter Biden on Tuesday after President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his son. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika closed the case the week before Hunter Biden was to be sentenced. He could have faced up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender he likely would have gotten far less time or avoided prison entirely. Prosecutors opposed dismissing the case, arguing in court documents that a pardon shouldn't wipe away the case “as if it never occurred." Hunter Biden was convicted on three felonies after he lied on a federal form to purchase a gun in Delaware by saying he wasn’t a drug user in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged being addicted. The Justice Department special counsel is also opposed to dismissing a case filed in California after he failed to pay $1.4 million in taxe s. A federal judge in Los Angeles hasn't yet ruled in that case. The president's Sunday decision to go back on previous pledges and issue his son a blanket federal pardon for actions over the past 11 years has sparked a political uproar in Washington, drawing criticism from many Democrats as well as Republicans and threatening to cloud Biden’s legacy as he prepares to leave office on Jan. 20. Hunter Biden was originally supposed to strike a plea deal with prosecutors last year that would have spared him prison time, but the agreement fell apart after Noreika questioned unusual aspects of it.Dillon Gabriel's run at Oregon harkens back to the days of another Hawaii-born QB, Marcus MariotaInvestors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Axon Enterprise AXON . And retail traders should know. We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga. Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with AXON, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen. Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 12 options trades for Axon Enterprise . This isn't normal. The overall sentiment of these big-money traders is split between 33% bullish and 25%, bearish. Out of all of the options we uncovered, there was 1 put, for a total amount of $782,500, and 11, calls, for a total amount of $623,624. What's The Price Target? Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $420.0 to $750.0 for Axon Enterprise during the past quarter. Volume & Open Interest Development In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Axon Enterprise stands at 250.86, with a total volume reaching 482.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Axon Enterprise, situated within the strike price corridor from $420.0 to $750.0, throughout the last 30 days. Axon Enterprise 30-Day Option Volume & Interest Snapshot Largest Options Trades Observed: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume AXON PUT TRADE BEARISH 09/19/25 $157.5 $153.0 $156.5 $750.00 $782.5K 5 50 AXON CALL TRADE NEUTRAL 03/21/25 $78.8 $75.2 $77.1 $600.00 $154.2K 66 20 AXON CALL TRADE BULLISH 12/20/24 $26.5 $24.5 $26.5 $620.00 $66.2K 429 101 AXON CALL TRADE NEUTRAL 12/20/24 $26.5 $22.7 $24.6 $620.00 $61.5K 429 76 AXON CALL TRADE BULLISH 12/20/24 $24.8 $21.9 $24.0 $620.00 $60.0K 429 25 About Axon Enterprise Axon Enterprise Inc develops, manufactures, and sells conducted energy devices and cloud-based digital evidence management software designed for use by law enforcement, corrections, military forces, private security personnel, and private individuals for personal defense. The company operates in two segments: Taser and software & sensors. Taser develops and sells CEDs used for protecting users and virtual reality training. Software and sensors manufacture fully integrated hardware and cloud-based software solutions such as body cameras, automated license plate reading, and digital evidence management systems. Axon delivers its products worldwide and derives the majority of its revenue from the software & sensors segment and geographically from the United States. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Axon Enterprise, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Where Is Axon Enterprise Standing Right Now? Currently trading with a volume of 419,281, the AXON's price is up by 1.4%, now at $627.64. RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be overbought. Anticipated earnings release is in 91 days. What Analysts Are Saying About Axon Enterprise A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $542.0. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access .* An analyst from Baird has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Axon Enterprise, which currently sits at a price target of $460. * An analyst from Northland Capital Markets has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Axon Enterprise, which currently sits at a price target of $550. * An analyst from Baird has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Axon Enterprise, which currently sits at a price target of $600. * Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Needham keeps a Buy rating on Axon Enterprise with a target price of $600. * An analyst from JMP Securities has decided to maintain their Market Outperform rating on Axon Enterprise, which currently sits at a price target of $500. Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Axon Enterprise, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Trump Transition: Clearing the Hurdles for Nominee Background ChecksNico Iamaleava throws 4 TD passes to lead No. 10 Tennessee over UTEP 56-0

