Ravens vs. Chargers scouting report for Week 12: Who has the edge?
Who Is Bill Skarsgård's Girlfriend? All About Actress Alida Morberg (Who Is Also from a Famous Swedish Family!)The slump in the number of people heading to the shops during Boxing Day sales signals a return to declining pre-pandemic levels, an analyst has said. Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.FSK Completes Public Offering of $100 million 6.125% Unsecured Notes Due 2030
CHADDS FORD, PA — MOBILion Systems, Inc. recently announced the formation of a Proteomics Advisory Board, bringing together leading experts to guide the advancement of its cutting-edge technology in complex sample analysis. This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of proteomics research and solutions. The advisory board’s primary focus will be on supporting MOBILion as it develops its next-generation technology, which aims to address some of the biggest challenges in the analysis of complex biological samples. The company’s innovative approach, powered by its proprietary operating mode known as PAMAF, promises faster and more sensitive results—capabilities that could redefine the field of proteomics. “We are honored to be working with such visionary leaders whose groundbreaking contributions have shaped the proteomics landscape,” said Daniel DeBord, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer of MOBILion Systems. “The expertise of this board will help ensure we develop solutions that meet the most pressing challenges researchers face, advancing the future of proteomics research and innovation.” The Proteomics Advisory Board consists of seven prominent figures from academia and industry, each with extensive experience in proteomics and related fields. The current members include: Steven Carr, Ph.D. – Senior Director of Proteomics at the Broad Institute, recognized for his development of proteomics methods in biomedical applications. Ashok Dongre, Ph.D. – Senior Director of Proteomics at Bristol Myers Squibb, with over 25 years of experience in pharmaceutical research. Alexey Nesvizhskii, Ph.D. – Professor of Bioinformatics at the University of Michigan, known for his work in mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Ben Orsburn, Ph.D. – Proteomics and mass spectrometry researcher with expertise in developing novel technologies for Johns Hopkins University and other institutions. Birgit Schilling, Ph.D. – Director of the Mass Spectrometry Core at the Buck Institute, specializing in data-driven proteomics. Nikolai Slavov, Ph.D. – Bioengineering professor at Northeastern University and a pioneer in single-cell proteomics. John R. Yates III, Ph.D. – Esteemed professor at The Scripps Research Institute and a leading figure in proteomics technology innovation. MOBILion notes that the board may evolve as new needs arise for expertise in specific applications or workflows. By leveraging the knowledge and experience of these distinguished scientists, MOBILion aims to refine and expand the practical applications of its technology, ultimately driving meaningful advances in biology, medicine, and beyond. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .Hertz pulling plug on Teslas as renters report receiving discount offers to purchase them
Nagpur: The rise of cybercrime has taken a significant toll on Nagpurians, with total losses amounting to Rs 50 crore in 2024, as per data released by the city's cyber cell. However, the cyber cell has managed to retrieve over Rs 30 crore, with approximately 13.1% of the recovered amount already returned to victims. DCP Lohit Matani explained the process involved in retrieving and returning the money. "Once the money is retrieved from the criminals, victims must obtain a court order to claim it. So far, Rs 3.7 crore has been returned to victims, while Rs 28.5 crore remains pending," Matani stated. He highlighted the use of the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCCRP), which plays a key role in combating cybercrime. The protocol connects telecom companies, banks, and law enforcement agencies. "When a suspicious transaction occurs, telecom companies or banks alert us with details of the portal involved. The information, including linked bank account details, is uploaded to the NCCRP along with a complaint ID," Matani explained. The cybercrime complaint is then forwarded to the respective police station for further investigation and action. "Our main goal in such cases is to retrieve the defrauded amount as quickly as possible," he added. Matani also pointed out the challenges in tracking cybercriminals, who often use advanced technology to remain anonymous. "Many cybercriminals use VPNs, fake bank accounts, and identity theft to cover their tracks, making it difficult to identify and apprehend them," he said. Matani assured that the cyber cell has state-of-the-art infrastructure to battle cybercrimes. "However, with the increasing sophistication of cybercriminals, authorities urge citizens to exercise caution while conducting online transactions to avoid falling victim to scams," he said. Earlier, CM Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the home minister, highlighted the perils of AI and cyber crimes, and added that the state has the necessary infrastructure to deal with the issue. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .
AP News Summary at 2:39 p.m. EST
Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen returns to a tournament after a dispute over jeans is resolved
An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalition
Despite longstanding divisions, Kurdish political leaders and analysts say Syrian Kurdish groups are seeking a unified delegation to represent their interests in Damascus in negotiations with Syria’s new authorities. Since 2012, northeast Syria’s Kurdish region has been under the control of forces affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, a key U.S. partner in the fight against the Islamic State terror group. The region is predominantly governed by the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, whose military arm forms the backbone of the SDF. For its part, Turkey views all these groups as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Turkey, a major actor in post-Assad Syria, has pledged to eliminate these Kurdish groups if they refuse to disarm. The Kurdish National Council, or ENKS, is another coalition of Kurdish parties in Syria that have opposed the PYD’s de facto rule in the northeast. The ENKS has ties with Turkey and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the ruling party in Iraqi Kurdistan. This week, ENKS and SDF held a meeting attended by officials from the U.S.-led coalition against IS. The meeting was “to discuss the formation of a unified Kurdish position within the framework of the new Syria,” according to a joint statement. “The sides agreed on the importance of urgently continuing meetings to resolve contentious issues.” Sulaiman Oso, the ENKS president who attended the meeting on Monday, said the discussion between the two sides was transparent. “This was our first meeting with SDF commander Mazloum Abdi in four years,” he told VOA. “We were clear and transparent about our demands, including an end to arrests of our members and the burning of our offices,” he added, referring to recent incidents in which ENKS members have been targeted by local security forces. Oso said that trust between the two sides has significantly eroded in recent years. “We cannot go to Damascus with a unified delegation if these internal matters aren’t resolved first,” he said, adding that the U.S., U.K. and France are pushing both Kurdish sides to reach an agreement soon. None of these countries has publicly commented on their involvement in supporting intra-Kurdish dialogue in Syria. However, since Bashar al-Assad’s fall on Dec. 8, U.S., French and British officials have highlighted the need to safeguard the rights of Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities, including the Kurds. Saleh Muslim, a senior PYD official, emphasized the importance of forming a unified Kurdish delegation that includes Arabs and Christians from northeast Syria to effectively represent the region’s diverse population and their demands. “The current meetings are still in the consultation stage,” he told VOA. “Nothing concrete has emerged yet, but the ENKS has already sent representatives to Damascus for discussions.” The ENKS says its representatives are in the capital to hold meetings with community leaders, not with the new authorities, which are dominated by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, the rebel group that led the 11-day offensive resulting in Assad’s downfall. The HTS is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., although initial meetings have taken place between U.S. diplomats and HTS leaders in Damascus. Oso of ENKS said no current presence should replace a unified Kurdish representation in Damascus. Observers warn that the slow progress between the two Kurdish sides could undermine efforts to establish a Kurdish foothold in Damascus. “This is a historic moment for Syria,” said Zara Saleh, a Kurdish political analyst in London. “If the Kurds don’t have a unified and strong representation in Damascus, Kurdish demands could be ignored by the new Islamist authorities, who already view them with suspicion.” HTS officials, including leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, have said that Kurdish rights will be protected in Syria. But in a recent interview with the Saudi news channel al-Hadath, Murhaf Abu Qasra, who was appointed by the HTS as defense minister in Syria’s caretaker government, rejected the concept of federalism, describing it as a means to divide Syria. Syrian Kurdish groups are advocating for federalism as a solution to both their political demands and the broader issues facing the country. But that is something that the SDF, PYD and ENKS have failed to clearly articulate, says analyst Zara Saleh. “Their political rhetoric expired the moment the Syrian regime fell,” Saleh said. “Therefore, there is an urgent need to include Kurdish experts, civil society leaders and influential social figures in any delegation heading to Damascus, and the United States, along with other stakeholders, should advocate for this.”
CHOCOLATE lovers have been left stunned as Superdrug offers boxes of Celebrations and Ferrero Rocher for just £1. With Maltesers down to just 25p, and boxes of Ferrero Rocher , Celebrations , and Quality Street priced at only £1, shoppers are racing to snag these sweet deals. Advertisement 4 Popular beauty retailer Superdrug has slashed prices post-Christmas Credit: Getty 4 Quality Streets and Celebrations priced at just £1 Credit: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Group/Facebook 4 Superdrug are also giant Ferrero Rochers Credit: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Group/Facebook 4 Maltesers Mini Reindeers are just 25p Credit: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Group/Facebook Shoppers have been quick to spread the word, with social media lighting up as people share their excitement over the jaw-dropping deal. One thrilled user exclaimed: "Get into Superdrug and get me 5!" Another joked: "At this price, we should postpone Christmas for two days. "We'd pay hardly anything!" Advertisement chocolate,celebrations,retail GET IT QUICK Major supermarket slashes price of Ferrero Rocher tray as shoppers rush to buy CHOC LOT 'Dreams have come true' as shoppers spot new ‘yummy’ Ferrero Easter egg flavour Shoppers can take Giant Ferrero Rochers home for just £1 - the hollow milk and chocolate ball has long been considered a Christmas treat and now it's a budget friendly one too. In Tesco, a Maltesers Mini Reindeer is marked at £1.50 but at Superdrug the price has been slashed down to a mere 25p. This means chocoholics can pick up six Mini Reindeers at the bargain beauty retailers for the same price at one in Tesco. For those hoping to pick up something for the family, a Quality Street share box is only a pound. Advertisement Most read in Money Exclusive FRENCH FOLLY Our fairytale 8-bed Escape to the Chateau mansion has turned into a nightmare CHOC LOT Major supermarket slashes price of Quality Street tubs to just £3 NO THANKS People are already selling unwanted Christmas presents on eBay and Facebook BRIGHT SPARK Exact date millions of energy customers must take a meter reading This includes 220g of individually wrapped chocolates ready to get you over the post-holiday blues. The product is so popular it has sold out online and you'll have to head into a store if you want to get your hands on one. Angry Noel Radford left fuming after splashing cash on ‘rip off’ chocolate in Dubai Luckily, discounts don't stop there - Superdrug has a range of offers ready for when shoppers hit the high street again . The retailer is providing a free gift with selected Cosmetics. Advertisement It's offering a free Rimmel lip oil in Pink Flush when you spend £12 on Rimmel products. You can pick up a L'Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray for free when you spend £15 on selected L'Oréal Paris Cosmetics. The Pout Clout Lip Plumping Pen is available when you spend £16 on selected e.l.f. Cosmetics, but this oly for online customers. Superdrug Deals Superdrug is offering L'oreal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renew Midnight Cream 50M for £14.99, down from £29.99. For those ready start their new years resoultion early, the Slimfast Powder Tin Banana 365G is on sale for £5. If you're looking to sniff out a good deal the Calvin Klein CKIN2U Eau de Toilette for Him 150ml is now £23.50, down from £56. There is free delivery for those spending over £25 on their online shopping online - this lowers to £20 for Health and Beautycard members. They are also offering a range of goodies for under a fiver . Similar to Aldi Specialbuys or the Lidl Middle Aisle, Superdrug offers This Week's Star Buys. Advertisement These are weekly deals and offers on selected items for shoppers, with extra discounts for those with a loyalty card. Most Superdrug shops have a pink display case which will sometimes have a range of yellow sticker bargains. Read more on the Scottish Sun CHRISTMAS MIRACLES Christmas baby joy for Scots parents as little ones begin arriving EDGE OF THE WORLD Inside the remote Scots golf club dubbed 'the world's loneliest course' When products don’t sell from the clearance area, the retailer will slash the price to shift it quicker. If you can hunt down the clearance shelves or display when in-store, you might be be able to pick up some products for pennies. Advertisement Everything you need to know about Superdrug jewellery... FASHION expert Abby McHale has shared her thoughts on Superdrug jewellery... Who would have thought the shop where you pick up all your beauty needs is also the place to go for jewellery. Well Superdrug actually has a rather large jewellery section. Online there are over 150 pieces to choose from and the best part is, most pieces are under £10. You can even pick yourself up the likes of a watch for £9.99 - bargain. Or you can stay bang on trend with tone drop earrings, chunky rings and layered necklaces. So next time you run out of mascara and head into Superdrug take a look at its jewellery range as I think you will be pleasantly surprised. Angry Noel Radford left fuming after splashing cash on ‘rip off’ chocolate in DubaiATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”
From ballot blunders to false alarms — the mishap round-up of GE 2024 so far
AI Meets Crypto: FROGE’s Role in OpenAI’s Livestream Sparks Global Attention