By KATE BRUMBACK ATLANTA (AP) — A judge is weighing whether a Georgia state Senate committee has the right to subpoena testimony and documents from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as it looks into whether she has engaged in misconduct during her prosecution of President-elect Donald Trump. The Republican-led committee sent subpoenas to Willis in August seeking to compel her to testify at its September meeting and to produce scores of documents. The committee was formed earlier this year to examine allegations of “various forms of misconduct” by Willis, an elected Democrat, during her prosecution of Trump and others over their efforts to overturn the former president’s 2020 election loss in Georgia. Willis’ attorney, former Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, told Fulton County Superior Court Judge Shukura Ingram during a hearing Tuesday that although the Georgia General Assembly has subpoena power, that power is not automatically conferred on a single legislative chamber or its committees. Even if the committee did have such power, he argued, the subpoenas in question are overly broad and not related to a legitimate legislative need. Barnes said the focus on Willis and her investigation into Trump shows that the committee was politically motivated and not a legitimate inquiry into the practices of district attorneys’ offices: “What they were trying to do is chill the prosecution of Donald Trump and find out what they had.” Josh Belinfante, a lawyer representing the lawmakers, said there is nothing in the Georgia Constitution that prohibits the Senate from issuing a subpoena. The duly formed interim committee is looking into whether new legislation is needed to regulate the practices of district attorneys’ offices in the state, he argued. “They are investigating and making an inquiry into these allegations that may show that existing state laws, including those establishing the processes for selecting, hiring and compensating special assistant district attorneys, are inadequate,” Belinfante said. The resolution creating the committee focused in particular on Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade , with whom she had a romantic relationship , to lead the prosecution against Trump and others. It says the relationship amounted to a “clear conflict of interest and a fraud upon the taxpayers” of the county and state. One of the committee’s subpoenas orders Wills to produce documents related to Wade, including documents related to his hiring and payment, documents related to money or items of value that Wade and Willis may have exchanged, text messages and emails between the two, and their phone records. The committee also requested any documents her office sent in response to requests from the U.S. House, as well as communications Willis and her office had with the White House, the U.S. Justice Department and the House relating to the 2020 presidential election. And they asked for documents related to federal grant money Willis’ office has received. Before the deadlines in the subpoenas, Willis challenged them in court. Willis’ challenge was pending in mid-September when she skipped a hearing during which the committee members had hoped to question her. In October, the committee asked Ingram to require Willis to comply with the subpoenas. The committee’s lawyers wrote in a court filing that Willis’ failure to do so had delayed its ability to finish its inquiry and to provide recommendations for any legislation or changes in appropriations that might result. Barnes also argued that once the regular legislative session has adjourned, which happened in March this year, legislative committees can meet to study issues and come up with recommendations but do not have the power to compel someone to appear or produce documents. Belinfante rejected that, saying the state Constitution expressly permits the creation of interim committees and allows them to make their rules. Even if these subpoenas were validly issued, Barnes argued, they ask for too much, including private and personal information that is not a legitimate target of a legislative subpoena. Related Articles National News | Are you a former SmileDirectClub customer? You might be eligible for a refund National News | Justice Department announces sweeping reforms to curb suicides in federal prisons and jails National News | Defense makes closing argument in murder trial of Cash App founder Bob Lee National News | A judge has once again rejected Musk’s multi-billion-dollar Tesla pay package. Now what? National News | Is Enron back? If it’s a joke, some former employees aren’t laughing Belinfante said the lawmakers are simply trying to do their jobs. He asked that Willis be ordered to appear before the committee in early January. He also asked that she be ordered to provide the requested documents and explain what privilege justifies any that are excluded. With a glaring lack of state case law on the issue of the General Assembly’s subpoena power, that’s one issue Ingram will have to address. She said she will consider the arguments and release her order as soon as she can. Willis and Wade have acknowledged that they had a relationship but have said it began after he was hired and ended before the indictment against Trump was filed. Trump and other defendants argued that the relationship created a conflict of interest that should disqualify Willis and her office from continuing with her prosecution of the case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ruled in March that Willis’ actions showed a “tremendous lapse in judgment,” but he did not find a conflict of interest that would disqualify Willis. He said she could continue her prosecution as long as Wade stepped aside, which he did. Trump and others have appealed that ruling to the Georgia Court of Appeals, and that appeal remains pending.
Judge weighs whether to order Fani Willis to comply with lawmakers’ subpoenas over Trump case
Versarien (LON:VRS) Stock Price Up 17.2% – Should You Buy?TROY, Ala. (AP) — Damien Taylor rushed for 169 yards and three touchdowns, Matthew Caldwell threw for a touchdown and ran for another, and Troy scored 21 points in less than two minutes in the fourth quarter to beat Southern Miss 52-20 on Saturday. Taylor went straight up the middle from 56-yards out to give Troy a 24-8 lead midway through the third quarter. He added a 35-yard scoring run for a 38-20 lead with 5:50 left in the fourth. On the ensuing possession, Ian Conerly-Goodly intercepted a deflected pass and returned it 31 yards for a 25-point lead. Southern Miss quarterback Tate Rodemaker was intercepted again and LJ Green returned it 49 yards to the Golden Eagles' 16-yard line. Jordan Lovett capitalized on the short field by running it in from the 5. Taylor reached the 1,000-yard mark on the season for Troy (4-8, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference). Caldwell was 14 of 26 for 187 yards and he carried it seven times for 30 yards. Rodemaker threw for 234 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Southern Miss (1-11, 0-8). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballBANGKOK (XINHUA) – Thailand’s exports expanded for a fifth successive month in November, driven by growth in technology-related goods and demand for agricultural and food products, official data showed yesterday. Exports, a key driver of the Southeast Asian country’s economic growth, rose 8.2 per cent last month from a year earlier to USD25.6 billion, easing sharply from a 14.6 per cent increase in October, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The upturn was attributed to a robust shipment of manufacturing goods, bolstered by proactive adjustments from various countries to navigate new trade dynamics and geopolitical challenges, the ministry said in a statement. Exports of agricultural products expanded 4.1 per cent, despite a significant decline in rice shipments, while agro-industrial goods grew 7.7 per cent. Industrial product shipments increased 9.5 per cent, marking its eighth straight month of expansion, owing to major increases in computer, air conditioning and rubber products. The data also showed that imports inched up 0.9 per cent year on year to USD25.83 billion in November, resulting in a trade deficit of USD224.4 million. For the first 11 months of 2024, exports climbed 5.1 per cent to USD275.76 billion, while imports picked up 5.7 per cent to USD282.03 billion, yielding a trade deficit of USD6.26 billion. Thailand’s exports are expected to reach a new record high this year, exceeding USD300 billion, despite a slow global economic recovery and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, said director general of the ministry’s Trade Policy and Strategy Office Poonpong Naiyanapakorn. Looking ahead, the kingdom’s exports are projected to grow two per cent to three per cent in 2025 amid several challenges, including trade protection measures, potential global trade slowdowns, unresolved international conflicts, high interest rates and exchange rate volatility, Poonpong said.
I've seen a lot of headlines about how the stock market is expensive. That could be true, but the market consists of thousands of individual companies trading at various prices and valuations at any given time. Look hard enough, and there's always a deal somewhere. And no, you don't have to look in the market's trash heap to find a bargain. There routinely are high-quality names on sale. For example, Meta Platforms ( META 1.32% ) and Adobe ( ADBE 0.27% ) are among the world's most prominent tech companies. Yet their stocks are priced right for buyers today. Despite both stocks trading at similar affordable valuations, they've had very different years. Meta trades near an all-time high, while Adobe is on a 30% decline. Find out what's happening with each tech stock and what makes them compelling buys for 2025. Meta is a case where buying into momentum can make you lots of money Most stocks don't appear on buying lists like this after appreciating almost 400% in under two years. But Meta Platforms is built differently. It's become hard for the stock to keep up with Meta's core business: advertising to the 3.29 billion people who use social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads daily. The company will generate around $163 billion in revenue this year, almost 21% more than in 2023. Meta is highly profitable, with about a third of that winding up as free cash flow . The stock price seemingly can't keep up with Meta's earnings. The stock trades at a forward P/E of 26 today, even after its epic run. Meanwhile, analysts estimate the company will grow earnings by almost 18% annually over the long term (three to five years). That's a PEG ratio of 1.4. I happily buy high-quality stocks at PEG ratios up to 2 or 2.5, so Meta's a bargain by this measure. The company's advertising business is a juggernaut with a long growth runway ahead as global advertising dollars continue shifting from legacy media to online and social media. Meta is a tremendous player in artificial intelligence (AI) , too, which is almost like icing on the cake at this point. It has developed an AI model, accumulated the computing power to use it, and continues to invest billions of dollars annually into its AI segment (Reality Labs), which doesn't even make money yet . Assuming it eventually does, it could add a new level of growth to an already excellent business. Don't hesitate to buy Meta at highs, because it has the fundamentals to more than justify its current value. Adobe is a tantalizing bargain after becoming an unpopular name on Wall Street Adobe is one of the world's largest technology companies, offering cloud-based creativity software, including: Creative Cloud: design, image, and video creation and editing tools Document Cloud: a platform for creating and editing PDF documents Experience Cloud: tools and services for marketing and customer relationship management (CRM) The company generates $21.5 billion in annual revenue, converting over 36% of that into free cash flow. However, the stock has sold off this year as potential threats to Adobe's business emerge. Fast-growing competitors, like Canva and Figma, are thriving; Adobe even tried to acquire the latter but abandoned the deal due to regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, generative AI has become capable of generating high-resolution images from worded prompts, leading some to wonder whether AI will eventually replace some of Adobe's products. Investors shouldn't dismiss any potential disruptors, but the stock's sell-off could be an overreaction. AI can generate images, but it's far from nuanced and currently doesn't come close to replacing Adobe's well-honed technology. Plus, Adobe is already integrating AI technology into its products. It's possible that AI ultimately improves Adobe's business , rather than harming it. AI will improve over time, but it's still a long leap to replace all of Adobe's collective tools and features fully. Meanwhile, the business is still growing revenue by nearly 10%, and analysts expect annualized earnings growth to average 15% over the long term. The stock's PEG ratio is 1.5 today, underlining the stock's current appeal. Investors who buy Adobe should watch for signs that AI or competition have impacted the business. For now, Adobe probably deserves the benefit of the doubt. The stock's tumble is a buying opportunity worth jumping on.Lessons learned on Justin Tatum's off-season world tour have primed the Illawarra Hawks coach for his first full season, so much so he now considers anything less than a NBL championship a failure. It's been a steep learning curve for American Tatum, who was installed to his first professional head-coaching job after the Hawks sacked