Michigan fired offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kirk Campbell after one season under coach Sherrone Moore, the school announced Tuesday. Tight ends coach Steve Casula will serve as the interim coordinator while the program searches for a new coordinator. Campbell was hired as quarterbacks coach under coach Jim Harbaugh and helped the Wolverines win the 2023 national championship. When Harbaugh left, Moore was promoted to coach and Campbell to offensive coordinator and play caller. However, the Michigan offense fell apart in Campbell's lone season, dropping from No. 69 to 128. The Wolverines were one of only five power conference programs to average fewer than 300 yards per game. One year after going 15-0 with a national championship, Michigan finished 7-5. "After a thorough assessment of our offense, I made the decision to relieve Kirk Campbell of his duties and move in a different direction," Moore said in a statement released by the school. "This was a decision that I felt was in the best interest of our football program. I want to thank Kirk for his hard work and dedication to the university, Michigan Football and our student-athletes. I wish him well in his future coaching endeavors." Campbell's quarterback room was especially egregious during the letdown season. Michigan ranked No. 130 nationally in passing offense, leading only the three service academies and Iowa at 133.6 yards per game and led only New Mexico State in yards per attempt (5.5). Three different quarterbacks played major snaps: Davis Warren , Jack Tuttle and Alex Orji . Michigan's next offensive coordinator hire will be critical as the program prepares to welcome No. 1 overall recruit Bryce Underwood in the Class of 2025. The Wolverines boast the No. 7 class in the country and four of their top five recruits are on offense.By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he was “stupid” not to put his own name on pandemic relief checks in 2021, noting that Donald Trump had done so in 2020 and likely got credit for helping people out through this simple, effective act of branding. Biden did the second-guessing as he delivered a speech at the Brookings Institution defending his economic record and challenging Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling 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 As Biden focused on his legacy with his term ending, he suggested Trump should keep the Democrats’ momentum going and ignore the policies of his allies. The president laid out favorable recent economic data but acknowledged his rare public regret that he had not been more self-promotional in advertising the financial support provided by his administration as the country emerged from the pandemic. “I signed the American Rescue Plan, the most significant economic recovery package in our history, and also learned something from Donald Trump,” Biden said at the Washington-based think tank. “He signed checks for people for 7,400 bucks ... and I didn’t. Stupid.” The decision by the former reality TV star and real estate developer to add his name to the checks sent by the U.S. Treasury to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus marked the first time a president’s name appeared on any IRS payments. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris , who replaced him as the Democratic nominee , largely failed to convince the American public of the strength of the economy. The addition of 16 million jobs, funding for infrastructure, new factories and investments in renewable energy were not enough to overcome public exhaustion over inflation, which spiked in 2022 and left many households coping with elevated grocery, gasoline and housing costs. More than 6 in 10 voters in November’s election described the economy as “poor” or “not so good,” according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. Trump won nearly 7 in 10 of the voters who felt the economy was in bad shape, paving the way for a second term as president after his 2020 loss to Biden. Biden used his speech to argue that Trump was inheriting a strong economy that is the envy of the world. The inflation rate fell without a recession that many economists had viewed as inevitable, while the unemployment rate is a healthy 4.2% and applications to start new businesses are at record levels. Biden called the numbers under his watch “a new set of benchmarks to measure against the next four years.” “President-elect Trump is receiving the strongest economy in modern history,” said Biden, who warned that Trump’s planned tax cuts could lead to massive deficits or deep spending cuts. He also said that Trump’s promise of broad tariffs on foreign imports would be a mistake, part of a broader push Tuesday by the administration to warn against Trump’s threatened action. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also issued a word of caution about them at a summit of The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council. “I think the imposition of broad based tariffs, at least of the type that have been discussed, almost all economists agree this would raise prices on American consumers,” she said. Biden was also critical of Trump allies who have pushed Project 2025 , a policy blueprint from the Heritage Foundation that calls for a complete overhaul of the federal government. Trump has disavowed participation in it, though parts were written by his allies and overlap with his stated views on economics, immigration, education policy and civil rights. “I pray to God the president-elect throws away Project 2025,” Biden said. “I think it would be an economic disaster.” Associated Press writer Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report.

