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As this year’s UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific scholars are calling on world leaders to improve the dispersal system of climate finance to support people living in small island nations. Last week, we presented the Conference of the Parties ( ) with a report from the largest Pacific climate adaptation study. The Pacific Ocean Climate Crisis Assessment ( ) amplifies voices of people with lived experience. It collates data and case studies about climate impacts island nations are already facing and local adaptation strategies they are already practising. The report shows that climate finance has been mainstreamed into global financial structures that follow the same patterns as development aid. This means the main global financial institutions, including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, become the “accredited” institutions involved in dispersing funds, adding loan components and making direct access difficult for Pacific nations. Loading recipient countries with more debt As a result, some by the time it reaches people on the ground. The real beneficiaries are private contractors in developed countries who are brought in to build climate-resilient infrastructure. What may have started off as a humanitarian gesture has ended up loading recipient countries in the Global South, particularly in the Pacific, with more debt. Recent shows extreme weather is already costing vulnerable island nations US$141 billion each year. Estimates suggest this will rise to . Climate finance is an , with the goal of increasing the contributions by wealthy countries. Last year’s climate summit in Dubai agreed to establish a from natural disasters caused by climate change. This diplomatic effort was spearheaded by a group of small island developing states and it is important this fund fills the gaps in current climate finance. However, closing the gap between the funds currently available and the money needed is only one aspect. We must also transform the process of dispersal to make sure money directly benefits people who already face climate impacts on a daily basis. Indigenous knowledge and local adaptation Our report also highlights a range of climate adaptation strategies, including relocating households and villages, already employed by Pacific peoples across the region. As descendants of great navigators and oceanic settlers who traversed the world’s largest ocean for millennia, Pacific peoples have long developed sophisticated adaptive capacities. Despite living in some of the planet’s smallest and most environmentally challenging places, they have been responding to change in locally relevant and innovative ways for centuries. This includes traditional building techniques which produce more flexible houses that are easier to rebuild and coastal protections against sea-level rise and beach erosion. Adaptation practices used on Pacific Islands are mostly based on community indigenous knowledge and skills passed down over generations. For example, in French Polynesia, the traditional practice of building elevated houses with floors 1.5m above ground level is now subsidized by the government as part of risk prevention. Pacific islands have also focused increasingly on ecosystem-based approaches that build on their Indigenous knowledge and benefit both communities and ecosystems. In Fiji, Indigenous knowledge has helped to . Relocation is an . The report includes two , which highlight the importance of including all social groups in planning to foster positive outcomes. Changing the narrative Pacific peoples are and have developed systems of social and ecological resilience which allows them to bounce back quickly from disruption. Many Pacific people are indeed affected by climate change. But the constant narrative of vulnerability is problematic. It undermines the very idea of indigenous and local Pacific agency and resilience. The complexity of climate impacts requires us to look at what is happening on the ground, especially when applying science-based models and their inherent uncertainties to inform local adaptation decisions. The report recommends enabling pathways that combine indigenous knowledge, contemporary science methods and government decision tools to safeguard a to adaptation and resilience. Pacific Island communities have always lived on islands affected by drought, tsunami and tropical cyclones. They had to survive on islands with limited resources. Over millennia, Pacific peoples developed local knowledge, including cultural principles and social structures, to thrive in these circumstances. Given existential threats and challenges, especially those facing atoll island communities, we need to draw on climate-related indigenous knowledge and practices. In contrast to narratives of vulnerability, legacies of resilience are key to successful climate adaptation.New Jersey fines firms $40K for sports betting violations

