Taylor Swift served up a holiday special to a sweet Kansas City fan. After the pop princess made a visit to a local children's hospital, she shared online some of the presents to the kids she met. One fan, in particular, left quite the impression on Taylor after referring to the singer's outfit as "tea." She thanked the young girl and seemingly took note for a future act of kindness. In a video shared to social media, the young girl opened her present, unveiling articles of clothing from high-fashion brand Miu Miu. Taylor included a note which said: “When you asked where I got it, I purposely didn’t tell you because i had a plan :) Picked you up a few things I hope you’ll think are tea. Merry Christmas ! Love, Taylor." Taylor Swift reveals choreography easter egg on Eras Tour leaving fans stunned Taylor Swift reveals the role she'll play in Selena Gomez's upcoming wedding with Benny Blanco The young fan was elated by the present, expressing joy and gratitude. But she wasn't the only individual to receive a special present from the Bad Blood singer. Another young fan from the hospital was gifted a Dyson hair wrap after telling Taylor it was her Christmas wish. Taylor wrote on her memo that she was sending over the pricy hair tool in case Santa didn't pull through. Fans found the gestures from Taylor absolutely adorable. One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: "We made the right person famous ten fold. It has nothing to do with how much money she has. She could’ve not done anything, but she did because she wanted to make this sweetheart smile." Another added: “I didn’t tell you where I got it because I had a plan” mind you the outfit together was $10k. she is so generous but if she told me her outfit was miu miu I STILL would not have just gone out and bought it because I cannot afford it she is so precious hahaha." A third said: "That is sweet to purposely not tell her where she got her outfit bcuz she had a plan! One of the things I love about Taylor she is a planner and got her the best present and a gorgeous leather jacket!" Taylor's visit to the children's hospital came just after the conclusion of her worldwide the Eras Tour, where she brought her music to listeners across the world. DAILY NEWSLETTER: Sign up here to get the latest news and updates from the Mirror US straight to your inbox with our FREE newsletter.Boothby scores 16, William & Mary beats Navy 82-76
Guest Opinion: Trump should reform financial watchdogs. Here’s how
HOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company's collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives , including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling , were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Ken Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron's new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand's tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that "We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company's website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. This story was corrected to fix the spelling of Ken Lay’s first name, which had been misspelled “Key.” Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’
How Elon Musk's memes, jokes, and passing thoughts influence the stock market
Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. stock falls Monday, underperforms market
Mr Carter, a former peanut farmer, served one term in the White House between 1977 and 1981, taking over in the wake of the Watergate scandal and the end of the Vietnam War. After his defeat by Ronald Reagan, he spent his post-presidency years as a global humanitarian, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. His death on Sunday was announced by his family and came more than a year after he decided to enter hospice care. He was the longest-lived US president. His son, Chip Carter, said: “My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love. “My brothers, sister and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honouring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” World leaders have paid tribute to Mr Carter, including US President Joe Biden, who was one of the first politicians to endorse Mr Carter for president in 1976 and said the world had “lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian”. He said: “Over six decades, we had the honour of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well. “With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.” Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Carter was “a principled man who dedicated his life to seeking to advance the cause of peace across the world”. He added: “On behalf of the people of Ireland, may I express my sympathies to President Carter’s children and extended family, to President Joe Biden, to the people of the United States, and to his wide circle of colleagues and friends across the globe.” Mr Carter is expected to receive a state funeral featuring public observances in Atlanta and Washington DC before being buried in his home town of Plains, Georgia. A moderate democrat born in Plains in October 1924, Mr Carter’s political career took him from the Georgia state senate to the state governorship and finally, the White House, where he took office as the 39th president. His presidency saw economic disruption amid volatile oil prices, along with social tensions at home and challenges abroad including the Iranian revolution that sparked a 444-day hostage crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. But he also brokered the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel, which led to a peace treaty between the two countries in 1979. After his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he worked for more than four decades leading the Carter Centre, which he and his late wife Rosalynn co-founded in 1982 to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope”. Under his leadership, the Carter Center managed to virtually eliminate Guinea Worm disease, which has gone from affecting 3.5 million people in Africa and Asia in 1986 to just 14 in 2023. Mrs Carter, who died last year aged 96, had played a more active role in her husband’s presidency than previous first ladies, with Mr Carter saying she had been “my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished”. Earlier this year, on his 100th birthday, Mr Carter received a private congratulatory message from the King, expressing admiration for his life of public service.Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will change economic conditions in Australia and around the world, writes Stephen Koukoulas . POLICYMAKERS IN AUSTRALIA are getting a clear picture of the economic policy changes that the new Trump administration will implement when Donald Trump takes power in January 2025. The early news is troubling. Trump has announced that he will follow through with his commitment to impose tariffs , initially against Canada, Mexico and China. Furthermore, Trump is threatening to impose a 100 per cent tariff on the BRICS countries if they go ahead with their proposal to create a new currency to compete with the U.S. dollar in global foreign exchange markets. The countries in the BRICS economic body are Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Egypt and Ethiopia — which suggests the tariff impost would decimate global trade if implemented. There is even more to just the tariff issue alone. If Trump sticks with another of his pre-election plans, there will be further across-the-board tariffs imposed on exporters to the U.S. which will obviously severely undermine global trade and global economic growth. Prices on tariff-impacted goods will rise, but overall, the crunching of economic growth will be disinflationary. Trump’s return offers gains for Australia and other trade competitors If the second Trump Administration is as incompetent and corrupt as the first, Australia will win handsomely again. The Australian economy suffers in a tariff war There will be a direct and substantially negative impact on the Australian economy from the imposition of tariffs. When analysing the impact of US tariffs and the almost certain retaliatory action from its trading partners, the Reserve Bank of Australia ( RBA ) analysis found: 'However, weaker Chinese growth will have relatively strong negative implications for Australia given the strength of export trade links. In the extreme scenario, weaker export demand, and slower growth would be disinflationary, putting downward pressure on policy rate expectations, government bond yields and the Australian dollar.' And, it noted that: '...some modest downward pressure on policy rate expectations...' Similarly, when the first Trump administration sparked a tariff dispute between the U.S. and China, Treasury analysis found: 'An escalation in tariffs between the United States and China will negatively affect global growth. In the short run, tariffs are likely to disrupt global supply chains, and could reduce confidence, leading to a reduction in spending, particularly investment.' Treasury added: 'GDP growth in Australia will also be affected by lower global growth, particularly given the U.S. and China are two of our largest trading partners. A key mechanism through which lower global growth affects Australia is through lower commodity prices, which will reduce our national income.' There is no doubt that the RBA and Treasury would still hold these views and would be advising the government accordingly. Both economic agencies will be preparing strategies for the government to deal with the fallout from such a dislocation in global trade. And, the sooner the government and RBA act, the lesser the fallout for investment and unemployment. Altruism among voters fading as selfishness prevails A global trend shows altruism diminishing amongst voters, with many electing leaders based on what they can do for the individual. The RBA has an easy decision to make As noted, the Trump tariffs and likely tariff retaliation mean lower economic growth with lower inflation. At a time when GDP growth in Australia is already weak and inflation is comfortably in the target zone, an immediate interest rate cut from the RBA would be a simple and appropriate policy response to the shitstorm that is about to smash the global economy and Australia’s major export market, China. GDP growth is struggling around 1 to 1.5 per cent. Inflation is 2.1 per cent and has been in the RBA’s 2 to 3 per cent range for three straight months and the rest of the world is cutting interest rates aggressively. The rising spare capacity in the labour market has seen annual wage growth slow from 4.3 per cent to 3.5 per cent with more weakness likely if the economy remains in the doldrums. The RBA Board meets next on 10 December 2024 and there are many independently-minded economists thinking that lower interest rates are necessary — even before the latest headwinds from the U.S. hit our shores. An interest rate cut in December from the RBA – in part in response to what it knows now about U.S. trade policy – plus the updated run of domestic fundamentals, would be prudent and sensible. It would be an insurance move against the effects of higher tariffs, yet weaker global growth and elevated problems in the Australian economy. Waiting until the RBA meeting after that – in February 2025, or even the one after that, in April – will impose additional months of monetary policy austerity when there are so many concerns impacting the local economy. No coming back from Trump The next Trump Administration is going to be a period of chaos from which the United States may never recover socially or economically. What should the government do? The appropriate government response to the tariff imbroglio is less obvious, particularly in the near term. To assist local businesses, the government can try to carve out exemptions from the countries imposing tariffs but this is hit-and-miss and