A global leader in maritime healthcare and wellbeing solutions, VIKAND, says the number of seafarers who are ‘opening up’ and talking about their mental health will increase, due to its first-of-a-kind, wellness data-collection tool. Presenting at the recent International Maritime Human Factors Symposium, Ronald Spithout, Managing Director OneHealth by VIKAND, highlighted the importance of ‘Crew Asset Management’ and real time data gathering technology to support seafarers’ welfare. Ronald Spithout, Managing Director, OneHealth by VIKAND Developed by Danish tech company Scoutbase, the solution encourages and enables seafarers to ‘open up’ and express themselves anonymously. The solution tracks important data through ‘welfare pulse sampling’ or ‘nudging,’ where questions are generated to gauge how someone is feeling. Depending on their response, further questions are generated, creating a profile. Answers that are concerning can result in a voluntary call with a mental health professional. This friendly way of questioning has resulted in engagement levels of over 80%, while also allowing for earlier interventions of help. The data insights play an important role in supporting seafarer mental health Ronald Spithout said: “The shift to digitalisation in maritime has massively impacted on how we can support our seafarers and protect a ships greatest asset, which is its people. By capturing and monitoring wellness and health information in real time, we can provide seafarers with a wide range of medical advice and support unlike never before. This is a huge step forward.” The Scoutbase solution where questions are generated to gauge how someone is feeling Yassin Askar, the co-founder of Scoutbase, said: “Using technology which automatically collects anonymous feedback from seafarers and shore-based personnel on safety and critical issues, will provide ship operators with insights from across their fleets which will help raise operational standards and safety. Looking after seafarers must be our number one priority.” Several presentations took place at the IMO, which all focused on the issues of safety, wellbeing for seafarers. Speakers and experts from a range of maritime industry bodies, and organisations and educational establishments took part. Source: VIKANDJimmy Carter, president known as a peacemaker, is dead at 99One thing nearly all former presidents have in common is a love of sports. For Donald Trump, the game was golf. For Barack Obama, the sport was basketball. President George W. Bush owned Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers. For Jimmy Carter, the sport was tennis. At the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park is a clay tennis court. The tennis court was installed during Carter’s childhood on the family farm. The farm and his childhood home later became the location for the park in Plains, Georgia. In his 1975 book “Why Not the Best?” Carter described how he would play against his father as a teenager. “My father ... was an excellent tennis player,” Carter wrote. “I could never beat my father. He had a wicked sliced ball which barely bounded at all on the relatively soft dirt court.” RELATED STORY | Former President Jimmy Carter dies at age 100 Carter was able to upgrade his court when he entered the White House in 1977. The complex had a court installed during President Theodore Roosevelt’s tenure. But during his time in the White House, the use of the tennis courts became political fodder. Staffer James Fallows wrote in The Atlantic that Carter would personally sign off on when the White House tennis court could be used, and by which staffers. “The in-house tennis enthusiasts, of whom I was perhaps the most shameless, dispatched brief notes through his secretary asking to use the court on Tuesday afternoons while he was at a congressional briefing, or a Saturday morning, while he was away,” Fallows wrote. “I always provided spaces where he could check Yes or No; Carter would make his decision and send the note back, initialed J.” Carter was asked by Bill Moyers about whether he personally signed off on the tennis court’s use. Carter told Moyers he delegated the task to a secretary. Carter’s love of tennis came home to Plains in 1977 during his first year in the White House. World Team Tennis staged a match in the small Georgia town, which was attended by Carter’s mother Lillian. The competition was between a team of Soviet Union stars against top Americans playing on the Phoenix Racquets.
