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Best TV of 2024: A modestly better lineup than usual, but why didn’t it feel that way?It was the fourth time this season they had conceded four or more and the performance showed why they have the Premier League’s worst defence. When O’Neil and the players went over to acknowledge the visiting supporters there were boos for a run of two wins in 14 league matches. “Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely no-none working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to,” said O’Neil, who is under increasing pressure with his side second bottom of the table. “I go over there to see them because I appreciate every one of the Wolves fans. They have given me unbelievable support since I arrived at the football club,” he said. “We managed to produce some unbelievable stuff last season with a team that was heavily tipped by most of the nation for relegation. We managed to enjoy it together. “Now it is tough. I was happy to go over there and look them right in the face and take any criticism they want to throw at me. “I accept responsibility for my part in that. Whatever criticism they want to throw at me will not change how I feel about them. “Everyone at this football club needs to do more. We will get back to be ready to fight again on Monday (another crucial game against West Ham, whose manager Julen Lopetegui’s tenure is hanging by a thread). “I will work with everything I have. I will back myself to get the most out of the group. I understand the drive for change (but) you never know how much of a percentage of supporters it is.” Veteran Ashley Young ended Everton’s 370-minute wait for a goal with a 10th-minute free-kick, his first league goal for more than two years, and on-loan Lyon midfielder Orel Mangala blasted home his first for the club to establish a 2-0 half-time lead. Two Craig Dawson own goals secured Everton’s biggest home league win since April 2019, but manager Sean Dyche insisted their issues up front were far from sorted. He said: “It’s our fifth clean sheet in the last eight so the consistency has been there in one degree, we just haven’t been scoring goals. That’s been the hardest thing to find consistently and we haven’t solved it yet. “Goals change everything, they change opinions. That’s what football is like.” The victory was hugely important in a month in which, having been hammered 4-0 at Manchester United, they face top-six sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest and undoubtedly eased some of the pressure on Dyche and his players. “I’ve told them how proud I am of them,” he added. “The challenges come thick and fast on and off the pitch and they just keep going. “It’s only a step and there are many more to go but it’s a good step and a positive step. “It’s a temporary moment in time because the next one is a big one (Saturday’s Merseyside derby).”SoundHound AI Inc. SOUN shares are trading higher Wednesday. The stock gained nearly 100% over the past month, driven by developments in its technology deployment, increased market enthusiasm for conversational AI and improved financial performance. Here’s what you need to know. What To Know: On Nov. 22, SoundHound announced the successful deployment of its conversational AI agent , Amelia, at Apivia Courtage, part of France's AEMA Group. The AI system handled over 100,000 customer calls in 2024, reducing the volume of human-managed inquiries by nearly 20%. The project aimed to improve operational efficiency and allowed employees to focus on higher-value tasks. In a separate announcement earlier on Nov.14, SoundHound highlighted its long-term partnership with Kia, which includes the integration of its voice AI technology in Kia vehicles in India. The system supports Hindi as a featured language, with plans to add 10 additional regional languages. This move reflects the company's expansion into localized, high-demand markets. SoundHound also reported strong third-quarter earnings at the beginning of November. Revenue increased 89% year-over-year to $25.1 million, beating analyst expectations of $23.02 million. The company also raised its full-year revenue outlook for 2024 and 2025, projecting $82-$85 million in 2024 and $155-$175 million in 2025. Short interest in SoundHound remains high, with 24.05% of its float sold short. Despite this, the stock has seen significant upward momentum, supported by strong performance metrics and investor optimism about the role of voice AI in emerging markets. SoundHound executives are set to participate in upcoming investor conferences in December, which could provide further insights into the company's growth strategy. The stock's recent performance potentially indicates continued interest from both retail and institutional investors. SOUN Price Action: SoundHound AI shares closed Wednesday up 14.30% at $10.15, according to Benzinga Pro. Read Next: PS VR2 Gets Controller-Free Hand Tracking Feature Photo: Shutterstock. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

Prime Minister leads tributes to former US president Jimmy CarterCongressional bicameral team pushes for insurance, pharmaceutical reform

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Dec. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) (TollBrothers.com), the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes, today announced results for its fourth quarter ended October 31, 2024. FY 2024’s Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights (Compared to FY 2023’s Fourth Quarter): Full FY 2024 Financial Highlights (Compared to Full FY 2023): Douglas C. Yearley, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer, stated: “I am very pleased with our fourth quarter results, which cap the strongest year ever for Toll Brothers. For the full year, we generated a record $10.6 billion of home sales revenue, earned $15.01 per diluted share and grew contracts by 27% in both units and dollars. In the fourth quarter, we delivered 3,431 homes and generated $3.3 billion in home sales revenues, up 25% in units and 10% in dollars compared to last year’s fourth quarter. Our fourth quarter adjusted gross margin was 27.9%, beating guidance by 40 basis points, and our SG&A expense was 8.3% of home sales revenues, or 30 basis points better than guidance. Our strong margin performance and better than projected home sales revenues drove earnings of $4.63 per diluted share in the quarter, up 13% compared to last year. We also signed 2,658 net contracts at an average price of $1,000,000, up 30% in units and 32% in dollars compared to last year’s fourth quarter. Our performance this year and in the fourth quarter demonstrates the power of our luxury brand, the financial strength of our buyers, and the success of our strategies of increasing our spec home production and widening our geographies, price points and product lines. “Since the start of our fiscal 2025 six weeks ago we have seen strong demand, which is encouraging as we approach the beginning of the spring selling season in mid-January. We are well positioned with communities in over 60 markets across 24 states featuring the widest offering of luxury homes and serving the most affluent customers in our industry. Last year, we increased community count by 10% and are targeting a similar increase in fiscal 2025. We also owned or controlled approximately 74,700 lots at year end, providing sufficient land for further growth in fiscal 2026 and beyond. “In fiscal 2024, we generated a return on beginning equity of 23.1%, driven by our record earnings and strong cash flows that allowed us to return approximately $720 million of capital to shareholders. Our healthy balance sheet, low leverage, and ample liquidity, including significant projected cash flows from operations in fiscal 2025, should allow us to continue investing in our business while returning cash to shareholders well into the future.” Additional Information: (1) See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” below for more information on the calculation of the Company’s net debt-to-capital ratio. Toll Brothers will be broadcasting live via the Investor Relations section of its website, investors.TollBrothers.com , a conference call hosted by chairman and chief executive officer Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. at 8:30 a.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 10, 2024, to discuss these results and its outlook for the first quarter and FY 2025. To access the call, enter the Toll Brothers website, click on the Investor Relations page, and select “Events & Presentations.” Participants are encouraged to log on at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the presentation to register and download any necessary software. The call can be heard live with an online replay which will follow. ABOUT TOLL BROTHERS Toll Brothers, Inc., a Fortune 500 Company, is the nation’s leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 57 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “TOL.” The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, insurance, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also develops master-planned and golf course communities as well as operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations. In 2024, Toll Brothers marked 10 years in a row being named to the Fortune World’s Most Admired CompaniesTM list and the Company’s Chairman and CEO Douglas C. Yearley, Jr. was named one of 25 Top CEOs by Barron’s magazine. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit TollBrothers.com . Toll Brothers discloses information about its business and financial performance and other matters, and provides links to its securities filings, notices of investor events, and earnings and other news releases, on the Investor Relations section of its website (investors.TollBrothers.com). From Fortune, ©2024 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Information presented herein for the fourth quarter ended October 31, 2024 is subject to finalization of the Company’s regulatory filings, related financial and accounting reporting procedures and external auditor procedures. This release contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate to matters of a strictly historical or factual nature and generally discuss or relate to future events. These statements contain words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “may,” “can,” “could,” “might,” “should,” “likely,” “will,” and other words or phrases of similar meaning. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding: expectations regarding inflation and interest rates; the markets in which we operate or may operate; our strategic priorities; our land acquisition, land development and capital allocation priorities; market conditions; demand for our homes; our build-to-order and spec home strategy; anticipated operating results and guidance; home deliveries; financial resources and condition; changes in revenues; changes in profitability; changes in margins; changes in accounting treatment; cost of revenues, including expected labor and material costs; selling, general, and administrative expenses; interest expense; inventory write-downs; home warranty and construction defect claims; unrecognized tax benefits; anticipated tax refunds; sales paces and prices; effects of home buyer cancellations; growth and expansion; joint ventures in which we are involved; anticipated results from our investments in unconsolidated entities; our ability to acquire or dispose of land and pursue real estate opportunities; our ability to gain approvals and open new communities; our ability to market, construct and sell homes and properties; our ability to deliver homes from backlog; our ability to secure materials and subcontractors; our ability to produce the liquidity and capital necessary to conduct normal business operations or to expand and take advantage of opportunities; and the outcome of legal proceedings, investigations, and claims. Any or all of the forward-looking statements included in this release are not guarantees of future performance and may turn out to be inaccurate. This can occur as a result of incorrect assumptions or as a consequence of known or unknown risks and uncertainties. The major risks and uncertainties – and assumptions that are made – that affect our business and may cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: Many of the factors mentioned above or in other reports or public statements made by us will be important in determining our future performance. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those that might be anticipated from our forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. For a further discussion of factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results, see the information under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and all of our forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referenced in this section. Inventory at October 31, 2024 and October 31, 2023 consisted of the following (amounts in thousands): (1) Includes the allocated land and land development costs associated with each of our model homes in operation. Toll Brothers operates in the following five geographic segments, with operations generally located in the states listed below: Note: Due to rounding, amounts may not add. Unconsolidated entities: Information related to revenues and contracts of entities in which we have an interest for the three-month and twelve-month periods ended October 31, 2024 and 2023, and for backlog at October 31, 2024 and 2023 is as follows: RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP MEASURES This press release contains, and Company management’s discussion of the results presented in this press release may include, information about the Company’s adjusted home sales gross margin, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and the Company’s net debt-to-capital ratio. These four measures are non-GAAP financial measures which are not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the comparable GAAP financial measures, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies in the home building business. The Company’s management considers these non-GAAP financial measures as we make operating and strategic decisions and evaluate our performance, including against other home builders that may use similar non-GAAP financial measures. The Company’s management believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in understanding our operations and leverage and may be helpful in comparing the Company to other home builders to the extent they provide similar information. Adjusted Home Sales Gross Margin The following table reconciles the Company’s home sales gross margin as a percentage of home sales revenues (calculated in accordance with GAAP) to the Company’s adjusted home sales gross margin (a non-GAAP financial measure). Adjusted home sales gross margin is calculated as (i) home sales gross margin plus interest recognized in home sales cost of revenues plus inventory write-downs recognized in home sales cost of revenues divided by (ii) home sales revenues. The Company’s management believes adjusted home sales gross margin is a useful financial measure to investors because it allows them to evaluate the performance of our home building operations without the often varying effects of capitalized interest costs and inventory impairments. The use of adjusted home sales gross margin also assists the Company’s management in assessing the profitability of our home building operations and making strategic decisions regarding community location and product mix. Forward-looking Adjusted Home Sales Gross Margin The Company has not provided projected first quarter and full FY 2025 home sales gross margin or a GAAP reconciliation for forward-looking adjusted home sales gross margin because such measure cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts on a forward-looking basis, since inventory write-downs are based on future activity and observation and therefore cannot be projected for the first quarter and full FY 2025. The variability of these charges may have a potentially unpredictable, and potentially significant, impact on our first quarter and full FY 2025 home sales gross margin. Adjusted Net Income and Diluted Earnings Per Share Reconciliation The following table reconciles the Company’s net income and earnings per share (calculated in accordance with GAAP) to the Company’s adjusted net income and diluted earnings per share (a non-GAAP financial measure). Net Debt-to-Capital Ratio The following table reconciles the Company’s ratio of debt to capital (calculated in accordance with GAAP) to the Company’s net debt-to-capital ratio (a non-GAAP financial measure). The net debt-to-capital ratio is calculated as (i) total debt minus mortgage warehouse loans minus cash and cash equivalents divided by (ii) total debt minus mortgage warehouse loans minus cash and cash equivalents plus stockholders’ equity. The Company’s management uses the net debt-to-capital ratio as an indicator of its overall leverage and believes it is a useful financial measure to investors in understanding the leverage employed in the Company’s operations. CONTACT: Gregg Ziegler (215) 478-3820 gziegler@tollbrothers.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3a0456db-a1d7-41b3-b790-3e0a1448ad2bSome residents push back as data centers proliferate

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government on Monday survived a third vote of no confidence in as many months, brought by his main Tory rival. The minority Liberal government got the support of the New Democratic Party (NDP), a small leftist faction once aligned with the ruling Liberals, to defeat the motion 180-152. The text of the proposition echoed NDP leader Jagmeet Singh's own past criticisms of Trudeau since breaking off their partnership in late August, calling him "too weak, too selfish." Neither Singh nor Trudeau were present for the vote. The House of Commons has been deadlocked most of this fall session by an unprecedented two-month filibuster by the Conservatives. But Speaker Greg Fergus, in a rare move, ordered a short break in the deadlock to allow for this and other possible confidence votes, and for lawmakers to vote on a key spending measure. MPs are scheduled to vote Tuesday on the spending package, which includes funds for social services, disaster relief and support for Ukraine. With a 20-point lead in polls, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been itching for an election call since the NDP tore up its coalition agreement with the Liberals. But the NDP and other opposition parties, whose support is needed to bring down the Liberals, have so far refused to side with the Conservatives. Two no-confidence votes brought by the Tories in September and October failed when the NDP and the separatist Bloc Quebecois backed the Liberals. In Canada's Westminster parliamentary system, a ruling party must hold the confidence of the House of Commons, which means maintaining support from a majority of members. The Liberals currently have 153 seats, versus 119 for the Conservatives, 33 for the Bloc Quebecois, and the NDP's 25. Trudeau swept to power in 2015 and has managed to hold on through two elections in 2019 and 2021. amc/bs/bjt, /PRNewswire/ -- Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSII) ("Heidrick & Struggles", "Heidrick" or the "Company"), a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, today announced the appointment of as Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), effective . Sinha currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of LLC, a globally regulated payments company. He was previously Global Head of Product at T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., and also led the Wealth & Asset Management and Corporate Business Functions Practices at McKinsey & Company. " is a proven financial leader with a passion for strategy, transformation, and people leadership across professional services, financial services, and technology. Throughout his career, Nirupam has helped lead transformative financial management and value creation, all while advancing organizational growth, making him the ideal leader to create value for clients, colleagues and shareholders," said Heidrick & Struggles' Chief Executive Officer . "Nirupam has the strategic insight, leadership skills and deep experience to support Heidrick & Struggles as the world's most trusted partner in leadership and critical talent decisions, focused on building differentiated, deep and durable relationships with the world's most leadership-obsessed companies." "We are in a pivotal time when people and leadership can make or break a business, making the work at Heidrick & Struggles ever more important," said . "Heidrick & Struggles has long served at the heart of talent strategy and continues to innovate and expand its offerings in an increasingly transformative market. I believe we have an exciting road ahead as a firm and I'm honored to be a part of it. As Heidrick & Struggles continues to grow, I look forward to helping the Company continue to scale and deliver strong performance for our clients and shareholders around the world." is a tested leader with extensive experience across professional services, financial services, and technology. He currently serves as Chief Financial Officer of , a global payments company, where he oversees a team of more than 200 across Accounting, Treasury, Tax, FP&A, Investor Relations, and Strategy as well as other groups. Nirupam also served as the Global Head of Product at asset management firm T. , where his tenure also included senior Finance and Strategy roles. With nearly 20 years of experience, Nirupam has a proven track record of transforming finance functions, scaling organizational growth, and engaging across stakeholder groups. He began his career at McKinsey & Company in the Financial Services Practice and also worked at Serent Capital as a private equity investor. Nirupam holds a B.A. in Political Science from and an MBA from the Wharton School at the . Sinha is based in . Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII) is a premier provider of global leadership advisory services and on-demand talent solutions, serving the senior talent and consulting needs of the world's top organizations. Heidrick & Struggles pioneered the profession of executive search more than 70 years ago. Today, we partner with clients to develop future-ready leaders and organizations, combining our expertise in executive search, leadership consulting, and on-demand talent solutions to maximize client profitability and performance. Helping our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time.® Global Director, Public Relations Heidrick & Struggles View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Heidrick & Struggles

The holidays are meant to be the most wonderful time of the year, filled with joy, laugher, celebration and family gatherings. Yet, for many people, the holidays can be a stressful time. They experience loneliness, anxiety, depression, sadness, fatigue financial worries and overwhelm. That is the reason these feeling are known as the holiday blues. Holiday blues is all about people’s expectations falling short. It helps to remember that it is quite normal to experience a little frustration or stress during this very demanding and busy time of the year. The good news is that there are several practical strategies that help us manage the holidays with more ease and shift our mindset to a positive one. This way, we will be able to transform the holiday stress into a time of gratitude and genuine joy, making this holiday season a truly meaningful time. Here are seven tips that can help one maintain a perspective about what is really important and to be more in charge of their emotions during this time. 1. Recognize and accept your feelings. Allow yourself to admit that you feel sadness, grief, loneliness, especially if you have experienced a separation, divorce, or the loss of a loved one. Feel your feelings and avoid forcing yourself to be in a festive mood. 2.Plan ahead and set priorities to avoid stress. Develop a schedule of specific days of shopping, baking, delivering gifts and social and family gatherings. Do not cram more things in your days, that you can reasonably accomplish. Shop early to avoid crowds. Create a budget to help you avoid financial worries after the holidays. 3. Set boundaries. Set clear boundaries in a compassionate way, with family and friends. Prioritize your physical and mental health and be willing to say no to certain obligations that you know they will drain your energy and leave you exhausted and stressed. 3. Practice self-care. Have a special self-care daily routine that includes nourishing meals, some exercise or a daily walk, getting enough sleep and doing something that gives you pleasure and enjoyment, like listening to music, seeing your favorite film, or reading a book. You must nurture yourself to maintain an emotional balance and be able to do the things on your list. 4. Maintain a positive outlook. Avoid deep family discussions and negative people who are critical, or tend to complain. If that’s not possible, try to shift the conversation to a light subject, or leave the room. 5. Be mindful with the food you eat and the amount of alcohol you drink. Enjoy food without feeling uncomfortable and drink in moderation. You want to avoid regrets the next day and feeling guilty. Remind yourself that balance is key to enjoying holiday meals. 6. Surround yourself with community. Loneliness is often a source of holiday blues, especially if you’re far from loved ones. If you are alone, plan early, to be with other people. They don’t have to be relatives. One can have meaningful connections with people that they may barely know, because of a shared human experience. 7. Gratitude. Reflect on the deeper meaning of the holiday season. Focus on each moment and appreciate every moment of joy, no matter how small it seems. Write in a gratitude journal all the things that you have in your life that you are grateful for. Giving to those less fortunate, creates a feeling of joy and gratitude. If you or someone you know needs some emotional support, you may talk to a professional counselor, a life coach or a hypnotherapist, to help you navigate this time of the year. Coaching and hypnosis help people reframe negative thought patterns, manage stress and grief and foster a greater sense of calm, well-being and inner peace. It reduces anxiety, improves quality of sleep, boosts confidence and resilience and promotes healthy habits, for the holiday season and all year long. Let’s approach the holidays as a time for deeper understanding of ourselves and each other, a time of forgiveness, compassion, love, hope and acceptance. The true meaning of the holidays is not in material things and a lot of presents. It is found in the heart . Happy holidays to each and everyone of you!

The King and the Prime Minister have paid tribute to Jimmy Carter following the former US president’s death on Sunday aged 100. In a message to the American people, the King expressed “great sadness” at the news of Mr Carter’s death, describing him as “a committed public servant” who “devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights”. He added: “His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977. “My thoughts and prayers are with President Carter’s family and the American people at this time.” Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981 and spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Carter had “lived his values in the service of others to the very end” through “decades of selfless public service”. Praising a “lifelong dedication to peace” that saw him win the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Sir Keir added: “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad.” Tributes to Mr Carter followed the announcement of his death by his family on Sunday, more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love.” Very sorry to hear of President Carter’s passing. I pay tribute to his decades of selfless public service. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time. pic.twitter.com/IaKmZcteb1 — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 29, 2024 US President Joe Biden, one of the first elected politicians to endorse Mr Carter’s bid for the presidency in 1976, said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us.” Vice President Kamala Harris said Mr Carter “reminded our nation and the world that there is strength in decency and compassion”. “His life and legacy continue to inspire me — and will inspire generations to come,” she said. “Our world is a better place because of President Carter.” Other UK politicians also paid tribute to Mr Carter. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he was “an inspiration” who “led a truly remarkable life dedicated to public service with a genuine care for people”. Scottish First Minister John Swinney described the former president as “a good, decent, honest man who strove for peace in all that he did”, while Welsh First Minister said he was “a remarkable man” and “a humanitarian and scholar”. Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Mr Carter’s “life was a testament to public service”. He added: “I always had the greatest respect for him, his spirit and his dedication. He fundamentally cared and consistently toiled to help those in need.” Gordon Brown, another former prime minister, said it was a “privilege” to have known Mr Carter, who “will be mourned, not just in America, but in every continent where human rights are valued”. Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington DC before being buried in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and, finally, the White House, where he took office as 39th president in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked more than four decades leading The Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center virtually eliminated Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.The midseason four-game winning streak that lifted the Arizona Cardinals into the playoff picture seemed as though it happened fast. Their subsequent free fall has been even more jarring. The Cardinals could have moved into a tie for first place in the NFC West with a home win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Instead, they were thoroughly outplayed in a 30-18 loss and are now tied for last in the tightly packed division. Arizona has lost three straight and will face an uphill battle to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021. The Seahawks (8-5) are in first place, followed by the Rams (7-6), Cardinals (6-7) and 49ers (6-7). Even more daunting for their playoff hopes, the Cardinals lost both of their games against the Seahawks this season, meaning a tiebreaker would go to Seattle. Four games remain. “I just told them we put ourselves in a little bit of a hole now, but all you can do is attack tomorrow, learn tomorrow and have a good week of practice,” second-year coach Jonathan Gannon said. There are plenty of reasons the Cardinals lost to the Seahawks, including Kyler Murray's two interceptions, a handful of holding penalties, a porous run defense and a brutal missed field goal. It all adds up to the fact Arizona is playing its worst football of the season at a time when it needed its best. “I’m sure we’ll stick to our process, but we have to tweak some things,” Gannon said. "I have to tweak some things.” It's probably faint praise, but the Cardinals did make the game interesting in the second half while trying to fight back from a 27-10 deficit. Murray's shovel pass to James Conner for a 2-yard touchdown and subsequent 2-point conversion cut the margin to 27-18. The Cardinals had a chance to make it a one-score contest early in the fourth quarter, but Chad Ryland's 40-yard field goal attempt bounced off the left upright. “I thought we spotted them a lot of points there, but then we battled back,” Gannon said. “I appreciate their effort. That was good. We battled back there, had a couple chances to even cut the lead a little more, but ultimately didn’t get it done." Murray's in a bit of a mini-slump after throwing two interceptions in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. He also didn't do much in the run game against the Seahawks, with 16 yards on three carries. The quarterback's decision-making was nearly flawless for much of the season and the Cardinals need that good judgment to return. “I’m not looking at it like I have to try to be Superman,” Murray said. “I don’t think that’s the answer. I just need to play within the offense like we’ve done for the majority of the season. Today, I didn’t. Like I said, throwing two picks puts yourself behind the eight ball.” Said Gannon: “I thought he stuck in there and made some big time throws, though, but he has to protect the ball a little bit better. That’s not just him, that’s all 11. So there’ll be a lot of corrections off those plays." The defense didn't have its best day, but it's not Budda Baker's fault. The two-time All-Pro safety is having another phenomenal season and was all over the field against the Seahawks, finishing with 18 tackles. Baker's energy is relentless and he's the unquestioned leader of a group that has been better than expected this season, even with Sunday's mediocre performance. Left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. had a tough day, getting flagged for holding three times, though one of those penalties was declined by the Seahawks. The second-year player moved from right tackle to the left side during the offseason and the transition has gone well, but Sunday was a step backward. The Cardinals remain fairly healthy. DL Roy Lopez (ankle) and P Blake Gillikin (ankle) left Sunday's game, but neither injury is expected to be long term. 9 — It looks as if the Cardinals will go a ninth straight season without winning the NFC West. The last time they won the division was 2015 with coach Bruce Arians and a core offense of quarterback Carson Palmer, running back David Johnson and receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals are in must-win territory now for any chance at the playoffs. They'll host the New England Patriots on Sunday. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLFormula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season

Canada's Trudeau survives third no-confidence voteUkraine revokes 188 disability statuses amid MSEC reevaluation

Qatar Foundation (QF) and its communication partner Memac Ogilvy were recognised for their outstanding public relations and communications strategies at the 16th Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) Awards 2024; held annually in the UAE to recognise exceptional public relations and communications efforts within the region. Celebrating their collaborative work to put Qatar at the forefront of innovation on the regional stage, the strategic duo more than doubled their MEPRA 2023 efforts, securing a total of 11 awards across nine varying thematic categories — ranging from Best in Healthcare to Best Artificial Intelligence and Best Arts & Culture. The MEPRA 2024 wins included five Gold, five Silver, and one Bronze, with the highest honors for Best in Qatar and Best Corporate Communications campaigns defended for the second consecutive year. A major achievement from the night was the Bytes of AI content series, which took home Gold in the Best Artificial Intelligence category and was only one of two campaigns in the region to make the shortlist. The ongoing series creatively transforms complex AI concepts into compelling, accessible stories that engage a wide audience. Through captivating narratives, the series sparks curiosity and fosters a deeper understanding of AI's pivotal role in shaping the future. The other four Golds were awarded for launching the Al-Mujadilah Center and Mosque for Women earlier in 2024. QF and Memac Ogilvy also celebrated multiple Silver wins, with The City Beyond Education campaign earning Best Sports & Recreation for significantly increasing footfall within Education City, and Decoding Health — a powerful series designed to simplify the intricacies and benefits of precision health — securing Best Education and Best Healthcare. The latter also successfully picked up a Bronze for Best Arabic Language. Furthermore, the Preserving the Arabic Language, One Minute at a Time (Arabic Minute) campaign received Silver in Best Use of Social Media an initiative aimed at making Arabic grammar more accessible through engaging micro-lessons. Commenting on the awards, Executive Director of Communications at Qatar Foundation Leila Sibaey said: "At QF, we are committed to perpetuating the rich heritage of the Arab world and driving social progress in several aspects of society, primarily through education. It's a true honour to see our team's work recognised across so many different thematic areas. These accolades are a reflection of the true sense of partnership we enjoy with Memac Ogilvy and the one-team approach to our work, which has resulted in impactful and meaningful work across Qatar and the region." Head of Public Relations at Memac Ogilvy Qatar, Megan Yarmuth, said: "This year's achievements at the MEPRA Awards reflect the strength of our collaboration with QF. Together, we've created innovative, community-driven campaigns that tackle complex topics with clarity and engage audiences across the region. We are proud to have played a part in celebrating Qatar's rich heritage and shaping its future in areas such as AI and precision health." In 2023, QF and Memac Ogilvy were recognised with five awards (four Gold and one bronze) for their important role in shaping the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 narrative by providing media with unique experiences, access to diverse Qatar voices, and expert commentators. (QNA) Related Story QU Health sector convenes int’l advisory board meetingCalifornia Businesses, Households on the Hook for State's Default on COVID Loan

WASHINGTON (AP) — The chair of the Democratic National Committee informed party leaders on Monday that the DNC will choose his successor in February, an election that will speak volumes about how the party wants to present itself during four more years of Donald Trump in the White House. Jaime Harrison, in a letter to members of the party’s powerful Rules & Bylaws Committee, outlined the process of how the party will elect its new chair. Harrison said in the letter that the committee will host four candidate forums — some in person and some virtually — in January, with the final election on Feb. 1 during the party’s winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. The race to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, while an insular party affair, will come days after Trump is inaugurated for a second term. Democrats' selection of a leader after Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 loss will be a key starting point as the party starts to move forward, including addressing any structural problems and determining how to oppose Trump. Members of the Rules & Bylaws Committee will meet on Dec. 12 to establish the rules for these elections, which beyond the chair position will include top party roles like vice chairs, treasurer, secretary and national finance chair. The committee will also use that meeting to decide the requirements for gaining access to the ballot for those top party roles. In 2021, candidates were required to submit a nominating statement that included signatures from 40 DNC members and that will likely be the same standard for the 2025 campaigns. “The DNC is committed to running a transparent, equitable, and impartial election for the next generation of leadership to guide the party forward,” Harrison said in a statement. “Electing the Chair and DNC officers is one of the most important responsibilities of the DNC Membership, and our staff will run an inclusive and transparent process that gives members the opportunity to get to know the candidates as they prepare to cast their votes.” Two Democrats have announced campaigns for chair: Ken Martin, chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and a vice chair of the national party, and Martin O’Malley, the former Maryland governor and current commissioner of the Social Security Administration. Other top Democrats are either considering a run to succeed Harrison or are being pushed by party insiders, including former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke; Michael Blake, a former vice chair of the party; Ben Wikler, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin; Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan and a former Chicago mayor; Rep. Mallory McMorrow, majority whip of the Michigan Senate, and Chuck Rocha, a longtime Democratic strategist. The next chair of the committee will be tasked with rebuilding a party demoralized by a second Trump victory. They will also oversee the party’s 2028 nominating process, a complex and contentious exercise that will make the chair central to the next presidential election. Harrison, of South Carolina, made clear in his letter to the rules committee that the four forums hosted by the party would be live streamed and the party would give grassroots Democrats across the country the ability to engage with the process through those events. He also said he intends to remain neutral during the chair election.Josh Norris scores late power-play goal in the Senators' 3-1 victory over the WildMost Valuable Promotions released a statement Monday regarding the growing controversy that Jake Paul's unanimous decision victory over Mike Tyson was fixed, calling the allegations "illogical and inane." The YouTuber-turned-prizefighter Paul, 27, dominated the iconic former heavyweight champion in their Nov. 15 clash at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The event was a massive success with an $18.1 million gate, the largest for any U.S. fight outside of Las Vegas, and was streamed on Netflix with over 108 million live global viewers. However, the 58-year-old Tyson turned in a listless performance with skeptics questioning the fight's integrity. Amid the swirling controversy, MVP -- led by Paul and Nakisa Bidarian -- has responded to those questioning whether the fight was fixed for Paul to win. "Both fighters in good faith performed to the best of their abilities with the goal of winning the fight," the statement read. "There were absolutely no restrictions -- contractual or otherwise -- around either fighter. Each boxer was able to use his full arsenal to win the fight. Any agreement to the contrary would violate TDLR (Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations) boxing rules." Editor's Picks After he beat Mike Tyson, everybody wants to fight Jake Paul 5d ESPN Staff Paul-Tyson $18.1M gate sets non-Vegas record 6d Andreas Hale Paul called out by heavyweight champ Dubois 6d ESPN Social media was flooded with posts suggesting the fight was planned with a faux script also being circulated. The script was debunked but that has not quelled doubt about how the fight played out. Paul's admission that he took his foot off the gas in the middle rounds rather than pursue a knockout further fanned the flames of a rigged fight. "It is further illogical and inane that MVP, in the debut of a hopeful long-term partnership with the world's biggest streamer -- an organization that made its first-ever foray into live professional sports with Paul vs. Tyson -- would even so much as consider such a perverse violation of the rules of competition," the statement continued. Bidarian has remained adamant in a number of interviews following the fight that there was no foul play in his business partner's victory. "This is not the first time Jake Paul has faced unfounded skepticism or outright disbelief as a professional athlete, and frankly, the claim that his bout must have been rigged is just the latest backhanded compliment to come his way," said Bidarian, co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions. "From day one in this sport, people have doubted his abilities -- unable to reconcile how someone with his background has accomplished so much in such a short time. Jake has not only proven himself repeatedly, but he has continuously set historic records that speak for themselves. "This event, which broke attendance and viewership milestones for a professional sporting event, is yet another example of his ability to deliver on the biggest stage. As long as Jake continues to exceed expectations, there will always be those who try to discredit his achievements. We embrace the doubt -- it only fuels Jake to work harder and achieve greater success."A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to South Korea, with 181 people on board, crashed during landing on Sunday, leaving 179 dead and only two survivors rescued from the wreckage. Officials said a Boeing 737-800, operated by low-cost carrier Jeju Air, was warned of a bird strike by the control tower during its first landing attempt at Muan airport, after departing from Bangkok around 9:00 am (0000 GMT). Moments later, the pilot declared a “mayday” and tried to land again. Footage captured the plane attempting a belly landing, its landing gear still retracted. Dramatic footage shows the plane skidding along the runway, trailing smoke, before crashing into a wall at the end and bursting into flames . All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members on board were killed in the crash. The passengers, aged three to 78, were all Korean apart from two Thais, authorities said. Rescue workers rescued two survivors, flight attendants aged 25 and 33, from the wreckage. What caused the accident? Investigations have begun, with officials focusing on a potential bird strike and adverse weather as possible causes. “It really has to be a series of catastrophic events that led to such a high loss of life,” aviation consultant Philip Butterworth-Hayes told AFP. “Crash protection systems on board are extremely robust,” he said, describing the disaster as “the most serious incident I've seen” in recent years. When asked whether the runway might be too short , one official said this was likely not a factor. "The runway is 2,800 metres long," or 9,200 feet, “and similar-sized aircraft have been operating on it without issues,” the official said. Both black boxes -- the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder -- have been recovered, deputy transport minister Joo Jong-wan said. What is a bird strike? A bird strike -- a collision between a bird and an aircraft in flight -- can be hazardous to aircraft. Jets can lose power if birds are sucked into their air intakes, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency. Bird strikes have caused a number of fatal accidents globally. “We're looking at substantial birds hitting an engine, and that is, as we know, very rare,” said Butterworth-Hayes. He mentioned the famous "Miracle on the Hudson" incident in 2009, when a US Airways Airbus A320 was forced to ditch in New York's Hudson River after a bird strike damaged both of its engines. All aboard managed to escape. Hundreds of firefighters, emergency responders, and military personnel were deployed to the Muan airport area, with the acting president declaring it a special disaster zone. Meanwhile, family members, many in tears, waited on the airport's first floor. What is government's response? The accident occurred with South Korea in the throes of a political crisis that began when then-president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, days before being impeached. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, on his third day in office, convened an emergency meeting with cabinet members Sunday and visited the crash scene. With AFP inputs

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Formula 1 on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that launched a U.S. Justice Department investigation into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not approve the team initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti in September stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so the 11th team will be called Cadillac F1 and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. "Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.’’ Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially denied the application despite approval from F1 sanctioning body FIA . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 tried and failed to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to meet all required criteria to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. GM refused and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the announced resignation of Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

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