After ‘paltry’ funding offers, day of chaos, fury at COP29To most Filipinos, breakfast is not complete without a cup of coffee, be it black, with sugar, or with sugar and milk/creamer. The popularity of coffee encouraged pricey coffee shops to mushroom around town, offering a menu of special blends. However, the coffee and sugar, specifically muscovado, production in the country are suffering with low yields and other concerns despite the acknowledged ideal conditions in the country for growing the two crops. The Department of Science and Technology’s Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) is eyeing to increase the country’s sugarcane and coffee yields, reduce fertilizer and labor costs, and improve the quality of these two commodities through science and technology (S&T) innovations. In a webinar titled “Kape at Asukal: A Webinar on S&T-based Coffee and Muscovado Sugar Production and Processing Technologies” on November 6, DOST-PCAARRD Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora said the agency is set on a clear path for agricultural development from 2022 to 2028. Central to their agenda is the implementation of technological interventions, resources, and policies designed to fortify the country’s agricultural economy, such as in sugarcane, including muscovado, and coffee production. Double yield for sugarcane Sugarcane, a vital crop in the Philippines, ranks among its top five major agricultural products. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), its production reached nearly 21.7 million metric tons (MMT) in 2023, contributing an estimated P76 billion annually to the economy. Ebora emphasized that the DOST-PCAARRD, through its Industry Strategic Science and Technology Plan Information System for sugarcane, has set ambitious targets: to double yields from 60 tons per hectare to 120 tons per hectare, while simultaneously cutting fertilizer costs by 25 percent and reducing labor requirements by 50 percent. “We are happy to announce that through modern research, this objective is being fulfilled despite the challenges,” he said. Among the innovative technologies are Nutrio, a microbial-based foliar fertilizer, and Automated Furrow Irrigation System (AFIS). AFIS comprises a main controller, field control nodes, soil moisture sensors, water advance flow sensors, and other components to boost productivity and reduce production costs. Field trial results from a 1.5-hectare farm in Floridablanca, Pampanga, demonstrated that AFIS led to taller sugarcane stalks, yields 58 percent higher compared to conventional furrow irrigation, while water savings reached 47 percent. Additionally, sugar recovery per ton of cane was 1.98 Lkg/TC, compared to just 1.48 Lkg/TC in conventional irrigation. (Lkg/TC stands for 50 kg of sugar per ton of cane.) Challenges in muscovado industry However, Jhoanna N. Bolencis, head of the Technology Transfer and Commercialization Section in DOST Region VI, shared that the local muscovado industry faces several challenges. Muscovado is a type of partially refined to unrefined sugar with a strong molasses content and flavor. One major issue is the high production cost mainly due to its labor-intensive process. The traditional vat method for cooking adds to the cost. Weather conditions also create significant difficulties. The peak milling season runs from October to March, but heavy rains, especially in October, often disrupt production. “Rain is the enemy,” Bolencis explained, as it damages crops, delays production, and causes problems in drying bagasse, a by-product used as fuel in muscovado production. The quality of muscovado sugar is another concern. When it rains, the moisture content increases, requiring longer cooking time, but resulting in darker muscovado. While it’s difficult to standardize the color, it is kept within an acceptable range. Improving muscovado production To help improve production, new crushing equipment has been introduced by the Science department that assists millers for more efficient process, although the old machines can still extract cane juice. Additionally, there are ongoing studies on the authenticity of muscovado sugar due to reports of fake or reprocessed muscovado being sold in the market. Bolencis finds this concerning, as many people choose muscovado for its reputation as a healthier alternative to refined white sugar. She warned that fake muscovado could harm consumers, as it may not provide the same benefits. Muscovado sugar has lower sucrose content (85 percent to 95 percent) compared to refined sugar (99.9 percent). It also has lower glycemic index (between 55 to 65), while refined sugar has 65 to 70. Muscovado, being unrefined, retains its natural molasses—which contains the minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Also, the molasses slows down the digestion and absorption of sugars into the bloodstream, aiding for a stable blood sugar levels. The refined white sugar has virtually no vitamins and minerals as the refining process removes the molasses and nutrients. The United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reports that demand for muscovado sugar is expected to rise in the Philippines, driven by an increasing interest in healthy and organic foods, and already rank as the eighth largest muscovado producer globally, contributing 0.8 percent to the total world output, while India leads with 71.3 percent share. Asked about the assistance the Science department can offer to small muscovado millers, Bolencis said that the DOST provides step-by-step support. These are basic food hygiene under the Food and Safety Consultancy Program, and the assistance with Good Manufacturing Practices to help producers comply with the Food and Drug Administration standards for packaging and secure a license to operate. She emphasized that these support prepare millers not only to meet local standards but also to eventually enable them to export their products. “There are three main buyers for muscovado: households, institutions, and the export market,” she shared. Coffee growing in PHL On improving coffee production, the goal, Ebora said, is to increase the yield from 0.54 kilograms of dried cherries per tree to 2.1 kilograms, while also enhancing the quality of local coffee to meet Grade 1 standards for green coffee beans and achieve a Q-grade score of at least 82 for cup quality. Among the technologies for coffee developed by researchers are post-harvest machinery, such as the nondestructive