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Qatar tribune Tribune News Network Doha The all-new MG RX9 premium SUV combines elegant design, advanced technology, and powerful driving performance. It represents the next level of luxuri-ous SUV experience, dedicated for modern lifestyle suitable for both city and outdoor use. The MG RX9 and the full line-up of MG cars are available at MG showrooms in Qatar on Salwa Road in Doha and Lusail. The MG RX9 is available in two distinct trim levels: the mid-tier COM 2.0 Turbo, and the top-tier LUX 2.0 Turbo. Designed to meet the needs of modern families, travel enthusiasts, and drivers who desire comfort and capability in a 7-seater configuration. The new MG RX9 offers a blend of modern design, power, and versatility, ensuring the new model offers remarkable value for its class. Additionally, customers will benefit from a gener-ous 6-year/200,000 km manufacturer’s warranty, providing exceptional peace of mind. Exterior and Design The MG RX9’s robust and striking exterior design ensures it stands out on the road. At 1967mm wide, it has the widest body in its class, providing a powerful yet elegant presence on the road. The vehicle’s Starburst Wing Grille, integrated with the sleek headlight design fea-turing 245 laser-engraved LED light units, further enhances its striking front profile. Comple-menting this dynamic front face are 21-inch wheels, which not only elevate the vehicle’s look but also ensure stability and performance on various terrains.The MG RX9 comes in Six exte-rior colours inspired by nature, offering a choice to suit all drivers’ preferences. Interior Inside the MG RX9, drivers are greeted by a luxurious and spacious cabin, crafted for comfort and functionality. This 7-seater SUV offers generous legroom and headroom for passengers and drivers alike, boasting the largest 3-row seating space in its class. The boot space, which can expand to accommodate 1026 litres in the 5-seat configuration, provides plenty of room for luggage, making it ideal for long trips. In the front, the dashboard features premium materials, including high-quality wood grain or aluminium dashboard trim and soft-plated keys, adding an additional touch of elegance. Fea-tures such as the 12.3-inch touch screen, virtual cluster, and hidden intelligent air-conditioning controls ensure drivers are equipped with all the latest features. Available in black or two-tone beige and brown leather, the cabin maintains a sophisticated yet practical design. Seating comfort is further enhanced by the 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat (with memory function in the LUX trim) and the 4-way electrically adjustable passenger seat, providing per-sonalised comfort for all. The RX9 comes in multiple trim options. The mid-tier trim, COM 2.0 Turbo introduces four-wheel drive capability. At the top of the range, the LUX 2.0 Turbo trim offers the ultimate luxu-ry, with premium leather seats, an advanced 12 speakers premium Bose audio, driver’s seat memory, and additional front parking sensors, providing an unparalleled driving experience and the highest level of comfort. Performance The MG RX9 is designed for exceptional performance across all terrains. Powered by new Net Blue 2.0 Turbo super-efficient engine and paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, it de-livers smooth, responsive handling in any environment. With five adaptive driving modes — Auto, Eco, Sport, Snow, and Off-road — drivers can easily adjust settings to suit road conditions. Whether in the city, on the highway, or off-road, the MG RX9 offers a seamless driving experi-ence, enhanced by its advanced intelligent driving system and all-road intelligent cruise assist. Technology and Safety Safety is at the forefront of the MG RX9’s design. Equipped with Bosch’s 3rd Generation Intelli-gent Front View Camera and 5th Generation Millimetre Wave Radar, the RX9 offers advanced driver-assistance systems for all-around protection. The SUV also features HD 360-degree sur-round view cameras, allowing drivers to have complete visibility, whether parking or manoeu-vring in tight spaces. Besides these, MG RX9 also comes with “MG Pilot” level 2 ADAS on the LUX trim, which includes Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK), Intelligent High Beam Control (IHC), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Blind Spot Monitoring System (BLIS). The vehicle’s robust structure also incorporates over 81% high-strength steel, with ultra-high strength thermoformed steel in key areas of the passenger compartment for enhanced protec-tion. The RX9 meets the latest C-NCAP crash safety standards, ensuring the highest levels of occupant safety. Copy 08/12/2024 10There’s nothing progressive about unleashing state-sanctioned killing in healthcare

No. 6 Purdue routs MarshallWhere to Watch Jackson State vs. Alcorn State on TV or Streaming Live – Nov. 23Jimmy Carter, former president and humanitarian, dies at 100

Opposition fighters are closing in on Syria’s capital in a swiftly developing crisis that has taken much of the world by surprise. Syria's army has abandoned key cities in the west and south with little resistance. Nervous residents in Damascus describe security forces on the streets. The state news agency has been forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad has left the country. Who are these opposition fighters ? If they enter Damascus after taking two of Syria’s largest cities , what then? Here’s a look at the stunning reversal of fortune for Assad and his government in just the past 10 days, and what might lie ahead as Syria’s 13-year civil war reignites . This is the first time that opposition forces have reached the outskirts of the Syrian capital since 2018, when the country’s troops recaptured the area following a yearslong siege. The approaching fighters are led by the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham , or HTS, along with an umbrella group of Turkish-backed Syrian militias called the Syrian National Army. Both have been entrenched in the northwest. They launched the shock offensive on Nov. 27 with gunmen capturing Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the central city of Hama, the fourth largest. The HTS has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. But the group said in recent years it cut ties with al-Qaida, and experts say HTS has sought to remake itself in recent years by focusing on promoting civilian government in their territory as well as military action. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani told CNN in an exclusive interview Thursday from Syria that the aim of the offensive is to overthrow Assad’s government. The HTS and Syrian National Army have been allies at times and rivals at times, and their aims might diverge. The Turkish-backed militias also have an interest in creating a buffer zone near the Turkish border to keep away Kurdish militants at odds with Ankara. Turkey has been a main backer of the fighters seeking to overthrow Assad but more recently has urged reconciliation, and Turkish officials have strongly rejected claims of any involvement in the current offensive. Whether the HTS and the Syrian National Army will work together if they succeed in overthrowing Assad or turn on each other again is a major question. While the flash offensive against Syria’s government began in the north, armed opposition groups have also mobilized elsewhere. The southern areas of Sweida and Daraa have both been taken locally. Sweida is the heartland of Syria’s Druze religious minority and had been the site of regular anti-government protests even after Assad seemingly consolidated his control over the area. Daraa is a Sunni Muslim area that was widely seen as the cradle of the uprising against Assad’s rule that erupted in 2011. Daraa was recaptured by Syrian government troops in 2018, but rebels remained in some areas. In recent years, Daraa was in a state of uneasy quiet under a Russian-mediated ceasefire deal. And much of Syria's east is controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led group backed by the United States that in the past has clashed with most other armed groups in the country. Syria’s government now controls just four of 14 provincial capitals. Much depends on Assad’s next moves and his forces' will to fight. A commander with the insurgents, Hassan Abdul-Ghani, posted on the Telegram messaging app that opposition forces have started carrying out the “final stage” of their offensive by encircling Damascus. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian troops have withdrawn from much of the two southern provinces and are sending reinforcements to Homs. If that city is captured, the link would be cut between Damascus, Assad’s seat of power, and the coastal region where he enjoys wide support. “Homs to the coastal cities will be a very huge red line politically and socially. Politically, if this line is crossed, then we are talking about the end of the entire Syria, the one that we knew in the past,” said a Damascus resident, Anas Joudeh. Assad appears to be largely on his own as allies Russia and Iran are distracted by other conflicts and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah has been weakened by its war with Israel, now under a fragile ceasefire. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, is calling for urgent talks in Geneva to ensure an “orderly political transition,” saying the situation is changing by the minute. He met with foreign ministers and senior diplomats from eight key countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Egypt, Turkey and Iran on the sidelines of the Doha Summit. President-elect Donald Trump in his first extensive comments on the developments in Syria said the besieged Assad didn’t deserve U.S. support to stay in power. “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT,” Trump posted on social media.ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police arrested thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of a rally in the capital to demand the ex-premier’s release from prison, a security officer said Sunday. Khan has been behind bars for more than a year and has over 150 criminal cases against him. But he remains popular and his political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf or PTI, says the cases are politically motivated. Shahid Nawaz, a security officer in eastern Punjab province, said police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters. They include five parliamentarians. Pakistan has sealed off Islamabad with shipping containers and shut down major roads and highways connecting the city with PTI strongholds in Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Tit-for-tat teargas shelling between the police and the PTI was reported on the highway bordering Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan suspended mobile and internet services “in areas with security concerns.” The government and Interior Ministry posted the announcement on the social media platform X, which is banned in Pakistan. They did not specify the areas, nor did they say how long the suspension would be in place. “Internet and mobile services will continue to operate as usual in the rest of the country,” the posts said. Meanwhile, telecom company Nayatel sent out emails offering customers “a reliable landline service” as a workaround in the areas suffering suspended cellphone service. Khan's supporters rely heavily on social media to demand his release and use messaging platforms like WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram said Khan's wife Bushra Bibi was traveling to Islamabad in a convoy led by the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur. “She cannot leave the party workers on their own,” said Akram. There was a festive mood in Peshawar, with PTI members dancing, drumming and holding up pictures of Khan as cars set off for Islamabad. The government is imposing social media platform bans and targeting VPN services , according to internet advocacy group Netblocks. On Sunday, the group said live metrics showed problems with WhatsApp that were affecting media sharing on the app. The U.S. Embassy issued a security alert for Americans in the capital, encouraging them to avoid large gatherings and warning that even “peaceful gatherings can turn violent.” Last month, authorities suspended the cellphone service in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to thwart a pro-Khan rally. The shutdown disrupted communications and affected everyday services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery. The latest crackdown comes on the eve of a visit by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said authorities have sealed off Islamabad's Red Zone, which houses key government buildings and is the destination for Khan's supporters. “Anyone reaching it will be arrested,” Naqvi told a press conference. He said the security measures were in place to protect residents and property, blaming the PTI for inconveniencing people and businesses. He added that protesters were planning to take the same route as the Belarusian delegation, but that the government had headed off this scenario. Naqvi denied cellphone services were suspended and said only mobile data was affected. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan in Peshawar and Asim Tanveer in Multan contributed to this report.

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Two goals from Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic within the game’s first 13 minutes catapulted the Los Angeles Galaxy to their sixth-ever MLS Cup title, defeating the New York Red Bulls 2-1 on Saturday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA. New York’s wait for a first-ever MLS Cup continues as one of the league’s inaugural franchises fell in just its second-ever championship game appearance, which came 16 years ago in 2008 against the Columbus Crew. It was as shaky a start as possible for New York, which looked to be in shambles after being forced to make a late switch in the back line when center-back Andres Reyes was scratched just moments before kick-off due to illness. Noah Eile, the 22-year-old Swede, was alerted five minutes before his team took the pitch that he would start. Painstil was played through and was kept onside by Eile, who sagged just a step too deep, allowing the speedy Galaxy forward to get in on goal and sneak a low shot under goalkeeper Carlos Coronel in the ninth minute. Joveljic made it 2-0 just four minutes later when he walked in on goal between a loose Red Bulls defense and poked a tepid shot just inside the left post. As they had all season, though, the Red Bulls found a response in the 28th minute off a corner kick. After the ball pinged around the box, it fell to Sean Nealis, who took it off the chest and finished the half-volley into the right side of the goal to halve New York’s deficit. The sudden jolt from the former captain sprang the Red Bulls to life, as they settled into the game and ultimately evened run of play while searching for an equalizer. Chances were traded throughout, including a post from each team. Los Angeles’ Miki Yamane struck the right post from the right side of the box in the 65th minute. In the 71st minute, a save by Coronel on Gabriel Pec sparked a Red Bulls counter-attack that ended with Emil Forsberg just grazing the outside of the right post.

Bitcoin catapulted above $100,000 for the first time on Thursday, a milestone hailed even by skeptics as a coming-of-age for digital assets as investors bet on a friendly U.S. administration to cement the place of cryptocurrencies in financial markets. Once it broke $100,000 in Thursday’s Asian morning, boosted by U.S. President-elect Trump’s nomination of pro-crypto Paul Atkins to run the Securities and Exchange Commission, it was soon at an all-time high of $103,619. It last fetched $101,139, up about 3.2% on the day. The total value of the cryptocurrency market has almost doubled over the year so far to hit a record over $3.8 trillion, according to data provider CoinGecko. By comparison, Apple alone is worth about $3.7 trillion. Bitcoin’s march from the libertarian fringe to Wall Street has minted millionaires, a new asset class and popularised the concept of “decentralised finance” in a volatile and often controversial period since its creation 16 years ago. Bitcoin has more than doubled in value this year and is up more than 50% in the four weeks since Donald Trump’s sweeping election victory, which also saw a slew of pro-crypto lawmakers being elected to Congress. “CONGRATULATIONS BITCOINERS!!! $100,000!!! YOU’RE WELCOME!!! Together, we will Make America Great Again!” Trump said on Truth Social, his social media network, on Thursday. “We’re witnessing a paradigm shift,” said Mike Novogratz, founder and CEO of U.S. crypto firm Galaxy Digital. “Bitcoin and the entire digital asset ecosystem are on the brink of entering the financial mainstream – this momentum is fuelled by institutional adoption, advancements in tokenisation and payments, and a clearer regulatory path.” Trump — who once labeled crypto a scam — embraced digital assets during his campaign, promising to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet” and to accumulate a national stockpile of bitcoin. “We were trading basically sideways for about seven months, then immediately after Nov. 5, U.S. investors resumed buying hand-over-fist,” said Joe McCann, CEO and founder of Asymmetric, a Miami digital assets hedge fund. Bitcoin’s proponents cheered Trump’s nomination of Atkins to the SEC. A former SEC commissioner, Atkins has been involved in crypto policy as co-chair of the Token Alliance, which works to “develop best practices for digital asset issuances and trading platforms,” and the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “Atkins will offer a new perspective, anchored by a deep understanding of the digital asset ecosystem,” said Blockchain Association CEO Kristin Smith. “We look forward to working with him ... and ushering in — together — a new wave of American crypto innovation.” A slew of crypto companies including Ripple, Kraken and Circle are also jostling for a seat on Trump’s promised crypto advisory council. PART OF THE LANDSCAPE Bitcoin has proven a survivor through precipitous downturns. Its move into six-figure territory is a remarkable comeback from a dip below $16,000 in 2022 when the industry was reeling from the collapse of the FTX exchange. Founder Sam Bankman-Fried was subsequently jailed. Analysts say the growing embrace of bitcoin by big investors this year has been a driving force behind the record-breaking rally. U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds were approved in January and have been a conduit for large-scale buying, with more than $4 billion streaming into these funds since the election. “Roughly 3% of the total supply of bitcoins that will ever exist have been purchased in 2024 by institutional money,” said Geoff Kendrick, global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered. “Digital assets, as an asset class, is becoming normalized,” he said. It is already becoming increasingly financialised, with the launch of bitcoin futures in 2017 and a strong debut for options on BlackRock’s ETF in November. Crypto-related stocks have soared along with the bitcoin price, with shares in bitcoin miner MARA Holdings and exchange operator Coinbase each up around 65% in November. Software firm Microstrategy, which has repeatedly raised funds to buy bitcoin and held an aggregate of about 402,100 bitcoins as of Dec. 1, has gained around 540% this year. Trump himself unveiled a new crypto business, World Liberty Financial, in September, although details have been scarce and billionaire Elon Musk, a major Trump ally, is also a proponent of cryptocurrencies. Some say the asset remains a speculative or investment vehicle and not an instrument for payments. On Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell likened bitcoin to gold, “only its virtual, its digital.” “People are not using it as a form of payment, or as a store of value. Its highly volatile, it’s not a competitor for the dollar.” While earlier big bitcoin rallies have been followed by significant pullbacks, its wider adoption now may help tamp down volatility, analysts said. “That is not to say that there will not be 30-50% drawdowns over time, but my base case is that the nature of the drawdowns will be less severe than what we saw in the last bear market,” Sean Farrell, head of digital asset strategy at Fundstrat Global Advisors, said. “Passive flows into ETFs, a liquid options market, corporate treasury adoption, and nation state adoption will likely play a large role in dampening volatility,” Farrell said. ‘WHO CAN PROHIBIT IT’ Cryptocurrencies have been criticized for their massive energy consumption and use in crime around the world, and the underlying technology is far from delivering a revolution in the way money moves around the globe. The U.S. and Britain announced on Wednesday they had disrupted what they described as a global money laundering ring which used cryptocurrency to help rich Russians to evade sanctions and launder cash for drug traffickers. Although calculations vary, the Cambridge University Centre for Alternative Finance estimates bitcoin uses around the same amount of electricity each year as Poland or South Africa. Still, as Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out at an investment conference on Wednesday: “Who can prohibit it? No one.” And its longevity is perhaps testament to a degree of resilience. “As time goes by it’s proving itself as part of the financial landscape,” said Shane Oliver, chief economist and head of investment strategy at AMP in Sydney. “I find it very hard to value it ... it’s anyone’s guess. But it does have a momentum aspect to it and at the moment the momentum is up.”

