THE Kansas City Chiefs are set to get a top offensive weapon back from injury. Marquise Brown suffered an injury ahead of the season and has yet to play a game for the Chiefs. According to The Athletic's Nate Taylor, Brown is expected to begin practicing this week. Brown had surgery for a sternoclavicular joint injury, and it was initially feared he could miss the entire season. However, Brown is now close to making a return to the roster. "He’s getting close," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said on Wednesday. Read more on the NFL "He’s champing at the bit to get back out there, but he’s got to visit with the doctor to make sure he gets clearance there." Patrick Mahomes also gave an update on his weapon nearing a return. "Yeah, no. I mean, he’s been, he’s been working, man. He’s saying he’s ready to go," Mahomes said. "I mean, obviously it’s a long break, and he has to get cleared, and all that different type of stuff to play. Most read in American Football "But I mean, he’s ready, he’s ready to go. And I’m excited for him, and hopefully, he’s able to get out there quicker, sooner rather than later. "I think once he gets out there, many will be able to kind of fit right in and get some reps. "We got to be smart, obviously, but you want to get them wrapped up and ready to go for the playoffs." Chiefs fans were thrilled to hear their star wide receiver could make a return and shared their excitement on social media. "Put some bubble wrap around this man," one fan said. "Hallelujah!" another fan said. "It’s about to get scary," a third fan said. August 1 - Hall of Fame Game - Houston Texans vs Chicago Bears August 8 - Pre-season begins August 27 - Deadline for 53-man rosters September 1 - Final day of pre-season September 5 - Season opener - Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs November 5 - Trade deadline January 5 - Week 18 of regular-season January 11 - Playoffs begin February 9 - Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, Louisiana "Now if only we could have rice back," a fourth fan said. "That's what I've been waiting for," a fifth fan said. Brown has played five seasons in the NFL , compiling 3,644 yards in those years. Read More on The US Sun He has scored 28 touchdowns in his career. Brown has yet to catch a pass for the Chiefs.
Party City to close its stores as company files for bankruptcy LOS ANGELES (AP) — Party City announced that it's going to “wind down” its retail and wholesale operations as it prepares to shutter nearly 700 stores nationwide. The company said Saturday it has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection "to maximize value for the benefit of the company’s stakeholders.” The New Jersey-based retailer said it will keep more than 95% of its 12,000 employees to help with the process of closing down. Customers have flocked to Party City for Halloween costumes, favors for children’s birthday parties and decorations for New Year’s Eve celebrations for nearly 40 years. It has faced growing competition from Walmart and Target and from occasion-based pop-up stores such as Spirit Halloween. A million taxpayers will soon receive up to $1,400 from the IRS. Who are they and why now? Approximately 1 million taxpayers will automatically receive special payments of up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks. The money will be directly deposited into eligible people’s bank accounts or sent in the mail by a paper check. Most people shouldn't get their hopes up about receiving the cash. The IRS says it’s distributing about $2.4 billion to taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns after missing one of the COVID stimulus payments or receiving less than the full amount. The IRS says most taxpayers eligible for the federal stimulus payments received them. Bluesky finds with growth comes growing pains — and bots Bluesky has seen its user base soar since the U.S. presidential election, boosted by people seeking refuge from Elon Musk’s X, or wanting an alternative to Meta’s Threads and its algorithms. The platform grew out of the company then known as Twitter and was eventually intended to replace it. While this is still very much a pie in the sky, Bluesky’s growth trajectory could make it a serious competitor to other social platforms. With growth, though, comes growing pains. It’s not just human users who’ve been flocking to Bluesky but also bots, including those designed to create partisan division or direct users to junk websites. 'Sonic 3' bests 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the box office NEW YORK (AP) — In the holiday season battle of big-budget family movies, Paramount Pictures’ “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” sped past the Walt Disney Co.’s “Mufasa: The Lion King” to take the top spot at the box office. The results came just ahead of the lucrative Christmas corridor in theaters. According to studio estimates, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” debuted with $62 million in ticket sales over the weekend. “Mufasa,” however, was humbled in its opening weekend, coming in notably shy of expectations. It returned just $35 million in domestic ticket sales. Amazon and Starbucks workers are on strike. Trump might have something to do with it Amazon delivery drivers and Starbucks baristas are on strike in a handful of U.S. cities as they seek to exert pressure on the two major companies to recognize them as unionized employees or to meet demands for an inaugural labor contract. Strikes during busy periods like the holidays can help unions exercise leverage during negotiations or garner support from sympathetic consumers. One expert says he thinks workers at both companies are “desperate” to make progress before President-elect Donald Trump can appoint a Republican majority to the National Labor Relations Board. Workers at Starbucks, Amazon and some other prominent consumer brands are fighting for their first contracts after several locations voted to unionize. Farmers are still reeling months after Hurricane Helene ravaged crops across the South LYONS, Ga. (AP) — Farmers in Georgia are still reeling more than two months after Hurricane Helene blew away cotton, destroyed ripened squash and cucumbers and uprooted pecan trees and timber. Agribusinesses in other Southern states saw costly damage as well. The University of Georgia estimates the September storm inflicted $5.5 billion in direct losses and indirect costs in Georgia alone. In rural Toombs County, Chris Hopkins just finished harvesting his ravaged cotton crop and figures he lost half of it, costing him about $430,000. Poultry grower Jeffrey Pridgen in Georgia's Coffee County had four of his 12 chicken houses destroyed and others badly damaged. Farmers say more government disaster assistance is needed. Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI’s strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. But he grew disillusioned with the company and told The Associated Press this fall he would “try to testify” in copyright infringement cases against it. Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures eased last month WASHINGTON (AP) — An inflation gauge that is closely watched by the Federal Reserve barely rose last month in a sign that price pressures cooled after two months of sharp gains. Prices rose just 0.1% from October to November. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, prices also ticked up just 0.1%, after two months of outsize 0.3% gains. The milder inflation figures arrived two days after Federal Reserve officials, led by Chair Jerome Powell, rocked financial markets by revealing that they now expect to cut their key interest rate just two times in 2025, down from four in their previous estimate. Albania to close TikTok for a year blaming it for promoting violence among children TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albania’s prime minister says the government will shut down video service TikTok for one year, blaming it for inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. Albanian authorities held 1,300 meetings with teachers and parents following the stabbing death of a teenager in mid-November by another teenager following a quarrel that started on TikTok. Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking at a meeting with teachers and parents, said TikTok “would be fully closed for all. ... There will be no TikTok in the Republic of Albania.” Rama says the ban will begin sometime next year. Albanian children comprise the largest group of TikTok users in the country, according to domestic researchers. Stock market today: Wall Street rises to turn a dismal week into just a bad one NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to turn what would have been one of the market’s worst weeks of the year into just a pretty bad one. The S&P 500 rallied 1.1% Friday to shave its loss for the week down to 2%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped nearly 500 points, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. A report said a measure of inflation the Federal Reserve likes to use was slightly lower last month than expected. It’s an encouraging signal after the Fed shocked markets Wednesday by saying worries about inflation could keep it from cutting interest rates in 2025 as much as earlier thought.Robert C. Donnelly , Gonzaga University Former President Jimmy Carter, who died on Dec. 29, 2024, at age 100 at his home in Plains, Georgia, was a dark horse Democratic presidential candidate with little national recognition when he beat Republican incumbent Gerald Ford in 1976. The introspective former peanut farmer pledged a new era of honesty and forthrightness at home and abroad, a promise that resonated with voters eager for change following the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War. His presidency, however, lasted only one term before Ronald Reagan defeated him. Since then, scholars have debated – and often maligned – Carter’s legacy, especially his foreign policy efforts that revolved around human rights. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . Critics have described Carter’s foreign policies as “ineffectual” and “hopelessly muddled ,” and their formulation demonstrated “weakness and indecision.” As a historian researching Carter’s foreign policy initiatives , I conclude his overseas policies were far more effective than critics have claimed. The criticism of Carter’s foreign policies seems particularly mistaken when it comes to the Cold War, a period defined by decades of hostility, mutual distrust and arms buildup after World War II between the U.S. and Russia, then known as the Soviet Union or Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). By the late 1970s, the Soviet Union’s economy and global influence were weakening. With the counsel of National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, a Soviet expert , Carter exploited these weaknesses. During his presidency, Carter insisted nations provide basic freedoms for their people – a moral weapon against which repressive leaders could not defend. Carter soon openly criticized the Soviets for denying Russian Jews their basic civil rights , a violation of human rights protections outlined in the diplomatic agreement called the Helsinki Accords . Carter’s team underscored these violations in arms control talks. The CIA flooded the USSR with books and articles to incite human rights activism. And Carter publicly supported Russian dissidents – including pro-democracy activist Andrei Sakharov – who were fighting an ideological war against socialist leaders. Carter adviser Stuart Eizenstat argues that the administration attacked the Soviets “in their most vulnerable spot – mistreatment of their own citizens.” This proved effective in sparking Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s social and political reforms of the late 1980s, best known by the Russian word “glasnost ,” or “openness.” In December 1979, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in response to the assassination of the Soviet-backed Afghan leader, Nur Mohammad Taraki. The invasion effectively ended an existing détente between the U.S. and USSR. Beginning in July 1979, the U.S. was providing advice and nonlethal supplies to the mujahideen rebelling against the Soviet-backed regime. After the invasion, National Security Advisor Brzezinski advised Carter to respond aggressively to it. So the CIA and U.S. allies delivered weapons to the mujahideen, a program later expanded under Reagan. Carter’s move effectively engaged the Soviets in a proxy war that began to bleed the Soviet Union. By providing the rebels with modern weapons, the U.S. was “giving to the USSR its Vietnam war,” according to Brzezinski : a progressively expensive war, a strain on the socialist economy and an erosion of their authority abroad. Carter also imposed an embargo on U.S. grain sales to the Soviets in 1980. Agriculture was the USSR’s greatest economic weakness since the 1960s. The country’s unfavorable weather and climate contributed to successive poor growing seasons, and their heavy industrial development left the agricultural sector underfunded . Economist Elizabeth Clayton concluded in 1985 that Carter’s embargo was effective in exacerbating this weakness. Census data compiled between 1959 and 1979 show that 54 million people were added to the Soviet population. Clayton estimates that 2 to 3 million more people were added in each subsequent year. The Soviets were overwhelmed by the population boom and struggled to feed their people. At the same time, Clayton found that monthly wages increased, which led to an increased demand for meat. But by 1985, there was a meat shortage in the USSR. Why? Carter’s grain embargo, although ended by Reagan in 1981, had a lasting impact on livestock feed that resulted in Russian farmers decreasing livestock production . The embargo also forced the Soviets to pay premium prices for grain from other countries, nearly 25 percent above market prices . For years, Soviet leaders promised better diets and health , but now their people had less food. The embargo battered a weak socialist economy and created another layer of instability for the growing population. In 1980, Carter pushed further to punish the Soviets. He convinced the U.S. Olympic Committee to refrain from competing in the upcoming Moscow Olympics while the Soviets repressed their people and occupied Afghanistan. Carter not only promoted a boycott, but he also embargoed U.S. technology and other goods needed to produce the Olympics. He also stopped NBC from paying the final US$20 million owed to the USSR to broadcast the Olympics. China, Germany, Canada and Japan – superpowers of sport – also participated in the boycott. Historian Allen Guttmann said, “The USSR lost a significant amount of international legitimacy on the Olympic question.” Dissidents relayed to Carter that the boycott was another jab at Soviet leadership. And in America, public opinion supported Carter’s bold move – 73% of Americans favored the boycott . In his 1980 State of the Union address, Carter revealed an aggressive Cold War military plan. He declared a “ Carter doctrine ,” which said that the Soviets’ attempt to gain control of Afghanistan, and possibly the region, was regarded as a threat to U.S. interests. And Carter was prepared to meet the threat with “ military force .” Carter also announced in his speech a five-year spending initiative to modernize and strengthen the military because he recognized the post-Vietnam military cuts weakened the U.S. against the USSR. Ronald Reagan argued during the 1980 presidential campaign that, “Jimmy Carter risks our national security – our credibility – and damages American purposes by sending timid and even contradictory signals to the Soviet Union.” Carter’s policy was based on “weakness and illusion” and should be replaced “with one founded on improved military strength,” Reagan criticized. In 1985, however, President Reagan publicly acknowledged that his predecessor demonstrated great timing in modernizing and strengthening the nation’s forces, which further increased economic and diplomatic pressure on the Soviets. Reagan admitted that he felt “very bad” for misstating Carter’s policies and record on defense. Carter is most lauded today for his post-presidency activism , public service and defending human rights. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for such efforts. But that praise leaves out a significant portion of Carter’s presidential accomplishments. His foreign policy, emphasizing human rights, was a key instrument in dismantling the power of the Soviet Union. This is an updated version of a story that was originally published on May 2, 2019. Robert C. Donnelly , Associate Professor of History, Gonzaga University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Want stories like this delivered straight to your inbox?Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe to InqMORNING
Unidentified drones spotted over three US airbases in Britain, USAF confirms
Fresh blow for Putin as Al-Qaeda kills six Russian mercenaries in surprise Mali attackCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A fight broke out at midfield after Michigan stunned No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 on Saturday as Wolverines players attempted to plant their flag and were met by Buckeyes who confronted them. Police had to use pepper spray to break up the players, who threw punches and shoves in the melee that overshadowed the rivalry game. Ohio State police said in a statement “multiple officers representing Ohio and Michigan deployed pepper spray.” Ohio State police will investigate the fight, according to the statement. After the Ohio State players confronted their bitter rivals at midfield, defensive end Jack Sawyer grabbed the top of the Wolverines' flag and ripped it off the pole as the brawl moved toward the Michigan bench. Eventually, police officers rushed into the ugly scene. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said he understood the actions of his players. “There are some prideful guys on our team who weren't going to sit back and let that happen,” Day said. The two Ohio State players made available after the game brushed off questions about it. Michigan running back Kalel Mullings, who rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, didn't like how the Buckeyes players involved themselves in the Wolverines' postgame celebration. He called it “classless.” “For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game," he said in an on-field interview with Fox Sports. “It’s just bad for the sport, bad for college football. But at the end of the day, you know some people got to — they got to learn how to lose, man. ... We had 60 minutes, we had four quarters, to do all that fighting.” Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said everybody needs to do better. “So much emotions on both sides," he said. "Rivalry games get heated, especially this one. It’s the biggest one in the country, so we got to handle that better.” Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe best touchless trash cans for modern, mess-free living
Shares of Chinook Tyee Industry Ltd ( CVE:XCX – Get Free Report ) shot up 21.6% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$0.53 and last traded at C$0.45. 203,469 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 356% from the average session volume of 44,615 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.37. Chinook Tyee Industry Price Performance The company has a market cap of C$9.10 million and a PE ratio of -2.60. The business has a 50 day moving average of C$0.45 and a 200 day moving average of C$0.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 20.15, a current ratio of 1.55 and a quick ratio of 1.55. Chinook Tyee Industry Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Chinook Tyee Industry Limited operates as a financial service company in Canada. The company was formerly known as Global Railway Industries Ltd. and changed its name to Chinook Tyee Industry Limited in August 2013. Chinook Tyee Industry Limited is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Chinook Tyee Industry Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chinook Tyee Industry and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, passed away peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by family. Known as the longest-lived US president at 100, Carter was celebrated for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to global peace and civil rights. His leadership significantly strengthened US-India relations, particularly through his visit to India in 1978, a pivotal moment after strained relations during the Nixon administration. Carter's address to the Indian parliament championed democracy and free elections, establishing a framework for increased cooperation. President Carter's legacy persists in the growing US-India partnership, marked by collaboration in fields such as trade, technology, and energy. His shared democratic values laid the foundation for an enduring relationship between the two countries, influencing current international diplomacy. (With inputs from agencies.)