moisture meter for coffee beans; a greenhouse-type solar dryer with a biomass-fired furnace designed for rainy or cloudy weather; and a village-level coffee depulper, Ebora said. Additionally, molecular markers have been developed for pests, diseases, yield, and aroma of insect-resistant Arabica and Liberica varieties, which can be used for future research, while efforts are ongoing to find faster methods in propagating coffee seedlings, he added. According to the International Coffee Organization, global coffee production saw a slight increase of 0.1 percent, reaching 168.2 million bags during the 2022-2023 period. However, consumption decreased by 2 percent, totaling 173.1 million bags. In its recent 2023-2024 report, coffee consumption is expected to grow by 2.2 percent, reaching an estimated 177 million bags. Asst. Prof. Angelbert D. Cortez from the National Coffee Research, Development, and Extension Center at Cavite State University (CvSU) said during the forum that many coffee-producing countries, particularly those in the coffee belt, benefit significantly from the crop as a vital source of income. The top five coffee producers, the USDA-FAS revealed, are: Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. These countries account for around 39 percent of global coffee production. Brazil leads the market, contributing 66.3 million bags, reflecting a 6 percent increase from 2020 to 2023. In contrast, the Philippines ranks 22nd in global coffee production, with approximately 450,060 metric tons, or 0.3 percent of the global share. According to the USDA FAS, local coffee production decreased by 5 percent from 2022 to 2023, despite the country’s ideal conditions for growing commercial coffee varieties, such as Arabica, Robusta, Excelsa, and Liberica. The country’s low self-sufficiency rate at only about 15 percent in 2021—means that imports remain high. Cortez said the government should work to expand this gap to 50 percent by enhancing local production—a goal aligned with the Science department’s vision to increase yield through innovation. He added that it is essential to expand the total land area devoted to coffee plantations, which involves increasing the number of coffee trees, boosting the yield of coffee cherries, and improving green coffee beans production. On a local scale, the Philippines holds an advantage, as the USDA FAS mentioned, as it can cultivate viable coffee varieties commercially. Among the varieties, Robusta dominates the production, contributing 73.3 percent, followed by Arabica at 19.8 percent, Excelsa at 6.1 percent, and Liberica at just 0.8 percent. Coffee production varies across the country’s regions. From 2019 to 2023, coffee production saw a modest average annual increase of 0.004 percent. In 2023, production rose by 0.2 percent. The total area planted to coffee also increased by 0.2 percent, while the number of bearing trees grew by 1.1 percent. While the increase is small, it has the potential to significantly impact the local coffee industry, Cortez said. R&D in coffee processing Moreover, Cortez shared some of the technologies that CvSU—one of the institutions in the country engaged in research and development of coffee—is using, including the cultivation of Liberica coffee plantlets through somatic embryogenesis. He explained that cultivating Liberica presents unique challenges because it is a cross-pollinated variety, where the seeds from cherries cannot be used for planting. “We need to plant from the stem cuttings taken from the mother trees to maintain the genetic diversity or characteristics of Liberica,” he explained. Cortez highlighted the automated temporary immersion bioreactor system housed in a growth chamber. It helps control time, light, temperature, and humidity, aiding in the growth of tissue-cultured embryos. Another is the Cellular Plant Tissue Culture Growth Chamber that is designed to create ideal conditions for growing tissue cultures. CvSU also uses a portable automated coffee depulper, which helps remove the outer layer of the cherries before the next processing steps. A demucilager is used to speed up the removal of mucilage, reducing fermentation time. Additionally, CvSU uses a hauler for hulling and a spray dryer for creating instant coffee. These technologies aim to produce locally made instant coffee, in addition to beans and ground coffee. The roasting machine at CvSU can roast up to 10 kg of beans in just 20 minutes. The center uses an in-site soil parameter estimation system with a near-infrared soil texture classifier, paired with a drone system. This technology helps monitor the soil’s nutrient levels and determines whether it’s suitable for growing specific coffee varieties. According to Cortez, CvSU engineers are working to profile the ideal soil for cultivating different types of coffee across the country.#jiliko 。

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Princely Umanmielen's return to the Swamp ended with a police escort . Umanmielen, who spent three years at Florida before transferring to Ole Miss, left the stadium with a number of officers surrounding him. And the defensive end still tried to get at heckling fans. It started when Umanmielen left the sideline in the waning seconds of a 24-17 loss to the Gators . He was walking toward the visiting locker room when at least one fan yelled at him from the stands. Umanmielen clearly didn't like what he heard and made his way toward the seats. Officers quickly stepped in and escorted Umanmielen back toward the locker room. They then walked him directly to the team's waiting busses, but more fans were in the path and shouted at him again. Umanmielen turned and started toward the fans before officers stepped in and stopped him. It was the latest bit of oddness for Umanmielen, who wore an orange Gators ski mask through Ole Miss' practice facility late in the week. He finished the game with seven tackles, including a sack. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballNEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 10, 2024-- Satellogic Inc. (NASDAQ: SATL), a leader in sub-meter resolution Earth Observation data, announced today it has closed its previously announced $10 million private placement, pursuant to which the Company issued an aggregate 3,571,429 Class A Ordinary Shares to a single institutional investor at a purchase price of $2.80 per share. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes. The Company also announced today that it has filed a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) to register the resale of the shares issued in the private placement as required under the share purchase agreement entered into in connection with the transaction. The Shelf Registration Statement also contemplates the primary issuance of up to $150 million aggregate amount of Class A Ordinary Shares. Accordingly, if and when the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective, it will permit the offer and sale, from time to time, in one more series or issuance and on terms to be determined at the time of the offering, the resale of the private placement shares and the offer and sale by the Company of up to $150 million aggregate amount of Class A Ordinary Shares. “We are pleased to have successfully completed this private placement, which strengthens our balance sheet and positions us for continued growth as we advance our mission and continue our focus on our U.S. strategy, the National Security market, and our global Space Systems opportunities,” said Emiliano Kargieman, CEO & Founder, of Satellogic. Rick Dunn, Chief Financial Officer, added, “This shelf registration statement allows for future flexibility in our capital markets strategy by establishing a framework for potential future capital raising opportunities.” Should the Company decide to raise capital in a future offering using the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company will describe the specific details of that future offering in a prospectus supplement that is filed with the SEC. The Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with the SEC but is not yet effective. The Class A Ordinary Shares included therein may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted under the Shelf Registration Statement prior to the time it becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities of the Company in any state or other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Satellogic Satellogic is a leading provider of sub-meter resolution satellite imagery that delivers real-time insights for governments, industries, and consumers worldwide. With its growing constellation of small satellites, Satellogic offers scalable, cost-effective solutions for high-frequency Earth observation. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. The words “anticipate”, “believe”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intends”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “possible”, “potential”, “predict”, “project”, “should”, “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements are based on Satellogic’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on Satellogic and include statements concerning the Company’s strategies, future opportunities, recently completed private placement and plans regarding the Shelf Registration Statement. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by, an investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Satellogic. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) our ability to generate revenue as expected; (ii) our ability to continue as a going concern; (iii) our ability to effectively market and sell our EO services and to convert contracted revenues and our pipeline of potential contracts into actual revenues; (iv) risks related to the secured convertible notes issued by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Nettar Group Inc.; (v) the potential loss of one or more of our largest customers; (vi) the considerable time and expense related to our sales efforts and the length and unpredictability of our sales cycle; (vii) risks and uncertainties associated with defense-related contracts; (viii) risks related to our pricing structure; (ix) our ability to scale production of our satellites as planned; (x) unforeseen risks, challenges and uncertainties related to our expansion into new business lines; (xi) our dependence on third parties, to transport and launch our satellites into space; (xii) our reliance on third party vendors and manufacturers to build and provide certain satellite components, products, or services; (xiii) our dependence on ground station and cloud-based computing infrastructure operated by third parties for value added services, and any errors, disruption, cybersecurity incidents, performance problems, or failure in their or our operational infrastructure; (xiv) risks related to certain minimum service requirements in our customer contracts; (xv) market acceptance of our EO services and our dependence upon our ability to keep pace with the latest technological advances; (xvi) our ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates or consummate acquisitions on acceptable terms, or our ability to successfully integrate acquisitions; (xvii) competition for EO services; (xviii) challenges with international operations or unexpected changes to the regulatory environment in certain markets; (xix) unknown defects or errors in our products; (xx) risk related to the capital-intensive nature of our business and our ability to raise adequate capital to finance our business strategies; (xxi) uncertainties regarding our previously announced and ongoing efforts to reduce operational costs and control spending, including workforce reductions; (xxii) uncertainties beyond our control related to the production, launch, commissioning, and/or operation of our satellites and related ground systems, software and analytic technologies; (xxiii) the failure of the market for EO services to achieve the growth potential we expect; (xxiv) risks related to our satellites and related equipment becoming impaired; (xxv) risks related to the failure of our satellites to operate as intended; (xxvi) production and launch delays, launch failures, and damage or destruction to our satellites during launch; (xxvii) significant risks and uncertainties related to our insurance that may not be covered by insurance; and (xxviii) the impact of natural disasters, unusual or prolonged unfavorable weather conditions, epidemic outbreaks, terrorist acts and geopolitical events (including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, in the Gaza Strip and the Red Sea region) on our business and satellite launch schedules. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of Satellogic’s Annual Report on Form 20-F and other documents filed or to be filed by Satellogic from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Satellogic assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Satellogic can give no assurance that it will achieve its expectations. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210774054/en/ CONTACT: Investor Relations: Ryan Driver, VP of Strategy & Corporate Development ryan.driver@Satellogic.com KEYWORD: NEW YORK UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TECHNOLOGY DATA MANAGEMENT SATELLITE SOURCE: Satellogic Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/10/2024 05:40 PM/DISC: 12/10/2024 05:40 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241210774054/en

Investing in high-yielding dividend stocks can be a great way to generate some passive income in 2025. Now is an excellent time to buy them because many higher-yielding stocks have sold off following the Federal Reserve's recent decision to slow the pace of interest rate reductions next year. As a result, they now offer even higher dividend yields. For example, Enbridge ( ENB 0.05% ) and W. P. Carey ( WPC -0.58% ) currently have dividend yields of around 6.4% following the recent dip in their share prices. That's significantly higher than the S&P 500 's ( ^GSPC -1.11% ) dividend yield (around 1.2%). Because of that, a $1,000 investment split between these higher-yielding stocks could generate nearly $65 in dividend income next year. Here's a closer look at what makes them appealing income options other than their higher yields. A well-oiled income-producing machine Enbridge has an exceptional record of paying dividends. The Canadian pipeline and utility company has paid dividends for nearly 70 years. Meanwhile, 2025 will be its 30th consecutive year of increasing its payment . The company's roughly 6.4%-yielding dividend is on a very sustainable foundation. Enbridge has a low-risk business model that produces very stable cash flow. About 98% of its earnings come from cost-of-service or contracted assets supported by creditworthy customers (more than 95% have investment-grade credit ratings). Enbridge's cash flow is so predictable that it's on track to achieve its financial guidance for the 19th year in a row. Enbridge also has a conservative financial profile. It pays out 60% to 70% of its stable cash flow in dividends. That provides a sizable cushion and allows it to retain significant excess cash to fund expansion projects. The company also has an investment-grade credit rating backed by a leverage ratio trending toward the low end of its 4.5 to 5.0 times target range. The energy company's strong financial profile gives it billions of dollars in annual investment capacity. It currently has a significant backlog of organic expansion projects lined up. It has enough capacity to fund those projects and make bolt-on acquisitions as opportunities occur. Enbridge believes these drivers will grow its cash flow per share by around 3% annually through 2026, and about 5% per year after that. Because of that, it should have plenty of fuel to continue increasing its dividend in the future. Building an even more sustainable dividend stock W. P. Carey had delivered a quarter-century of annual dividend increases until last year. However, the diversified real estate investment trust ( REIT ) reset its dividend after making the strategic decision to exit the troubled office sector. It now has a lower dividend payout ratio (70% to 75% target range) and a lower leverage ratio (currently 5.4x, putting it at the low end of its target in the mid-to-high 5x range). Because of that, it has more financial flexibility to acquire income-generating commercial real estate with better long-term rental growth prospects. The REIT has been rebuilding its portfolio and dividend payment this year. It expects to acquire between $1.25 billion and $1.75 billion of properties in 2024 (its investment volume totaled $971.4 million by the end of September). W. P. Carey has primarily acquired industrial properties secured by long-term net leases that escalate rents at either a fixed annual rate or tied to inflation. As a result, they'll provide it with a growing stream of stable rental income in 2025 and beyond. W. P. Carey has ample financial flexibility to continue making new investments in the future . Those new additions to its portfolio and rent growth from its existing properties should boost its cash flow per share next year. That should enable the REIT to increase its dividend. It has already started rebuilding its payout following its reset in late 2023 by raising it every quarter this year. High-quality income stocks Enbridge and W. P. Carey own assets that generate very stable cash flow. They pay out a conservative portion of their steady income in dividends, enabling them to retain some money to invest in expanding their portfolios. They also have strong balance sheets. Because of these features, they should be able to pay stable and growing dividends in 2025 and beyond. That makes them great income stocks to buy as we head into the new year.AP Trending SummaryBrief at 11:18 a.m. ESTMicheaux has triple-double in Virginia Tech win over Elon

Victory Turns to Flames: Shivaji Patil's Fiery Celebration IncidentElon Musk’s Neuralink received approval to launch a new feasibility trial using its brain implant and an investigational assistive robotic arm, the brain-chip startup said in a post on X on Monday. Neuralink is conducting its PRIME study, aimed at evaluating the safety of its wireless brain-computer interface and surgical robot. It is assessing the initial effect of the implant in patients with quadriplegia, a form of paralysis, to control external devices with their thoughts. The company plans to cross-enroll participants in the feasibility study from the ongoing PRIME trial, it said in a post on social media platform X. The Food and Drug Administration and Neuralink did not immediately respond to requests for details on the feasibility study. Last week, the company received approval from regulator Health Canada to launch a trial of its device in Canada. Canadian neurosurgeons in partnership with the startup have regulatory approval to recruit six patients with paralysis in the study. In the United States, Neuralink has already implanted the device in two patients . It has allowed the first patient to play video games , browse the internet, post on social media and move a cursor on his laptop. The company has said its device is working well in the second trial patient, who has been using it to play video games and learn how to design 3D objects.

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. New York Yankees' Juan Soto, right, with the help of his agent Scott Boras, left, agreed to a $765 million, 15-year deal with the New York Mets on Sunday. 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. Juan Soto's deal 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. 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. Stiliana Nikolova, of Bulgaria performs in the rhythmic gymnastics individuals all-round qualification round, at La Chapelle Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India reacts as he collides with San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Cincinnati. India was safe and Campusano was charged with an error. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Kimberley Woods of Britain competes in the women's kayak cross time trial at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Vaires-sur-Marne, France. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays a forehand return to Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte) Noah Lyles, of the United States, jumps as he limbers-up ahead of the men's 100-meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Nanterre, France. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A member of the Seattle Mariners tosses a ball against a wall during drills at spring training baseball workouts, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia waits to receive serve during her first round match against Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Czech Republic's Jiri Beran, left, competes with France's Yannik Borel in the men's team epee bronze final match during the 2024 Summer Olympics at the Grand Palais, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) France's Adrien Truffert jumps over Argentina's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli during a quarterfinal soccer match between France and Argentina, at Bordeaux Stadium, during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, Aug. 2, 2024, in Bordeaux, France. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell) Fans interfere with a foul ball caught by Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts during the first inning in Game 4 of the baseball World Series against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Italy's Sara Curtis splashes her face with water before a women's 50-meter freestyle semifinal at the Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Ivory Coast 's Seko Fofana, top, duels for the ball with Nigeria's Victor Osimhen during the African Cup of Nations final soccer match between Nigeria and Ivory Coast, at the Olympic Stadium of Ebimpe in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba) Costa Rica midfielder Jefferson Brenes, from left, Alvaro Zamora (21), Francisco Calvo (15) and Joseph Mora (8) are pelted with drinks and trash after celebrating a Brenes goal in the second half of a CONCACAF Nations League Play-In soccer match against Honduras, Saturday, March 23, 2024, in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Gabrielle Thomas, of the United States, celebrates winning the gold medal in the women's 200 meters final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tyrrell Hatton, of England, reacts on the 11th hole during a practice round in preparation for the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Augusta, GA. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Quincy Hall, of the United States, celebrates after winning the men's 400-meter final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Tim Tszyu, of Australia, hits Sebastian Fundora in a super welterweight title bout Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers takes the field prior to an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Workers peep through curtains to watch a match between France's Gael Monfils and Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the China Open tennis tournament held at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Amy Yang, of South Korea, is doused after winning the Women's PGA Championship golf tournament at Sahalee Country Club, Sunday, June 23, 2024, in Sammamish, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Workers remove snow from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/ Jeffrey T. Barnes) United States' Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup slalom, in Gurgl, Austria, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti) Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, left, scores his side's second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue ) Czech Republic's Michal Kempny, right, punches United States' Brady Tkachuk during the quarterfinal match between Czech Republic and United States at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Thursday, May 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Turkey's Taha Akgul, left, competes with Georgia's Geno Petriashvili in a men's freestyle 125 kg category gold medal wrestling match during the European Wrestling Championships, in Bucharest, Romania, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith cries after winning the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) Carles Coll Marti of Spain competes in the men's 200-meter breaststroke heat at the World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots between New Orleans Pelicans guard Trey Murphy III and guard CJ McCollum in the second half of an NBA basketball play-in tournament game Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in New Orleans. The Lakers won 110-106. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) A man in a monk's robe waves the French flag as the peloton passes during the sixth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 163.5 kilometers (101.6 miles) with start in Macon and finish in Dijon, France, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) Belgium's Jeremy Doku, left, challenges for the ball with Romania's Andrei Ratiu during a Group E match between Belgium and Romania at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) A spectator walks through a water mist sprayer on her way to Eiffel Tower Stadium to watch a beach volleyball at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Gabriel Medina, of Brazil, kicks off of a wave as he warms up prior to the quarterfinals round of the 2024 Summer Olympics surfing competition, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Teahupo'o, Tahiti. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, is reflected on a surface as she performs on the balance beam during the women's artistic gymnastics all-around finals in Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Wyndham Clark waits to hit on the 17th hole during the first round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Kolkata Knight Riders' wicketkeeper Rahmanullah Gurbaz dives to make an unsuccessful attempt to run out Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma during the Indian Premier League cricket final match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai, India, Sunday, May 26, 2024.(AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.) Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain steers his car during the qualifying session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, in Singapore, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian) Serbia's Novak Djokovic embraces his daughter Tara after defeating Spain's Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles tennis final at the Roland Garros stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Spain's Dani Olmo clears the ball from the goal line during the final match between Spain and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) A fleet of boats compete in the mixed multihull sailing race during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole) A horse watches from its stable ahead of the 156th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Silver medalist Simone Biles, of the United States, left, and bronze medalist Jordan Chiles, of the United States, right, bow to gold medalist Rebeca Andrade, of Brazil, during the medal ceremony for the women's artistic gymnastics individual floor finals at Bercy Arena at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Denver celebrates after winning the championship game against Boston College in the Frozen Four NCAA college hockey tournament Saturday, April 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Denver won 2-0 to win the national championship. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Washington safety Kamren Fabiculanan (13) and cornerback Elijah Jackson (25) break up a pass to Eastern Michigan wide receiver Terry Lockett Jr. (3) in the end zone during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Seattle. Washington won 30-9. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Milwaukee Bucks' AJ Johnson, right, goes up for a shot against Philadelphia 76ers' Jared McCain, center, and Adem Bona during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Elise Mertens, of Belgium, serves against Naomi Osaka, of Japan, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Monday, March 11, 2024, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Italy's Giovanni Tocci competes in the men's 3m springboard diving preliminary at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, in Saint-Denis, France. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Wearing a device that measures his energy consumption, the Israel Amputee Football Team player, Ben Maman, left, fights for the ball with a young soccer player from a local team during a practice session in Ramat Gan, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) A soccer fan dressed as Spiderman watches Brazil play Uruguay in a Copa America quarterfinal match on a screen set up for fans on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, July 7, 2024. Brazil lost in a penalty shootout and Uruguay qualified for the semifinals. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado) Men dressed in traditional clothes try to pull the opponent over the table at the German Championships in Fingerhakeln or finger wrestling, in Bernbeuren, Germany, Sunday, May 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader) Aryna Sabalenka, of Belarus, kicks the ball after double faulting against Jessica Pegula, of the United States, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Water is sprayed on the pitch as the ball boys and girls walk along the center line before the start of the men's Group A field hockey match between South Africa and Germany at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Colombes, France. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Cleveland Browns defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) reaches for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens (12) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) Morocco's Widad Bertal celebrates after defeating Thailand's Jutamas Jitpong in their women's 54kg preliminary boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher) Brazil's Priscila eyes the ball during a women's semifinal soccer match between Brazil and Spain at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024, at Marseille Stadium in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Simone Biles of the United States competes on the balance beam during a women's artistic gymnastics qualification round at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) New Orleans Saints linebacker Willie Gay Jr. signs autographs for a young fan before the start of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga) Real Madrid's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the Champions League final soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, June 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Mozambique's Deizy Nhaquile battles rough seas during a women's dinghy race, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, during the 2024 Summer Olympics in Marseille, France. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) People watch the cauldron rise at sunset by the Olympic rings during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) kisses Taylor Swift after the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. The Chiefs won 25-22. (AP Photo/John Locher) A light show is projected from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Kateryna Tabashnyk, a high jumper, sits for a portrait Sunday, June 9, 2024, at the athletics arena of the "Polytechnic" sports complex, which was destroyed by a Russian rocket attack, in Kharkiv, Ukraine. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Sent weekly directly to your inbox!

Jesse Marsch’s need for speed has had everyone in Canadian soccer circles coiled. On a frigid Toronto Tuesday last month, the final match of a breakneck 2024 campaign was near its end when striker Cyle Larin raced into the box and fired away with what looked a fourth goal. BMO Field’s pyrotechnic triggerman reacted — but a little too rapidly. Larin’s shot crashed off the post and away from the Suriname goal as the fireworks were already lighting up the November night. Call it premature exclamation. Even without the goal, Canada put a resounding punctuation mark on its 2024 campaign with the most emphatic win of the Marsch era. Afterward, under the West Stand, Suriname coach Stanley Menzo put it plainly: “Things went too fast for us.” In private, Marsch himself marvels at just how quickly everything has clicked for him and the Canadian men since he took over a listing program in mid-May. To be fair, he’s been very public about his feelings, too. As a first calendar year at the helm comes to an end, this most rapid revolution has seen the team lifted to an all-time high in the world rankings at 31st. Background noise of carry-over dysfunction in the national federation and knock-on turmoil across the sport here hasn’t halted the pace of the turnaround one bit. The Canadian men faced elite opposition in 2024 and can expect more of the same next year in the lead-up to co-hosting the World Cup in 2026, ... The Canadian men faced elite opposition in 2024 and can expect more of the same next year in the lead-up to co-hosting the World Cup in 2026, ... Marsch has moulded a team clear in its approach and intent with effusive buy-in across the board. Remarkably, given how tight of a window international coaches have to be hands-on with a squad, he has elevated numerous players. Five mainstays earned big-money moves to more illustrious European surrounds in the summer. With the European transfer window opening again on Jan. 1, it would be no surprise to see another handful of Canadians in demand. And speed has been central, elemental even, to the American’s strides. “We’re a fast team,” said winger Jacob Shaffelburg, one of those whose stock rose highest in 2024, after that victory over Suriname. “Our speed is dangerous,” concurred defender Richie Laryea. “I think it’s maybe the fastest team I’ve ever coached,” Marsch observed. “I’ve been lucky to coach some pretty athletic teams, but from the start I have advertised with how we’re building things, how we want to play is about speed and power. When we play like that, our goal is to overwhelm opponents.” Time was already of the essence when Marsch said yes to the ambitious approach from Canada Soccer’s new CEO Kevin Blue last spring. The 2026 men’s World Cup loomed larger with each passing team window. While already part of his coaching DNA at the club level, speed was essential to the coach’s international transition. It helped that this generation of Canadian talent had fast-twitch fibres ready to be flexed. In the wake of the Paris Olympics drone bombshell, now the two architects of the golden age of Canadian soccer are hell and gone. In the wake of the Paris Olympics drone bombshell, now the two architects of the golden age of Canadian soccer are hell and gone. While the pacy play of capt ain Alphonso Davies and others such as Laryea had been a feature of the John Herdman era, Marsch gave less-heralded talents Shaffelburg, Ali Ahmed and Moïse Bombito the opportunity of green grass ahead and watched them gallop away. No one has pinned their ears back and progressed as swiftly as Bombito — literally. A breakdown by the soccer division of analytics firm Pro Football Focus this past week found that the defender, who swapped MLS for French outfit Nice on the back of Canada’s Copa America odyssey, has already established himself as the fastest player in Europe. Suddenly, however, the pace has dropped. If the festive season is about slow living, rest and reflection for us all, Marsch is joining in. Christmas was spent at the family base in coastal Tuscany. They’ll swap the Mediterranean for the Mexican Pacific in time for the new year. But the huge four-month winter gap between international camps is merely at the quarter mark and the coach is doing his best to stay busy. Marsch and Canada Soccer staff are planning for 2025, eager to secure the kind of high-quality friendly opposition he sees as essential for 2026 preparations. In his 13 matches in charge, Canada has lost just three within 90 minutes, two of those to world No. 1 Argentina during the historic Copa run. There are four international windows along with the summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Nations League, next up in the diary in mid-March. Marsch has acknowledged that a first piece of silverware for the program in 25 years could be a seminal moment for this generation. Jonathan David and Vanessa Gilles, two of the first names on the Canadian team sheet, have been named Canada Soccer Players of the Year. Jonathan David and Vanessa Gilles, two of the first names on the Canadian team sheet, have been named Canada Soccer Players of the Year. There are myriad sides to the job of national team manager and Marsch is embracing this period as an opportunity for gospel spreading and glad-handing, too. It’s needed. The summer’s drone scandal dragged Canada Soccer back to familiar negativity which will only lift slowly. Its impact spread far with Herdman implicated and stepping aside at Toronto FC, leaving MLSE with yet another turbulent off-season after four straight years of failure. Out west, the surprise decision of Vancouver Whitecaps ownership to sell raised relocation fears. Marsch’s nationwide coaching workshop tour in early 2025 will be part PR push. He’ll continue to be busy on the roads in Europe, too. Not all transfers have been as fruitful as Bombito’s. Ismaël Koné and Derek Cornelius both joined Marseille in late summer, but game time has been scant, particularly for Koné, Canada’s midfield engine at the Copa. Marsch travelled to France in recent weeks to check in with the duo and their manager, Roberto De Zerbi. A loan move to Rome’s Lazio has been mooted for Koné when the transfer window opens in January. Inter Milan’s Tajon Buchanan is another who may seek playing time elsewhere. Two other Canadians, however, will dominate transfer talk: captain Davies and top scorer Jonathan David, in particularly prolific form. Both are out of contract next summer and among the most coveted free agents in the