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lucky win KPIT Technologies Share Price Live blog for 30 Dec 2024Washington, Dec 30 (IANS): Former US President Jimmy Carter died on Sunday at the age of 100. He was the oldest living President of all time and was the third US President to visit India. Carter died at home in Plains, Georgia. He had been suffering from an aggressive form of melanoma, a skin cancer, with tumours that had spread to his liver and brain. He had stopped medical treatment and was under hospice care at home. His death was announced by the Carter Centre in Atlanta. "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love," said Chip Carter, the former President's son. "My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs." President Carter, a Democrat, had served one term from 1977 to 1981 and was voted out of office despite such accomplishments as the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt, which proved to be insufficient to overcome the disappointment over a slumping economy at home and the Iran crisis abroad. He went on to carve out an extraordinary post-presidency life and won the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2002 for, the prize citation said, "his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development". His wife of 77 years, Rosalyn Carter died in November 2023, at 96. Carter was the third US President to visit India, after Dwight Eisenhower in 1959 and Richard Nixon in 1969. He was accompanied on this visit in 1978 by the first lady. Carter had met then President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy and Prime Minister Morarji Desai and addressed the Parliament. A village he had visited then in Gurugram (then Gurgaon) was named Carterpuri and retains that name. "The atmosphere throughout the visit was friendly, and the President's reception by the Indian public was enthusiastic," the US Embassy in New Delhi had reported to the State Department in a telegram published by the US Office of the Historian. "It is clear that the President established an excellent personal rapport with the Prime Minister. The editorial comment, in the wake of the visit, while generally reflecting the atmosphere described above, also expressed some reservations. For the most part, these focused on the differences in the nuclear field." Carter's mother, Lilian Carter, had however visited India much before he did. She went to India as a member of the Peace Corps at the age of 68 and returned in 1977 to represent the US at the funeral of President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. "My mother, who loves this nation and its people very deeply, has told me of the warmth and friendship of the Indian people," President Carter had said in his remarks to Indian lawmakers. "She experienced it in her years of service here and, again, a few months ago in a time of sorrow when she represented me as President and the people of the US at the funeral of your former President."

MFA Financial Inc. stock rises Friday, still underperforms marketI’m A Celeb fans call episode ‘most emotional ever’ and a ‘hard watch’ as campmates and viewers break down in tearsA phishing scam is targeting southern California residents in recent weeks over toll or violations. Several drivers of the Metro ExpressLanes complaining of receiving text messages asking for sensitive banking information or payment of fines. While the majority of the targets have been drivers of the Metro ExpressLanes, several drivers not using those lanes have also received the texts. In response to the flood of complaints received about the scam, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has put out an advisory and warning about the scam. It also clarified that the Metro ExpressLanes system has not been hacked, as some drivers suspected. Rather, it was a directed attack by hackers from different servers. "As soon as Metro became aware of the fraudulent text messages, we posted a warning about it on our ExpressLanes website home page." the message read. "The ExpressLanes system has not been hacked, and no customer information has been compromised." How To Spot Deceptive Messages From Hackers? In the advisory released by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the department clarified that it does not send text messages to drivers on the Fastrak ExpressLane asking for sensitive information or requesting payment. As a result, any text messages about the same are likely to be dubious and a phishing attack. Here are some of the screenshots of the messages that users received and subsequently shared on social media. What To Do If You Receive A Text? If you receive these messages, DO NOT respond or open any links attached to the text. "If a text message claims to be from Metro ExpressLanes regarding tolls or violations, do not respond to the message, do not use any links in the message, and do not use any contact information provided in the message," the advisory said. "Contact the ExpressLanes Customer Service at (877) 812-0022 for questions. " Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.

NoneWithin hours of the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City earlier this week, the surveillance video that captured the brazen crime made the rounds across social media. Across X, Reddit and Facebook, the short video was likely analyzed as closely as the footage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy just over 61 years ago. And like that infamous shooting, the one in Midtown Manhattan has led to no shortage of conspiracy theories that are now making the rounds on the social platforms. Online sleuths offered their unsolicited opinions, while countless "experts" provided unique insight—with some suggesting the murder was carried out by a professional hit man, who not only used a suppressor but likely subsonic ammunition, which necessitated the need to manually operate the handgun's slide. Some even identified the firearm as a Welrod , a British bolt-action, magazine-fed, suppressed pistol devised during the Second World War, while others said it was likely a B&T VP9. Neither is likely the case. Moreover, the professional killer theories were in stark contrast to the New York Police Department's claim that the suspect's firearm had jammed, and he left several clues that could help the investigation. "Experts" Are Quick To Weigh In Armchair generals and Monday morning quarterbacks are all too common in our modern era—they're the individuals who quickly offer opinions after the fact, and typically with the benefit of hindsight. Social media is filled with these so-called experts, many who have built massive followings. As fresh details surrounding Thompson's murder were released, it only served to fuel the online speculation. The case already has the potential to be like a true crime podcast that unfolds in real-time. Yet, it also is clear that there is likely far more misinformation spreading than actual facts. "The amount of information that is out is inconsistent and much of it is inaccurate," said Dr. Dan Ariely, professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. "This does a very large disservice to society." Ariely warned that in situations like this still ongoing investigation, it has the potential to erode trust in the mainstream media, which often waits for confirmation. Social media by contrast is quick to post, even if the information is wrong. Beyond the fact that an individual was killed on the streets of America's largest city, this casual posting online often lacks perspective, and fact-checking and is too quick to rely on guesswork—and without much of the evidence that the NYPD has access to. "All this speculation is problematic because it sets expectations that may not be met," explained technology industry analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group. "We are making conclusions before we have all the facts and 'Confirmation Bias' tells us that is a bad thing because people will then only recognize facts or theories that are consistent with the position they have already taken," Enderle added. "It is shoot, ready, aim, instead of what should be ready, aim, shoot." Vetting Sources Closer inspection of the video, as well as the shell casings and unspent round that was recovered; it has been determined that the firearm almost certainly used by the assailant wasn't the aforementioned Welrod or B&T VP9. Nor was the ammunition subsonic. Likewise, given that the shooter's movements have been traced—including to a Starbucks, where he bought a bottle of water and energy bars—it would seem that he wasn't likely a professional assassin. Few hit men would likely stop to pick up breakfast and be caught on camera. Still, it is all too easy to forgive those who are quick to post such misinformation, because of a desire to want to know the facts as quickly as they unfold. Newsrooms seek not to be first, but to get it right—whereas on social media there is a race to share that expert insight as quickly as possible. "We have all become expert crime solvers on social media, especially when there is a compelling and surprising crime such as the shooting death of this health insurance executive," said Susan Campbell, distinguished lecturer in the Department of Communication, Film, and Media Studies at the University of New Haven. "There will always be a lag time between new developments and publication of those developments in traditional media because traditional media worth its salt will still take time to vet the facts," Campbell added. "If people want to hear guesses quickly, social media is their platform. If they want to know facts, that takes a little more time." How Conspiracies Are Born The final concern is that the posts on social media will only serve to give rise to unfounded conspiracy theories that are impossible to debunk. Even after more than two decades, some still question the events of 9/11, and after six decades, the assassination of JFK continues to be debated. This is largely harmless, at least until it isn't. "There will also be efforts after facts are collected to ignore those that counter already taken positions," said Enderle. "In effect, this speculation corrupts the process and makes it less likely we'll ever see the truth. So, in general, social speculation doesn't help the process, it corrupts it." While it could impact the ability to bring an individual to justice, it also serves as another divide in our already deeply divided nation. "Sadly, everything is becoming political," said Ariely. "Right now, people aren't coming from the facts, but rather from a specific point of view. We need to figure out how to look at facts rather than identity."

Obama still doesn’t get why Trump won. That’s the problem.Japan's famous sake joins UNESCO's cultural heritage list, a boost to brewers and enthusiasts

Jayden Daniels did it again, leading another comeback to get the Commanders into the postseason for the first time since 2020. The rookie quarterback directed a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in overtime, delivering a 30-24 win. The Commanders moved to 11-5 and wrapped up a wild-card berth, while the Falcons (8-8) fell a game behind the Bucs in the NFC South. Atlanta needs to beat the Panthers and have the Bucs lose to the Saints. The Commanders’ victory also clinched the NFC West for the Rams. Daniels threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz on third-and-goal with 2:42 remaining in the extra period. Daniels ran for 42 yards on the drive and threw for 22, completing all five passes. The Commanders outgained the Falcons 412 to 337, with Daniels completing 24 of 36 passes for 227 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 127 yards on 16 carries, and in the process, set the NFL record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback for a single season. Ertz caught six passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, and Olamide Zaccheaus had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons, who led 17-7 at halftime, had only nine plays for 14 yards on their first two drives of the second half as Washington controlled the ball and the clock. But they put together a 12-play, 68-yard tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Falcons center Drew Dalman snapped the ball over running back Bijan Robinson’s head on first-and-goal from the 5. Robinson picked up the ball but was tackled by Jalyn Holmes for a 21-yard loss. On second-and-26, Michael Penix completed a 13-yard pass to Drake London followed by an incompletion. That set up fourth-and-goal from the 13, and Penix threw a dart to tight end Kyle Pitts with Jeremy Chinn draped on him for a touchdown. Riley Patterson’s extra point tied the game with 1:19 left. Patterson had a chance to win it in regulation after Atlanta drove from its own 19 to its own 49. The Falcons drew a 13-yard pass interference penalty on Commanders defensive back Michael Davis on third-and-5 that left 2 seconds on the clock, but Patterson’s 56-yard field goal try was short. That sent the game to overtime, and the Commanders won the coin toss. Atlanta never saw the ball again. Penix was 19-of-35 for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and Robinson rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Drake London caught seven passes for 106 yards. Atlanta was 2-for-2 on fourth down and Washington 3-for-3. The Commanders are guaranteed of finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2016 when they went 8-7-1.'It's not going to be pretty'None

India News | UP CM Yogi Inaugurates 25,000 Public Shelter Beds for Devotees in Mahakumbh AreaIndia's former PM Manmohan Singh dies aged 92

Bladed weapon sales restrictions take effect at end of monthUnum Group stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitorsA man who died after falling off the top of a car in Napier on Friday is being remembered as a loving father and beloved teammate. Police reported that the man was travelling on a mattress on the roof of a station wagon from the Marewa shops, when he fell onto the road at Nuffield Avenue. Family posting on social media have named the man as Reif Cotter, and a Givealittle page has been set up for his three young children and their mother. A post by the children's mother Holly Te Ngahue said he was "the most loving" Dad, brother, son and moko. "Your contagious smile, your willingness to give, your sily antics, the absolute life of any party. We all love you so much Reif," she wrote on Facebook. The Givealittle page , set up by family friends, said Cotters' death was "unexpected" and "tragic". People are asked to donate to "help Holly and her children adjust to a new life, to be able to enjoy and stay in their home and to do all the nice things like kids' sports and hobbies, now sadly without the support of Reif", the page reads. Cotter played for the Eskview and Districts Ruby Football Club, and has been remembered as a "beloved teammate". "A talented winger, Reif brought not only skill to the field but also a contagious cheeky smile that could light up any room," a post on the Clubs' Facebook page reads. Posts by Te Ngahue on Facebook say the family were expecting Cotters body to be released on Tuesday afternoon, and a service will proceed at the Eskview Rugby Clubrooms on Friday.

PFT's Week 17 2024 NFL results and recapWarning: Massive Moana 2 spoilers ahead! Dana Ledoux Miller is booked and busy! The Moana 2 director and Moana live-action remake writer took the time to talk with BuzzFeed about behind-the-scenes moments in the recording booth, Pacific Islander representation, and Moana's new tattoo. But honestly, it turned into a beautiful chat between two Samoan women, and I left the interview feeling like we were old friends! 1. How does it feel to be the first Pacific Islander woman to direct not only a Disney film but any major motion picture? Especially now that Moana has broken so many records at the box office? Dana Ledoux Miller: It's a little surreal. I'm so grateful that the film is doing well and people are watching it, and that it's resonating with so many Pacific Islanders. But also, it's really exciting to me that I do get to stand in this place and just by being here, in this moment, show people what's possible. Show other Pacific Islander women, people across anywhere, that if — I mean honestly — if I can do it, you can do it, too. It's been a really special thing and a responsibility that I don't take lightly because nobody can say it hasn't been done before. That can't be an excuse as to why you don't hire a Pacific Islander woman to write and direct a studio film because it has been done before. So now, let's let somebody else do it, too. 2. Do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes moment from working with the actors in the recording booth for Moana 2 ? Working with Auli’i [Cravalho] and Dwayne [Johnson] was really special. I assume you never know what it's going to be like coming into a role that you've already played and coming back after eight years to jump into this. But I was so impressed by both of them, the way they were able to just find these characters again, but also find new depths to them. And Auli’i is just hilarious in the booth. She's so physical and so just on point. The first day I was in the recording session with her, we were talking outside, and then she walked in, and it was like, “Oh, crap, that's Moana!” Just on and amazing. 3. Do you have a favorite moment with Dwayne? We have this moment later in the film where Maui is stripped of all of his crutches. He's lost his tattoos, he's lost his hook, he's lost his power, and he's vulnerable in a way that he's never been before. And he's grieving a loss. [Writer] Jared Bush and I were talking through what that means to be so strong and to be somebody who, in theory, doesn't need anyone, but suddenly be taken to your knees and vulnerable in a way you've never been before, and having to ask for help in a way you've never been before. What does that look like when you are larger than life? To talk that through with Dwayne, who is larger than life in so many ways and doesn't often get to go to these places emotionally as an actor, was really exciting. 4. In previous interviews, you’ve spoken about how growing up as a mixed Samoan woman in California, away from most of your family, impacted your confidence. As a fellow mixed Samoan woman who grew up the same way, I was wondering where you found that confidence to be able to write and direct these movies because I think sometimes we feel like, "Oh no, I'm not Samoan enough.” That is a sentence I am very familiar with: “I'm not Samoan enough.” Half my dad's family lived in Northern California — I'm in Southern California — or back in Samoa, and so there was really a disconnect. Part of that honestly was because of my dad, too, and him dealing with some of his own identity issues as I was growing up. And so, I felt a lot of insecurity about that. I would say being Samoan is always something I've been really proud of, but it's something I always mentioned with caveats, to try to make other people feel better about it, but also to make myself feel better. Like, “I'm Samoan, but yeah, I know I don't look so Samoan,” to make it feel okay for everybody else. I'm not joking, I used to have a picture of my grandparents in my bag when I was really young. BuzzFeed: So you could whip it out as proof? Yeah, as if I needed it! Nobody's even asking me for proof. But I felt so insecure about it. I don't know that I'm a fully-recovered insecure afakasi [mixed Samoan] woman, but I have come a long way. Even taking the job on the Moana live-action, which was my first Moana project, my first thought after getting that job was: “Am I Samoan enough? Is our community going to be upset that I'm the person doing this? Will they think I'm not enough to do this?” And it was very daunting. I was so excited because I love Moana, and I felt like I couldn't believe I get to be a part of telling her story. But it's been a process to take ownership of even just being able to be say, “I'm Samoan. I'm not gonna explain to you what that means because it's none of your business, and I know who I am.” That I would say has been a two-year process. It's still new to me. It's still fresh. But part of that is because I took some chances I wasn't ready to take. I took the job on the live-action film even though I felt that insecurity. I started PEAK [Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti] when I was like, “Am I enough to do this? Am I the right person?” I also had a Pacific Islander writers room for this small show that didn't end up going, and I got to work with Pacific Islanders in a room, creating, for the first time. All of these things came together at once, and I started to feel like I was a part of a bigger community. And it wasn't a community that was asking me to qualify myself but of other people who felt very similarly. We were coming together, and we were looking at each other, and we're like, “Oh, I see you. I see you. I see you.” And because we were seeing ourselves in each other, it gave me more confidence to be bold about taking ownership of who I am. It's been a journey, but I am proud to be Samoan. 5. When Moana breaks Nalo’s curse, she dies and comes back only due to the power of the ancestors. This was such a powerful message about how our ancestors are still with us today and can always be called upon in times of need. Can you speak about the decision to include this? The first film did such a great job of setting that up with Gramma Tala. And I would say that Dave Derrick, the other Samoan director of the film, he very early on had this image in his mind of a whale shark as an ancestor coming in and meeting Moana. It's an image that is in the film, and it all just grew from there. This idea that our ancestors are always with us — they are always guiding us, and we are continuing their story. It just felt right for this. But when it came to that moment in particular at the end, it goes back to what we were talking about with Maui, this idea that he has no resources to solve this problem. He can't save Moana, and so he has to do something he's never done before, which is call out to the gods and call out to the ancestors and admit that he needs help. And I think [composer] Opetaia Foa'i did such a beautiful job of creating this chant in Samoan for Maui to sing, and then it's really just a call to make things right. And so, it felt natural that if he's calling for help, that the ancestors would come. I loved the moment Tautai Vasa comes in because he doesn't know what's going to happen. It's not like they're omniscient and the ancestors know that by showing up, she's going to come back to life. It's that he's been called, and now he's seeing this young woman who he sent off on this journey. He called her to action, and here she is. This is the consequence of that. To see him also calling out for help, and then see everyone come together, the ocean, the ancestors, all this power coming together to bring her back as a demigod... It just felt right for this world and for her journey, for a young woman who's given so much. It all built on each other into something that I'm really proud of. 6. The film very much seemed like it was setting us up for a third Moana movie. If that happens, do you think Moana would have any cool demigod powers? If there was a next movie, and I have no idea, I would be very excited to see what powers she had. I think that this film definitely sets up the potential for that. She's even got her own demigod color; she glows a little different than Maui. So I assume that she has some different abilities. But what that might be, I have no idea. 7. And the scene after that, we get some Melanesian and Micronesian rep! How important was it to ensure their inclusion in the movie? We built a bunch of different canoes, and we were so fortunate to have experts from across the Pacific really homing in on those designs. That was by design, to make sure that each place was different because she's connecting the whole ocean. There's so much misunderstanding about what it means to be from the Pacific. Generally, they assume that we're only Polynesian and that we're not all these other things. The fact that Moana connecting the ocean could literally connect her to these other places across the Pacific and show new technology in these canoes and people who look a little different but are also of the ocean just felt right. I did not anticipate the reaction to that from our communities — people are pumped! 8. What advice would you give to any aspiring Pacific Islander creatives? One thing that I try to tell young writers, specifically filmmakers, is that your very specific lens into the world, no matter who you are, is your superpower. Whether you're mixed Samoan like me, or you are someone who grew up in Savai'i, or Tonga, or you're from Fiji, anywhere you're from — only you see the world in your very specific way, and that is your gift and your power. So when you're telling stories, it's really important that you don't try to shift that lens to emulate someone else's vision of the world, especially when you're writing your first sample or making your first film. It's that kind of specificity of vision and experience that, to me, is what breaks through the noise of everything else. When you do that, it helps the rest of us find the commonalities we have between us because you're telling a very specific story. You're not watering it down to something that you think someone from the outside is going to feel is more palatable. You're taking ownership of exactly who you are, and that helps me, as an audience, understand you and relate to you in a different way. I think there's sometimes a tendency to want to write what Hollywood wants you to write. But the thing is — if this is the work you want to do, and you want to get into this business — you also have to hone your craft. I have met a lot of Pacific Islanders who are excited about this idea of working in the industry, but there is maybe a lack of understanding, there is a lack of infrastructure for our community often, to get into filmmaking. But if you want to work at this level, you have to be really diligent about it. If you want to be a writer, you have to study the craft and write at the level that everyone else in the world is in order to tell those stories. That's how you build a career and create staying power. So it's kind of two-fold. You gotta play the game a little bit. You gotta understand the work and then tell it from your lens. 9. What made you most emotional or excited throughout this process? There are moments within the movie that get me sometimes. Like the Maui-Moana moment, it makes me emotional, and I'm proud of what we crafted. But also, I just feel like, as a writer, to take characters that we know and love to a new place is always really exciting. 10. Aside from Auli'i and Dwayne, who else did you have fun working with? Jemaine [Clement] came in to do Tamatoa. I am a huge Flight of the Conchords fan. Eagle vs Shark is one of my favorite films. It's one of his early films, and it's so weird. And I was like, "That's the kind of movie I'm gonna make!" I'm not as funny as him, so I haven't made a movie like that. But my heart was so full. I could listen to this man riff forever. It was pretty awesome. BuzzFeed: That’s so funny because he only shows up in the post-credits scene, right? We kept him a little longer, just to really let him go off for our own benefit. Don't tell him that. [Laughs] 11. I was super emotional throughout the film, and I’ve seen TikToks of people literally crying in the theater because they’re so happy to be represented. How do you feel about the movie’s reception? I have been blown away. The number of texts and emails I've been getting from people, from other Pasifika folks, has been a little overwhelming but in a good way. This morning, one of our consultants who lives in Apia was like, “Here's our schedule for the movie theater. It's playing every single day, and the lines are down the street.” Or my brother texted me and was like, “My friend just said he's been trying to get him and his son tickets to the movie in Tutuila, but it's been sold out for days. You can't get in.” People are stoked. A cousin's cousin sent me their aunty’s Instagram post about how the ‘ava ceremony meant something to them, or about the tatau or the idea of the ancestors, or this idea that we are all connected and that we are better together, and that people don't understand that community is our foundation, and that's who we are. There's been so many instances of people from our community loving the film. I want everyone to see this movie, we made a movie for everyone to see, but I wanted our people to see themselves, and so the fact that that's happening kind of makes me a little teary right now, actually. I was hoping that we could all hold our heads up high and be proud to see ourselves like this. [Visibly tears up] To see that happening, and to see TikTok and Instagram blowing up about people being like, "This is who I am." That means something. That changes the way we see ourselves, that's going to give somebody else confidence out there to say, "This is who I am. I am not going to apologize for it. I get to be proud of who I am." 12. How do you think the film changes the perception and awareness of Pacific Islanders? It's changing the way other people are seeing us. I saw something where somebody had never understood that Melanesian people are part of the Pacific. That's somebody learning something that they didn't know about us before. So it's really special to be able to be a part of something that's reaching people on so many different levels. 13. And finally, I loved so many of the cultural details woven into the movie , but Moana's tattoo is probably my favorite. From what I know about the meanings of the symbols, it looked like vaetuli, the footprints of the tuli bird, going up her fingers. And then it looked like the fetū, the stars, on top. And so the way that I interpreted it was that her path is to follow the stars, and I wanted to ask if that's accurate. It was all by design. So we had Peter Suluape as our consultant in the tatau form. No big deal! Maui's tattoos tell his story, and if she's going to become a demigod, we wanted her tattoos to tell her story but in a very specific way. With Maui, there's so many tattoos that tell so many stories. We wanted her tattoo to tell this story of her reconnecting all the people of the ocean. So that's why it has Motofetū in the middle, the island, and everything coming off are the channels that connect it. And so we talked to him about that, and he came back with a design. And then we worked with our character designer, Danny Arriaga, who took all of those pieces and put it together in something that worked on her arm. Another Samoan consultant we had, Dionne Fonoti, texted me after she saw that. She was like, "Sis, I love the tattoo." And I was like, "Yes! If Dionne likes it, then we're okay!" I love it because it’s so specific to Moana and her story, but it's also so specific to us and what she would actually get, and I'm glad you recognized that. A big thank you to Dana for taking the time to chat with us! And be sure to check out Moana 2 , in theaters now! Note: This interview was edited for length and clarity.