Caitlin Clark honored as AP Female Athlete of the Year following her impact on women's sports Caitlin Clark has been named the AP Female Athlete of the Year after raising the profile of women’s basketball to unprecedented levels in both college and the WNBA. She led Iowa to the national championship game, was the top pick in the WNBA draft and captured rookie of the year honors in the league. Fans packed sold-out arenas and millions of television viewers followed her journey on and off the court. Clark's exploits also put other women's sports leagues in the spotlight. A group of 74 sports journalists from AP and its members voted on the award. Other athletes who received votes included Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and boxer Imane Khelif. Clark’s only the fourth women’s basketball player to win the award since it was first given in 1931. Wemby at The Garden. LeBron vs. Steph. The NBA's Christmas Day lineup, as always, has star power LeBron James made his Christmas debut in 2003. Victor Wembanyama was born 10 days later. That’s right: James has been featured on the NBA’s big day for longer than Wembanyama has been alive. And on Wednesday the league’s oldest player and brightest young star will be big parts of the holiday showcase. It’s another Christmas quintupleheader, with Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs visiting the New York Knicks, Minnesota going to Dallas for a Western Conference finals rematch, Philadelphia heading to Boston to renew a storied rivalry, James and the Los Angeles Lakers taking on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, and Denver playing at Phoenix. Pro Picks: Chiefs will beat the Steelers and Ravens will edge the Texans on Christmas Day Playoff berths, draft positioning and more are up for grabs in Week 17. There’s going to be plenty of football on television this holiday week with the NFL playing games on five out of six days, starting with a doubleheader on Christmas Day featuring four of the AFC’s top five teams. Patrick Mahomes and the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs visit Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Then, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears host the Seahawks on Thursday night and there are three games on Saturday, making Sunday’s schedule light at nine games. Falcons drafting Penix no longer a head-scratcher with rookie QB shining in place of benched Cousins It was the most surprising first-round pick in a long time when the Atlanta Falcons chose Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall selection in the NFL draft last April. That came just six weeks after the Falcons had signed free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal with $100 million in guarantees. But that move is no longer a head-scratcher after Penix's solid starting debut in place of a benched and turnover-prone Cousins. Several teams have fared well with new quarterbacks this season including the Steelers, Broncos, Vikings and Commanders. Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could start a trend in skiing. And pro sports in general ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — Lindsey Vonn thinks her new titanium knee could be the start of a trend in ski racing. The 40-year-old American standout had replacement surgery in April and returned to the World Cup circuit after nearly six years last weekend. She says her knee feels “amazing" and that "it’s something to seriously consider for athletes that have a lot of knee problems.” Her surgery was the first of its kind in World Cup skiing. Vonn had a robot-assisted surgery in April with part of the bone in her right knee cut off and replaced by two titanium pieces. She was planning her comeback a month later. Boise State's legacy includes winning coaches and championship moments No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for its third trip to the Fiesta Bowl. This time it's in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year’s Eve. Boise State's first appearance on the national stage was in a memorable victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2007. But former coach Chris Petersen said the victory in that bowl three years later over TCU was even more meaningful for the program. Players have mixed feelings about being on the road on Christmas as NFL adds more holiday games OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Games on Christmas aren’t new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL’s longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. That's been met with mixed feelings among the players. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley says there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum’s house. Quarterback Lamar Jackson’s plan is to celebrate on Thursday. Embiid ejected after drawing 2 technicals in game against Wembanyama and Spurs PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was ejected in the first half of Monday night’s game against San Antonio after drawing two technical fouls. Referee Jenna Schroeder ejected Embiid with 2 minutes, 59 seconds left in the second quarter. The seven-time All-Star received the first technical for arguing with Schroeder, and received another technical — and ejection — from Schroeder before any more game time elapsed. Embiid was close to Schroeder, but it wasn’t clear from replays whether he made contact with the official. An enraged Embiid charged toward the officials after the ejection and was restrained by teammate Kyle Lowry, head coach Nick Nurse and several assistants. Nikki Glaser uses Prime Video's NFL postgame show appearances to help prepare for Golden Globes INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Nikki Glaser has become a familiar face to football fans this season. Her breakthrough performance at the Tom Brady Roast on May 5 paved the way for five appearances on Amazon Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” postgame show. Glaser said before last Thursday’s game between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers that doing her “Late Hits” segment was a no-brainer following her success at the Brady roast. Leaving Thunder, Bucks off the NBA's Christmas game list has those teams feeling snubbed Oklahoma City leads the Western Conference and has a MVP candidate in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Milwaukee has the NBA’s leading scorer in Giannis Antetokounmpo. They were the teams that made their way to the NBA Cup final. By any measure, they’re both very good teams. And neither will play on Christmas Day this year. Bah, humbug. The NBA faces the same challenge every summer, figuring out which 10 teams will get the honor of playing on Christmas Day. But the Bucks and Thunder are right to feel snubbed.Square Teams With Sysco to Bolster Restaurant TechnologyHow co-writing a book threatened the Carters’ marriageISLAMABAD, Dec 19: The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that the government is getting enhanced bids for privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for its upcoming second attempt after a recent failed bid to sell the loss-making national flag carrier. During the question hour in National Assembly, Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar expressed optimism regarding improved bids this time, highlighting that the restoration of the routes to Europe is a positive development. The response from the minister came following a severe criticism from Naveed Qamar, Abdul Qadir Patel and Shazia Marri of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – a key ally of the ruling PML-N – regarding government’s failure to revamp or privatise PIA. PIA sell-off: Govt will have to own Rs800bn in liabilities: Asif The government, according to Tarar, is unable to foresee the results of the bidding process; however, there is optimism regarding the quality of bids expected this time. “The privatisation process needs to be carefully planned. This time, we anticipate improved bids and a more favourable outcome [...]lessons learnt from past mistakes have been corrected to make the next plan more successful,” he added. He said that the last bidding was not flawed in any technical way but faced some problems and for that reason, services of top-notch firms have been acquired. He said that Muhammad Amir Hayat, a pensioned air vice marshal of Pakistan Air Force, has resigned as chief executive officer (CEO) of PIA Holding Company Limited (PIAHCL), with his departure effective from December 9, 2024 and he has been sent back to his parent department. The minister said that the government will remain in control of majority shares in PIA after privatisation and any new management will be given a framework to carry out its business with strict adherence. An earlier bidding process was conducted, during which the Blue World Consortium submitted a bid of Rs10 billion, significantly lower than the minimum expected price of Rs85 billion. The Privatization Commission Board reviewed the highest bid from the Blue World Consortium but ultimately decided to reject it. Tarar pointed out that globally, only a few countries maintain state-run airlines, signalling that privatisation might align better with international practices. The house was informed that the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) is currently engaged in legal proceedings concerning 71 cases of excessive billing involving several delinquent distribution companies (DISCOs). In a written reply to a question, the house was told once the proceedings are concluded; NEPRA may impose fines on DISCOs in accordance with the relevant rules and regulations. Additionally, fines have already been imposed on DISCOs for various other violations. The minister in-charge for Cabinet Division said that during July and August 2023, DISCOs issued inflated bills to consumers that exceeded the standard billing cycle of 30 or 31 days, impacting a total of 4,106,318 consumers. Following the necessary investigation and NEPRA’s subsequent directions, consumers’ bills were revised using a pro-rata mechanism in cases where the billing period exceeded 30/31 days. Later, during the period from April to June 2024, DISCOs applied the pro-rata mechanism for both cases where the meter reading was taken for more or less than 30/31 days. As a result of the negative pro-rata application, the categories of 1,192,602 consumers were changed again. Meanwhile, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the state minister for information technology claimed that remittances from telecommunications, computer, and information services hit a record high of $3.223 billion in exports during fiscal year 2023-24. She highlighted that Pakistan’s ICT sector saw a 24 per cent growth, adding US$ 627 million to the US$ 2.596 billion achieved in FY 2022-23. She said that IT industry achieved a record trade surplus of US$2.827 billion in FY 2023-24, marking a 22.31 per cent increase from the previous year’s surplus of US$ 2.297 billion. Despite the services sector’s overall trade deficit, the ICT sector led the way, contributing 41.29 per cent of total service exports, with other business services following at $1.550 billion. Copyright Business Recorder, 2024
Hwangwonjeong Pavilion and Geoncheong at Gyeongbok Palace in December 2012 / Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff Homer Hulbert arrived in Jemulpo (now part of modern-day Incheon) on July 4, 1886. He was one of three American teachers hired by the Korean government to teach at the Royal College in Seoul. Their trip to Seoul and their subsequent adventures in Korea are interesting stories, but those will have to wait for another time. Since tomorrow is Christmas, however, it seems appropriate to recount the Christmas party of 1887, held at the home of Horace Underwood — an American missionary. Before this party, Christmas celebrations in Seoul were small and rather spartan. Underwood, however, was determined to make this one special. In a letter home, he explained that even in Korea, he could arrange a simple yet memorable dinner using flowers and produce from his garden, along with the many gifts he received from Korean acquaintances and government officials. Read More Christmas in Korea in 1880s: politics and parties: Part1 Kim Dong-jin and Homer Hulbert’s cabinet / Courtesy of Hulbert Memorial Society As was the custom in Seoul, each guest brought one of their servants to assist in serving the dinner and cleaning up afterward. To make the evening more memorable, Underwood enlisted Hulbert to design the menu cards. Each card featured “two Korean dragons facing each other and their tongues running out into the initials [and] their long bodies going down on both sides of the page ending in arrow-headed tails.” Printed in the center were the words “Merry Christmas 87” and “a la Koreanne,” with a little piece of Korean silk cord, butterflies and flowers serving as an elegant finishing touch. It appears all of the Americans in Seoul attended this party, except George C. Foulk, a naval officer temporarily assigned to the American Legation. Foulk, disgusted at being caught up in the vortex of Korean political intrigue, spent Christmas “in a purely Korean way” with a tiger hunt in the Bupyeong area of modern-day Incheon. Though he failed to bag a tiger, he succeeded in calming his nerves and returned to Seoul in time to partake in the New Year festivities. It is unclear what, if any, gifts were exchanged among the party-goers, but it is likely that King Gojong sent presents to the Western diplomats and many, if not all, of the missionaries. These gifts typically included fruits, chestnuts, walnuts, pork, beef, fish and hundreds of eggs — sometimes even live animals such as pigs and chickens. Other items included rolls of cloth, fans and various knickknacks. Many Westerners regifted these presents — perishable goods were often passed on to their Korean servants, while silk and fans became popular gifts for family and friends back home. Read More The perfect gift for the holiday Elaborate decorations partially marred by the passage of time / Robert Neff Collection At times, the royal family was especially generous, providing more valuable and unusual gifts. The Korean queen once gave Rose — wife of Lucius Foote, the first American minister to Korea — her “most cherished worldly possession,” the palanquin that had conveyed her back to the palace after the unsuccessful coup attempt in 1882. When the Footes left Korea and returned to San Francisco in early 1885, this palanquin accompanied them. Sadly, Rose passed away later that same year, and the fate of the palanquin has been forgotten. At some point in the 1900s, King Gojong presented Hulbert with a beautiful mother-of-pearl inlaid cabinet. When Hulbert returned to the United States, he brought the cabinet with him and cherished it for the rest of his life. According to Hulbert family records, the cabinet was originally a gift from Korea to China but was later returned to King (or Emperor, depending on the date) Gojong. The Korean monarch then gifted it to Hulbert. Unlike Rose’s palanquin, the fate of the cabinet is well-known — it remained with the Hulbert family. Drawers covered with mother-of-pearl designs / Robert Neff Collection According to Kim Dong-jin, the chairman of the Hulbert Memorial Society, he first saw the cabinet in 1989 during a visit to Hulbert’s descendants in New York. While he found it beautiful, he did not pay much attention to it at the time. As the years passed, the cabinet faded from his memory until early October of this year, when Kimball A. Hulbert, a great-grandson of Homer Hulbert, offered to donate the cabinet to the Hulbert Memorial Society. The offer was readily accepted. At considerable expense, the cabinet was shipped by air to Korea, arriving in late November. A note found in the cabinet describing its history / Robert Neff Collection When asked why this cabinet was so valuable, Kim’s eyes sparkled with excitement and pride. He revealed that three experts — museum curators and researchers — believe it to be a national treasure due to its rarity and artistic value. The cabinet was crafted between 1890 and 1900 in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. Only three cabinets of this design and quality are known to exist: two in Korea (including this one) and one in the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Kim suspects that the cabinet in Russia was received as a gift in 1896, either when King Gojong sought asylum in the Russian Legation in Seoul or when the Korean delegation attended the coronation of Russian Czar Nicholas II that same year. The Hulbert Memorial Society plans to register its cabinet as a National Cultural Treasure and hopes to temporarily display it in a Korean museum until the society is able to build its own Hulbert Memorial Hall. The passage of years has worn heavily upon the cabinet. The wood has cracked in several places, and it will require restoration. This restoration, however, will be bittersweet. As I examined the cabinet, I could feel history when I opened its wooden drawers — the musty scent emanating from them was like a breath from the past. Restoration will undoubtedly erase these subtle remnants of the senses — a loss that cannot be replaced. Crabs and flowers on one of the cabinet’s doors / Robert Neff Collection There is another treasure associated with Hulbert: Kim Dong-jin. For several decades, Kim has devoted himself to researching and championing Hulbert’s legacy. According to Kim, he first became aware of Hulbert nearly half a century ago while he was a college student. He read Hulbert’s book, “The Passing of Korea,” and was “moved by (Hulbert’s) depth of understanding about Korea and his unique assessment of the value of Korean ethics.” Inspired, Kim founded the Hulbert Memorial Society, believing that Hulbert was “quite undervalued in Korea” and should be recognized as “the paramount historic figure in Korea’s enlightenment period.” Somewhat shyly, Kim admitted that there was much more he wanted to say, but time constraints during our interview prevented him from elaborating. However, The Korea Times has published interviews with Kim in the past, and those articles can be easily found online. Read More Passion for underappreciated hero, Homer Hulbert Next month, to coincide with the anniversary of Hulbert’s birth on Jan. 26, 1863, Kim will publish Hulbert’s biography in English. He hopes that Hulbert’s life story will serve as “an example of a righteous life for people across the globe.” For Americans, in particular, Kim hopes it will inspire them to appreciate and value a “genuine hero” who has largely been forgotten. Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including "Letters from Joseon," "Korea Through Western Eyes" and "Brief Encounters."
Did Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward make some NFL teams raise their eyebrows when he sat through half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Saturday? Ward didn't play during the second half in a 42-41 loss to Iowa State. Before he exited, the QB threw the 156th TD pass of his career, setting an FBS record. He finished 12-of-19 passing for 190 yards and three touchdowns. Cam Ward. Record breaker. Cam is now the NCAA’s Division I all-time leader in career passing TDs (156) #GoCanes | @Cameron7Ward pic.twitter.com/JgiIxftmwi Truly 1 of 1 : ABC #GoCanes pic.twitter.com/QFb70ybHIj Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal addressed the decision following the game. "All meetings with players and decisions like that, we made them in private, we keep them in private," Cristobal said, per ESPN. "So I'll prefer not to answer any questions as it relates to that. But I know he played his best while he was in there." ESPN draft expert Matt Miller thinks the choice won't affect his stock. "I promise you zero teams care that Cam Ward only played a half tonight," Miller wrote on his X account while watching Miami lose. "Move on. Nothing to see here." Others will disagree with Miller's take. Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith explained talent evaluators may frown on Ward leaving in the middle of a game. "Even some NFL personnel evaluators who have no problem with players opting out of bowls entirely may have a problem with what Ward did," wrote Smith in a piece published Sunday. "To play long enough to pad your own individual stats, and then leave in the middle of a game while your teammates are fighting to finish their seasons as winners, isn't going to sit right with some in the NFL who are considering whether to draft Ward." Ward likely took to the bench because he didn't want to suffer a major injury, which would affect his draft stock. Still, he could've sat out of the entire game to avoid a potential controversy. Ward — a 2024 Heisman finalist — could still be one of the top picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay. According to Tankathon's mock draft, the Tennessee Titans will take him with pick No. 4. However, teams may question him about his mid-game opt-out throughout the draft process.
Browns starting linebacker ruled out versus Dolphins after being evaluated for head injuryNew coach Chris Holtmann has been tasked with rebuilding DePaul to the point where it can return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2004. Northern Illinois coach Rashon Burno knows what it takes to steer DePaul to the NCAAs because he was the starting point guard on the 2000 team that made the tournament -- the Blue Demons' only other NCAA appearance since 1992. Perhaps they can compare notes Saturday afternoon when Burno leads the Huskies (2-3) back to his alma mater as DePaul (5-0) hosts its sixth straight home game in Chicago. Last season, Burno's NIU squad helped accelerate DePaul's need for a new coach -- as the Huskies waltzed into Wintrust Arena and owned Tony Stubblefield's Blue Demons by an 89-79 score on Nov. 25. The Huskies built a 24-point second-half lead before coasting to the finish line. Can history repeat for NIU? There's just one problem with using last year's game as a potential barometer for Saturday's rematch: Almost no players on this year's teams were part of last year's squads. At DePaul, only assistant coach Paris Parham remains as Holtmann had the green light to bring in an all-new roster. UIC graduate transfer Isaiah Rivera (16.0 ppg, .485 3-point rate) and Coastal Carolina transfer Jacob Meyer (15.4 ppg, .406 on 3s) lead a balanced attack that focuses on getting half its shots from beyond the arc. At NIU, Burno retained only two players who competed against DePaul last year -- Ethan Butler and Oluwasegun Durosinmi -- and they combined for three points in 26 minutes in that game. The Huskies' main players used the transfer portal to join such programs as Kansas, Wisconsin, Penn State, Colorado State, James Madison, Georgia State and Niagara. With every starting job open, Butler has jumped into the lineup and produced 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Transfers Quentin Jones (Cal Poly) and James Dent (Western Illinois) pace the Huskies with 14.4 and 14.0 points per game. NIU is on a two-game losing streak, most recently a 75-48 home defeat at the hands of Elon on Wednesday. Holtmann hopes to have Arkansas transfer Layden Blocker for Saturday's game. Blocker missed Tuesday's 78-69 win over Eastern Illinois with a quad injury. With the combo guard unavailable, point guard Conor Enright handed out a career-high 11 assists in a season-high 38 minutes. "We need (Blocker)," Holtmann said. "I don't want to play Conor 38 minutes." --Field Level MediaIn one of the nine intriguing games on the NBA card today, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Charlotte Hornets will square off at Spectrum Center. There is coverage available for all the action in the NBA today, and we have provided the information on how to watch below. Sign up for NBA League Pass to get access to games, live and on-demand, and more for the entire season and offseason. Atlanta Hawks vs. Miami Heat Charlotte Hornets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Washington Wizards vs. New York Knicks Chicago Bulls vs. Milwaukee Bucks Golden State Warriors vs. Phoenix Suns Denver Nuggets vs. Detroit Pistons Utah Jazz vs. Philadelphia 76ers Portland Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks Los Angeles Lakers vs. Sacramento Kings Watch ESPN originals, The Last Dance and more NBA content on ESPN+. Use our link to sign up for ESPN+ or the Disney bundle. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .
NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”
Top stories in Ottawa in 2024With nearly all of the votes counted, left-leaning Mr Milanovic won 49% while his main challenger Dragan Primorac, a candidate of the ruling conservative HDZ party, trailed far behind with 19%. Pre-election polls had predicted that the two would face off in the second round on January 12, as none of the eight presidential election contenders were projected to get more than 50% of the vote. Mr Milanovic thanked his supporters but warned that “this was just a first run”. “Let’s not be triumphant, let’s be realistic, firmly on the ground,” he said. “We must fight all over again. It’s not over till it’s over.” Mr Milanovic, the most popular politician in Croatia, has served as prime minister in the past. Populist in style, the 58-year-old has been a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and continuous sparring between the two has been a recent hallmark of Croatia’s political scene. Mr Plenkovic has sought to portray the vote as one about Croatia’s future in the EU and Nato. He has labelled Mr Milanovic “pro-Russian” and a threat to Croatia’s international standing. “The difference between him (Mr Primorac) and Milanovic is quite simple: Milanovic is leading us East, Primorac is leading us West,” he said. Though the presidency is largely ceremonial in Croatia, an elected president holds political authority and acts as the supreme commander of the military. Mr Milanovic has criticised the Nato and European Union support for Ukraine and has often insisted that Croatia should not take sides. He has said Croatia should stay away from global disputes, thought it is a member of both Nato and the EU. Mr Milanovic has also blocked Croatia’s participation in a Nato-led training mission for Ukraine, declaring that “no Croatian soldier will take part in somebody else’s war”. His main rival in the election, Mr Primorac, has stated that “Croatia’s place is in the West, not the East”. However, his bid for the presidency has been marred by a high-level corruption case that landed Croatia’s health minister in jail last month and which featured prominently in pre-election debates. Trailing a distant third in the pre-election polls is Marija Selak Raspudic, a conservative independent candidate. She has focused her election campaign on the economic troubles of ordinary citizens, corruption and issues such as population decline in the country of some 3.8 million. Sunday’s presidential election is Croatia’s third vote this year, following a snap parliamentary election in April and the European Parliament balloting in June.Jones, Mellott help Montana State run over Montana 34-11Arthur Blank, Atlanta Falcons release lengthy, heartfelt statement on President Jimmy Carter’s death
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal moved up to second place in the Premier League with a 1-0 home win against Ipswich on Friday. Mikel Arteta’s side is six points behind leader Liverpool, which has a game in hand. Second-bottom Ipswich had won two of its last three away games but was up against it from the start at the Emirates. The visitors did not have one touch in the Gunners’ box during the first 45 minutes and, although Ipswich showed signs of life after the break, it was Arsenal which continued to dominate the game, marshaled by Declan Rice in midfield. Kai Havertz got the only goal midway through the first half when he knocked in a cross from Leandro Trossard. Havertz, Rice, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus all had chances but none of them could add to Arsenal’s tally. “It’s so tough, every team is tough to break down," Havertz said. "They fight for each other and at the end we’re very proud for the win.” Arsenal is a point above third-place Chelsea and two points clear of season surprise team Nottingham Forest in fourth. Seagulls and Bees share the points on south coast Brighton had most of the chances but could not find the net in a 0-0 draw with Brentford that extended the south coast club’s winless run to six league games. It was a frustrating night for the home side and especially Julio Enciso. The Paraguay striker had a host of opportunities to score but couldn’t make them count. Along with Southampton, Brentford has the worst away record in the league with seven losses and two draws and it was easy to see why in this toothless performance. Brentford had an early goal from Yoane Wissa ruled out for offside and, although it came a bit more into the game in the second half, it failed to pressure Icelandic goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson, who made his Premier League debut eight minutes before halftime when Mark Flekken went off with a thigh injury. One bright spot for the home side was the return of winger Solly March. He came on as a late substitute to make his first appearance for Brighton since injuring a knee against Manchester City 14 months ago. The result leaves Brighton in 10th place with 26 points, one spot and two points ahead of the Bees. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer The Associated PressDonald Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary