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Time magazine gave Donald Trump something it has never done for a Person of the Year designee: a lengthy fact-check of claims he made in an accompanying interview. The fact-check accompanies a transcript of what the president-elect told the newsmagazine's journalists. Described as a “12 minute read,” it calls into question 15 separate statements that Trump made. It was the second time Trump earned the Time accolade; he also won in 2016, the first year he was elected president. Time editors said it wasn't a particularly hard choice over other finalists Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate Middleton. Time said Friday that no other Person of the Year has been fact-checked in the near-century that the magazine has annually written about the figure that has had the greatest impact on the news. But it has done the same for past interviews with the likes of Joe Biden, Netanyahu and Trump. Such corrections have been a sticking point for Trump and his team in the past, most notably when ABC News did it during his only debate with Democrat Kamala Harris this fall. There was no immediate response to a request for comment on Friday. In the piece, Time called into question statements Trump made about border security, autism and the size of a crowd at one of his rallies. When the president-elect talked about the “massive” mandate he had received from voters, Time pointed out that former President Barack Obama won more electoral votes the two times he had run for president. The magazine also questioned Trump's claim that he would do interviews with anyone who asked during the campaign, if he had the time. The candidate rejected a request to speak to CBS' “60 Minutes,” the magazine said. “In the final months of his campaign, Trump prioritized interviews with podcasts over mainstream media,” reporters Simmone Shah and Leslie Dickstein wrote. ___ David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.Heavy travel day off to a rough start after American Airlines briefly grounds all flights
PICTURES: Pupils learn about jobs of the futureAidan O'Connell threw two touchdown passes, Daniel Carlson kicked four field goals, Ameer Abdullah had the first 100-yard rushing game of his career and the visiting Las Vegas Raiders defeated the New Orleans Saints 25-10 on Sunday afternoon. Abdullah, playing in the 141st game of his 10-year career, finished with 115 yards on 20 carries. O'Connell completed 20 of 35 passes for 242 yards as the Raiders (4-12) won their second straight after a 10-game losing streak. Brock Bowers added seven receptions for 77 yards, giving him 1,144 receiving yards, which broke the NFL single-season record for a rookie tight end, set by Mike Ditka with 1,076 yards in 14 games in 1961. Rookie Spencer Rattler passed for 218 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions and fell to 0-5 as the starter for the Saints (5-11). Las Vegas's first possession of the third quarter resulted in Carlson's 54-yard field goal, which increased its lead to 16-10 at the end of the period. Carlson's 25-yard field goal pushed the lead to 19-10 on the third play of the fourth quarter. O'Connell added an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tre Tucker to complete the scoring. The Raiders received the opening kickoff and held the ball for 17 plays before stalling. Carlson kicked a 31-yard field goal and the 3-0 lead held up through the end of the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Rattler threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to former Raiders tight end Foster Moreau and the Saints took a 7-3 lead with their first points in the first half in three games. The ensuing possession ended with Carlson kicking a 39-yard field goal that trimmed the lead to 7-6. O'Connell threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers to give Las Vegas a 13-7 lead with 57 seconds left in the second quarter. Rattler completed 5 of 7 for 54 yards in driving New Orleans to Blake Grupe's 34-yard field goal as time expired that trimmed the lead to 13-10 at halftime. --Field Level MediaThousands of Syrians gathered in Damascus’ main square and a historic mosque for the first Muslim Friday prayers since former President Bashar Assad was overthrown , a major symbolic moment for the country’s dramatic change of power. The rebels are now working to establish security and start a political transition after seizing the capital on Sunday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Iraq on Friday, pressing ahead with efforts to unify Middle East nations in support of a peaceful political transition in Syria. It’s part of Blinken’s 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year in Gaza but his first after Assad was ousted. The U.S. is also making a renewed push for an ceasefire in Gaza, where the war has plunged more than 2 million Palestinians into a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel’s war against Hamas has killed over 44,800 Palestinians in Gaza, more than half of them women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many were combatants. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. The October 2023 attack by Hamas in southern Israel that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and around 250 others were taken hostage. Some 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here's the latest: WASHINGTON — The U.S. military has transported out of Syria an American who disappeared seven months ago into former President Bashar Assad’s notorious prison system and was among the thousands released this week by rebels, a U.S. official said Friday. Travis Timmerman was flown out of Syria on a U.S. military helicopter, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Timmerman said he was released Monday morning alongside a young Syrian man and 70 female prisoners, some of whom had their children with them. He had been held separately from Syrian and other Arab prisoners and said he didn’t know of any other Americans held in the facility. — By Lolita C. Baldor THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch court on Friday rejected a bid from human rights groups to block weapons exports to Israel and trading with the occupied territories, after finding there were sufficient checks already in place to comply with international law. The ten organizations told The Hague District Court last month that they thought the Netherlands was in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up following World War II, by continuing to sell weapons to Israel more than a year into the conflict in Gaza. “The government uses my own tax money, that I pay, to kill my own family. I’ve lost 18 members of my own family,” Ahmed Abofoul, a legal adviser for the pro-Palestinian organization Al-Haq, one of the groups involved in the lawsuit, told the court during a hearing in November . The court ruling said that “it is not up to the interim relief judge to order the state to reconsider government policy. That is primarily a political responsibility.” Lawyers for the government argued it wasn’t up to a judge to decide foreign policy for the Netherlands. The activist groups pointed to several emergency orders from another court, the International Court of Justice, as confirming the obligation to stop weapons sales. In January, the top U.N. court said it was plausible Palestinians were being deprived of some rights protected under the Genocide Convention. The coalition said it will review the court’s ruling and is considering an appeal. CAIRO — Israeli attacks in and around a hospital in northern Gaza wounded three medical staff overnight into Friday and caused damage to the isolated medical facility, according to its director. Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya said Israeli quadcopter drones carrying explosives deliberately targeted the emergency and reception area of Kamal Adwan Hospital, where one doctor was wounded for a third time. Abu Safiya said “relentless” drone and artillery strikes throughout the night exploded “alarmingly close” to the hospital, heavily damaging nearby buildings and destroying most of the water tanks on the hospital’s roof and blowing out doors and windows. Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahiya has been hit multiple times over the past two months since Israel launched a fierce military operation against Hamas in northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strikes. “We demand international protection for the hospital and its staff,” Abu Safiya said in a statement released via the U.K.-based aid group Medical Aid for Palestinians, “as well as the entry of delegations with surgical expertise, medical supplies, and essential medications to ensure we can adequately serve the people we are treating.” Abu Safiya said there were 72 wounded patients at the hospital, one of the few medical facilities left in northern Gaza. He said he expected Israeli forces would allow a World Health Organization aid convoy to bring supplies to the hospital on Friday or Saturday, as well as a team of doctors from Indonesia. Israel has allowed almost no humanitarian or medical aid to enter the three besieged communities in northern Gaza — Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun and the urban Jabaliya refugee camp — and ordered tens of thousands to flee to nearby Gaza City. Israeli officials have said the three communities are mostly deserted, but the United Nations humanitarian office said Tuesday it believes around 65,000 to 75,000 people are still there, with little access to food, water, electricity or health care. Experts have warned that the north may be experiencing famine . BAGHDAD — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced stop in Iraq on Friday on his latest visit to the Middle East aimed at stabilizing the situation in Syria to prevent further regional turmoil. Blinken met in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani as part of the hastily arranged trip, his 12th to the region since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but his first since the weekend ouster of Syrian strongman Bashar Assad. Blinken has already been to Jordan and Turkey on his current tour and will return to Jordan for urgent meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers to try to unify support for an inclusive post-Assad transition that does not allow the Islamic State group to take advantage of the political vacuum in Syria and secures suspected chemical weapons stocks. In Baghdad, Blinken “will underscore U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” the State Department said. “He will also discuss regional security opportunities and challenges, as well as enduring U.S. support for engagement with all communities in Syria to establish an inclusive transition,” it said in a statement. His trip comes as the Biden administration winds down with just over a month left before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump has been highly critical of Biden’s approach to the Middle East and skeptical of the U.S. military presence in both Iraq and Syria. The U.S. and Iraq agreed in September to wrap up U.S.