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ezbet slot Ireland has bucked the European trend of elections going against incumbent governments, with two of the parties in its ruling coalition in pole position to lead the next parliament. An exit poll showed an appetite for change, with 60% backing opposition parties. But the prospect of an alternative left-leaning government still looks unlikely to materialise. The poll showed leftwing, nationalist Sinn Féin slightly ahead, with 21.1% of first-preference votes, followed by the two main parties in the outgoing coalition, centre-right Fine Gael at 21% and centre-right Fianna Fáil at 19.5%. But with both those parties ruling out a partnership with Sinn Féin , they remain favourites to form the next government. They are expected to get between 30 and 40 seats each, which, with a third party, could make the 87 seats needed for a majority. The deputy leader of the Social Democrats, Cian O’Callaghan, said early tallies suggested it would emerge as the fourth biggest party, with more than eight seats. Making an early pitch for a role in a coalition, he said: “This is our best election in our nine years. After the results are all in, we will talk to all parties. We talked to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael last time, and we will again this time round.” Arriving at the main count centre in Dublin, Sinn Féin’s leader, Mary Lou McDonald, was met with a chaotic media scrum. Flanked by the party’s leader in Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, she declared her intention to try to create a government, saying the result had given Sinn Féin the same legitimacy as the two established parties. “Two-party politics is now gone,” she said. “It’s been consigned to the dustbin of history. That, in itself, is very significant. The question now arises for us: what do we do with that? And we are clear that we want to change people’s lives. I believe another five years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is bad news for society.” The biggest upset is expected to be the wipeout of the Green party, which, with 12 seats, had been the third partner in the outgoing coalition. By Saturday evening, they looked to have lost nearly all their seats, with leader Roderic O’Gorman also in danger. Migration, an inflammatory issue in many recent elections in Europe , failed to fire up the electorate, with an exit poll showing it was the top priority for just 6% of voters, despite violent clashes over asylum seekers in the last year. Housing and homelessness was the the top issue, followed by the cost of living, health and the economy. Counting of votes in the 43 constituencies began at 9am on Saturday but with Ireland’s proportional representation system final results may not be known until Sunday night or Monday. The Green party’s former leader, Eamon Ryan, said he had been “sharing commiserations” with colleagues but “holding heads high”. He told RTÉ: “Change is difficult. Sometimes, when you’re driving change, it upsets things. ... I think in a general election people were voting for government and maybe we were caught in that squeeze. People who wanted to retain the current government have voted Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael and not us.” The tallies suggest potential trouble for Fianna Fáil in Wicklow, where the party’s only candidate in the constituency – the health minister, Stephen Donnelly – is in danger of losing his seat. Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion Jack Chambers, the departing Fianna Fáil finance minister, said the national result was “too close to call” but said the exit poll showed the public did not want the “volatility” that had spread in other countries on the back of the rise of the far right. Gary Murphy, a professor of politics at Dublin City University, told RTÉ:“I think there is a problem that Irish politics has faced since the fragmentation and the economic crash in 2011 – that now we’re not sure who’s going to be in government.” Fine Gael’s director of elections, Olwyn Enright, said the exit poll had been a “positive” prediction for the party, but that she had been “surprised” with survey results that put Sinn Féin’s McDonald as the preferred taoiseach against the incumbent, Simon Harris, who had a difficult final campaign week. In the poll, 34% said they would like McDonald to be taoiseach against 27% for Harris. The inconclusive results mean that all eyes will now turn to the search for coalition partners. Government formation talks could take weeks – with, possibly, no new government until January. Elsewhere, the election threw up surprises. In Dublin Central, Gerry Hutch, a gangland figure released from bail recently in Spain to run for election, looked to be in contention for the last of four seats. Social Democrat Gary Gannon, a certainty for the third seat behind Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe and McDonald, said “austerity from the financial crash” had destroyed some communities, which felt a “real sense of loss and pain over housing and poverty” that the current government had failed to fix in the last five years. As the postmortem into the election began, Bríd Smith of the socialist party People Before Profit–Solidarity blamed Sinn Féin for not setting out a narrative of change stronger and earlier. Another small party, the conservative republican party Aontú, said the country needed alternatives. Its leader, Peadar Tóibín, told RTÉ that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, two parties that emerged from the ashes of the civil war in the 1920s, were “becoming one party in many ways” and impossible to distinguish from each other.Fan-Favorite AEW Superstar Reportedly Out With InjuryIn the crypto market, nothing is more exciting than buying cryptocurrencies early before they become a hit. This is why investors are always on the lookout for the next big thing. 1Fuel (OFT) has been touted by many analysts as the next big crypto project offering innovative DeFi solutions. 1Fuel’s ongoing presale has already caught the eyes of investors, as over 77 million tokens have been sold. 1Fuel tokens are available for as low as $0.012/token during presale. Experts expect a 100x surge after the OFT launch. Don't pass up the chance to sign up for 1Fuel's presale today. 