Dr. Raj B. Gondalia Dr. Raj B. Gondalia The Radiology Business 40 Under 40 celebrates professionals driving advancements in radiology while contributing to their organizations and communities. The 2024 list highlights exceptional individuals who are transforming the industry through innovative practices, cutting-edge technologies, and patient-centered care. "On behalf of everyone at Wake Radiology, I am delighted to congratulate Dr. Raj B. Gondalia on this outstanding achievement,” said Dr. Brent Townsend, president and managing partner of Wake Radiology. "Dr. Gondalia's leadership, innovation, and commitment to exceptional patient care make him an invaluable asset to our team and the field of radiology. This honor is a well-deserved recognition of his contributions and vision for the future of our practice.” About Dr. Raj B. Gondalia Dr. Gondalia has been a driving force behind the growth and modernization of interventional radiology at Wake Radiology since joining the team in 2018. In addition to serving as Chair of Radiology at UNC Rex Hospital, he plays a pivotal role on the practice's Executive and Operations Committees, helping to shape its strategic vision while overseeing daily operations. A Duke University-trained physician with fellowships in Vascular and Interventional Radiology and Abdominal Imaging, Dr. Gondalia is known for his dedication to innovation and efficiency. His contributions include: Interventional Radiology at Wake Radiology Under Dr. Gondalia's leadership, Wake Radiology's interventional radiologists use cutting-edge imaging techniques and minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions. The highly specialized radiologists on Dr. Gondalia's team are skilled in using technologies such as fluoroscopy, ultrasound, CT and MRI to guide their procedures with pinpoint accuracy. The procedures they perform include angioplasty, embolization, stent placement and biopsy. These procedures often replace the need for open surgery, which can lead to shorter recovery times and reduced risks for patients. As a physician-owned and physician-led practice, Wake Radiology relies on its team of more than 60 board-certified, subspecialty-trained radiologists to provide excellent patient care and to create an environment where our staff of more than 400 employees can thrive. About Wake Radiology UNC Health Rex Founded in 1953, Wake Radiology UNC Health Rex is proud to be the oldest and largest outpatient imaging provider in the Triangle. As an independently, locally-owned and managed practice, Wake Radiology operates for the benefit of the community. With 14 locations, it offers comprehensive diagnostic imaging services, including MRI, CT, X-ray, Ultrasound, and 3D Mammography. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, Wake Radiology enhances access to specialized imaging services and reduces costs for patients in the region. To learn more, visit www.WakeRad.com. Attachment Dr. Raj B. Gondalia CONTACT: For media inquiries, contact Rivers Agency: [email protected] 919-932-9985Darnold gives Vikings another gem with career-high 377 yards in 27-25 win over Packers MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sam Darnold added another exploit to his career-altering season, passing for a personal-best 377 yards and three touchdowns as the Minnesota Vikings hung on to beat the Green Bay Packers 27-25 for their ninth consecutive victory. The Vikings are 14-2. They set up a final-week showdown in Detroit for both the division title and the No. 1 seed for the playoffs in the NFC. Jordan Love’s only touchdown pass for the Packers came with 2:18 left to pull the Packers within two points. Darnold responded with two completions for first downs to seal the game. Saquon Barkley tops 2,000 yards rushing as Eagles beat Cowboys 41-7 to clinch NFC East PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley rushed for 167 yards to top 2,000 on the season, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett ran and threw for scores before departing with injured ribs, and the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title by routing the Dallas Cowboys 41-7. Barkley has 2,005 yards and needs 101 in next week’s mostly meaningless regular-season finale to top Eric Dickerson and his 2,105 yards for the Los Angeles Rams in 1984. The Eagles led 24-7 in the third quarter when Pickett was drilled by defensive end Micah Parsons, ending his first start in place of the concussed Jalen Hurts. NFC's No. 1 seed comes down to Vikings-Lions showdown at Detroit in Week 18 The NFC’s No. 1 seed will come down to the final week when the Detroit Lions host the Minnesota Vikings. The winner takes the NFC North and gets a first-round playoff bye and home-field advantage until the Super Bowl. The loser gets the No. 5 seed and must play on the road in the wild-card round. The Vikings held on for a 27-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers to set up the high-stakes showdown in Week 18. The Lions visit the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. Win, lose or tie, they have to beat the Vikings for a second time this season. Bills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Josh Allen threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score and the Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC’s No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the New York Jets. The Bills put the game away by capitalizing on two Jets turnovers and scoring three touchdowns over a 5:01 span in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Buffalo’s defense forced three takeaways overall and sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, including a 2-yard loss for a safety in the second quarter. The five-time defending AFC East champion Bills improved to 13-3 to match a franchise single-season record. Herro leads Heat over Rockets in game marred by fight and ejections in final minute HOUSTON (AP) — Tyler Herro scored 27 points before being one of being one of seven people ejected, six for their roles in a fight in the final minute of the Miami Heat’s 104-100 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. Herro was thrown to the ground by the Rockets’ Amen Thompson with 35 seconds left and the Heat leading 99-94. Players and coaches from both benches then came onto the court. Both players were thrown out along with Rockets guard Jalen Green, coach Ime Udoka and assistant coach Ben Sullivan. Terry Rozier was also ejected for Miami. LeBron James at 40: A milestone birthday arrives Monday for the NBA's all-time scoring leader When LeBron James broke another NBA record earlier this month, the one for most regular-season minutes played in a career, his Los Angeles Lakers teammates handled the moment in typical locker room fashion. They made fun of him. Dubbed The Kid from Akron, with a limitless future, James is now the 40-year-old from Los Angeles with wisps of gray in his beard, his milestone birthday coming Monday, one that will make him the first player in NBA history to play in his teens, 20s, 30s and 40s. He has stood and excelled in the spotlight his entire career. Rising Sun Devils: Arizona State looks to pull off another big surprise at the Peach Bowl ATLANTA (AP) — As they prepare for Arizona State’s biggest game in nearly three decades, the guys who made it happen aren’t the least bit surprised to be rated a nearly two-touchdown underdog in the College Football Playoff. That’s a familiar position for the Sun Devils. They've been an underdog most of the season. Of the eight teams still vying for a national championship, there’s no bigger surprise than 11-2 Arizona State. The Sun Devils went 3-9 a year ago and were picked to finish dead last in their first season in the Big 12 Conference. Now, they're getting ready to face Texas in the Peach Bowl quarterfinal game on New Year’s Day. Penn State coach James Franklin says Nick Saban should be college football's commissioner SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Penn State coach James Franklin believes college football needs a commissioner and he even has a candidate in mind: former Alabama coach Nick Saban. Franklin made the suggestion Sunday at Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day ahead of the Fiesta Bowl. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions are preparing for their game against No. 3 seed Boise State on Tuesday. The veteran coach was responding to a question about Penn State’s backup quarterback situation after Beau Pribula transferred to Missouri before the playoff. Pribula’s decision highlighted some of the frustrating aspects of a new college football world in the Name, Image and Likeness era and the transfer portal, forcing players to make tough decisions at inopportune times. Penn State's polarizing QB Drew Allar puts critics on mute and keeps winning games SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Even when Penn State quarterback Drew Allar gets some praise, it’s usually a backhanded compliment. They say he’s a good game manager and stays within himself, or that he doesn’t try to do too much. They mention he might not be flashy, but he gives the team a chance to win. And here’s the thing about Penn State since Allar stepped under center: The Nittany Lions have won games. A lot of them. Sometimes that’s hard to remember considering the lukewarm reception he often gets from fans. The polarizing Allar has another chance to quiet his critics on Tuesday, when Penn State plays Boise State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Fiesta Bowl. Crosby breaks Lemieux's Penguins career assists record in 3-2 victory over the Islanders PITTSBURGH (AP) — Sidney Crosby broke Mario Lemieux’s Pittsburgh franchise career record for assists on Michael Bunting’s power-play goal and the Penguins beat the New York Islanders 3-2 on Sunday night. Crosby has 1,034 assists, good for 12th in NHL history. Only three players — Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman — have more assists with a single team. The 37-year-old Crosby has played 1,310-regular-season games. Lemieux played 915. Evgeni Malkin added the deciding power-play goal in the third for Pittsburgh, which has 14 goals with the man advantage in its last 13 games. Anthony Beauvillier also scored to help the Penguins win for the seventh time in their last eight home games. Alex Nedeljkovic made 29 saves in his first start since Dec. 17.

