Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January( MENAFN - Khaama Press) A recent viewing of Mir Khan Moqori's interview on Gulshunbay prompted a reflection on the broader issue of Afghan artists' public conduct. While I admire his rendition of“Bulbula Waya Salamona,” a song deeply resonant with patriotic sentiment and evocative of a lost Afghanistan, the interview itself proved disappointing. I approached it with modest expectations, hoping to glean insights into the inner world of this emerging artist, son of the revered Abdullah Moqori. However, his simplistic language and pronouncements revealed a troubling disconnect between artistic talent and public presentation. My initial disappointment stemmed from Mir's apparent linguistic shortcomings. I acknowledge that Dari may not be his first language. However, I maintain that fluency in both Dari and Pashto is non-negotiable-a baseline for anyone representing our nation's art and culture. As a matter of fact, this standard applies to all Afghans. My concern deepened and disappointment peaked when he recounted his father's discouragement from a musical career, claiming that“words fall on deaf ears” or“words have no impact on Afghans.” This statement, interpreted as an indictment of Afghan receptiveness and intelligence, felt deeply offensive. It not only undermined the legacy of his father but also implied a disdainful view of the very audience that had embraced his music. While acknowledging the harsh reality of Afghans' continued struggles despite artistic calls for peace, attributing such a dismissive sentiment to Abdullah Moqori felt like a betrayal of the profound connection he shared with his audience, risking the tarnishing of his legacy and suggesting a contemptuous view of his admirers. Further exacerbating the situation was Mir's anecdote concerning President Ashraf Ghani. In recounting a patriotic performance at the Ministry of Defense, he stated that the former president had personally offered congratulations and an embrace. Mir then quoted his father's response to this recognition:“My son should sing in a way that would compel even the president to rise to his feet.” While parental pride, however exaggerated and effusive, is understandable, public figures, in particular, bear the responsibility of ensuring that such expressions do not detract from the dignity of others. Mir's public recitation of this private sentiment, intended to aggrandize himself, instead inadvertently diminished the former president, revealing a lack of both tact and humility. Mir's case is not an isolated incident, though. A recurring theme amongst many Afghan artists is a deficiency in public speaking and articulate self-expression. Often lacking formal education and refined communication skills, they struggle to navigate the complexities of public discourse. This inadequacy becomes painfully apparent in interviews and public appearances, damaging not only their personal image but also, regrettably, the perception of their artistic endeavors. While formal education outside their artistic field may not be strictly necessary for artistic excellence, maintaining a public persona, especially in the age of social media, demands strong communication skills. Artistic excellence requires talent and dedication, but sustaining celebrity status necessitates more-an ability to articulate thoughts with clarity, depth, and decorum. In today's social media-driven world, where every utterance is amplified, an artist's reputation hinges as much on their words as on their creations. The constant influx of media attention demands that artists articulate their thoughts with clarity and nuance. When this ability is lacking, silence becomes a more prudent course. Restraint in public appearances can cultivate an air of mystique, enhancing public interest in their work. An enigmatic and less accessible artist often engenders greater curiosity and admiration. Conversely, increased visibility, verbosity, and ill-conceived pronouncements risk exposing the limits of their knowledge, intelligence, and insight, potentially causing irreparable damage to their reputation. The pursuit of humor,“coolness”, or an air of detachment, if not executed with the finesse of figures like Dr. Nashenas or Zahir Huwaida, often results in embarrassing gaffes. An artist's public image, shaped by their words and actions, can often overshadow their artistic contributions. The delicate balance of maintaining a public persona is akin to holding sand: too tight, it slips away; too loose, it dissipates in the wind. This phenomenon is further exemplified by Ariana Sayeed, a prominent singer and undeniable crowd-puller renowned for filling venues beyond the reach of many Afghan artists. Her financial resources afford her greater investment in her artistic output-lyrics, compositions, arrangements, and music videos. She is also jokingly referred to as the“Silicon Valley of Afghanistan” due to the numerous cosmetic procedures she has undergone in an attempt to maintain a youthful appearance. However, her forays into social commentary and activism are often marred by controversial, insensitive, and poorly conceived statements. She once made disparaging remarks about the hijab, crudely suggesting that wearing it made women smell“like seven donkeys died together”-an offensive implication of unhygienic practices among veiled women. This comment is comparable to saying something smells “like a dead animal left out in the sun” or “like a backed-up sewer.” Incredibly, despite this shocking statement, she addressed the plight of Afghan women at a NATO Engages event in London in 2019, demonstrating a profound disconnect between her personal biases and the complex realities faced by Afghan women. Her capacity for genuine empathy with a group she seemingly disparages is highly questionable. Moreover, as a judge on a singing competition, she aggressively bullied contestant Fahim Fana, even resorting to verbal abuse-calling him an“asshole” on live television-ultimately contributing to Fahim's decision to flee the country for Tajikistan. While her musical talent has garnered her a substantial following, these ill-considered public