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The Chinese government imposed sanctions on seven companies on Friday in response to US military sales and other forms of support for Taiwan, some of which were signed into law this week by US President Joe Biden. Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified the companies as Insitu, Hudson Technologies, Saronic Technologies, Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm and Oceaneering International Inc. “Relevant senior executives” of the firms were also sanctioned, although none was named. The massive US$895 billion National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), annual legislation that funds and directs policy for the US military and security agencies for the coming financial year, included numerous measures intended to bolster military support for Taiwan. Some of these provisions call for more direct aid to the self-governing island’s military and security forces, including US$3o0 million earmarked for “intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities”; “manned and unmanned aerial capabilities”; “integrated air and missile defence systems” and other systems. Other measures in the NDAA authorise more coordination with allies and other countries on supporting Taiwan’s defence capability. This includes a requirement for the State and Defence Departments to study the feasibility of enrolling Japan in Aukus, the security alliance of US, Britain and Australia. Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning called on Washington to “immediately stop arming Taiwan in any form, view China’s development and China-US relationship objectively and rationally, not to implement these negative articles concerning China and stop wrong words and deeds that harm China’s interests”.EDMONTON — Alberta’s information and privacy commissioner says she is worried -- but not surprised -- the province voted this week to pass legislation she says will reduce public access to government information. "I am concerned," commissioner Diane McLeod said in an interview. "All of those things I think are going to impact the right of access significantly for Albertans." The government wrapped up the fall sitting of the legislature late Wednesday night, passing a bill from Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally on new rules surrounding freedom of information. The bill creates new exemptions for what documents the public has a right to access. They will not be allowed to see any document created by or for the premier, government ministers or the provincial Treasury Board, including correspondence like emails. When the bill was introduced last month, McLeod wrote to Nally outlining multiple concerns, but no amendments were made to Nally's bill before it passed third and final reading. "There was nothing in (the letter that) would have come as any surprise to them," said McLeod, whose office has been investigating the government's handling of freedom of information requests since the summer of 2023. "I didn't really expect them to respond to my comments and recommendations.” In the letter, McLeod wrote that the proposed changes give the government more power to avoid disclosing information to the public by including in the exempted correspondence “virtually all communication between political staff and (members of cabinet).” Nally has repeatedly rejected the criticism, saying that such electronic communication should be confidential as freedom of information "is about access to government documents, not about political conversation." Nally's bill also extends the time frame for when public bodies must respond to freedom of information applications to 30 business days from 30 days. It also permits public bodies to dismiss information applications if they are deemed not to be "reasonable." What is and is not reasonable is not defined in the bill. Nally has denied the changes will make Alberta's government less transparent. “Every province is a little bit different, but at the end of the day there will be no light between us when it comes to offering access to information to Albertans,” Nally said Wednesday. Irfan Sabir, the Opposition NDP's justice critic, said the bill will make accessing government records much more difficult. "We are dealing with a government that is already very secretive, that is dishonest, that is not transparent, so it will make things way worse," said Sabir. During the sitting, Smith’s government also passed three contentious bills surrounding transgender youth. The bills ban the prescribing of puberty blockers to those under 16, require parental notification and consent if those under 16 wish to use a different name or pronouns in school, and ban transgender athletes from competing in female amateur sports. They also ban minors from receiving gender-affirming "top" surgery. Opposition NDP Leader Christina Gray said Thursday they tried to remedy multiple bills with amendments but were voted down by Smith’s UCP majority. “We were batting zero," said Gray. "None of our (26) amendments were accepted." NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said Smith’s government lost sight of what matters to Albertans. "They tabled ... (13) bills with not a single bill about affordability, about jobs, about housing, about public safety,” said Nenshi. “The only things they had to say on health care and education were 'Let's make sure vulnerable kids are more vulnerable in schools and in the doctor's office,'" said Nenshi. Smith’s government also made headlines during the fall sitting by firing the board of and key executives with the Alberta Investment Management Corp. and naming former prime minister Stephen Harper as the new board chair just weeks later. AIMCo is the agency responsible for managing nearly $170 billion in assets, including public sector pension funds and the province's rainy-day Heritage Savings Trust Fund. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024. Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press