-led military operations against the Islamic State in Iraq next year, although Assad’s ouster and the potential for the group taking advantage of a political vacuum in Syria could complicate the timing of the withdrawal, according to American officials. DAMASCUS — The kingdom of Bahrain sent a message Friday to Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, the leader of the insurgency that toppled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It said Bahrain is “fully prepared to consult with you continuously and to provide support in regional and international organizations to achieve what is in the interest of the brotherly Syrian people.” It added, “We look forward to Syria regaining its authentic role in the Arab League.” Bahrain is the current head of the Arab summit. Syria was readmitted to the Arab League last year after 12 years of ostracization. It is still unclear how the international community will deal officially with the new interim government in Syria. JERUSALEM - Israel’s defense minister told troops to prepare to remain through the winter months on the peak of Mount Hermon, Syria’s highest point, located in a swath of southern Syria that Israeli troops moved into after the fall of Damascus to insurgents. The comments by Defense Minister Israel Katz signaled that the military will extend its occupation of the zone along the border, which Israel says it seized to create a buffer zone. In a statement Friday, Katz said that holding the peak was of major importance for Israel’s security and that it would be necessary to build facilities there to sustain troops through the winter. The summit of Mount Hermon, the highest peak on the eastern Mediterranean coast at 2,814 meters (9,232 feet), gives a commanding view over the plains of southern Syria. It also positions Israeli troops about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the center of Damascus. The mount is divided between the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, Lebanon and Syria. Only the United States recognizes Israel’s control of the Golan Heights. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli troops would remain in the zone until another force across the border in Syria could guarantee security. Israeli troops moved into the zone -– set as a demilitarized area inside Syrian territory under truce deals that ended the 1973 Mideast war -- after the regime of Bashar al-Assad fell last weekend. ANKARA, Turkey -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. “There’s broad agreement on what we would like to see going forward, starting with the interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said in joint statements with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The insurgent groups that toppled Assad in Syria have not made clear their policy or stance on Israel, whose military in recent days has bombed sites all over the country, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. Blinken also said it was crucial to keep the Islamic State group under control. “We also discussed the imperative of continuing the efforts to keep ISIS down. Our countries worked very hard and gave a lot over many years to ensure the elimination of the territorial caliphate of ISIS to ensure that that threat doesn’t rear its head again,” Blinken said. The Turkish foreign minister said the two discussed ways of establishing prosperity in Syria and ending terrorism in the country. “Our priority is establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant,” Fidan said, in a reference to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party. Blinken said: “We’re very focused on Syria, very focused on the opportunity that now is before us and before the Syrian people to move from out from under the shackles of Bashar al-Assad to a different and better future for the Syrian people, one that the Syrian people decide for themselves.” Blinken and Fidan said they had also discussed a ceasefire for Gaza. “We’ve seen in the last couple of weeks more encouraging signs that (a ceasefire) is possible,” Blinken said. Blinken, who is making his 12th trip to the Mideast since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last year but first since the weekend ouster of Assad, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan late Thursday. The outgoing Biden administration is particularly concerned that a power vacuum in Syria could exacerbate already heightened tensions in the region, which is already wracked by multiple conflicts, and create conditions for the Islamic State group to regain territory and influence. Later Friday, Blinken is to return to Jordan for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers and senior officials from the European Union, the Arab League and the United Nations. ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey has appointed a temporary charge d’affaires to reopen its embassy in Syria, Turkey’s state-run news agency reported. The Turkish Embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in 2012 due to the escalating security problems during the Syrian civil war and embassy staff and their families were recalled to Turkey. The Anadolu Agency said late Thursday that Turkey appointed Burhan Koroglu, its ambassador in Mauritania, to the post. UNITED NATIONS- – Two U.N. aid convoys were violently attacked in Gaza, making it virtually impossible for humanitarian agencies to operate without putting staff and civilians at risk, the U.N. food agency says. On Wednesday, a 70-truck convoy from Kerem Shalom was waiting for personnel to safeguard the food and other aid destined for central Gaza when there were reported attacks by Israeli forces in the nearby humanitarian zone, the U.N. World Food Program said Thursday. More than 50 people are now estimated to have died in the attacks, including civilians and local security personnel who had been expected to ensure the convoy’s safety, WFP said. The Rome-based agency said the convoy was forced to proceed from Kerem Shalom to central Gaza without any security arrangements, using the Philadelphi corridor, an Israeli-controlled route that had been recently approved and successfully utilized twice. On the way, WFP said, conflict and insecurity led to a loss of communication with the convoy for more than 12 hours. ”Eventually, the trucks were found but all food and aid supplies were looted,” the U.N. agency said. In a second incident, Israeli soldiers approached a WFP convoy moving out of the Kissufim crossing into central Gaza, fired warning shots, conducted extensive security checks, and temporarily detained drivers and staff, the agency said. “As the trucks were delayed, four out of the five trucks were lost to violent armed looting,” WFP said. UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations chief has a message for Israel: Stop the attacks on Syria. Secretary-General António Guterres is particularly concerned about several hundred Israeli airstrikes on several Syrian locations and stresses “the urgent need to de-escalate violence on all fronts throughout the country," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Thursday. The Israeli military said Tuesday it carried out more than 350 strikes in Syria over the previous 48 hours, hitting “most of the strategic weapons stockpiles” in the country to stop them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also acknowledged pushing into a buffer zone inside Syria following last week’s overthrow of President Bashar Assad. The buffer zone was established after Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1973 war. Dujarric said Guterres condemns all actions violating the 1974 ceasefire agreement between the two countries that remain in force. And the U.N. chief calls on the parties to uphold the agreement and end “all unauthorized presence in the area of separation” and refrain from any action undermining the ceasefire and stability in the Golan Heights, the spokesman said.
The morning began with a stunning resignation: Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Finance department the very day Canada’s Fall Economic Statement (FES) was announced. Only a few journalists stayed until the mini-budget was released in the mid afternoon. Canada’s National Observer stuck it out to bring you the biggest climate takeaways while Canada stares down the threat of a Trump tariff wall. The accelerated investment incentive — a tax credit system that gives businesses a tax break for investments in machinery and equipment — accounts for about three quarters of the new spending in the FES, David Macdonald, senior economist for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, told Canada’s National Observer. The program was developed by Freeland’s predecessor Bill Morneau and was due to ramp down in the coming years. The tax credit is being topped up to a total value of $17 billion over five years starting in 2025-26, up from the $35 million that will be spent this fiscal year, effectively extending the program through the decade. To put it in perspective, the extension is more than 10 times the $1.6-billion GST tax holiday, Macdonald said. The announced fund includes additional green investment with a 100-per-cent tax deduction for climate-friendly machinery and equipment purchases like electric vehicles. But the program also opens the door for further tax breaks for the oil and gas industry, including oil and gas property expenses, according to the FES. “A major beneficiary of it is, generally, the oil and gas sector, one of the biggest capital investors in the country,” Macdonald said. “The equipment that you buy to extract more oil from the oilsands, you can write that off more quickly.” Macdonald questioned whether these measures would insulate the economic shock a Trump tariff regime could bring, arguing that “continued corporate tax break isn’t going to make any difference.” “If there’s a 25-per-cent tariff wall — if that’s the test — I think it’s going to fail pretty badly,” Macdonald said. Instead of an insulator from tariff shocks, he said the fund acts as a “huge gift to the corporate sector.” Methane pyrolysis is now grouped under Ottawa’s investments into clean hydrogen, opening the door to use gas reserves for cleaner fuels. The Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit is a refundable tax credit that supports the cost of eligible equipment used in clean hydrogen production. It is expected to cost $43.5 million over five years, starting in 2025. Support varies between 15 and 40 per cent of eligible expenses based on the hydrogen’s assessed carbon intensity, with projects that produce the cleanest hydrogen receiving the highest levels of support. Methane pyrolysis is a nascent method of splitting methane molecules into solid hydrogen and carbon — which is controversial because, although it reduces emissions, it still releases some and encourages the continued production of gas. A senior finance official told Canada’s National Observer that development of the technology has the potential to replace some of the need for carbon capture, utilization and storage. Equipment used to convert clean hydrogen to ammonia may also be eligible for a 15 per cent tax credit. Labour requirements must be met to receive maximum credit rates. The economic statement included more information about the design and implementation of the Electric Vehicle Supply Chain tax credit to further incentivize Canadian corporations to invest in the growth of Canada’s EV industry. This 10 per cent refundable tax credit would require investment in three segments of the supply chain, including EV assembly, battery production and cathode active material production. To be eligible, corporations will have to acquire at least $100 million dollars in property, which includes buildings, structures and their component parts, eligible for the Clean Technology Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit in EV assembly, battery production and cathode production for a total of $300 million in investment, with some wiggle room for subsidiary companies that do two of the above. The credit will be granted for property which are acquired and in use on or after Jan. 1, 2024. The tax credit will be maintained for nearly a decade before being reduced to five per cent for 2033 and by 2034, it will no longer be in effect. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to deem the federal Impact Assessment Act unconstitutional, Ottawa now intends to change the regulations governing what kinds of projects are subject to a federal assessment. A senior finance official said the changes are “potentially significant” for major projects seeking approvals. Ottawa plans to allow for regulators like the Canada Energy Regulator, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and offshore petroleum boards to be the sole approver of projects, side-stepping the federal impact assessment processes. For example, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission alone could apply for certain brownfield nuclear projects, rather than requiring a federal impact assessment. The federal government will deliver Indigenous loan guarantees through a newly-formed, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation. The subsidiary will operate as the Canada Indigenous Loan Guarantee Corporation. Loans will be worth between $20 million and $1 billion and can apply to any sector. Ottawa will be announcing the first Indigenous loan guarantees in the near term. Matteo Cimellaro / Canada’s National Observer / Local Journalism Initiative
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Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy called on the people of Telangana to celebrate ‘Praja Palana Vijayotsavalu’ from December 1 to 10. Moreover, he will also unveil the Telangana Thalli statue in the Secretariat premises on December 9 and statehood activists, intellectuals, and others excelled in various fields will be invited to the celebrations, he said. The Congress government had drawn flak earlier for attempting to change Telangana’s state emblem, which the party said should reflect more democratic aspirations of the people. The existing one has the Kakatiya Toranam, and the Charminar inside it. Revanth Reddy also directed officials to make arrangements for the celebrations in the Secretariat area, Tank Bund and Necklace Road for three days to “spread the Telangana glory”, said a statement from the chief minister’s office (CMO). “Various stalls will be set up to create an exhibition-like atmosphere. Musical shows, air shows and eye-catching drone shows will also be organized for three days along with cultural programs to showcase Telangana culture and art forms,” it added. In a press release from his office, the Telangana chief minister said he will also organise a victory rally with unemployed youth in Peddapalli districts on December 4. “Arrangements will be made to handover appointment letters to 9,000 selected candidates through various recruitments, including Group 4, at the venue,” it added. For the ‘Praja Palana Vijayotsavalu’, the Telangana chief minister ordered the officials to make arrangements on a grand scale for the celebrations. The Congress government will explain its achievements in the first year after it won the elections, and will also unveil plans for future programs during the celebrations, stated the chief minister. The Telangana chief minister also congratulated officials for conducting the Mahila Shakti Sangham meeting successfully in Warangal on November 19. He further instructed authorities to make necessary arrangements for the farmers’ conference to be organized in Mahabubnagar on November 30. “The officials have been asked to organise awareness programs from November 28, two days before the Farmers conference, and also set up exhibition stalls at the venue,” said the statement. Revanth Reddy also suggested that department-wise programs be taken up from December 1. “A plan is being prepared for various development programs including foundation stone laying and inaugural ceremonies during the week long celebrations,” said the statement from his officePolice officials have been asked to take appropriate measures to avoid traffic problems in the city during the celebrations in Hyderabad from December 7 to 9. Police are advised to divert vehicles on Secretariat, Necklace Road and Tank Bund road for the smooth conduct of celebrations.
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About 2.6 million Stanley cups recalled after malfunctions caused burns. Is your mug included?ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never 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 said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Contributors include former AP staffer Alex Sanz in Atlanta.
Stars take road win streak into game against the Hurricanes Dallas Stars (13-6, in the Central Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (14-5-1, in the Metropolitan Division) Raleigh, North Carolina; Monday, 7 p.m. Canadian Press Nov 24, 2024 1:12 AM Nov 24, 2024 1:20 AM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Dallas Stars (13-6, in the Central Division) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (14-5-1, in the Metropolitan Division) Raleigh, North Carolina; Monday, 7 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars hit the road against the Carolina Hurricanes trying to extend a three-game road winning streak. Carolina has a 7-1-0 record at home and a 14-5-1 record overall. The Hurricanes are 6-1-0 in games their opponents commit more penalties. Dallas has a 5-4-0 record in road games and a 13-6 record overall. The Stars have a 6-2-0 record in games their opponents serve more penalty minutes. Monday's game is the first meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Martin Necas has scored 11 goals with 22 assists for the Hurricanes. Jackson Blake has over the past 10 games. Tyler Seguin has scored seven goals with nine assists for the Stars. Logan Stankoven has over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Hurricanes: 6-3-1, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.4 assists, three penalties and 6.4 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. Stars: 6-4-0, averaging 3.7 goals, 6.5 assists, 3.6 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.6 goals per game. INJURIES: Hurricanes: None listed. Stars: None listed. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar . The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Hockey San Jose brings losing streak into game against Los Angeles Nov 24, 2024 1:12 AM Flames visit the Senators after shootout win Nov 24, 2024 1:12 AM Panthers bring losing streak into matchup with the Capitals Nov 24, 2024 1:12 AMMiddle East latest: Syrians celebrate Assad's fall as US seeks a peaceful political transition
After consecutive years of lingering pandemic stress, the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District appears to be on the rebound. In 2024, the first full year the district has been supported by the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, the nonprofit introduced new events and expanded its budget, which is continuing to grow. “With roughly $60,000 in our operating budget, I strive to produce events and promotions that either raise money or pay for themselves to make sure we have a robust calendar of activity in our downtown,” Sarah Tipple, director of the district, said at a presentation to the City Council on Dec. 16. The district, which produces the May Madness hot-rod car show, the Hops and Vine Stroll, the Holiday of Lights and Winter Wonderland and more, added new programs such as the Chinese New Year dragon hunt, Pride Month window paintings, Juneteenth activities and a Dancing Under the Lights event, which is an evolution of the previous Dining Under the Lights program. Tipple said programs are designed to add vibrancy, art and community. “I’m hoping that these first annuals become staples in our downtown schedule of promotions for years to come,” Tipple said. At the meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to support the district’s recommendation to renew annual assessments it collects from businesses on the the Fourth Street corridor from Lincoln Avenue to the West End neighborhood. The assessments range from $25 for a personal service practitioner, like a salon in the West End, up to $425 for a financial institution on the main drag. For 2024, the city has collected $63,525 in assessment revenue, lower than the pre-pandemic average of $83,000, indicating that some payments are delinquent or unpaid, or there are empty storefronts. In 2023, the pandemic-strained business improvement district was thrown a lifeline because it faced a potential third year of revenue losses. The City Council voted unanimously to approve a two-year contract with the Chamber of Commerce to help re-energize the district. This year, district events netted about a $22,000 profit for the district. After expenses, the district is expected to close the year with a total profit of more than $2,000. Next year, the district’s total revenues are projected to increase about $23,000 to more than $135,000. The events and marketing budget is expected to jump about $10,000 to more than $62,000, and the operating budget is expected to increase about $5,000 to more than $71,000, according to a financial report presented to the city. Tipple said the addition of a part-time social media marketing manager last year continues to drive new online traffic to the district, its events and businesses. She said participatory events such as scavenger hunts encourage shoppers to go into stores. For the next year, the district is working on several initiatives to spruce up the downtown, including a public art plan with the Downtown San Rafael Arts District and city staff; a mulching project on landscaped areas; and power washing, graffiti removal and storefront improvements. The 2025 plan also includes a concerted effort to fill vacancies and put art on vacant storefronts. Other targets for the year include growing the Thursday night summer farmers market and supporting cultural diversity through celebrations for Lunar New Year, Pride Month and Dia de los Muertos. Karen Strolia, chief executive officer of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce, thanked the city for its support and credited the success of the partnership and the planned growth to Tipple’s leadership. “Sarah is a force to be reckoned with: She has a vision for this community, she’s extremely passionate, she shows up, blood, sweat and tears with high energy, to make sure our downtown district is well and happy and healthy and thriving,” Strolia said. Councilmember Eli Hill said he continues to be impressed with how much the business improvement district accomplishes each year on a shoestring budget. “I am thrilled that the the BID continues to evolve,” Hill said. “This is a hard job, and it’s gone up and down with the coming back from the pandemic and business changes,” said Councilmember Rachel Kertz. “And you’ve been able to really bring together all of Fourth Street.” Mayor Kate Colin applauded Tipple and Strolia for adjusting to the new partnership. “Congratulations to both of you for making that work over the past year, it’s a great model,” Colin said. “And you’ll continue to grow and build on it in the year to come, so thank you for an incredible year.”
International Process Solutions Now Offering Comprehensive Lab Installation Services Across Southern And Northern California
CHICAGO, Nov. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A plaintiff representing nationwide consumers has filed a class-action complaint against Set Forth Inc., an administrative services provider and processor of debt relief programs. The complaint alleges the company failed to properly notify consumers after cybercriminals breached Set Forth’s databases and purloined credit reports, loan applications, bank statements, and other highly sensitive information from more than 1.5 million consumers. According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Chicago, Set Forth and its business partner, Centrex, learned of the massive breach as early as May 21, 2024, but for unexplained reasons, opted to withhold the information from consumers for more than five months. “We are speaking with consumers who are absolutely livid with Forth’s decision to keep news of the breach from them,” said Elizabeth Fegan, managing partner of FeganScott and one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs. “Considering it takes just a few seconds and a few keystrokes for a cybercriminal to empty a bank account once armed with account numbers and social security numbers, we are eager to learn why Forth opted to sit mute after learning of the breach.” The complaint also alleges that once Forth decided to alert consumers, the company intentionally downplayed the severity of the breach, failing to provide details, including whether the breach was part of a ransom attack or whether consumers’ data was available for sale on the dark web. According to Fegan, companies are responsible for safeguarding consumer data, but failing in that, those companies have a moral imperative to warn. “Forth had an iron-clad obligation to raise its hand, admit the breach, and give its customers a chance to get ahead of the bad actors, and they failed,” Fegan added. Set Forth operates its principal place of business in Schaumburg, Illinois. FeganScott is joined by Cotchett Pitre & McCarthy LLP, Clapp & Lauinger LLP, and Wynne Law Firm to represent affected consumers. Consumers who are Forth or Centrex customers or those who received notice that their data was compromised are urged to contact FeganScott to learn more about their rights. About FeganScott FeganScott is a national class action law firm dedicated to helping victims of consumer fraud, sexual abuse, and discrimination. The firm is championed by acclaimed veteran class action attorneys who have successfully recovered $1 billion for victims nationwide. FeganScott is committed to pursuing successful outcomes with integrity and excellence while holding the responsible parties accountable. Case no. 1:24-cv-11974 Media Contact: Mark Firmani Feganscottpr@firmani.comBrock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders moved past Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka on Sunday to set the NFL record for most receiving yards by a tight end in his rookie season and also set the record for most receptions by a rookie, regardless of position. Bowers has 108 receptions to top the mark set last season by Puka Nacua (105) of the Los Angeles Rams. Bowers' yardage stands at 1,144 after having seven receptions for 77 yards in a 25-10 road victory over the New Orleans Saints. Bowers also set a franchise receptions for catches in a season, surpassing Darren Waller (107 in 2020). "It's awesome," Bowers said of the records in a postgame interview on Fox. "You never know what to expect coming up to the next level. It's been everything and more." Bowers' third catch on Sunday -- a 13-yard grab late in the second quarter against the Saints -- pushed his season total to 1,087 yards. Ditka totaled 1,076 receiving yards in 14 games with the Chicago Bears in 1961. Bowers, 22, set the record for receptions by a rookie tight end earlier this season by eclipsing the total of 86 reeled in by Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions in 2023. Bowers was selected by the Raiders with the 13th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. Despite all his catches, he has just four scoring receptions. While with Georgia, Bowers was the first back-to-back winner of the Mackey Award (2022, 2023), which is given to the top tight end in college football. --Field Level MediaSwept by Jags, Titans alone in AFC South basement