All that is needed for an agreement on crossings is political will, UNSG Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), Colin Stewart, said on Tuesday at the end-of-year reception held at Ledra Palace in the presence of President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader, Ersin Tatar. The opening of new crossing points would benefit people on both sides of the island, would strengthen intra-island interdependence, building positive conditions for a settlement, and create positive momentum for the next steps, he added. Stewart also said that preparations for an informal meeting in a larger format which will bring together the two leaders and the guarantor powers under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, are already under discussion at the UN headquarters. During the event, the two leaders talked for about 15 minutes , with Christodoulides asking the Turkish Cypriot leader to arrange a meeting. In his speech, Stewart said the traditional end of the year reception under the auspices of the Secretary General’s Good offices mission in Cyprus was also “an opportunity” to bring the two leaders together in a festive social setting, together with their teams, the diplomatic community, a broad spectrum of civil society, both sides of the island and United Nations staff. This gathering, he added, “is also a chance to take stock of what it’s been achieved in the past year in the name of a better future for Cyprus”. “I’m happy to say that while the world around Cyprus continues to go through unprecedented challenges, we are witnessing some new glimmers of hope”, Stewart said. “As you all know, in the first half of the year, a new personal envoy of the Secretary General, Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, engaged actively with the parties and other key interlocutors”, he said. Building on this work, he added, the Secretary-General hosted an informal dinner in New York on October 15 for the two leaders. “This is the first time that these two leaders have met under the Secretary General’s auspices”, Stewart noted, adding that they agreed with the Secretary-General to start exploring the opening of new crossing points, “and I’m happy to note that in our initial discussions with the representatives of the leaders, we have noted a new energy, a new optimism, a new commitment to finding an agreement ”. “In fact, there was so much optimism at the beginning, we thought we would have an announcement for you here tonight. But these things take a little while. Nothing of this sort is ever quick and easy, but I’m hopeful”, he added. He expressed the belief that agreement on crossings was “doable in a way that is beneficial to both sides”, noting that all that is needed “as always, is the political will”. “The other important thing that was agreed by the two leaders was to meet again informally in a larger format which will bring together the two leaders and the guarantor powers under the auspices of the Secretary-General, for crucial discussion on the way forward”, Stewart said, adding that preparations for such a meeting are already under discussion at the UN headquarters. He also noted that 2024 has been “a landmark year” for the United Nations in Cyprus. “The 60th anniversary of the United Nations Peacekeeping and mediation presence in Cyprus was an unhappy anniversary in a year of unhappy anniversaries”, he said, adding that, all of which remind us that a settlement of the Cyprus issue, “is long overdue”. Stewart also referred to the work of the Technical Committees noting that, “as always” they have been working “quietly throughout the year on a number of good projects”. He noted, among other things, the work of the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage and the completion of restoration work on a number of sites, on both sides of the divide. Stewart also said that the Technical Committee on Health continues to collaborate on diseases carried by mosquitoes, while the Veterinary subcommittee is now actively looking for ways to allow personal pets to be brought through the Green Line.49ers rule out Charvarius Ward for Monday Night Football
Uganda’s extractive industry marked a year of significant strides in 2024, with advancements in mining and oil and gas shaping the sector’s outlook. Bolstered by government initiatives, increased investment, and an intensified focus on sustainability, the sector solidified its role as a key driver of economic growth. The country’s mining sector underwent transformative changes, underscored by the establishment of a state-owned mining company to manage government equity in mining operations. The move is part of a broader strategy to maximize resource benefits and improve regulatory oversight. Budgetary allocations for the fiscal year 2024/25 saw Shs 41.55 billion directed to mining initiatives, including the Mineral Resource Infrastructure Development Project (MRIP). This funding aims to enhance infrastructure critical for effective monitoring and regulation. Exploration activities intensified, particularly in the Karamoja region, with significant discoveries of gold and copper positioning Uganda as a contender in the global mineral market. Rising global demand for critical minerals, such as lithium and cobalt, further highlighted Uganda’s potential to play a pivotal role in green technology supply chains. Policy reforms also gained traction. Amendments to the Mining and Minerals Act, 2021, streamlined licensing processes and improved transparency, boosting investor confidence. The Uganda Chamber of Mines & Petroleum (UCMP) continued to facilitate partnerships between foreign investors and local businesses, driving capacity-building initiatives. The oil and gas sector recorded a projected $2.9 billion in capital expenditure for 2024, funding projects such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the Tilenga and Kingfisher developments, according to Peninah Aheebwa, Director of Economic and National Content Monitoring