does not deal with the broader macroeconomic effect of weaker growth and lower inflation. It may want to consider its own retaliatory action, with a tariff impost on countries hurting Australian businesses with their tariffs. Again, this is messy and would make Australia an active participant in the global trade war which is something against the thinking of good economic managers. Another option is to relax budget settings further. This means allowing the automatic stabilisers in the budget to work through the economy – lower taxes and higher government spending – to support private sector activity. In more extreme negative economic circumstances, some additional discretionary fiscal measures could be implemented to maintain employment and to support economic activity. Much like the fiscal responses to the global financial crisis and the pandemic. Reserve Bank playing with fire — beware of the creeping recession The RBA is risking repeating the errors that led to the deep and dark recession of the early 1990s. Stephen Koukoulas reports. Difficult times ahead The problems generated by the Trump administration – even before he is sworn in – will change economic conditions in Australia. Most of the impacts will be negative. Policymakers will be watching and the sensible ones will be looking for policy agility to safeguard the Australian economy when the fallout hits. Policymakers must start to act to shore up the Australian economy against the backwash – which is potentially huge – from the Trump smashing on global trade. Stephen Koukoulas is an IA columnist and one of Australia’s leading economic visionaries, past Chief Economist of Citibank and Senior Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA. Related Articles No coming back from Trump Trump's runaway trolley piling up with cuckoo captain's picks Trump's tariffs and their effect on the Australian economy U.S. Election not about economic anxiety, it’s about religious identity anxiety Trump taps into new media and rise in youth conservatism POLITICS AUSTRALIA CONSUMERS FINANCE ECONOMICS DONALD TRUMP US Election US Tariffs Australia trade war tariff war Stephen Koukoulas BRICS RBA Treasury Share Article
By WILL WEISSERT, JUAN ZAMORANO and GARY FIELDS PANAMA CITY (AP) — Teddy Roosevelt once declared the Panama Canal “one of the feats to which the people of this republic will look back with the highest pride.” More than a century later, Donald Trump is threatening to take back the waterway for the same republic. Related Articles National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use National Politics | An analyst looks ahead to how the US economy might fare under Trump National Politics | Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal National Politics | House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of ‘regularly’ paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl The president-elect is decrying increased fees Panama has imposed to use the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. He says if things don’t change after he takes office next month, “We will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America, in full, quickly and without question.” Trump has long threatened allies with punitive action in hopes of winning concessions. But experts in both countries are clear: Unless he goes to war with Panama, Trump can’t reassert control over a canal the U.S. agreed to cede in the 1970s. Here’s a look at how we got here: It is a man-made waterway that uses a series of locks and reservoirs over 51 miles (82 kilometers) to cut through the middle of Panama and connect the Atlantic and Pacific. It spares ships having to go an additional roughly 7,000 miles (more than 11,000 kilometers) to sail around Cape Horn at South America’s southern tip. The U.S. International Trade Administration says the canal saves American business interests “considerable time and fuel costs” and enables faster delivery of goods, which is “particularly significant for time sensitive cargoes, perishable goods, and industries with just-in-time supply chains.” An effort to establish a canal through Panama led by Ferdinand de Lesseps, who built Egypt’s Suez Canal, began in 1880 but progressed little over nine years before going bankrupt. Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives, by some estimates. Panama was then a province of Colombia, which refused to ratify a subsequent 1901 treaty licensing U.S. interests to build the canal. Roosevelt responded by dispatching U.S. warships to Panama’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The U.S. also prewrote a constitution that would be ready after Panamanian independence, giving American forces “the right to intervene in any part of Panama, to re-establish public peace and constitutional order.” In part because Colombian troops were unable to traverse harsh jungles, Panama declared an effectively bloodless independence within hours in November 1903. It soon signed a treaty allowing a U.S.-led team to begin construction . Some 5,600 workers died later during the U.S.-led construction project, according to one study. The waterway opened in 1914, but almost immediately some Panamanians began questioning the validity of U.S. control, leading to what became known in the country as the “generational struggle” to take it over. The U.S. abrogated its right to intervene in Panama in the 1930s. By the 1970s, with its administrative costs sharply increasing, Washington spent years negotiating with Panama to cede control of the waterway. The Carter administration worked with the government of Omar Torrijos. The two sides eventually decided that their best chance for ratification was to submit two treaties to the U.S. Senate, the “Permanent Neutrality Treaty” and the “Panama Canal Treaty.” The first, which continues in perpetuity, gives the U.S. the right to act to ensure the canal remains open and secure. The second stated that the U.S. would turn over the canal to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, and was terminated then. Both were signed in 1977 and ratified the following year. The agreements held even after 1989, when President George H.W. Bush invaded Panama to remove Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega. In the late 1970s, as the handover treaties were being discussed and ratified, polls found that about half of Americans opposed the decision to cede canal control to Panama. However, by the time ownership actually changed in 1999, public opinion had shifted, with about half of Americans in favor. Administration of the canal has been more efficient under Panama than during the U.S. era, with traffic increasing 17% between fiscal years 1999 and 2004 . Panama’s voters approved a 2006 referendum authorizing a major expansion of the canal to accommodate larger modern cargo ships. The expansion took until 2016 and cost more than $5.2 billion. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said in a video Sunday that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to.” He added that, while his country’s people are divided on some key issues, “when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.” Shipping prices have increased because of droughts last year affecting the canal locks, forcing Panama to drastically cut shipping traffic through the canal and raise rates to use it. Though the rains have mostly returned, Panama says future fee increases might be necessary as it undertakes improvements to accommodate modern shipping needs. Mulino said fees to use the canal are “not set on a whim.” Jorge Luis Quijano, who served as the waterway’s administrator from 2014 to 2019, said all canal users are subject to the same fees, though they vary by ship size and other factors. “I can accept that the canal’s customers may complain about any price increase,” Quijano said. “But that does not give them reason to consider taking it back.” The president-elect says the U.S. is getting “ripped off” and “I’m not going to stand for it.” “It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions — you’ve got to treat us fairly. And they haven’t treated us fairly,” Trump said of the 1977 treaty that he said “foolishly” gave the canal away. The neutrality treaty does give the U.S. the right to act if the canal’s operation is threatened due to military conflict — but not to reassert control. “There’s no clause of any kind in the neutrality agreement that allows for the taking back of the canal,” Quijano said. “Legally, there’s no way, under normal circumstances, to recover territory that was used previously.” Trump, meanwhile, hasn’t said how he might make good on his threat. “There’s very little wiggle room, absent a second U.S. invasion of Panama, to retake control of the Panama Canal in practical terms,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington. Gedan said Trump’s stance is especially baffling given that Mulino is a pro-business conservative who has “made lots of other overtures to show that he would prefer a special relationship with the United States.” He also noted that Panama in recent years has moved closer to China, meaning the U.S. has strategic reasons to keep its relationship with the Central American nation friendly. Panama is also a U.S. partner on stopping illegal immigration from South America — perhaps Trump’s biggest policy priority. “If you’re going to pick a fight with Panama on an issue,” Gedan said, “you could not find a worse one than the canal.” Weissert reported from West Palm Beach, Florida, and Fields from Washington. Amelia Thomson-Deveaux contributed to this report from Washington.
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Kylian Mbappe hoped his move to Real Madrid would finally see him end his wait to win the Champions League. Instead, the France international and defending champion Madrid are in danger of being eliminated from European club soccer's elite tournament at the first stage after Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Liverpool leaves them in a fight just to make the playoffs for the next round. And if Madrid does make an early exit, Mbappe may look back on a miserable night at Anfield where he was humbled by a young defender and then missed a penalty that would have leveled the score. World Cup winner Mbappe looked a shadow of himself against a Liverpool team that leads the way in the Premier League and the Champions League this season. He was brought crashing down by a crunching tackle from 21-year-old right back Conor Bradley when threatening to burst through on goal in the first half — sparking a huge cheer from the home crowd. It got worse for Mbappe after the break when he had the chance to make it 1-1 from the penalty spot after Alexis Mac Allister had given six-time European champion Liverpool the lead. But with Caoimhin Kelleher to beat, he saw his effort pushed away by Liverpool's back-up goalkeeper. Mohamed Salah also missed a spot kick of his own, but substitute Cody Gakpo doubled the home team's advantage. Record 15-time European Cup winner Madrid is 24th in the new-look 36-team league phase of the Champions League. The top eight teams advance to the round of 16, while teams ranked ninth to 24th go into a playoff. Victory saw new Liverpool head coach Arne Slot manage something his predecessor Jurgen Klopp never could by beating Real in the Champions League. His team extended its perfect record in the competition and is top of the standings after five games. Each team plays eight games in the opening phase. Madrid plays Atalanta next month and Liverpool faces Girona. James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerNone
ecently crowned award winner, , was absent from Sunday's match against at the Santiago Bernabeu due to . In this way, and with the approval of his coach, , the Brazilian winger has chosen to disconnect from his usual football-centered life to cross the pond to the American continent and . In fact, on his first day in the US city, Vinicius was seen, as confirmed by the through their social networks, at the Hard Rock Stadium to . Even so, the Real Madrid player was attentive to what his teammates were doing in the clash against the Seville team. Ancelotti wants his players rested It was no coincidence that Vinicius was given permission by his coach to have a few extra days of vacation, as with such a long season ahead, . And, the Italian coach has already been heard on more than one occasion to talk about the rest of his players during press conferences. Back in August, he suggested special holidays for mid-season. "The players need to rest, they need holidays, . A player can not play for a week and go and rest with his family, especially with the internationals, who have very little rest. Those do not have a day off. ," he said. So this mini break for the Brazilian star is surely very much in line with this.James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr, a naval officer, Nobel Peace Prize winner and peanut farm operator who became governor of Georgia and later the 39th president of the United States , has died. Carter, who was the longest-living former American president, died at the age of 100 on Sunday, December 29, his son announced. An immediate cause was not given. He served as president for one term from 1977 to 1981, but is just as well-known for his humanitarian service after leaving Washington, DC, working for Habitat for Humanity and negotiating peace deals. “Earlier in my life, I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see, like your car, your house, your wealth, your property, your office. But as I’ve grown older I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see—the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are,” Carter said. He continued his volunteer work for decades after leaving office until he entered hospice care in February 2023. Carter, who throughout his political life went by Jimmy rather than James, was a towering figure in Democratic politics, both during and after his time in the White House . As president, he emphasized human rights in his foreign policy, championed environmentalism at a time when it was not yet popular and appointed record numbers of women and people of color during his administration. However, he was considered a “failure” by some as president, a view Carter attributed to him only serving one term. But, he continued to serve the public after leaving office - including building homes for the poor through Habitat for Humanity. “In all of our lives, there are usually a few precious moments when we feel exalted — that is, when we reach above our normal level of existence to a higher plane of excitement and achievement,” Carter said in 2009 . “I predict that every one of you who volunteers to help others in need will feel this same sense of exaltation. I believe that, in making what seems to be a sacrifice, you will find fulfillment in the memorable experience of helping others less fortunate than yourself.” Carter was born in 1924 in the small farm town of Plains, Georgia. His father, James Earl Carter Sr, was a farm supply businessman, and his mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, was a nurse. The young Carter attended public school in Plains, and as a teenager, he used an acre of his father’s land to grow and sell peanuts. Carter continued his studies at Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1946, he obtained a bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy. Over the next several years, he devoted his life to the Navy, serving on submarines and earning the rank of lieutenant. While stationed in Schenectady, New York, he studied nuclear physics and became a senior officer on one of the United States’ first nuclear submarines. During his senior year of studying at the Naval Academy, he was reintroduced to a girl he knew in his childhood: Rosalynn Smith. “The moon was full in the sky, conversation came easy, and I was in love,” Rosalynn Carter described in her memoir First Lady from Plains . The two married in 1946, the year he graduated. The next year, their first child, Jack, was born, followed by James in 1950, Donnell in 1952 and Amy in 1967. After 77 years of marriage, Rosalynn died on 19 November 2023 at 96 years old. Carter attributed much of his success to Rosalynn saying, “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.” In 1952, James Carter Sr died. Upon learning of his father’s death, Carter resigned from the Navy and returned home to Plains, where he took over his family’s farms and business. He soon took on more of a leadership role in the community, serving on several county boards. In 1962, he ran for and won a seat in Georgia’s State Senate. In 1970, Carter ran again for governor of Georgia and won. In his inaugural address, he shocked many of his supporters by demanding an end to racial discrimination. As governor, he dramatically increased the number of Black judges and state employees, consolidated the state’s labyrinthian bureaucracies and enforced stricter oversight of budgets. In a preview of his presidency, however, he frequently clashed with the state’s legislature, which found him arrogant and difficult to work with. Meanwhile, Carter maneuvered his way toward the Democratic nomination for president. In 1974, just before his term as governor ended, he announced his candidacy for the White House – two years before the next presidential election. “With the shame of Watergate still with us and our 200th birthday just ahead, it is time for us to reaffirm and to strengthen our ethical and spiritual and political beliefs,” Carter said in December 1974. “There must be no lowering of these standards, no acceptance of mediocrity in any aspect of our private or public lives. “In our homes or at worship we are ever reminded of what we ought to do and what we ought to be. Our government can and must represent the best and the highest ideals of those of us who voluntarily submit to its authority.” Though he had little national support at first, Carter spent his ample lead time vigorously campaigning and cleverly positioned himself as a Washington outsider with strong Christian principles. After years of government lies about Vietnam and Watergate, that was just what many Americans thought they needed. By the 1976 Democratic convention, Carter had grown enough momentum to win the nomination on the first ballot. In the general election, he attended three debates with President Gerald Ford – the first presidential debates since the Kennedy-Nixon ones in 1960, and a template setter for the debates held since. In November, Carter narrowly won the presidential election, scoring 297 electoral votes against Ford’s 240. “I think it’s time to tap the tremendous strength and vitality and idealism and hope and patriotism and a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood in this country to unify our nation, to make it great once again. It’s not...it’s not going to be easy for any of us,’ Carter said in November 1976. “I don’t claim to know all the answers, but I have said many times in my campaign around all 50 states that I’m not afraid to take on the responsibilities of President of the United States, because my strength and my courage and my advice and my counsel and my criticism comes from you.” What followed was a presidency full of ambition but beset with problems from the start. Even so, many leaders and historians have praised Carter’s conscientious approach to the presidency. Carter’s presidency was weighed down by multiple crises. In the 1970s, the economy struggled with a rare combination of simultaneous inflation and recession, an oil shortage sent gas prices soaring and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, derailing negotiations for an important arms treaty. Notably, in a struggle that lasted almost as long as his presidency, Carter fought over an energy program that was structured to make fuel expensive enough that consumers would be encouraged to conserve it. The crisis required Carter to address the nation multiple times in 1979. “In order to control energy price, production, and distribution, the Federal bureaucracy and red tape have become so complicated, it is almost unbelievable. Energy prices are high, and they’re going higher, no matter what we do,” he said in an April 1979 speech. “There is no single answer. We must produce more. We must conserve more. And now we must join together in a great national effort to use American technology to give us energy security in the years ahead,” the president said. “The most effective action we can take to encourage both conservation and production here at home is to stop rewarding those who import foreign oil and to stop encouraging waste by holding the price of American oil down far below its replacement or its true value.” However, ultimately, what became cemented in Carter’s legacy were the failures of the Iran hostage crisis, when mobs ransacked the US embassy in Tehran capturing 52 people and holding them hostage for the duration of his presidency. Carter’s efforts to end the crisis were unsuccessful, including a failed rescue attempt. “We will not give up in our efforts,” Carter told the nation in 1980. “Throughout this extraordinarily difficult period, we have pursued and will continue to pursue every possible avenue to secure the release of the hostages. In these efforts, the support of the American people and of our friends throughout the world has been a most crucial element. That support of other nations is even more important now.” “We will seek to continue, along with other nations and with the officials of Iran, a prompt resolution of the crisis without any loss of life and through peaceful and diplomatic means.” The hostages were held for 444 days, a lengthy time that angered many Americans. It helped contribute to Carter’s loss to Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980. Carter would only win six states in the landslide election that saw him lose the popular vote by nearly 9 million votes. “I’ve not achieved all I set out to do; perhaps no one ever does. But we have faced the tough issues. We’ve stood for and we’ve fought for and we have achieved some very important goals for our country,’ Carter said after losing. “These efforts will not end with this administration. The effort must go on. Nor will the progress that we have made be lost when we leave office. The great principles that have guided this Nation since its very founding will continue to guide America through the challenges of the future.” In 1982, Carter and his wife founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing human rights, leading health initiatives and improving the quality of life for people around the world. Carter helped lead conflict resolutions, observed elections in nations with fraudulent voting processes and advised presidents on issues in more than 80 countries. Under Carter’s leadership, the Carter Center worked alongside the World Health Organisation to nearly eradicate Guinea worm disease, an infection that occurs due to contaminated drinking water. The incidence of the disease decreased from 3.5 million cases in 1986 to 13 in 2022, according to the Carter Center. Carter and his wife also spent one week a year volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit that helps build homes for low-income people. His humanitarian work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. “I believe that anyone can be successful in life, regardless of natural talent or the environment within which we live. This is not based on measuring success by human competitiveness for wealth, possessions, influence, and fame, but adhering to God’s standards of truth, justice, humility, service, compassion, forgiveness, and love,” Carter once said. Though he was criticized as an ineffectual public speaker, Carter became a prolific writer, authoring more than a dozen books ranging from his memoirs to inspirational bestsellers. At the beginning of 2023, Carter entered hospice care following multiple hospital stays. His wife later entered hospice care and died on November 19, 2023. Carter, looking frail, attended her funeral but was seen smiling with others offering their condolences. Carter went on to celebrate his 100th birthday on 1 October 2024, making him the oldest president in American history. Surrounded by his loved ones, the frail, wheelchair-bound former president was seen in the backyard of his home watching a military flyover in his honor. His grandson Jason said he had been looking forward to voting for Kamala Harris in the November election. Carter is survived by his four children, 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.Greenland says no thanks to Trump purchase idea — again
AI is a game changer for students with disabilitiesQatar tribune Agencies Gaza The Israeli military has continued “its intensive land, air and sea aggression on northern Gaza for 60 days” that also wounded 10,000 others, Gaza’s Media Office said. A statement by the office on Telegram said 2,400 of the 3,700 people who were killed or missing were “buried” under the rubble. During the offensive, the Israeli forces also detained 1,750 people, the office added. “The occupation also targeted and prevented the work of civil defence crews in the governorate, in addition to its destruction of vital sectors,” most notably the health sector and water networks, it said. The statement said the condition of the sanitation facilities, infrastructure and road networks exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in northern Gaza, declaring the region “disaster-stricken in every sense of the word”. The Media Office also said a decision by the UN refugee agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) to halt the delivery of much-needed aid to the hunger-stricken, besieged territory is “shocking and surprising”. In a statement, the office blamed Israel for the “dangerous ramifications” of the move and called on UNRWA to resume the delivery of aid via other border crossings. Earlier, UNRWA said its decision to stop delivering aid via the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom to Israelis) crossing was due to security concerns. “We urge to uphold its humanitarian responsibilities and retract the decision that is going to threaten the lives of more than two million people, especially women and children,” it said. UNRWA has said humanitarian aid reaching Gaza for the past year of war has been “nowhere near enough” for its 2.2 million population. “While attacks continue, people, including children, are facing hunger, living in shelters and tents, and relying on humanitarian aid,” UNRWA said on X. According to its count, only 65 aid trucks per day had been able to enter Gaza this past month, compared with a pre-war average of 500. International aid organisations have repeatedly raised alarm over the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, warning that civilians are on the brink of famine. They have said aid shipments reaching the enclave are now at their lowest since the start of the war. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini has said the agency “remains the backbone of humanitarian response” in Gaza. In an address in Cairo, he called for the use of “a robust international legal and political framework” to ensure the continuation of humanitarian aid to Gaza. “Without this, humanitarians, however selfless and courageous, cannot stay and deliver,” he added. The UN agency recently announced it was stopping aid deliveries to Gaza from the key Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing between Israel and Gaza due to the deteriorating security situation. Meanwhile, the Israeli military on Monday declared another of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip to be dead. The hostage in question is a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier born in New York, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wrote on social media platform X. He was killed during the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel and his body has been held in the Gaza Strip ever since, according to the IDF, citing intelligence. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group that represents the family members of hostages still held in Gaza as well as the Israeli communities attacked on October 7, said that the soldier, a tank commander, had been abducted along with other troops that day. Hamas and other groups crossed the border from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people and abducting more than 250 others. Israel responded by pounding Gaza with airstrikes and launching a ground offensive into the Palestinian territory. At least 44,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority. Many of the 100 hostages still unaccounted for are no longer believed to be alive. They include holders of dual nationality, including US citizens. Meanwhile, the armed wing of Hamas, the Qassam Brigades, said its fighters have targeted “enemy positions” in the kibbutzim of Nirim and Ein HaShlosha in southern Israel with several rockets.At least 44,466 people have been killed and 105,358 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7, 2023, the enclave’s Health Ministry said, on Monday. Of those, 37 Palestinians were killed and 108 wounded in the latest 24-hour reporting period, the ministry added. (Agencies) Copy 03/12/2024 10Why Re-invent the Wheel? Use Past Workloads for Smarter DBMS Tuning'Sonic 3' and 'Mufasa' battle for No. 1 at the holiday box office Two family films are dominating the holiday box office, with “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” winning the three-day weekend over “Mufasa” by a blue hair. According to studio estimates Sunday, the Sonic movie earned $38 million, while “Mufasa” brought in $37.1 million from theaters in the U.S. and Canada. The R-rated horror “Nosferatu” placed third with an unexpectedly strong $21.2 million. Thanksgiving release holdovers “Wicked” and “Moana 2” rounded out the top five. Christmas Day had several big film openings, including the Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown,” the Nicole Kidman erotic drama “Babygirl” and the boxing drama “The Fire Inside.” Big Lots reaches deal to keep hundreds of US stores open The discount chain Big Lots has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores open. Big Lots said it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, which specializes in distressed companies. Gordon Brothers will then transfer Big Lots’ stores to other retailers. Variety Wholesalers, which owns more than 400 U.S. discount stores, plans to acquire between 200 and 400 Big Lots stores and operate them under the Big Lots brand. Big Lots filed for bankruptcy protection in September, saying inflation and high interest rates had cut back on consumer demand for its furniture and other products. Charles Dolan, HBO and Cablevision founder, dies at 98 Charles F. Dolan, who founded some of the most prominent U.S. media companies including Home Box Office Inc. and Cablevision Systems Corp., has died at age 98. Newsday reports that a statement issued Saturday by his family says Dolan died of natural causes. Dolan’s legacy in cable broadcasting includes founding HBO in 1972, Cablevision in 1973 and the American Movie Classics television station in 1984. He also launched News 12 in New York City, the first U.S. 24-hour cable channel for local news. Dolan also held controlling stakes in companies that owned Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers. Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes office President-elect Donald Trump has asked the Supreme Court to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. Trump's request Friday came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court. Oral arguments are scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. The brief said Trump opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are closing lower as Wall Street ends a holiday-shortened week on a down note. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Friday and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 333 points, or 0.8%. The Nasdaq composite dropped 1.5%. The “Magnificent 7” stocks weighed on the market, led by declines in Nvidia, Tesla and Microsoft. Even with the loss, the S&P 500 had a modest gain for the week and is still headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%, the first time that has happened since 1997-1998. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.62%. 10 tips from experts to help you change your relationship with money in 2025 NEW YORK (AP) — As the calendar changes to 2025, you might be thinking about how to approach your relationship with money in the new year. Whether you’re saving to move out of your parents’ house or pay off student loan debt, financial resolutions can help you stay motivated. If you’re planning to make financial resolutions for the new year, experts recommend that you start by evaluating the state of your finances in 2024. Then, set specific goals and make sure they’re attainable for your lifestyle. Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-January WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says her agency will need to start taking “extraordinary measures,” or special accounting maneuvers intended to prevent the nation from hitting the debt ceiling, as early as January 14th, in a letter sent to congressional leaders Friday afternoon. The department has taken such action in the past. But once those measures run out the government risks defaulting on its debt unless lawmakers and the president agree to lift the limit on the U.S. government’s ability to borrow. An online debate over foreign workers in tech shows tensions in Trump's political coalition WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump’s supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in the president-elect’s political movement into public display. The argument previews fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare tensions between the newest flank of Trump’s movement — that is, wealthy members of the tech world who want more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says a ninth U.S. telecoms firm has been confirmed to have been hacked as part of a sprawling Chinese espionage campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Administration officials said this month that at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by the Chinese hacking blitz known as Salt Typhoon. But Anne Neuberger, a deputy national security adviser, said Friday that a ninth victim had been identified after the administration released guidance to companies about how to hunt for Chinese culprits in their networks. Canadian Cabinet ministers meet with Trump's nominee for commerce secretary in bid to avoid tariffs TORONTO (AP) — Two top Canadian Cabinet ministers have met with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary at Mar-a-Lago as Canada tries to avoid sweeping tariffs when Trump takes office. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. The meeting was a follow up to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States.
Costco has announced it will stop selling books at most of its locations across the U.S. starting next year. The company said books will only return during holiday seasons, and intermittently outside of that. Costco said the change is being made because stocking books on tables is labor-intensive and must be done by hand. It also comes as more consumers buy their books from Amazon instead of brick-and-mortar stores. According to a survey by Statista Consumer Insights published earlier this year, 71% of people said they purchased a book from the online retailer rather than Barnes and Noble, Target or Costco.