Star Tribune
Twin Cities hiking group for Muslim women breaks barriers
When Nasrieen Habib launched a hiking group for Muslim women in 2022, she didn’t know if anyone would show up.
Nine women responded to her initial social media post. “And we have never stopped since,” Habib said.
In the two years since, Hiking Hijabie — and an offshoot for families, Hiking Ummah — have grown into a local force, drawing more than 870 participants for outdoors activities including hikes, camping, kayaking and even snow tubing. The mantra is “rain or shine, we are hiking,” Habib said.
The energetic Minneapolis mom of two has launched an umbrella organization, Amanah Recreational Projects, to channel social and outdoors ventures for Muslims, including Hiking Hijabie, Hiking Ummah, EcoJariyah, and Chai and Chat.
She said her goal is to create a safe space for Muslim families and the whole community to spend time outdoors. Habib said adapting to cold weather can be challenging or even overwhelming for many newcomers, especially those from warmer places like Somalia.
“Winter activities are actually pretty fun,” Habib said. “I want to make sure my community feels safe and comfortable in their environment, where they can engage in physical activities and enjoy the outdoors.”
The idea of women hiking by themselves is also unusual in the Somali community, so the group is pushing new boundaries.
Habib, 38, spent her early years in Somalia and Uganda, then grew up in the subtropical temps of Houston, Texas.
Star Tribune
In their final meeting, Xi tells Biden that China is ready to work with a new US administration
LIMA, Peru — In their final meeting, China’s leader Xi Jinping told U.S. President Joe Biden that ‘’China is ready to work with a new administration,” as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take over.
The two leaders gathered Saturday on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Biden was expected to urge Xi to dissuade North Korea from further deepening its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Biden said that he was proud of the work the nations had achieved since their last meeting, which was last year on the sidelines of the conference held in San Francisco.
”Over the past four years, China-U.S. relations have experienced ups and downs, but with the two of us at the helm, we have also engaged in fruitful dialogues and cooperation, and generally achieved stability,” Biden said.
It’s the last time they will meet; Biden is leaving office and making way for Trump. There’s much uncertainty about what lies ahead in the U.S.-China relationship under Trump, who campaigned promising to levy 60% tariffs on Chinese imports.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.
LIMA, Peru (AP) — President Joe Biden is expected to use his final meeting with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, to urge him to dissuade North Korea from further deepening its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Saturday’s talks on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Peru come just over two months before Biden leaves office and makes way for Republican President-elect Donald Trump. It will be Biden’s last check-in with Xi — someone the Democrat saw as his most consequential peer on the world stage.
Star Tribune
Springfield, Minneota football teams to meet in Class 1A Prep Bowl
An interception by junior defensive back Isaac Fredin set up a short field for the Tigers’ final dagger — a rushing touchdown from Vanderwerf.
A late fourth-down stuff by Springfield junior linebacker Aidel Trevino and senior defensive back Russell Beers, plus a pass breakup by senior defensive back Brayden Sturm, kept the Thunderbirds from finding the end zone.
“[A slow start is] something we’ve got to fix before next week,” Springfield head coach Adam Meyer said. “You want to play well from the very first kick. … As a play caller, I know I need to be a little bit more aggressive early.”
Defending Class 1A state champion Minneota seemed to welcome Parkers Prairie to the latter program’s first Class 1A state tournament semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Shortly after figuratively extending its right hand to greet the upstart Panthers, however, the Vikings let go and the joke was on . Minneota clobbered Parkers Prairie early and often and rolled to a 45-0 victory, remaining undefeated (12-0). The Vikings advance to face Springfield for the third consecutive time in the Class 1A Prep Bowl, this one set for 10 a.m. Friday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“We have had a couple games lately where we started fast but got away from executing like we want to,” Minneota coach Chad Johnston said. “Today, we set the tempo right away and we pretty much stuck with it.”
Star Tribune
Trump names fossil fuel executive Chris Wright as energy secretary
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has selected Chris Wright, a campaign donor and fossil fuel executive, to serve as energy secretary in a second Trump administration.
Wright, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, is a vocal advocate of oil and gas development, including fracking, a key pillar of Trump’s quest to achieve U.S. ”energy dominance” in the global market.
Wright has won support from influential conservatives, including oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm. Hamm, executive chairman of Oklahoma-based Continental Resources, a major shale oil company, is a longtime Trump supporter and adviser who played a key role on energy issues in Trump’s first term.
Hamm helped organize an event at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in April where Trump reportedly asked industry leaders and lobbyists to donate $1 billion to Trump’s campaign, with the expectation that Trump would curtail environmental regulations if re-elected.
Wright has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change and could give fossil fuels a boost, including quick action to end a year-long pause on natural gas export approvals by the Biden administration.
Wright has criticized what he calls a ”top-down” approach to climate by liberal and left-wing groups and said the climate movement around the world is ”collapsing under its own weight.”