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $75,000 In iLearningEngines To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options If you suffered losses exceeding $75,000 in iLearningEngines between April 22, 2024 and August 28, 2024 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . [You may also click here for additional information] NEW YORK , Nov. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP , a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against iLearningEngines, Inc. ("iLearningEngines" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: AILE ) and reminds investors of the December 6, 2024 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York , Pennsylvania , California and Georgia . The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com . As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that (1) the Company's "Technology Partner" was an undisclosed related party; (2) that the Company used its undisclosed related party Technology Partner to report "largely fake" revenue and expenses; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company significantly overstated its revenue; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. On August 29, 2024 , before the market opened, Hindenburg Research published a report titled "iLearningEngines: An Artificial Intelligence SPAC With Artificial Partners and Artificial Revenue." In its report, Hindenburg Research alleged that nearly all of the Company's revenue and expenses in 2022 and 2023 were run through an undisclosed related party, which the Company refers to as their "Technology Partner." Hindenburg Research further alleged that iLearningEngines uses its undisclosed related party relationship to report revenue and expenses that are "largely fake." Among other things, Hindenburg Research alleged the Company used its undisclosed related party relationship with this Technology Partner to falsely report $138 million in revenue from the Indian market in 2022, when in reality, total revenue was, in fact, approximately $853,471.00 , or 99.4% less than what iLearningEngines claimed in revenue in the country that period. On this news, the Company's share price fell $1.70 or 53.3%, to close at $1.49 on August 29, 2024 , on unusually heavy trading volume. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding iLearningEngines' conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. To learn more about the iLearningEngines class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/AILE or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310) . Follow us for updates on LinkedIn , on X , or on Facebook . Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP ( www.faruqilaw.com ). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLPWith the development of The Witcher 4 now well underway , questions about what platforms the title will launch on are already being asked, with one dev not so keen on the approach taken with regards to 2023's Game of the Year, Baldur's Gate 3 . In a recent interview with Eurogamer , Charles Tremblay, vice president of technology at Witcher developer CD Projekt Red , was questioned about a potential PC-first launch for the sequel to 2015 Game of the Year The Witcher 3 , similar to Larian Studios' approach to Baldur's Gate 3. This was posited as a means of avoiding some of the development struggles Cyberpunk 2077 faced thanks to working with last-gen consoles, but is something that Tremblay did not seem particularly keen on. "It's something we discussed, actually, but we're not 100 percent sure. Maybe - so it's hard to say if we want to go this way at this stage." he begins. " would assume that as long as I understand, like, the strategy we want to do - I'm just trying not to say too much, bear with me - most likely, the launch, we will not have a PC-only launch, for example." On the other hand, Tremblay made clear that while The Witcher 4 will likely launch across multiple platforms, this certainly does not mean it will launch on all platforms. "That being said, will it mean that we will have - let's say there were 20 platforms available - we'll have 20 at launch? Maybe not. But at least PC only, and then scattered, it's not necessarily the approach we want to go forward, for sure." However, The Witcher 4 is, of course, still very early in development, and while the team at CDPR have a strategy in place for how the game's launch will likely take place, there's plenty of time for things to change before that release date comes. For now, though, console fans can likely rest easy that a PC-only launch does not seem on the cards for The Witcher 4. "I don't think this is a strategy we want to adopt right now." While you wait for CDPR's next masterpiece, check out some of the best RPGs around to tide you over.
NEW YORK — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded "the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”
A cluster of fireballs streaked across the Southern sky late Saturday night, sparking widespread astonishment and concern among witnesses. The occurrence, noted from New Orleans to Missouri, sparked initial conjecture regarding possible drone operations, particularly in light of reports of enigmatic drone appearances in New Jersey and other northeastern regions. Nonetheless, specialists have recently explained the reason: an abandoned Chinese satellite re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The satellite, a retired space probe utilized by the Beijing company SpaceView, re-entered the atmosphere over New Orleans at around 10 p.m. Its blazing fall persisted over Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri, fragmenting into smaller fireballs as it broke apart. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics verified the occurrence on X, highlighting that the satellite's return had produced a spectacular light display in the nighttime sky. Videos posted by witnesses across social media platforms, particularly X, captured the spectacle. One user described it as “huge,” noting the incredible trail left behind in Mobile, Alabama. Another witness jokingly believed the event was caused by “strange Christmas lights up on a hill.” The footage depicted the satellite breaking apart into several fireballs, similar to a giant meteor fragmenting. The satellite, utilized for imaging, was said to be out of operation. Although it happens frequently, the re-entry of space debris into Earth’s atmosphere is usually a rare and mesmerizing spectacle for observers in its trajectory. Although the majority of space debris incinerates harmlessly before hitting the ground, some items may stay intact, presenting possible dangers. The satellite's re-entry, nonetheless, did not cause any reported injuries or damages. The phenomenon has also ignited discussions about the increasing worries over space debris. Despite the designation of the satellite's descent as "benign space debris," concerns have been raised regarding the growing prevalence of Chinese technology in American airspace. "Chinese satellites and Chinese drones over American soil—what could go wrong?" one person posted, reflecting fears that such incidents could become more frequent. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reports that space debris re-enters the atmosphere on a regular basis, with an estimated 200 to 400 objects coming back annually. Most break apart before hitting the ground, and most larger fragments end up in the ocean. NOAA additionally stated that there are roughly 30,000 chunks of space debris larger than a softball in orbit, with about 1,000 pieces comparable in size to spacecraft. NASA observes space debris via its Space Surveillance Network, utilizing both space-based and terrestrial equipment to follow objects in Earth's orbit. This system assists in reducing the hazards that debris can present, as it may occasionally be perilous if it endures the extreme heat and pressure during re-entry. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News, World and around the world.
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ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never 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 said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.
has had two major talking points this year; and , both of which coalesce in its home appliances and SmartThings technology. It’s good timing, too. The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), a Washington-based anti-poverty non-profit organization, cites in its Net Zero Heroes report that appliances are responsible for 39 per cent of all energy-related CO2 emissions. With an already immense (and ever-growing) number of devices in use every day, it's a figure that will only increase without some form of change. There’s no time like the present, then, for manufacturers such as electronics giant Samsung to focus on improving the energy efficiency of its home appliances. It’s a move that has borne fruit, too, not least in the world of smart washing machines. According to Moohyung Lee, EVP and Head of Customer Experience Team for the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung, the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo sold 1,000 units in just three days when it launched in South Korea in February. By April, it surpassed cumulative sales of 10,000 units, an impressive number for a large appliance. Now, it’s launching in the US, with further plans for release in South America, Southeast Asia and Europe later this year – and there’s plenty more to get excited about in Samsung’s home appliance roster. Following the brand’s energy efficiency and AI-first display at IFA 2024, Lee told us more about how Samsung plans to continue its journey towards the smart home of the future. Clean and energy lean Through a combination of software and hardware, Samsung has been enhancing energy efficiency. Lee cites features like Ecobubble, which has been integral to Samsung washing machines for over a decade. Instead of using heat energy to offer a thorough clean, Ecobubble “turns detergent into bubbles that quickly penetrate the laundry, allowing for effective washing even in cold water, which reduces the energy consumption required to heat water”, he says. “Ecobubble can be combined with other