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Cadmium Appoints Sean Brady as CEO to Drive Next Phase of GrowthCadmium Appoints Sean Brady as CEO to Drive Next Phase of GrowthSyrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria is gaining speed with news that they have reached the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. The government on Saturday was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels’ moves around Damascus were reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander. They came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions. The factions are by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastically-arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. 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. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors returned to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.After lackluster spending at U.S. stores on a deals-heavy Black Friday, retailers are pulling out all the stops with steep promotions and discounts on their websites and apps to entice people to buy holiday gifts and other merchandise after the long Thanksgiving weekend. Retailers have been coaxing cautious U.S. shoppers on Cyber Monday — traditionally America’s biggest internet shopping day — with push notifications, emails and other ads touting heavily discounted cosmetics, electronics, toys, clothing and other products. With just 23 days before Christmas, the discounts this year have been deeper, with shoppers waiting for promotion-heavy days, experts have said. For instance, Target said it was offering 50% off thousands of items including video games, home decor and other technology items with a “two-day Cyber Monday” sale that started on Sunday. The moves follow a mixed holiday season so far, with muted spending in stores on key shopping days such as Black Friday. Sales at brick-and-mortar stores on Friday grew just 0.7% year over year, according to preliminary estimates by payments processor Mastercard. Meanwhile, data firm Facteus said sales were actually lower. Online, retailers like Walmart and Amazon have relied on generative AI customer service and search features to make it easier for shoppers to find products on websites and mobile apps. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, resident Cheyenne Berens, 29, has been using Amazon’s generative AI chatbot Rufus to track prices of baby merchandise and electronics this holiday season. Amazon launched Rufus in February to give customers product recommendations and details based on its entire catalog of merchandise. “I have found that using Rufus on Amazon has been extremely helpful in determining whether a ‘deal’ is actually a ‘deal’,” Berens said. She’s been tracking the fluctuating prices of a Pack ‘n’ Play portable playpen and waiting for the right time to buy. The price started at $90 before the holidays, briefly rose to $120 and dropped back to $90, she said. Caila Schwartz, director of consumer insights at Salesforce, a cloud-computing company that tracks global shopping data from more than 1.5 billion consumers, said that GenAI tools such as chatbots to answer online shoppers’ basic questions, such as queries about products, helped retailers protect their profit margins despite rising costs. On Saturday, retailers using GenAI tools for customer service saw a 15% higher purchase rate by users, according to estimates by Salesforce. Schwartz said the higher so-called conversion rate “is a game changer.” Spending online today in the United States is expected to reach $13.2 billion, 6% more than on Cyber Monday a year earlier, according to preliminary estimates from Adobe Inc. That outlay would follow the roughly $10.8 billion Americans spent online on Black Friday, according to Adobe. Traffic to retail sites from chatbots or shoppers clicking on a link to a website rose 1,800% from Black Friday through the weekend, Adobe said. With many Americans recently carrying more debt, many are using third-party “buy now, pay later” services, with spending on the services likely to approach $1 billion, according to projections by Adobe, which keeps track of devices that use its software to help power more than 1 trillion visits to U.S. retail sites.
What to know about a Wisconsin man who faked his own death and fled to Eastern EuropeThe year Israel began to live in infamy
The AP Top 25 men’s college basketball poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — Jonah Pierce had 20 points in Presbyterian’s 67-42 win against Youngstown State on Friday night. Pierce added nine rebounds for the Blue Hose (4-3). Kory Mincy scored 12 points, shooting 5 for 11, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc. Kobe Stewart had 11 points and finished 4 of 9 from the field. The Penguins (2-3) were led by Ty Harper, who posted 12 points. EJ Farmer added 10 points and three steals for Youngstown State. Nico Galette also had five points. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Keir Starmer has warned local leaders that he will not hesitate to overrule them if they attempt to “dodge their responsibilities” in approving new homes, amid growing concerns among wildlife groups and councils over his plans for a . The prime minister has placed a pledge to at the heart of his government’s plans. Senior figures in his team are now focused on trying to deliver tangible improvements to the country to make a credible case for re-election. They also want to show he is taking on what they see as vested interests opposing housebuilding. Ministers will this week vow to overhaul planning rules as part of the government’s pledge, handing local mayors and leaders more powers in the process. Speaking to the , however, the prime minister said more powers meant “more responsibilities” and that he would not allow local leaders to stand in the way of his building overhaul. “With our reforms, we’re pushing power back into communities so they can build their own futures and make their own decisions about what’s best for them,” he said. “With our new rules, mayors will have greater planning authority to make decisions that boost local growth and housebuilding so communities can shape their own future. “But where local leaders dodge their responsibilities for deciding where and how homes should be built, and needlessly oppose developments that would provide good homes, we won’t be afraid to step in. More powers, more responsibilities.” Starmer’s remarks come in the wake of his “ ” speech last week in which his team attempted to hone the government’s programme into more accessible targets designed to focus attention in Whitehall. He also ridiculed a system that led to the HS2 high-speed rail network having to . But his comments were made amid concerns from local councils across England, including Labour-run administrations, that proposed housebuilding targets imposed on them may not be realistic. Labour-run Broxtowe council in Nottinghamshire described the plan as “very challenging, if not impossible to achieve”. Another Labour-run council in South Tyneside said the plans were “wholly unrealistic”. Meanwhile, a letter to Starmer signed by nature groups including the RSPB wildlife conservation charity, the National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts and Greenpeace warns him that they were “dismayed and disappointed to hear your attack on environmental regulations and regulators”. “Environmental planning rules play a vital role in protecting wildlife, stopping pollution, and in ensuring that a healthy environment is for everyone, not just a privilege for those who can afford it,” the letter states. “The rules can be improved, but they are not the problem. “The regulators that uphold the rules have been slowed down by a decade of cuts and political interference. They should be supported, not vilified. We want to work with you to speed up planning. We need ambitious reform to ensure the planning system works better for nature, too. But deregulation is not the answer.” Starmer, however, insisted that “outdated planning laws” had to be tackled. “We’re going to rebuild this nation from the ground up, but we can’t do that without reform,” he said. “It is central to this government’s agenda. Starting with sweeping changes to the national planning policy framework which will begin to remove the obstacles towards this government’s goal of building 1.5m houses in this parliament. That’s an ambitious goal – so we can’t let anything slow us down. “It’s common sense – if we want good houses, transport and energy supplies, we have to build them. There is no other way. To anyone willing to engage in finding practical, workable solutions and reforms – we will work in partnership with you. “But the government is not afraid to take on vested interests and break down the barriers that prevent action while working people are paying the price. This is the end of the ‘can’t be done’ culture that has held Britain back for too long.” Senior Labour figures and MPs are desperate for Starmer to learn the lessons from by ensuring the party focuses on a small number of issues that they believe will make a real difference to people’s lives. Writing in the today, Deborah Mattinson, Starmer’s former policy chief, warns that Donald Trump successfully painted Harris as too focused on “woke” issues and out of touch with swing voters. “There is food for thought for the new Labour administration, too,” Mattinson writes in an article co-written with the prime minister’s former director of policy Claire Ainsley. “Labour must continue to channel its powerful change message in government, reflecting the anti-establishment mood that now exists both sides of the Atlantic. It must be prepared – enthusiastic even – about disrupting rather than defending old, tired institutions. “That work started last week with the launch of Starmer’s ‘plan for change’, with its powerful emphasis on working people being better off, but there remains much to do.”This week, US President Joe Biden made the controversial decision to pre-emptively pardon his son Hunter for any federal crimes "he committed or may have committed" between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. It's a power almost every president since George Washington has taken advantage of, to varying reception. Here's what to know about the power and its fraught history. What is the presidential pardon? During their time in office, US presidents have what's known as the Presidential Pardon Power. Outlined in Article II of the Constitution, it allows the president to grant clemency for any federal crime. Pardoning a convicted criminal immediately restores their civil rights and right to bear arms. The conviction will not be erased or expunged from their criminal record , though. There are only a handful of limitations for presidents using the power: The power doesn't extend to state-level offences Clemency can't be granted to people who have been impeached Presidents don't need to provide an explanation for their pardons. Under this power, presidents can also grant commutations — that is, a reduction of someone's sentence, either totally or partially. How hard is it to get a presidential pardon? The process can take several years. For most people convicted of federal crimes, they must submit an application, which is then referred for review Could Trump pardon himself? Donald Trump is both the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first criminal to be elected president. So, could he use his pardoning powers to grant himself clemency? It wouldn't be a sure-fire solution to his legal woes for a few reasons. First, the two federal cases against him have been dropped , thanks to the Department of Justice's policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. That leaves two criminal cases still in limbo: His New York hush money case, in which he has been found guilty His Georgia election interference case, which has been on hold for months A presidential pardon would be useless for both of these cases, as the powers don't extend to state cases. Even if that rule didn't apply, there's also the matter of whether a president would actually be allowed to pardon themself. That question arose back in the 1970s when Richard Nixon was president. At the time, Mary C Lawton, who was then acting as assistant attorney general, wrote: "Under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case, the president cannot pardon himself." This assertion hasn't been legally tested in court, though. No president has ever attempted to pardon themself, so we don't know how such a move could be challenged and what verdicts judges might make on the matter. Can a president pardon a family member? Yes — and Mr Biden isn't the first to do so. On December 23, 2020, Donald Trump issued a full and unconditional pardon to Charles Kushner , his daughter Ivanka's father-in-law. And on his last day in office, Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother Roger Clinton, who had pleaded guilty to drug charges in 1985, for which he spent a year in prison. Can a presidential pardon be overturned? It's not exactly clear. Congress and courts can't reverse them but there are precedents for a president doing so before delivery and acceptance . In 2008, for instance, George W Bush revoked a pardon he granted Isaac Robert Toussie — a real estate agent convicted of mail fraud — the day after learning his father was a major donor for the Republican Party. That was allowed because the pardon attorney had not yet signed the grant of clemency. Trump likely won't be get the chance to revoke Hunter Biden's pardon under the same circumstances, though — it's still more than a month until he returns to office and by that time, the clemency will have been finalised. The Supreme Court hasn't issued an opinion outlining exactly when a pardon becomes irrevocable, so it remains to be seen whether an attempt to overturn the pardon could be successful by Trump. How many pardons has Biden given? So far, he's pardoned just 26 people. But with more than a month left of his presidency, that number could be about to jump. Presidents tend to grant petitions for clemency at a higher rate in the last days of their administrations than earlier in their terms. Who did Donald Trump pardon in his first term? In his first term, Mr Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of 144 people , including Kushner. Five were former campaign staff members and political advisers: Paul Manafort Roger Stone Michael Flynn Stephen Bannon George Papadopoulos Bannon had been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering in connection to a Trump fundraising campaign, We Build the Wall. While he was pardoned for those charges, he went on to serve time in federal prison after being convicted for rejecting a subpoena from a congressional panel investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. One of Trump's other pardons came after celebrity Kim Kardashian personally lobbied the then-president on Alice Marie Johnson's behalf. Johnson was found guilty of first-time drug trafficking charges in 1996 and had been serving life in prison. Trump first commuted her sentence in 2018 , but went on to grant her a full pardon in 2020 after she praised his leadership at that year's Republican National Convention. Why did Ford pardon Nixon? Perhaps the most infamous case of a presidential pardon was Gerald Ford's choice to grant a pre-emptive one to his predecessor, Richard Nixon. That related back to the Watergate scandal, where several intertwined political scandals were revealed following the arrest of five burglars at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, DC on June 17, 1972. While Nixon was never charged with any crimes, he went on to resign from office when it became a near-certainty that he would be impeached over his connection to Watergate. He was replaced by Mr Ford, who said in a televised broadcast that it was in the nation's best interests that Mr Nixon be granted a pardon for any crimes he may have committed while president. "It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it," he said. "I have concluded that only I can do that, and if I can, I must." ABCWayne Rooney has encouraged I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! viewers to vote for his wife to do a Bushtucker Trial as he feels she would want to “put herself to the test”. The former England footballer, 39, said he was “proud” of how Coleen was doing in the Australian jungle in a post on social media on Saturday. The couple, who first met at school and began dating aged 16, share four sons – Kai Wayne, Klay Anthony, Kit Joseph and Cass Mac. Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great ❤️ Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. If you can download the #ImACeleb app and let’s get voting! ?️?️? pic.twitter.com/f1VEihHVzy — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) November 23, 2024 “Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great”, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a collage of photos of her on the show. “Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. “If you can download the #ImACeleb and let’s get voting!” At the end of Saturday’s episode, it was revealed Rooney would be taking on the next Bushtucker Trial alongside BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough. Your votes mean Coleen and Dean are about to have a trucking terrifying time when they face Absolute Carnage ⚠️ #ImACeleb pic.twitter.com/Q9PcJ3SwF1 — I’m A Celebrity... (@imacelebrity) November 23, 2024 During the first task of the series, McCullough chose to partner up with TV personality Coleen as he hailed her as “Wagatha Christie”. Rooney, 38, was given the nickname when she accused Rebekah Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, of leaking her private information to The Sun in a viral post on social media. In July 2022, a judge at the High Court found the post was “substantially true”. During Vardy’s stint on I’m A Celebrity, she became the third celebrity to leave, saying the series helped her become more tolerant. Earlier this week, Liverpool-born Coleen told her fellow campmate that going to court over her feud with Vardy was her “worst nightmare” as she felt she was “putting on a show for the whole world”. However, she said she was not scared about making the viral post which kicked off the dispute, saying: “I just didn’t think it would have the impact it did, because I was just that sick and tired of it, it was draining.” Later in the episode, Rooney became emotional over the loss of her sister Rosie, after boxing star Barry McGuigan spoke about the death of his daughter. I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues on ITV1 and ITVX.It’s not about them. Or then. Though you’d think this would be the perfect time for the three guys who where there then , at the beginning of the Galaxy, to regale the talented whippersnappers in their charge with tales of yore. No? You’d think Greg Vanney, Kevin Hartman and Dan Calichman, the Galaxy coaches who were among the original G’z – OGz? – would relish the opportunity to bask in the good ol’ days. That they’d want to luxuriate in their legacy as players who helped establish the Galaxy as MLS’s winningest franchise , with its nine MLS Cup Final appearances and five championships going into this season’s title match Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. Even just for this week leading up to the club’s championship game against the New York Red Bulls – the team formerly known as the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. It was against them that the Galaxy played their first match on April 13, 1996 , at the Rose Bowl, before a then-record crowd of of 69,255. • MLS Cup preview: Galaxy hosts New York Red Bulls in search of 6th title You’d assume it would be impossible to resist reminiscing about that if you were Vanney or Calichman, who patrolled the back line on that date in history. Stars on the first Galaxy team before circling back in 2021 as the head coach and trusted assistant , taking the reins of a team that hadn’t made the playoffs for four seasons and that remained in such disarray just last year that many of its most ardent fans boycotted matches . You’d expect it would be hard not to throw on a few campfire stories in camp this week if you were Hartman. A fan favorite , the bleached-blonde goalkeeper joined Vanney and Calichman in 1997. Wound up playing 10 of his 17 MLS seasons with the Galaxy, winning two MLS Cups, two U.S. Open Cups, two Supporters’ Shields and earning the nickname El Gato in L.A. – where he’d been working since 2017 as the director of the LA Galaxy Academy before reuniting with Vanney as his goalkeeper coach in 2021. You’d think. But no. “We’re reticent, we don’t want to be talking about the good old days,” Hartman said by phone this week, suggesting such focus would not only be misplaced but come across as “maybe a little egotistical.” “Every once in a while,” said Calichman, noting that when those sorts of conversations happen, it’s with individual players and in the context of how much MLS has grown. Because, really, these MLS veterans are living for the here and now. Pioneers turned prisoners of the moment, willingly and enthusiastically. Right now, most of their bandwidth is being spent figuring out how they’ll overcome the loss of Riqui Puig , the star midfielder who suffered a torn ACL in the 1-0 Western Conference final victory over Seattle last weekend. How they’ll defend Lewis Morgan and Emil Forsberg on one end and set up Joseph Paintsil and Gabriel Pec and Dejan Joveljić to do damage on the other. How they’ll continue to hold serve on their home turf, unbeaten this season at Dignity Health Sports Park, against a team that’s won on the road this postseason against Columbus, New York City FC and Orlando City SC. How they can spoil the Red Bulls’ Cinderella story as the Eastern Conference’s seventh seed ... How could they possibly have time for history lessons right now? Especially because no one needs a refresher; they already know. Whether or not they were there then, they know. The trust and belief borne of decades of partnership – Vanney and Hartman weren’t only Galaxy teammates, they also played and roomed together at UCLA; and Calichman was on Vanney’s staff with Toronto FC as that club reached the playoffs in five of six seasons, made three MLS Cup Finals appearances and won it all once – is coursing through this iteration of the Galaxy. “We all share a passion for this organization and the club and where we want it to be,” Vanney said this week. “But we also have known each other long enough to challenge each other and to put the right questions in front of each other in support. We know where to fill each other’s gaps.” Such airtight bonds are built through years of hard-earned successes