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The Ministry of Culture's Libraries Department organised Wednesday the library and information centres specialists forum, titled "Emerging Technologies and Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Libraries." The event brought together library specialists from diverse sectors throughout the country. To mark this occasion, Director of the Libraries Department at the Ministry of Culture, Jassim Ahmed al-Buainain, said the forum was intended to forge communication and bonds among information and libraries' specialists in Qatar, emphasising that the ministry is always committed to offering superb occupational support in the area of libraries and information centres to increase cultural awareness and share practical applications in this field. Libraries are going through radical changes by virtue of rapid technological advancements, primarily the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that alters the modus operandi of people's reaction to information, since AI provides innovative solutions and broadens libraries' horizons to further offer professional services, added al-Buainain. He emphasised that libraries are facing daunting challenges in the rapidly advancing technological era, as the department requires big data to meet the diverse needs of users, highlighting that libraries always seek to combine AI technologies in their services so as to streamline the classification of books and other digital resources. The specialists focused on library management concepts, the role of AI application in optimising libraries' activities, reinforcing their efficiency and performance, promoting their outputs, in addition to setting knowledge-based strategies and sharing successful experiences. In addition, the forum featured a seminar titled, 'Emerging technologies in libraries,' moderated by Abdulkarim al-Humaydi, with the participation of Dr Saif al-Jabri from the Sultanate of Oman and Dr Khaled al-Halabi from Egypt. It discussed the technological advancements in libraries, virtual reality applications, digital marketing in libraries and cybersecurity. The speakers discussed the impact of technological advancements on libraries, focusing on their ability to offer services and to optimise the user experience. They also addressed the concept of digital libraries, the transition from traditional paper-based libraries to electronic ones, and the available online resources. The key takeaways from this seminar focused on the AI impact on libraries and information centres, along with the potential challenges and opportunities pertinent to implementing these changes in libraries' operation strategy, the merits generated by Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies in optimising library experience for visitors and providing broader access to information and educational material. In addition to digital marketing for libraries, cybersecurity, the relationship between them in the event of a breach of a personal account used for the library's digital marketing applications, as well as the high-consequence of data leaks involving the library or its users. The participants capped off the seminar by emphasising the importance of giving foremost priority to library cybersecurity, taking precautionary measures to safeguard information and users, recruiting cybersecurity practitioners as part of the libraries' promotional strategy and maintaining a guidance content as an awareness tool for users of Internet safety and in protecting their digital identity. Related Story MoPH closes two units in private healthcare centreIPC’s parliamentary headache
Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, GallupMonty Rakusen/DigitalVision via Getty Images Thesis In mid-December, Gentex Corporation ( NASDAQ: GNTX ) announced the all-cash acquisition of their smaller competitor Voxx International ( NASDAQ: VOXX ) in a move that will expand on the in-house product lineup. With forecasted organic growth Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Salesforce, Google sway market cap stock movers on Thursday
ROT IN SCHOOLS! School heads in panic as First Lady sets up special monitoring unit
The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has granted Summit Power time to submit its financial statement, according to a disclosure published on the Dhaka Stock Exchange website yesterday. The listed power generation company now has until March 31 of 2025 to submit its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2024. The same will be applicable for the submission of the unaudited financial statements for the quarters ending on September 30 and December 31 of 2024. The original deadlines were October 28 and November 14 of 2024 and January 30 of 2025 respectively. Summit Power assured stakeholders that it would complete the necessary audits and prepare all required reports within the extended timeline, as per the disclosure. The development comes after the company recently sought a five-month extension from the BSEC for submitting the audited financial report for fiscal year 2023-24, which ended in June this year. Publicly listed companies have to submit audited financial reports within 134 days of the end of a fiscal year and hold the annual general meeting within the following fiscal year. The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has granted Summit Power time to submit its financial statement, according to a disclosure published on the Dhaka Stock Exchange website yesterday. The listed power generation company now has until March 31 of 2025 to submit its audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2024. The same will be applicable for the submission of the unaudited financial statements for the quarters ending on September 30 and December 31 of 2024. The original deadlines were October 28 and November 14 of 2024 and January 30 of 2025 respectively. Summit Power assured stakeholders that it would complete the necessary audits and prepare all required reports within the extended timeline, as per the disclosure. The development comes after the company recently sought a five-month extension from the BSEC for submitting the audited financial report for fiscal year 2023-24, which ended in June this year. Publicly listed companies have to submit audited financial reports within 134 days of the end of a fiscal year and hold the annual general meeting within the following fiscal year.NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes rose to more records Wednesday after tech companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6% to add to what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. It’s the 56th time the index has hit an all-time high this year after climbing in 11 of the last 12 days . The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308 points, or 0.7%, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3% to its own record. Salesforce helped pull the market higher after delivering stronger revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit fell just short. CEO Mark Benioff highlighted the company’s artificial-intelligence offering for customers, saying “the rise of autonomous AI agents is revolutionizing global labor, reshaping how industries operate and scale.” The stock price of the company, which helps businesses manage their customers, jumped 11%. Marvell Technology leaped even more after delivering better results than expected, up 23.2%. CEO Matt Murphy said the semiconductor supplier is seeing strong demand from AI and gave a forecast for profit in the upcoming quarter that topped analysts’ expectations. All the optimistic talk helped Nvidia , the company whose chips are powering much of the move into AI, rally 3.5%. It was the strongest force pushing upward on the S&P 500 by far. They helped offset an 8.9% drop for Foot Locker, which reported profit and revenue that fell short of analysts’ expectations. CEO Mary Dillon said the company is taking a more cautious view, and it cut its forecasts for sales and profit this year. Dillon pointed to how keen customers are for discounts and how soft demand has been outside of Thanksgiving week and other key selling periods. Retailers overall have offered mixed signals about how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain. Their spending has been one of the main reasons the U.S. economy has avoided a recession that earlier seemed inevitable after the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to crush inflation. But shoppers are now contending with still-high prices and a slowing job market . This week’s highlight for Wall Street will be Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government, which will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. A narrower report released Wednesday morning suggested employers in the private sector increased their payrolls by less last month than economists expected. Hiring in manufacturing was the weakest since the spring, according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The report strengthened traders’ expectations that the Fed will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. The central bank had appeared set to continue cutting rates into next year, but the election of Donald Trump has scrambled Wall Street’s expectations somewhat. Trump’s preference for higher tariffs and other policies could lead to higher inflation , which could alter the Fed’s plans . Fed Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the central bank can afford to cut rates cautiously because inflation has slowed from its peak two years ago and the economy remains sturdy. A separate report on Wednesday said health care, finance and other businesses in the U.S. services sector are continuing to grow, but not by as much as before and not by as much as economists expected. One respondent from the construction industry told the survey from the Institute for Supply Management that the Fed’s rate cuts haven't pulled down mortgage rates as much as hoped. Plus, “the unknown effect of tariffs clouds the future.” In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.18% from 4.23% late Tuesday. On Wall Street, Campbell’s sank 6.2% for one of the S&P 500’s sharper losses despite increasing its dividend and reporting a stronger profit than analysts expected. Its revenue fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, and the National Football League’s Washington Commanders hired Campbell’s CEO Mark Clouse as its team president. Gains for airline stocks helped offset that drop after JetBlue Airways said it saw stronger bookings for travel in November and December following the presidential election. It also said it’s benefiting from lower fuel prices, as well as lower costs due to improved on-time performance. JetBlue jumped 8.3%, while Southwest Airlines climbed 3.5%. All told, the S&P 500 rose 36.61 points to 6,086.49. The Dow climbed 308.51 to 45,014.04, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 254.21 to 19,735.12. In stock markets abroad, South Korea’s Kospi sank 1.4% following a night full of drama in Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol was facing possible impeachment after he suddenly declared martial law on Tuesday night, prompting troops to surround the parliament. He revoked the martial law declaration six hours later. In the crypto market , bitcoin climbed near $99,000 after Trump said he would nominate Paul Atkins , a cryptocurrency advocate, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.
Shah Rukh Khan Wishes 'Coolest Of Cool' Rajinikanth With A Throwback Pic On His 74th BirthdayFormer President Jimmy Carter left one last parting gift for president-elect Donald Trump after his death at 100 on Sunday. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs , the American flag should fly at “half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions after the death of the president or a former president.” This means that on Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, all flags will be at half-staff in honor of the late president. The longest-living U.S. commander-in-chief, Carter died at his home in Plains, Georgia, his son, Chip, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Sunday. Trump sent his condolences to Carter’s family in a Truth Social post Sunday, writing: “Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History.” He added: “Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.” One last gift from Jimmy Carter, all flags will be at half-staff on Inauguration Day pic.twitter.com/vQsl8wlrXY Mufasa: The Lion King and Sonic the Hedgehog 3 continue to bolster the box office’s holiday performance, with both films raking in over $60 million this week. After an initial disappointing opening weekend, Disney’s prequel to its beloved tale bounced back over the Christmas stretch, bringing in a domestic total of around $63.8 million since Wednesday. Meanwhile, Sonic 3 trailed slightly behind with an estimated gross of $60.4 million since Christmas. As both films continue to perform well domestically and overseas, other new releases like Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu also found surprising wins at the holiday box office—with the vampire flick posting $40.3 million during its five-day opening. Elsewhere, the Bob Dylan biopic starring Timothée Chalamet, A Complete Unknown , is also on course to gross $23.3 million over the five-day Christmas stretch, while Nicole Kidman’s raunchy erotica for A24, Babygirl , reported a $7 million five-day opening. Wicked also continues to defy gravity, posting a global gross of $634.4 million and surpassing Mamma Mia! as the highest-grossing stage musical adaptation of all time. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Boxing Week sales are still in full swing, folks! As an avid J.Crew fan , I can honestly say that the brand’s discount-laden factory store (the brand’s online outlet) is a great way to get high-quality wardrobe staples without the big price tag. J.Crew Factory always offers discounts up to 40 percent off J.Crew, but for a limited time, you can unlock even more savings from already discounted items. Right now, J.Crew Factory is offering 70 percent off clearance items with the code SALE70 at checkout. Now’s the time to invest in evergreen staples like jeans and office-friendly blazers while they’re half off, or grab a few outwear essentials to round out your cold-weather lineup. The sale also includes tons of denim for just $50, pure cotton crewneck T-shirts for $20, and even new arrivals like NYE frocks and cashmere items. And the sale is not just for women; the gents’ and kids’ sections are equally full of additional savings. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were spotted enjoying themselves at Jeff Bezos ’ holiday party at a high-end sushi restaurant in Colorado, on Saturday. The power couple appeared smiling and holding hands in photos, published by Page Six, that showed them departing the gathering at Matsuhisa’s location in Aspen. Their invite came after Bezos traveled to Mar-a-Lago earlier this month to bend the knee to her father, President-elect Donald Trump. Saturday’s event appeared to serve as a date night for Trump’s eldest daughter and his former adviser after they attended his Mar-a-Lago Christmas gala earlier this week alongside their three kids. The pair kept it casual for the gathering—Kushner wore a dark-teal button-down and black slacks, while Trump donned a brown suede dress, a tan leather jacket, and a pair of high-heel boots. Page Six reported that actor Kevin Costner also made an appearance at the party after being spotted earlier with Jennifer Lopez at a different nearby spot, although she was not at the Amazon founder’s event. Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez shot down rumors last week that they had married in the same resort town where the gathering was held. Kieran Culkin once got Mark Ruffalo high while on the job after switching out a prop joint with the real thing. In a profile with The Guardian published Saturday, Culkin recalled the prank his 17-year-old self concocted while starring alongside Ruffalo in an off-Broadway play in 2000, and explained that he “just watched” as Ruffalo took a draw of the “fake” joint before passing it to his co-stars on stage. “I’m like, ‘I thought this was a good prank. I’m stupid. Oh my God, I’m so sorry.’ But actually, they loved it,” Culkin remembered. “Mark says, ‘I haven’t smoked pot in 10 years; the second half’s going to be so much fun.’ There was this other actor who had never smoked pot in her life. She goes, ‘Is this what being high is? This is lovely.’ And then Phyllis Newman comes in and goes, ‘I haven’t smoked pot since the 1960s. Thank you, darling.’” The Succession star proceeded to express that he was “17 and stupid” and added, “I’m 42 now. I know better. I’m not going to try to get anyone high on stage.” Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “ CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S. Two Sasquatch hunters were found dead after they went missing while searching for the mythical beast on Christmas Eve . The men, aged 37 and 59, were found after a 60-strong volunteer search and rescue team joined authorities in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State . They had intended to be home for Christmas Day, but a family member reported them missing to Skamania County authorities after they didn’t return by the morning. Police said the harsh weather conditions and their ill-preparedness for the forest contributed to the men’s deaths. Seven law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard used canines, drones, ground teams and helicopters to locate them. “Their exhaustive search efforts resulted in bringing family members home to their loved ones,” the sheriff’s office said of the search teams. The force extended their “deepest sympathies and condolences to the families” involved. Loved ones of Hudson Meek, the teen actor who died in a car accident last week, gathered to celebrate his life on Saturday. The “celebration of life” service, held at a Baptist church in Homewood, Alabama, was livestreamed on the Baby Driver star’s Instagram. Several of the loved ones shared their favorite memories of the 16-year-old, and a choir sang in tribute. Fans expressed their appreciation for the service and their condolences in the comment section. “Wonderful celebration of Hudson’s life,” wrote user @melindaeubankswest, while @jeanniecmom added, “Praying for Hudson’s family at this difficult time. Fellow teen actor Grace Culwell shared in the comments that she was in attendance, writing: ”Such a beautiful service & so glad we were able to be there. Sending so much love & prayers to you all.” Meek died on Dec. 21 in from injuries sustained during a fall from a moving car on Dec. 19 in his hometown, Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Meek was known best for appearing in the 2017 crime movie Baby Driver alongside Ansel Elgort, Jon Hamm and Jamie Foxx. A post shared by Hudson Meek (@hudsonmeek) Andy Cohen’s biggest gripe with CNN star and New Year’s Eve partner-in-crime Anderson Cooper? Cooper’s annual giggle fit. Cohen explained to People why the anchor’s unceasing laughter adds extra chaos throughout their annual special. “Well, [it’s] that I have to be the straight guy,” Cohen said. “Literally, he’s in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I’m the one that’s hitting all the commercial breaks.” Cohen said he turns “into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes” while Cooper becomes “Mr. Bravo.” “It’s a very funny role reversal,” the Bravo star said. The longtime friends have hosted the CNN event together since 2017 after former co-host Kathy Griffin was booted in the wake of backlash for posing with a mask depicting the severed head of Donald Trump. Cohen and Cooper have found themselves in various antics since then— some alcoholic , some not —leading to Cooper’s own frustrations with the Bravo host. Cooper joked on Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live earlier this month that he constantly worries about “who [Cohen’s] gonna insult and what the clean up on aisle 3 is gonna be in the morning.” Billionaire businessman Charles Dolan, who founded HBO and Cablevision and whose family owns Madison Square Garden and a number of New York City sports teams, died on Saturday—he was 98. Dolan created Cablevision Systems Corporation in 1973, merging several small Long Island cable TV systems, according to the New York Times . At the time, the company served just 1,500 customers. But when he sold it for $17.7 billion in 2015, it supplied cable TV to over three million households in the New York metropolitan area, the Times reported. He also launched HBO in the early ’70s—it was at the time a pioneering cable TV channel that offered feature-length movies with no commercials. After his death, Dolan’s family will continue to be a powerful and influential force in the worlds of media and sports. His son Patrick is the owner of Newsday , the Long Island-based newspaper he and Charles bought in 2016. The family also owns MSG in New York City and the professional sports teams that play there, the NHL’s Rangers and the NBA’s Knicks. All three entities are led by Dolan’s son James. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur . It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black , vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini. Tina Knowles sprang to her daughter Beyoncé’s defense after online trolls criticized her NFL halftime show performance on Christmas Day. Knowles clapped back at critics by reposting a message about her famous daughter on her Instagram on Friday. In the screenshot, user @iamkrisiman praised Beyoncé and wrote that “no matter how undeniably talented you are, people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say.” Knowles cosigned the post in a lengthy caption. “It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later,” she wrote. “Obviously you are so obsessed with them, addicted to them, and secretly admire them,” she added. According to the New York Post, Knowles’ post came after some social media users called Beyoncé “overrated.” Fans and celebrities in the comments of Knowles’ response seemed to love her mama bear energy. “Period!!! Ms. T,” singer LeToya Luckett wrote. “All. Of. This!!!!!!” Oscar winner Octavia Spencer added. A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles) Elon Musk appeared to borrow a line from the 2008 film Tropic Thunder in an ongoing social media fight about H1B visas. Musk hit back against MAGA’s top players in a series of X posts, alleging that H1B visas are the reason why he, “and hundreds of other companies that made America strong,” are in the country. To a skeptical X user, Musk blasted: “Take a big step back and F--- YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Although some were shocked by Musk’s sudden escalation—with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon calling him a “toddler”—others noticed that the disparaging remark was similar to a line in Tropic Thunder . Character Les Grossman, played by Tom Cruise, says in the film: “First, take a big step back, and literally, F--- YOUR OWN FACE ... I don’t know what kind of pan-pacific bulls--t power play you’re trying to pull here, but Asia, Jack, is my territory. So whatever you’re thinking, you’d better think again.” In response to Musk’s comment, the X user tweeted, “Bro was just memeing. I wouldn’t take it too seriously.” Nothing beats the classics pic.twitter.com/MRSdXifhH5
Croatia’s incumbent president wins most votes at polls but still faces runoffFormer President Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived president in U.S. history, died at his home, his family and the Carter Center confirmed Sunday. He was 100. Carter, a Democrat, served as president for one term from 1977 to 1981. He’s also well-known for his humanitarian work after leaving the White House, including for Habitat for Humanity and peace deal negotiations. Remembered for his quick rise in national politics and dedication to world conflict resolution in the decades after he left office, Carter’s years in the White House marked a transition from the Watergate era to the Reagan conservatism of the 1980s. He oversaw major changes to the U.S. government during a time of high inflation, high interest rates, unemployment, and international instability, including the Iran hostage crisis. The former peanut farmer was also one of four presidents to win the Nobel Peace Prize, cited for decades advancing “peaceful solutions” to international conflict and advancing human rights, democracy, and social and economic development. “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices,” Carter said during his acceptance speech in 2002. “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace.” Carter, whose full name is James Earl Carter, Jr., was born on Oct. 1, 1924, in the small farming town of Plains, Georgia. The future politician was raised in the nearby community of Archery by his father, James Earl Carter, Sr., a farmer and businessman, and by his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, a registered nurse. After attending public school in Plains, Carter spent his college years at Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology before earning a science degree in 1946 from the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The same year, he married Rosalynn Smith, a union that lasted until she died in 2023. He soon entered the Navy, serving as a submariner in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets and rising to the rank of lieutenant. Admiral Hyman Rickover chose him for the nuclear submarine program before assigning Carter to Schenectady, New York. He completed graduate work at Union College in reactor technology and nuclear physics. This proved pivotal for the future peanut farmer, as he soon became the senior officer of the pre-commissioning crew on the Seawolf, the second nuclear submarine. Carter served as a naval officer for seven years until his father died from pancreatic cancer in 1953, prompting a move back to Plains, where he took over the family business, Carter Farms. He and his wife also operated Carter’s Warehouse, a farm supply and general-purpose seed company. He first ran for governor in 1966, losing in the primary to Ellis Arnall and Lester Maddox, but won the 1970 gubernatorial election. As Georgia’s 76th governor, Carter declared in his inaugural address that “the time for racial discrimination is over” while also emphasizing the importance of ecology and government efficiency. The Democratic National Committee selected him to be the campaign chairman for the 1974 congressional and gubernatorial elections, which saw Democrats expand their majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives in the wake of the Watergate scandal. He announced his presidential campaign on Dec. 12, 1974, and was nominated on the first ballot at the 1976 Democratic National Convention, choosing former Sen. Walter F. Mondale (D-Minn.) as his running mate. During the 1976 presidential election, he pitched himself as a reformer “untainted” by Washington politics, striking a contrast with former President Gerald Ford, who faced mounting scrutiny for pardoning his predecessor during the Watergate fallout. Carter also presided over the new Departments of Energy and Education, instituting new programs in both agencies. He also signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, doubling the size of the national park system and tripling its wilderness areas. Two notable achievements during his presidency were the Camp David Agreement in 1978, establishing amity between Egypt and Israel, and the Panama Canal treaties in 1977, returning control of the canal to Panama in 1999. Carter also established full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, following in the footsteps of his predecessors. In 1979, he negotiated the SALT II nuclear limitation treaty with the Soviet Union in an effort to reduce the manufacturing of strategic nuclear weapons. However, his presidency also hit roadblocks, as the country was bedeviled by rising energy costs and unemployment, historically high levels of inflation, soaring interest rates, and tensions with international politics. Efforts to reduce the increasing inflation and interest rates resulted in a short recession, further swamping Carter’s administration. He withdrew the SALT II treaty after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Yet one of the central flashpoints for the end of Carter’s time in the White House was the Iran Hostage Crisis when Iranian militants kidnapped 52 American diplomats and citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. With the Carter Center, he helped with conflict mediation in countries and regions around the world, including Ethiopia (1989), North Korea (1994), Liberia (1994), Haiti (1994), Sudan (1999), Uganda (1999), Venezuela (2002-2003), Colombia (2008), and the Middle East (2003-present). The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Carter the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize for his “decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” He and his wife volunteered with Habitat for Humanity for one week every year until 2020. Rosalynn Carter died in 2023 at the age of 96. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished. She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me,” Carter said in a statement after her death. He entered hospice care on Feb. 18, 2023, and remained there until his death. The former president had been diagnosed with skin cancer in 2015 that soon spread to his liver and brain, but after receiving treatment, the cancer went into remission. He is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. President Joe Biden accepted a request to deliver Carter’s eulogy when he visited the former president during hospice care in 2023.NoneNone