43 jili

Guardiola denies rift with De Bruyne during Man City's dramatic slumpATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”Democrats plan to elect new party leader just days after Trump's inauguration43 jili 。

AP Business SummaryBrief at 1:04 p.m. EST

'Let's not panic': Canada picks up the pieces after ugly Latvia loss at world juniors OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada's hotel. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press Dec 28, 2024 2:08 PM Dec 28, 2024 2:35 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Canada head coach Dave Cameron speaks to his players during third period IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship preliminary round action against Latvia in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA — Peter Anholt tried to keep things light as he emerged from one of the elevators at Canada's hotel. The temperature had been turned way up on the veteran hockey executive and the country's under-20 program after a stunning upset some 12 hours earlier. "You only want to talk to me when things are bad, eh?" Anholt joked to reporters Saturday morning. "Is that how this works?" That is indeed what happens when a powerhouse with a record 20 gold medals expected to roll over an opponent suffers one of its worst all-time defeats at the tournament. Canada was embarrassed on home soil 3-2 by Latvia — a country it had thumped by a combined 41-4 score across four previous meetings — in a shocking shootout Friday. Coming off a disastrous fifth-place finish last year in Sweden and having talked a lot about upping their compete level and preparation, the Canadians looked disjointed for long stretches against the plucky, hard-working Latvians. The power play finally clicked late in the third period, but stands at 1-for-7 through two games, while the top line of Easton Cowan, Calum Ritchie and Bradly Nadeau has yet to translate its pre-tournament chemistry into success in the spotlight. "We're certainly trying to problem solve, but not throw the baby out with the bath water," said Anholt, who heads the world junior setup. "We've got to be really careful." Canada, which picked up a solid 4-0 victory over Finland to open its tournament Thursday, had plenty of offensive zone time and directed 57 shots at Latvian goaltender Linards Feldbergs. Included in that total, however, were far too many one-and-done efforts from the perimeter with little traffic in front. There were, of course, desperate spurts — especially late in regulation and in 3-on-3 overtime — but not nearly enough for a roster peppered with first-round NHL draft picks and top prospects. "We played really, really hard," Anholt said in defending his players. "We controlled the puck lots. We created some chances. Their goalie was really good and they defended really good ... 99 times out of 100 we win that game." Hoping for a big response Sunday against Germany before meeting the United States on New Year's Eve to tie a bow on round-robin action in Group A, Canada will have to push ahead minus one of its best players. Star defenceman Matthew Schaefer was injured Friday and is done for the tournament after he slammed into Latvia's net and skated off favouring his left shoulder area. "Tough blow for the kid," Anholt said. "The way he plays the game, he plays it at such a high speed." Cowan, a Toronto Maple Leafs first-round selection, said Canada remains confident despite Friday's ugly result in the nation's capital. "We're good," said the 19-year-old from Mount Brydges, Ont. "Everyone's lost a hockey game before." But not like that — or to that opponent on that stage. "Bit of a (crappy) feeling," said Nadeau, a Carolina Hurricanes prospect from St-Francois-de-Madawaska, N.B. "We all know what this group is capable of. Losing that game is not our standard. "We'll bounce back." Some corners of social media exploded following the Latvian debacle, with heavy criticism directed at head coach Dave Cameron and the team's overall roster construction. "We're not really worried about it," defenceman and Ottawa native Oliver Book, who like Cowan is back from last year's team, said of the outside noise. "We know we didn't play well." Canada appears poised to mix things up against the Germans. Vancouver Canucks prospect Sawyer Mynio of Kamloops, B.C., is set draw in for Schaefer, while Anholt indicated there's a good chance forward Carson Rehkopf will get his first crack at the 2025 tournament as a returnee. The 19-year-old Seattle Kraken second-round pick from Vaughan, Ont., has scored a combined 78 goals over his last 97 regular-season and playoff games in the Ontario Hockey League. "Great player," Cowan said. "He finds ways." Anholt said taking a big-picture approach is key in challenging moments. "Let's not panic," he said. "The world hasn't fallen in. It's hard, but we'll learn from it." It's something Canada will have to do under intense scrutiny. "People are gonna love you and people are gonna hate you," said Cowan, who has a goal an assist through two games. "Gotta keep doing you." Anholt, who was also at the helm 12 months ago when Canada never got in gear, isn't getting 2024 vibes from this year's group. "Not even in any way, shape or form," he said. "We've just got to take care of business." They get a first shot at redemption Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024. Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Junior Hockey 'Big blow': Canadian defenceman Matthew Schaefer ruled out of world juniors Dec 28, 2024 11:14 AM 'Devastating': Uninspired Canada upset by Latvia in a shootout at world juniors Dec 28, 2024 6:38 AM Latvia stuns Canada in world junior hockey, winning 3-2 on lone shootout goal Dec 27, 2024 10:03 PM

Dogecoin is a joke—so what's behind its rally?

Michelle Keegan & Mark Wright took secret pregnancy picture WEEKS ago & hid her baby bump before big revealGophers football players are preparing to play Wisconsin for Paul Bunyan’s Axe on Friday, but three key pieces peered beyond the blinders to shore up their commitment to Minnesota on Monday. Quarterback Max Brosmer and offensive lineman Quinn Carroll — two sixth-year seniors — said they will play in the Gophers’ to-be-determined bowl game, bucking a growing trend of players skipping postseason games to prepare for shots in the NFL. Brosmer, a transfer from FCS-level New Hampshire, said he will “definitely” suit up. “It’s another opportunity for us to play as a team,” said Brosmer, who threw for 2,426 yards, 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in 11 games this season. “It’s a compilation of what you have worked on all season.” Carroll said he respects higher-level prospects who might opt out and protect their draft stock, but he wants to get back to a “standard” of players not skipping the games. “My goal ever since I came here was to be the leader, be the standard all the time, and I don’t want it to become a standard that we don’t play in the bowl game if we have NFL aspirations,” said Carroll, who has played three seasons at Minnesota after three years at Notre Dame. “Obviously it’s different for guys who are maybe touted a little bit higher or think it will be better off for them to start working on the next step, whether that is combine training or what have you. But that is one opportunity that I’m blessed with to play with the guys and I’m going to take full advantage of it.” Left tackle Aireontae Ersery is a prime candidate of a Gophers player who might want to safeguard a higher draft stock and limit injury exposure by sitting out the bowl game. The possible first- or second-round pick has not said what he might do. For example, former U center, John Michael Schmitz opted out of the Pinstripe Bowl in 2022; he was drafted in the second round by the New York Giants. Meanwhile, Gophers fifth-year defensive lineman Jalen Logan-Redding said he will return to Minnesota for 2025, instead of trying his luck in the NFL. “Coming back next year is definitely going to be the best for me and being able to maximize all my opportunities and exhaust eligibility,” Logan-Redding said. Logan-Redding said he talked with fellow D-lineman Deven Eastern, who has one more year remaining, about pairing up in 2025. “We talk a lot about it,” Logan-Redding said. “... We are excited for it, honestly. Not only continuing to build the D-line, but just continuing to build on the experience that we already have. We’ve seen the amount of destruction that we can create when we are focused. Me, Dev and, of course, (Anthony Smith). He would be pissed if I didn’t shout him out.” Smith, who has two more years of eligibility, has been one of the U’s best players in the last month. He has 23 total pressures and five sacks, including one sack in each of the last three weeks.The 38-year-old recalled meeting the US president-elect with her former England captain husband Wayne when their family was living in the US during Sunday’s episode. Discussing her encounter, she told her fellow campmates: “When we lived in America, we got invited to the White House for Christmas and we went in to meet Donald Trump. There’s nowhere for Dean and Coleen to run as they face Absolute Carnage... 🐀 Find out how they get on when #ImACeleb continues, tonight at 9pm! pic.twitter.com/yNevokq030 — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 24, 2024 “And so we walked in and we had to get the official photograph taken in front of the Christmas tree. “So Donald Trump said to his son ‘See? Told you, all the soccer players get the good-looking girls’. “And I told my mum, I was like ‘dirty bastard’.” She also revealed that Mr Trump wanted Wayne to “go over to teach his son to play football”. Afterwards, McFly star Danny Jones asked her: “Is he that orange?”, to which she confirmed: “He was very orange.” Sunday’s episode also saw Rooney compete in a Bushtucker Trial a day after her her husband Wayne encouraged viewers to vote for her to do a challenge in a social media post. The former England footballer said he was “proud” of how she was doing in the Australian jungle but said he and their boys would “love” to see her do a trial. The couple, who first met at school and began dating aged 16, share four sons, Kai Wayne, Klay Anthony, Kit Joseph and Cass Mac. Ahead of competing in the Absolute Carnage trial, she said: “I’m a bit scared of the unknown but I’m excited for my boys back home just to see me do something. “Hopefully I’m going to do well, I’m going to try my best.” The trial saw her trapped in a box in the back of a car which was filled with cockroaches, crickets, giant mealworms and rats. Her fellow campmate, BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough, had to rummage through a garage area which was filled with creepy crawlies to find tools which he would pass to Rooney so she could unlock the stars in the box. The pair worked together to win nine stars for camp, with hosts Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly branding Rooney as “very calm, very quiet, you just got on with it”. Liverpool-born Rooney replied: “That is my way of coping, silence, the silent treatment.” Maura reveals why she went on Love Island... Let’s hope all toothbrushes are safe in the Jungle 🪥 #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/oH8qizoKTK — I'm A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 24, 2024 Elsewhere, Love Island star Maura Higgins recalled to Jones and Loose Women panellist Jane Moore that she went into the ITV dating show “like a bull in a china shop” after being so angry with her ex-boyfriend before entering the villa. She explained that she had been in a relationship when she got the offer for the show and decided to check her partner’s phone and was unimpressed with what she found. “When he went to the gym the next day I got his toothbrush and I filmed myself scrubbing in the verges, he had a dentist appointment that day,” she said. Jones said you “don’t want to mess with Maura” while Moore described her as “fierce”. It was revealed at the end of the episode that McCullough will take on another challenge during Monday’s episode. I’m A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! continues at 9pm on ITV1, STV and ITVX.

PM Modi advocates for global financial institution to support cooperativesWASHINGTON (AP) — The chair of the Democratic National Committee informed party leaders on Monday that the DNC will choose his successor in February, an election that will speak volumes about how the party wants to present itself during four more years of Donald Trump in the White House. Jaime Harrison, in a letter to members of the party’s powerful Rules & Bylaws Committee, outlined the process of how the party will elect its new chair. Harrison said in the letter that the committee will host four candidate forums — some in person and some virtually — in January, with the final election on Feb. 1 during the party’s winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. The race to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, while an insular party affair, will come days after Trump is inaugurated for a second term. Democrats' selection of a leader after Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss will be a key starting point as the party starts to move forward, including addressing any structural problems and determining how to oppose Trump. Members of the Rules & Bylaws Committee will meet on Dec. 12 to establish the rules for these elections, which beyond the chair position will include top party roles like vice chairs, treasurer, secretary and national finance chair. The committee will also use that meeting to decide the requirements for gaining access to the ballot for those top party roles. In 2021, candidates were required to submit a nominating statement that included signatures from 40 DNC members and that will likely be the same standard for the 2025 campaigns. “The DNC is committed to running a transparent, equitable, and impartial election for the next generation of leadership to guide the party forward,” Harrison said in a statement. “Electing the Chair and DNC officers is one of the most important responsibilities of the DNC Membership, and our staff will run an inclusive and transparent process that gives members the opportunity to get to know the candidates as they prepare to cast their votes.” Two Democrats have announced campaigns for chair: Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a vice chair of the national party, and Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and current commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Other top Democrats are either considering a run to succeed Harrison or are being pushed by party insiders, including former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke; Michael Blake, a former vice chair of the party; Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin; Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan and a former Chicago mayor; Sen. Mallory McMorrow, majority whip of the Michigan Senate, and Chuck Rocha, a longtime Democratic strategist. The next chair of the committee will be tasked with rebuilding a party demoralized by a second Trump victory. They will also oversee the party’s 2028 nominating process, a complex and contentious exercise that will make the chair central to the next presidential election. Harrison, of South Carolina, made clear in his letter to the rules committee that the four forums hosted by the party would be live streamed and the party would give grassroots Democrats across the country the ability to engage with the process through those events. He also said he intends to remain neutral during the chair election. This story has been corrected to show that McMorrow is a senator, not a representative.

Trump team signs an agreement with the DOJ for security clearancesThe crash happened at 10.45am in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach fire rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Mr Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 – giving the railroad the worst death rate in the United States. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths.An evil that must be ended In Pakistan, the deep entrenchment of unethical practices within both social and political spheres has led to a situation where such behaviour is no longer seen as an anomaly but as the norm. Bribery, favouritism, and the manipulation of systems are often considered not moral failings but rather pragmatic tools for navigating the complexities of bureaucracy or overcoming the barriers of political hurdles. This normalization of corruption is the result of a long history marked by political instability, weak governance, and the absence of strong institutional frameworks. In such an environment, those who strive to uphold integrity are often seen as naive or unrealistic, while those who engage in these morally questionable practices are regarded as smart or resourceful. This mindset fuels a cycle in which dishonesty becomes the currency of success, reinforcing a system that rewards short-term gains over long-term justice and perpetuating a culture of corruption across all levels of society. The feeling of impunity among the wealthy and powerful elites only strengthens this cycle. Politicians, generals, judges, bureaucrats, and businessmen who hold significant influence in Pakistan often feel immune to prosecution, and many believe that their wealth and social connections protect them from accountability. This sense of powerlessness within the public leads to a lack of trust in institutions, reinforcing the idea that corruption is an unavoidable part of Pakistan’s political and social structure. As a result, many citizens view corruption not as a personal moral failing but as a necessary survival tactic in an unjust system where the ruling elites often remain unscathed. This systemic acceptance of corruption has contributed to Pakistan’s steady decline on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The failure of political and administrative leadership to implement meaningful reforms is a major reason for this persistent decline. Structural factors, such as a politicized legal system and weak institutions, have made it difficult to address corruption at its roots. Political patronage and cronyism complicate efforts to break the chains of corruption, as powerful elites often control state institutions and manipulate the system to their advantage. Moreover, political instability and changes in leadership frequently result in anti-corruption measures being viewed not as reforms but as political campaigns aimed at discrediting rivals. To effectively combat corruption, Pakistan needs to undertake comprehensive reforms across multiple sectors. A robust and transparent judicial system is essential for holding corrupt individuals accountable. Furthermore, political financing must be more strictly regulated, as corruption often stems from the unregulated flow of money in politics. Comprehensive reforms in political financing can help reduce the influence of money in elections and governance, ensuring that public office is not a tool for private gain. Another important step is to ensure the protection of whistleblowers, who often face retaliation for exposing corrupt practices. Establishing a legal framework that safeguards whistleblowers would encourage more citizens to come forward and report corruption without fear of reprisal. Despite the formation of institutions like NAB, which is tasked with investigating corruption and recovering misappropriated funds, the anti-corruption efforts in Pakistan have largely been ineffective. NAB has frequently been criticized for selective accountability, with those aligned with the ruling party often avoiding scrutiny, while political opponents are targeted. The lack of independence and slow progress in investigations has also tarnished its credibility. The pace at which cases are handled is often too slow, and in many instances, corrupt individuals settle for relatively minor penalties, which further erodes public trust in the system. Other anti-corruption bodies, such as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and provincial offices, also face similar challenges due to political interference, lack of resources, and ineffective enforcement. The consequences of corruption in Pakistan ripple through vital sectors like healthcare, education, and law enforcement, causing profound harm to society. In healthcare, corruption diverts resources, fuels the theft of funds, and leads to the distribution of substandard medicines, leaving the poor to suffer in an inefficient system. Bribes for basic medical services erode trust, worsening public health. In education, misappropriated funds and bribery for promotions or grades create a broken system where ghost schools exist only on paper, perpetuating inequality and hindering progress. This corruption fosters a cycle of ignorance that stunts both individual potential and national growth. In law enforcement, bribery and political interference compromise the rule of law, enabling criminals to flourish and eroding justice. Such systemic corruption not only weakens institutions but also poisons the moral fabric of society. To break free from this cycle, Pakistan must strive for integrity and accountability, embracing justice as the foundation for true progress and equality. Corruption, with its deep and lasting impact, continues to hinder Pakistan’s development, eroding trust in institutions and deepening social and economic divides. It obstructs the potential for growth by diverting critical resources that could otherwise be used to foster prosperity, improve public services, and reduce inequality. As corruption becomes entrenched in the political system, citizens lose faith in the democratic process, leading to political apathy, disillusionment, and a sense of powerlessness. The resulting inefficiency and inequality trap the most vulnerable in a cycle of poverty, denying them access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and justice. Without substantial reforms and a genuine commitment to transparency, the cycle of corruption will persist, keeping Pakistan from realizing its full potential. Engaging civil society, strengthening media oversight, and ensuring public access to government records are key steps towards increasing accountability and fostering a culture of openness. Ultimately, only by confronting corruption head-on can Pakistan break free from its current constraints and begin building a future founded on justice, integrity, and progress, one where the ideals of democracy and fairness are not just aspirations, but attainable realities for all. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Boy George recently reflected on a remark he made about Liam Payne prior to his death in October. During an appearance on the High Performance podcast, the singer recalled coming across a video of the late musician performing and commenting: “He’s off his nut.” George admitted that the comment “wasn’t very nice,” but maintained that it was a reflection of what he had perceived to be true. “I felt it,” he said. “I felt like he was out of control.” George and Payne didn’t seem to have any consistent communication with one another, barring a brief Twitter spar way back in 2013. But having been active in the music industry for more than four decades, the older artist has been around long enough to recognize patterns and experience a number of hardships himself. When he learned the news of Payne’s death, one of the first artists to come to his mind was Amy Winehouse. “When it happened, it just hit me the same way that Amy Winehouse hit me,” he said. “It felt so senseless. I was up at five in the morning, and it came up on the American news, and I was literally just like, what the fuck? Like, no, this isn’t real. I could not take it in, and I think everybody felt like that.” George took so social media in the wake of Payne’s death, sharing a post that read: “How sad is the death of Liam Payne . Just awful news to wake up to. God bless his family. I am absolutely shocked. R.I.P.” Trending Stories Trump Says Republicans 'MUST KILL' Bipartisan Bill to Protect Press Freedom Shaboozey Deserves More Than What the CMA Awards Gave Him — Including an Apology Pete Hegseth Police Report Shares Disturbing Details of Sexual Assault Claim 2024 CMA Awards: The Complete Winners List During the podcast appearance, George recalled seeing “heartbreaking” images of the young artist’s father visiting the Argentina hotel where Payne died after falling from a balcony. He also remembered being “appalled” by comments where he was accused of only caring about the tragedy “because he’s good-looking.” “I was like fuck off, you’re an idiot,” George said. “I care about his family. I was quite tearful about it. I actually really felt very sad.”ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has revealed the significant economic losses caused by opposition-led protests, ARY News reported. Muhammad Aurangzaib held a press conference as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is advancing towards Islamabad for its protest. He spoke about the serious economic damage caused by such demonstrations. Addressing the media, he stated that the daily financial damage from opposition-led lockdowns and protests exceeds Rs190 billion. He explained that disruptions caused by protests hinder tax collection, obstruct businesses, and negatively impact exports. Additional expenses are also incurred for maintaining law and order during such protests. The minister highlighted that the IT and telecommunications sectors face separate economic losses, with their closure affecting social dynamics and the digital economy. According to a detailed report by the Ministry of Finance, protests result in a daily GDP loss of Rs 144 billion. Export reductions cost Rs 26 billion daily, while direct foreign investment declines lead to an additional Rs 3 billion loss. Aurangzeb added that provinces bear additional losses, including Rs 26 billion daily in the agricultural sector and over Rs 20 billion in the industrial sector. Read More: Musadik Malik accuses PTI leadership of ‘blocking’ founder’s release The presser from FinMin came as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) advances towards Islamabad. Earlier, Federal Minister for Petroleum Dr. Musadik Malik criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) leadership, claiming they are seemingly disinterested in securing the release of their founder, Imran Khan. Speaking at a news conference, Musadik Malik emphasised that solving public issues is the government’s priority, highlighting that government measures have led to a reduction in inflation, and the stock market is at its highest level in history. He added that the nation must unite against extremism, mentioning that people from Parachinar are sitting on the roads with the bodies of their loved ones, yet there has been no sign of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur going to help them. Musadik Malik also criticised Ali Amin Gandapur for trying to attack Punjab and Islamabad, adding, “What happened to his Do-or-Die rally today? There are voices everywhere saying ‘Arrest me, take me in.’ Where are all the senior PTI leaders? No rallies are visible in Punjab, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala.”

On Nov. 20, 25-year-old Moses Brown signed with his seventh NBA team. An undrafted free agent in 2019, Brown has been waived, cut, demoted, and traded by his fair share of NBA teams as he tries to carve out a career, but after three appearances with the Indiana Pacers, he might have found a landing spot. The Pacers, in a desperate bid to bolster their frontcourt after losing James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson for the season, signed Brown, who has averaged seven points and three rebounds this season. © Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images In the Pacers' 115-103 win over the Washington Wizards, starting center Myles Turner got into early foul trouble, so Brown, always ready, subbed in and offered a quick 11 points in the first quarter. He would go on to finish with 15 points and four rebounds in just 12 minutes of action and was easily Indiana's best bench player in the contest. "As soon as Myles got the second [foul], I think [James Johnson] looked at me. It was like, yo, be ready. And TJ [McConnel] looked at me like, be ready," said Brown after the game. "I got really excited. I just went out there and did what I had to do." The Pacers are a disappointing 7-10 on the season and are 8th in the Eastern Conference after making the Conference Finals last year. For the most part, Indiana looks uninspired and devoid of energy, so having a player like Brown who remains ready at all times will be a key to jumpstarting the offense. Related: Which Pacers' Star Did Rick Carlisle Applaud? The Pacers' next game will come without rest, as they play the second half of a back-to-back tonight against the injury-ravaged New Orleans Pelicans. Related: What's at Stake in Pacers vs. Pelicans?