pronouncements risk alienating her audience and undermining her artistic legacy. Ariana epitomizes the Afghan celebrity who, excelling in one domain, seeks to dabble in others without adequate knowledge or preparation. While her musical talent has the potential to propel her career even further, her ventures into unfamiliar territory risk revealing gaps in her knowledge and alienating her fanbase. My critique extends beyond public interactions to personal experiences illustrating the self-centeredness of some artists. A personal anecdote involving an Afghan artist I will call“Joe” exemplifies this. I once invited Joe to join a visiting classmate and me for dinner. His inconsiderate behavior-making us wait outside his home for forty minutes, offering only sparkling water upon our arrival, and dictating our plans to suit his own convenience-transformed what should have been a pleasant evening into an ordeal. His blatant disregard for my time and his discourtesy revealed a profound lack of consideration, leaving an indelible bitter impression and highlighting how inflated egos can erode basic courtesy. This incident underscores the importance of fundamental social graces, regardless of artistic stature. Dishonorable mentions abound. Figures like Saleem Shaheen, whose on-screen presence often involves aggressive and confrontational behavior, struggle to project a refined public image. He often makes an unflattering impression even before uttering a word. His onscreen antics, where he melodramatically threatens villains with over-the-top bravado, leave little room for nuance or grace. A scene in which he shoves a gun into a villain's stomach and threatens to“blow his brains out” exemplifies the difficulty of reconciling his roles with refined public conduct. In conclusion, while artistic talent is a gift to be celebrated, it is incumbent upon artists to cultivate the skills necessary to navigate the public sphere with grace and intelligence. Effective communication, thoughtful discourse, and respectful treatment of others are essential components of a well-rounded public persona. Without these qualities, even the most talented artists risk diminishing their achievements and tarnishing their legacy through ill-conceived words and actions. Cultivating both artistic talent and personal refinement is crucial for sustained success and enduring respect. The essence of celebrity lies not only in artistic creation but also in the grace with which one carries oneself. Afghan artists, many of whom possess immense talent, must recognize the weight of their words and actions. A single misstep in public discourse can overshadow years of artistic brilliance, eroding hard-earned respect. Unfortunately, when artists lack finesse, they risk normalizing the abnormal and influencing youth to emulate their behavior. This can be profoundly detrimental to any society. Artists, whether they embrace the role or not, are often seen as role models, especially by younger generations. When they exhibit indecency, whether through crude language, disrespectful behavior, or ill-considered pronouncements, they inadvertently normalize such conduct. What was once considered aberrant can become accepted, even imitated, eroding societal standards of decency. Conversely, when artists embody grace, humility, and thoughtful engagement, they elevate the public discourse and inspire positive change. They demonstrate that success and talent can coexist with respect and refinement, setting a positive example for their followers. The path to lasting fame is not paved solely with skill but also with humility, thoughtfulness, and restraint. In an age where every utterance is scrutinized, Afghan artists would do well to let their art speak louder than their words-and when in doubt, embrace the power of silence. After all, the sands of stardom are fleeting, slipping quickly through the fingers of those who fail to hold them with care DISCLAIMER – The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Khaama Press News Agency . We welcome opinions and submissions to Khaama Press Opinions/Exclusives – Please email them to ... . MENAFN27122024000228011069ID1109036167 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has an abundance of NFL fans rooting for him to break Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. Just don't count Dickerson among them. "I don't think he'll break it. But if he breaks it, he breaks it," the former Los Angeles Ram said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times published Thursday. "Do I want him to break it? Absolutely not. I don't pull no punches on that. "But I'm not whining about it. He had 17 games to do it? Hey, football is football. That's the way I look at it. If he's fortunate to get over 2,000 yards and get the record, it's a great record to have." EAGLES NEWS: Jalen Hurts injury: Updates, return date, status of QB's concussion All things Eagles: Latest Philadelphia Eagles news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more. Barkley is up to 1,838 rushing yards through 15 games this season. He needs 268 yards in the Eagles ' final two games of the season – against the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants – to break Dickerson's single-season mark of 2,105, which he set in 1984. The Philadelphia running back's stellar season already ranks 19th all-time in single-season rushing yards, one spot ahead of Dickerson's league-leading tally of 1,821 in 1986. Barkley is currently on pace for 2,083 rushing yards, which would fall behind both Dickerson's 1984 record total and the next-highest mark: Adrian Peterson's 2,097-yard season in 2012. But Barkley could help his case with a strong outing in Week 17 against the Cowboys . The Eagles have already ruled out quarterback Jalen Hurts , which could mean a heavier workload for the star tailback. As fortune would have it, if Barkley stays within reach after the first divisional matchup, he could have a chance to break Dickerson's record against the Giants , his former team. "How ironic would it be for him to break the record on them, the team that let him go," Dickerson said in the aforementioned interview. "A true slap in the face."
NEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. He said Carlsen's stand — which culminated in his quitting the tournament Friday — highlighted a need for more discussion “to ensure that our rules and their application reflect the evolving nature of chess as a global and accessible sport.” Carlsen, meanwhile, said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he would play — and wear jeans — in the World Blitz Championship when it begins Monday. “I think the situation was badly mishandled on their side,” the 34-year-old Norwegian grandmaster said. But he added that he loves playing blitz — a fast-paced form of chess — and wanted fans to be able to watch, and that he was encouraged by his discussions with the federation after Friday's showdown. “I think we sort of all want the same thing,” he suggested in the video on his Take Take Take chess app’s YouTube channel. “We want the players to be comfortable, sure, but also relatively presentable.” The events began when Carlsen wore jeans and a sportcoat Friday to the Rapid World Championship, which is separate from but held in conjunction with the blitz event. The chess federation said Friday that longstanding rules prohibit jeans at those tournaments, and players are lodged nearby to make sartorial switch-ups easy if needed. An official fined Carlsen $200 and asked him to change pants, but he refused and wasn't paired for a ninth-round game, the federation said at the time. The organization noted that another grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, was fined earlier in the day for wearing sports shoes, changed and continued to play. Carlsen has said that he offered to wear something else the next day, but officials were unyielding. He said “it became a bit of a matter of principle,” so he quit the rapid and blitz championships. In the video posted Sunday, he questioned whether he had indeed broken a rule and said changing clothes would have needlessly interrupted his concentration between games. He called the punishment “unbelievably harsh.” “Of course, I could have changed. Obviously, I didn’t want to,” he said, and “I stand by that.”
Hail Flutie: BC celebrates 40th anniversary of Miracle in MiamiMILWAUKEE (AP) — Themus Fulks' 26 points helped Milwaukee defeat IU Indianapolis 88-81 on Sunday. Fulks also contributed five rebounds and five assists for the Panthers (10-4, 3-0 Horizon League). Kentrell Pullian scored 20 points while going 5 of 9 from the floor, including 4 for 7 from 3-point range, and 6 for 8 from the line. Erik Pratt shot 5 for 9, including 1 for 4 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points. Sean Craig led the way for the Jaguars (5-10, 1-3) with 22 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Paul Zilinskas added 21 points and three steals for IU Indianapolis. Jarvis Walker finished with 12 points and four assists. Milwaukee's next game is Thursday against Oakland on the road. IU Indianapolis hosts Youngstown State on Wednesday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Mexico fears losing US-Canada trade pact, to alter its laws and remove Chinese parts
Nigel Farage said he is weighing up what action to take if the Conservatives do not apologise for accusing Reform UK of “fakery” over its membership numbers. The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News & FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. I am now demanding @KemiBadenoch apologises. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) December 27, 2024 On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. Elsewhere, Mr Farage described Elon Musk as a “bloody hero” and said he believes the US billionaire can help attract younger voters to Reform. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Mr Farage told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool – Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that’s only just starting. “Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key. Of course, you need voters of all ages, but if you get a wave of youth enthusiasm you can change everything. “And I think we’re beginning to get into that zone – we were anyway, but Elon makes the whole task much, much easier. And the idea that politics can be cool, politics can be fun, politics can be real – Elon helps us with that mission enormously.”Shares of Weatherford International plc ( OTCMKTS:WFTLF – Get Free Report ) were up 6.9% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $13.01 and last traded at $12.40. Approximately 452,600 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 242% from the average daily volume of 132,486 shares. The stock had previously closed at $11.60. Weatherford International Trading Up 6.9 % The firm has a 50-day moving average of $12.40 and a 200 day moving average of $12.40. About Weatherford International ( Get Free Report ) Weatherford International plc, an oilfield service company, provides equipment and services for the drilling, evaluation, completion, production, and intervention of oil and natural gas wells worldwide. The company operates in two segments, Western Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere. It offers artificial lift systems, including reciprocating rod, progressing cavity pumping, gas, hydraulic, plunger, and hybrid lift systems, as well as related automation and control systems; pressure pumping and reservoir stimulation services, such as acidizing, fracturing and fluid systems, cementing, and coiled-tubing intervention; and drill stem test tools, surface well testing, and multiphase flow measurement services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Weatherford International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Weatherford International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
Bruins Nikita Zadorov Revels In Kill ZoneOct. 1, 1924: Born James Earl Carter Jr. in Plains, Ga., eldest of Lillian and James Earl Carter’s four children. 1928: The family moves to a farm in Archery, a largely Black community a few miles from Plains. The shotgun-style house had no running water or electricity when they moved in. June 1941: Jimmy, 16, graduates from Plains High School and briefly attends Georgia Southwestern College and then Georgia Tech, preparing to fulfill his dream of entering the U.S. Naval Academy. June 5, 1946: Graduates from Naval Academy and enters service until 1953. July 7, 1946: Marries Rosalynn Smith. 1953: Returns home to take over the family farming businesses. 1955: First political election victory: chairman of Sumter County Board of Education. 1962: Wins a seat in the state Senate and holds it through 1966. Nov. 3, 1970: Wins Georgia gubernatorial election. Dec. 12, 1974: Announces presidential bid, prompting the response, “Jimmy Who?” Nov. 2, 1976: Defeats Gerald Ford for presidency. Jan. 20, 1977: Sets the tone of his administration by walking from the Capitol to the White House after swearing-in. June 16, 1978: Signs Panama Canal treaties to transfer control of the canal to Panama. Aug. 15, 1978: Signs legislation designating the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Sept. 17, 1978: Brings Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat together to sign the Camp David Accords. Nov. 4, 1979: Iranians take 66 Americans hostage at U.S. Embassy in Tehran. January 1980: Following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in late December 1979, Carter decides U.S. athletes will not attend the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. April 17, 1980: Carter announces that an economic recession has begun. April 25, 1980: Helicopter mission to rescue Iranian hostages fails. Nov. 4, 1980: Loses presidential election to Ronald Reagan. Jan. 20, 1981: Minutes after Reagan becomes president, hostages are released from Iranian soil. September 1984: The Carters donate a week of their time to build Habitat for Humanity houses. It turns into the annual Jimmy Carter Work Project. October 1984: Groundbreaking for the Carter Center in Atlanta. It opens two years later. 1987: Carter Center’s Global 2000 project joins the fight against Guinea worm disease, a parasitic affliction attacking millions of people a year in developing countries. May 7, 1989: Carter through the Carter Center monitors fairness of Panama’s elections, a role he would repeat in Nicaragua (February 1990), Haiti (December 1990), Guyana (1992, 2001), Paraguay (1993), Venezuela (1998), Peru (2001) and more than 100 other countries. Oct. 25, 1991: Announces the Atlanta Project to tackle inner-city problems. June 1994: Plays key role in nuclear disarmament talks in North Korea. Sept. 17, 1994: Heads delegation to Haiti that arranges terms to avoid U.S. invasion and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. Oct. 1, 1996: National Park Service opens Carter museum in the former Plains High School on his 72nd birthday. April 3, 1998: At the seventh and final African Conference on Guinea Worm Eradication, Carter is knighted by Mali for his successful efforts to drastically reduce the number of cases worldwide. August 1999: The Carter Center turns the Atlanta Project program over to Georgia State University’s Neighborhood Partnership Resource Collaborative. Aug. 9, 1999: Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom along with Rosalynn. Oct. 19, 2000: Announces that he and Rosalynn no longer will be members of the Southern Baptist Convention, which he believes has grown too “rigid.” May 12-17, 2002: Visits Cuba with Rosalynn and Carter Center members. Makes a speech on Cuban television in which he calls for democratic reforms in Cuba and an end to the U.S. trade embargo. Oct. 11, 2002: Wins the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize. He later donates $370,000 of his $1 million award to the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development at Georgia Southwestern State University. May 2003: Works behind the scenes on the Georgia state flag change to stave off a statewide referendum on the Rebel battle emblem. Jan. 25, 2004: Travels to Venezuela to meet with President Hugo Chavez, opposition leaders and others in the politically divided nation of 24 million. June 5, 2004: Christens the USS Jimmy Carter, the Navy’s latest nuclear vessel, a $3.3 billion submarine. July 26, 2004: Delivers a stinging condemnation of the Bush administration addressing the Democratic National Convention, saying the “nation’s soul” is at stake in the November election. August 2004: Leads the team monitoring the vote to recall Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Sept. 7, 2004: Blasts fellow Georgian and former Gov. Zell Miller in a 2-page letter for his “rabid and mean-spirited speech” to the Republican National Convention in New York. Sept. 27, 2004: Harshly accuses Florida officials of not doing enough to fix their election system following the 2000 presidential election. October 2004: Along with 2,000 volunteers, travels to Puebla, Mexico, as part of the Jimmy Carter Work Project to build 75 houses in one week through Habitat for Humanity. January 2005: Along with the National Democratic Institute, observes election of the new president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. June 6, 2005: Declares that the United States should close its prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and that the Bush administration was wrong to say parts of the Geneva Conventions do not apply to at least 520 “enemy combatants” from about 40 countries held there. Oct. 10, 2005: Heads a team of election observers from his center and the National Democratic Institute, another U.S. group, to monitor Liberia’s first presidential election since a 14-year civil war ended. November 2005: His book “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” becomes the quickest-selling of his 20 books to date. In it, he takes aim at fundamentalism, environmental decay, the Iraq war and the Bush administration’s record on human rights. March 22, 2006: Along with co-leader of a bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform and former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, announces that states should require voters to show photo IDs and to let them see paper ballots at electronic polling places. May 24, 2006: Praises the Bush administration’s immigration policies but remains sharply critical of its human rights record in the war on terror. June 1, 2006: Toasts Jane Fonda at her celebrity roast at the Georgia Aquarium. November 2006: His book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” draws criticism upon its release. Critics contend he unfairly compared Israeli treatment of Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza to legalized racial oppression that once existed in South Africa. January 2007: 14 Carter Center advisers resign because of the book. August 2007: Jonathan Demme’s documentary “Jimmy Carter Man From Plains” premieres, chronicling Carter’s book tour and the controversy. 2007: Carter joins The Elders, a group of former world political leaders such as Nelson Mandela, who work on promoting peace and human rights. April 18, 2008: Defies U.S. and Israeli warnings to meet with the exiled leader of Hamas and his deputy, two men the U.S. government had labeled terrorists. U.S. officials were critical. Carter said he failed to convince the top Hamas boss to stop rocket attacks on Israel, adding, “I did the best I could.” Oct. 10, 2008: During a stop in Brussels, Carter blames the “atrocious” economic policies of President Bush for the beginning of the Great Recession. Jan. 7, 2009: Joins President-elect Barack Obama, President George W. Bush and former Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush at the White House for a historic meeting. Some said the body language during photo ops suggested chilly relations between Carter and the others. June 2009: Carter and a team of observers monitor parliamentary elections in Lebanon, the 76th election monitored by the Carter Center. June 13, 2009: The Palestinian government honors Carter during his visit to the region, and he pledges his “assistance, as long as I live, to win your freedom, your independence, your sovereignty and a good life.” Sept. 14, 2009: Jody Powell dies, a year after Hamilton Jordan succumbed to cancer. The two Georgians were Carter’s closest political advisers. “Jody Powell knows me better than anyone except my wife,” Carter once said. Oct. 1, 2009: Carter Center reopens after an extensive, $10 million renovation. August 2010: Travels to North Korea to secure release of Aijalon Gomes, an American who was accused of crossing the border the previous winter. September 2010: His latest book, “White House Diary,” is based on edited journal entries from his time in the White House. While promoting the book, Carter stirs controversy by saying his post-presidential career was “probably superior” to that of other ex-presidents. He later said he only meant he has had more opportunities to do good works. Jan. 14, 2013: Carter visits Colombia at the request of the country’s president to brief on the peace talks with rebels and other issues. 2013: The Carters’ grandson, Atlanta attorney Jason Carter, decides to leave his state Senate seat to run unsuccessfully for governor in 2014. Jimmy Carter helps campaign. July 31, 2013: Carter visits Colombia, the first Western country to be certified as free from river blindness, for which the Carter Center provided support. August 2014: Carter was joined by another “Elder,” Mary Robinson, during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, with the pair pressing for the inclusion of Hamas as an actor in peace talks with Israel, recognition of the group as a legitimate political entity and the lifting of the siege of Gaza. May 15, 2015: Carter visits Guyana for election monitoring. Aug. 12, 2015: Carter undergoes surgery to remove a mass from his liver and discovers he had cancer. It had spread to his brain. December 2015: Carter announces he is cancer free. July 13, 2017: Carter is admitted to a hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, after becoming dehydrated while working outdoors for Habitat for Humanity. He is released the following day. June 2019: Carter calls President Donald Trump “a disaster,” during one of his public addresses in Atlanta, and in Virginia he questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s election because of Russian interference. August 2020: The Carter Center launches a program to strengthen and build confidence in the U.S. election system prior to the presidential election. February 2023: Jimmy Carter enters home hospice care in Plains. Nov. 19, 2023: Rosalynn Carter, his wife of 77 years, dies in Plains. She was 96 years old. Oct. 1, 2024: Jimmy Carter turns 100. Dec. 29, 2024: Carter dies at age 100.
Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies from cancer at age 78
An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump’s political coalitionGenerally speaking, if you are looking for a basic statistic that groups the good NBA teams and the bad teams together, it’s assist-to-turnover ratio. ADVERTISEMENT You certainly want as many assists as possible — that’s a sign of good offense. And you would like to limit giveaways that decrease your number of looks at the bucket while often feeding your opponent Grade A opportunities. The ratio balances out the equation for teams that may turn the ball over more than others simply because it moves the ball at such a high rate. The bad teams are the ones that turn the ball over often without the added benefit of creating easy shots when they do take care of the ball. That, currently, is the group that includes the Timberwolves. ADVERTISEMENT The Wolves have just 1.52 assists for every turnover, the sixth-worst mark in the NBA entering Saturday’s games. Of the nine NBA teams below 1.6, only the Wolves (8-7) and Clippers (10-7) have winning records, and the Clippers have been dominant defensively. Also in the bottom nine are the two-win Wizards, the three-win 76ers and Jazz and the four-win Pelicans. Since the 2020-21 season, nine teams have finished the season with an assist-to-turnover number below 1.6. Only one of those teams won more than 27 games — the 2022-23 Magic, who went 34-48. While the Wolves are still above .500 going into their game against the defending champion Celtics on Sunday in Boston, that’s with what has been the NBA’s fourth-easiest schedule to date, per ESPN. Timberwolves coach Chris Finch has cited the turnover issues in recent weeks when discussing his team’s struggles, though he’s noted the giveaway totals have dipped in recent games, Thursday’s loss to Toronto not withstanding. But Minnesota hasn’t committed fewer than 11 turnovers in a single game this season. Meanwhile, the Wolves have tallied fewer than 25 assists in more than half of their games. ADVERTISEMENT It all speaks to a disjointed offense. Finch has at times attributed that to missed shots that were good looks. But the Wolves are tied with Charlotte for the fifth-fewest potential assists this season, at 43.7 per game. The stats say Minnesota’s shot making is what has saved the Wolves’ offense this season. The Wolves have the NBA’s 10th-best offensive rating, averaging 1.14 points per possession. That’s with having the League’s fourth-best effective field goal percentage (56.3). The three teams above it in that category all average 1.2-plus points per possession. Those same squads also average more than 2.1 assists per turnover. It all fits the eye test for the Timberwolves. They have an offense that’s run on shot making off isolation basketball. So much of it is without the rhythm and movement Finch aspires for his teams to achieve. And, given that this Wolves unit doesn’t seem to be nearly as dominant defensively as it was one short season ago, until Minnesota can look more like a fluid offense, it will continue to look like a .500 team, or if not worse. ADVERTISEMENT ______________________________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here .