game. Rumour mills will run feverishly from first light on New Year’s Day. The time for slow living will soon pass. It would be wise to expect Marsch to be back up to speed in a hurry.Yossi Mekelberg When Benjamin Netanyahu eventually leaves politics, hopefully sooner rather than later, his future biographers could spare us from using adjectives such as humble, remorseful, selfless or reflective, in favor of shameless, audacious, self-serving and, above all, harmful to his own country and its neighbors. Alex Gibney, who produced “The Bibi Files,” a documentary based on leaked footage from Netanyahu’s police interviews, remarked: “I’ve never seen the depth of moral corruption as I’ve seen in this man.” The documentary cannot be screened in Israel for legal reasons and Netanyahu, in his despair, has made an unsuccessful attempt to block it from being screened internationally. It is another reason why the Israeli prime minister is so desperate to delay, indefinitely if possible, giving evidence in his corruption trial, thus saving himself the embarrassment and humiliation of being questioned by the prosecution on the very issues in this police investigation that he wanted to never see the light of day. The first revelations of Netanyahu’s allegedly corrupt behavior emerged as far back as late 2016. Eight years later, and four and a half years into this trial, a verdict is not even close. In such a high-profile legal affair — in which the serving prime minister is indicted on three cases of bribery, fraud and breach of trust — the lack of urgency in reaching a verdict, obviously without compromising the defendant’s right to a fair and just trial, is harming the country and society. However, it is Netanyahu and his lawyers who are the chief culprits, delaying proceedings before his indictment and ever since. Last week, a district court in Jerusalem expressed its exasperation with these delaying tactics and told the prime minister to start giving evidence on Dec. 2, despite another of his pathetic attempts to play the victim card, or in this case the “I am too busy to show up” routine. In this latest instance, Netanyahu’s defense team requested the delay on the grounds that he had been unable to prepare his testimony due to the time pressures of managing a multifront war. The court begged to differ and ruled that it had already given Netanyahu more than enough time to prepare when it postponed the date of his court appearance from July to December, stating that it was “not convinced that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred which would justify a change to the date we set in our (original) decision.” If the lack of preparation time claim was not convincing, Netanyahu’s lawyers then pulled from their hat a different rabbit: “security” — not the country’s, but his own. They claimed that, for his own protection, he must not be allowed to stay for a prolonged time in the same place in case of an attack. According to the Israeli press, the Shin Bet, the agency in charge of his security, has raised no concerns about his safety during his appearance in court. All of this leads to one conclusion: that Netanyahu, with some help from his lawyers, has given a perfect explanation as to why it is impossible to run a complex country such as Israel, and probably any country, while one is a defendant in a corruption case. After all, this is a case that questions his suitability to be in politics at all, let alone to hold the most powerful position in the country. He might even be right that Hezbollah or Hamas might target him while he is in court, which could also lead to innocent people losing their lives. He obviously does not want this to happen; after all, he used to be known, at least by his own account, as the “defender of Israel.” However, the conclusion must not be to halt the legal proceedings, which promise to be a highly embarrassing affair for him. They will lay bare, in the full glare of publicity, his relationships with several very wealthy men with clear business interests in Israel, whom he could have potentially “helped” and who, allegedly in return, showered him and his wife with expensive presents and favorable coverage in their media outlets. After all, who would like to be in this position? Yet this is the law, and it must be applied equally to all. Hence, the interests of the country will not be served by endless delays to the court’s procedures. In the meantime, it is of paramount importance that Israel is not left in the hands of a prime minister with split attention while the country is embroiled in a war on as many as seven fronts. Instead, he should do the decent thing and at least suspend himself from office for the duration of the trial. And if he will not, there is a provision in Israel’s Basic Law, which has a near-constitutional standing, of incapacitation: “Should the prime minister be temporarily unable to perform his duties, his position shall be filled by the acting prime minister.” Netanyahu would not trust anyone to replace him for any length of time, as he knows that they would be after his job permanently. Hence, it is for the attorney general to request the Supreme Court to declare Netanyahu incapacitated. And a major reason for such a move is that there would be a bigger danger looming: of Netanyahu staying in power while his trial continues and that he might see that his best chance of escaping justice was to escalate at least one of the war fronts that Israel is fighting on, thereby engineering a worse emergency. One cannot rule out such a possibility, considering Netanyahu’s deceptive character. There are too many indications that decisions on a ceasefire with Hamas have been marred by Netanyahu’s wish to cling to power. And his request to delay giving evidence in court while the war is still raging raises the suspicion that it is ulterior motives and not the interests of the country that are dictating his actions. As times goes by, Netanyahu’s tricks to prolong his trial have become toxic, sucking the last drop of energy out of Israel’s political system and society. But for the first time in this case, the judges have been firm with the PM and his lawyers. It might also be time for the attorney general to use her legal powers and declare Netanyahu unfit for office, not only for the sake of Israel’s democracy and transparency, but also to prevent him from leading the country into even more dangerous military adventures.60 degrees pharmaceuticals CEO Geoffrey Dow acquires $6,367 in stock