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By JOSH BOAK WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. Related Articles National Politics | Will Kamala Harris run for California governor in 2026? The question is already swirling National Politics | Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people National Politics | Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America National Politics | Trump extends unprecedented invites to China’s Xi and other world leaders for his inauguration National Politics | Pressure on a veteran and senator shows what’s next for those who oppose Trump The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman’s Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union’s executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November’s election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn’t install more automated systemsHouse Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of 'regularly' paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee has accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress. The 37-page report was released Monday by the bipartisan panel after a nearly four-year investigation that helped sink his nomination for attorney general. The report includes explicit details of sex-filled parties and vacations that Gaetz took part in while representing Florida’s western panhandle. The congressional investigators conclude that he violated multiple state laws related to sexual misconduct while in office. Gaetz has denied all wrongdoing and he filed a lawsuit Monday trying to block the report’s release. Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. He's converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Biden says the commutations are consistent with a pause on executions put in place by his administration in cases other than terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder. Biden said he couldn't allow a new administration to resume executions. Trump will be sworn into office on Jan. 20. The president-elect has talked subjecting drug dealers and human smugglers to the death penalty. Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare has pleaded not guilty to murder and terror charges in a state case that will run parallel to his federal prosecution. The Manhattan district attorney formally charged Luigi Mangione last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism. Mangione's attorney complained during a brief hearing Monday that statements coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough for him to receive a fair trial. Mangione was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his not guilty plea. Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan and Honda have announced plans to work toward a merger that would catapult them to a top position in an industry in the midst of tectonic shifts as it transitions away from its reliance on fossil fuels. The two companies said they signed an agreement on integrating their businesses on Monday. Smaller Nissan alliance member Mitsubishi Motors agreed to join the talks. News of a possible merger surfaced earlier this month. Japanese automakers face a strong challenge from their Chinese rivals and Tesla as they make inroads into markets at home and abroad. Middle East latest: Israeli airstrikes on Gaza kill at least 20 people, Palestinian medics say Palestinian medics say Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip have killed at least 20 people. One of the strikes overnight and into Monday hit a tent camp in the Muwasi area, an Israel-declared humanitarian zone, killing eight people, including two children. The Israeli military says it only strikes militants, accusing them of hiding among civilians. It said late Sunday that it had targeted a Hamas militant in the humanitarian zone. The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 250 hostage. Israel’s air and ground offensive has killed over 45,200 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland, the ice-covered semi-autonomous Danish territory. That's added to the list of allied countries he’s picking fights with, even before taking office on Jan. 20. Greenland insists it's not for sale and Trump's initial calls to purchase it in 2019 came to nothing. But his latest suggestion comes after the president-elect suggested the U.S. could retake control of the Panama Canal and that Canadians wanted their county to become the 51st U.S. state. Magdeburg mourns Christmas market attack victims as fears swirl of deeper German social divisions MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Mourners are laying flowers near the scene of the deadly Christmas market attack as investigators puzzle over the motive of the suspect and his previous encounters with authorities are scrutinized. At the same time there are fears that the rampage could deepen divisions in German society. A church a short walk from the scene of the attack has become a central place of mourning since the suspect drove a car into the busy market on Friday evening and killed five people. Authorities have identified the suspect as a Saudi doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006 and had received permanent residency. They say he doesn't fit the usual profile of perpetrators of extremist attacks. Shohei Ohtani wins 3rd AP Male Athlete of the Year award, tying Michael Jordan for 1 shy of record LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani has been named The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the third time. That ties the two-way superstar with Michael Jordan, an athlete Ohtani followed while growing up in Japan. He trails only Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods and LeBron James, who each won the award four times. Ohtani received 48 votes in balloting by 74 sports journalists from the AP and its members. He earned his third National League Most Valuable Player award after helping the Dodgers win their eighth World Series title. Ohtani hit 54 home runs and stole 59 bases as the first player with a 50-50 season. His dog, Decoy, became a celebrity, too, helping Ohtani deliver a ceremonial first pitch at a game. A Holy Year is about to start in Rome. Here's what you need to know VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is formally inaugurating the 2025 Holy Year, reviving an ancient church tradition encouraging the faithful to make pilgrimages to Rome. At the start of Christmas Eve Mass on Tuesday, Francis will push open the Holy Door on St. Peter’s Basilica. It stay open throughout the year to allow the estimated 32 million pilgrims projected to visit Rome to pass through. The first Holy Year was called in 1300, and in recent times they are generally celebrated every 25 to 50 years. The last regular Jubilee was in 2000, when St. John Paul II ushered in the church’s third millennium. How faith communities can be welcoming of believers with disabilities this holiday season and beyond This holiday season, some religious congregations across the U.S. are holding events designed to be accommodating to and inclusive of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They range from a “Calm Christmas” in West Virginia to an inclusive Hanukkah in New Jersey. Many disabled people, advocates and families want more houses of worship to know that there are ways to fully incorporate and welcome people with these and other disabilities and their families — and not just during the holidays but year round.

LIMA, Peru--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 23, 2024-- DP World , a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, has reinforced the Port of Callao’s reputation as the leading maritime gateway on the Pacific West Coast by welcoming the Kota Eagle, one of Pacific International Lines’ (PIL) largest and most advanced container ships. Measuring over 335 meters in length, the vessel is powered entirely by Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), a cleaner and more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional maritime fuels. The Kota Eagle embarked on its journey from Ningbo, China, making stops in Shanghai; Manzanillo, Mexico; Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico; and Quetzal, Guatemala before arriving at DP World Callao’s recently inaugurated Bicentennial Pier. This state-of-the-art facility, which has increased the terminal’s capacity by 80%, enables the port to accommodate large vessels like the Kota Eagle. The ship arrived laden with goods for Peru’s Christmas season, including toys, LED lights, apparel, footwear, home décor, tires, ceramics, and office supplies. Carlos Merino, CEO of DP World in Ecuador, Colombia and Peru, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome the Kota Eagle to Peru. Its arrival marks a significant milestone, showcasing our enhanced capacity at the Bicentennial Pier and our commitment to supporting cleaner, greener logistics solutions. This modern vessel not only represents a leap forward in shipping technology but also strengthens our strategic partnership with PIL, which has been a key ally since 2014.” After its stop in Callao, the Kota Eagle will continue its route, transporting Peruvian exports such as flagship agricultural and manufactured goods to key destinations across Asia, including Guayaquil, Ecuador; Manzanillo; Busan, Korea; Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Shekou, China; Hong Kong; and Ningbo. As part of its mission to drive economic growth and strengthen Peru's position in global trade, DP World continues to invest in the country, playing a critical role in bolstering Peru's foreign trade. With the arrival of the Kota Eagle, DP World Callao not only celebrates a significant step in sustainable shipping but also underscores its leadership as a critical hub connecting Asia and Latin America. About DP World Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally. With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 114,000 employees from 162 nationalities, spanning 78 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future. We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses -- Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades. What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door. WE MAKE TRADE FLOW TO CHANGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223684728/en/ CONTACT: DP World Americas Media Contact: Melina Vissat, Head of Communications M: (+1) 704-605-6159 E:melina.vissat@dpworld.com KEYWORD: LATIN AMERICA PERU SOUTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DELIVERY SERVICES RETAIL MARITIME OTHER RETAIL LOGISTICS/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT TRANSPORT OTHER TRANSPORT SOURCE: DP World Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/23/2024 01:00 PM/DISC: 12/23/2024 01:02 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241223684728/enThe impending return from an Indonesian jail of a Filipino migrant worker tricked into being a drug mule is a spot of good news amid the toxic political scuffle of recent weeks. The Marcos administration announced over the weekend that, following high-level talks and negotiations, Indonesia has agreed to transfer Mary Jane Veloso to Philippine custody after almost 15 years on death row. The mother of two was sentenced to death on drug charges after 2.6 kilograms of heroin was found in her luggage in 2010. She narrowly escaped execution in 2015 after last-minute appeals from the Aquino administration, which had arrested and prosecuted for syndicated estafa two individuals involved in recruiting Veloso and slipping drugs in her suitcase without her knowledge. In Jakarta, Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration, and corrections, clarified that Veloso was not being released from her sentence; only that Indonesia had agreed to send her back to the Philippines “as a prisoner.” “[I]t is not an acquittal, not a pardon,” Yusril said, adding that certain conditions must be met, including recognition of Indonesia’s final court ruling. “Once she returns to her country and continues her sentence there, the responsibility for her rehabilitation shifts to her home country,” he added. The agreement to repatriate Veloso was “reciprocal,” he said: “If one day Indonesia asks for its citizens jailed in the Philippines to be returned, they must consider it.” A permanent ban on Veloso’s return to Indonesia was also part of the deal. While no date for Veloso’s return has been set, with Philippine officials saying it might happen before Christmas, the prospect has been widely hailed. President Marcos has expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to Indonesia’s newly elected president Prabowo Subianto for his “goodwill,” while the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) commended the initiative of Philippine authorities “in pursuing justice beyond our own territorial bounds.” For