and bitter disappointments, Hartman said. “We all have this culture of excellence that we share and we’re not going to take any shortcuts to get there,” he said. “We have such longstanding, trusting relationships, I don’t think any of us are afraid to voice our opinions ... and if there’s something that comes off wrong, we’re pretty forgiving of one another.” Calichman should say so: “Hopefully they’re being honest!” And from that place of understanding, the Galaxy is at last, after a long decade, again living up to the legacy that Vanney, Calichman and Hartman helped create all those years ago. “Culture can change, but the expectations within the club were set very early,” Calichman said. “In ’96, the Galaxy made it to the MLS Cup final, and unfortunately we didn’t win it, but that expectation was set ... we’re a team that is vying for trophies. We’re a team that will work hard. That standard never stopped.” “Sometimes there’s a burden that comes with a legacy with a team like this,” Vanney said. “But to be able to own that, this group has attacked it from Day One and hasn’t been afraid of it or in awe of it – and has gone for it. That’s one of the beauties of this group.” Because the best way to honor a legacy isn’t to treat it as a fable. It’s to write the next chapter.
ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation's highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. "My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference," Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon's disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. "If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don't vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president," Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women's rights and America's global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter's electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 "White House Diary" that he could be "micromanaging" and "excessively autocratic," complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington's news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. "It didn't take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake," Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had "an inherent incompatibility" with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to "protect our nation's security and interests peacefully" and "enhance human rights here and abroad" — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. "I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia," Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. "I wanted a place where we could work." That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter's stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went "where others are not treading," he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. "I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don't," Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton's White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America's approach to Israel with his 2006 book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid." And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center's many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee's 2002 Peace Prize cites his "untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development." Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. "The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place," he said. "The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect." 'An epic American life' Carter's globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little "Jimmy Carters," so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington's National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America's historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. "I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore," Stuart Eizenstat, Carter's domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. "He was not a great president" but also not the "hapless and weak" caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was "good and productive" and "delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office." Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton's secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat's forward that Carter was "consequential and successful" and expressed hope that "perceptions will continue to evolve" about his presidency. "Our country was lucky to have him as our leader," said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for "an epic American life" spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. "He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history," Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter's political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery's tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it "inconceivable" not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. "My wife is much more political," Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn't long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist "Dixiecrats" as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as "Cufflinks Carl." Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. "I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over," he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. 'Jimmy Who?' His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader's home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats' national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: "Jimmy Who?" The Carters and a "Peanut Brigade" of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter's ability to navigate America's complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared "born-again Christian," Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he "had looked on many women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times." The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC's new "Saturday Night Live" show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter "Fritz" Mondale as his running mate on a "Grits and Fritz" ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady's office. Mondale's governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname "Jimmy" even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band's "Hail to the Chief." They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington's social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that "he hated politics," according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and 'malaise' Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation's second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon's opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn't immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his "malaise" speech, although he didn't use that word. He declared the nation was suffering "a crisis of confidence." By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he'd "kick his ass," but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with "make America great again" appeals and asking voters whether they were "better off than you were four years ago." Reagan further capitalized on Carter's lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: "There you go again." Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages' freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. 'A wonderful life' At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with "no idea what I would do with the rest of my life." Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. "I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything," Carter told the AP in 2021. "But it's turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years." Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. "I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes," he said in 2015. "I've had a wonderful life. I've had thousands of friends, I've had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence." ___ Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report. Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at (INSERT EMAIL HERE). Rebecca: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/a2/d9/fb69982545c59e9836fbe80fe431/rebecca-recommends.png Bree: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/74/78/507118fa415f9ad794a927fe43ca/screenshot-2024-12-09-at-5-09-02-am.png Carrie: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/2e/72/be0f23854c54a228c9d6138c9847/carrie-recommends-header.png Ben: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/df/c4/19fa7c504480938f39a431e3b276/ben-recommends-header.png Amy: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/b9/b6/1408516a4a91b97639b178fc1ba9/amy-recommends-header.png Rhori: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/5b/25/a224d13d47739165c92b94e643db/rhori-recommends-header.png Lelan: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/af/54/833bf879454097a398bd44f723de/lelan-recommends.png Another example of how one person can truly make a difference. And the best part - we all can help! As a nurse, Laura handles emergencies every day. But nothing could prepare her for the emergency that brought her hometown to its knees. From her current home in Tennessee, she's mobilizing aid and supplies for Helene survivors and is helping make their recovery easier and their holidays brighter. I hope you take a moment to watch her story - you might even feel inspired to lend a helping hand. -Rebecca SchleicherRuud van Nistelrooy has opened up about the pain of his departure from Manchester United , expressing his deep disappointment at not being retained by the club. As he steps into his new role as Leicester City manager, the Dutch icon reflected on his Old Trafford exit, revealing his initial hopes to remain part of the team under new boss Ruben Amorim . Van Nistelrooy shared: "The moment I took over the interim job, I said: ‘I’m here to help United and to stay to help United,’ and I meant it. "So I was disappointed, yeah, very much so, and it hurt I had to leave. "The only job I would take as an assistant was at United because of the bond that I have with the people in the club and the fans. "But in the end, I got my head around it because I also understand the new manager. "I spoke to Ruben about it, and it was fair enough. I was grateful for the conversation. "He spoke to me man to man, person to person, manager to manager, and that helped a lot to move on and straightaway get into talks with new possibilities, which, of course, lifted my spirits." The 48-year-old acknowledged that his brief tenure at Old Trafford significantly boosted his career prospects, concluding, "What happened after that - the amount of interest that was there for me and the options that came along - I was astonished." The former Netherlands star opened up about the curious attention he received, musing: "I thought: ‘It’s four games.’ I had a full season with PSV, I won the cup and Charity Shield did well with young PSV. I’d been coaching with the national team and it never got this reaction from the football world. It provoked these reactions. I was only happy with that." He reflected further on the events that led to his current role: "I was able to get into conversations that were good for me - and that brought me to Leicester."
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