With more than half of the 16 teams still mathematically alive to make the conference championship game, the Big 12 will command a lot of attention in the final week of the regular season. No. 14 Arizona State and No. 17 Iowa State would play for the Big 12 title and likely College Football Playoff spot on Dec. 7 if they both win Saturday and there's a four-way tie for first place. There are seven other teams that begin this week with hopes, slim in most cases, of getting into the game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Last week it was No. 19 BYU and No. 23 Colorado that had the inside track to the championship game. Arizona State beat the Cougars and Kansas knocked off the Buffaloes, and here we are. "Everybody counted us out, I think, two weeks ago," Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said after his team beat Utah 31-28. "We didn't flinch. We didn't waver. And we just keep fighting." The Cyclones were national darlings the first half of the season as they won seven straight games to match the best start in program history. Back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Kansas followed. Now they've won two straight heading into "Farmageddon," their rivalry game against Kansas State at home. "Right now they've got the pen and they continue to write the story," Campbell said of his players, "and I hope they will continue to write it the way they've got the ability to write it. Unwavering. Tough, mentally tough, physically tough. This group has stood for it every step of the way." Arizona State has been an even better story than the Cyclones. The Sun Devils have six more wins than they did last season, when they went 3-9. They were picked to finish last in their first year in the Big 12. They'll go for their fifth straight victory when they play at Arizona on Saturday. "These guys came off no momentum and everybody doubting them, and everybody is still doubting them. That's what makes this special," second-year coach Kenny Dillingham said. "Hopefully the expectations become higher. I don't know if there's a way we can exceed expectations more than we're exceeding them right now." Checking in on five of the Top 25: The Ducks were idle Saturday after clinching a spot in the Big Ten championship game with their win at Wisconsin on Nov. 16. Oregon can go 12-0 in the regular season for the first time since 2010 if it beats Washington at home this week. Oregon's only two losses last season came against the Huskies, both decided by three points. The first was a top-10 matchup in the regular season and the second was a top-five matchup in the Pac-12 championship game. The Ducks are 19 1/2-point favorites this time, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. The Buckeyes' showdown with upstart Indiana combined with Michigan's dropoff after winning the national championship have lowered the volume on this week's meeting with the Wolverines at the Horseshoe. If Michigan beats Ohio State a fourth straight time and it keeps the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game and playoff ... well, there'll be lots of noise in Columbus then. The Lone Star Showdown returns to the gridiron for the first time since 2011, when Texas and Texas A&M were in the Big 12. The Longhorns head to No. 20 Texas A&M on a four-game win streak. The Aggies have lost two of three after Saturday's four-overtime loss at Auburn. The winner advances to the Southeastern Conference championship game against Georgia. The Broncos are tied with Notre Dame for the second-longest active win streak, at nine games, and they seem to have adopted a survive-and-advance mantra. They trailed 23-point underdog Wyoming in the fourth quarter before winning 17-13 and clinching a spot in the Mountain West championship game. They won their previous game, 42-21 against San Jose State, but didn't pull away until the fourth quarter. Two weeks ago they beat a three-win Nevada team 28-21. Just when you think Illinois is about to cash in for the season, they do what they did against Rutgers. The Illini were down 31-30 when they lined up for a 58-yard field goal with 14 seconds left. Ethan Moczulski missed. But wait. Rutgers called timeout before the snap, and Bret Bielema thought better of trying another kick and sent his offense back on the field. Luke Altmyer passed to Pat Bryant for the winning 40-yard touchdown. The Illini won't play for the Big Ten title, but they have a chance for nine wins and a nice bowl. Ohio State played in three of the five regular-season top-five matchups and won three of them. The Buckeyes lost to Oregon and beat Penn State and Indiana. ... Kansas' 37-21 win over Colorado made the Jayhawks the first FBS team with a losing record to beat three straight Top 25 opponents. The Jayhawks, who were 2-6 a month ago, will be bowl eligible if they win at Baylor. ... Nebraska ended the longest power conference bowl drought with its 44-25 win over Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers haven't played in a bowl since 2016. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggestsTransform Holiday Leftovers into Vibrant, Flavorful Meals

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Optimization technology offers TikTok Shop Live sellers viewer insights to boost sales NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Stickler today announced its launch as the first – and only – Live Selling Analytics Platform in the TikTok Shop App Store. With TikTok Shop rapidly expanding its global footprint in live commerce, Stickler's app sets a new standard for data-driven optimization, enabling brands, agencies and sellers to scale their live selling with ease and at very low cost. Stickler's solution also supports every local language where TikTok Shop operates to empower sellers worldwide by providing unparalleled insights into their live stream performance. "We've tracked over 100,000 hours of Live Commerce and understand the best practices of live selling and what makes it work. We're very happy to partner with TikTok Shop to release our technology through the App Store to help merchants in the U.S. when going live on TikTok Shop," said Stickler founder and CEO Fionn Hyndman . TikTok Shop guards its total retail sales closely, but Hyndman said he expects TikTok Shop will be delivering over $3 billion a month in GMV in the U.S. over November and December, and the number of live streams and session length should increase 30-60%, month-on-month. "We think it's safe to say that clients who go live are seeing it generate a return," Hyndman said. "Very few sellers are optimizing their live selling for TikTok's algorithm or the consumer. They need a tool like Stickler to give them the insight they lack. Insights drive effectiveness. Effectiveness drives results. And results drive spend. It has always been that way." TikTok Shop's Product Lead noted Stickler's app is the "best-in-class product that I've seen so far on the market when it comes to serving a global market and the challenges and nuances that come with Eastern and Western markets." Hyndman and team have been offering Stickler's custom app to brands in Southeast Asia since 2023, working with some of the region's leading traditional and direct-to-consumer brands. The Stickler live-selling app is now available now in the U.S. TikTok Shop App Store and across all TikTok Shop markets globally through custom application. For further information about the company and its services, visit http://www.stickler.live/ or please contact; Fionn Hyndman hello@stickler.live STICKLER FACT SHEET Founded in 2022, Stickler is a software-as-a-service platform focused on live commerce optimization. Stickler combines cutting-edge analytics with scalable optimization tools. Its three flagship products –Stickler, LiveScope, and LiveStage – empower brands to maximize their live selling results efficiently and effectively. Key Features of Stickler's TikTok Shop Integration Why Live Commerce Analytics & Optimization Matter As live commerce emerges as a ascendent form of online retail, TikTok Shop continues to lead with its innovative approach to engaging consumers and selling through a marketplace that is more similar to Amazon than Meta. Stickler amplifies this success by equipping sellers with the tools to: Stickler's Unique Selling Points Stickler was built to address the complexities of live commerce at scale. Its integration with TikTok Shop's App Store means brands and sellers can – for the first time – access real-time, actionable insights to optimize their live streams across markets. No more guesswork – just data-driven decisions to drive engagement, sales, and ROI. Many companies, brands and prominent sellers have told Stickler they don't understand this new way of going live via TikTok. Looking at available data, most successful brands go live for many more hours on TikTok Live than on other platforms. Stickler has cracked the best, most-effective way to optimize customer engagements and is making it globally available for sellers in every local language where TikTok Shop operates across 10 countries and markets. About Stickler Pte Ltd Stickler is a Live Commerce (Live Selling) enablement platform. We work with brands, creators, agencies and ecommerce companies to help them scale Live Commerce. We help manage the work flow and optimisation and help sellers do more with less resource. We don't believe in multi-streaming, we believe in being as effective as possible when you do stream. We are a multi-platform tool, designed with sellers at heart, aiming to make their Life, and their Lives easier Press Contact: Fionn Hyndman 16462432994 http://www.stickler.live View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stickler-first-with-live-commerce-analytics-app-in-tiktok-shop-app-store-302315529.html SOURCE Stickler Pte LtdBhokta’s plan to field daughter-in-law fails to yield any resultIndia supports ceasefire in West Asia, favours two-state solution: EAM Jaishankar

AP News Summary at 5:46 p.m. EST

S&P/TSX composite up almost 150 at closing, U.S. markets also higher

Stocks on the US index make the headlines here in the UK too. We can’t have missed ( ), with a market capitalisation of nearly $3.4trn (yes, trillion). It’s worth more than all the companies of the combined. And always seems to be getting a mention. The Tesla share price is up 31% since the US election. Tesla is still well below Nvidia’s rise in the past five years: Flying tech stocks On Friday (22 November) the Nasdaq closed at 19,003 points. On the same date in 2019, it ended at 8,520 points. That’s a gain of 123%. My imagined £5,000 invested in a low-cost Nasdaq index tracker fund back then would be worth around £11,300 today. There’d be some small charges for the fund management. But the Nasdaq pays an average dividend of around 1.8%, so I’ll treat them as canceling out. My key, and surprising, take on this is how small that gain is. I mean, this is the index that provides overnight multibaggers, isn’t it? Index comparison Over the same five years, the broader has risen by 92%, only just behind the Nasdaq. The dividend yield is similar, at around 1.2%. Based on this, the S&P seems like a better index to track than the Nasdaq, even if just for lower risk. But that’s only looking back five years. Winding the clock back a decade, the has gained 189%, but the Nasdaq is up a whopping 303%. So before I decided which to track, I’d carefully examine multiple timescales and think about my own investment horizon. My £5,000 invested in a Nasdaq tracker 10 years ago could be worth £21,500 now. And, the same amount invested when the tech index started in February 1971 could have grown to £948,600. Not that my pocket money reached five grand back then, mind. Concentration But that five-year return seems disappointing, but it reminds me of one main lesson. The Nasdaq’s gains are concentrated among just a few key stocks. Right now, it’s mostly the so-called ‘Magnificent Seven’. That’s Nvidia and Tesla, along with , , , , and . They all have artifical intelligence (AI) in common. CNBC runs its own Magnificent 7 index, and that’s up 320% just since it started in December 2022. Nasdaq leader To get back to Nvidia, what we see there is a five-year gain of 2,549%. And to get some idea of where that growth came from, the company posted total revenue back in 2020 of $10.9bn. Then by the year to January 2024, total revenue had reached a whopping $60.9bn. Q3 revenue this year, reported on 20 November, reached $35.1bn. That’s in a single quarter alone. Still, as it looks like growth might slow a little, investors weren’t satisfied, and the price dipped a little. As investors, we need to be aware that Nasdaq growth is often concentrated in a small number of stocks. The index can be very volatile too, and it’s not really for those who don’t want risk. Still, if I’d put a shilling in it in 1971...