Forecasting the future can be tricky, but the winds of change in the cryptocurrency market hint at promising sails ahead, particularly for Kaspa, Hedera, and BlockDAG. The latest Kaspa price prediction shows that KAS could hit $0.42 by early 2025. Meanwhile, Hedera's (HBAR) price is riding a bullish trend with a potential target of $0.40. On the other hand, BlockDAG (BDAG) has gained massive traction in the altcoin space, with its presale already raising over $172.5 million. Dubbed the "Kaspa Killer," BlockDAG stands out for its ability to process multiple transactions quickly without compromising scalability and decentralization. These features have earned the backing of top analysts, with many predicting it could hit $1 by 2025. Let’s explore how these three coins have performed so far and which will be the top crypto to buy in 2025! Kaspa Price Prediction: $0.42 Possible by Next Year? The latest Kaspa price prediction examines KAS’s growth potential, driven by its unique DAG framework. Known for rapid transaction processing, Kaspa garners interest for its technological capabilities. Predictions suggest a conservative average price of $0.18 for the upcoming year. According to another Kaspa price prediction by CoinCodex analysts, KAS could rise to $0.42 in early 2025. On the other hand, reaching the $1 mark is projected for 2029, with continuous technological advancements playing a key role in shaping these long-term Kaspa price predictions. Hedera's Price Surge: A Technical Perspective Hedera’s (HBAR) price surged to $0.3300 on Christmas Eve, marking a 30% increase from its recent low. Additionally, Hedera’s (HBAR) price recently demonstrated positive momentum with a bullish falling wedge pattern, indicating potential further gains. The market also exhibited a 'three white soldiers' pattern for HBAR—three consecutive long-bodied candlesticks that each closed higher than the previous day, confirming a robust upward trend. Looking ahead, the HBAR price could reach its year-to-date high of $0.40, potentially increasing by another 20% from its current level. “Kaspa Killer,” BlockDAG Expected to Reach $1 by 2025 BlockDAG, often called the "Kaspa Killer" in the crypto industry, is currently a hot topic among analysts. While Kaspa relies on the GHOSTDAG protocol for rapid block creation, BDAG’s hybrid blockchain and directed acyclic graph (DAG) model can process multiple blocks simultaneously, offering superior speed and scalability. This capability has captivated analysts, positioning BlockDAG as one of the top cryptos to buy in 2025 . But how is BlockDAG achieving this? By integrating this hybrid Block + DAG, BlockDAG seamlessly balances all three pillars of blockchain tech—speed, security, and decentralization. Its ecosystem is also Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and WebAssembly (WASM) compatible, making it easy for developers from various backgrounds to develop and migrate their projects to the BDAG platform. With its innovative use cases and technological prowess, BlockDAG has captured widespread attention. Enthusiasts are flocking to the platform to explore its capabilities. As its mainnet undergoes the auditing phase, the growing trust and anticipation for its 2025 launch is generating market-wide demand. This surge in interest is reflected in BlockDAG’s crypto presale numbers, with $172.5 million already raised and the $600 million target drawing closer by the day. Given its ongoing exponential growth, analysts predict that BDAG could reach $1 by 2025. For those eyeing a chance to cash in on this "Kaspa Killer," now is the perfect time to join its presale. With BDAG’s price currently at $0.0234 in batch 26, the coin is just moments away from launching its next batch, 27. Additionally, BDAG has already surged 2240% since its initial batch, bringing a massive ROI for early backers. A similar jump is now expected as batch 26 sells out and presale nears its end. Which Is The Top Crypto to Buy in 2025? As these three altcoins leave their mark on the market, Kaspa’s price prediction shows steady growth, and Hedera’s (HBAR) price continues its bullish climb toward $0.40. Both are making waves, but BlockDAG is stealing the spotlight. With its hybrid Block + DAG model, BlockDAG processes transactions at lightning speed while enhancing scalability. Its presale success, surpassing $172.5 million, underscores growing trust and demand. Analysts project it could reach $1 by 2025, making it the top crypto to buy in 2025. Overall, BlockDAG’s ongoing momentum positions it as an exciting choice for forward-thinking buyers. Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network Website: https://blockdag.network Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:38 p.m. EST

