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Azerbaijan’s President claims plane that crashed was shot at from RussiaLos Angeles 2, Seattle 1

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Musk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key electionsMusk causes uproar for backing Germany's far-right party ahead of key electionsThe 26-year-old man charged in last week’s killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO appeared in a Pennsylvania courtroom on Tuesday, where he was denied bail and his lawyer said he'd fight extradition to New York City, where the attack happened. Luigi Nicholas Mangione was arrested Monday in last Wednesday's attack on Brian Thompson after they say a worker at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, alerted authorities to a customer who resembled the suspected gunman. When arrested, Mangione had on him a gun that investigators believe was used in the attack and writings expressing anger at corporate America, police said. As Mangione arrived at the courthouse Tuesday, he struggled with officers and shouted something that was partly unintelligible but referred to an “insult to the intelligence of the American people.” Mangione is being held on Pennsylvania charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, forgery and providing false identification to police. Manhattan prosecutors have charged him with five counts, including murder, criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a forged instrument. Here are some of the latest developments: Wearing an orange jumpsuit, Mangione mostly stared straight ahead during the hearing, occasionally consulting papers, rocking in his chair, or looking back at the gallery. At one point, he began to speak to respond to the court discussion but was quieted by his lawyer. Judge David Consiglio denied bail to Mangione, whose attorney, Thomas Dickey, told the court that his client did not agree to extradition and wants a hearing on the matter. Blair County (Pennsylvania) District Attorney Peter Weeks said that although Mangione's fighting extradition will create “extra hoops” for law enforcement to jump through, it won’t be a substantial barrier to sending him to New York. In addition to a three-page, handwritten document that suggests he harbored “ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said Monday that Mangione also had a ghost gun, a type of weapon that can be assembled at home and is difficult to trace. Officers questioned Mangione, who was acting suspiciously and carrying multiple fraudulent IDs, as well as a U.S. passport, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Officers also found a sound suppressor, or silencer, “consistent with the weapon used in the murder,” she said. He had clothing and a mask similar to those worn by the shooter and a fraudulent New Jersey ID matching one the suspect used to check into a New York City hostel before the shooting, the commissioner said. Kenny said Mangione was born and raised in Maryland, has ties to San Francisco and that his last known address is in Honolulu. Mangione, who was valedictorian of his Maryland prep school, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in computer science in 2020 from the University of Pennsylvania, a university spokesman told The Associated Press on Monday. Mangione comes from a prominent Maryland family. His grandfather Nick Mangione, who died in 2008, was a successful real estate developer. One of his best-known projects was Turf Valley Resort, a sprawling luxury retreat and conference center outside Baltimore that he purchased in 1978. Mangione likely was motivated by his anger with what he called “parasitic” health insurance companies and a disdain with corporate greed, said a law enforcement bulletin obtained by The Associated Press. He wrote that the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world and that the profits of major corporations continue to rise while “our life expectancy” does not, according to the bulletin, which was based on a review of the suspect’s hand-written notes and social media postings. The defendant appeared to view the targeted killing of the UnitedHealthcare CEO as a symbolic takedown and may have been inspired by “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski, whom he called a “political revolutionary,” the document said. Police said the person who killed Thompson left a hostel on Manhattan's Upper West Side at 5:41 a.m. on Wednesday. Eleven minutes later, he was seen on surveillance video walking back and forth in front of the New York Hilton Midtown, wearing a distinctive backpack. At 6:44 a.m., he shot Thompson at a side entrance to the hotel, fled on foot, then climbed aboard a bicycle and within four minutes had entered Central Park, according to police. Another security camera recorded the gunman leaving the park near the American Museum of Natural History at 6:56 a.m. still on the bicycle but without the backpack, police said. After getting in a taxi, he headed north to a bus terminal near the George Washington Bridge, arriving at around 7:30 a.m. From there, the trail of video evidence runs cold. Police have not located video of the suspect exiting the building, leading them to believe he likely took a bus out of town. Police said they are still investigating the path the suspect took to Pennsylvania. “This just happened this morning," Kenny said. "We’ll be working, backtracking his steps from New York to Altoona, Pennsylvania,” Kenny said. Associated Press reporters Lea Skene, Matt O'Brien, Sean Murphy and Cedar Attanasio contributed to this report.Washington : He’s sold everything from steaks and sneakers, to Make America Pray Again bibles. Now, Donald Trump is seeking to profit off the assassination attempt on his life with a new fragrance called Fight, Fight, Fight. First Lady Jill Biden talks to President-elect Donald Trump at reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Credit: AP In the latest example of ethics being tested in politics, the new perfume range for men and women hit the market this week, giving fans the chance to smell the scent of victory for the cool price of $US199 ($312). Trump announced his latest business venture in a Truth Social post on Sunday, sharing a picture of himself having a pleasant exchange with First Lady Jill Biden at the grand reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris with the humorous caption: “A fragrance your enemies can’t resist.” “Here are my new Trump Perfumes & Colognes! I call them Fight, Fight, Fight, because they represent us WINNING,” he wrote. “Great Christmas gifts for the family... Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!” The iconic image of Donald Trump urging supporters to “fight, fight, fight” after surviving an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July. Credit: AP According to the perfume website, the new fragrances have been “curated to capture the essence of success and determination” and are essentially a “rallying cry in a bottle”. Their name, of course, has been taken from the now historic words Trump shouted as he pumped his fist in the air after his near-death experience in July when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Crooks tried to kill the former president as he stood on stage at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Since then, that iconic image has appeared on everything from T-shirts to mugs and posters that Trump – as well as third parties selling merchandise at his rallies – have used to make a quick buck. “Crafted for those who stand tall, this bold scent delivers rich, robust notes that leave a lasting impression,” says the website where fans can now buy his latest perfume range. “It’s not just a cologne – it’s a symbol of resilience. Inspired by Trump’s relentless drive, wear it with pride and confidence.” While Trump is no stranger to trading off his famous name, his transition team has declined to say whether he will continue to do so after he is sworn in as America’s 47th president on January 20, which would potentially raise further ethical questions for the billionaire businessman turned politician and convicted felon. The company listed as the contact for the fragrance is 45Footwear LLC, the same group affiliated with Trump’s sneaker brand. Records suggest it is based in Wyoming but its ownership has not been disclosed, making its financial dealings hard to trace. Gary Nordlinger, a public policy expert at George Washington University said Trump’s latest fragrance venture was “tacky, ethically dubious and demeaning of the office of the president” - but hardly surprisingly. Citing the membership fees at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort as an example – whereby individuals seeking access or influence now pay $1 million to be part of Trump’s private club in Florida – Nordlinger added: “Trump has always been able to get other people to pay for his lifestyle, but it apparently doesn’t seem to bother millions who voted for him. So the challenge for people like me, and for the Democrats, is not just to criticise the man, but to understand what makes him so special to so many.” The perfumes are the latest in a long time of items the 78-year-old Republican has hawked. Last year, for example, he sold a new collection of digital trading cards (NFTs) featuring various portraits of the then Republican candidate, which generated almost $5 million within days of release. “These cards show me dancing and even me holding some bitcoin!” Trump said in a promotional video posted in August. Donald Trump holds gold Trump sneakers at Sneaker Con Philadelphia, an event popular with sneaker lovers. Credit: AP In March, he also lent his name to a new $US60 “God Bless The USA” bible inspired by the Lee Greenwood song of the same name, which is played every time Trump takes the stage at a rally or event. The ad for Trump’s new fragrance. Credit: TruthSocial “Happy Holy Week! Let’s Make America Pray Again!” Trump wrote as he encouraged supporters to buy the book in time for Easter. And in February, he also made a somewhat unusual campaign stop at Sneaker-Con in Philadelphia, one of the largest sneaker gatherings in the world, where he spruiked a pair of shiny gold high tops with a retail value of $US399. The move came immediately after a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay $454 million after he was found liable of fraudulently inflating the value of his properties for financial gain. Trump sought to have that claim dismissed after his election victory against Vice President Kamala Harris last month, but New York attorney general Letitia James’ office refused, telling Trump’s lawyers on Tuesday that there was “no basis” to do so. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .

All-star Scottie Barnes returns to Raptors lineup vs. TimberwolvesAnalysis: After Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter , with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. David Brandt, The Associated Press Dec 10, 2024 2:35 PM Dec 10, 2024 2:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message FILE - New York Yankees' Juan Soto talks with agent Scott Boras before Game 1 of the baseball World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File) For the second straight Major League Baseball offseason, a norm-shattering contract has been the talk of the winter , with Juan Soto agreeing with the New York Mets on a $765 million, 15-year deal that's the richest in baseball history. It comes almost exactly one year after the Los Angeles Dodgers forked out a princely sum of $700 million on a 10-year, heavily deferred deal for two-way Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani. They are believed to be the two richest contracts in pro sports history. The way it's going, a contract approaching $1 billion doesn't seem out of the question. But several factors are working against it — at least in the near future. There's reason to believe the megadeals for Ohtani and Soto are unicorns in the baseball world. Both players are uniquely talented, surely, but both also had unusual circumstances propelling their value into the stratosphere. Ohtani is the greatest two-way player in baseball history, capable of improving any team on both sides of the ball. He's also the rare baseball player who has true international appeal . His every move ( like his unexpected marriage announcement ) is followed closely in his native Japan, adding another 125 million potential fans who buy merchandise, watch him play and help fill the Dodgers' coffers. Then there's Soto — a four-time All-Star and on-base machine who won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019. The X-factor for him is he became a free agent at the prime age of 26, which is extremely hard to do under current MLB rules. Players have to be in the big leagues for six years before testing free agency. The precocious Soto debuted at 19 with the Nats, making him part of a rare group of players who reached the highest level of professional baseball as a teenager. That accelerated his free agency timeline. It's rare for players to debut that young, and rarer still for them to develop into stars and test the open market the first chance they get. Two recent examples are Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, who both reached free agency in 2019. Machado signed a free-agent record $300 million contract with San Diego, and Harper overtook him days later with a $330 million contract to join the Phillies. Most players debut in the big leagues from ages 22 to 26, which means free agency comes in their late 20s or early 30s. A typical example is Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who is one of this generation's great players but didn't hit the market until he was 30. Judge played three seasons of college baseball for Fresno State before getting drafted by the Yankees in 2013 at age 21 — already two years older than Soto was when he made his MLB debut. It took a few years for the budding superstar to reach the majors, and he was 25 when he had his breakout season in 2018, smashing 52 homers to earn AL Rookie of the Year honors. By the time he reached free agency after the 2022 season, he had already passed age 30. It's a major factor that led to him signing a $360 million, nine-year deal with the Yankees, which seems downright reasonable these days after the Ohtani and Soto deals. Two major trends are colliding that will make it harder for guys like Soto to hit free agency in their mid 20s. First, MLB teams have been more likely in recent years to take college players early in the draft, betting on more experienced talents. Just 10 high school players were drafted among the top 30 picks in the 2024 draft . Second, teams are more eager to lock up young, premium talent on long-term deals very early in their careers, well before they hit free agency. Sometimes before they even reach the majors. Since Soto, just two players have debuted in MLB before their 20th birthday — Elvis Luciano and Junior Caminero. Luciano hasn't been back to the majors since his 2019 cup of coffee. Caminero is now 21 and has only played in 50 big league games. Among those that debuted at 20: Fernando Tatis Jr. signed a $340 million, 14-year deal with San Diego in 2021, years before reaching the open market. Milwaukee's Jackson Chourio got an $82 million, eight-year deal before even reaching the big leagues. Young stars Corbin Carroll ($111 million, eight years with Arizona), Bobby Witt Jr. ($288 million, 11 years with Kansas City) and Julio Rodriguez ($209.3 million, 12 years with Seattle) also got massive guarantees early in their 20s to forgo an early free agency. The exception and wild card: Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be a 26-year-old free agent next offseason. Guerrero hasn't been as consistent in his young career as Soto, but a standout 2025 season could position him to threaten Soto's deal. More likely is that the player to pass Soto isn't in the majors yet — and might not even be in pro baseball. When 25-year-old Alex Rodriguez signed his record $252 million, 10-year deal with Texas in 2001, it took over a decade for another player to match that total, when Albert Pujols got $240 million over 10 years from the Angels in 2012. For many players, passing up life-changing money in their early or mid 20s is too enticing, even if it means that they might not maximize their value on the free agent market later in their careers. Soto was determined to test the market. He famously turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer to stay with the Washington Nationals in 2022, betting that he could make even more as a free agent. Not many players would turn down that kind of cash. Then again, that's what makes Soto so unique. And it's also why his $765 million deal could be the industry standard for some time. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb David Brandt, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Baseball Left-hander Max Fried agrees to $218 million, 8-year contract with Yankees, AP source says Dec 10, 2024 3:07 PM Shortstop Willy Adames and San Francisco Giants finalize $182 million, 7-year contract Dec 10, 2024 3:01 PM Nolan Arenado open to switch from third base to first and leaving Cardinals for a team he approves Dec 10, 2024 2:05 PM

Senate calls out airlines for the 'extra' fees they charge youTracyn Thayer said she wasn't expecting many cranberries this year, in part because winter flooding ruined her irrigation pond south of Bethel. But when she went to her 2-acre farm, wielding a weed whacker to clean up the tall grasses, she discovered some beautiful, deep red berries peeking out below the blades. Overall, Maine cranberry growers had a good season, said Charles Armstrong, a cranberry expert at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension who assists farms in pest management. According to his calculations, the state's 20 farms harvested approximately 500,000 pounds of berries, equating to about $850,000 for growers. Now, growers have to navigate the intense demand that comes with the holiday season. This year, Thayer only picked about 500 pounds of cranberries, compared to 7,200 pounds from her first year in operation. But buyers are still asking for more, she said. "I don't have any more to sell," she said. This is her fourth season running Birch Bog Farm in Albany Township, but the first on her own. It wasn't an easy year, as she dealt with a divorce, difficult weather and maintenance around the bog. She still works a full-time job in accounting at Apex Group. But Thayer and her mother spent about two weeks sorting the berries and filled about 30 crates to sell, she said. Thayer sold her berries to Good Food Store in Bethel, Fair Share Market in Norway and Goranson Farm in Norway. During a good season, she expands that list to include places like Rosemont Market, Royal River Natural Foods and food co-ops in Portland, and in New Hampshire in Littleton and Concord. Thayer, like many cranberry farmers in Maine, picks her crops dry, using a mechanical harvester that looks like a lawnmower with rakes attached. Harvesting starts in the beginning of October. While many people associate cranberry farms with flooded bogs, like those seen in the Ocean Spray commercials, Armstrong said dry picking extends the shelf life. Flooding the berries is the easiest, quickest way to harvest, but the moisture makes the berries go bad sooner. That's why it's ideal for juice products, he said. Typically, Maine cranberries cost about $1.75 per pound, a staggering difference from the 20-cents per pound price for flooded crops. Organic crops can go for $5 per pound, easily, he said. Thayer's organic cranberries are certified by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. People who buy direct from the farm will pay $7 per pound, $7.50 if they need the berries packaged. She charges $6 per pound wholesale and she recommends that grocers sell around $8.95 to $9.95 per pound. Karen Sparrow, who owns Sparrow Farm in Pittston, said she's not sure exactly how many pounds she harvested, but her 3 acres of bogs were full. Armstrong said she must have had a bumper crop this year. While she and her husband started the farm in 1978, her husband built the three cranberry bogs during the state's push to grow the cranberry industry in the early 1990s. The bogs' sandy soil helps the plants reproduce for years. In the winter, the bogs are flooded to protect the plants' vines. Since her husband died, Sparrow said she and her team of eight have worked harder to keep up with the demand and last-minute requests for cranberries. The farm delivers the cranberries and eggs to customers on a regular route that stretches as far south as Kittery. She met her customers over the years, and charges $7 per pound or $7.50 per pound when packaged in plastic clamshells. Portland Food Co-op produce manager Ryan Ference said he had to complete an "emergency run" to stock more of Sparrow's cranberries because it's been so busy. The store has been selling about 50 pounds per week, even before the holiday rush started. He said the store is fortunate to have good relationships with the local farms and farmers like Sparrow. "Everybody had a really rough year last year," he said. "The crops suffered. So this year has been a pretty phenomenal bounce-back year for all the farms." The co-op also stocks cranberries from Ricker Hill Orchards, which Armstrong said is one of the state's largest growers with 10 