Jacob Jackomas on a 2-7 start to last season. Back then, assistant-turned-interim coach Tatum was known for two things: a strong high-school coaching record in his home state of Missouri and fathering NBA superstar Jayson Tatum. But the 45-year-old has since carved out his own reputation and was nominated for NBL coach of the year last season for inspiring a Hawks resurgence that ended one win short of a championship series berth. Tatum has had to adjust to the rigours of professional basketball along the way and, a little more than a year after his promotion, he still thinks of himself as a newbie. "I've learned a lot," Tatum told AAP, reflecting on his first year in the job. "It went fast but I learned about the speed of the game, the adjustments that needed to be made. "Just probably managing the game during certain times, when teams make runs, managing my timeouts and things like that. "Also finding a way to navigate through the physicality of the plays and stuff that have been called. I'll get better at it but at the end of the day, I'm still one year in. I'm still learning." Another learning curve came earlier this season when Tatum was fined $3000 for a post-match critique that implied match officials treated him differently from other coaches. Tatum is currently the NBL's only African-American coach. "(The NBL) is more scrutinised or more publicised than high school because it's a professional league and things like that," he said. "You definitely can't go in there and do a rant because clearly there are fines and you're going to be clickbait, or whatever the hell comes about." But Tatum has been learning since before the season began, having shipped out to Boston to watch son Jayson win the NBA finals with the Celtics in game five at TD Garden this June. That was followed by a trip to attend his progeny's second Olympics in Paris, though coach Steve Kerr controversially benched the younger Tatum on the USA's run to the gold medal. Sitting in the stands, Tatum could not help but cast his mind to the other side of the world and the lessons he would take from Paris and Boston to Wollongong. "Just the patience of the coaches over there and the way they communicate to the players," Tatum said. "I only watch one (NBA) team play: the Celtics. But whoever they go against, I just try to watch the mannerisms of the coaches. "They know their team, they play so many games that they can act differently when they need to. "Me, I can't. I've got to find a way to be on an even keel or be a certain way to make sure my team doesn't go up and down." In son Jayson and his teammates, Tatum saw the kind of unity he wanted on court at the Hawks. "When Boston won the whole thing, they just went on a roll of everybody knowing their role, knowing what time it is and what they're going to do," he said. "They didn't care about nothing individually anymore. The 82 (regular-season) games they played were over with and now it's about finding a way to get everybody on the same page. "That's something that I want to insert into this group when we start being consistent and winning some games." The Hawks are in the process of getting onto that same page, sitting second on the ladder with a 8-5 record past the halfway mark of the NBL season. No team retained more players than Illawarra this season, with Americans Trey Kell and Darius Days proving shrewd additions to a playing group that made it to the final four last season. "We're in a good situation. We're one of the top, if not in the top-two, teams in the league," Tatum said. "Compared to where we were at last year, I think we're in a good spot." Since he got off the plane in Australia and before a ball was bounced in NBL25, Tatum was confident in what the Hawks could achieve. The only thing he will accept this season will be the ultimate success, a second championship banner for the city of Wollongong. "From the jump, when we landed (it has been)," he said. "The championship should be the only thing in our mind, not final four, not top six. Win the whole damn thing, otherwise it's a bust season."
Retailers coax Black Friday shoppers into stores with big discounts and giveaways NEW YORK (AP) — Retailers in the U.S. have used giveaways and bigger-than expected discounts to reward shoppers who ventured out on Black Friday. The day after Thanksgiving still reigns for now as the unofficial kickoff of the holiday shopping season even if it’s lost some luster. Analysts reported seeing the biggest crowds at stores that offered real savings. They say many shoppers are being cautious with their discretionary spending despite the easing of inflation. Stores are even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there are five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. Online sales figures from Thanksgiving Day gave retailers a reason to remain hopeful for a lucrative end to the year. Southwest Airlines says it is ending cabin service earlier to reduce chance of injury Southwest Airlines is ending its cabin service earlier starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson says flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. The company says it's making the changes to reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries. For passengers, that means they will need to return their seats to an upright position or do other pre-landing procedures earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years. Why your favorite catalogs are smaller this holiday season PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — While retailers hope to go big this holiday season, customers may notice that the catalogs arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were scaled down to save on postage and paper. Some gift purveyors are sending out postcards. In a sign of the times, the American Catalog Mailers Association rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, industry experts say catalogs help retailers cut through the noise and still hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs. Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is returning home after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump says the dinner talks Friday night at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida were “productive.” But he signaling no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation” but offered no details. Trump said in a Truth Social post later Saturday that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” Trump and Republicans in Congress eye an ambitious 100-day agenda, starting with tax cuts WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans swept to power on Election Day and now control the House, the Senate and the White House, with plans for an ambitious 100-day agenda come January. Their to-do list includes extending tax breaks, cutting social programs, building the border wall to stop immigration and rolling back President Joe Biden's green energy policies. Atop that list is a plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring tax cuts that were a signature domestic achievement of Republican Donald Trump’s first term as president. It's an issue that may define his return to the White House. The ruble's in a slump. For the Kremlin, that's a two-edged sword Russia’s ruble is sagging against other currencies, complicating the Kremlin’s efforts to keep consumer inflation under control with one hand even as it overheats the economy with spending on the war against Ukraine with the other. Over time a weaker ruble could mean higher prices for imports from China, Russia's main trade partner these days. President Vladimir Putin says things are under control. One wild card is sanctions against a key Russian bank that have disrupted foreign trade payments. If Russia finds a workaround for that, the ruble could regain some of its recent losses. Iceland votes for a new parliament after political disagreements force an early election REYKJAVIK, Iceland (AP) — Icelanders are electing a new parliament after disagreements over immigration, energy policy and the economy forced Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson to pull the plug on his coalition government and call early elections. This will be Iceland’s sixth general election since the 2008 financial crisis devastated the economy of the North Atlantic island nation and ushered in a new era of political instability. Opinion polls suggest the country may be in for another upheaval, with support for the three governing parties plunging. Benediktsson, who was named prime minister in April following the resignation of his predecessor, struggled to hold together the unlikely coalition of his conservative Independence Party with the centrist Progressive Party and the Left-Green Movement. Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational tobacco bans.” The bans phase out the use of tobacco products based not just on a person's age but on birth year. Lawmakers plan to file the proposal next year. If approved, the bill would set a date and ban the sale of tobacco to anyone born after that date forever, eventually banning all sales. Vietnam approves $67 billion high-speed railway project between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam has approved the construction of a high-speed railway connecting the capital Hanoi in the north with the financial capital of Ho Chi Minh in the south. It is expected to cost $67 billion and will stretch 1,541 kilometers (957 miles). The new train is expected to travel at speeds of up to 350 kph (217 mph), reducing the journey from the current 30 hours to just five hours. The decision was taken by Vietnam’s National Assembly on Saturday. Construction is expected to begin in 2027 and Vietnam hopes that the first trains will start operating by 2035. But the country has been beleaguered by delays to its previous infrastructure projects. Inflation rose to 2.3% in Europe. That won't stop the central bank from cutting interest rates FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro currency rose in November — but that likely won’t stop the European Central Bank from cutting interest rates as the prospect of new U.S. tariffs from the incoming Trump administration adds to the gloom over weak growth. The European Union’s harmonized index of consumer prices rose 2.3 percent, up from 2.0% in October, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. However, worries about growth mean the Dec. 12 ECB meeting is not about whether to cut rates, but by how much. Market buzz says there could be a larger than usual half-point cut in the benchmark rate, currently 3.25%.Former President Jimmy Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981, has died at age 100. The 39th president of the United States was widely admired for his global humanitarian work. Carter won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. He was the son of a peanut farmer from Georgia. Former President Jimmy Carter, who rose from humble beginnings in rural Georgia to the White House and was renowned for his charity work around the globe, has died. Advertisement He was 100 years old and passed peacefully in his Plains, Georgia home, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Sunday, citing Carter's son, Chip. The Carter Center in February 2023 announced that Carter would enter hospice care to "spend his remaining time at home with his family" following several hospital stays. After almost a year and a half in hospice, Carter's grandson, Jason, said the former president was "coming to the end." Advertisement Carter had previously been treated for brain and liver cancer, was hospitalized after a fall in 2019, and had surgery the same year to relieve a buildup of pressure around his brain. Presidents often fade into the background after they leave the White House, but Carter — the 39th president of the United States — was in many ways a more popular, impactful figure after his single tumultuous term from 1977 to 1981. Carter has often been referred to as the best ex-president in history, a compliment he seemed to embrace . Advertisement He came to be admired for his amiable demeanor and lifelong dedication to public service and humanitarianism. Carter was a US Navy veteran and a Nobel laureate. He was preceded in death by his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, who died in November 2023 at age 96. He is survived by his four children , 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Carter with, from left, former President George H.W. Bush, then-President-elect Barack Obama, then-President George W. Bush, and former President Bill Clinton at the White House in 2009. J. Scott Applewhite/AP The peanut farmer who became president Carter, whose full name was James Earl Carter Jr., was born October 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia. His father was a peanut farmer who'd served in the Georgia state legislature. His mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, served as a nurse, civil- and women's-rights activist, and Peace Corps volunteer in India at the age of 68 in 1966. The Carters were deeply tied to their Baptist faith. Advertisement Carter graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1946. He served in the Navy for seven years before returning to Georgia to take over his family's peanut farm after his father died. In a photograph from September 1966, then-Georgia state Sen. Jimmy Carter hugs his wife, Rosalynn, at his Atlanta campaign headquarters. Horace Cort/Associated Press 'I'll never tell a lie' Carter entered state politics as a Democrat in the early 1960s and in 1970 was elected to the Georgia governorship. In 1974, he announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president. Initially, Carter was pegged as a long shot given his lack of political connections and the fact he was relatively unknown nationally. Advertisement But Carter painted himself as an honest outsider with strong morals at a time when many Americans were disillusioned with Washington over the Watergate scandal, and his campaign gradually gained momentum. He repeatedly told voters, "I'll never tell a lie." Carter's longtime embrace of civil rights was also crucial to his victory. Advertisement After being elected governor, Carter declared during his inaugural address, "I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over." Carter, then Georgia's governor, announcing his Democratic candidacy for the US presidency in Atlanta. AP He carried these sentiments into his presidential campaign and allied himself with key Black members of Congress. Carter received overwhelming support from Black voters, especially in the South, which propelled him to the White House. Carter won the Democratic nomination in July 1976, choosing then-Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota as his running mate against President Gerald Ford, the Republican incumbent. Carter defeated Ford in November of that year, winning 50.1% of the popular vote and capturing 297 electoral votes to Ford's 240. Advertisement The Georgian swept the Deep South, the last Democrat to do so on the presidential level, while also carrying important battlegrounds like Ohio and Pennsylvania. The informal president As president, Carter sought to portray himself as a man of the people and make the presidency more accessible. After he was sworn in, Carter and his wife walked to the White House, launching an informal tradition followed by subsequent presidents at their inaugurations. Advertisement He also spoke and dressed in a less formal manner and held frequent press conferences. Carter with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy. The Carters started a tradition by walking the parade route from the Capitol to the White House following his inauguration. Suzanne Vlamis/AP Carter entered office as a popular figure pushing for ambitious programs to address the country's myriad social and economic woes. His administration had a historically large number of women, Black, and Latino members and staff. Though Carter's image as an "outsider" seemed to be advantageous during his campaign, it hurt him with Congress once he was in the White House. He struggled to get lawmakers on board with his bold proposals for reform, and his approval ratings tanked as he struggled to push his proposals through the legislative branch. Advertisement A scandal in the summer of 1977 didn't help matters. At the time, Bert Lance, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, was accused of being involved in dubious financial activities as a Georgia banker. Carter at first defended Lance, whom he saw as a close friend, but ultimately called on him to resign. In 1979, amid an energy crisis and recession, Carter delivered his infamous "crisis in confidence" speech, contending that the nation needed to restore its faith in itself. The speech was well-received at first but was ultimately not a particularly successful selling point. Carter with Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. PA Images via Getty Images Carter's biggest accomplishments were in foreign policy Despite the many challenges Carter faced, his presidency wasn't without major accomplishments. Advertisement On the domestic front, his achievements included establishing the Department of Education and the Department of Energy and expanding the national parks system. His actions helped lay the framework for future administrations to tackle America's educational and energy needs. But Carter's biggest accomplishments as president came in the foreign-policy arena. He facilitated the first peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, known as the Camp David Accords. Carter also established full diplomatic relations between the US and China and orchestrated two important treaties between the US and Panama. Advertisement Carter with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on the North Lawn of the White House as they finished signing the Camp David Accords. Bob Daugherty/AP Carter also stood up to the Soviet Union on human rights and completed negotiation of the SALT II nuclear-limitation treaty (though the treaty ultimately fell through with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan). Related stories The Iranian hostage crisis and Carter's downfall Carter's progress in the realm of foreign policy was in many ways overshadowed by the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Amid a revolution in Iran that saw a pro-US government ousted, a mob of students stormed the US Embassy in Tehran and took the staff members as hostages. The revolutionary Iranian government, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, supported the actions of the students. The US Embassy staff members were ultimately held hostage for hundreds of days. Advertisement The timing of the crisis and Carter's perceived failure to secure the release of the hostages, which included a disastrous military operation that failed to rescue them, was deeply damaging to his image domestically. Combined with an economy in turmoil, the hostage crisis was a large part of the reason Carter lost reelection in a landslide to former Gov. Ronald Reagan of California in 1980. In that race, Carter's support had diminished across the South and in the Midwestern and Northeastern states that boosted his first presidential bid; he earned 49 electoral votes to Reagan's 489. Carter's administration negotiated the release of the hostages during his final days in office, and they were freed the same day as Reagan's inauguration. Advertisement The post-presidency peacemaker Carter spent most of his postpresidential years championing human rights and pushing for peace in various corners of the world. He founded The Carter Center to focus on such issues in 1982 and played an active role with Habitat for Humanity until the end of his life. Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan concluding a visit to a polling center in South Sudan. Pete Muller/AP As a private citizen, Carter worked for peace everywhere from North Korea to Haiti. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for what the Norwegian Nobel Committee described as 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." Related stories Staying humble After he left the White House, Carter moved back to Plains, Georgia. Advertisement He's the only US president in the modern era to return to the two-bedroom house he lived in before ascending to the highest office in the land. Carter favored a humble lifestyle. He was known to fly on commercial airliners, unlike other past presidents who preferred private jets, and was filmed walking up and down the aisle to shake the hands of other passengers. —USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 13, 2017 He also cost US taxpayers far less per year than any other former president, according to the General Services Administration, in large part because he avoided extravagances. Advertisement Carter was a former president longer than anyone else in US history. Staying true to principles In 1954, the chief of police and a Baptist minister in Plains asked Carter to join the local White Citizens' Council, a pro-segregation organization. The peanut farmer said no, and a few days later the men came back to tell Carter he was the only white man in the community who hadn't joined. Carter told them he didn't care. Advertisement The police chief and minister returned a third time and said they would pay the $5 membership fee for Carter if that's what was holding him back. He was also warned that his peanut business would face a boycott if he didn't join. In response, Carter told them : "I've got $5. And I'd flush it down the toilet before I'd give it to you." Throughout Carter's long life, he frequently proved unafraid to stray from the pack, even if it made him at times unpopular.Empty Stocking Fund, Dec. 29, 2024Jalon Moore led No. 12 Oklahoma with 22 points in an 89-67 home win against pesky Prairie View A&M in Norman on Sunday. Jeremiah Fears scored 19 points and Duke Miles added 17 for the Sooners, who are 13-0 for the fourth time in program history and the first time since the 1987-88 season. Tanahj Pettway led PVAMU with 22 points while Marcel Bryant added 14. Braelon Bush and Jordan Tillmon each chipped in 11 points for PVAMU (1-13) which played without leading scorer Nick Anderson (18.9 points per game). The Sooners finally pulled away from the determined Panthers with 5:20 left on a 10-3 run that started when Sam Goodwin tipped in a rebound and was capped by a Glenn Taylor Jr. rebound for an 80-63 lead. A Kobe Elvis 3-pointer capped a game-closing 9-0 Sooners run. Pettway connected on a 3-pointer from the wing that gave the Panthers a 5-2 lead. PVAMU hung tight on a Bryant jumper that tied the game at 7. Even though they were short-handed, the Panthers' largest first-half deficit was only 11. A Pettway layup and his steal in the full-court press that led to Bryant's turnaround jumper in the lane as the Panthers closed within 34-30. PVAMU's rally prompted an Oklahoma timeout after which Miles drilled a 3-pointer to kick off a half-closing 9-2 spurt for a 43-32 halftime lead. Braelon Bush's 3-pointer pulled the Panthers within 58-50 with 11:17 left in the game. It was the Panthers' 12th straight nonconference road game. PVAMU returns to its home court Saturday against Grambling. Oklahoma kicks off its first season in the SEC at No. 5 Alabama on Saturday. --Field Level Media