Real Madrid’s big stars turned on the style to revive the Spanish giant’s faltering Champions League title defense on Tuesday. Galacticos Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham all scored in a thrilling 3-2 win at Italian league leader Atalanta. But Madrid still had to ride its luck as Mateo Retegui fired over from in front of goal in stoppage time when handed a golden chance to level the game. It was only Madrid’s third win in the competition’s revamped league phase and leaves the 15-time champion in the unseeded playoff positions in 18th place. “It’s a very important win. Not everyone wins here. We suffered and competed. In the Champions League, you have to suffer,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “It’s still difficult to finish in the top eight, but we have two games left to earn points.” Six-time champion Liverpool leads the way after maintaining its perfect record in Europe this season with a 1-0 win against Girona. Like Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain also picked up a much-needed win, beating Salzburg 3-0 to sit in the last playoff spot in 24th place. Bayer Leverkusen is second after a 1-0 win over Inter Milan, while Aston Villa beat Leipzig 3-2 and is third. The top eight teams advance directly to the round of 16. Positions nine to 24 face a playoff to reach the next phase. After three losses in its opening five games of the league phase, the pressure was mounting on Madrid. Questions were also being asked of Mbappe after his uncertain start since his offseason move from PSG. But he produced a moment of class to fire Madrid 1-0 up after 10 minutes at Gewiss Stadium — controlling the ball with his left foot and then finishing low with his right. It was the 25-year-old Mbappe's 50th Champions League goal . Lionel Messi is the only player to have reached that number at a younger age. Mbappe was substituted off before halftime with an apparent physical issue and Charles De Ketelaere leveled the game before the break from the penalty spot. But two goals inside three second-half minutes from Vinicius Junior and Bellingham put Madrid in control. Ademola Lookman's goal made it 3-2, but Madrid survived Retegui's late effort and held on. Mohamed Salah’s 50th Champions League goal maintained Liverpool’s perfect record in the competition this season. The Egypt forward struck a 63rd minute penalty to seal the win in Spain that kept Liverpool atop the 36-team league. But even after a sixth straight win for the Merseyside club, head coach Arne Slot was critical of his players in a game that saw goalkeeper Alisson pull off several saves to keep Girona out. “If you ask me about all the six games, I’m really pleased with all the results, I am really pleased with the five (other) games with the way we played. I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight,” he said. Salah’s goal was his 16th in 22 appearances overall this season. Girona was 30th with just one win from six games. “I almost feel sorry for them because they deserved so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have until now. But we have an incredible goalkeeper,” said Slot, whose team also leads the Premier League. Liverpool’s two remaining games are against Lille at home and PSV Eindhoven away in January. U.S. international Christian Pulisic is the only player to have scored against Liverpool in this season’s Champions League in a 3-1 loss for Milan in September. Bayern Munich routed Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 to move into the automatic qualifying positions for the round of 16. Michael Olise scored a wonderful solo goal by dribbling past a host of players for his first of two in the game. Bayern's win came after going 1-0 down inside five minutes to a goal from Brazilian winger Kevin. PSG is not done yet. A miserable start to the league phase saw the French giant pick up just four points from five games as it adjusted tp life without stars like Mbappe, Messi and Neymar, who have all departed in the past two seasons. But victory at Salzburg moved PSG up into the playoff positions. Goncalo Ramos, Nuno Mendes and Desire Doue all scored. Leverkusen is back on a roll after struggling to repeat the success of last season's stunning German league and cup double. It's now six straight wins in all competitions, with Nordi Mukiele's 90th minute goal securing victory against Inter and moving Leverkusen into second on 13 points — five behind Liverpool. Villa, Inter and Brest are all on 13 points as well. Inter dropped to fourth after conceding for the first time in this season's competition. Villa is third after its own resurgence in form. Victory against Leipzig was its third in a row after an eight-game winless run. Brest is one of this season’s surprise packages on its Champions League debut and is fifth after beating PSV Eindhoven 1-0. Sporting Lisbon, in 12th, couldn’t build on taking a third-minute lead at Club Brugge — losing 2-1 in Belgium. Brugge is 14th. Dinamo Zagreb drew 0-0 with Celtic and both teams remain in the playoff positions. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

High Wire Networks Strengthens Sales and Marketing Team to Accelerate Growth in Overwatch Managed Cybersecurity Recurring Revenue StreamsJapan – Scientists develop new tech to turn sunlight, water into hydrogen fuel Japanese scientists have developed a new means of cracking water into hydrogen fuel using sunlight. Using a special photocatalyst, this new technology could help usher in cheaper, more abundant, and sustainable hydrogen fuel for various applications. Currently, most free hydrogen is derived from natural gas feedstocks, meaning moving away from fossil fuels for this greener option is not an option. However, this easily manufactured sunlight-powered method could prove pivotal if hydrogen is to become an alternative in the future. of Shinshu University, senior author of the article in Frontiers in Science explained. “However, many challenges remain,” he added.The basic principle behind the new process is to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. While it sounds simple, this is energy-intensive and needs a catalyst, in this case, special ones called photocatalysts. Hydrogen from water using light When exposed to light, these catalysts facilitate chemical reactions that break down water into constituent parts. The concept is not new, but most existing, so-called “one-step” ones are inefficient and have a meager solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion rate. Another more sophisticated also exists, and it is more efficient. In these systems, one photocatalyst generates hydrogen from water, while another produces oxygen. of Shinshu University, another study author said,The Japanese team chose this second “two-step” water-cracking process. “But by storing the energy of sunlight as the chemical energy of fuel materials, it is possible to use [it] anytime and anywhere,” he added. Domen and Hisatomi’s team produced a successful proof of concept by operating a 1,076 ft2 (100 m2) reactor for three years. This reactor even performed better in real-world sunlight than in laboratory conditions. said, Not just theory “Simulated standard sunlight uses a spectrum from a slightly high latitude region. Solar energy conversion efficiency could be higher in areas where natural sunlight has more short-wavelength components than simulated reference sunlight. However, currently, the efficiency under simulated standard sunlight is 1% at best, and it will not reach 5% efficiency under natural sunlight,” he added. forward and break that 5% barrier, the team says that more researchers need to develop more efficient and build larger experimental reactors. explained “If it is improved to a practical level, many researchers will work seriously on developing mass production technology, gas separation processes, and large-scale plant construction. This will also change how many people, including policymakers, think about solar energy conversion and accelerate the development of infrastructure, laws, and regulations related to solar fuels,” READ the latest news shaping the hydrogen market at Japan – Scientists develop new tech to turn sunlight, water into hydrogen fuel, Panasonic Installs an In-house Hydrogen based Renewable Energy Power Generation System in Its UK Factory Tokyo, Japan – Panasonic Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Masahiro Shinada; hereinafter... Improved catalyst turns harmful greenhouse gases into cleaner fuels, chemical feedstocks – hydrogen included A chemical reaction can convert two polluting greenhouse gases into valuable building blocks for cleaner... Panasonic Inaugurates Use of Panasonic HX to Symbolize an Energy Solution That Utilizes Hydrogen Panasonic establishes a marketing name to symbolize its hydrogen business upon installing a demonstration system in its...By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he was “stupid” not to put his own name on pandemic relief checks in 2021, noting that Donald Trump had done so in 2020 and likely got credit for helping people out through this simple, effective act of branding. Biden did the second-guessing as he delivered a speech at the Brookings Institution defending his economic record and challenging Trump to preserve Democratic policy ideas when he returns to the White House next month. Related Articles National Politics | Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina Khan National Politics | Donald Trump is returning to the world stage. So is his trolling 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 As Biden focused on his legacy with his term ending, he suggested Trump should keep the Democrats’ momentum going and ignore the policies of his allies. The president laid out favorable recent economic data but acknowledged his rare public regret that he had not been more self-promotional in advertising the financial support provided by his administration as the country emerged from the pandemic. “I signed the American Rescue Plan, the most significant economic recovery package in our history, and also learned something from Donald Trump,” Biden said at the Washington-based think tank. “He signed checks for people for 7,400 bucks ... and I didn’t. Stupid.” The decision by the former reality TV star and real estate developer to add his name to the checks sent by the U.S. Treasury to millions of Americans struggling during the coronavirus marked the first time a president’s name appeared on any IRS payments. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris , who replaced him as the Democratic nominee , largely failed to convince the American public of the strength of the economy. The addition of 16 million jobs, funding for infrastructure, new factories and investments in renewable energy were not enough to overcome public exhaustion over inflation, which spiked in 2022 and left many households coping with elevated grocery, gasoline and housing costs. More than 6 in 10 voters in November’s election described the economy as “poor” or “not so good,” according to AP VoteCast, an extensive survey of the electorate. Trump won nearly 7 in 10 of the voters who felt the economy was in bad shape, paving the way for a second term as president after his 2020 loss to Biden. Biden used his speech to argue that Trump was inheriting a strong economy that is the envy of the world. The inflation rate fell without a recession that many economists had viewed as inevitable, while the unemployment rate is a healthy 4.2% and applications to start new businesses are at record levels. Biden called the numbers under his watch “a new set of benchmarks to measure against the next four years.” “President-elect Trump is receiving the strongest economy in modern history,” said Biden, who warned that Trump’s planned tax cuts could lead to massive deficits or deep spending cuts. He also said that Trump’s promise of broad tariffs on foreign imports would be a mistake, part of a broader push Tuesday by the administration to warn against Trump’s threatened action. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also issued a word of caution about them at a summit of The Wall Street Journal’s CEO Council. “I think the imposition of broad based tariffs, at least of the type that have been discussed, almost all economists agree this would raise prices on American consumers,” she said. Biden was also critical of Trump allies who have pushed Project 2025 , a policy blueprint from the Heritage Foundation that calls for a complete overhaul of the federal government. Trump has disavowed participation in it, though parts were written by his allies and overlap with his stated views on economics, immigration, education policy and civil rights. “I pray to God the president-elect throws away Project 2025,” Biden said. “I think it would be an economic disaster.” Associated Press writer Fatima Hussein in Washington contributed to this report.

Q. My husband recently retired from a high-level position. He has things to do but nothing seems to rekindle his spark. I think he is going through a mid-life crisis in later life. Is there such a thing? M.N. What you are describing might be called a late-life crisis . Such a crisis is described by Richard Leider and David Shapiro in their book, “What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old? The Path of Purposeful Aging” (2021, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.). Here are some signs the authors identify: experiencing dissatisfaction, a loss of identity, an expectations gap and the feeling that life has peaked. Some also may believe life is a downhill journey. It’s having a feeling of being irrelevant. And it’s not just a guy thing. Both men and women are likely to experience it equally. Several events can cause a crisis in later life. Among them is the death of a loved one, an illness, money problems or no longer being able to walk the usual number of miles or having difficulty with poses in a yoga class. It also could be just boredom, doing the same thing day after day. Then there is retirement , which also can be a cause. For many, the loss of the work role can leave a huge gap in the reason to get up in the morning. For many, work is more than just a paycheck . It can provide a sense of purpose, social connection, structure for the day and knowing someone or some entity expects something from us. In a sense, it’s knowing we are needed. But other causes can cause a crisis in addition to the loss of the work role. For example, being out of touch with current technology, feeling unemployable and invisible in social situations or the marketplace. How do individuals know if they are experiencing a late-life crisis? Here are several questions that can serve as a clue, suggested by Leider and Shapiro. One key to avoiding or managing a late-life crisis is to not go it alone. “Isolation is fatal,” write Lieder and Shapiro. This makes me want to share examples from a recent discussion, not necessarily of a crisis, but increased awareness of the question of “who am I now and who do I want to be?” This discussion took place at a meeting with a group of women who are not going it alone. The group was made up of retired career women who are part of Renewment , a small grassroots movement that supports and inspires career women from work to retirement and beyond. Most were not going through a crisis, yet raised questions that indicated there are issues that may not reach the crisis level, yet still are important. For example, a retired successful entrepreneur asked the question, “Am I doing as much as I am capable of? Do I want to have an impact on a small or large scale?” A recent widow said, “Being a widow is not where I wanted to be at this time in my life; it’s not my identity. I feel so fragmented exploring who I am.” Another added, “I continue to be so hard on myself; always feeling I should do more; I am busy but not happy.” These same women and others in the group shared tips on avoiding problems that could lead to a late-life crisis. A therapist has emerged as an artist in New York and another was deeply involved in the election. A retired professor is traveling to Cuba and a former teacher launched a foundation. They have engagements that reflect a passion and sense of purpose. That’s the topic for next week. A point to remember: No one gets through this life alone. As Leider and Shapiro warn against isolation, remember that finding friends, colleagues, counselors or family members to talk about what’s going on can help avoid a crisis. Stay well everyone and as always, be kind. Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com . Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity

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