acres. The largest grower is Mingo's Products in Calais, which has 17 acres. Last week, Armstrong bought several packages of Ricker Hill cranberries at Hannaford and couldn't find a single rotten berry. That's a testament to the high quality of this year's harvest statewide, he said. "The color is really great," he said. "A nice deep red color, which Maine is kind of famous for. We have colder temperatures leading right up to harvest time. The cold nights really cause that deep, red color to form." The berries, which are a staple on Thanksgiving dinner tables, can last even longer when frozen. Sparrow recommends adding them to cereal or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Atsuko Fujimoto, an acclaimed baker who owns Norimoto Bakery in Portland's Deering Center, said she buys all local fruits for her pastries, including Maine-grown cranberries from local supermarkets and a wholesaler called Native Maine Produce. She often goes for Ricker Hill cranberries. The fruit is reliable and isn't as difficult to find compared to other fruits like blueberries, she said. Right now, Norimoto's menu features a buckle — a classic New England dessert — and a cranberry custard tart, which Fujimoto makes every Thanksgiving and said is a customer favorite. She makes about 100 of each dessert per week, about 1,200 of each per season. Fujimoto said when the season changes, she likes to swap the buckle's blueberry topping for cranberry. She said the best way to bake with cranberry is to balance it with something sweeter, like the sweetened condensed milk she uses for the tarts. Leftover cranberry sauce tastes great over ice cream, she said. But personally, she said she loves the berry's tart flavor. "I can't think of any other berries that last so long in the fridge. It's such a stable berry," she said. "I think it's the easiest berry you can work with." Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Tokyo, Japan — Japanese auto giant Honda and its struggling rival Nissan agreed Monday to launch talks on a merger seen as a bid to catch up with Chinese rivals and Tesla on electric vehicles. Their collaboration would create the world's third largest automaker, expanding development of EVs and self-driving tech. But Honda's CEO insisted that it was not a bailout for Nissan, who last month announced thousands of job cuts and reported a 93 percent plunge in first-half net profit. "This is not a rescue," Toshihiro Mibe told reporters, stressing that one condition for the merger would be for Nissan to complete its so-called "turnaround" plan. Lacklustre consumer spending and stiff competition in several markets is making life hard for many automakers. Business has been especially tough for foreign brands in China, where electric vehicle manufacturers such as BYD are leading the way as demand grows for less polluting vehicles. The two firms along with Mitsubishi Motors said they had signed a memorandum of understanding to start discussions on integrating their business under a new holding company. Citing "dramatic changes in the environment surrounding both companies and the automotive industry", a joint statement said the companies planned to list the holding company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in August 2026. It comes after reports said Taiwanese electronics behemoth Foxconn had unsuccessfully approached Nissan to acquire a majority share. It then asked Renault to sell its 35 percent stake in Nissan -- a pursuit now said to have been put on hold. Unequal marriage China overtook Japan as the biggest vehicle exporter last year, helped by government support for EVs. Honda and Nissan -- Japan's number two and three automakers after Toyota -- already agreed in March to explore a strategic partnership on software and components for EVs among other technologies. This partnership was joined by Mitsubishi Motors in August. The companies want to seal their merger deal in June next year, but it is unlikely to be a marriage of equals. Honda will nominate the president of the new holding company, whose board will be mostly made up of Honda executives, their statement said. Nissan is a majority shareholder of Mitsubishi Motors, which "aims to reach its conclusion by the end of January 2025 on the participation or involvement in the business integration between Nissan and Honda," it added. Honda and Nissan's partnership could include a manufacturing tie-up where they build vehicles at each other's plants, local media said. 'Panic mode' Nissan chief Makoto Uchida praised Honda's agility and ability to adapt as the industry shifts, praising the company as "a partner who can share the sense of crisis about the future". "As the business environment for automakers changes in the future, I believe we will not be able to get there unless we have the courage to change ourselves," Uchida said. Nissan has weathered a turbulent decade, including the 2018 arrest of former boss Carlos Ghosn, who later jumped bail and fled Japan concealed in a music equipment box. Ghosn told reporters in Tokyo on Monday via video link from Lebanon, where he is at large, that turning to its arch-rival Honda showed that Nissan was in "panic mode". Although the two companies might be able to "find synergies for the future... I don't see anything obvious into this partnership or this alliance", Ghosn said. (Source: Hiroshi HIYAMA / Katie Forster, AFP)