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lodibet 66 Today is International Migrants Day International Migrants Day, observed every December 18th, has become a pivotal moment to reflect on the ongoing global migration crisis. With the number of international migrants surpassing 281 million, as estimated by the United Nations, it is clear that migration is no longer an isolated or localized phenomenon. It is an urgent, multifaceted issue with vast implications, shaping the future of societies across the globe. The causes of migration are manifold —political instability, economic disparities, environmental catastrophes, and, increasingly, the consequences of climate change. We need to examine the state of global migration, its root causes, and the response of governments and international bodies, shedding light on the need for urgent action and cooperation. At the heart of the current migration crisis is the overwhelming number of displaced people caused by war and conflict. Take the Syrian Civil War, for instance, which has resulted in over 13 million displaced individuals since 2011. Neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon have borne the brunt of the refugee influx, grappling with limited resources and mounting social tensions. Similarly, the war in Ukraine has triggered one of the largest refugee crises in Europe since World War II, with millions seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. These conflicts, while distinct in their origins, share a common thread: they create immense suffering and push individuals to flee their homes in search of safety, stability, and a better life. Yet, the international community’s response to such displacement has often been inconsistent and insufficient. While some nations have opened their doors to refugees, others have erected barriers, both physical and political, to prevent entry. The economic dimension of migration cannot be overlooked. In many parts of the world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, Central America, and South Asia, economic hardship and lack of opportunity continue to drive large-scale migration. Migrants often seek better job prospects, education, and healthcare, all of which are fundamental to improving their quality of life. However, the migration of low-skilled labour has been met with mixed reactions in wealthier countries. On one hand, migrant labor is crucial for industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and construction. On the other hand, there is growing resentment toward migrants, fueled by fears of job competition, cultural differences, and economic strain. This tension has given rise to populist and nationalist movements, particularly in Europe and the USA, which often frame migration as a threat to national security and economic stability. In reality, however, migrants contribute significantly to the economies of host countries, filling labour shortages and contributing to innovation and growth. In recent years, a new dimension of migration has emerged: environmental displacement. Climate change is increasingly being recognized as a driving force behind migration, with millions of people forced to flee areas affected by rising sea levels, droughts, and extreme weather events. The Pacific Islands, for example, face the existential threat of rising ocean levels, displacing entire communities. Similarly, parts of South Asia, including Bangladesh and India, are experiencing severe flooding and crop failures, compelling many to migrate in search of safety and sustenance. Despite these challenges, the international community has largely failed to address the links between migration and climate change. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other international bodies have yet to adopt comprehensive policies to support climate-induced migrants, leaving millions vulnerable to the ravages of environmental destruction. Governments must recognize the intersection between climate change and migration and prioritize both climate resilience and migration governance as key elements of global policy. The migrant experience is often marked by hardship, as individuals face discrimination, exploitation, and abuse. Migrants are frequently denied basic rights and access to healthcare, education, and legal protections. This is particularly true for those migrating illegally or through irregular channels, who often find themselves at the mercy of human traffickers and smugglers. Even those who migrate through legal channels can face bureaucratic hurdles and xenophobic attitudes in their host countries. For example, many migrants in Europe face hostility from local populations who view them as competitors for limited resources. This hostility is fueled by misinformation, stereotypes, and fear, often exacerbated by political leaders who use migrants as scapegoats for broader societal issues. It is critical that the international community work to dismantle these prejudices and promote the social integration of migrants. Governments must create pathways for legal migration, ensure fair treatment for all migrants, and foster a culture of inclusion. The lack of global governance frameworks to manage migration further exacerbates the crisis. While the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, adopted by the United Nations in 2018, was a step in the right direction, its implementation has been uneven at best. Some countries, like Canada and Germany, have embraced its principles, creating more inclusive policies for migrants. However, others have withdrawn their support, opting instead for stricter border controls and more punitive measures. The absence of a cohesive international policy means that migrants are often left to navigate a patchwork of conflicting regulations, making it harder for them to find safety and stability. This lack of coordination has led to unnecessary suffering, particularly for refugees who are caught in legal limbo, unable to access the protections they need. It is also essential to recognize that migration is not just a crisis, but also an opportunity. Migrants bring with them valuable skills, cultural diversity, and new perspectives that can enrich the societies they join. In many cases, migrants fill critical gaps in labour markets, contributing to sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and technology. For instance, during the covid-19 pandemic, migrant healthcare workers were instrumental in saving lives and providing care, often at great personal risk. Similarly, migrant entrepreneurs play a vital role in driving innovation and economic growth, particularly in sectors such as technology and small businesses. Rather than viewing migrants as a burden, governments should recognize the benefits they bring to their economies and work to harness their potential through inclusive policies and integration programmes. The international community must also address the root causes of migration. While temporary solutions, such as resettlement and asylum, are necessary, they do not address the underlying factors that force people to migrate in the first place. The global community must focus on conflict prevention, sustainable development, and climate action to reduce the need for migration. Investments in peacebuilding and diplomacy can help mitigate the impact of conflict, while efforts to combat poverty and inequality can reduce economic migration. At the same time, addressing the environmental factors that drive displacement requires a global commitment to combating climate change and building resilience in vulnerable regions. Without addressing these root causes, migration will continue to be a source of tension and instability. International Migrants Day serves as a reminder that migration is a global issue that requires coordinated international action. Governments, international organizations, and civil society must work together to ensure that migrants are treated with dignity and respect, and that their rights are protected. The migration crisis is not a temporary challenge, but a long-term issue that will continue to shape the global landscape in the coming decades. As we face the interconnected challenges of conflict, economic inequality, and climate change, it is essential that we adopt a comprehensive, compassionate approach to migration, one that recognizes the humanity of every migrant and seeks to create a world where migration is a choice, not a necessity. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

Gavin and Stacey star Laura Aikman reveals incredible fact about secret wedding dressTORONTO , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Pluribus Technologies Corp. PLRB ("Pluribus" or the "Company") announced today that the Company and its various subsidiaries (collectively, the "Pluribus Group") have been granted an order (the "Initial Order") from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) (the "Court") under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (the "CCAA") in order to restructure its business and financial affairs. After careful consideration of all available alternatives, following thorough consultation with legal and financial advisors, the directors of the Company determined that it is in the best interests of the Pluribus Group and its stakeholders to seek creditor protection under the CCAA given, among other things, the previously-announced termination of the forbearance agreement dated August 14, 2024 between the Company and National Bank of Canada (the "Lender") relating to a secured credit agreement dated April 27, 2022 , as amended, among the Company, certain of its subsidiaries and the Lender (the "Credit Agreement") on November 29, 2024 and the demand letter from the Lender received on December 3, 2024 demanding immediate payment of the sum of C$10,334,246.28 and US$857,668.71 under the Credit Agreement. The Initial Order provides for, among other things: (i) a stay of proceedings in favour of the Pluribus Group up to and including December 27, 2024 (the "Initial Stay Period"); (ii) approval of the debtor-in-possession financing (the "DIP Financing"); and (iii) the appointment of B. Riley Farber Inc., as monitor of the Pluribus Group (in such capacity, the "Monitor"). In addition, the Initial Order provides the Company with relief from certain reporting obligations under securities legislation and stock exchange rules. The stay of proceedings and the DIP Financing is intended to provide the Pluribus Group with the time and stability required to consider potential restructuring transactions and seek to maximize the value of its assets for the benefit of its creditors and other stakeholders. Pluribus Group intends to undertake a court supervised sale and investment solicitation process that is intended to solicit interest in, and opportunities for, a sale of, or investment in, all or part of the Pluribus Group's assets and business operations. This process may include the sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Pluribus Group. In that regard, the Company intends to seek Court approval on December 23, 2024 to undertake a sale and investment solicitation process. In order to fund Pluribus Group's working capital needs, professional fees and expenses during the CCAA proceedings, Pluribus Group has executed a term sheet with Evergreen Gap Debt GP Inc., as agent for itself and of Evergreen Gap Debt LP, (the " DIP Lender "), pursuant to which the DIP Lender will advance a debtor-in-possession loan during the Initial Stay Period and subsequently. The Company intends to operate in the ordinary course throughout the CCAA proceedings under the general oversight of the Monitor. The Monitor has set up a website at: https://brileyfarber.com/engagements/pluribus-technologies-corp/ , where updates on the restructuring process, the Monitor's reports to the Court, Court orders and other information will be posted as soon as they are available. The Company's common shares will be transferred to the NEX Board of the TSX Venture Exchange (the " TSXV ") where trading will be suspended, effective today. The Company's common shares are expected to be delisted as a result of the CCAA proceedings in accordance with the rules of the TSXV. About Pluribus Technologies Corp. Pluribus is a technology company that is a value-based acquirer, operator, and divestor of small, profitable business-to-business technology companies in a range of verticals and industries. Pluribus provides its acquisitions access to experienced sales and marketing resources, strategic partnership opportunities, a diverse portfolio of customers in different geographical markets, and enabling technologies to create new revenue streams and drive growth. When market conditions are conducive to raising capital at reasonable costs, Pluribus focuses on rapidly acquiring and integrating new companies to accelerate growth. In less favorable environments, Pluribus implements strategies to maximize organic growth, increase cash flow, and selectively divest portfolio companies to optimize value. For more information, please visit: pluribustechnologies.com. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any such forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "contemplates", "believes", "projects", "plans" and similar expressions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this release include statements regarding: the Company's expectation that the business operations of the Pluribus Group will not be interrupted as a result of the CCAA proceedings; the Company's belief that the stay of proceedings and DIP Financing will provide the Pluribus Group with the time and stability required to consider potential restructuring transactions; the Company's intention to seek Court approval to launch a sale and investment solicitation process; the trading and delisting of the Company's common shares. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive creditor or regulatory approvals; the ability to complete any future potential transactions in connection with the SISP in CCAA proceedings and the terms and conditions thereof; the availability of DIP Financing; the application of federal, provincial and municipal laws; the impact of increasing competition; those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com . Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. For further information about Pluribus Group and the CCAA proceedings, please contact the Monitor: B. Riley Farber Inc., 150 York Street, Suite 1600, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S5, Phone: (437) 294-4600, Email: pluribus@brileyfin.com or Diane Pedreira , Interim President and Chief Operating Officer, Phone: 1(800) 851-9383. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pluribus-technologies-corp-obtains-creditor-protection-to-pursue-restructuring-and-sales-process-302334204.html SOURCE Pluribus Technologies Corp. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.AP News Summary at 4:32 p.m. EST

TikTok ban won’t solve the problem: Social media needs regulation, not one company banANNAPOLIS, Md. — Army football turned down an offer to join the American Athletic Conference several years ago, deciding that operating as an independent made more sense for the program. Given a second opportunity to become a football-only member of the American last year, amidst the changing landscape of college football with super conferences making scheduling very difficult for an independent and because the AAC offered a pathway to the expanded College Football Playoff, the West Point leadership did an about face and accepted. Army (11-1) introduced itself to the American Athletic Conference in impressive fashion by going unbeaten, steamrolling nine league opponents by an average score of 35-13. Quarterback Bryson Daily and company put a nice bow on their debut season by blowing out Tulane, 35-14, in the conference championship game. Coach Jeff Monken gave his troops 24 hours to celebrate then told them to refocus for the most important game of the season. “Obviously that was a big game Friday night and a great victory for our team. Winning a championship is certainly a source of pride for our program. But there is no bigger game in the world than this next one,” Monken said. “It’s been a good season. It doesn’t become a great season unless we win this game Saturday, which really is the measure of success for a service academy.” Monken looks back at 2021 when his Army team that had lost just three games was beaten by a Navy club that finished 4-8. “This rivalry is at the forefront of our focus for 365 days a year and this game is almost like a season of its own,” he said. “That’s the reality about the magnitude of this game. Even after 11 wins and a conference championship, this game is more important than any of that.” Army has 11 wins for only the second time in program history and can reach 13 by beating Navy, then Marshall in the Independence Bowl. The Black Knights are defined by a powerful rushing attack featuring Daily and fullback Kanye Udoh that leads the nation with 314.4 yards per game. Daily has run for 1,480 yards and 29 touchdowns, while Udoh has contributed 1,064 yards and 10 scores. The Black Knights do most of their damage between the tackles behind an offensive line consisting of five first or second team All-American Athletic Conference picks. “I can’t say enough about those guys. I knew coming in it was going to be a very special unit and they’ve been incredible all season,” Daily said of the Army offensive line. “They’re tough, they’re rugged and they’re aggressive.” Rules changes that eliminated cut blocking anywhere outside the tackle box have forced option offenses to reinvent themselves. Last season, Monken scrapped Army’s traditional triple-option in favor of putting the quarterback in shotgun formation and utilizing zone blocking schemes. After ranking 115th nationally in total offense, Monken reinstalled Cody Worley as offensive coordinator and reverted back to power option football. “Last year, we probably went too far away from what we had traditionally done. We just had to do a reset and find what fits our personnel and personality,” Monken said. “There’s elements of both worlds; some of what we did last season was a good investment. We’ve been able to use a number of things we did a year ago in our schemes this season.” Army does still operate out of shotgun and employ zone blocking at times, but the schemes as a whole fit the straight-ahead running style of Daly and Udoh. “This senior class had a lot of banked reps running this old-school, under-center triple-option offense. Running a whole new offense last season meant some adjustments,” Daily said. “I think having those reps in the gun last season has helped and complimented what we’re doing now.” Army boasts a highly efficient offense that does a remarkable job of staying on schedule and routinely setting up third-short situations. The Black Knights rank fifth nationally in fewest penalties and second in tackles for loss allowed (2.8 per game). No opponent traditionally defends Army better than Navy, which is intimately familiar with the option. The Midshipmen are giving up 159.8 yards per game on the ground. “This will be the biggest test for our offense. It always is because Navy makes it really challenging to execute with how well they know what we do,” Monken said. “Navy has a really good defense with a lot of talented players that are well coached. To be able to block them and execute offensively is going to be very difficult.” While the Army offense gets a lot of credit for the team’s success, the defense has held up its end of the bargain. Inside linebackers Andon Thomas (team-high 88 tackles) and Kalib Fortner (66 tackles, team-high 8 1/2 for loss) along with safety Max DiDomenico (52) lead a unit that ranks 11th nationally in rushing defense with just 104 yards per game allowed. This marks the first time Army’s defense will go against Navy’s new Wing-T offense installed by first-year coordinator Drew Cronic. Count Monken among the admirers of the attack that incorporates triple-option, run-pass option and pro-style elements. “Drew has steadily developed this offense and it’s very unique and different — a real break from what traditionally has been done at the academies,” Monken said. “You watch the film and guys are running wide-open on pass plays and ballcarriers are running untouched through huge holes. They’ve done a great job of spreading teams out, using misdirection, hiding guys and spreading the ball sideline to sideline, vertically as well. It’s just great play design.” This will be the 11th Army-Navy Game for Monken as head coach at Army and 17th overall since he spent six seasons as an assistant at Navy under Paul Johnson. He still gets goose bumps whenever he walks into the NFL stadium that is sold out and electric in terms of atmosphere. “This game is played on a worldwide stage and millions of people will be watching on TV. It’s a view into the U.S. Military Academy and our Corps of Cadets,” Monken said. We represent all the men and women that serve in the United States Army and that is a great sense of responsibility and obligation.” Monken said the Army-Navy Game is always a slugfest and that it’s like watching both sides take turns hitting each other with a sledgehammer. “This game is an absolute brawl from start to finish. The intensity displayed on every single play is indescribable,” he said. “I’m anticipating this will be another one that is blow-for-blow and at the end one team will be left standing.” 125th Army-Navy Game Saturday, 3 p.m. at Northwest Stadium, Landover TV: CBS Line: Army by 6 1/2 (c)2024 The Capital (Annapolis, Md.) Visit The Capital (Annapolis, Md.) at www.hometownannapolis.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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

(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .Thousands 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 Hamas attack that sparked the war killed some 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, 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: ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Friday that eliminating a U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia is his country’s “strategic goal,” and called on members of the group to leave Syria or lay down arms. In an interview with Turkey’s NTV television, Fidan also suggested that Syria’s new rulers — the rebels who swept into Damascus and who are backed by Ankara — would not recognize the militia, known as the People’s Protection Units, or YPG. The group is allied with the United States in the fight against the Islamic State group but Turkey views it as a terrorist organization and a security threat. “The non-Syrian YPG members must leave the country as soon as possible. The entire command level of the YPG must also leave the country,” Fidan said. “After that, those who remain must put down their weapons and continue with their lives.” Fidan said that as the Syrian insurgents advanced toward Damascus and Syria's Bashar Assad was toppled, Turkey in talks that were underway in Qatar at the time asked Iran and Russia not to intervene militarily. “At some point they (Russians and Iranians) made phone calls. That evening, Assad left,” Fidan said. UNITED NATIONS —– The situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating with scores of reported fatalities from multiple Israeli airstrikes in recent days and insecurity hampering aid deliveries, the United Nations said Friday. U.N. humanitarian coordinator Muhannad Hadi urged respect for the principles of “distinction, proportionality and precautions” and called on the parties to ensure the protection of civilians and safe and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid. Hadi cited the looting of a 70-truck convoy that was traveling at the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday and the looting of four out of five trucks leaving the Kissufim crossing that same day. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs known as OCHA reported that Israel denied more than 90% of the 137 missions the U.N. and its partners wanted to send to besieged northern Gaza since Oct. 6. BEIRUT — Israeli warplanes launched airstrikes on Friday against sites in several cities in Syria, an opposition war monitor reported. Associated Press journalists heard loud explosions throughout the Syrian capital Damascus. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The strikes hit the summit of Mount Qasioun in Damascus, Khalkhala Airport in the countryside of Sweida and the Defense and Research Laboratories in Masyaf, located in the western countryside of Hama, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights Earlier on Friday, Israeli strikes targeted six military sites in the countryside of Damascus and Sweida, the observatory said. Israel has conducted hundreds of airstrikes since the toppling of the Syrian regime, saying it seeks to neutralize potential threats following the ouster of Bashar Assad. The strikes have targeted weapons production sites, anti-aircraft batteries and airfields. Israel has also moved troops to occupy a buffer zone in the Golan Heights on its border with Syria. DAMASCUS, Syria — Russian forces and military vehicles were seen withdrawing from southern Syria on Friday toward their primary base in in the coastal city of Latakia. The Russian troop movement comes amid questions about whether Moscow will still be able to project power in the Middle East after the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad. His rule was supported by Russia and he received asylum in Russia after being toppled Sunday. There are also questions about what a Russian pullback in Syria could mean for the war in Ukraine. Significant Russian military convoys were seen on the Damascus-Homs highway near Shinshar village heading north. The military vehicles, bearing Russian flags, included tanks and armored personnel carriers. The military equipment had been previously stationed in southern regions such as Daraa and Damascus. On Thursday, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Russian forces were leaving bases in Ain Issa and Tel Al-Samn in the Al-Raqqah countryside. Satellite images released by Maxar Technologies on Friday show what appear to be cargo planes at a Russian military airfield in Syria with their nose cones opened to receive heavy equipment, along with helicopters being dismantled and prepared for transport. Earlier this week, all Russian naval ships departed the Syrian port of Tartus, according to a U.S. official. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's embassy in the Syrian capital of Damascus will reopen on Saturday for the first time since 2012, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Friday. In an interview with Turkey’s NTV television Fidan said a newly appointed interim charge d’affaires had left for Damascus on Friday together with his delegation. “It will be operational as of tomorrow,” he said. The embassy in Damascus had suspended operations in 2012 due to the escalating security conditions during the Syrian civil war. All embassy staff and their families were recalled to Turkey. The Syrian insurgents who overthrew Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday did so with vital help from Turkey. 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 the Jordanian city of Aqaba for meetings on Saturday with Arab foreign ministers, Turkey’s foreign minister and the United Nations special envoy for Syria, the U.N. said. Blinken will 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 underscored “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 group 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.

Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 for Wolverines' 4th straight win over bitter rivalJimmy Carter, the 39th US President, Has Died at 100SOUTH BEND, Ind. — In the rivalry showdown between No. 2 UConn women’s basketball and No. 8 Notre Dame on Thursday night, only one team played like a national championship contender, and it wasn’t the Huskies. UConn dropped its third consecutive meeting in the series with the Fighting Irish for the first time since 2013, suffering its first loss of the season, 79-68. A star-studded squad of Notre Dame alumni were in attendance to witness the upset including Dallas Wings star Arike Ogunbowale and Connecticut Sun sharpshooter Marina Mabrey, who both were on the roster when the Irish won their most recent NCAA title in 2018. That run included a victory over UConn in the Final Four. A rowdy sold-out crowd at Purcell Pavilion fired chants of “overrated” at UConn’s Paige Bueckers as the Irish pulled away down the stretch. Notre Dame point guard Hannah Hidalgo logged a near triple-double in the win, drawing attention from NBA stars on social media including Ja Morant and Damian Lillard. For Bueckers and the Huskies, the stinging defeat was a reality check. “It’s a measuring point. Obviously we started out 8-0, played some pretty good teams and got some pretty good wins, but this exposed what we still need to continue to get better at and what we need to fix heading into another rough part of the schedule,” Bueckers said. “So we’ll just continue to learn and get better, not get complacent. Having these challenges early so we can continue to grow and get challenged, I think it’ll be better for the future.” While it was far from the only problem in UConn’s loss, it was apparent in the team’s 3-for-16 shooting from 3-point range: The Huskies desperately missed Azzi Fudd. Fudd’s return to the court from her ACL and medial meniscus tear last season was a slow process, but she hit her stride, going 4 for 7 beyond the arc with 18 points in 18 minutes for the Huskies in an 85-52 rout of Louisville last Saturday. But just as Fudd was beginning to shoulder some of the burden of leading the Huskies, the redshirt junior suffered a minor right knee sprain in the third quarter against the Cardinals that ruled her out for the rivalry showdown with the Irish and placed the weight squarely back onto Bueckers. The UConn superstar didn’t look like the dominant version of herself that hung 29 points on No. 14 North Carolina a few weeks ago, continuing a 3-point slump by going 0 for 4 against Notre Dame after she hit 1 of 6 in the previous win over Louisville. Bueckers still finished with 25 points — nearly double the Huskies’ next highest scorer — and shot 55% from the field with two steals, but she was held below her season averages in both assists and rebounds with the Irish forcing her off ball more than usual. “You’ve got to take some of the pressure off of Paige, and sometimes she’s her own worst enemy because she over-penetrates to try to get something in traffic and get to the free-throw line,” Auriemma said. “She makes it a little bit harder on herself than it has to be. But at the same time, if (teams are) going to play her the way they played her — which I think is what she’s going to see a lot of — we need other contributions. Paige is going to try to carry the team by herself when she thinks there aren’t enough of those contributions, and that’s not good for her and that’s not good for us. That’s on us as coaches. We need to do a better job of that.” Ashlynn Shade stepped back into a starting role, replacing Fudd after scoring 13 points off the bench against Louisville, but the sophomore couldn’t replicate the performance at Notre Dame, finishing 0 for 5 in just 21 minutes. After falling behind almost immediately in the first quarter, the Huskies found limited offensive production around Bueckers with 14 points from freshman Sarah Strong plus 11 from graduate transfer Kaitlyn Chen and 10 from sophomore KK Arnold. The offensive effort from the guards also cost the Huskies defensively. Chen and Arnold both struggled to keep up with Hidalgo, who knocked down open look after open look from 3-point range to finish 6 for 11 with 29 points plus 10 rebounds and eight assists. The Irish went 10 for 18 as a team from beyond the arc. To UConn’s credit, no active player on the roster had competed at Notre Dame’s Purcell Pavilion before Thursday, so the intensity of that atmosphere was a new experience. The Irish boast one of the most disruptive defenses in the country, averaging more than 12 steals per game, and the Huskies also ended up on the wrong side of a lopsided free-throw margin by taking just five attempts at the charity stripe to Notre Dame’s 14. But despite trailing by as many as 13 points in the first half, the inexperienced Huskies managed to muster a response. They outscored the Irish 24-17 in the third quarter and cut their deficit to as little as a point, but they ran out of answers after Hidalgo sent Notre Dame into the fourth quarter on a buzzer-beater 3-pointer that fired up the entire arena. “I think this was probably the first time we’ve trailed at halftime this season, so with such a young group there’s different things that present itself each and every game,” Bueckers said. “At halftime the game could have went two different ways. We could have quit, gave up, and they could have blown us out, or we could have responded to that challenge and fought back. I thought we did that, and then they went on another run, and we didn’t have a response after that. So just continuing to know basketball is a game of runs and continuing to grow in that, expect that, embrace that, and continue to stay poised and stay together.” It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see a rematch between the rivals in the NCAA Tournament this season, and UConn could look drastically different come March. Fudd’s most recent knee injury is expected to be short term, and the Huskies also hope to return sixth-year forward Aubrey Griffin by early January after she also suffered a season-ending ACL tear in 2023-24. Adding Griffin’s veteran presence in the post feels essential after redshirt sophomore Ice Brady and redshirt freshman Jana El Alfy combined for just eight points and five rebounds at Notre Dame, and Griffin brings a versatile athleticism that none of the team’s active forwards possess. Irish forward Liatu King dominated UConn on the boards Thursday with 12 rebounds plus 16 points, and she likely wouldn’t replicate that production matched up with a player like Griffin, who averaged 9.5 points, six rebounds and 1.5 steals before her injury last year. Bueckers has been open about her commitment to the ultimate goal of ending UConn’s eight-year NCAA championship drought in her final collegiate season. But the Huskies are still looking for what Auriemma describes as the “killer instinct” required to make a deep tournament run, and the team’s response to the rivalry loss will indicate whether this group has what it takes. The last time UConn dropped three straight games to Notre Dame was in 2013, and the Huskies went on to upset the Fighting Irish in the Final Four that year before beating Louisville to win their ninth national title. Losing to Notre Dame also gave UConn late-season motivation in 2023-24: Almost every member of the roster described the 82-67 defeat at Gampel Pavilion as their lowest moment of the season before the team embarked on an unprecedented Final Four run with just six players in the rotation. “We’ll take the loss as a lesson, but also use it as fuel,” Bueckers said. “Like, they beat us and they deserved to win. They played harder than us, and they wanted it more, which is what we can’t have as a team. So to continue to get better, (we’ll) watch the film, break it down, really take it to heart what they did to us and the loss that we had to continue to move forward.” ©2024 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trump calls Florida meeting with PM Trudeau productive amid stiff tariff threat

WASHINGTON (AP) — A machinists strike. Another safety problem involving its troubled top-selling airliner. A plunging stock price. 2024 was already a dispiriting year for Boeing, the American aviation giant. But when one of the company's jets crash-landed in South Korea on Sunday, killing all but two of the 181 people on board, it brought to a close an especially unfortunate year for Boeing. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and aviation experts were quick to distinguish Sunday's incident from the company’s earlier safety problems. Alan Price, a former chief pilot at Delta Air Lines who is now a consultant, said it would be inappropriate to link the incident Sunday to two fatal crashes involving Boeing’s troubled 737 Max jetliner in 2018 and 2019. In January this year, a door plug blew off a 737 Max while it was in flight, raising more questions about the plane. The Boeing 737-800 that crash-landed in Korea, Price noted, is “a very proven airplane. "It’s different from the Max ...It’s a very safe airplane.’’ For decades, Boeing has maintained a role as one of the giants of American manufacturing. But the the past year's repeated troubles have been damaging. The company's stock price is down more than 30% in 2024. The company's reputation for safety was especially tarnished by the 737 Max crashes, which occurred off the coast of Indonesia and in Ethiopia less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019 and left a combined 346 people dead. In the five years since then, Boeing has lost more than $23 billion. And it has fallen behind its European rival, Airbus, in selling and delivering new planes. Last fall, 33,000 Boeing machinists went on strike, crippling the production of the 737 Max, the company's bestseller, the 777 airliner and 767 cargo plane. The walkout lasted seven weeks, until members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers agreed to an offer that included 38% pay raises over four years. In January, a door plug blew off a 737 Max during an Alaska Airlines flight. Federal regulators responded by imposing limits on Boeing aircraft production that they said would remain in place until they felt confident about manufacturing safety at the company. In July, Boeing agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving the Federal Aviation Administration regulators who approved the 737 Max. Acting on Boeing’s incomplete disclosures, the FAA approved minimal, computer-based training instead of more intensive training in flight simulators. Simulator training would have increased the cost for airlines to operate the Max and might have pushed some to buy planes from Airbus instead. (Prosecutors said they lacked evidence to argue that Boeing’s deception had played a role in the crashes.) But the plea deal was rejected this month by a federal judge in Texas, Reed O’Connor , who decided that diversity, inclusion and equity or DEI policies in the government and at Boeing could result in race being a factor in choosing an official to oversee Boeing’s compliance with the agreement. Boeing has sought to change its culture. Under intense pressure over safety issues, David Calhoun departed as CEO in August. Since January, 70,000 Boeing employees have participated in meetings to discuss ways to improve safety.Prominent homebuilder donates $1M to New College for baseball field‘The Forum of 27 LGA Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo State chapter, has dissociated itself from recent reports in some sections of the media regarding the purported appointment of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere as the leader of the party in the state. In a communiqué issued on Thursday after an emergency meeting chaired by the Chairman of All Chairmen, Hon. Emeka Chukwu Alihie of Ohaji Egbema LGA, held on Tuesday in Owerri, the chairmen unanimously described the reports as false and deceptive. The group warned against any individual or group impersonating them and also endorsed the expulsion of Ugochinyere from the party for gross indiscipline. The Chairmen questioned how they could have appointed anyone as the leader of the party in the state when the party’s constitution does not empower them to do so, declaring that leadership is earned and not bought. According to the communiqué, the “Emergency Meeting of the Forum of Authentic PDP 27 LGA Chairmen” was convened in response to the purported crowning of Hon. Ugochinyere Imo, a member representing Ideato Federal constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, as the leader of the party in Imo State, as circulated in the media. The chairmen stated that this worthless and deceitful media circulation was signed by a faceless impostor named Barr. Uche Alisieigwe, who claimed to be the Chairman of the forum of all LGA Chairmen in Imo State. They resolved that Alisieigwe is not recorded in their records as a ward, LGA, zonal, or state executive member of their party. They further stated that one must be a Local Government Area Chairman of the party before being elected as the chairman of the forum of all Chairmen. They also questioned which LGA in Imo Alisieigwe represents, as he could not identify his LGA. The Forum for Authentic PDP 27 LGA Chairmen warned Uche Alisieigwe and his co-travelers to desist from impersonating party officials with false and malicious information and fake letterhead documents. The chairmen revealed that investigations indicated that Ugochinyere deployed the name of Uche Alisieigwe to cause disharmony within Imo PDP and beyond. They called on the party leadership in Imo State to begin criminal proceedings against this so-called faceless Uche Alisieigwe. They also urged the party leadership to urgently contact the Imo State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to investigate and confirm Alisieigwe’s membership of the legal profession. “Because we believe in the sacredness of the legal profession, we urge the Imo State chapter of the NBA to take disciplinary action against Uche Alisieigwe, who, by the title attached to his name, is presumed to be a lawyer, but is bringing ridicule, disrepute, and dishonor to the body.” The Forum of Authentic 27 LGA Chairmen of the party in Imo State hereby unequivocally disassociates, debunks, and refutes the malicious claims made by the non-existent group led by the faceless chairman and impostor Uche Alisieigwe. They stated that they are not part of his charade and cannot be linked to his criminal actions or those of his paymasters and co-travelers. “Let it also be stated that, according to the constitutional provisions of our great party, it is not the forum of LGA Chairmen that is responsible for electing the leader of the party, as erroneously stated by the faceless and shameless Uche Alisieigwe. Leadership is earned and not bought.” The Forum declared that there is no leadership vacuum or tussle in Imo PDP, and that they remain focused, loyal, and committed to the leadership directions provided by their leader, the undisputed and unopposed National Secretary of the party, and candidate in the 2023 Imo State governorship election, HE Most Dist. Senator Samuel Nnaemeka Anyanwu. The Forum identified with the decision of the members and leadership of the Great Party PDP in Umuopia Ward of Ideato North regarding the expulsion of Hon. Ugochinyere Imo, as stated in their expulsion letter. NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Talk on film industry held

Article content In Canada, truly cheap cars are officially a relic of the past. Just seven short years ago, it was possible to buy a brand-new car in Canada for less than $10,000 before fees. Now, going into 2025, the cheapest new car in Canada is priced just over $20,000. And this comes right as affordability is hitting a tipping point for Canadian households. How did we get here? There are three major factors involved. Here, we’ll walk through what’s driving vehicle prices up in Canada; and what you can do as a car buyer to keep your own vehicle costs as low as possible. Where have all the cheap cars gone? One major factor driving up vehicle prices in Canada is that our subcompact car segment is all but dead. This happened for one very simple reason: we weren’t buying them. RIP to the Chevrolet Sonic (2018); Ford Fiesta (2019); Nissan Micra (2019); Honda Fit (2020); Toyota Yaris (2020); Chevrolet Spark (2022); Hyundai Accent (2022); Kia Rio (2023); and the penultimate nail in the coffin, the Mitsubishi Mirage (2024). The Mirage was the final car left in Canada with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of less than $20,000 before fees: $16,998, to be exact. Dan Dakin, Manager of Communications Strategy and Public Relations for Mitsubishi Motors Canada, tells Driving.ca there’s enough inventory on dealer lots to last a few months into 2025. But the 2024 model year will be the Mirage’s last , and once those final units are gone, they’ll take the final sub-$20,000 MSRP with them. “In Canada, the Mirage was the lowest-selling vehicle in the Mitsubishi Motors lineup,” Dakin explains. “[This decision] allows Mitsubishi to shift its focus and resources on growing the SUV lineup.” You’ll find that same sentiment echoed by every automaker that’s cut its cheapest cars. Manufacturers can only sell what people will buy. This leaves exactly one subcompact car on Canada’s new-vehicle market, the 2025 Nissan Versa, which has a starting MSRP of $20,798 before fees. (Including destination charges and dealer fees, the 2025 Nissan Versa S is priced at $23,406.) This makes the 2025 Versa the most affordable new car in Canada . Cars are more expensive to build The second thing driving up prices is that cars are more expensive to build today than they were a decade ago. Crash safety standards are more stringent. Built-in infotainment screens were once a premium feature, but mandatory back-up cameras have made them a given. Radar-based safety systems require more sensors and on-board computing. And that’s before factoring in features Canadians have come to expect as standard, such as heated front seats and smartphone integration. “We can’t build Chevy Cavaliers from the ‘90s because they would never pass regulation,” says Robert Karwel, Director of Customer Success in the Data and Analytics Division for J.D. Power & Associates in Canada. “They have to be safer, cleaner, and increasingly not combustion-powered. Don’t look for vehicles as a whole in our marketplace to be getting cheaper any time soon.” Inflation is driving car prices up The third thing affecting vehicle prices in Canada is influencing prices on just about everything else: inflation. “The COVID craziness happened, massive inflation like we haven’t seen for a generation in Canada, and everything got really expensive,” Karwel explains. And when the costs of doing business go up for automakers, those costs inevitably gets passed on to you, the customer. “The automotive industry has seen some price increases in recent years, driven by a number of factors which rise from supply-chain disruptions, transportation costs, to the cost of raw materials, and the overall inflation,” Douâa Jazouli, Manager of Product and Technology Communications for Nissan Canada, told Driving.ca. “Let’s not forget,” Karwel adds, “the [Canadian auto workers union], Unifor; and the [U.S. United Auto Workers union], their wages went up 25% to 30% in the last round [of collective bargaining agreement negotiations]. Where do we think that’s going to come [from]? I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. This is how the economy works.” Young people are being priced out of Canada’s new-vehicle market What’s the inevitable end result of the death of cheap cars and the subsequent rise in entry-level new vehicle prices? Canadians with lower budgets are being priced out of the new-vehicle market. Karwel says his statistics show young people are taking the biggest hit. “Roughly 25% of the [new-car] market was under 35 years of age [prior to 2020],” Karwel says. “Post-COVID, it dropped to about 20% to 21%. That doesn’t sound like a lot, but that’s a number that doesn’t [typically] change very quickly.” Karwel points out that young people who live in urban environments may opt out of vehicle ownership because they have access to public transit and ride-hailing. But he also sees rising vehicle prices pushing young buyers into the used-car market. And since interest rates on used cars are consistently higher than on new cars, that’s not a great place for cash-strapped young Canadians to be. “The average [Canadian monthly] financing payment is still about $850,” says Karwel. “We were hitting close to $900 last year. It’s [roughly] $200 per month more than pre-COVID. So, we pushed those buyers away. We’re not really doing ourselves any favours with younger folk if payments are high by immediately historical norms.” Even as new cars get more expensive, there are good reasons to choose them over used cars. New cars can usually be financed with lower interest rates, and they often have better average fuel economy ratings than older ones. They also come with manufacturer warranties that help mitigate unexpected expenses, which helps keep costs stable for the first few years of ownership. If you’d still like to buy a new car but aren’t sure where to start as vehicle prices trend upward, here are a few points to consider. Choose the smallest vehicle you can live with With subcompact cars all but gone, subcompact SUVs are now the de facto entry point for most brands in Canada. And Canadians are increasingly choosing them as a relatively affordable option. This is not only true of the people who would formerly have chosen a cheap car: some of us are downsizing from larger SUVs and even trucks to save money. In fact, Karwel says subcompact SUV has overtaken midsize SUV over the past 12 months to become the third-largest sales segment in Canada. As you dive into shopping for subcompact SUVs, it’s important to know how this segment is structured. Some of these vehicles come with the features Canadians expect from SUVs, such as available all-wheel-drive (AWD), a high seating position, and plenty of ground clearance. Examples include the Hyundai Kona , Kia Seltos , Nissan Kicks , Toyota Corolla Cross , and Subaru Crosstrek . If you want an affordable small vehicle with SUV capability, these are good options. However, there’s another, more budget-oriented sub-segment of subcompact SUVs. Many of these are closer to hatchbacks than SUVs, but come with the “SUV” label to make them more appealing. The Hyundai Venue , Kia Soul , and Nissan Kicks Play are examples. These are all more car-like than the options above, and come exclusively with front-wheel-drive (FWD). If your budget is pushing you toward these vehicles, you should know that, apart from some interior height, they’re not giving you much more capability than a subcompact or compact car would. While the sub-$20,000 car is dead, more affordable cars like the subcompact Nissan Versa or compacts such as the Nissan Sentra , Toyota Corolla , Hyundai Elantra , and the new Kia K4 are still out there. If you’re looking at price above all else, consider these before you look at the cheapest subcompact SUVs. Incentives are back, so shop around more aggressively At the height of the semiconductor shortage, dealers were selling every single vehicle they could get their hands on. This left zero room for negotiation: you paid the price they asked, or they sold the car to someone else. Those days are now behind us, and incentives are starting to resurface . This can take the form of up-front cash discounts and lower interest rates. Some brands also offer incentives for returning customers and discounts for students or active military personnel. Don’t get your hopes up if you’re shopping within a very popular segment, though. Karwel says compact SUVs, and especially hybrids, are still selling as fast as dealers can get them, so you’re unlikely to see price drops there. But if you’re willing to buy a lower-trim vehicle or within a less popular segment — again, at the budget end, we’re thinking small cars, here — you’ve got more power as a buyer than you did a couple of years ago. It’s worth doing some cross-shopping and putting pressure on salespeople to score yourself a better deal. Get clear on how financing and leasing work Most people walk into a dealership focused solely on the monthly payment they can afford. Taking the time to learn more about how buying a new car works is very important . It’s not a one-size-fits-all process, and being informed will help you make an arrangement that works for you. For example, Karwel says most new car buyers in Canada today choose to finance for 84 months (or seven years). This gives you a lower monthly payment than a 60-month/five-year term, but that doesn’t mean it’s automatically the best choice for you. What if your household needs change in seven years? What if you move and can’t take the car with you? If you need to sell your car well before its financing term is up, you could find yourself in a situation called “negative equity.” This happens when you owe more on your car than what it’s worth on the used-car market. In this situation, you’ll need to carry the remaining balance over into your next car loan, and it will take you longer to get that car into the black. It can be a dangerous spiral into increasing unaffordability. Karwel says we’re seeing negative equity trending back upward in Canada after a brief reprieve during the pandemic. He says it’s not yet approaching record levels, and he’s not worried yet, but it’s something he’s monitoring. A trend he’s more concerned about is the increase in used-vehicle buyers choosing 84-month financing. Depending on the age of the used vehicle when you buy it, a seven-year term means it could reach the end of its life before you’ve finished your payments, leaving you paying for a car you can no longer use. Depending on your answers to these questions, you may be better off getting a less expensive vehicle that you can pay off faster if your budget allows it. Consider a lease or a Certified Pre-owned vehicle Leasing is another option for buyers on a budget. It tends to be more affordable than financing, but it comes with its own set of challenges. For one, you don’t own the vehicle at the end of the lease, so the money you spend benefits the dealership instead of you. There are also strict limits on how you can drive the vehicle and financial penalties if you surpass those limits. And if your situation changes, breaking a lease is very complicated, time-consuming, and costly. But if it’s the only way to get a monthly payment you can afford, then leasing may be your best choice. For some buyers, Certified Pre-Owned vehicles (CPO) can be a good alternative. CPO vehicles are newer used vehicles that are inspected by automaker-certified mechanics to ensure they’re in good shape. They typically come with some amount of warranty coverage and lower interest rates than uncertified used cars. CPO vehicles are more expensive than equivalent non-CPO used vehicles because of this, but they’re more affordable than new vehicles. “Financial solutions such as leasing and certified pre-owned financing are useful tools to address affordability in the marketplace,” says Mark Di Donato, President and Chief Executive Officer for Hyundai Capital Canada Inc. Di Donato points out you can also lower your vehicles payments by making a larger down payment up front and choosing to make more frequent payments, such as bi-weekly instead of monthly. “The ability to customize an automotive lease or loan through security deposits, down payments, contract term, payment frequency and loyalty incentives, are other ways that OEMs, dealers, and lenders help to match a vehicle payment to a specific customer budget,” Di Donato says. Put off your next vehicle purchase if you can One of the best things you can do to keep your car payments affordable is to not have one at all. If you’re shopping for a new car because your current one is older but it’s paid off and in good shape, you’ll benefit greatly from keeping it on the road and putting some money away every month instead. This will allow you to save up for a larger down payment on a future purchase, which will ultimately save you money. In short, when you’re buying a new car, you have more levers to pull than you might think. Even as new vehicle prices go up, there are a variety of tools at your disposal to keep your car costs manageable. With this information at hand, you’ll find it easier to work through your options and make a decision that’s right for you. Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X , Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.No. 6 Purdue routs Marshall