technologies like Bubble Shot ― which further improves detergent penetration ― to uplift the energy efficiency,” he adds. There’s also Samsung’s Digital Inverter Technology, found in a variety of appliances from washer motors to refrigerator compressors, and serves to reduce energy wastage. “Not only is it an energy-efficient solution, but it reduces noise and increases durability,” Lee explains. “It reduces unnecessary use of energy by adjusting the components’ rotating speed according to different usage situations.” On the software side, the SmartThings Energy app allows users to monitor the energy consumption of connected appliances, and also supports AI Energy Mode to automatically optimize energy usage. “We have various opportunities like partnerships related to carbon intensity or Auto Demand Response (ADR) for example, which enhances the value of SmartThings Energy,” Lee adds “Looking ahead, Samsung plans to expand service availability from 68 countries at the end of 2023 to 110 markets by the end of 2024, increasing convenience and energy savings for consumers worldwide.” AI for all Samsung’s latest generation of washing machines, fridges and other large appliances also come decked with Bespoke AI, offering a host of clever features and some , too. “Samsung has introduced various AI-enhanced appliances that give solutions tailored to your needs,” says Lee. “Bespoke Jet Bot Combo AI features AI Floor Detect that senses floor environment with AI, and the refrigerator with AI Family Hub brings AI Vision Inside for better food management for consumers.” However, it’s the Bespoke AI Laundry Combo that captured homeowners' hearts and minds, by selling those 1,000 units in South Korea over just three days post-launch. “It features AI Wash & Dry, which selects proper washing and drying cycles based on the types of fabric, weight, and soil level,” Lee explains. “Additionally, it features the AI Home, a 7-inch LCD touchscreen, which allows users to intuitively monitor the machine and control various functions. “One standout feature of AI Home is that it displays the status of SmartThings-connected appliances and gives users the ability to control them remotely.” Understanding the opportunity So, how does Samsung make sure its features and hardware can actually have an impact? According to Lee, the manufacturer uses the “standardized testing protocols” required in each region to meet its energy regulations. “This includes rigorous testing of our appliances against established energy efficiency standards," he continues. "For features like the AI Energy Mode, we also collaborate with third-party organizations to validate effectiveness and enhance credibility with consumers.” Samsung focuses not only on energy savings but also considers carbon emissions as an important indicator. “By obtaining the Carbon Trust's Carbon Footprint Certification and participating in the standard for quantifying carbon emissions, it is establishing objective indicators to measure the impact of its products,” explains Lee. “Samsung is researching and developing technologies to provide solutions that can reduce impact on the environment as much as possible, while also upgrading products and services to make it easier for consumers to participate in this journey. We are applying this vision from the beginning when designing our products.” This, he explains, can mean anything from developing energy-efficient products, utilizing recycled materials or reusing discarded components. “For example, certain Bespoke stick vacuum cleaner filters use recycled materials from discarded fishing nets, and recycled aluminum is applied to some of Bespoke panels of our refrigerators.” We all row the boat Consumer education plays an important role in making sure these features achieve their full potential. Lee says Samsung encourages consumer participation right from the get-go: “For example, when a product is connected to SmartThings, the app gives users the suggestion to utilise AI Energy Mode. “Furthermore, AI Energy Mode supports frequently used wash cycles such as Cotton, AI Wash, Synthetics, Mixed Load, and Super Speed to deliver more consistent energy savings. Once a user turns on AI Energy Mode in SmartThings Energy, it works its magic until deactivated, allowing continuous energy saving.” Once connected, the SmartThings Energy platform can be accessed in myriad ways, whether that’s via on-device screens like the Family Hub or AI Home, using other SmartThings-connected Samsung appliances with a screen or, of course, using a mobile phone. “Whether it’s simply monitoring energy usage or using AI Energy Mode to reduce additional energy consumption in daily life, consumers can decide how extensively they want to use the platform," says Lee, explaining that users can even choose to set their own goals on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. “Samsung designs home appliances not just as functional machines, but as companions that improve and enhance the user experience,” says Lee, a principle that extends to SmartThings Energy. “Moving forward, we’ll continue to provide new ways for users to stay true to their values in daily life.” The increased focus on efficiency in the home comes at an important crossroads on the road to carbon zero, though, of course, . For now, though, energy-conscious brands like Samsung are at the forefront of using such technology to its advantage – it's not 'just a washing machine' anymore.
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