Brighton were booed off after their winless run was stretched to six Premier League games by a frustrating goalless draw against away-day strugglers Brentford. Albion dominated for large periods on a foggy evening at the Amex Stadium and hit the woodwork inside four minutes through Julio Enciso. Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken also made a string of important saves before being forced off injured in the 36th minute, albeit his replacement Hakon Valdimarsson was rarely tested on his Premier League debut. Brentford, who remain without a top-flight away win this term, had an early Yoane Wissa finish ruled out for offside following VAR intervention but barely threatened, despite an improved second-half showing. The Seagulls remain 10th ahead of Monday’s trip to Aston Villa, with Thomas Frank’s visitors a position and two points below moving towards their New Year’s Day showdown with Arsenal. Brighton have plummeted from second place to mid-table amid a poor run of form which has increased scrutiny on head coach Fabian Hurzeler. Seagulls chief executive Paul Barber called for perspective from fans in his programme notes after revealing he revealed emails “full of doom and gloom” following the recent 3-1 home defeat to rivals Crystal Palace. Enciso, one of two players recalled by Hurzeler following Saturday’s 1-1 draw at West Ham, almost gave Albion a dream start. A poor pass from Bees goalkeeper Flekken was intercepted by Carlos Baleba and, following a neat layoff from Joao Pedro, Paraguay forward Enciso curled against the right post. Brentford arrived in Sussex with the worst away record in the division, having previously taken a solitary point from 24 available this term. Flekken saved well from Baleba and then collected a tame header from the unmarked Enciso before the away side thought they had snatched a 13th-minute lead. After being slipped in by Mads Roerslev at the end of a swift counter-attack, Wissa thumped high into the net beyond Seagulls keeper Bart Verbruggen only to be ruled marginally offside. Flekken made further saves from Brajan Gruda and Matt O’Riley before hurting himself keeping out a deflected Kaoru Mitoma cross and being replaced by 23-year-old Iceland international Valdimarsson. Brentford remained on the back foot and, aside from Wissa’s disallowed effort, offered little going forward in a one-sided opening period which somehow ended level. Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke produced a crucial block to deny Wissa as the west London club began the second half brightly before Christian Norgaard’s ambitious effort deflected wide amid groans from increasingly restless home fans. Hurzeler responded with a triple change, introducing Yasin Ayari, Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh in place of O’Riley, Gruda and Mitoma. Albion forward Pedro then escaped punishment in the 76th minute after swinging an arm at Bees substitute Yehor Yarmoliuk without making contact before defender Ben Mee became the second visiting player to depart injured. The introduction of Solly March in the 88th minute for his first appearance since suffering a serious knee injury in October last year briefly lifted the mood on the terraces. But, following a frantic five minutes of added time, some Seagulls supporters vented their displeasure at full-time as their club’s wait for victory goes on.

The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. Up to five modern-era players can be elected for the Class of 2025, which will be announced at the “NFL Honors” ceremony on Feb. 6. Manning is the lone quarterback on this year’s list of finalists. He is one of six first-time finalists, joining wide receiver Steve Smith Sr.; linebackers Kuechly and Suggs; offensive lineman Marshal Yanda; and kicker Adam Vinatieri. Among them, only Smith is not in his first year of eligibility. Rounding out the list of finalists announced Saturday are Gates; receivers Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt; offensive linemen Jahri Evans and Willie Anderson; defensive backs Eric Allen and Darren Woodson; defensive end Jared Allen; and running back Fred Taylor. Unretired Barrett signs with Bucs TAMPA, Fla. — Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Shaquil Barrett is rejoining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs signed the two-time Super Bowl champion on Saturday, while also announcing safety Jordan Whitehead was activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers. Barrett spent five seasons with Tampa Bay from 2019 to 2023. He led the NFL with a franchise-record 19 1-2 sacks in his first year with the Bucs, then helped the team win its second Super Bowl title the following season. In all, Barrett started 70 games with Tampa Bay, amassing 45 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions. He was released last winter in a salary cap move, signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, then abruptly announced his retirement on social media before the start of training camp in July. Tagovailoa doubtful Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns due to a hip injury. Tagovailoa was limited in practice this week with the injury, which he initially suffered in a loss to Houston on Dec. 15. He finished that game and played in last weekend's win over San Francisco. If Tagovailoa is ruled out, Tyler Huntley will start. Richardson out for Colts EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson has been ruled out for the Colts' big game at the New York Giants on Sunday. Richardson missed practice on Thursday and Friday because of back and foot injuries. He was listed as questionable before he was downgraded to out on Saturday. Indianapolis (7-8) has a slim chance of making the playoffs. The Colts need to win out and get some help.

