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super ace 2 download have been going gangbusters. The tech-heavy 34.76% to $50.36. Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, told : Momentum is the factor that is driving the market. The market right now is basically a freight train and nobody really wants to get in its way. Can the momentum in US stocks continue into the new year? Will US stocks just keep going up? One of the world's biggest active fund managers, Northern Trust Asset Management, says the run for US stocks is likely to continue in the new year. Michael Hunstad, Northern Trust's chief investment officer of global equities, says their attitude is 'risk on'. According to , Hunstad said: The overarching picture is very much 'risk on' in our portfolios. We're very bullish on US equities for a variety of reasons. The macroeconomic backdrop looks very favourable, economic growth is on our side, inflation is coming down. Earnings expectations are quite positive for the next several years. Northern Trust is imploring investors to "buy America" in 2025, amid expectations of tech sector deregulation and corporate tax cuts, as promised by incoming US president Donald Trump. Hunstad expects a stronger US economy and better corporate profits than other regions of the world. The asset manager's base case for 2025 is a soft landing for the US economy. The base case assumes no inflationary impact from Trump's tax cuts, deregulation, stricter immigration, and new tariffs. It also foresees milder but still healthy consumer spending amid a strong jobs market and falling . However, Hunsatd acknowledges upside risks, including a 'reflation' scenario if tariffs imposed on countries selling goods to America result in higher prices for US consumers. This would result in the Federal Reserve pausing on . However, in the reflation scenario, the net effect of Trump's economic policies would be positive, leading to above-trend economic growth for most of 2025. Hunstad also sees a downside 'supply restraint' scenario. In this case, reflation would also occur, and tighter immigration and tariffs would cause supply-side disruptions. This would lead to a recession later in the year and interest rate cuts. Is it too late to buy the Magnificent Seven? Hunstad favours large-cap US stocks for the new year amid anticipated strong earnings growth. He's unperturbed by high valuations for the mega growth companies, including the Magnificent Seven. The Magnificent Seven US stocks are ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ), ( ) ( ), and ( ). Hunstad said the current technology and AI boom was nothing like the dotcom bubble of the late 1990s. Today, the biggest technology companies have among the highest earnings growth, profit margins, capital expenditures and free generation in the S&P 500 index. While they also have higher price-to-earnings ratios, we feel these multiples are justified by strong fundamentals. However, Hunstad does expect the market rally to expand in 2025 to incorporate small-cap US stocks. He said small-caps had lower valuations and would benefit from economic growth, falling interest rates, and the onshoring of manufacturing as the US seeks to reduce its reliance on China and other nations. JP Morgan Global Market Strategist Ian Hui said some diversification away from the Mag 7 had already begun, commenting: The contribution of the seven mega-cap tech-related companies to S&P 500 earnings per share (EPS) growth is decreasing, and their earnings growth rate is slowing, while it is accelerating for the rest of the index. The rate-cutting cycle and resolution of election-related uncertainties should support a cyclical recovery in areas such as manufacturing, allowing less-favored sectors to benefit from tech-driven growth. This should help reduce concentration and valuation risks at the index level.Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Alphabet. Our analysis of options history for Alphabet GOOGL revealed 45 unusual trades. Delving into the details, we found 55% of traders were bullish, while 33% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 15 were puts, with a value of $1,256,958, and 30 were calls, valued at $1,436,733. Expected Price Movements After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $110.0 and $300.0 for Alphabet, spanning the last three months. Volume & Open Interest Development Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Alphabet's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Alphabet's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $110.0 to $300.0 over the preceding 30 days. Alphabet Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview Noteworthy Options Activity: Symbol PUT/CALL Trade Type Sentiment Exp. Date Ask Bid Price Strike Price Total Trade Price Open Interest Volume GOOGL PUT TRADE BULLISH 12/19/25 $4.85 $4.7 $4.7 $130.00 $305.5K 591 662 GOOGL PUT TRADE BEARISH 06/20/25 $24.0 $23.95 $24.0 $185.00 $144.0K 1.0K 60 GOOGL CALL TRADE BEARISH 06/20/25 $41.9 $41.85 $41.85 $130.00 $125.5K 1.1K 30 GOOGL PUT SWEEP BULLISH 04/17/25 $8.0 $7.9 $7.9 $160.00 $115.3K 3.3K 318 GOOGL CALL TRADE BULLISH 01/16/26 $10.85 $10.85 $10.85 $200.00 $108.5K 4.3K 431 About Alphabet Alphabet is a holding company that wholly owns internet giant Google. The California-based company derives slightly less than 90% of its revenue from Google services, the vast majority of which is advertising sales. Alongside online ads, Google services houses sales stemming from Google's subscription services (YouTube TV, YouTube Music among others), platforms (sales and in-app purchases on Play Store), and devices (Chromebooks, Pixel smartphones, and smart home products such as Chromecast). Google's cloud computing platform, or GCP, accounts for roughly 10% of Alphabet's revenue with the firm's investments in up-and-coming technologies such as self-driving cars (Waymo), health (Verily), and internet access (Google Fiber) making up the rest. After a thorough review of the options trading surrounding Alphabet, we move to examine the company in more detail. This includes an assessment of its current market status and performance. Present Market Standing of Alphabet With a volume of 23,824,736, the price of GOOGL is down -1.64% at $164.88. RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock is currently neutral between overbought and oversold. Next earnings are expected to be released in 67 days. What The Experts Say On Alphabet Over the past month, 5 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $202.8. Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days? 20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. Click here for access .* Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Loop Capital keeps a Hold rating on Alphabet with a target price of $185. * An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Equal-Weight rating on Alphabet, maintaining a target price of $187. * Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Keybanc continues to hold a Overweight rating for Alphabet, targeting a price of $215. * An analyst from B of A Securities has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Alphabet, which currently sits at a price target of $210. * Reflecting concerns, an analyst from BMO Capital lowers its rating to Outperform with a new price target of $217. Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely. If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Alphabet, Benzinga Pro gives you real-time options trades alerts. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBA) (the “Fund”) today announced that Thomas J. Herzfeld, Chairman of the Board of Directors has resigned from the Board as of December 31, 2024. Mr. Herzfeld has also resigned as Portfolio Manager for the Fund effective as of the same date. Mr. Herzfeld has held the position of Chairman since the Fund’s launch in 1994. He will retain the position of Chairman Emeritus and participate in board meetings on a non-voting basis. The Board has elected Cecilia Gondor to serve as Chairperson effective December 31, 2024. Ms. Gondor has served on the Board of Directors since 2014. She also served as Executive Vice President of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (the Fund’s investment manager) from 1984 through May 2014. During her years at the investment manager, her research analysis garnered her the reputation as being one of the most knowledgeable analysts in the industry. Additionally, she was the Executive Vice President of Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Inc., a broker-dealer, from 1984 through 2010. Ms. Gondor currently is an owner and the Managing Member of L&M Management LLC group of partnerships, a residential and commercial office space investor located in Alexandria, Virginia. In addition, the Board has named Brigitta Herzfeld to fill the board vacancy created by Mr. Herzfeld’s resignation. Ms. Herzfeld is a current member of the investment manager’s executive committee and will join the Board as of December 31, 