Xerox Holdings Co. ( NYSE:XRX – Get Free Report )’s share price gapped up prior to trading on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $8.39, but opened at $8.99. Xerox shares last traded at $8.77, with a volume of 2,577,006 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on XRX. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Xerox from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Xerox from $11.00 to $8.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Xerox from $10.00 to $8.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $9.50. Get Our Latest Report on XRX Xerox Stock Down 2.3 % Xerox ( NYSE:XRX – Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The information technology services provider reported $0.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $1.53 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.63 billion. Xerox had a positive return on equity of 6.60% and a negative net margin of 21.31%. Xerox’s revenue was down 7.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.46 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Xerox Holdings Co. will post 1.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Xerox Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. Xerox’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -9.06%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Xerox by 26.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 68,359 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $710,000 after purchasing an additional 14,164 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Xerox by 2.3% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,808,775 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $29,161,000 after buying an additional 62,947 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Xerox by 55.5% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 469,106 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $4,869,000 after acquiring an additional 167,500 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Xerox by 44.2% during the 3rd quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 152,380 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock worth $1,582,000 after acquiring an additional 46,708 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its holdings in shares of Xerox by 39.2% in the third quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 38,312 shares of the information technology services provider’s stock valued at $398,000 after purchasing an additional 10,794 shares in the last quarter. 85.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Xerox Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Xerox Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a workplace technology company that integrates hardware, services, and software for enterprises in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Print and Other; and FITTLE. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Xerox Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Xerox and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
While commenting on one of my articles on recent developments in Syria an educated Sunni Muslim of India, (aged around 70) with having grasp on international affairs said: “You must understand that these Shia hardliners of Iran, if not checked, will even capture Makkah and Madinah.” But he was rendered speechless when I cut in to ask, “Why have Iranians not succeeded in installing a Shia ruler in nearby Bahrain when they are in majority there? Bahrain is ruled by a dictator belonging to a minority Sunni sect. How is it that the Sunnis, who form an overwhelming population of Saudi Arabia, would allow the Shia minority to occupy the two holiest sites of Islam thousands of kilometers away from the Iranian border? Even in Saudi Arabia Shias have a substantial population on its eastern coast much far away from Hejaz in the west.” I went on to explain: “Why only Bahrain? Iran could have easily placed a puppet government in its Shia-dominated northern neighbour, Azerbaijan, immediately after the dismemberment of the then-Soviet Union in December 1991. Iran could have exploited the situation that emerged after the collapse of the Communist Soviet Union as the United States was bogged down in Iraq after the first Gulf War of January- February 1991. Instead, Azerbaijan went on to become a trusted friend of Israel, the United States, and Turkey and thus constantly pose a big threat to Tehran.” This gentleman was wise enough to understand my point. But this is not the case with all the Sunnis around the world. The exaggerated phobia of Shia expansionism has deliberately been spread since the Iranian Revolution of 1979. As the revolution created a massive upsurge in the region–as it had happened later in the case of the Arab Spring of 2011–the monarchs, especially of Saudi Arabia, tried to deflect the attention of the people by whipping up this anti-Shia passion. The Salafi Ulema (clergy) more or less convinced of the rulers’ propaganda, which had an impact on the Sunni world. Gradually, many Sunnis around the world, who hailed the Iranian Revolution, became skeptic of the Shias. The West has a great interest in aggravating the rift therefore its media went all out to magnify the differences. Various international agencies fanned this tension. The Salafi hotheads, as far away as Pakistan, started a witch-hunt against the minority Shias. At several places Shias too responded—but they had some limitations as they were in the minority. Thus, the royal families of the Gulf countries distracted the attention of the masses from their dictatorial rule. But it is also a fact that Shias and Sunnis have been living together peacefully for quite a few centuries. The reality was that in Iraq and Bahrain the Sunnis were in power though they are numerically Shia dominated countries. Iraq would have remained a Sunni-ruled state for some more time had its ruler Saddam Husain not attacked fellow Sunni neighbour, Kuwait, on August 2, 1990. This was so even though Kuwait, like all the Sunni countries of the region, wholeheartedly supported Iraq in its eight-year-long war with Iran (1980-88). It was upon this that the United States-led army came to the rescue of Kuwait and liberated it in 1991. In 2003, that is after 9/11 the US captured the entire Iraq and dethroned Saddam, who was later executed. Had he not committed the folly of invading Kuwait the Americans would not have come and Iraq would not have become a Shia-ruled country. So, one cannot blame Iran for turning Iraq into a Shia-ruled country. May sound unbelievable now, but true: During the Yemeni Civil War between 1962 and 1970 Sunni Saudi Arabia and Jordan; Shia Iran (then ruled by Raza Shah) as well as Israel and Britain supported the Zaidi Shia ruler of the country, while Sunni Egypt and Communist Soviet Union backed the Left-leaning group which led a revolt. The eight-year-long bloodletting in the Yemeni civil war was fully exploited by Israel which attacked Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in 1967. It is said that some 70,000 Egyptian soldiers were in Yemen during that period of civil war. This is the stark reality. Though the Shia factor was played up after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, it is a fact that King Abdullah of Jordan in 2004 referred to the Shia Crescent from Damascus to Tehran via Baghdad. This was so even though Shias, like Sunnis, consider Alawites as disbelievers. So, there is no question of calling Syria a Shia-ruled country. It was the French who during the colonial rule wrongly categorized Alawites as Shia Muslims recruited a large number of them in the army and promoted them to high military positions. What King Abdullah did not say is that Baghdad became the capital of a Shia-ruled state After the US-led invasion a year before. Jordan was a close ally of the Western powers. Therefore, holding Iran responsible for the creation of this fictitious Shia Crescent was blatantly wrong. Abdullah was thus reading the script prepared by the Western masters. The reality is that Shias in general, whatever the differences they have with the Sunnis, always backed the cause of Palestinians, who were overwhelmingly Sunnis. This was so even though they were in the initial years of the creation of Israel not targeted by the Zionist state. Barring Lebanon, there is hardly any Shia population in the frontline states—Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Yet the Shias of Lebanon, even before the Iranian revolution, stood behind the Sunni Palestinians. And after the Revolution Iran and later another far-off Zaidi Shia country, Yemen, led a religious campaign for the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. In contrast, the Saudis invaded Yemen, which caused widespread destruction and deaths of lakhs of people. The Gulf monarchies have an advantage. They have enormous amounts of wealth which they use not only to check the democratic forces within but also to foment trouble in other Arab countries. If Assad of Syria were barbaric and responsible for the massacres of their people, so were the Gulf despots, for example, Saudis in Yemen. But through money and power, they keep the masses in their own countries in good humour. There is less scope for economic distress, which plays a significant role in causing political upheaval—as in Syria which is not rich. They were alarmed by the Arab Spring of 2010-2011, which swept from Tunisia to Syria. With the help of money power, they supported various groups in respective countries. If they got rid of the first elected government of President Morsi in Egypt, the petrodollar of these Arab countries play a key role in fomenting trouble in Sudan, Syria, etc. Money power plays a big role in creating a favourable atmosphere for these rulers even in far-off Muslim countries. The ultra-Salafis of other countries were the primary beneficiaries. The Saudi ruling family tries to earn the goodwill of non-political Muslims of the world by posing as the custodians of Makkah and Madinah. The problem with Iran is that it has got overstretched as it is fighting on various fronts almost single-handedly. The revolution of 1979 inspired Shias across the world. When the revolution took place in Iran many Western scholars felt that the country would be thrown 1,400 years back, but it emerged as a powerful scientific and technological power. Yet it is also a fact that a sizable minority population within the country believes that Iran should not have poked its nose into Israeli affairs for no apparent gain. They are also of the view that the post-Revolution establishment has gradually become intolerant and is suppressing the voice of dissent. After the recent developments in Syria, the West would leave no stone unturned to back these elements and get rid of the present set-up. Whether it succeeds or not only time will tell.Campus notes: December 29, 2024An offer of NATO membership to territory under Kyiv’s control would end “the hot stage of the war” in Ukraine, but any proposal to join the military alliance should be extended to all parts of the country that fall under internationally recognized borders, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a broadcast interview. Zelenskyy’s remarks on Friday signaled a possible way forward to the difficult path Ukraine faces to future NATO membership. At their summit in Washington in July, the 32 members declared Ukraine on an “irreversible” path to membership. However, one obstacle to moving forward has been the view that Ukraine’s borders would need to be clearly demarcated before it could join so that there can be no mistaking where the alliance’s pact of mutual defense would come into effect. “You can’t give an invitation to just one part of a country," Zelenskyy said in an excerpt of the interview with Sky News. "Why? Because thus you would recognize that Ukraine is only that territory of Ukraine and the other one is Russia.” Under the Ukrainian Constitution, Ukraine can't recognize territory occupied by Russia as Russian. RELATED STORY | Putin claims Russia attacked Ukraine with a new missile that the West can't stop “So legally, by law, we have no right to recognize the occupied territory as territory of Russia,” he said. Since the start of the war in 2022, Russia has been expending huge amounts of weaponry and human life to make small-but-steady territorial gains to the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine it already controls in east and southern Ukraine. “If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That’s what we need to do, fast. And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically,” he said. An invitation for Ukraine to join NATO is one key point of Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” which he presented to Western allies and the Ukrainian people in October. The plan is seen as a way for Ukraine to strengthen its hand in any negotiations with Moscow. Earlier this week, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that the alliance “needs to go further” to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion. Military aid to Kyiv and steps toward ending the war are expected to be high on the agenda when NATO members' foreign ministers meet in Brussels for a two-day gathering starting on Dec. 3. RELATED STORY | Russia says Ukraine fired 6 US-made missiles at the Bryansk region, days after Biden policy shift However, any decision for Ukraine to join the military alliance would require a lengthier process and the agreement of all member states. There is also uncertainty as to the foreign policy stance of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. While Trump vowed on the campaign trail to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a single day, he hasn't publicly discussed how this could happen. Trump also announced Wednesday that Keith Kellogg, an 80-year-old, highly decorated retired three-star general, would serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. In April, Kellog wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Meanwhile, during his only campaign debate with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump twice refused to directly answer a question about whether he wanted Ukraine to win the war — raising concerns that Kyiv could be forced to accept unfavorable terms in any negotiations. Zelenskyy’s statement comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. In its latest report, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said Saturday that Russian forces had recently advanced near Kupiansk, in Toretsk, and near Pokrovsk and Velyka Novosilka, a key logistics route for the Ukrainian military. At least four people were killed Saturday when a Russian missile hit Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram. Dnipropetrovsk Gov. Serhiy Lysak said that the strike also wounded at least 21 people, of which eight were in a serious condition. Ukraine’s air force announced Saturday that the country had come under attack from 10 Russian drones, of which eight were shot down over the Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson regions. One drone returned to Russian-occupied territory, while the final drone disappeared from radar, often a sign of the use of electronic defenses. Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 11 Ukrainian drones had been shot down by the country’s air defense systems. Both the mayor of Sochi, Andrey Proshunin, and the head of Russia’s Dagestan region, Sergey Melikov, both in Russia’s southwest, said that drones had been destroyed in their regions overnight. No casualties were reported. On Friday, the Ukrainian president announced a number of changes to military leadership, saying that changes in personnel management were needed to improve the situation on the battlefield. Gen. Mykhailo Drapatyi, who led the defense of Kharkiv during Russia’s new offensive on Ukraine’s second-largest city this year, was appointed the new head of Ukraine’s Ground Forces. Oleh Apostol was named as the new deputy commander-in-chief responsible for improving military training.
‘Escape From Tarkov’ Fire Sale Event Kicks Off, Signalling Wipe SoonUCF is looking for a new head coach after Gus Malzahn resigned on Saturday to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State. The school released a statement on Saturday afternoon indicating the news of Malzahn's departure. Malzahn went 28-24 as the head coach in Orlando from 2021-24, including a 10-15 mark as a member of the Big 12 over the last two seasons. UCF is a job with a ton of potential. The program is located in a talent-rich state (Florida) and has a fanbase that's eager to win with quality resources. Additionally, the move to a power conference (Big 12) in 2023 only adds to the potential for this job. Who could replace Malzahn at UCF? Here are a few names to watch in the search: UCF Football: 8 Coaching Candidates to Replace Gus Malzahn Jamey Chadwell, Head Coach, Liberty Chadwell is one of the top coaches in the Group of 5 ranks and is due for a chance to lead a power conference program - perhaps as early as this offseason with North Carolina a team that should inquire about his interest. The Tennessee native has worked as a head coach at five different stops, including Charleston Southern (35-14 from 2013-16) and Coastal Carolina (39-22). In two years at Liberty, Chadwell’s record sits at 21-4, and he guided the program to an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl after a 13-0 record in the regular season in ’23. The Flames underachieved a bit this year, but Chadwell's track record of winning and building prolific offenses is worth a look for any open job in the power conferences this offseason. Scott Frost, Former UCF/Nebraska Head Coach Could UCF look to its past for its next head coach? Frost guided the Knights to a 19-7 mark from 2016-17, including a 13-0 season in his final year at the helm. His tenure at Nebraska ended in dismissal, as the Cornhuskers went 16-31 from 2018-22. Frost currently works as an analyst with the Rams. Alex Golesh, Head Coach, South Florida Could Golesh make an in-state move to UCF? Although South Florida is a solid job, the Knights are a power conference opportunity and a step up the ladder. The Bulls were hit by an injury to their starting quarterback early in the '24 season but still was 6-5 going into Week 14 after a 7-5 record last year. He previously worked at UCF in 2020. Charles Huff, Head Coach, Marshall Huff is in a unique spot going into the final weekend of the '24 season. Despite a 30-20 record at Marshall, Huff does not have a contract beyond this year. In addition to a successful stint with the Thundering Herd, Huff previously worked as an assistant at Penn State, Mississippi State, and Alabama. GJ Kinne, Head Coach, Texas State Kinne recently inked a contract extension at Texas State, so he's likely a longshot candidate for this job. However, he previously worked at UCF at 2021 as an offensive assistant under Malzahn. Kinne is 15-10 over the last two seasons with the Bobcats and previously went 12-2 as the coach at Incarnate Word in '22. Dan Mullen, Former Mississippi State/Florida Head Coach Could Mullen return to the sidelines after working the past three years at ESPN? His name was mentioned in the North Carolina search to replace Mack Brown and could pop up in other openings this offseason. Although Mullen was dismissed at Florida, he still compiled a 34-15 mark from 2018-21 and won the SEC East title in ’20. Prior to the stint in Gainesville, Mullen went 69-46 at Mississippi State from 2009-17. He's also regarded for his work on the offensive side of the ball. Garrett Riley, Offensive Coordinator, Clemson Riley is regarded as one of college football's top rising stars in the coordinator ranks. The Texas native (and brother of Lincoln Riley) has never been a head coach at the FBS level but has worked as an offensive coordinator at three different programs, including SMU, TCU, and Clemson. Under Riley's watch, the Tigers have showed significant progress on offense in '24. Jon Sumrall, Head Coach, Tulane Sumrall's name is likely to pop up for every power conference opening this offseason. However, he also can be patient in choosing his next move. The Alabama native went 23-4 at Troy from 2022-23 and finished 9-3 with a spot in the AAC title game in his debut at Tulane this fall. Related: 10 Candidates to Replace Mack Brown at North Carolina Related: College Football Bowl Projections for 2024-25 Related: Ranking College Football's Open Head-Coaching Jobs for the 2024-25 Carousel