sure, as Mr. Marcos said in a statement, Veloso must be held accountable under Indonesian law and the Philippines must respect its legal jurisdiction on her case. But given that Veloso, as the President himself described her, is “a victim of circumstances,” the possibility of clemency is an option that he must seriously consider. It is a call echoed by the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, a fellowship of Catholic and Protestant bishops, who see Veloso as the “symbol” of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the myriad suffering they endure “at the hands of merciless persons who take [advantage] of their gullibility while seeking overseas employment.” While Mr. Marcos mulls the grant of clemency that only he can decide on, justice officials have assured Veloso’s family that she would not be detained in the same facilities where her illegal recruiters are currently serving their sentence. The family had earlier expressed fears of retaliation from the syndicate behind her plight amid previous threats to their safety. It is a well-considered move, as this ensures that Veloso can finally testify against these felons for qualified human trafficking in a long overdue court case. At the same time, as the CHR noted, the government must uphold the Bangkok Rules on the treatment of women prisoners, and “actualize” the efforts needed toward the reformation and possible reintegration of Veloso into mainstream society. Veloso’s case is a cautionary tale on how the government could be more vigilant in safeguarding the rights of our OFWs wherever they are deployed. As often the case, local authorities only learned of her plight upon her conviction; meanwhile, with the language barrier and ignorance of the laws of her host country, she had unwittingly incriminated herself into a death sentence. A stronger monitoring mechanism, a hotline, and a legal outreach system should be put in place to help OFWs reach out to Philippine representatives when they get into trouble. To its credit, the former Overseas Workers Welfare Administration had sent an Indonesian legal team, emissaries, and translators posthaste to help extricate Veloso once news of her conviction reached local shores. 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 . But even before they leave, OFWs should be thoroughly warned about possible deception, scams, and red flags they should be wary about from their recruiters, dubious characters who may even be their relatives and neighbors, as in Veloso’s case. A briefing on their host countries’ laws and legal system would be helpful as well, and so would a pamphlet listing the services and assistance they can expect from Philippine representatives in consular offices. Veloso’s return, possibly before Christmas, is a gift of hope that magnifies the spirit of the season. With clemency on the table, it becomes witness to the grace of second chances for victims of unscrupulous fraudsters.

The Little Foxes review: Just in time for Christmas, a back-stabbing family feud, writes PATRICK MARMION By PATRICK MARMION and GEORGINA BROWN Published: 23:47 GMT, 12 December 2024 | Updated: 00:12 GMT, 13 December 2024 e-mail View comments The Little Foxes (Young Vic, London ) Verdict: Sibling cesspit Rating: Anne-Marie Duff has become widely celebrated as the mousey housewife who roared in the hilariously chaotic revenge comedy Bad Sisters on Apple TV+. And here she goes again, at London’s Young Vic theatre, only this time as a seemingly downtrodden sister in a wealthy family fighting for control of an Alabama cotton plantation. Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes, written in 1939, is a bitter domestic melodrama in which one brother Ben (Mark Bonnar) seeks to swindle his sister Regina (Duff) out of a potential multi-million dollar fortune by plotting with another, Oscar (Steffan Rhodri). But Regina already has the measure of her conniving siblings. She plans to thwart them by withholding money kept by her mortally ill husband, Horace (John Light). Just in time for Christmas , this is a tasty but cheerless exercise in family feuds. The back-stabbing brothers even seek marriages between their own children - first cousins - to secure a medieval-style alliance (a subject debated by MPs this week, in one of those weird overlaps of art and life). Rhodri’s Oscar is a nasty piece of work who beats his alcoholic wife (Anna Madeley, Mrs Hall of All Creatures Great And Small) and manipulates his feckless son Leo ( Piers Morgan ’s son Stanley, who passed out on Press Night this week, causing a half-hour halt, before manfully carrying on). Anne-Marie Duff (pictured) has become widely celebrated as the mousey housewife who roared in the hilariously chaotic revenge comedy Bad Sisters on Apple TV+. And here she goes again, at London’s Young Vic theatre, only this time as a seemingly downtrodden sister in a wealthy family fighting for control of an Alabama cotton plantation Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes, written in 1939, is a bitter domestic melodrama in which one brother Ben (Mark Bonnar) seeks to swindle his sister Regina (Duff) out of a potential multi-million dollar fortune. Pictured: Mark Bonnar as Ben and Eleanor Worthington-Cox as Regina’s virtuous daughter Alexandra Only Regina’s virtuous daughter Alexandra (Eleanor Worthington-Cox) emerges with any credit. Regina was originally played on Broadway in 1939 by the formidable Tallulah Bankhead, and here Duff works hard to be less of a monster. But when she stands by, watching her husband have a heart attack on the stairs, her self-serving moral depravity can no longer be denied. Bonnar’s Ben, an opportunist in a tailored tweed suit, notes that soon all America will be this way. Lyndsey Turner’s slick production transposes the original 1900 action to the 1960s, with Lizzie Clachan’s peculiarly bland set of beige hessian panels and G Plan furniture arranged around a grand, four-seater green velvet Chesterfield sofa. Perhaps this is an attempt to say something about the civil rights era, as black servants played by Freddie MacBruce and Andrea Davy lurk in silent judgement of their masters’ complacent supremacism. Rhodri’s Oscar is a nasty piece of work who beats his alcoholic wife (Anna Madeley, Mrs Hall of All Creatures Great And Small) and manipulates his feckless son Leo (Piers Morgan’s son Stanley) But it’s too vague a gesture. Despite top-of-the-range acting and portentous sound effects, urging us to feel the tension, Hellman’s writing is simply too schematic to make us care about the outcome. Ballet Shoes (Olivier, National Theatre) Verdict: Girls’ Own epic Rating: Noel Streatfeild’s children’s classic Ballet Shoes, by contrast, is a jolly riot of wishful family thinking suitable for children aged seven and over. It’s a zany story about three orphaned sisters growing up in 1930s London in the home of itinerant palaeontologist Great Uncle Matthew (‘GUM’). A Girls’ Own fantasy reminiscent of Enid Blyton, it sees the three siblings follow their own creative stars. Pauline discovers a talent for acting, Posy wants to be a ballerina, and Petrova dreams of being an aviator. They’re assisted by GUM’s niece Sylvia (another, older orphan), and seen-it-all housekeeper Nana. Daisy Sequerra (pictured) brings dedication and tantrums as dancer Posy, while Yanexi Enriquez embodies cast-iron certitude as the mechanically minded Petrova But when the sisters run out of money after GUM fails to return from his travels, they are forced to take in lodgers: a lesbian English teacher, a jazz dancer from New York and an Indian mechanic with a fabulous Citroen. Director Katy Rudd previously staged an adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s Ocean At The End Of The Lane at the National Theatre, and again produces an impressive exhibition of stagecraft. Frankie Bradshaw’s set is an edifice of archaeological curiosity, but also transports us from ballet schools to film sets, around London and across continents. A doughty cast is led by Justin Salinger doubling as the studiedly eccentric GUM and Russian ballet teacher Madame Fidolia. Grace Saif straddles bolshiness and ambition as budding actor Pauline. Daisy Sequerra brings dedication and tantrums as dancer Posy, while Yanexi Enriquez embodies cast-iron certitude as the mechanically minded Petrova. Noel Streatfeild’s children’s classic Ballet Shoes, by contrast, is a jolly riot of wishful family thinking suitable for children aged seven and over. Pictured: Pearl Mackie, as Sylvia, left, and Sid Sagar (Jai Saran) The whole enterprise could collapse like a house of cards. But Pearl Mackie, as Sylvia, the girls’ surrogate mother, helps maintain continuity. It’s spirited, wholesome and hearty, and you’ll either love it already, or — like me and my 14-year-old daughter — be captivated by its ambition. The Little Foxes until February 8; Ballet Shoes until February 22. Pinocchio (Watermill Theatre, Newbury) Verdict: The ordinary becomes extraordinary Rating: Carlo Collodi ends his 19th-century morality tale about the fibbing Pinocchio with his death by hanging. There are neither ropes nor strings in Michael Morpurgo’s whimsical fantasia about a puppet who is not so much wicked as thick, as might be expected in a boy carved from a cherry log with eyes made from pine... which is what gave him his name. Morpurgo’s point, pithily made in Simon Reade’s adaptation, is that Pinocchio is a unique individual, as are we all. Carlo Collodi ends his 19th-century morality tale about the fibbing Pinocchio with his death by hanging His knuckle-headedness means he is easily lead astray by more wily characters but, supported by his parents’ unconditional love, he will find his own path through life. The charm of this show comes from the ordinary becoming extraordinary. Gepetto is inspired by the shape of a log to create a son for his childless wife. In a truly magical moment, Pinocchio (Jerome Yates) appears, stock still, his limbs gradually coming to stiff life. Occasionally he lies, but it is Pinocchio’s laddish stupidity that gets him into trouble. He doesn’t understand that a careless blow can kill a friendly cricket, any more than that his toes will burn if he puts them too close to the fire. Under Indiana Lown-Collins and Elle While’s breezy direction, nothing is irredeemable. There are neither ropes nor strings in Michael Morpurgo’s whimsical fantasia about a puppet who is not so much wicked as thick, as might be expected in a boy carved from a cherry log with eyes made from pine... which is what gave him his name That includes Pinocchio’s scorched extremities, thanks to Gepetto’s expert emergency surgery, involving a drill and screwdriver, and his ingeniously extending lying hooter — which gets pecked off by a flock of woodpeckers. The cast keep the show moving splendidly through a series of merry musical misadvantures, but the real show-stealers are Marc Parrett’s puppets, including a poo-shooting pig with a head made from a watering can, a gang of ginger weasels as slinky as can be and, best of all, a giant lantern suggesting a luminous whale, in which Pinocchio and his dad are reunited over a lunch of tuna and anchovies. Delightfully diverting. Until January 5, watermill.org.uk Alabama London Share or comment on this article: The Little Foxes review: Just in time for Christmas, a back-stabbing family feud, writes PATRICK MARMION e-mail Add comment