House Democrats have made it clear to Speaker Mike Johnson that they won’t launch another rescue attempt to allow him to retain the speakership. Johnson is set to have the narrowest of majorities in the next Congress and will have little room to maneuver with a caucus in which some members are angling to take him out. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has said that he’ll vote against Johnson as speaker on January 3. A number of other members of the party have said that they’re undecided, according to Axios . Johnson may only be able to lose a single vote with a majority of 219 to 215. Last week, Johnson decided not to push on with the federal funding package he negotiated with the Democrats to instead launch a slimmer version with an extension of the debt limit as demanded by President-elect Donald Trump. House Democrats accused the speaker of reneging on their agreement, and they chose not to support the bill as a caucus. While Johnson subsequently succeeded in passing the legislation without raising the debt ceiling, the trust with Democrats had already been broken. Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York made clear during a caucus meeting Friday that relations with Johnson were going downhill, according to Axios . He noted that Johnson had gone back on his word on the funding deal and that he had allowed communications to cease at times during the past week, three lawmakers told the outlet. Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, the House Democratic Caucus chair, said that he won’t ask members to save Johnson like they did in May. Appearing on MSNBC on Sunday, Jeffries told host and former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki that there’s a “real risk” that Johnson may be unable to be elected speaker on January 3. “There will be no Democrats available to save him,” he said. Several House Democrats who voted to save Johnson earlier this year told Axios Sunday that Johnson can no longer rely on them to retain the speakership. Centrist Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas said he’ll “follow leadership.” Meanwhile, fellow centrist Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York said he was voting with Jeffries. Michigan Democrat Rep. Haley Stevens told the outlet that Jeffries “is correct.” "It’s up to the Republicans to lead on governance now," she added. "If they need us they have to really make it worth our while, but [it] doesn’t seem likely that they will.” This comes as Trump is considering attempting to boot Johnson from his post, according to Politico . Trump is reportedly unhappy with the funding deal and that he didn’t get the debt ceiling hike he sought. “The president is upset — he wanted the debt ceiling dealt with,” a person in Trump’s circle told the outlet. “In the past couple weeks, we’ve questioned whether [Johnson has] been an honest broker,” another person said. “I don’t see how Johnson survives,” yet another individual told Politico . But Johnson’s bid for the speaker’s gavel is still officially backed by Trump and the Republican conference, which unanimously nominated him for another term as speaker in November. However, even if Johnson manages to win the speakership another time on January 3, there’s no guarantee that he’ll last the full two-year term. While the threshold to introduce a motion to remove the speaker has been raised to nine lawmakers, Johnson may still face the boot. Johnson is facing outrage from both his party’s conservatives and the grassroots activists outside Congress. They are both saying that he needs to do more to cut government spending. Rep. Troy Nehls, Republican of Texas, remains undecided on whether he’ll support Johnson. He told Axios last week that Johnson will need Democratic votes to keep the gavel. A Democrat from a swing district told Axios that they thought they would help Johnson “in a tough Speaker vote because he was true to his word even in hard times.” "That has absolutely changed now. Trust is all we have in these negotiations,” they added. “I thought Johnson was truly different. He’s no better than [former Speaker Kevin] McCarthy. He’s getting no help from me and I know many of my colleagues feel the same." "He has betrayed our trust and we will never trust him again to hold to any agreement,” Vermont Democrat Rep. Becca Balint told Axios . She also voted to support Johnson in May.

Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, GallupThe Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”

More Scots business owners anticipate higher turnover in 2025, poll suggestsFruit Pomace Global Market Report 2024: Exploring Prominent Trends and High-Growth Market Segments

Timeline: Jimmy Carter, 1924-2024