ATLANTA (AP) — 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. years old. The died on Sunday, more than a year after entering , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, who , 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, and 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 president from Plains A moderate Democrat, 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. And then, the world 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 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 . 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 Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and 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.” ‘An epic American life’ 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 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 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, . 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, 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. A small-town start 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. , 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 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. 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 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. ‘Jimmy Who?’ 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 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?” 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. 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. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ 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 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 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. ‘A wonderful life’ 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 in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” ___ Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report. Bill Barrow, The Associated Press

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WEST LAYFAYETTE — Trey Kaufman-Renn had 18 points and Myles Colvin and Camden Heide each scored 13 to lead No. 6 Purdue to an 80-45 rout of Marshall on Saturday. Colvin and Heide were making their first starts of the season for Purdue (5-1). Braden Smith, who was averaging 14.6 points, was scoreless on an 0-for-4 shooting day. Smith had a team-high nine assists. Nate Martin led Marshall (3-2) with nine points, playing 24 minutes before fouling out with several minutes left in the game. The Boilermakers shot 55% in the first half to take a 39-24 halftime lead. However, Purdue made only one field goal in the final nine minutes of the first half. Purdue picked up the intensity in the second half, leading by as many as 41 points. The Boilermakers shot 50% for the game and held the Thundering Herd to 30%. HONOLULU — R.J. Davis scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half and No. 10 North Carolina pulled away from Hawaii. Elliot Cadeau had 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, Seth Trimble scored 11 of his 13 points after halftime and Ian Jackson added 11 for the Tar Heels (3-1). Davis, an All-American guard, moved into fourth place on North Carolina’s all-time career scoring list. He overtook Sam Perkins with his free throw at the 11:59 mark of the first half. Gytis Nemeiksa led Hawaii with 16 points and had 10 rebounds. Akira Jacobs made three 3-pointers and scored 13 points off the bench. Tanner Christensen had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Marcus Green added 10 points for the Rainbow Warriors (4-1). NASSAU, Bahamas — David Joplin scored a career-high 29 points and made six 3-pointers, Chase Ross had 14 points and five steals, and No. 15 Marquette beat Georgia. Joplin scored five straight Marquette points to begin a 12-3 run that Stevie Mitchell capped by banking in a shot with 1:33 remaining for a 78-66 lead. Mitchell made a steal at the other end to help seal it. Ben Gold scored a career-high 14 points and Kam Jones had 10 points and seven assists for Marquette (6-0). Jones was coming off the program’s third triple-double in more than 100 seasons when he had 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in 36 minutes against No. 6 Purdue on Tuesday. Gold’s previous high was 12 points at UConn on Feb. 7, 2023, while Joplin’s was 28 at DePaul on Jan. 28, 2023. Blue Cain scored 17 points and Tyrin Lawrence added 15 for Georgia (5-1). Dakota Leffew had 11 and Silas Demary Jr. 10. The Bulldogs turned it over 18 times, leading to 27 points by Marquette. ATLANTA — Dillon Mitchell had 14 points and 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, and No. 18 Cincinnati beat Georgia Tech. Jizzle James and Cole Hickman also scored 14 points apiece for the Bearcats (5-0), who passed the first true test of the young season against their first major conference opponent in the Yellow Jackets of the ACC. Naithan George made three 3-pointers while scoring 13 points for Georgia Tech (2-3). Duncan Powell added 10 points, while leading scorer Baye Ndogo finished with just five points. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Will Riley scored his 19 points in the second half and No. 25 Illinois beat Maryland Eastern Shore. Kylan Boswell added 13 points, Tomislav Ivisic had 11 and Morez Johnson Jr. finished with 10 for the Illini (4-1), who shot 25% (10 for 40) from 3-point range but committed just nine turnovers. Tre White grabbed 11 rebounds and Kasparas Jakucionis seven for Illinois, which outrebounded the Hawks 59-38. Jalen Ware scored 10 points and Christopher Flippin had 10 rebounds for Maryland Eastern Shore (2-6), which had its lowest point total of the season. The team’s previous low came in 102-63 loss to Vanderbilt on Nov. 4.Market Trading Guide: IPCA Lab, Mangalam Cement among top stock recommendations for Monday

What DOGE dude Vivek Ramaswamy got wrong about Trump’s victory (Hint: It’s a lot)Raiders coach Antonio Pierce recently was asked what he noticed about the three teams ahead of his in the AFC West. Pierce, as blunt as they come, wasted no time answering. “Quarterback play,” he said. “Bottom line, quarterback play.” Pierce might as well have been speaking for every losing team across what has increasingly become a league of haves and have-nots. Eight NFL teams have won three or fewer games this season, including the 2-10 Raiders. The overwhelming common denominator among those teams is poor quarterback play. Six of those clubs have quarterbacks who rank in the bottom 10 in overall QB rating (QBR). Other than the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots, who are starting young quarterbacks taken in the first three picks of the past two drafts, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are contractually locked into Trevor Lawrence on a five-year, $275 million contract, each of them will look to upgrade through the draft, free agency or the trade market in the offseason. Meanwhile, if the season ended today, six of the 14 teams that would make the playoffs boast quarterbacks with top-10 ratings. Seven others have quarterbacks within the top 20 in QBR. Only C.J. Stroud, whose Houston Texans sit atop the AFC South, is out of the top 20. And his 53.2 rating is 21st. Clearly, there is a correlation between winning and good quarterback play. Yes, football is the ultimate team sport, and as the 4-8 Cincinnati Bengals have shown, having a quarterback such as Joe Burrow, who ranks third in QBR, guarantees nothing with a defense ranked 31st. But there is no doubt that winning is difficult without good quarterback play and borderline impossible in terms of competing for the Super Bowl without great quarterback play. Acknowledging that reality is the easy part. The far more elusive aspect is actually reaching into the college ranks and securing and developing a quarterback capable of ensuring even moderate success, let alone the kind necessary to hoist a Lombardi Trophy. Between the bad luck of never being able to select a high-end quarterback and a volatile return rate that produces more busts and below-average quarterbacks than successful ones, filling the most important position on a football field can be an arduous ordeal. Just ask the Raiders, who have been on a 22-year odyssey trying to find a Super Bowl-caliber quarterback. Or the New York Jets, who have nothing to show for the two quarterbacks they invested top-3 picks in the past seven drafts? “Identifying, projecting, acquiring and developing college quarterbacks into thriving NFL quarterbacks has and will more than likely always be as difficult a task as there is in the NFL,” Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead said. Why is it so hard? So many factors contribute to the difficulties of evaluating NFL-worthy college quarterbacks and developing them into viable NFL players. There are the physical traits: arm strength, accuracy, timing and mobility. But then there are the more subtle traits unavailable to the naked eye. “So much of what you have to evaluate is stuff you don’t see on tape,” an NFL personnel executive said. “Their drive, their ability to problem solve, mental toughness to overcome and deal with the criticism and the pressure of the position. The obsession with knowing the offense inside and out.” None of this is new, of course. “It’s always been hard,” Raiders offensive coordinator Scott Turner said. “There are certain things that you look for, but there’s so many factors involved. Obviously the physical traits, but there’s so much, I don’t want to say pressure, but there’s so much that goes into playing quarterback and being under a microscope, and it’s not just what you do on the football field, and that’s a lot.” What makes it even more perplexing is that contemporary players’ knowledge and ability levels are far more advanced now than they were 20 years ago. High school quarterbacks are throwing the ball more than ever and benefit from the proliferation of spring and summer seven-on-seven games that provide them with competitive live reps on a year-round basis. At the college level, quarterbacks are throwing the ball at record rates. That’s far different from two decades ago when most college quarterbacks operated out of two-back sets and handed the ball off more than they threw it. NFL evaluators had to evaluate in a vacuum then. Information and teaching points have never been more accessible, thanks to the internet, multiple quarterback coaches and experts offering online film sessions. Peyton Manning’s film breakdowns of NFL quarterbacks on ESPN’s “Detail” have become appointment viewing for young quarterbacks. Former NFL quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan hosts the hugely popular “The QB School” on YouTube. Contemporary quarterbacks have also credited the Madden video football game with teaching them about coverage schemes and how to attack them. Technology has advanced over the years, providing young quarterbacks with tools such as virtual reality headsets and software to simulate defenses, timing and speed. It’s no surprise, then, that young quarterbacks such as Burrow, Stroud, Los Angeles Chargers star Justin Herbert, Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels and Denver Broncos rookie Bo Nix were immediate contributors. “There are plenty of examples of highly successful young quarterbacks,” one NFL personnel executive said. “You can’t overlook the wins.” Nevertheless, the hit rate for high-end quarterbacks has not improved over the years. “It’s always been difficult to evaluate this position,” an NFL front office executive said. “And those unseen traits separate the ones who can and the ones who can’t.” Flawed process, in some cases Much of what goes right or wrong for a young quarterback comes down to the same age-old principles. “It still depends on the person and the situation,” Snead said. “The situation they are leaving and coming into.” Along with new collective bargaining rules that have reduced the time players can practice and be present in their team facilities, young quarterbacks are beholden to the infrastructure of the teams that draft them. Depending on the coaching, personnel and stability of the franchise, it can set them up for success or failure. Some young quarterbacks are forced to play before they are ready out of necessity. If they don’t have adequate help around them, that often leads to struggles, impatience and stunted growth. “Quarterbacks don’t get enough time to develop,” an NFL personnel executive said. “There is pressure to play right away. College quarterbacks are taking Football 101, and everyone wants to rush them to Football 500.” The Jets moved on from Sam Darnold, whom they drafted third overall in 2017, after just three seasons. The Cleveland Browns drafted Baker Mayfield first overall in that same draft. They got rid of him within four years. Now in Minnesota, Darnold has the 10-2 Vikings in the thick of the NFC playoff race. Mayfield’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers are tied for first place in the NFC South after winning the division and a playoff game last season. Amazingly, both players were on the same Panthers roster in 2022. “A case of giving up on guys too early,” an NFL personnel executive said. At their previous stops, their teams didn’t have the patience or wherewithal to commit and execute a development plan. Darnold had two head coaches and two offensive coordinators in his three seasons with the Jets. His replacement, Zach Wilson, drafted No. 2 overall in 2021, played under two offensive coordinators during his three seasons in New York. It’s hard enough to master one NFL offensive scheme. But to abruptly switch to another makes the process even more difficult. And if success isn’t happening overnight for high draft picks such as Wilson and Darnold, it’s not long before they are shown the door. It’s completely counter intuitive but happens all the time. As opposed to Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, who developed behind Alex Smith during his rookie season of 2017. Or Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who learned behind Aaron Rodgers for two seasons before taking over in 2023. Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson waited nine games behind Joe Flacco before getting his first start as a rookie in 2018. Mahomes is a three-time Super Bowl champion. Jackson is a two-time MVP and three-time Pro Bowler. Love has the Packers on the cusp of the playoffs for the second straight season. “I think just understanding that every case is different,” Turner said. “Some guys are going to come in, and because of maybe the team around them or just how they’re wired, they’re going to catch fire. And then there are some other guys that may not be, and it takes them a little longer.”

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BROOKINGS, S.D. — The Montana football team's season came to a close against the same opponent for the second year in a row. The 14th-seeded Grizzlies jumped out to an early lead against third-seeded South Dakota State but couldn't keep pace in a 35-18 loss in the second round of the FCS playoffs on Saturday at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. They had in Texas. The Griz finished the season with a 9-5 overall record after being No. 3 in the preseason FCS Top 25 poll. SDSU improved to 11-2 in front of an announced crowd of 10,376 fans and will host a quarterfinal game next week against No. 6 Incarnate Word, which beat No. 11 Villanova, 13-6, at home on Saturday. "They just had too much for us," Montana head coach Bobby Hauck said. "There was a couple plays that got away. And we didn't get off the field on third down in the first half. Anyway, I thought our guys played hard. We just didn't quite get there today, which is kind of the story of our season." The Griz went 5 of 13 on third down but were 1 of 7 in the first half while falling into a 21-3 deficit. SDSU picked up 7 of 12 but was 6 of 7 in the first half when it scored 21 of its 35 unanswered points after going down 3-0. The game started to get away late in the first half. Angel Johson ripped off a 44-yard run on third-and-6 and Mark Gronowski connected with Griffin Wilde for a 24-yard touchdown on a third-and-18 corner route after the Griz had back-to-back tackles for loss. That put Montana in a 21-3 deficit. "Every time we tried to seize some momentum — especially in the first half, we were up 3-0 — we didn't get off the field," Hauck said. "That was a good job by them. We just didn't win in third down. I think that's probably the real story, especially the first half." Gronowski completed 12 of 16 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Wilde hauled in seven catches for 114 yards and two scores. The Jackrabbits ran for 222 yards on 42 carries as Amar Johnson went for 103 yards and Angel Johnson went for 91 yards. Gronowski ran for two scores. "He's a good quarterback," Montana cornerback Trevin Gradney said. "Spins it well. He can run. I didn't do a good enough job on the back end." Montana had the chance to make it a one-score game before that touchdown when a trio of chunk plays got them to the 21-yard line. Keali'i Ah Yat was picked off at the 3-yard line by safety Tucker Large. The Griz got a break as South Dakota State missed a 44-yard field goal attempt by Hunter Dustman wide left, but the loss of a prime scoring opportunity was a big factor. They didn't score again until there was 9:41 left in the game when Sawyer Racanelli made a catch in one-on-one coverage down the left sideline and dove into the end zone for a 44-yard touchdown. That cut the deficit to 35-10. The Griz added a 9-yard touchdown catch by Keelan White with four seconds left to get within 35-18 after Erik Barker caught a two-point conversion. But it was too little too late. "We knew it was going to be an execution game," White said. "Just bottom line, we didn't execute real well." Ah Yat drew the start, played the whole game and completed 19 of 32 pass attempts for 231 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. White led with 68 receiving yards and one score while Racanelli had 66 yards and one score. Ah Yat was the leading rusher with 25 yards on nine carries as Montana's run game was bottled up to 75 yards on 29 attempts. Eli Gillman was held to 12 yards on 10 rushes. "We started him because we thought he'd give us the best chance to win," Hauck said of Ah Yat, who has been in a rotation with Logan Fife for most of the year when he's been healthy. "I thought he played pretty well." The Griz lost the turnover battle 2-1 and were outscored 7-3 in points off turnovers. Jackrabbits linebacker Adam Bock had a pick-6 when Matthew Durrance broke up a pass and Bock ran back the interception for a 40-yard touchdown, putting the Griz down 35-3. That came right after Montana fell down 28-3 in the opening minute of the fourth quarter when Gronowski scored another 1-yard QB sneak, this time on fourth down, to cap a 12-play, 73-yard drive. UM had taken advantage of a turnover to go up 3-0 with a 34-yard field goal from Ty Morrison on its second possession after going three-and-out to start the game. Hank Nuce forced a fumble that Ronald Jackson Jr. recovered at the Griz 48-yard line to set up that drive, which included Ah Yat finding Junior Bergen for 15 yards to convert a fourth-and-6 at the SDSU 34-yard line. Montana's defense couldn't stop SDSU on the next drive, giving up two third-down conversions and allowing a 21-yard pass from tight end Kevin Brenner to Gronowski, who snuck it in for a 1-yard touchdown on the next play. That put the Griz down for the first time at 7-3 with 2:44 left in the first quarter. Montana fell down 14-3 when Gronowski hit Wilde for 38 and 34 yards on back-to-back plays. The second pass went for a touchdown with 12:33 left in the second half. The first one came on a free play as UM jumped offside for the second snap in a row after having SDSU facing a third-and-9. "I don't know if they couldn't see the ball or what," Hauck said. "That was not very good by us. ... He was just clapping his hands twice." Bergen got only one special team return as the Jackrabbits kicked away from him. SDSU's one punt to him was pinned inside the 5-yard line. Safety Ryder Meyer led the defense with 10 tackles while safety Jaxon Lee was second with eight takedowns. The Griz had four tackles for loss, and defensive end Hayden Harris got the lone sack to finish with 9.5 this year. "I didn't think we tackled particularly well today," Hauck said. "Now, when I saw that, I don’t mean it to be like, well, if we'd have tackled better, we'd have won. Maybe we didn't tackle very well because they broke tackles." Frank Gogola is the Senior Sports Reporter at the Missoulian and 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @FrankGogola or email him at . What a grab from ! 👏 TOUCHDOWN, MONTANA! Why not another TD for Griffin Wilde x 🎥 ESPN+ / The Grizzlies attack with an early fumble recovery 🐻💥 x 🎥 ESPN + / . is just that dude 😎 x 🎥 ESPN + / Get local news delivered to your inbox!