ARTHUR Gourounlian has told fans how he and husband Brian Dowling found a famous "new nanny" for their daughters. The Dancing With The Stars judge and his Six O'Clock Show host Brian share two kids together, Blake and Blu. Arthur often shares insights into his day-to-day life at home with his kids on social media. Today, he took to Instagram to share an adorable video of his eldest daughter Blake dancing with his friend. Arthur had just home from a lunch with one of his Dancing With The Stars co-workers, Karen Byrne . Karen, who is one of the pro-dancers on the show, couldn't resist the opportunity to begin dancing with Blake. The pair began to enthusiastically bounce their way around the couple's kitchen to All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey . Blake could barely contain her excitement as she giggled the whole way through the routine, while Karen encouraged the little one by holding her hand as they jumped around. Arthur told fans: "Blake just found a new friend." He then asked his eldest: "Blake are you dancing?" Arthur captioned the hilarious video: "Finally we got our new nanny, who offers a massive bonus because she can choreograph routines for Blake. "Perfect girls, see you in seven hours." Karen re-shared the moment and added: "Got my morning cardio done. The most adorable little girl, I can't cope. Besties now." Earlier today, Arthur and Brian blew their fans away with their outdoor Christmas decorations . The happy family are going all out for the festive season this year in their new Dublin home, which they moved into earlier this year. Arthur decided to decorate his home with a "candy-cane world" theme. The dad-of-two joked that some may describe it as "tacky" but he calls it "vintage". The 44-year-old invited Beyond No.6 business owner Lorraine Cox, who is a "home stylist and front door enthusiast", to his house to help him decorate. Lorraine and her team mate transformed Arthur and Brian's home into a winter wonderland as they placed huge tinsel candy canes on the front gate and hung a Christmas wreath with different ornaments and a big red bow around the door arch.

Rested Ducks take on Flyers, Oilers at home this weekend

Special counsel Jack Smith's move on Monday to abandon the federal election interference case against Trump means jurors will likely never decide whether the president-elect is criminally responsible for his attempts to cling to power after losing the 2020 campaign. The decision to walk away from the election charges and the separate classified documents case against Trump marks an abrupt end of the Justice Department’s unprecedented legal effort that once threatened his liberty but appears only to have galvanized his supporters. The abandonment of the cases accusing Trump of endangering American democracy and national security does away with the most serious legal threats he was facing as he returns to the White House. It was the culmination of a monthslong defense effort to delay the proceedings at every step and use the criminal allegations to Trump's political advantage, putting the final word in the hands of voters instead of jurors. “We always knew that the rich and powerful had an advantage, but I don’t think we would have ever believed that somebody could walk away from everything,” said Stephen Saltzburg, a George Washington University law professor and former Justice Department official. “If there ever was a Teflon defendant, that’s Donald Trump.” While prosecutors left the door open to the possibility that federal charges could be re-filed against Trump after he leaves office, that seems unlikely. Meanwhile, Trump's presidential victory has thrown into question the future of the two state criminal cases against him in New York and Georgia. Trump was supposed to be sentenced on Tuesday after his conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case , but it's possible the sentencing could be delayed until after Trump leaves office, and the defense is pushing to dismiss the case altogether. Smith's team stressed that their decision to abandon the federal cases was not a reflection of the merit of the charges, but an acknowledgement that they could not move forward under longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Trump's presidential victory set “at odds two fundamental and compelling national interests: On the one hand, the Constitution’s requirement that the President must not be unduly encumbered in fulfilling his weighty responsibilities . . . and on the other hand, the Nation’s commitment to the rule of law,” prosecutors wrote in court papers. The move just weeks after Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris underscores the immense personal stake Trump had in the campaign in which he turned his legal woes into a political rallying cry. Trump accused prosecutors of bringing the charges in a bid to keep him out of the White House, and he promised revenge on his perceived enemies if he won a second term. “If Donald J. Trump had lost an election, he may very well have spent the rest of his life in prison,” Vice President-elect JD Vance, wrote in a social media post on Monday. “These prosecutions were always political. Now it’s time to ensure what happened to President Trump never happens in this country again.” After the Jan. 6 attack by Trump supporters that left more than 100 police officers injured, Republican leader Mitch McConnell and several other Republicans who voted to acquit Trump during his Senate impeachment trial said it was up to the justice system to hold Trump accountable. The Jan. 6 case brought last year in Washington alleged an increasingly desperate criminal conspiracy to subvert the will of voters after Trump's 2020 loss, accusing Trump of using the angry mob of supporters that attacked the Capitol as “a tool” in his campaign to pressure then-Vice President Mike Pence and obstruct the certification of Democrat Joe Biden's victory. Hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters — many of whom have said they felt called to Washington by Trump — have pleaded guilty or been convicted by juries of federal charges at the same courthouse where Trump was supposed to stand trial last year. As the trial date neared, officials at the courthouse that sits within view of the Capitol were busy making plans for the crush of reporters expected to cover the historic case. But Trump's argument that he enjoyed absolute immunity from prosecution quickly tied up the case in appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court. The high court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution , and sent the case back to the trial court to decide which allegations could move forward. But the case was dismissed before the trial court could got a chance to do so. The other indictment brought in Florida accused Trump of improperly storing at his Mar-a-Lago estate sensitive documents on nuclear capabilities, enlisting aides and lawyers to help him hide records demanded by investigators and cavalierly showing off a Pentagon “plan of attack” and classified map. But U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed the case in July it on grounds that Smith was illegally appointed . Smith appealed to the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but abandoned that appeal on Monday. Smith's team said it would continue its fight in the appeals court to revive charges against Trump's two co-defendants because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” In New York, jurors spent weeks last spring hearing evidence in a state case alleging a Trump scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. New York prosecutors recently expressed openness to delaying sentencing until after Trump's second term, while Trump's lawyers are fighting to have the conviction dismissed altogether. In Georgia, a trial while Trump is in office seems unlikely in a state case charging him and more than a dozen others with conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The case has been on hold since an appeals court agreed to review whether to remove Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis over her romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. Associated Press reporter Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed.

It’s here. American Thanksgiving. While most of our friends south of the border look at the late-November holiday and think NFL when it comes to sports, most Canadians view it through a different lens. They examine the NHL standings – hoping that their team is above the playoff line. Why? Since realignment occurred over a decade ago, 80% of the teams that are in playoff spots at Thanksgiving qualify for the post-season. For those that are mathematically challenged, that’s 13 out of 16 teams. That was the case last season as well as Edmonton, Nashville and the New York Islanders were the only teams to make the playoffs despite being on the outside looking in on Nov. 23, 2023. Last year on that date, the Vancouver Canucks had 27 points and only the Vegas Golden Knights — with 30 — had more. The Canucks performance in those first 20 games basically clinched a playoff spot. This season the Canucks haven’t been as fortunate. Not having the services of all-star goaltender Thatcher Demko since the start of the season due to a knee injury was the first issue that the hockey club had to deal with. Dakota Joshua also missed the first 14 games recovering from off-season cancer surgery. Brock Boeser suffered what appeared to be a concussion on Nov. 7 and missed seven games but was set to return to the lineup in Boston against the Bruins on Tuesday night. Then there’s J.T. Miller, who took a leave of absence on Nov. 19 for personal reasons. Add it all up and it’s a Canuck team that has been treading water without their three All-Stars from a year ago. After Monday’s games, Vancouver was below the playoff bar with 23 points, trailing both Colorado and Edmonton by one point for the two wildcard spots. The Canucks are also two points behind the Los Angeles Kings for third place in the Pacific Division. The good news with all of these scenarios is that the Canucks have played the least number of games — 19 — of any team in the National Hockey League entering Tuesday’s game versus Boston. They have three games in hand on Edmonton, Colorado and Los Angeles. However, the question remains: will the Canucks make the playoffs? Many assume once the team gets 100% healthy, they will find a way to get it done but you know what they say about people who assume. Let’s start with Demko, the 28-year-old who compiled a 2.45 goals-against-average and a .918 save percentage last season to go along with 35 wins in 51 games. Since March 10, he has played a grand total of four games; that’s four games in eight months. After such a lengthy layoff, the biggest concern for Demko will be timing and getting used to the intensity level of NHL games. As we often say when it comes to football, nothing duplicates game speed. For Demko, getting used to the speed and regular chaos of NHL games will be a challenge. Then there is Boeser, who had been out of the lineup for almost three weeks after taking a headshot from Tanner Jeannot in a game against the Kings in early November. Hopefully, there won’t be any lingering symptoms from that injury and Boeser