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7788bet Sceptic Skip, the self-styled Cromer seer, is back to pass on the only authentic home-grown crop of prognostications untainted by prejudice or pressures dressed up as promises. Norfolk’s answer to Cassandra, Nostradamus and Mother Shipton presents his exclusive predictions for the county in 2025, banking again on the old adage that people don’t always believe everything they read – but repeat it to be just on the safe side. With no grants from the Arts Council, Brussels or the Poppyland Soothsayers’ Association, he admits it has been tougher than usual to find scope and inspiration for confident forecasting “ in these breathtakingly ominous times”. January – Television viewers in Norfolk and north Suffolk ask for the old signal to be turned back on because they claim programmes have deteriorated so much since switch to digital transmission. Spokesperson Anna Log says one critic suggested television was called a medium “because so little of it is rare or well done.” Norfolk “parish harmony” programme launched as Egmere is twinned with Baconsthorpe. February -More BBC cuts begin to bite at local level. Radio Norfolk introduces new service for Norwich City’s away fixtures whereby match referees are wired up to provide unbiased running commentaries. Listeners complain about reception affected by strange whistling noises. . Appleton twinned with Syderstone as part of “joint core strategy.” March - Signs of improvement on the Norwich-London railway service following celebrity endorsement by Alan Partridge and Michael Portillo’ ‘ All train drivers now assured of a seat each way. Manningtree halt closed and declared a World Heritage Site. Bale twined with Wheatacre. April – Alarming indications of more serious erosion along the north Norfolk coast. Aylsham inshore lifeboat launched twice. North Walsham lighthouse goes digital. Reepham coastguards seek new recruits. Sidestrand offered a bypass in return for permission to build 500 clifftop retirement homes and an elastic stocking factory. Herringby twinned with Cranworth. May - Housing market picking up. First-time buyers spotted in Burnham Deepdale and North Creake. Survey by Chelsea (Cheaper Homes Encouraged by Local Society of Estate Agents) hints that rural deprivation in some parts of Norfolk means being unable to buy William Morris wallpaper at the village shop. Rushall twinned with Sloley – eventually. June – “Been there. Done that. Can’t remember.” – slogan spotted on senior citizen’s T-shirt in Cromer. Bumper tourist season forecast. Elephant Experience theme park at West Runton voted the area’s best new attraction, complete with trumpeting bays billed as “alternative hunting where you form your own tusk force.” Swannington twinned with Cobholm. July – Singing Postman Academy opened in Burnham Market in honour of cultural local icon and to encourage closer ties between well-heeled visitors and settlers with village natives still claiming to “tork proper”. Four giant solar farms shut down in Norfolk due to lack of sunshine. Dickleburgh refuses to twin with Whittington as it’s too far away. August- Mini-Olympics for Norfolk parish councillors off to a lively start. Briston, Hickling and Knapton disqualified from tug-of-war for pushing and also experience problems in handing over batons in relay races. Even so, they all win their 4x400m heats in one hour and 26 minutes of the last emergency meeting. Wood Rising lift tossing-the-caber crown. Foxley twinned with Wolferton. September – Pedlar of Swaffham surprise winner of the East Anglian leg of Tour of Britain Cycle Race after taking advantage of new park-and-ride service at Little Cressingham. Temperatures dip to record lows at end of the month. Man falls out of bed in Great Snoring and cracks his pyjamas’ Babingley twinned with Brooke. October More BBC cuts and Radio Norfolk forced to repeat old favourites first aired on the national network and now given a more homely flavour. Programmes include Round the Horning, Much Binding in the Marsham, Dick Barton Turf, Have a Hoe, Brooke at Bedtime and Brain of Fritton. Burston twinned with Riddlesworth. November - Confusion reigns on Norfolk County Council. Six Labour members, five Liberal Democrats and a dozen Conservatives defect to the Greens while 23 others resign altogether because there’s nowhere else left for them to go. Norfolk Independence Party takes caretaker control under the banner; “Why not dew diffrunt and stay the same?” Upwell twinned with Downham. December - Christmas lights cut back radically in most Norfolk towns to reflect an increasingly bleak economic picture. King’s Lynn a shining exception. Glow and heat from a new installation nearby brings comfort and joy to a grand outdoor carol concert on the Tuesday Market Place. Bodham twinned with Gomorrah.

Vancouver Giants snapped a prolonged losing streak Sunday afternoon, Nov. 24, by taking down the B.C. Division-leading Prince George Cougars 4-3 at the Langley Events Centre. After six losses in a row, the win improved the club's record to 10-8-4 for the season, while the Cougars drop to 13-6-3-2. Ryan Lin scored his first career Western Hockey League goal, while 19-year-old goaltender Carter Capton picked up his first win in his first WHL start. Tyson Zimmer scored twice for the G-Men, including the game-winner – his fifth and sixth goals of the year. Ethan Mittelsteadt also scored in the win. Prince George got goals from Borya Valis, Lee Surgot and Riley Heidt. Giants Head Coach Manny Viveiros called it a "big win." "That's our third game in two and a half days, with travel," Viveiros said. "That was how we looked before we got into that stretch of those six games. [If] we compare last night's game to tonight's game, two different teams. Kids were dialled in. That first period was really good. Second period, got into some penalty trouble, but did an outstanding job. And then in the third period, I thought we did a pretty good job locking it down. It was a good win." Viveiros said Lin may be a rookie, "but he's got a veteran presence with the way he plays." "His mobility is a big part of it – his skating ability. He's able to recover a lot of times. If he gets into a situation where he's in a little bit of trouble he recovers with his legs." Cougars opened the scoring on a 2-on-0 breakaway 13:25 into the game, where Valis put home a cross-crease pass from Terik Parascak. Vancouver responded less than a minute later, when London Hoilett entered the offensive zone on a 3-on-2 rush and saw Mittelsteadt across the ice join the play. Hoilett hit him with a pass and the new addition snapped it past Cooper Michaluk on the glove side to tie the game. Before the first period came to a close, the Cougars would go back in front, after Shurgot scored on a backhand shot in tight with 41 seconds left in the frame. The Giants came out hungry in the second period. Just 1:13 in, Thorpe led a 3-on-1 rush during 4-on-4 play and hit Lin across the ice, who one-timed it past Michaluk to tie the game 2-2. The turning point in the game came late in the second period, when Zimmer scored twice in a span of just 34 seconds. First, he ripped a quick snap shot to the back of the net on a 1-on-1 rush at the 17:49 mark. Then, Ty Halaburda took the puck deep into the offensive zone before throwing it to the net, where Lipinski got a touch on it and it deflected right to the wide-open Zimmer, who easily put it into the open net. Heidt got a goal back for the Cougars on a power play early in the third, but the Giants locked it down after that, with Capton stopping 11 of 12 shots he faced in the final period. Vancouver out-shot Prince George 28-25. Up next, Giants host the Everett Silvertips on Friday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.

Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic will face conservative rival Dragan Primorac in an election run-off in two weeks' time after the incumbent narrowly missed out an outright victory on Sunday, official results showed. The results came after an exit poll, released immediately after the polling stations closed, showed that Milanovic, backed by the opposition left-wing Social Democrats, had scooped more than 50 percent of the first round vote and would thus avoid the January 12 run-off. Milanovic won 49.1 percent of the first round vote and Primorac, backed by the ruling conservative HDZ party, took 19.35 percent, according to results released by the state electoral commission from nearly all of the polling stations. On Sunday evening, Milanovic pledged to his supporters who gathered in Zagreb to "fight for Croatia with a clear stance, one that takes care of its interests". Such a strong lead for Milanovic, whom surveys labelled a favourite ahead of the vote, raises serious concerns for Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic's HDZ. Late on Sunday, Primorac labelled the big difference between him and Milanovic a "challenge". "In the first round there were... a lot of candidates, it was not easy to present the programme fully. Now it's a great opportunity that Milanovic and I be one on one... to see who represents what," Primorac told his supporters in Zagreb. The election came as the European Union and NATO member country of 3.8 million people struggles with biting inflation, widespread corruption and a labour shortage. Among the eight contenders, centre-right MP Marija Selak Raspudic and green-left MP Ivana Kekin followed the two main rivals, the exit poll showed. The two women each won around nine percent of the vote. The president commands the Balkan country's armed forces and has a say in foreign policy. But despite limited powers, many believe the office is key for the political balance of power in a country mainly governed by the HDZ since independence in 1991. "All the eggs should not be in one basket," Nenad Horvat, a salesman in his 40s, told AFP. He sees Milanovic, a former leftist prime minister, as the "last barrier to all levers of power falling into the hands of HDZ", echoing the view of many that was reflected in Sunday's vote results. The 58-year-old Milanovic has been one of Croatia's leading and most colourful political figures for nearly two decades. Sharp and eloquent, he won the presidency for the Social Democrats (SDP) in 2020 with pledges to advocate tolerance and liberalism. But he used the office to attack political opponents and EU officials, often with offensive and populist rhetoric. Milanovic, who condemned Russia's aggression against Ukraine, has nonetheless criticised the West's military aid to Kyiv. That prompted the prime minister to label him a pro-Russian who is "destroying Croatia's credibility in NATO and the EU". Milanovic countered that he wanted to protect Croatia from being "dragged into war". Milanovic regularly pans Plenkovic and his HDZ party over systemic corruption, calling the premier a "serious threat to Croatia's democracy". Speaking on Sunday, Milanovic said that in the current global situation, all political stakeholders in the country should be "on the same side as much as possible, at least when it comes to fundamental issues such as the national security or borders". For many, the election is a continuation of the longstanding feud between two powerful politicians. "This is still about the conflict between the prime minister and president," political analyst Zarko Puhovski told AFP. "All the rest are just incidental topics." Primorac, a 59-year-old physician and scientist returning to politics after 15 years, campaigned as a "unifier" promoting family values and patriotism. ljv/bcJoe Biden begins final White House holiday season with turkey pardons for ‘Peach’ and ‘Blossom’Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include a comment from a Spotify spokesperson. Explicit content has been discovered in Spotify Technology S.A. SPOT search results, sparking user outrage over apparent moderation loopholes. What Happened: Over the weekend, a Reddit user shared a screenshot showing a pornographic video appearing in search results for British rapper M.I.A. One account, known for erotic audio, has recently begun posting sexually explicit videos, noted The Verge. Another account, identified by a random alphanumeric name, has been uploading similar content as podcasts since mid-November. See Also: Iran Turning Soft? Reformist Government Lifts WhatsApp, Google Play Ban — Promises ‘This Path Will Continue’ The content in question has been removed due to violation of our policies,” a Spotify spokesperson told Benzinga in an emailed statement. This issue is not new; previous Reddit posts and a 2022 Vice article have pointed out similar explicit content, including graphic nudity in playlist cover art. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It Matters: Earlier this year, Elon Musk’s X , formerly Twitter , faced criticism for a surge in pornographic content , attributed to reduced content moderation. Meta Platforms, Inc.'s META Instagram has also been under scrutiny for suggesting sexualized content of minors to adult users. In November, Spotify reported quarterly revenue of $3.99 billion , which missed the projected $4.02 billion but marked an increase from last year’s sales of $3.65 billion during the same period. Price Action: Spotify’s stock has risen 141.78% year-to-date, according to data from Benzinga Pro . Analyst reports from Canaccord Genuity and Goldman Sachs have set a consensus price target of $525 for SPOT, suggesting a potential upside of 15.01%. Check out more of Benzinga’s Consumer Tech coverage by following this link . Read Next: Nio’s Death Cross Meets Tesla Competition: Could Onvo L60 SUV Spark A Bullish Comeback? Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Daniel Jones officially became an unrestricted free agent after clearing waivers on Monday afternoon. The former No. 6 overall pick of the New York Giants is now free to sign with any NFL team, and ESPN insider Adam Schefter continues to report that the QB’s preference is to “sign with a playoff contender” and that “potential destinations include Minnesota and Baltimore ." Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about his team’s reported interest in Jones on Monday and didn’t exactly shoot it down: “I can just say that I've been a big fan of Daniel's for a long time and I hope wherever his next step takes him, it's a good opportunity for him." Why are the Vikings being named as a suitor for the embattled quarterback? Here are three reasons why Jones could potentially land in the Twin Cities. 1: Vikings wouldn’t be on the hook for Jones’ previous salary Jones signed a four-year, $160 million extension in March of 2023, and Giants general manager Joe Schoen might never live it down. He was waived just 19 months later, and after clearing waivers, Jones’ next team has the benefit of signing him to a prorated veteran minimum contract for the remainder of 2024. That means a team like Minnesota could bring the 27-year-old Jones in on an extremely risk-free, team-friendly contract in regards to the salary cap. Daniel Jones has officially cleared waivers and is now a street free agent. While a signing is imminent, he has no financial reason to rush. Every dollar he earns from his new team will offset from his $35.5M Giants salary due to language in his previous contract. 2: Minnesota must replace Sam Darnold in 2025 For Minnesota, Jones projects as a cheaper bridge-option quarterback than Darnold, who is expected to land a multi-year deal worth around $28 million in average annual value on the open market in 2025. Minnesota will be out at that price, as the team will want to start building around rookie J.J. McCarthy’s rookie contract as soon as possible. The Vikings currently have one QB signed beyond 2024, and that’s McCarthy. Minnesota will be looking to sign a veteran backup this offseason, and Jones, with 70 career starts, fits the mold. 3. Daniel Jones has untapped potential There’s a reason the Giants paid Jones in the first place. He led New York to the playoffs in 2022, crushing the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in the wild-card round with 301 yards passing and another 78 rushing. There’s obvious potential there, it’s just a matter of finding the right fit. The Giants played a role in DJ’s ugly six-year tenure in East Rutherford. Two head coaches were fired over his first three seasons in the league, and 2023 was marred by some of the worst offensive line play in NFL history. The Giants gave up 85 sacks as a team that season, the most in the NFL since 1986. Jones took a weekly beating and wound up tearing his ACL in Week 5. Has Jones been a great NFL quarterback since entering the league in 2019 out of Duke? Absolutely not. But for a team like Minnesota with a need for a veteran backup quarterback, signing Jones actually makes a lot of sense. Related Minnesota Vikings stories: Vikings $4.1 million starter predicted to leave Minnesota for Bengals Vikings predicted to add former $128 million All-Pro QB as J.J. McCarthy insurance NFL power rankings Week 13: Vikings deserve mention among Lions, Eagles in NFC Kevin O’Connell’s legend grows following message to Bears rookie Caleb WilliamsTrade, trains and technology driving China-Europe connections forward*Approves 2025 World Bank business enabling action plan *As Sokoto professionals canvass indigenous support for govt Onuminya Innocent Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State has assented to the 2025 Appropriation Bill, promising to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state. Aliyu described the 2024 budget implementation as a success story, and reiterated his administration’s determination to continue to execute people-oriented projects already started. In another development, the Sokoto State government took a significant step towards economic growth and development by approving the 2025 World Bank Business Enabling Action Plan. The plan is an annual document that outlines the state’s 12-month business strategy, which is a requirement for the state to participate in the World Bank’s $750 million programme. Meanwhile, Sokoto Professional Network (SPN) appealed to indigenes of the state from different fields to support the state government for rapid development of the state. Chairman of SPN, Engineer Zayyanu Yabo, made the appeal at the network’s second Annual General Meeting, (AGM) held in Sokoto. Elaborating on his government’s 2024/2025 budgets, Aliyu stated, “In the outgoing financial year, we succeeded in executing many developmental projects that had impacted positively on the lives of our people. “We would, in sha Allah, sustain this invaluable gesture by delivering more dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of our people.” He reaffirmed his administration’s support to the fight against banditry and other forms of criminality in the state. The governor thanked the lawmakers for the speedy passage of the bill, stating that it has clearly demonstrated their unwavering commitment towards making the lives of their people better. He thanked the people of the state for their fervent prayers and continued support for his administration. Earlier, Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly, Tukur Bodinga, said the lawmakers had subjected the appropriation bill to thorough scrutiny to ensure it was line with the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate. Bodinga commended the governor for the myriad dividends of democracy he had so far delivered across the state. The speaker assured of the lawmakers’ support to the governor’s policies and programmes aimed at transforming the state. Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the World Bank meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Alhaji Bello Danchadi, explained that the programme aimed to improve land administration, investment processes, and access to finance, as well as increase sustainable large-scale investments and resolve commercial disputes efficiently Danchadi was accompanied by his colleagues, including Professor Jabir Maihulla (Ministry of Religious Affairs); Professor Attahiru Sifawa (Ministry of Science and Technology); and Alhaji Haruna Bashir (Ministry of Commerce, Trade, and Industry). Danchadi explained that with the state executive council’s approval, Sokoto State was now eligible to participate in the World Bank’s 2025 programme. In addition to the World Bank programme, the Sokoto State Executive Council also approved several other projects. The council approved the renovation and upgrading of nine Juma’at mosques across three senatorial districts in the state, with contracts awarded to various companies at a total cost of over N1.2 billion. It approved the construction of pedestrian bridges along Airport Road and Shehu Shagari College of Education road, at a cost of N331.135 million, to improve safety and reduce accidents in the area. SPN chairman, Yabo described the network as a coalition of professionals from Sokoto State working across various sectors, including science, technology, humanities, arts, and other public and private domains. He highlighted the organisation’s objectives, which included promoting sustainable professionalism, supporting advocacy and capacity development, and implementing initiatives to enhance the skills and scholarship opportunities for Sokoto youths to drive state-wide development. Reflecting on the network’s achievements over the past two years, Yabo stated significant milestones, including the training of 50 youths in solar installation and maintenance. He said many of the beneficiaries were now gainfully employed or running their own businesses. “Our network remains committed to supporting the development of Sokoto State and its people. The ultimate goal is to build a skilled and empowered population that contributes positively to societal growth,” Yabo stated. Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Goronyo, commended the network for its initiatives. Goronyo emphasised that this year’s theme, “A Year of Consolidation and Progress,” aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which advocated strategic partnerships and collaborations as catalysts for economic growth. “The efforts of SPN are commendable, and I applaud the leadership for organising such a significant gathering to consolidate its achievements and chart new paths for progress,” Goronyo said.

Russian Man Arrested for Allegedly Running LGBTQ+ Travel Agency Found Dead in CustodyFormer President Jimmy Carter, who aspired to build a "lasting peace, built not on weapons of war but on international policies which reflect our own most precious values," died Sunday in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Carter was born James Earl Carter Jr. on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, to James Earl Carter Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. He spent his childhood in Archery, Georgia, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. While in the U.S. Navy, Carter worked as a submariner and was later assigned to the nuclear submarine program in New York. His work focused on reactor technology and nuclear physics and he oversaw the pre-commissioning crew of the country's second nuclear submarine. Following his father's death in 1953, Carter and his wife Rosalynn returned to his childhood home in Georgia where he had his first foray in politics serving on several community boards. Carter was then won a seat in Georgia's state legislature before being elected the state's 76th governor, an office he held from 1971 until 1975. Then-Gov. Carter announced his bid for the presidency in December 1974. Alongside Vice President Walter Mondale, Carter was elected the country's 39th president less than two years later. During his inaugural address , Carter pledged to make government "both competent and compassionate" and renew "our search for humility, mercy, and justice." His presidential library cites the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the Egypt-Israel peace treaty and the establishment of U.S.-China relations as Carter's major foreign policy achievements. Domestically, Carter and his administration supported energy, education and environmental reform, creating the cabinet-level Department of Energy and the modern Department of Education during his time in office. Carter ran for re-election but lost to Ronald Reagan, though he stayed in the public eye after leaving office. He founded the human rights-focused Carter Center and later worked alongside several subsequent presidents and foreign leaders on peacekeeping, humanitarian and other diplomacy missions. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Camp David Accords -- "itself a great enough achievement to qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize," the committee said -- and other humanitarian work. Carter was last seen on his 100th birthday. In a video published by the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park , the former president was seen with family watching an F-18 Super Hornet flyover from Naval Air Station Oceana in honor of his centennial. Carter also made a rare appearance out of hospice care in a wheelchair to honor former first lady and wife Rosalynn Carter at her funeral in February of 2023. She died on Nov. 19, 2023 at the age of 96. He is survived by his four children.A researcher shows a lunar sample retrieved by the Chang'e-6 mission at the lunar sample laboratory in the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) BEIJING, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's space agency has released the approved list for the eighth batch of lunar sample research applications, allowing applicants to borrow samples returned by both the Chang'e-5 and Chang'e-6 missions. A total of 8,550.4 milligrams of lunar samples will be lent to 18 researchers from 16 research institutions, the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center under the China National Space Administration said Friday. The institutions include the China University of Geosciences (Beijing), the University of Hong Kong, the Macau University of Science and Technology, Beihang University and Wuhan University, among others. China's Chang'e-6 mission collected 1,935.3 grams of samples from the far side of the moon for the first time in human history. Meanwhile, the Chang'e-5 mission retrieved about 1,731 grams of lunar samples. China has maintained a positive and open attitude and welcomes scientists from all countries to submit applications in accordance with the relevant procedures, said Ge Ping, deputy director of the center. In July 2021, China delivered the first batch of lunar samples to research institutions. So far the country has lent seven batches of lunar samples for institutions to carry out study in fields such as lunar surface process, volcanic activity age, lunar evolution process, and mineral and volatile composition.Tim Cook visits UAE: Apple CEO applauds Emirati photographers’ talent with iPhone 16 Pro

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Peach and Blossom are freed as Biden pardons turkeys for last timeJames Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr, a naval officer, Nobel Peace Prize winner and peanut farm operator who became governor of and later the 39th president of the , has died. Carter, who was the longest-living former American president, died on Sunday, December 29, his son announced. He served as president for one term from 1977 to 1981, but is just as well-known for his humanitarian service after leaving Washington, DC, working for Habitat for Humanity and negotiating peace deals. “Earlier in my life, I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see, like your car, your house, your wealth, your property, your office. But as I’ve grown older I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see—the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are,” Carter said. He continued his volunteer work for decades after leaving office until he entered hospice care in February 2023. Carter, who throughout his political life went by Jimmy rather than James, was a towering figure in Democratic politics, both during and after his time in the . As president, he emphasized human rights in his foreign policy, championed environmentalism at a time when it was not yet popular and appointed record numbers of women and people of color during his administration. However, he was considered as “failure” by some as president, a view Carter attributed to him only serving one term. But, he continued to serve the public after leaving office - including building homes for the poor through Habitat for Humanity. “In all of our lives, there are usually a few precious moments when we feel exalted — that is, when we reach above our normal level of existence to a higher plane of excitement and achievement,” Carter said in . “I predict that every one of you who volunteers to help others in need will feel this same sense of exaltation. I believe that, in making what seems to be a sacrifice, you will find fulfillment in the memorable experience of helping others less fortunate than yourself.” Carter was born in 1924 in the small farm town of Plains, Georgia. His father, James Earl Carter Sr, was a farm supply businessman, and his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, was a nurse. The young Carter attended public school in Plains, and as a teenager, he used an acre of his father’s land to grow and sell peanuts. Carter continued his studies at Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1946, he obtained a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy. Over the next several years, he devoted his life to the Navy, serving on submarines and earning the rank of lieutenant. While stationed in Schenectady, New York, he studied nuclear physics and became a senior officer on one of the United States’ first nuclear submarines. During his senior year of studying at the Naval Academy, he was reintroduced to a girl he knew in his childhood: Rosalynn Smith. “The moon was full in the sky, conversation came easy, and I was in love,” Rosalynn Carter described in her memoir . The two married in 1946, the year he graduated. The next year, their first child, Jack, was born, followed by James in 1950, Donnell in 1952 and Amy in 1967. After 77 years of marriage, Carter attributed much of his success to Rosalynn saying, “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.” In 1952, James Carter Sr died. Upon learning of his father’s death, Carter resigned from the Navy and returned home to Plains, where he took over his family’s farms and business. He soon took on more of a leadership role in the community, serving on several county boards. In 1962, he ran for and won a seat in Georgia’s State Senate. In 1970, Carter ran again for governor of Georgia and won. In his inaugural address, he shocked many of his supporters by demanding an end to racial discrimination. As governor, he dramatically increased the number of Black judges and state employees, consolidated the state’s labyrinthian bureaucracies and enforced stricter oversight of budgets. In a preview of his presidency, however, he frequently clashed with the state’s legislature, which found him arrogant and difficult to work with. Meanwhile, Carter maneuvered his way toward the Democratic nomination for president. In 1974, just before his term as governor ended, he announced his candidacy for the White House – two years before the next presidential election. “With the shame of Watergate still with us and our 200th birthday just ahead, it is time for us to reaffirm and to strengthen our ethical and spiritual and political beliefs,” Carter said in December 1974. “There must be no lowering of these standards, no acceptance of mediocrity in any aspect of our private or public lives. “In our homes or at worship we are ever reminded of what we ought to do and what we ought to be. Our government can and must represent the best and the highest ideals of those of us who voluntarily submit to its authority.” Though he had little national support at first, Carter spent his ample lead time vigorously campaigning and cleverly positioned himself as a Washington outsider with strong Christian principles. After years of government lies about Vietnam and Watergate, that was just what many Americans thought they needed. By the 1976 Democratic convention, Carter had grown enough momentum to win the nomination on the first ballot. In the general election, he attended three debates with president – the first presidential debates since the Kennedy-Nixon ones in 1960, and a template setter for the debates held since. In November, Carter narrowly won the presidential election, scoring 297 electoral votes against Ford’s 240. “I think it’s time to tap the tremendous strength and vitality and idealism and hope and patriotism and a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood in this country to unify our nation, to make it great once again. It’s not...it’s not going to be easy for any of us,’ Carter said in November 1976. “I don’t claim to know all the answers, but I have said many times in my campaign around all 50 states that I’m not afraid to take on the responsibilities of President of the United States, because my strength and my courage and my advice and my counsel and my criticism comes from you.” What followed was a presidency full of ambition but beset with problems from the start. Even so, many leaders and historians have praised Carter’s conscientious approach to the presidency. Carter’s presidency was weighed down by multiple crises. In the 1970s, the economy struggled with a rare combination of simultaneous inflation and recession, an oil shortage sent gas prices soaring and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, derailing negotiations for an important arms treaty. Notably, in a struggle that lasted almost as long as his presidency, Carter fought over an energy programme that was structured to make fuel expensive enough that consumers would be encouraged to conserve it. The crisis required Carter to address the nation multiple times in 1979. “In order to control energy price, production, and distribution, the Federal bureaucracy and redtape have become so complicated, it is almost unbelievable. Energy prices are high, and they’re going higher, no matter what we do,” he said in an April 1979 speech. “There is no single answer. We must produce more. We must conserve more. And now we must join together in a great national effort to use American technology to give us energy security in the years ahead,” the president said. “The most effective action we can take to encourage both conservation and production here at home is to stop rewarding those who import foreign oil and to stop encouraging waste by holding the price of American oil down far below its replacement or its true value.” However, ultimately, what became cemented in Carter’s legacy were the failures of the Iran hostage crisis, when mobs ransacked the US embassy in Tehran capturing 52 people and holding them hostage for the duration of his presidency. Carter’s efforts to end the crisis were unsuccesful, including a failed rescue attempt. “We will not give up in our efforts,” Carter told the nation in 1980. “Throughout this extraordinarily difficult period, we have pursued and will continue to pursue every possible avenue to secure the release of the hostages. In these efforts, the support of the American people and of our friends throughout the world has been a most crucial element. That support of other nations is even more important now.” “We will seek to continue, along with other nations and with the officials of Iran, a prompt resolution of the crisis without any loss of life and through peaceful and diplomatic means.” The hostages were held for 444 days, a lengthy time that angered many Americans. It helped contribute to Carter’s loss to Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. Carter would only win six states in the landslide election that saw him lose the popular vote by nearly 9 million votes. “I’ve not achieved all I set out to do; perhaps no one ever does. But we have faced the tough issues. We’ve stood for and we’ve fought for and we have achieved some very important goals for our country,’ Carter said after losing. “These efforts will not end with this administration. The effort must go on. Nor will the progress that we have made be lost when we leave office. The great principles that have guided this Nation since its very founding will continue to guide America through the challenges of the future.” In 1982, Carter and his wife founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing human rights, leading health initiatives and improving the quality of life for people around the world. Carter helped lead conflict resolutions, observe elections in nations with fraudulent voting processes and advised presidents on issues in more than 80 countries. Under Carter’s leadership, the Carter Center worked alongside the World Health Organisation to nearly eradicate Guinea worm disease, an infection that occurs due to contaminated drinking water. The from 3.5 million cases in 1986 to 13 in 2022, according to the Carter Center. Carter and his wife also spent one week a year volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that helps build homes for low-income people. His humanitarian work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. “I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live. This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence, and fame, but adhering to God’s standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness, and love,” Carter once said. Though he was criticized as an ineffectual public speaker, Carter became a prolific writer, authoring more than a dozen books ranging from his memoirs to inspirational bestsellers. At the beginning of 2023, Carter entered hospice care following multiple hospital stays. His wife later entered hospice care and died on November 19, 2023. Carter, looking frail, attended her funeral but was seen smiling with others offering their condolences. Carter went on to celebrate his 100th birthday on 1 October 2024, making him the oldest president in American history. Surrounded by his loved ones, the frail, wheelchair-bound former president was seen in the backyard of his home watching a military flyover in his honor. His grandson Jason said he had been looking forward to voting for Kamala Harris in the November election. Carter is survived by his four children, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

The Los Angeles Rams suffered a tough loss at SoFi Stadium on Sunday as they fell to a visiting Philadelphia Eagles side, 37-20. LA was coming off a 28-22 victory against the New England Patriots in Week 11, but they failed to build on that win on Sunday as they lost their sixth game of the season. One of the bright spots in the loss against the Eagles was second-year wide receiver Puka Nacua, who logged nine catches in the contest for a game-high 117 receiving yards. It was another strong performance from the 23-year-old, who is coming off a Pro Bowl rookie campaign. Nacua's girlfriend Hallie Aiono also caught the attention of fans after she shared a handful of photos of her gameday outfit on Instagram. Aiono's post featured Nacuaas well, who also showed off his pre-game outfit for Sunday's contest. View the original article to see embedded media. The highlight of Aiono's look was her oversized blue-and-white sweater that repped the Rams' colors. She paired her top with a plain white mini-skirt, which allowed her sporty sweater to pop even more. Her black mid-calf boots provided the perfect contrast for her sporty and clean look, while also adding a bit of edginess and contrast. Aiono wore her hair tied back in a bun, which highlighted her gold hoop earrings. Aiono shouted out her sister Sidney Aiono, an LA-based wardrobe stylist, for helping her and Nacua out with their gameday looks. The outfit post drew a myriad of compliments from the fans on social media. "Ughhh the prettiest😭💙💛" reacted a fan "Hair goalzzzzz," a comment read. "glowing ✨" observed a user "cuties," commented Rams cheerleader and social media influencer Sharaiah Belle True. "Loveee🥰" posted a supporter. "Swag unlocked," commented Nacua himself. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images According to People , Nacua and Aiono have been dating since at least 2021, while the former was still attending Brigham Young University. Like her boyfriend, Aiono is also of Polynesian descent. Nacua and the Rams will be back in action on Sunday, Dec. 1, when they go on the road to face the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Related: NFL Star's Wife Drops Taylor Swift Admission Despite 'Jealousy Issues' Related: Matthew Stafford's Wife Reflects on Taylor Swift Experience Amid 'Jealousy' AdmissionPolls close in election considered important test for African democracy

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Addison O’Grady scored 12 points and No. 24 Iowa defeated Purdue 84-63 on Sunday in a game in which only two players reached double figures in scoring. O’Grady made 4 of 7 shots and 4 of 6 free throws for the Hawkeyes (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten). Iowa’s balanced scoring was so thorough that five players scored nine points and one had eight. Among that group, Sydney Affolter had nine points, seven rebounds and six assists. Ava Heiden had nine points and eight rebounds. Destini Lombard had 12 points for Purdue (7-6, 0-2). Iowa shot 67% in the first quarter, seven players scored, and the Hawkeyes led 27-13. Iowa outscored the Boilermakers 15-3 over the final 41⁄2 minutes of the second quarter to take a 50-32 lead at the half. Five players scored in that run. In the third quarter, the Hawkeyes again dominated the final few minutes, outscoring Purdue 11-0 over the final 31⁄2 minutes. The Hawkeyes made 6 of their last 8 shots in the fourth quarter. Coming up, Iowa has a road game against Penn State on Wednesday and a home game against No. 8 Maryland on Jan. 5. Purdue will be at No. 19 Michigan State on Wednesday. Get local news delivered to your inbox!The Arizona Cardinals were rested, relatively healthy and had been playing some of their best football in years. That's why Sunday's sobering 16-6 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks was so surprising. “Frustrating day offensively, especially the way we’ve been playing to come out here and lay an egg and get physically dominated in a sense,” quarterback Kyler Murray said. The Cardinals (6-5) had their four-game winning streak snapped. Murray completed 24 of 37 passes for 285 yards, but made a brutal mistake, throwing an interception that was returned 69 yards by Seattle's Coby Bryant. The running game never got going, gaining just 49 yards. James Conner, the team's leading rusher, had just 8 yards on seven attempts. “There were a lot of things where it felt like the flow of things just wasn’t in our favor,” receiver Michael Wilson said. "Some games go like that. And then we didn’t execute enough to make up for the game sort of not going our way.” Arizona's still in decent playoff position, tied with the Seahawks on top of the NFC West with six games to play. But after all the good news and winning over the past month, Sunday's loss was humbling. “We’re going to learn a lot from this game,” Gannon said. Arizona's defense continued its remarkable midseason turnaround, giving the team every opportunity to win Sunday. The front seven doesn't have any stars, but continues to cobble together a respectable pass rush. The Cardinals finished with five sacks, all by different players. Second-year cornerback Garrett Williams intercepted a pass by Geno Smith on the first play of the fourth quarter, briefly giving the Cardinals some momentum as they tried to fight back. Williams — a third-round pick out of Syracuse in 2023 — is growing into a steady starting corner that the Cardinals have missed for years. “I thought that they hung in there and battled, forced a bunch of punts, kept points off the board,” Gannon said. “I thought the interception by Garrett was fantastic, kept us in the game there, kept points off the board. We made some mistakes. We made some mistakes, starting with me.” The Cardinals aren't going to win many games with a rushing performance like Sunday's. Conner, held to a season low in yards rushing, did have 41 yards receiving. Rookie Trey Benson had four carries for 18 yards, while Emari Demercado broke a 14-yard gain. Getting Conner going is key. Arizona has a 5-1 record this season when he has at least 100 total yards from scrimmage. Gannon said falling into an early hole affected some of the things the Cardinals could do, particularly in the second half. “I thought there was plays there, but again, where you get down in that game, you’re not really playing normal ball there for a good chunk of the game,” Gannon said. “So we’ve got to do a better job earlier in the game to make sure we’re not playing left-handed.” Fourth-year edge rusher Zaven Collins isn't necessarily the star fans hoped for when he was selected with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2021 draft, but he has quietly had a productive season leading the team's no-name front seven. Collins picked up his fourth sack of the season Sunday and put consistent pressure on Smith. Murray's still having a great season, but the quarterback's MVP credentials took a hit with Sunday's mediocre performance. He played pretty well at times, but the interception that turned into a pick-6 was a backbreaker. The sixth-year quarterback had largely avoided those types of plays this season, which is a big reason they're in the playoff hunt. “Can't give them seven points, especially when our defense is playing the way that they’re playing,” Murray said. “I feel like if I don’t do that, we’re in the game four quarters because that’s the way it was trending.” The Cardinals came out of Sunday's game fairly healthy. Gannon said starting safety Jalen Thompson (ankle) should be back at practice Wednesday. He missed the last two games. 12 and 133 — Tight end Trey McBride continued his breakout season with a career-high 12 catches for 133 yards. The Cardinals have another difficult road game against the Vikings (9-2) on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflChild poverty on the Central Coast

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President William Lai speaks at an event in New Taipei City marking International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10.Photo: CNA JUSTICE:Martial law greatly harmed Taiwan and the nation must learn from its mistakes, Lai said, pledging to help inform the public about authoritarian rule / Staff writer, with CNA 請繼續往下閱讀... President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday said that Taiwanese society had endured decades of harsh martial law and that such “historic mistakes” should never be repeated. “Taiwan had 38 years of martial law rule, during which its social and economic [development] ... was greatly impacted, and such harm has continued to affect today’s society,” Lai said, referring to the Martial Law period from 1949 to 1987. The imposition of martial law — the second-longest ever imposed by a regime in history — largely coincided with the White Terror, an era of political repression in Taiwan by the one-party state Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) government from 1949 to 1992. 請繼續往下閱讀... We must “learn from the lessons” and “must never repeat the historic mistakes,” Lai said at an event at the Jing-Mei White Terror Memorial Park (景美白色恐佈紀念園區) in New Taipei City marking International Human Rights Day, which is observed annually on Dec. 10. He pledged to continue promoting transitional justice, focusing on restoring the truth about past state wrongdoing and “help[ing] the public understand the nature of authoritarian rule.” Upholding democracy, freedom and human rights has allowed Taiwan to build connections with other countries, he said, adding that “we must unite ourselves and collaborate to preserve” these values. Lai’s remarks came days after a social media post by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus was accused of sympathizing with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s imposition of emergency martial law on Tuesday night. The post repeated some of Yoon’s accusations and justifications behind the declaration, which sent shockwaves through South Korea and the world, including allegations that the South Korean parliament had been “manipulated by North Korean forces.” The DPP post was deleted about 20 minutes after it was published and was replaced with another saying the previous one “only shared international information and compared it with the domestic political situation, and [the post] absolutely did not mean support for martial law.” The KMT has criticized the statement and called on Lai, who chairs the DPP, to apologize and clarify his position. However, the KMT also got into hot water when KMT Legislator Sra Kacaw in the legislature on Friday said that the KMT’s imposition of martial law in 1949 was meant to “protect Taiwan” from possible attacks by Chinese Communist Party forces. 新聞來源: TAIPEI TIMES 不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎 點我下載APP 按我看活動辦法