The crash happened at 10.45am in crowded downtown Delray Beach, multiple news outlets reported. The Brightline train was stopped on the tracks, its front destroyed, about a block away from the Delray Beach fire rescue truck, its ladder ripped off and strewn in the grass several yards away, The Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported. The Delray Beach Fire Rescue said in a social media post that three Delray Beach firefighters were in stable condition at a hospital. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue took 12 people from the train to the hospital with minor injuries. Emmanuel Amaral rushed to the scene on his golf cart after hearing a loud crash and screeching train brakes from where he was having breakfast a couple of blocks away. He saw firefighters climbing out of the window of their damaged truck and pulling injured colleagues away from the tracks. One of their helmets came to rest several hundred feet away from the crash. “The front of that train is completely smashed, and there was even some of the parts to the fire truck stuck in the front of the train, but it split the car right in half. It split the fire truck right in half, and the debris was everywhere,” Mr Amaral said. Brightline officials did not immediately comment on the crash. A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board said it was still gathering information about the crash and had not decided yet whether it will investigate. The NTSB is already investigating two crashes involving Brightline’s high-speed trains that killed three people early this year at the same crossing along the railroad’s route between Miami and Orlando. More than 100 people have died after being hit by trains since Brightline began operations in July 2017 – giving the railroad the worst death rate in the United States. But most of those deaths have been either suicides, pedestrians who tried to run across the tracks ahead of a train or drivers who went around crossing gates instead of waiting for a train to pass. Brightline has not been found to be at fault in those previous deaths.Artificial intelligence (AI) has been the driving force behind the growth of many tech companies lately. With AI infrastructure spending ramping up, Advanced Micro Devices ( AMD 0.10% ) has benefited from tech giants investing in advanced processors. However, AMD's stock hasn't benefited all that much from the AI boom , and semiconductor rival Nvidia ( NVDA -2.09% ) has overshadowed much of the company's impressive results. Over the past year, AMD's stock has tumbled 13% compared to the S&P 500 's 26% gains (as of this writing). So, where is AMD headed over the next year? Let's take a look. AMD is tapping into AI's growth To understand where AMD might be in one year, you need to first look at what's happening with the company right now. In the company's third quarter (ended Sept. 28), AMD's sales rose 18% year over year to $6.8 billion and diluted generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) earnings per share spiked 161% to $0.47. The main driver of AMD's growth in the quarter came from its data center revenue, which includes sales of its GPU processors for AI, which soared 122% to $3.5 billion. Management said this impressive sales growth puts the company on track for fourth-quarter sales to increase 22% to $7.5 billion. The company is benefiting from large tech companies ramping up spending on AI infrastructure, which rival Nvidia estimates could reach $2 trillion over the next five years. Even AMD's management has had to adjust to all of the AI semiconductor spending. The company now estimates full-year data center GPU revenue will be $5 billion, a huge increase from its initial $2 billion estimate at the beginning of the year. Despite AI opportunity, AMD could still have a bumpy 2025 It's difficult to determine why one company vastly underperforms the market while its rivals soar. However, when it comes to AMD, a couple of things could continue to weigh down investor sentiment over the next year. First, investors haven't been thrilled that the company's gaming and embedded segments have seen significant revenue declines -- 69% and 25%, respectively, in the third quarter. While AI is the future, falling sales from these two sales categories aren't sparking confidence in AMD for some investors. Second, and more importantly, AMD is fighting an uphill battle against Nvidia. While AMD sells impressive hardware, Nvidia has an estimated 70% to 95% of the AI semiconductor market. Trying to gain ground against Nvidia will be a heck of a task over the next year. AMD will likely continue to benefit from the shift to AI, but whether or not its share price will gain over the next year is trickier to predict. I'd be comfortable sitting on the sidelines of AMD right now, but buying shares might not be a bad idea if you're looking for cheap AI stock. AMD's forward price-to-earnings ratio is 25.1 right now, compared to Nvida's more expensive forward P/E ratio of 32.6. Just keep in mind that AMD may be a bit volatile as investors try to decipher the company's long-term AI potential with falling sales in other segments and the company's GPU battle with Nvidia.