can regain the pace that saw him score 40 goals last year and which he was duplicating this season with six goals in 12 games. As for Miller, when he does return, what player will the Canucks be getting? His play had dipped to the point where he was benched for the last 14:40 of the third period in his final game versus Nashville on Nov. 17. Miller’s production had waned with only six goals and ten assists in 17 games – well off the levels from a year ago when he tallied 37 goals and 66 assists. Then there are other issues that are of concern as well. The second defensive pair of Tyler Myers and Carson Soucy has struggled this season to the point where the organization is checking in with other teams as they look to get help for their blue line corps. What has compounded the problem is that Tocchet has emphasized since training camp that he wants his defencemen to be more involved in the offense and generating more chances. That doesn’t exactly fit into the skill set of either Myers or Soucy so it’s been noted that the Canucks are talking to other teams with Pittsburgh’s Marcus Pettersson being a player of interest. Although Pettersson is a solid defender, he’s not exactly the answer to the Canucks problems when it comes to offence from the back-end. While we are on the topic of Petterssons, the enigma known as Elias Pettersson will need to regain the form that saw him be a dynamic play-driver who scored 30-plus goals the last three seasons. Tocchet and the organization wanted to see more of an investment from Pettersson and the Swede has shown signs of improvement with four goals and six assists in his last seven games. There are other positive signs as well. Quinn Hughes continues to play at a Norris Trophy-calibre level while Kevin Lankinen has provided consistent goaltending during Demko’s absence. Conor Garland continues to play like Conor Garland and Pius Sutter and Teddy Blueger continue to provide good depth while new additions Kiefer Sherwood and Erik Brannstrom have exceeded expectations. Given what we know about the U.S Thanksgiving Day playoff trend, it’s not a slam dunk that the Canucks will make the post-season but it’s not a slam dunk they won’t either. Unlike last year when the team had enough of a cushion in the standings to play games pressure-free for the most part in the second half, it appears they won’t have that luxury this season. As Tocchet always likes to say, things are going to just keep ‘getting tougher’ and the Canucks are going to have to ‘embrace the hard’ as they deal with the grind of an NHL season. Their playoff hopes will depend on it.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s federal police on Thursday formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Police said their sealed findings were being delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who decides either to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation. Bolsonaro told the website Metropoles that he was waiting for his lawyer to review the accusation, reportedly about 700 pages long. But he said he would fight the case and dismissed the investigation as being the result of “creativity.” The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then. Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were accused “to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news.” Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were accused, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno. Other investigations produced formal accusations of Bolsonaro’s roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either. Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country’s voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030. Still, he has insisted that he will run in 2026, and many in his orbit were heartened by the recent U.S. election win of Donald Trump, despite his own swirling legal threats. But the far-reaching investigations already have weakened Bolsonaro’s status as a leader of Brazil’s right wing, said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at Insper University in Sao Paulo. “Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections,” Melo told the The Associated Press. “And if he is convicted he could also be jailed by then. To avoid being behind bars, he will have to convince Supreme Court justices that he has nothing to do with a plot that involves dozens of his aides. That’s a very tall order,” Melo said. A formal accusation of an attempted coup means the investigation has gathered indications of “a crime and its author,” said Eloísa Machado de Almeida, a law professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. She said she believed there was enough legal grounds for the prosecutor-general to file charges. Bolsonaro’s allies in Congress have been negotiating a bill to pardon individuals who stormed the Brazilian capital and rioted on Jan. 8, 2023 in a failed attempt to keep the former president in power. Analysts have speculated that lawmakers want to extend the legislation to cover the former president himself. However, efforts to push a broad amnesty bill may be “politically challenging” given recent attacks on the judiciary and details emerging in investigations, Machado said. On Tuesday, Federal Police arrested four military and a Federal Police officer, accused of plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as a means to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections. And last week, a man carried out a bomb attack in the capital Brasilia . He attempted to enter the Supreme Court and threw explosives outside, killing himself.Trump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations