The election of Donald Trump for his second presidential term has led to widespread fears of an imminent authoritarian descent in the United States. Quite how that might play out remains speculative, for now at least. But evidence from Trump’s first term, as well as his campaign policies and cabinet nominations since the election, suggest those fears are not without foundation. Another way of looking at this, however, is that Trump’s return simply echoes realities within the international system’s other great powers – China, Russia and India have all displayed similar political pathologies for some time now. Due to their collective power and influence in determining the nature of the world order, Trump’s victory thus marks the amplification of a deeply autocratic era in global politics. The hallmarks of what we might call this nascent “Pax Autocratica ” can be seen in a variety of ways, as these four horsemen of authoritarianism charge ahead with their policies and plans. Strongman politics Donald Trump and his counterparts – China’s Xi Jinping, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and India’s Narendra Modi – are all bombastic, divisive and confrontational leaders. They embody the archetype of strongman politics whereby power is focused on a single, would-be omnipotent individual. As well as sharing similar alpha-male psychological characteristics and developing cults of personality around themselves, they seek to rule for long periods. In 2018, Xi removed the presidential term limit from China’s constitution. In 2020, Putin amended the Russian constitution, allowing him to rule until 2036, leading to what’s been described as a “ politics of eternity ”. In power since 2014, Modi has won the past three elections in India. Accused of having a god complex , his success has rested on mainstreaming Hindu-first nationalism , capturing the legal system and rewriting Indian history . Trump, too, has flirted with ideas of a third term (impossible under current constitutional rules), saying, “ we just have to figure that out ”. Constraining human rights Each of these leaders has overseen governments that have sought to narrow and constrain human rights. This includes limiting freedoms of speech and expression within Russian media, attacking journalists and protesters in India, and purging opponents in China. In all three countries, this involves using legal mechanisms to stifle dissent. Reports after Trump’s victory suggest he also wants to punish or suppress protest and dissent. The growing politicisation of the US Supreme Court matches similar trends in the other three countries. This has been likened to a shift away from the rule of law (which underpins a free and open society) towards “rule by law” (whereby the law becomes a tool of control). Globally, there have been warnings that reduced freedoms of speech, association and expression threaten the fundamental structures of civil society . The 2024 State of Civil Society Report by watchdog group Civicus estimates 72% of the world’s population now lives under authoritarian regimes. Attacking minorities The first Trump administration actively discriminated against minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ people, those with disabilities, and immigrants. Trump’s 2017 travel ban closed the US border to Muslims, while the planned deportation of up to 13 million illegal migrants was a mainstay of his 2024 campaign. In Russia, attacks against minorities and foreigners are commonplace, with racism in the country described as “ out of control ” by Amnesty International. Since 2014, violence and discrimination against India’s 200 million Muslims has significantly increased under Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Modi government’s actions actively discriminate against Muslim employment, education, justice and housing , especially in Kashmir and Assam. These chime with China’s actions in Xinjiang and Tibet where ethnic minorities are experiencing fundamental human rights violations . Beijing is also building a national social credit system designed to enhance public trust in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and create a society of “ compliant subjects ”. Weakened electoral systems While ostensibly democratic, there are glaring weaknesses in the US, Indian and Russian political and electoral systems, which undercut claims of electoral equality, fairness and plurality. While not as blatantly authoritarian as China (under the one-party rule of the CCP since 1949, and which consistently silences its opponents ), elections in Russia are essentially non-competitive and only a façade of democracy . In the US, the gerrymandering of electoral regions , voter suppression , and vast corporate donations tilt the political landscape towards particular interests. Much the same is true of India, which has shifted towards a form of “ electoral autocracy ”, and is described now as only a “ partially free democracy ” by monitoring group Freedom House. These trends are exacerbated by India’s persistent intergenerational political dynasties and powerful political donors . Surveillance and security All of these authoritarian trends are underpinned by modern surveillance structures , directed inward towards a country’s own citizens as much as outwards, and enabled by Big Tech and now AI. What has been described as “ algorithmic authoritarianism ” takes different forms. The Chinese social credit system uses such technology to instil social control mainly through financial levers. India’s Central Monitoring System allows government agencies to monitor all mobile phone, landline and internet communications with minimal legal restraints . The pervasive reach of Russia’s capabilities has resulted in a “cyber gulag” of “total digital surveillance” . In the US, whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the mass surveillance of telephone records in 2013, which was found to be illegal in 2020. Now, Trump’s alliance with Elon Musk has potential implications for his administration’s approach to AI and national security – including Musk continuing to use his social media platform to boost Trump’s political support. Trump’s return has normalised and supercharged authoritarianism internationally, making it the rule rather than the exception. America’s autocratic drift is now part of a broader global pattern, one that threatens democratic forces everywhere.Maura Higgins ‘punished’ by I’m A Celebrity bosses with ‘birthday from hell’ in camp。

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Major League Baseball , the players' association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty's death were provided. “Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players' association said in its statement . The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization. “While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement. Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise's first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh. Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield. Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBPremier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives have used their parliamentary majority to ram through a controversial law restricting bike lanes. “One per cent of the population cannot take up 50 per cent of the roads,” said Ford, understating the number of Torontonians who cycle and overstating the amount of space bike lanes take up in the city. His comments Monday came as Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria’s Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, passed third reading at Queen’s Park by a vote of 66-27. The law, which is designed to reduce congestion, forces municipalities to get provincial approval for any new bike lanes that impact vehicular traffic. But it also gives Queen’s Park the power to remove existing lanes on University Avenue, Yonge Street and Bloor Street in Toronto. “It doesn’t make sense to rip up some of our busiest roads in the entire city to accommodate a very few percentage of people that use their bikes,” said Sarkaria, who has not yet determined if sections of the existing lanes will be retained or when dismantling would begin. “It is better for them to use secondary roads, which is also safer for them as well. We’ve got to get this city moving,” he said. The City of Toronto, which opposes the changes, estimates it would cost $48 million to dismantle $27 million in lane infrastructure, a claim Ford dismissed as ” .” His government will foot the tab for taking out the lanes, which he insists will be far lower. The legislation also indemnifies from people or their families from suing if someone is killed or injured on a road where a bike lane was removed. While the new law affects cities across Ontario, the premier, who missed the legislative vote, acknowledged his emphasis is “on the congestion in Toronto.” “It’s the worst congestion city in North America, third worst in the entire world,” he said in Burlington. “I always say it’s not ‘either/or,’ it’s ‘and’ — let’s work together and have a safe pathway for bikes and keep cars and vehicles moving.” NDP Leader Marit Stiles, whose party voted against the Tory bill, said “we have a premier who is so focused on his vanity projects and fighting battles that he lost on Toronto city council, instead of actually focusing on the priorities of Ontarians.” That’s a reference to his one term at city hall when his late brother, Rob Ford, was mayor between 2010 and 2014. “The fact that the government decided to pass a law to protect themselves from lawsuits tells you everything you need to know about this government — they’re more worried about protecting their own behinds than they are about protecting the lives of road users,” said Stiles. Liberal MPP John Fraser (Ottawa South) said the bike lane bill is a “distraction” so Ford can deflect attention from other challenges. “Maybe the premier could focus on things that are important Ontario families like the 2.5 million Ontarians who don’t have family doctor or hallway health care,” said Fraser, whose party also voted against the bill. “He doesn’t want us to look at those things.” Green Leader Mike Schreiner blasted Ford for spending taxpayers’ dollars to destroy publicly funded infrastructure. “It’s ridiculous that people in Bracebridge, Sudbury, North Bay are paying to remove bike lanes in Toronto that’s actually going to make traffic worse and put people’s lives at risk,” said Schreiner.

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Hellenic Heritage Foundation’s annual Christmas dinner in TorontoRico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85. Major League Baseball , the players' association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details on Carty's death were provided. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed at more records after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street. The S&P 500 rose 0.6% to reach another all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3% to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.6% as Big Tech stocks helped lead the way. Stock markets abroad saw mostly modest losses, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. U.S. automakers and other companies that could be hurt particularly by such tariffs fell. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are rising toward records Tuesday after Donald Trump’s latest talk about tariffs created only some ripples on Wall Street, even if they could roil the global economy were they to take effect. People are also reading... The S&P 500 climbed 0.5% and was on track to top its all-time high set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 81 points, or 0.2%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite was 0.5% higher, with less than an hour remaining in trading. Stock markets abroad were down, but mostly only modestly, after President-elect Trump said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China as soon as he takes office. Stock indexes were down 0.1% in Shanghai and nearly flat in Hong Kong, while Canada's main index edged down by just 0.1%. Trump has often praised the use of tariffs , but investors are weighing whether his latest threat will actually become policy or is just an opening point for negotiations. For now, the market seems to be taking it more as the latter. Unless the United States can prepare alternatives for the autos, energy products and other goods that come from Mexico, Canada and China, such tariffs would raise the price of imported items all at once and make households poorer, according to Carl Weinberg and Rubeela Farooqi, economists at High Frequency Economics. They would also hurt profit margins for U.S. companies, while raising the threat of retaliatory tariffs by other countries. General Motors sank 8.2%, and Ford Motor fell 2.6% because both import automobiles from Mexico. Constellation Brands, which sells Modelo and other Mexican beer brands in the United States, dropped 3.9%. Beyond the pain such tariffs would cause U.S. households and businesses, they could also push the Federal Reserve to slow or even halt its cuts to interest rates. The Fed had just begun easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high a couple months ago to offer support to the job market . While lower interest rates can boost the overall economy and prices for investments, they can also offer more fuel for inflation. “Many” officials at the Fed's last meeting earlier this month said they should lower rates gradually, according to minutes of the meeting released Tuesday afternoon. Unlike tariffs in Trump's first term, his proposal from Monday night would affect products across the board. Trump’s tariff talk came almost immediately after U.S. stocks rose Monday amid excitement about his pick for Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent. The hope was the hedge-fund manager could steer Trump away from policies that balloon the U.S. government deficit, which is how much more it spends than it takes in through taxes and other revenue. The talk about tariffs overshadowed another set of mixed profit reports from U.S. retailers that answered few questions about how much more shoppers can keep spending. They’ll need to stay resilient after helping the economy avoid a recession, despite the high interest rates instituted by the Fed to get inflation under control. Kohl’s tumbled 17.6% after its results for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Tom Kingsbury said sales remain soft for apparel and footwear. A day earlier, Kingsbury said he plans to step down as CEO in January. Ashley Buchanan, CEO of Michaels and a retail veteran, will replace him. Best Buy fell 4.7% after likewise falling short of analysts’ expectations. Dick’s Sporting Goods topped forecasts for the latest quarter thanks to a strong back-to-school season, but its stock lost an early gain to fall 1.4%. A report on Tuesday from the Conference Board said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. J.M. Smucker jumped 5.4% for one of the biggest gains in the S&P 500 after topping analysts' expectations for the latest quarter. CEO Mark Smucker credited strength for its Uncrustables, Meow Mix, Café Bustelo and Jif brands. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up U.S. indexes. Gains of 2.8% for Amazon and 2% for Microsoft were the two strongest forces lifting the S&P 500. In the bond market, Treasury yields rose following their big drop from a day before driven by relief following Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed to 4.30% from 4.28% late Monday, but it’s still well below the 4.41% level where it ended last week. In the crypto market, bitcoin continued to pull back after topping $99,000 for the first time late last week. It's since dipped back toward $91,600, according to CoinDesk. It’s a sharp turnaround from the bonanza that initially took over the crypto market following Trump’s election. That boom had also appeared to have spilled into some corners of the stock market. Strategists at Barclays Capital pointed to stocks of unprofitable companies, along with other areas that can be caught up in bursts of optimism by smaller-pocketed “retail” investors. AP Business Writer Elaine Kurtenbach contributed. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.House of the Dragon final chapter: When will season 3 and season 4 release?

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On the surface, Boeing ( BA 4.10% ) looks as though it has all the ingredients of a potential millionaire-maker investment. The aircraft market is growing, competition is minimal, and government contracts are plentiful. But despite its many advantages, this aerospace leader has lost 60% of its value in half a decade. Has that decline created a buying opportunity for this once-stellar business, or should it be viewed as a warning to investors to stay far away? A spectacular economic moat The phrase " economic moat " -- popularized by investing legend Warren Buffett -- refers to certain types of durable competitive advantages a company can possess that make it difficult for potential rivals to make inroads against it. Boeing's moat is as deep as they come. In the large passenger aircraft market, it competes in a duopoly with European rival Airbus , with a market share of around 40% for large passenger aircraft (compared to Airbus's 60%). It also plays a notable role in U.S. defense contracting, supplying weapons systems like the iconic Apache helicopter. Investors shouldn't expect the duopoly to end anytime soon. The large passenger jet manufacturing industry has an incredibly high barrier to entry because of the capital investments require d, intense regulatory oversight, and the business relationships between manufacturers and major airlines that may be unwilling to experiment with new suppliers . Over the very long term, a Chinese rival like COMAC could leverage lower labor costs and support from the Beijing government to claw its way into the industry. But the International Bureau of Aviation (IBA) expects the upstart to capture only around 1% of the opportunity by 2030. With industry disruption potentially decades away, Boeing's biggest threat might be itself. Could cost-cutting turn things around? In the third quarter, Boeing's revenue dipped by around 1% year over year to $17.8 billion, with results dragged down by its commercial airplane segment, where sales dropped by 5% to $7.44 billion. This core business was grappling with a host of problems, including a seven-week labor strike by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) that ended this month. The new contract stipulates a 38% pay rise for workers over the next four years , along with more generous retirement benefits, putting even more pressure on this loss-making business. For context, Boeing's commercial Airplane segment generated a third-quarter operating loss of $4 billion, so higher labor costs are likely the last thing shareholders want to see right now. Just weeks after the new IAM contract, federal filings revealed Boeing will lay off 2,200 workers across the U.S. This move will likely be the first salvo in its plan to cut 10% of its global workforce (17,000 jobs) announced during the strike in October. As a mature and slow-growing company, aggressive cost-cutting will help Boeing to maximize long-term shareholder value. More importantly, the company will have to increase production volume to take advantage of economies of scale. But this might be easier said than done because Boeing is already struggling with quality control issues according to the FAA. Stay far away from Boeing In the best-case scenario, Boeing will successfully cut costs and streamline its way into operating profitability while avoiding future labor-related disruptions in its production lines. But even if the company manages to pull this off, it will have to reckon with the $53.2 billion mountain of long-term debt on its balance sheet. Retiring those liabilities will drain its cash flow, limiting potential investor returns. In the third quarter alone, Boeing's interest expenses totaled around $2 billion. And as an aircraft maker, it also faces massive outflows for research and development (about $3 billion in the first three quarters of this year alone). I t will be difficult to cut that development spending without putting the company at risk of falling behind technologically. With all this in mind, Boeing looks to be far from a potential millionaire-maker stock . Instead, it will likely underperform the S&P 500 for the foreseeable future.Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted his players' confidence is at a low ebb after they threw away a three-goal lead with just 15 minutes to go to draw 3-3 at home with Feyenoord in the Champions League. City had appeared set for a confidence-boosting victory after racing into a three-goal lead just eight minutes into the second half, with Erling Haaland scoring either side of half-time after being guilty of squandering several openings in Saturday's 4-0 loss to Tottenham in the Premier League. However, the visitors stunned City by scoring three times in the final quarter of an hour - the first time they have thrown away such an advantage under Guardiola - to leave the 2023 Champions League winners languishing in 15th place in the new format after a sixth match run in all competitions without a win, including five defeats. Guardiola said the team's recent losing run was affecting their confidence. "We lost a lot of games lately, we are fragile and of course, we need a victory," he told Amazon Prime after the match. Trending Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "The game was good for the confidence, we were playing at a good level and then for the first time something happened, we have problems. "Everybody knows the situation, we don't have to adapt anything. Tomorrow [Wednesday] we have to train, recovery then prepare the next game. We have two or three days to prepare for that and go for it. We will learn for the future. Also See: Man City fixtures Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW Download the Sky Sports App Get Sky Sports on WhatsApp! "It has been a really difficult season for us for many circumstances and today, unfortunately, the game was well done, we punished them in the right moments. The team was so committed to so many things. But unfortunately, something happened and we were not strong enough. We have to avoid these mistakes." The City boss was at a loss to explain why the Premier League champions, who have now conceded 17 goals in last six matches, were finding it so hard to get back to winning ways, adding: "We are not able to win games, as a team always we found a way to win games. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "Right now after situations, we can't get another one. After 3-0, nothing happened. We couldn't score a fourth, we couldn't score a fifth. Nothing happened. We were in control but now something happened." Guardiola was also quick to defend Josko Gvardiol after the Croatian endured another difficult night at the back. "He's so young, he will learn," said Guardiola. "It will be a good experience. With the way he played, he was the best player on the pitch. I will be so wrong to point a specific thing in our defeat. "He's a fantastic player, a fantastic boy, now more than ever he must be helped." Liverpool Manchester City Ake: It feels like a defeat - maybe we have mentality issue Manchester City defender Nathan Ake speaking to Amazon Prime: "Difficult - 3-0 up and we played quite well and were under control, but then it all changed. "You just have to stay strong mentally. At 3-1, they then push on, but I think we need to go for it a bit earlier so we could keep the pressure on them, but we stayed playing at the back and maybe invited more pressure on us. "Then when you concede the second one there is even more pressure, and then we have to stay stronger mentally." On if City gave the game away: "Yes, I think we did. If you are 3-0 up at home, you can never give it away like this. It is what it is at the moment. The only thing we can do is fight back and stay strong." Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player On if the draw feels like a defeat: "When you are three goals up, it feels like a defeat when you give up three goals at home. It is tough now, a tough night, but the only thing we can do is look forward to the next one. Liverpool is a big game and it is another challenge to overcome." On if problems are a mentality issue: "Maybe it is. It is difficult to say. Obviously we have not been in this situation many times, but this is where we have to show our character. When everything seems to go against us and everyone is writing us off, we have to stay strong mentally, believe in ourselves and stick together. "Every season there is a period when they write us off. We have to make sure we stay strong as a team and staff and make sure we get out of it." Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! Could you be the next jackpot winner? Play for free!

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The Broncos opened training camp before this season with a starting center vacancy. Luke Wattenberg took control. “He came into this year with a lot of pride to get the job, and to make sure that he was the guy that took us where we needed to go offensively,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey told The Denver Gazette last week after practice at Broncos Park. “He’s such a great communicator. He keeps all of us on the same page out there. He’s playing his (butt) off.” The Broncos (7-5) host the Browns (3-8) in Week 13 on Monday Night Football at Empower Field. Wattenberg has started in eight of 12 games; missing four starts while on injured reserve (ankle) earlier this season. The fifth-round draft pick (2022) from Washington in his third NFL season has grown to become a key member of Denver’s offensive line. His chemistry with rookie quarterback Bo Nix continues to grow. The Broncos defeated the Raiders, 29-19, on Sunday in Las Vegas. “The big thing is just getting reps between us. The more we play together, the better we click and communicate,” Wattenberg said on a Monday teleconference call with local media. “As soon as (Nix) stepped in the building, I think everyone could kind of feel his confidence, and his confidence in his own abilities. ... The way he runs the offense; I think it does not feel like he’s a rookie. It’s great for us up front and I think everyone feeds off it.” Wattenberg spent his first two Broncos seasons studying the success of ex-starting center Lloyd Cushenberry (signed with Titans). Wattenberg credits his former teammate for preparation to take over the job in Denver. “(Cushenberry) was a great guy to learn from,” Wattenberg said. “His attention to detail is his biggest asset and that’s what I took from him. ... Every meticulous detail, from his notes to the way he practices to the techniques he uses.” Wattenberg, 27, is now earning the respect of his current teammates. “He’s overall kind of quiet, but the hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” left guard Quinn Meinerz told The Denver Gazette last week. “When he needs to make the calls, he makes it loud enough for us to all know what we’ve got to do. He’s very confident in that, and that’s because he works really hard. ... It’s on all of us to get on the same page. But he gets us there.”The Game Changer: Super Microcomputer’s Stock Surge in Tech’s New Frontier

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