2024. She is a graduate of Bowdoin College (BA), Stanford University (MA) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT Sloan School of Management (MBA) and Wharton-Singapore Management University (Executive Management Program). She has held positions at Goldman, Sachs & Co and Lehman Brothers Japan, Inc. Mr. Herzfeld commented: “It has been my privilege and honor to serve on the Board of Directors of The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund for its entire history. As I approach my 80 th birthday, it is with much pride that I turn the leadership of the Fund over to a new generation. Cecilia Gondor has been a consistent source of expert guidance for the Fund for many years and is a great choice to take over the chair position. And Brigitta Herzfeld’s financial background and long history with our firm will be an invaluable source of expertise for the board. While I will remain active with the management company, it is clear that the time has come for me to step down from active leadership of the Fund. As Chairman Emeritus I will be working harder than ever to ensure that we maximize shareholder value; we are currently exploring several options that we think will be beneficial to our shareholders.” Mr. Herzfeld has had a long and illustrious career and is generally considered to be “the father of closed-end fund investing”. Mr. Herzfeld wrote the first of his six books on the subject of closed-end funds in 1979. He is the publisher of The Investor's Guide to Closed-End Funds monthly research report and is quoted and interviewed on the subject of closed-end funds by the world’s most renowned financial papers. He has served as a contributing editor for the Global Guide to Investing (published by Financial Times ), and The Encyclopedia of Investments . Ms. Gondor responded to her election to Chairperson: “To follow in the footsteps of Tom Herzfeld is a very humbling experience. He has been a mentor to me and many others in the closed-end fund industry. I look forward to working with Brigitta Herzfeld and the other board members to continue the work that Tom started 30 years ago and am honored to contribute to the legacy he has built in any way that I can.” A graduate of Philadelphia University in 1966, Mr. Herzfeld served in the United States Army Reserve from 1966-1972, and on active duty in 1967. He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) from Philadelphia University in 2008. He joined the Wall Street firm Reynolds & Co., in 1968 and began a specialization in closed-end funds. He formed the NYSE member firm of Carlino, Herzfeld and Kemm in 1970 and served as the firm's Senior Partner at the age of 25. He also became an Allied Member of the NYSE, an Associate Member of the AMEX and a senior register options principal. In 1981, he formed a stock brokerage firm, Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Inc., that was the first to specialize in the field of closed-end funds. He created the industry's first and only Closed-End Fund Index, "The Herzfeld Average," which has been published in Barron’s weekly since its establishment in 1987. He also coined the term “lifeboat provisions” used in the industry to define tactics funds take to narrow discounts and keep prices afloat. About Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc., founded in 1984, is an SEC registered investment advisor, specializing in investment analysis and account management in closed-end funds. The Firm also specializes in investment in the Caribbean Basin. The HERZFELD/CUBA division of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. serves as the investment advisor to The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. a publicly traded closed-end fund (NASDAQ: CUBA). More information about the advisor can be found at www.herzfeld.com . Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing. Forward-Looking Statements This press release, and other statements that TJHA or the Fund may make, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the Fund’s or TJHA’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. TJHA and the Fund caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and TJHA and the Fund assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Fund, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, particularly with respect to Cuba and other Caribbean Basin countries, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Fund or in the Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of the Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to the Fund or TJHA, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or TJHA or the Fund; (9) TJHA’s and the Fund’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of TJHA electing to provide support to its products from time to time; (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions; and (12) the effects of an epidemic, pandemic or public health emergency, including without limitation, COVID-19. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on TJHA’s website at www.herzfeld.com/cuba, and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on TJHA’s website is not a part of this press release. Contact: Tom Morgan Chief Compliance Officer Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. 1-305-777-1660

MAA Announces Regular Quarterly Preferred Dividend

Advertisement A new study found that postpartum depression rates doubled over the past decade. Mothers interviewed by Business Insider shared a range of symptoms, including anxiety and OCD. Researchers say early intervention is key, but some are scared to share their symptoms. When Bri Ramos was pregnant with her second child, she was already worried about the symptoms she experienced with her first. The lack of motivation or excitement. The severe anxiety that, up until having her first child, she never dealt with before. Then, she started having panic attacks in her second pregnancy. Advertisement "I was like, 'Oh, here it goes again,'" Ramos, 36, told Business Insider. Her doctor saw Ramos "walking right into some bad postpartum" and took a proactive approach: prescribing Ramos Zoloft shortly after she gave birth. Ramos is one of the many mothers diagnosed with postpartum depression . A new study from JAMA found that postpartum depression diagnoses have doubled in the last decade. Dr. Nehaa Khadka, a maternal and child health epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente Southern California and lead researcher on the study, told Business Insider her team was surprised by how high the rise was. Advertisement While it could be partly due to increased awareness and screening, there seems to be more at play. Rates of depression and loneliness are on the rise, and were turbocharged during the pandemic. Emerging cultural pressures to return to work quickly or to be the perfect parent can play a role too, therapists say. Behind the research, many mothers with PPD say they still feel misunderstood, left in the dark, and lacking resources. Advertisement Working mothers are forced to slow down Ramos, the founder and creative director of an ad agency, said one of the hardest postpartum adjustments for her was accepting a "new season" of her life. Related stories "So many women go through an identity crisis because it's like, 'I've been this high-achieving career woman, and now I am at home for the next six or 12 months taking care of a child,'" she said. She had to take time to figure out who she was as a mother, separate from her usual work routine. Not every working mom has the ability to take time off and transition into motherhood. There is no national paid maternity leave in the US; full-time working moms have to rely on their employers' individual policies. This puts mothers in a precarious position: if they can't take more time off to recover, their depressive symptoms can impact their productivity , putting their jobs on the line. Advertisement When Stephanie Fornaro had her second child at 33, she had "just an overwhelming feeling of doom and sadness." She also felt resentment toward her husband when he went to work, leaving her fully in charge of their son. Because her symptoms were physically debilitating, she quit her software sales job for two years. Not working contributed to her depression, too. "When you're accustomed to a demanding job and 'performing' and then you go to a slower pace, and solitude, it's a major adjustment that I think many underestimate," Fornaro, 39, said. Advertisement Plowing ahead , potentially ignoring postpartum depression symptoms, can lead to quicker burnout — and leaving a career entirely. Justine Sterling Converse runs a women-owned event strategy and management company in Texas. She remembers many of her close friends in the industry jumping back into full-time work after taking three months of maternity leave. They all quit shortly after , unable to balance motherhood with working long hours and weekends. Once she started having children of her own, Converse realized how hard it was to return to full-time work so soon. "12 weeks is just when you're starting to have a routine with your baby," Converse, 40, and a mother of four, told BI. Advertisement It was harder with postpartum symptoms. Converse was diagnosed with postpartum OCD , something she hadn't heard of before. In her office of 10 full-time workers, she said about 75% of them have experienced postpartum depression, anxiety, or OCD. It's partly why her company policy includes 16 weeks of maternity leave and a 50% "transition" month for mothers to ease back into working full-time. Converse, who recently gave birth, is in a transition month herself and said it's been a huge help. "I willed myself to not go through postpartum again," Converse said. "And I still did." Advertisement Postpartum depression can be hard to identify Symptoms of postpartum depression range from intense mood swings to thoughts of harming your baby. While it's common to feel "baby blues" when you first give birth, PPD is much more severe and can last for weeks or months. Still, it's one thing to know about postpartum depression. It's another thing to identify it in yourself when you experience new symptoms. "As a new mom, you're in survival mode," Fornaro said. She knew something was off, but didn't have the space and time to take stock of it all and see it for what it was. "Now, I can reflect and go, 'Wow, I really was struggling.'" Advertisement Fear of judgment has kept some new parents from reporting their PPD, said Dr. Clayton Shuman, who led a 2022 study on how the pandemic influenced a rise in postpartum depression rates. He said patients might hold back on sharing their symptoms like being unable to bond with their baby, "to avoid the stigma and guilt." Ramos believes more openness around the subject is helping. Out of her tight-knit friend group, four out of five women have had kids. All of them have had postpartum depression or anxiety, and openly discuss their symptoms. While Ramos experienced a lack of joy, a friend had intrusive thoughts about her newborn's health. Advertisement In contrast, when Ramos' older sisters experienced PPD nearly two decades ago, one of them "just sat in her closet and cried." She thought her depressive symptoms were normal and, at the time, told no one. In other countries, maternity leave is different Postpartum symptoms can last for years , much longer than the three to four months of maternity leave many US full-time employees get. In contrast, European countries like Greece and Iceland offer 26 weeks of leave or more. Some, like North Macedonia, allow parents to take additional leave if they need to, without fearing for their job security. Advertisement For American mothers without as many federal safety nets, extra help makes all the difference. Fornaro's husband worried about her postpartum depression and offered to pay for a nanny, which she initially refused. "It took a lot of convincing and setting aside my pride," she said. Looking back, she said hiring extra help was the "best decision" for her family. Her nanny not only made every day more manageable, she offered crucial emotional support and helped Fornaro bounce back. In Ramos' experience, even the smallest interventions can radically change postpartum symptoms. She said she is grateful her doctor was so quick to diagnose her and prescribe medication; it made for a much smoother experience with her second child. Advertisement "I'm just so thankful that I got to enjoy him being a baby and having fun with him," she said, remembering how overwhelmed she was when she had her daughter four years earlier. "I was just in a completely different state of mind."

AU President Jonathan Alger and Mr. Astin will celebrate the Class of 2024 on Dec. 15 WASHINGTON , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American University is proud to present Sean Astin --fondly known to many as Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Rudy Ruettiger in the sports classic Rudy, and Bob Newby in the Netflix's hit series Stranger Things--as the keynote speaker for fall commencement. Astin is also a recent graduate of the School of Public Affairs, earning his master's degree in public administration and policy. During the ceremonies, Astin will be awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. Though many are familiar with his onscreen work, Astin is also known for his stewardship and leadership with his union, SAG-AFTRA. Serving on the National and Los Angeles Local Boards as well as on many committees, such as the Executive, Strike Preparedness, Government Affairs and Public Policy, and Government Rules. Astin served on the 2023 TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee, which oversaw the historic 118-day summer strike, —one of the longest labor outages in Hollywood history, which resulted in $1 billion in gains for SAG-AFTRA and new protections around AI technology. The native Angeleno also served under six cabinet secretaries in two presidential administrations as a civilian aide to the Secretary of the Army. Astin was appointed to serve as a nonpartisan on the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. "Through his longtime career as an actor, his civic engagement, and his work as a mental health advocate, Sean Astin exemplifies what it means to be a lifelong learner and community-builder, which are both important parts of what we do and who we are at American University ," said AU President Jonathan Alger . "And, as an Eagle himself, Sean will inspire our graduates with his journey and his continued quest to build change in our world." Astin regularly speaks to universities, corporations, and nonprofit organizations on various subjects, including leadership, acting, and with a special emphasis on mental health. His dedication to advancing the conversation around mental health continues the legacy of the late Patty Duke , who was a champion for those who are impacted. "I have always had a passion for public policy and administration. Completing my degree at American University this year is the realization of a lifelong dream. At this moment in the history of our country, nothing is more important than affirming the value of the skill, talent, and dedication of our civil servants," Astin said. "Starting during COVID, the American University online program was an incredible guide. From the curriculum to my cohort, my academic journey was rigorous and fulfilling. I am thrilled at the opportunity to be delivering this year's commencement address. I believe that my mission is to offer praise and appreciation for everyone's accomplishments and to share some thoughts on our path forward." Sean Astin and President Alger will celebrate approximately 1,475 graduates, who will receive their degrees from all eight of AU's schools during ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in Bender Arena on the AU campus. Students will also hear from fellow graduates at each of the ceremonies: This is American University's 148 th commencement. Sean Astin joins other notable American University fall commencement speakers such as Abby Phillip , CNN senior political correspondent and anchor of NewsNight , Andrea Mitchell , host of MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports , and recently Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy . ABOUT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY : American University leverages the power and purpose of scholarship, learning, and community to impact our changing world. AU's faculty, students, staff, and alumni are changemakers who shape the future from sustainability to social justice to the sciences. Building on our 130-year history of education and research in the public interest, we say "Challenge Accepted " to addressing the world's pressing issues. Our Change Can't Wait comprehensive campaign creates transformative educational opportunities, advances research with impact, and builds stronger communities. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-university-to-welcome-recent-graduate-sean-astin-spampap-24-as-commencement-speaker-for-fall-commencement-302320024.html SOURCE American UniversityTrump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump says he can’t guarantee his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. And he's suggesting once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect made the comments in a wide-ranging interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday. He also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere. Trump often mixed declarative statements with caveats, at one point cautioning “things do change.” Europe's economy needs help. Political chaos in France and Germany means it may be slower in coming BRUSSELS (AP) — Europe's economy has enough difficulties, from tepid growth to trade tensions with the U.S. Dealing with those woes is only getting harder due to the political chaos in the two biggest European countries, France and Germany. Neither has a government backed by a functioning majority, and France could take a while yet to sort things out. But some problems aren't going to wait, such as what to do about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's America First stance on trade and how to fund stronger defense against Putin's Russia. ‘Moana 2’ cruises to another record weekend and $600 million globally “Moana 2” remains at the top of the box office in its second weekend in theaters as it pulled in another record haul. According to studio estimates Sunday, the animated Disney film added $52 million, bringing its domestic total to $300 million. That surpasses the take for the original “Moana” and brings the sequel's global tally to a staggering $600 million. It also puts the film in this year's top five at the box office. “Wicked” came in second place for the weekend with $34.9 million and “Gladiator II” was third with $12.5 million. The 10th anniversary re-release of Christopher Nolan's “Interstellar” also earned an impressive $4.4 million even though it played in only 165 theaters. Federal appeals court upholds law requiring sale or ban of TikTok in the US A federal appeals court panel on Friday unanimously upheld a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok as soon as next month, handing a resounding defeat to the popular social media platform as it fights for its survival in the U.S. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the law - which requires TikTok to break ties with its China-based parent company ByteDance or be banned by mid-January — is constitutional, rebuffing TikTok’s challenge that the statute ran afoul of the First Amendment and unfairly targeted the platform. TikTok and ByteDance — another plaintiff in the lawsuit — are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. Executive of Tyler Perry Studios dies when plane he was piloting crashes in Florida ATLANTA (AP) — The president of Atlanta-based Tyler Perry Studios has died when the small plane he was piloting crashed on Florida’s Gulf Coast. The studio confirmed on Saturday that Steve Mensch, its 62-year-old president and general manager, had died Friday. The crash happened in Homosassa, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Photos from the scene show the plane having come to rest upside down on a road. Mensch helped advocate for Georgia’s film tax credit of more than $1 billion a year. Perry hired Mensch to run his namesake studio in 2016. Mensch died as Perry released his war drama, “The Six Triple Eight." The film was shot at the Atlanta studio. US added a strong 227,000 jobs in November in bounce-back from October slowdown WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s job market rebounded in November, adding 227,000 workers in a solid recovery from the previous month, when the effects of strikes and hurricanes had sharply diminished employers’ payrolls. Last month’s hiring growth was up considerably from a meager gain of 36,000 jobs in October. The government also revised up its estimate of job growth in September and October by a combined 56,000. Friday’s report also showed that the unemployment rate ticked up from 4.1% in October to a still-low 4.2%. The November data provided the latest evidence that the U.S. job market remains durable even though it has lost significant momentum from the 2021-2023 hiring boom, when the economy was rebounding from the pandemic recession. Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs report NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation. The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.8% to set its own record. Treasury yields eased after the jobs report showed stronger hiring than expected but also an uptick in the unemployment rate. Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO spotlights complex challenge companies face in protecting top brass NEW YORK (AP) — In an era when online anger and social tensions are increasingly directed at the businesses consumers count on, Meta last year spent $24.4 million to surround CEO Mark Zuckerberg with security. But the fatal shooting this week of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. And experts say the task of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them is getting more difficult. One of the primary worries are loners whose rantings online are fed by others who are like-minded. It’s up to corporate security analysts to decide what represents a real threat. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. USDA orders nationwide testing of milk for bird flu to halt the virus The U.S. government has ordered testing of the nation’s milk supply for bird flu to better monitor the spread of the virus in dairy cows. The Agriculture Department on Friday said raw or unpasteurized milk from dairy farms and processors nationwide must be tested on request starting Dec. 16. Testing will begin in six states — California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The move is aimed at eliminating the virus, which has infected more than 700 dairy herds in 15 states.

Daily Post Nigeria Aviation regulatory agencies visit Ogun, certify Gateway Airport for commercial operations Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Aviation regulatory agencies visit Ogun, certify Gateway Airport for commercial operations Published on December 12, 2024 By Daily Post Staff A cross-section of regulatory agencies in the aviation industry visited the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport located along the Ilisan-Iperu axis of Ogun State on Tuesday, commending the quality of facilities put in place as well as its level of completion and thereby certifying it for commercial operations. The agencies, which comprised the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), and Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), unanimously adjudged the airport as world-standard and a source of pride for Ogun State. According to the agencies, the critical infrastructure at the airport, which includes the Control Tower, Weather Monitoring Areas, Runway, Fire Service Stations, and the Apron, can rival any of its type around the world and remain one of the best in the West African corridor. Speaking during the visit, the Director of Aerodrome and Airspace Standards of NCAA, represented by Ango Mohammed, noted a significant improvement in the state of the facilities at the airport since his last visit, which is now at the level of any other towers in every standard airport around the globe. Mohammed said the quality of work carried out at the airport by the Ogun State Government should elicit accolades from all, and he expressed the delight of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority over the project. Also speaking, the representative of the Managing Director of NAMA, Tayo John, noted that the purpose of their visit to the airport was to inspect the facilities on-site to ascertain whether they are in strict compliance with the requirements for the provision of air traffic services and safety. Meanwhile, the Senior Project Manager of Craneburg, the construction company handling the project, Nicolas Mfarrej, said the airport is about 98% ready to take off fully and begin to serve the interests of the state. In the same vein, the Consultant on regulatory matters to the Ogun State Governor, Engineer Oluwole Adeyileka, explained that the key players in the regulation and monitoring of facilities for full airport operations had come to assess the level of readiness of the state, adding that it was noteworthy that they had been impressed by what the state had put in place at the airport. In their separate remarks, the Manager of Gateway International Airport, Captain Dapo Olumide, and the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engineer Ade Akinsanya, said the ongoing assessment is the last hurdle to be crossed before the airport could go on full commercial operations, adding that the assessment given had shown that the state is set to take the lead in air traffic services in the country, describing it as a good outcome of great commitment and dedication to the realization of the dream of an airport that can meet world standards. Related Topics: Gateway Airport ogun Don't Miss BSUTH to partner with pharmaceutical companies for sustainable drug supplies You may like Many journalists in Ogun hypertensive but not aware – Medical expert Ogun gets new Commissioner of Police Ogun govt distributes relief items to flood, fire victims Ogun govt rewards outstanding athletes at National Youth Games Ogun Govt to establish cocoa enclave in 3 senatorial districts Abiodun woos JBS, says Ogun ready to partner Brazilian livestock giant Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdAccording to an unnamed Kremlin source cited by the Russian news agency Interfax, Assad and his family have arrived in Moscow. The source stated: "President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them (him and his family) asylum on humanitarian grounds." New Delhi: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family have been granted asylum in Russia, according to reports from Russian news agencies on Sunday. The development comes after Islamic rebels advanced into the capital, forcing Assad to flee Syria. The Russian news agency Interfax, citing an unnamed Kremlin source, confirmed that Assad and his family arrived in Moscow. The source stated: “President Assad of Syria has arrived in Moscow. Russia has granted them (him and his family) asylum on humanitarian grounds.” Assad’s era ends Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had left Syria following discussions with rebel factions and had issued instructions for a peaceful transfer of power. This marks the end of Assad’s 24-year leadership and his family’s over 50-year rule in the country. In the same statement, Assad expressed his willingness to allow a peaceful transition of authority to the opposition. Also, the Russian Ministry’s post on Telegram had not specified Assad’s location at time and said that Russia had not been involved in the negotiations regarding his departure. The statement also expressed deep concern over the unfolding situation in Syria. “The result of talks between Assad and several factions engaged in the Syrian conflict was his decision to step down from the presidency and leave the country, while ensuring a peaceful transition of power,” the ministry said. Russia urges calm in Syria Moscow expressed grave concern over the events in Syria and called for all parties to avoid violence. “We urge all sides to refrain from using force and to address governance issues through peaceful political solutions,” the statement continued. “In this regard, the Russian Federation maintains communication with various Syrian opposition groups.” The ministry also mentioned that Russian forces in Syria have been placed on high alert. However, as of Sunday afternoon, there was “no significant threat” to the security of Russia’s military bases in the region. Russia’s enduring presence in Syria Since September 2015, Russia has been conducting a military operation in Syria, working alongside Iran to support Assad’s regime in its battle against armed opposition groups and to regain control of most of the country. While Russia has shifted much of its military focus to Ukraine, it continues to maintain a strategic presence in Syria, keeping troops stationed at its bases there. Click for more latest World news . Also get top headlines and latest news from India and around the world at News9. Prabhakar Jha is currently working as Chief Copy Editor at News9 Digital. He has over eight years of experience in this field. He has a keen interest in politics and world affairs. Latest News

Addison O'Grady scores 12 points and No. 24 Iowa women topple Purdue 84-63

No. 8 Maryland women’s basketball beats No. 19 Michigan State, 72-66The propaganda campaigns started even before rivalry weekend began. Then, after Miami lost its grip on a College Football Playoff spot , so many coaches, players and pundits crammed into the spin room that surely some fire code is being broken. We wouldn’t be having this debate if enough teams built their case on the field, but we knew playoff expansion risked watering down the bracket, so we’re left with a handful of teams with flawed résumés arguing for the final spot in a 12-team playoff. No coach works the spin room more vociferously than Mississippi’s Lane Kiffin . He turned his social media feed into a running pitch for his 9-3 Rebels, and he fired a direct shot at South Carolina, another 9-3 team under consideration. “It wasn’t even close,” Kiffin said Sunday, in reference to his team’s 27-3 win on Oct. 5 at South Carolina. "We could still be playing the game, (and) they still might not have scored a touchdown.” Direct hit from the spin room! OK, but what of Alabama, another 9-3 SEC team? The committee ranked Alabama ahead of Ole Miss last week. Both teams won rivalry games against bad opponents by two touchdowns last weekend. That suggests Alabama, at least, blocks Ole Miss’ path, but should it? Let’s unpack this. BOWL PROJECTIONS: Alabama back into the playoff as Texas, SMU move up RE-RANK: Texas moves up, Ohio State tumbles in NCAA 1-134 ranking Bubble watch: Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Miami Four teams populate the debate for the final playoff spot: Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Miami. A fifth team, SMU, would join the mix if Clemson beats the Mustangs in the ACC championship. For the sake of this exercise, assume the Mustangs wins the ACC and eliminates the Tigers. CFP bracket debate depends on what committee values most How you rank this quartet of bubble teams depends on how you value playoff credentials: Fewest losses earns the bid? If you favor the loss-counting contest, then Miami qualifies over three-loss SEC teams, but here’s where I struggle with the Hurricanes : Miami’s résumé ranks worse than that of Brigham Young, another two-loss that placed third in the Big 12. The committee consistently undervalued BYU, to the point that the Cougars aren’t in the playoff conversation. This despite BYU beating the ACC’s best team, SMU, on the road and owning a better strength of schedule than Miami. In the fewest-loss metric, BYU should earn the bid , but the committee shows no interest in that. Team with best wins earns the bid? Alabama owns the best collection of victories, counting pelts against three ranked teams – Georgia, South Carolina and Missouri – plus a trouncing of LSU in Tiger Stadium. Ole Miss also beat Georgia and blew out South Carolina. It lacks a third signature triumph. South Carolina headlines its résumé with wins against Clemson, Missouri and Texas A&M. Miami lags behind in this category, with best wins against Duke, Louisville and Florida. In the best collection of wins metric, Alabama should earn the bid . Reward the hot hand? This becomes South Carolina’s best argument. The Gamecocks won their last six games behind a stiff defense and an improving freshman quarterback, LaNorris Sellers. Miami lost two of its last three. (Can we just eliminate Miami already? Consider it done.) Ole Miss lost on Nov. 23 at Florida, the same day Alabama got blown out at Oklahoma. Nobody in this mix outplayed South Carolina in the second half of the season. In this metric, South Carolina should earn the bid . Value head-to-head results? Here’s where Kiffin shouts, “Scoreboard!” and where I struggle with the Gamecocks. Alabama beat South Carolina 27-25 on Oct. 12 in Tuscaloosa. Alabama used a fourth-quarter rally to win a game that wasn’t decided until the final play. That close result shouldn’t cripple the Gamecocks, but consider what occurred a week earlier, when Ole Miss stormed into South Carolina’s stadium and flat whipped the Gamecocks. Selecting South Carolina over a team from the same conference with an equal record that disemboweled the Gamecocks would diminish the idea that head-to-head results matter. And the committee says they do matter. Head-to-head results are one of the few measures stated explicitly among the CFP’s selection criteria . In a strict evaluation of head-to-head results, Ole Miss should earn the bid . Who has the ‘best’ losses? South Carolina’s three losses came against opponents who are either 8-4 or 9-3. Not bad, right? Well, two of those losses occurred at home. Alabama’s three losses all occurred on the road, but that includes a brutal 24-3 faceplant just two weeks ago to Oklahoma, a team that beat only one other SEC opponent. Alabama also lost to Vanderbilt. Ole Miss lost three games by a total of 13 points. However, its home loss in September to Kentucky (now 4-8) aged like milk left on a pool deck. I struggle to declare a “winner” in this category . Ole Miss lost to the worst team. Alabama lost to two 6-6 teams. South Carolina lost twice at home. How about the eye test? The committee says its duty is to select the best teams, with the caveat that five bids must go to conference champions. If there some straightforward could determine the best teams, we wouldn’t need a committee. Different sets of eyeballs value different teams. My eyes tell me that when each of these bubble teams fires its best fastball, Ole Miss slings the most heat, with a reliable defense and a (usually) competent offense. The Rebels dominated Georgia and smashed South Carolina. No other bubble team looked that good against such a caliber of opponent. By this metric, Ole Miss should earn the bid . Final verdict Unless the committee gets drunk on hurricanes, Miami has no case. If the committee values a two-loss team for the final spot, then pick BYU. That’s not happening, though. In the debate between Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina, each touts an argument, but holes mangle every résumé. Each team failed to earn its way on the field and that leaves them trying to talk their way in through the spin room's back door. Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer . The "Topp Rope" is his football column published throughout the USA TODAY Networ k. Subscribe to read all of his column s.

Ukraine is slowly losing the three-year conflict on the battlefield. Russia is slowly losing the economic conflict at a roughly equal pace. The Kremlin’s oil export revenues are too low to sustain a high-intensity war and nobody will lend Vladimir Putin a kopeck. Russia’s overheated, military-Keynesian war economy looks much like the dysfunctional German war economy of late 1917, which had run out of skilled manpower and was holed below the waterline after three years of Allied blockade – as the logistical failures of the Ludendorff offensive would later reveal. Vladimir Putin’s war has crippled Russia’s economy. Credit: AP Photos Putin’s strategic victory in Ukraine was far from inevitable a fortnight ago and it is less inevitable now after the Assad regime collapsed like a house of cards , shattering Putin’s credibility in the Middle East and the Sahel. He could do nothing to save his sole state ally in the Arab world. “The limits of Russian military power have been revealed,” said Tim Ash, a regional expert at Bluebay Asset Management and a Chatham House fellow. Turkey is now master of the region. Turkish forces had to step in to rescue stranded Russian generals. Even if Putin succeeds in holding on to his naval base at Tartus – a big if – this concession will be on Ottoman terms and sufferance. “Putin now goes into Ukraine peace talks from a position of weakness,” said Mr Ash. Loading When Trump won the US elections in 2016, corks of Golubitskoe Villa Romanov popped at the Kremlin. There were no illusions this time. Anton Barbashin from Riddle Russia says Donald Trump imposed 40 rounds of sanctions on Russia, belying his bonhomie with Putin before the cameras. He has since warned that Putin will not get all of the four annexed (but unconquered) oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia. The Kremlin had banked on a contested election outcome in the US, followed by months of disarray that would discredit US democracy across the world. The polite interregnum has been a cruel disappointment. Barbashin says Russia’s leaders expect Trump to issue ultimatums to both Kyiv and Moscow: if Volodymyr Zelensky balks at peace terms, the US will sever all military aid; if Putin drags his feet, the US will up the military ante and carpet-bomb the Russian economy. That economy held up well for two years but this third year has become harder. The central bank has raised interest rates to 21 per cent to choke off an inflation spiral. “The economy cannot exist like this for long. It’s a colossal challenge for business and banks,” said German Gref, Sberbank’s chief executive. Sergei Chemezov, head of the defence giant Rostec, said the monetary squeeze was becoming dangerous. “If we continue like this, most companies will essentially go bankrupt. At rates of more than 20 per cent, I don’t know of a single business that can make a profit, not even an arms trader,” he said. If the Saudis again decide to flood the world with cheap crude to recoup market share – as many predict – oil will fall below $US40 and Russia will spin out of economic control. Credit: AP The resurrection of the Soviet military industrial complex – to borrow a term from Pierre-Marie Meunier, the French intelligence analyst – is cannibalising the rest of the economy. Some 800,000 of the young and best-educated have left the country. The numbers slaughtered or maimed in the meat grinder are approaching half a million. Russia’s digital minister says the shortage of IT workers is around 600,000. The defence industry has 400,000 unfilled positions. The total labour shortage is near 5 million. Anatoly Kovalev, head of Zelenograd Nanotechnology Centre, said his industry was crippled by lack of equipment and could not replace foreign supplies. “There is a shortage of qualified specialists: engineers, technologists, developers, designers. There are practically no colleges and technical schools that train personnel for the industry,” he said. Loading Total export earnings from all fossil fuels were running at about $US1.2 billion ($1.9 billion) a day in mid-2022. They have fallen for the last 10 months consecutively and are now barely $US600 million. The Kremlin takes a slice of this for the budget but it is far too little to fund a war machine gobbling up a 10th of GDP in one way or another. Oil tax revenues slumped to $US5.8 billion in November, based on a Urals price averaging near $US65 a barrel. That price could fall a lot further. Russia is facing an incipient price war with Saudi Arabia in Asian markets. Putin is raiding the National Wealth Fund to cover the shortfall. Its liquid assets have fallen to a 16-year low of $US54 billion. Its gold reserves have dropped from 554 to 279 tonnes over the last 15 months. The fund is left with illiquid holdings that cannot be crystallised, such as an equity stake in Aeroflot. The long-awaited rally in oil prices keeps refusing to happen. JP Morgan said excess global supply next year would reach 1.3 million barrels a day due to rising output from Brazil, Guyana, and US shale. Rosneft’s Igor Sechin has told his old KGB friend Putin to brace for $US45-$US50 next year. Adjusted for inflation, that matches levels that bankrupted the Soviet Union in the 1980s. The purpose of the G7’s convoluted oil sanctions was – until a month ago – to eat into Putin’s revenue without curtailing global oil supply and worsening the cost of living shock in the West. This has been a partial success. Russia had to assemble a shadow fleet of tankers and ship oil from Baltic and Black Sea ports to buyers in India and China, who pressed a hard bargain. The International Energy Agency estimates that the discount on Urals crude has averaged $US15 over 2023 to 2024, depriving Putin of $US75 million a day in export revenues. ‘The economy cannot exist like this for long. It’s a colossal challenge for business and banks.’ German Gref, Sberbank’s chief executive Russia can get around technology sanctions but its systems are configured to Western semiconductors. These chips cannot easily be replaced by Chinese suppliers, even if they were willing to risk US secondary sanctions, which most are not. The chips are bought at a stiff premium on the global black market and are unreliable. Ukrainian troops have noticed that Russian Geran-2 drones keep spinning out of control. The Washington Post reports that laser-guided devices on Russia’s T-90M tanks have “mysteriously disappeared”, greatly reducing capability. The industry ministry has been trying to develop analogues to replace chips from Texas Instruments, Aeroflex and Cypress but admitted in October that all three tenders had failed. Alexey Novoselov from the circuits company Milandr said Russia could not obtain the insulator technologies needed to make chips of 90 nanometers or below. It is the dark ages. Loading The US tightened the noose three weeks ago, imposing sanctions on Gazprombank and over 50 Russian banks linked to global transactions. This has greatly complicated Russia’s ability to trade energy and buy technology on the black market. It briefly crashed the rouble, now hovering at around 100 to the dollar. Chinese banks have stopped accepting Russian UnionPay cards. The Chinese press says exporters have pulled back from Russian e-commerce sites such as Yandez or Wildberries because payment fees through third-parties no longer cover thin profit margins. Some have been unable to extract their money from Russia and are facing large losses. Few foresaw the sudden and total collapse of the Soviet regime, though all the signs of economic decay and imperial overreach were there to see by 1989. Putin’s regime is not yet at this point but it would only take one more change in the Middle East to bring matters to a head. If the Saudis again decide to flood the world with cheap crude to recoup market share – as many predict – oil will fall below $US40 and Russia will spin out of economic control. The Ukraine war may end in Riyadh. Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. 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B.C.'s best high school ballers compete at Langley hoops tourneyForthright and fearless, the Nobel Prize winner took pot-shots at former prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush among others. His death came after repeated bouts of illness in which images of the increasingly frail former president failed to erase memories of his fierce spirit. Democrat James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr swept to power in 1977 with his Trust Me campaign helping to beat Republican president Gerald Ford. Serving as 39th US president from 1977 to 1981, he sought to make government “competent and compassionate” but was ousted by the unstoppable Hollywood appeal of a certain Ronald Reagan. A skilled sportsman, Mr Carter left his home of Plains, Georgia, to join the US Navy, returning later to run his family’s peanut business. A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me.”

Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general WASHINGTON (AP) — Matt Gaetz is not coming back to Congress. The Florida Republican said Friday he has no intention of serving another term in the House now that he is no longer President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general. Gaetz withdrew as the nominee this week amid growing fallout from the allegations of sexual conduct against him. Gaetz denies the allegations. Gaetz didn't lay out his plans now that he's out of office, saying only, “I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch." After Gaetz's withdrawal on Thursday, Trump named former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department. Vance takes on a more visible transition role as he works to boost Trump's most controversial picks WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role. He's been helping Donald Trump’s most contentious Cabinet picks try to win confirmation in the Senate, where he has served for the last two years. Vance spent part of Wednesday at the Capitol with Rep. Matt Gaetz sitting in on meetings with Trump’s controversial choice for attorney general. On Thursday, Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings over the coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad Donald Trump’s lock on the white evangelical vote is legendary, but he didn't focus exclusively on large religious voter blocs. He and his allies also wooed smaller religious groups, away from the mainstream. He posted a tribute to Coptic church members on social media and met with members of Assyrians for Trump — two smaller Christian communities with Middle Eastern roots. He visited the grave of the revered late leader of an Orthodox Jewish movement. His allies sought votes from the separatist Amish community. While Trump won decisively, the outreaches reflected aggressive campaigning in what was expected to be a tight race. NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia's attack with new hypersonic missile KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with a hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war. Ukraine's parliament canceled a session Friday over the security threat. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech Thursday that the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Putin said Russia is launching production of the Oreshnik, saying it's so powerful that several of them fitted with conventional warheads could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Texas education board approves optional Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas’ education board has voted to allow Bible-infused teachings in elementary schools. The approval Friday follows other Republican-led states that have pushed this year to give religion a larger presence in public classrooms. The curriculum adopted by the Texas State Board of Education is optional for schools to adopt, but they’ll receive additional funding if they do so. Parents and teachers who opposed the curriculum say the lessons will alienate students of other faith backgrounds. Supporters argue the Bible is a core feature of American history and that teaching it will enrich learning. 2 convicted in human smuggling case after Indian family froze to death on US-Canada border FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A jury has convicted two men of charges related to human smuggling for their roles in an international operation that led to the deaths of a family of Indian migrants who froze while trying to cross the Canada-U.S. border during a 2022 blizzard. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel and Steve Shand each faced four charges related to human smuggling before being convicted on Friday. Patel is an Indian national. Shand is an American from Florida. They were arrested after the family froze while trying to cross the desolate border during a 2022 blizzard. Storm inundates Northern California with rain, heavy snow. Thousands remain in the dark in Seattle HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — Heavy rain from a major storm prompted evacuations from communities near a Northern California river that forecasters say could break its banks Friday, as the storm keeps dumping heavy snow in the region's mountains where some ski resorts opened for the season. The storm reached the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands before moving through Northern California, where several roads were closed due to flooding and strong winds toppled some trees. Forecasters are warning about the risk of flash flooding and rockslides in areas north of San Francisco as the region was inundated by this season’s strongest atmospheric river. Archaeologists discover 4,000-year-old canals used to fish by predecessors of ancient Maya WASHINGTON (AP) — Using drones and Google Earth imagery, archaeologists have discovered a 4,000-year-old network of earthen canals in what’s now Belize. The research published Friday in Science Advances shows that long before the ancient Maya built temples, their predecessors were already altering the landscape of Central America’s Yucatan peninsula. The ancient fish canals were used to channel and catch freshwater species such as catfish. These structures were used for around 1,000 years — including during the “formative” period when the Maya began to settle in permanent farming villages and a distinctive culture started to emerge. California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health officials are confirming bird flu in a California child — the first reported case in a U.S. minor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced confirmatory test results on Friday. Officials say the child had mild symptoms, was treated with antiviral medication and is recovering. The child’s infection brings the reported number of U.S. bird flu cases this year to 55, including 29 in California. State officials have said the child lives in Alameda County, which includes Oakland, and attends day care, but released no other details. Brazilian police formally accuse former President Bolsonaro and aides of alleged 2022 coup attempt SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections. The findings are to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either formally charge Bolsonaro and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation. The former right-wing president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to his rival, leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then.

NEW YORK CITY — Travis Hunter never dreamed of winning the Heisman Trophy. But as he was less than 24 hours from potentially hoisting the iconic bronze statue in the air, it began to feel real — and it’s become his favorite moment of the year. “Being here now is like a dream come true,” Hunter said Friday at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan. Heisman Trophy finalist Travis Hunter, of Colorado, speaks during a college football media availability, Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Corey Sipkin) Hunter has said he feels destined for greatness. Part of the reason he was drawn to playing for Deion Sanders was because he views Coach Prime as the greatest cornerback of all-time and sought to be coached by someone with a gold jacket from the Pro Football Hall of Fame — Hunter's own aspiration. While Hunter’s expectations of himself have been revealed in recent years, it was not something he voiced to those around him as he became a rising star at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Ga. “He's not gonna ever boast about himself,” Collins Hill coach Drew Swick told The Denver Gazette. “He's not that kind of person. Like, in high school, it was whatever the goal was — the state championship, region championship, that's what he talked about. It was not about, ‘I'm the best player out here,’ you know what I mean? "Whatever the mission is at the time, that's what he was locked in on.” From the beginning, Hunter’s mission has been to lift his family out of their difficult situation. Swick said Hunter’s family wasn’t in a positive circumstance in West Palm Beach, Fla. When the family moved to Georgia, there were six people living in a single room in a motel that no longer exists. While Hunter has enough motivation internally, he’s also been driven to elevate his mom and siblings into a better life. “He always puts other people first before his needs and that's why he's truly successful because he celebrates other people's successes and makes them better,” Swick said. “It's just been a lot of hard work for him and I know this was one of the steps prior to getting into the NFL. I'm just very, very proud of him and I can't wait to see the (Heisman) results on Saturday. Hopefully, he ends up getting it.” Colorado receiver Travis Hunter looks on against North Dakota State during an NCAA college football game Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) If Collins Hill was where Hunter’s football stardom began, it was in Boulder where it was put into the display case for everyone to see. But Hunter never wanted to go to Colorado. For a kid who grew up in Florida and Georgia and spent his first year of college in Mississippi, the foothills of the Rocky Mountains may as well have been a different universe. He was never going to play for a college coach other than Sanders, though, so he wore a Buffs hat when announcing his transfer destination in December 2022. “I definitely did not want to stay at Colorado when I first got there,” Hunter says now with a laugh. FILE - Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) celebrates his touchdown catch during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. Over the last two years, Boulder has become home for Hunter — so much so that he doesn’t want to leave when he is drafted into the NFL by a team that is likely not the Denver Broncos. “I think Colorado’s the best state, if I’m being honest,” Hunter said. “I don’t want to move away. It’s where I think I want to build my family. I love it here. The people are very nice. I will always come back. I will always call this home because Colorado, they took me in with open arms.” CU fans needed one game to know what they had in Hunter. The season-opening win at TCU in 2023 introduced Hunter to the sports world. He's since built on his Buffs legacy. Hunter’s 2024 season will go down as one of the best in college football history. This week he collected multiple Player of the Year awards and won individual awards on both offense and defense — a first in the sport. FILE - Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) flies in for a touchdown past, from left, Utah linebacker Johnathan Hall, cornerback Smith Snowden and safety Nate Ritchie during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Boulder, Colo. There’s one trophy left to win. He’s seen Rashaan Salaam’s Heisman Trophy every time he walked Legends Hall in the CU football facility. Friday, he put his eyes on the one that could be his. “Do I have to touch it?” Hunter said as he took a photo with the 2024 Heisman Trophy. He’d rather do so Saturday if it’s officially his.SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Hannah Hidalgo scored 28 points and Sonia Citron added 25 to help No. 3 Notre Dame rout Virginia 95-54 on Sunday. Olivia Miles earned her third triple-double of the season and sixth of her career with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. Miles entered the game as the NCAA’s active career assist leader, averaging 6.8 a game. Miles also notched career rebound No. 500 during the game, becoming just the third player in program history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists. The others are Lindsay Allen and Skylar Diggins. “It’s special,” Miles told reporters. “It’s even more special coming off a year where I [did not play]. It’s a testament to my rehab, the work that I put in. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do, to sit out, but I learned so much, and it’s enabled me to come and do what I do.” It was the 100th career victory for Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey, who is 100-34 in five seasons. “To see what we’ve manifested with this program is just unbelievable,” Ivey told reporters after the game. “I’m so grateful, and I’m really lucky to be the coach for this group.” Notre Dame (11-2, 2-0 ACC) hit 51% of its field-goal attempts and owned a whopping 54-31 rebounding edge. Virginia (8-6, 0-2) made only 30% of its shots and remained winless in South Bend. Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, left, celebrates a 3-point shot as Virginia forward Breona Hurd looks on during the first half of a game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame: Citron, who sat out Notre Dame’s last game against Loyola Maryland due to general soreness, also had 11 rebounds. She hit five 3-pointers. Virginia: The Cavaliers didn’t have an answer for Notre Dame’s defense in what turned out to be a 28-0 run by the Fighting Irish in the first half. The Cavaliers were 0-of-12 shooting with four turnovers during the Notre Dame spurt. Virginia guard Kymora Johnson, center, drives between Notre Dame guard Hannah Hidalgo, left, and forward Liza Karlen during the first half of a game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in South Bend, Indiana. Citron connected on a fast-break 3 with 2:49 left in the first quarter as she sparked Notre Dame’s 28-point run by scoring seven of the first 12 points of the burst. Virginia guard Paris Clark, left, and Notre Dame guard Emma Risch, right, fight for possession during the first half of a game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in South Bend, Indiana. Virginia suffered a stretch of 15 consecutive missed field goals in the first half. The Cavaliers went 11:44 without a basket. Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish continue ACC play when they travel to North Carolina next Sunday. Virginia: The Cavaliers host Wake Forest on Thursday. ACC matchup Key stretch: Virginia suffered a stretch of 15 consecutive missed field goals in the first half. The Cavaliers went 11:44 without a basket. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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The quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff kicks off on New Year's Eve as 3-seed Boise State debuts against 6-seed Penn State . The Nittany Lions reach the quarterfinals fresh off crushing 11-seed SMU 38-10 in one of the top performances of the first round. Penn State forced a pair of pick sixes in the first half to put the game away. Boise State earned a first-round bye after an impressive 12-1 season with the only loss coming against unanimous No. 1 Oregon in Week 2. The Broncos cruised through an undefeated Mountain West schedule and only played three games closer than 14 points in conference play. These two programs have never met, and now they battle on the biggest of stages in the College Football Playoff. Both programs won their most recent Fiesta Bowl appearances. In fact, the Nittany Lions and Broncos are a combined 10-0 in the Fiesta Bowl since the game started in 1971. Penn State vs. Boise State: Need to know Heisman Trophy finalist: Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is capping off one of the greatest seasons in college football history with an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Jeanty rushed for 2,497 yards and 29 touchdowns and is only 131 yards away from breaking Barry Sanders ' all-time rushing record. Penn State has only allowed more than 131 yards on the ground against Oregon and USC this season, so Jeanty will have his work cut out. Do-everything star: Penn State tight end Tyler Warren was one of the breakout players in college football during the 2024 season. Warren emerged as perhaps the best tight end in America, catching 92 passes for 1,095 yards and six touchdowns, while adding another four touchdowns on the ground. He lines up everywhere from inline to slot to center. Boise State's pass defense ranks No. 109 nationally, and they have not met a player the caliber of Warren. Fiesta Bowl history: Boise State's finest moment as a college football program came in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl in a battle against No. 7 Oklahoma . In overtime, Boise State ran a legendary hook-and-ladder play that sprung running back Ian Johnson for a game-winning 2-point conversion. However, Penn State has also put together some historic Fiesta Bowl performances, including a 14-10 win over Miami in 1987 to capture the 1986 AP national championship. Where to watch Fiesta Bowl live Date : Tuesday, Dec. 31 | Time : 7:30 p.m. ET Location : State Farm Stadium -- Glendale, Arizona TV : ESPN | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free) Fiesta Bowl prediction, picks Penn State was able to take advantage of miscues from SMU, but the Broncos rarely make mistakes. In fact, Boise State is tied for No. 2 nationally in turnovers lost with only four fumbles and four interceptions. Even the steady Nittany Lions had 13 turnovers. Ultimately, it means the game will stay closer than expected for four quarters. Pick: Boise State +11 SportsLine's proven computer model is calling for 10 outright upsets during college football's bowl and playoff season. Visit SportsLine now to see them all, plus get spread picks for every game from the model that simulates every matchup 10,000 times.

Texas' abortion pill lawsuit against New York doctor marks new challenge to interstate telemedicine Texas has sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. It appears to be the first challenge in the U.S. to a state shield law that's intended to protect prescribers in Democratic-controlled states from being punished by states with abortion bans. Prescriptions like these, made online and over the phone, are a key reason that the number of abortions has increased across the U.S. even after state bans started taking effect. Most abortions in the U.S. involve pills rather than procedures. Anti-abortion groups are increasingly focusing on the rise of pills. Thousands of Syrians celebrate in central Damascus during first Friday prayers since Assad's fall DAMASCUS (AP) — Thousands of Syrians have celebrated in Umayyad Square, the largest in Damascus, after the first Muslim Friday prayers following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. The leader of the insurgency that toppled Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa, appeared in a video message in which he congratulated “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the Turkish capital of Ankara that there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria. The top U.S. diplomat also called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian" interim government. US military flies American released from Syrian prison to Jordan, officials say WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has brought an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to two U.S. officials, who said Friday that Travis Timmerman has been flown to Jordan on a U.S. military helicopter. The 29-year-old Timmerman told The Associated Press earlier Friday he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA's idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it 'absurd' NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers are again urging a judge to throw out his hush money conviction. In a court filing Friday, they balked at the prosecution’s “absurd” idea for preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies before sentencing. The Manhattan district attorney’s office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. OpenAI's legal battle with Elon Musk reveals internal turmoil over avoiding AI 'dictatorship' A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and best avoid an artificial intelligence ‘dictatorship’ is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing conversion into a for-profit company. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year. Musk has since escalated the dispute, adding new claims and asking for a court order that would stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. OpenAI is filing its response Friday. Paula Abdul settles lawsuit alleging sexual assault by 'American Idol' producer Nigel Lythgoe LOS ANGELES (AP) — Paula Abdul and former “American Idol” producer Nigel Lythgoe have agreed to settle a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually assaulted her in the early 2000s when she was a judge on the show. Abdul filed a notice of settlement of the case in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday. The lawsuit filed nearly a year ago had also accused Lythgoe of sexually assaulting Abdul after she left “American Idol” and became a judge on Lythgoe’s other competition show “So You Think You Can Dance.” Lythgoe said at the time that he was “shocked and saddened” by the allegations, which he called “an appalling smear.”