at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda. EACOP remained central to Uganda’s oil strategy, connecting crude oil from the Albertine region to the Tanzanian port of Tanga. Meanwhile, discussions around securing a refinery investor signaled Uganda’s commitment to adding value to its oil resources. Progress was also evident in the implementation of Uganda’s Energy Transition Plan, unveiled in late 2023. The framework aims to integrate renewable energy sources and leverage hydrocarbon revenues to support the shift to cleaner energy. Collaborative agreements with global energy players showcased Uganda’s strategy to align resource exploitation with environmental commitments. Furthermore, Uganda strengthened its regional ties within the East African Community (EAC) through harmonized policies aimed at sustainable energy development. Cross-border dialogues focused on shared resource management and environmental safeguards, underscoring the importance of collective action in the extractive sector. Enhanced Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and improved compensation mechanisms for Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) addressed community concerns, although implementation challenges persisted. Demand for critical minerals essential for renewable energy technologies positioned Uganda as a potential key supplier. Increased adoption of technologies like artificial intelligence and blockchain enhanced transparency and operational efficiency, attracting foreign investment and streamlining regulatory compliance. Nevertheless, challenges remain. Infrastructure gaps in remote mining areas continue to hinder resource accessibility and operational efficiency. Experts emphasized the need for investments in education and training to build a skilled local workforce capable of supporting the sector’s growth. As Uganda moves beyond 2024, the extractive sector remains poised for further growth. Strategic investments, policy reforms, and a focus on sustainability will be crucial for unlocking the sector’s full potential.Tradepulse Power Inflow Alert: Eli Lilly & Company Climbs Over 22 Points After Alert
Children the focus of DA in 2025The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr. , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis, and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo the NBA sent to its team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the league revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to "transnational South American Theft Groups" that are "reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices." Conley's home was broken into on Sept. 15 when he was at a Minnesota Vikings game and jewelry was taken, officials told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Portis said his home was broken into on Nov. 2 and has offered a $40,000 reward for information related to the incident. The homes of Mahomes and Kelce were broken into within days of each other last month, according to law enforcement reports, and the NFL issued a similar warning memo to its teams this week. The NBA memo, relaying information from the FBI, said the theft rings "are primarily focused on cash and items that can be resold on the black market, such as jewelry, watches, and luxury bags." The NBA, which has also been giving guidance to team security personnel, recommended that players install updated alarm systems with cameras and utilize them whenever leaving the home, keeping valuables in locked and secured safes, remove online real estate listings that may show interior photos of a home, "utilize protective guard services" during extended trips from the home and even suggested having dogs assist with home protection. "Obviously, it's frustrating, disappointing, but I can't get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing," Mahomes recently said. "But, obviously, something you don't want to happen to anybody, but obviously yourself." One of the break-ins involving the Chiefs players happened on a game day — Oct. 7 — and Portis was also playing a game when his home was robbed. "They took most of my prized possessions," Portis said.Jimmy Carter, the longest living former president, whose term was marred by the Iran hostage crisis and rampant inflation but went on to build a humanitarian legacy that was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize, died Sunday. He was 100. No cause was announced. In February 2023 he entered hospice care. The peanut farmer from Georgia was a virtual unknown when he launched his longshot 1976 presidential bid that took him from “Jimmy Who?” to his inauguration as the nation’s 39th president. The Democrat took office at a time when the country was still reeling from battles over civil rights, Vietnam, inflation and Watergate. The defining moment of Carter’s presidency, though, is often thought to have occurred Nov. 4, 1979, when Iranian militants seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took more than 50 U.S. hostages who were held for 444 days. A rescue mission in April 1980 was a dismal embarrassment, as eight U.S. crewmen died and no hostages were released. Carter left the White House in 1981 at age 56, trounced by Republican Ronald Reagan. A year later, he established the Carter Center in Atlanta with the stated mission of human rights, preventing and resolving conflicts, and improving freedom and democracy. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, cited “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” He continued to teach Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains. He and his wife, Rosalynn, traveled to Nashville in 2019 for their 36th project helping build homes with Habitat for Humanity. He and Rosalynn Carter, who died at age 96 on November 19, 2023, were married for 77 years. Jimmy Carter lived in the house he built in 1961 in Plains, Georgia, about two-and-a-half hours south of Atlanta. “Across life’s seasons, President Jimmy Carter, a man of great faith, has walked with God,” Sen. Raphael Warnock , D-Ga., wrote after news of Carter’s deteriorating condition earlier this year. “In this tender time of transitioning, God is surely walking with him.” Life in Plains, Georgia James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr. was born on Oct. 1, 1924, to Lillian and James Earl Carter Sr. The father is described by the Plains Historical Preservation Trust as “an insurance broker, farmer, fertilizer dealer, Baptist and Democrat.” They lived in Plains, a town of about 700 people nestled in an area of cotton and peanut fields. Jimmy Carter had ambitions beyond Plains. Inspired by an uncle, he attended the Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. During a visit home, he asked Rosalynn Smith, whose family had known the Carters for years, on a date. Jimmy and Rosalynn, then a college student in Georgia, stayed in touch, and in July, a few weeks after he graduated from the Naval Academy, they were married. It was Adm. Hyman Rickover who would be an influence on Carter’s naval and political career. Rickover ran the nation’s nascent nuclear submarine program, and during their job interview, asked Carter if he had done his best at Annapolis. Carter, who said he graduated 59th in his class of 820, conceded, “I didn’t always do my best.” “He looked around me for a long time,” Carter recalled as recounted by James Wooten in his book, “Dasher.” Then Rickover asked one final question, which Carter said, “I have never been able to forget — or to answer. He said, ‘Why not?’ I sat there for a while shaken, and then slowly left the room.” Carter went on to work for Rickover, and “Why Not the Best?” became a Carter catchphrase, the title of his 1976 campaign autobiography. He would often cite Rickover as one of the greatest influences on his life. Carter’s Navy career was short-lived. His father died in 1953, and his family needed him to run the business in Plains. Rosalynn protested, but the family headed back to Georgia. Entering state politics Carter won a state Senate seat in 1962, and in 1966 ran for governor. It was a long shot. The civil rights movement was redefining Southern politics. The changes rocked Georgia, and Lester Maddox, who had gained fame when he pushed potential Black customers away from his Atlanta cafeteria with an ax handle, would beat Carter in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Carter returned to Plains, devastated and introspective.“ At a crossroads, he turned increasingly for solace to his faith,” wrote Peter Bourne in his biography of Carter. “There followed a series of events that would reshape both his relationship with his faith and the central guiding motivation in his life.” With the help of his sister, Ruth, an evangelist, Carter “was recommitting himself to Christ, through deep ongoing study and meditation about Christ’s life.” Through this study, Bourne wrote, “he sought to gain the fullest possible understanding of what the Christian message meant in modern life.” When he ran again for governor in 1970, Carter publicly softened his stance toward segregationists. He had kinder words for Maddox and defended all-white academies, where many whites fled as public schools became integrated. Once elected, though, Carter made it clear he would be a scion of the new, inclusive South. “No poor, rural, weak or Black person should ever have to bear the additional burden of being deprived of the opportunity of an education, a job or simply justice,” he said in his inaugural address — stunning words from a Georgia governor at the time. He hung a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. outside his office at the state Capitol. By the early 1970s, national politics was in turmoil. Richard Nixon won 49 states in 1972, leaving Democratic nominee George McGovern and his party dazed with no clear path forward. McGovern was boosted by his anti-Vietnam War stance, but the war was winding down. Unknown, but not for long It was a time of enormous uncertainty. Runaway inflation, and later long lines for gasoline, rocked the economy. Nixon would be dogged by the Watergate scandal and resigned in August 1974. Trust in government was sinking. Along came Jimmy Carter. He announced his campaign for the White House in December 1974 in Washington, and few paid attention. But top aide Hamilton Jordan had a plan, and Carter presented himself as not only a fresh voice unencumbered by Washington tradition or scandal, but as a politician with a strong moral compass. He campaigned as a calm antidote to the turmoil of Washington. “I will never lie to you,” Carter told voters. It worked. He beat President Gerald Ford in a close election, and on Inauguration Day 1977 vowed to set a new course and new standard. He, Rosalynn and daughter Amy stepped out of their limousine during the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue and walked. He later addressed the nation in 1977 wearing a sweater. Carter’s initial priority would be energy efficiency to ease what he called “the moral equivalent of war” in a speech to the nation three months after he took office. Carter won some important battles. He was able to open relations with mainland China, secure approval of a treaty to end U.S. control of the Panama Canal, and perhaps most significantly, broker a historic peace accord between Israel and Egypt after nearly two weeks of talks at Camp David. Issues with the economy But the nation’s turmoil persisted. The economy remained shaky, and by the end of his term inflation and interest rates were hitting double-digit levels. Gas lines reappeared in many places in 1979. Carter was able to secure an arms control agreement with the Soviet Union, but Senate efforts to ratify it were thwarted by anger over the Soviet Union’s 1979 Afghanistan invasion. Carter appeared more and more to be losing control. He and his top advisers retreated to Camp David in the summer of 1979 to reassess how to run the government, and when it ended Carter delivered what came to be called the “malaise speech.” He told the nation, “We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.” The speech only exacerbated his political problems. Though Congress was run by Democrats, leaders were cool to Carter, and by late 1979, Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts announced he would challenge the president for the party’s nomination. The Mariel Boatlift Carter’s election-year problems faced another daunting challenge: the Mariel Boatlift. The administration had been seeking better ties with Cuban President Fidel Castro, and in April 1980 Castro said Cubans could leave. But Castro opened his country’s mental health facilities and prisons, and they flocked to South Florida. The White House was uncertain how to deal with the situation. On May 6, 1980, in an address to the nation, Carter declared a state of emergency in the areas of Florida most “severely affected” by the exodus, and an “open heart and open arms” policy to all refugees fleeing Cuba. Miami was overwhelmed with the refugees. Many were criminals. The boatlift ended in October, but Carter suffered political damage. Carter won his party’s nomination that summer, but only after a bitter battle with Kennedy. He ran against the upbeat, optimistic Reagan, losing 44 states as he became the first elected president to lose a re-election bid since Herbert Hoover in 1932. The Iran hostages were released minutes after Reagan was sworn into office. Carter went back to Plains. The Carter Center would become a popular site for international forums. It also took on a mission to spread Carter’s vision for fighting poverty and hunger. Global 2000 was a bid to boost food production in Africa. Prolific author Carter became a prolific author, writing about a variety of topics from memoirs to treatises on the Middle East to “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis.” Among his books: “The Craftsmanship of Jimmy Carter.” “I like to see what I have done, what I have made,” Carter said. “The pleasure does not fade as the years go by; in fact, with age my diminished physical strength has eliminated some of the formerly competing hobbies and made woodworking even more precious to me.” He and Rosalynn were very involved with Habitat for Humanity and worked on their 36th project in 2019. They first volunteered with the organization, which helps build homes in the U.S. and overseas, near their home in Georgia in March 1984. On February 18, 2023, following a series of short hospital stays, the Carter Center released a statement that Carter “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” Carter is survived by children John William “Jack,” James Earl III “Chip,” Donnel “Jeff” Jeffrey and Amy Lynn, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchlldren. A grandson died in 2015. This story was originally published December 29, 2024, 4:24 PM.The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, has charged stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State to give President Bola Tinubu winning votes during the 2027 general election. Nnaji, who gave the charge during a meeting of the party’s stakeholders he convened at his country home over the weekend, noted that moles have been chased away from the party. The minister stressed the need for grassroots involvement, saying he was now happy that the party was growing from strength to strength. He insisted that what was announced as the votes of the APC members from the state to Tinubu during the last general elections was not actually the real votes they gave to the president. He therefore urged the stakeholders, drawn from all the wards in the state, to mobilize the grassroots to win votes for the president in the next election. Nnaji described Tinubu as a focused president who does not discriminate against any section of the country. The minister used the opportunity to fault the size of the current budget presented to the House of Assembly by Governor Peter Mbah, saying Enugu does not have the oil like some states to finance such a budget. “In the next election, we should give President Tinubu the winning votes and make sure that we are in the Lion Building. The event is going to be yearly, and the next one will be better. “We need change in Enugu State, and that change will come. We want to provide leadership,” he stated.
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NEW YORK – Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. Recommended Videos He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”
The brilliant life and troubled presidency of Jimmy CarterIGO Limited (OTCMKTS:IPGDF) Short Interest Up 28.3% in DecemberFormer President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
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Stock indexes closed mixed on Wall Street at the end of a rare bumpy week. The S&P 500 ended little changed Friday. The benchmark index reached its latest in a string of records a week ago. It lost ground for the week following three weeks of gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%. The Nasdaq composite edged up 0.1%. Broadcom surged after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged after raising its revenue forecast. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. On Friday: The S&P 500 fell 0.16 points, or less than 0.1%, to 6,051.09. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 86.06 points, or 0.2%, to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq composite rose 23.88 points, or 0.1%, to 19,926.72. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 14.19 points, or 0.6%, to 2,346.90. For the week: The S&P 500 is down 39.18 points, or 0.6%. The Dow is down 814.46 points, or 1.8%. The Nasdaq is up 66.95 points, or 0.3%. The Russell 2000 is down 62.10 points, or 2.6%. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,281.26 points, or 26.9%. The Dow is up 6,138.52 points, or 16.3%. The Nasdaq is up 4,951.37 points, or 32.7%. The Russell 2000 is up 319.82 points, or 15.8%.