Freeing the Hostages Wouldn’t Have Gotten Jimmy Carter Re-Elected

Spotlight on Charles Schwab: Analyzing the Surge in Options ActivitySeventh-seeded Mizzou volleyball lost to SEC rival and No. 3 seed Kentucky 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 25-13) on Thursday in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, ending the Tigers' 2024 season. The biggest challenge for Mizzou during the regional semifinal was putting a defensive stop to Kentucky sophomore outside-hitter Brooklyn DeLeye. DeLeye had a strong performance, ending the match with 22 kills, three service aces and six digs. After MU was handed losses in the first two sets, Mizzou Coach Dawn Sullivan told her squad to "play our volleyball." The Tigers responded in the third set with adjustments at the service line, focusing more on putting the ball in the back row of the Wildcats' defense. The Tigers went on a 8-0 tear with senior libero Kiaraliz Perez Catala serving the ball at the line. Catala surpassed 50 service aces this season during the third set of the match, ending the game with three, all during that run. "We've seen how capable Missouri is on beating top-10 teams, and, you know, they made adjustments," Kentucky volleyball Coach Craig Skinner said in a postgame news conference. During this momentum-building third set, Mizzou right-side hitter Jordan Iliff was putting up a strong offensive effort, effectively using the Kentucky block against it to extend the Tigers' lead. Iliff ended the third set with a 17 kills in the game and a hitting percentage of .400. She finished the game with 20 kills, two service aces and nine digs. "She's unstoppable," ESPN broadcaster Anne Marie Anderson said of Iliff during the third set of the match. However, Kentucky, the SEC regular-season champ, would shut down the Tigers' offense in the fourth and final set, going on a 5-2 scoring run to force Sullivan to take a timeout with the Wildcats leading 12-6. Kentucky's blockers were aggressive toward outside-hitter Mychael Vernon, who was held to just one kill and six errors in Set 4. After the loss, Vernon took to social media reflecting on her final season playing college volleyball as a Tiger. "So proud of this team," Vernon said on an Instagram story following the game. "Couldn't have had a better last year. M.I.Z." The loss eliminates Mizzou from the NCAA Tournament after its fifth Sweet 16 appearance in program history. The Tigers fell in four of those in the regional semifinals, advancing to an Elite Eight only once, in 2005. Throughout their season, the Tigers were a strong Southeastern Conference competitor, ending with a record of 22-9 overall and 11-5 in the SEC. In the other NCAA Tournament Pittsburgh Regional semifinal, No. 1 overall seed Pitt survived a scare from No. 4 seed Oregon, winning in five sets (25-19, 24-26, 25-16, 21-25, 15-12). The host Panthers take on Kentucky for a trip to the Final Four at 4 p.m. Saturday in Pittsburgh.The United States lost one of its former commanders-in-chief on Sunday with the death of President . Since losing the White House to Ronald Reagan in 1980, Carter has seen seven other men hold the country's highest office. He was there for each incoming president's inauguration, except for 's in 2021, which he missed because of and the coronavirus pandemic. Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981, was the only president alive who was in office during the 1970s after the death in 2006 of Gerald Ford, and, at age 98, was the Now, only four former presidents are alive, and only one was in office during the 20th century. Here are the remaining living presidents and what they have done since leaving the White House: The only president from the 20th century, Clinton, 78, was in office from 1993 to 2001. Since then, the 42nd president has been involved in multiple charitable organizations. He also has speaking at every Democratic National Convention since leaving office. He was heavily involved in the 2008 and 2016 presidential campaigns for his wife, former In office from 2001 to 2009, Bush, 78, has lived a rather quiet life in his home state of Texas. He established himself as a painter, including . He supported his brother, Jeb Bush, in his 2016 presidential campaign and in 2022 was part of a public conversation with . The youngest living former president, 63, Obama criticized President-elect numerous times and endorsed Biden, his former vice president, during Biden's 2020 presidential campaign. He campaigned in several states . Trump is now the oldest living former president; at 78, he is only 22 days older than Bush. He won the 2024 general election and will return to office when Biden steps down on Jan. 20, 2025. In 2019, as president, saying, "he was put into office because the Russians interfered on his behalf." Trump responded by calling Carter "a terrible president."

Former NHL star Thornton back as co-GM of Canada's Spengler Cup squad

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president and a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, has died at 100

US stock indexes fell Thursday following the release of potentially discouraging data on the economy. A report that came out early in the morning said more US workers applied for unemployment benefits last week than expected, the reports. A separate update showed that inflation at the wholesale level, before it reaches US consumers, was hotter last month than economists expected. Neither report points to imminent disaster, but they dilute one of the hopes that's driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year: Inflation is slowing enough to persuade the Federal Reserve to keep cutting interest rates, while the economy is remaining solid enough to stay out of a recession. On Wall Street, Adobe fell 13.7% and was one of the heaviest weights on the market despite reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. The company gave forecasts for profit and revenue in its upcoming fiscal year that fell a bit shy of those from analysts. Warner Bros. Discovery soared 15.4% after unveiling a new corporate structure that separates its streaming business and film studios from its traditional television business. CEO David Zaslav said the move "enhances our flexibility with potential future strategic opportunities," raising speculation about a spinoff or sale. Kroger rose 3.2% after saying it would get back to buying back its own stock now that its attempt to is kaput. Kroger's board approved a program to repurchase up to $7.5 billion of its stock, replacing an existing $1 billion authorization.

AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:45 p.m. ESTDuring his first presidency and in his campaign leading up to the 2024 election, Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to crack down on illegal immigration. As president-elect, Trump posted on Truth Social on Nov. 18 confirming his plans to declare a national emergency and use the U.S. military for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Trump commented “TRUE!!!” with a repost of a Truth Social post from Tom Fitton, who runs the conservative group Judicial Watch . Fitton’s post reads, “GOOD NEWS: Reports are incoming @RealDonaldTrump administration prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Several VERIFY readers, including Debbie, Jacq and Matty, asked us whether Trump can use the military to carry out mass deportations. THE QUESTION Can the president use the military to carry out mass deportations? THE SOURCES David Bier , director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute Peter Margulies , law professor at Roger Williams University Elizabeth Goitein , senior director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty & National Security Program Brennan Center for Justice President Joe Biden’s Executive Order #14097 Department of Homeland Security The Posse Comitatus Act U.S. Section 502(f) National Defense Authorization Act of 2016 Lawfare , a nonprofit organization THE ANSWER Yes, it's legal for the president to use the military to help carry out mass deportations and other immigration enforcement actions. The National Guard, with approval from a state's governor, can detain individuals, but the other branches of the military can offer mostly logistical support. WHAT WE FOUND A president has the executive power to deploy the military to assist with immigration enforcement, but there are legal limits on the role the military can play. The Posse Comitatus Act, a 143-year-old law, prohibits the president from using active-duty, full-time service members, such as soldiers or Marines, as a police force, according to the Brennan Center for Justice . That means federal military branches like the U.S. Army or Air Force can’t perform tasks such as detaining individuals or making arrests on U.S. soil, even under a national emergency declaration. David Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, explained that active-duty service members, barred from acting like police under Posse Comitatus, would likely focus on non-law enforcement tasks. That could include building infrastructure, like temporary detention facilities, transporting detainees and providing armed backup for domestic law enforcement. The Posse Comitatus Act, however, does not apply to the National Guard, Peter Margulies, a law professor at Roger Williams University, told VERIFY. “The National Guard is a state militia and can be called out by the president with the cooperation of the state governors, and so you could have the National Guard from, let's say, Texas, be used for apprehension. That would not create Posse Comitatus issues,” Margulies said. Trump's post on Truth Social mentioned declaring a national emergency, but the president can request National Guard assistance or federal military assistance with or without declaring a national emergency , according to Chris Mirasola, a contributor for non-profit Lawfare. The Brennan Center for Justice explains that declaring a national emergency grants a president with swift authority during times of crises without waiting for Congressional approval, including diverting federal funds or resources. Both Bier and Margulies told VERIFY Trump's deportation agenda would likely face significant legal challenges and be subject to congressional oversight. And if he declares a national emergency, Congress has the ability to eventually terminate that declaration , but it would require passing a law with a veto-proof supermajority, “which is increasingly difficult in our polarized political environment,” Goitein told VERIFY. Military involvement in immigration enforcement is not unprecedented. In 2019, then-President Trump declared a national emergency to redirect military funds to construct the U.S.-Mexico border wall. More recently, President Joe Biden used a national emergency declaration to deploy the National Guard to the southern border to assist with processing and facility operations tied to drug enforcement. According to Google Trends data , online searches about mass deportation have spiked, with some appearing to link the military's involvement to martial law. Martial law involves the suspension of ordinary law and government functions, with military authorities assuming control. Margulies said even if Trump uses the military in his administration’s deportation efforts, it would not equate to declaring martial law. Margulies explained that martial law hasn’t been used since the Civil War and is “profoundly unlikely” to happen as part of Trump’s proposed initiative because he doesn’t need martial law to execute his deportation plans.Drone operators worry that anxiety over mystery sightings will lead to new restrictions

FMC Corporation announces election of Anthony DiSilvestro to Board of Directors— Oct. 1, 1924: James Earl Carter Jr. is born in Plains, Georgia, son of James Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. Related Articles News Obituaries | Jimmy Carter has died at 100; longest-lived U.S. president News Obituaries | Photos: Remembering President Jimmy Carter through the years — June 1946: Carter graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. — July 1946: Carter marries Rosalynn Smith, in Plains. They have four children, John William (“Jack”), born 1947; James Earl 3rd (“Chip”), 1950; Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), 1952; and Amy Lynn, 1967. — 1946-1953: Carter serves in a Navy nuclear submarine program, attaining rank of lieutenant commander. — Summer 1953: Carter resigns from the Navy, returns to Plains after father’s death. — 1953-1971: Carter helps run the family peanut farm and warehouse business. — 1963-1966: Carter serves in the Georgia state Senate. — 1966: Carter tries unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. — November 1970: Carter is elected governor of Georgia. Serves 1971-75. — Dec. 12, 1974: Carter announces a presidential bid. Atlanta newspaper answers with headline: “Jimmy Who?” — January 1976: Carter leads the Democratic field in Iowa, a huge campaign boost that also helps to establish Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus. — July 1976: Carter accepts the Democratic nomination and announces Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota as running mate. — November 1976: Carter defeats President Gerald R. Ford, winning 51% of the vote and 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240. — January 1977: Carter is sworn in as the 39th president of the United States. On his first full day in office, he pardons most Vietnam-era draft evaders. —September 1977: U.S. and Panama sign treaties to return the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999. Senate narrowly ratifies them in 1978. — September 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Carter sign Camp David accords, which lead to a peace deal between Egypt and Israel the following year. — June 15-18, 1979: Carter attends a summit with Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna that leads to the signing of the SALT II treaty. — November 1979: Iranian militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages. All survive and are freed minutes after Carter leaves office in January 1981. — April 1980: The Mariel boatlift begins, sending tens of thousands of Cubans to the U.S. Many are criminals and psychiatric patients set free by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, creating a major foreign policy crisis. — April 1980: An attempt by the U.S. to free hostages fails when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane in Iran, killing eight servicemen. — Nov. 4, 1980: Carter is denied a second term by Ronald Reagan, who wins 51.6% of the popular vote to 41.7% for Carter and 6.7% to independent John Anderson. — 1982: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter co-found The Carter Center in Atlanta, whose mission is to resolve conflicts, protect human rights and prevent disease around the world. — September 1984: The Carters spend a week building Habitat for Humanity houses, launching what becomes the annual Carter Work Project. — October 1986: A dedication is held for The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. The center includes the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Carter Center offices. — 1989: Carter leads the Carter Center’s first election monitoring mission, declaring Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega’s election fraudulent. — May 1992: Carter meets with Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at the Carter Center to discuss forming the Gorbachev Foundation. — June 1994: Carter plays a key role in North Korea nuclear disarmament talks. — September 1994: Carter leads a delegation to Haiti, arranging terms to avoid a U.S. invasion and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. — December 1994: Carter negotiates tentative cease-fire in Bosnia. — March 1995: Carter mediates cease-fire in Sudan’s war with southern rebels. — September 1995: Carter travels to Africa to advance the peace process in more troubled areas. — December 1998: Carter receives U.N. Human Rights Prize on 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. — August 1999: President Bill Clinton awards Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — September 2001: Carter joins former Presidents Ford, Bush and Clinton at a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington after Sept. 11 attacks. — April 2002: Carter’s book “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” chosen as finalist for Pulitzer Prize in biography. — May 2002: Carter visits Cuba and addresses the communist nation on television. He is the highest-ranking American to visit in decades. — Dec. 10, 2002: Carter is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” — July 2007: Carter joins The Elders, a group of international leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to focus on global issues. — Spring 2008: Carter remains officially neutral as Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton battle each other for the Democratic presidential nomination. — April 2008: Carter stirs controversy by meeting with the Islamic militant group Hamas. — August 2010: Carter travels to North Korea as the Carter Center negotiates the release of an imprisoned American teacher. — August 2013: Carter joins President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and the March on Washington. — Oct. 1, 2014: Carter celebrates his 90th birthday. — December 2014: Carter is nominated for a Grammy in the best spoken word album category, for his book “A Call To Action.” — May 2015: Carter returns early from an election observation visit in Guyana — the Carter Center’s 100th — after feeling unwell. — August 2015: Carter has a small cancerous mass removed from his liver. He plans to receive treatment at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. — August 2015: Carter announces that his grandson Jason Carter will chair the Carter Center governing board. — March 6, 2016: Carter says an experimental drug has eliminated any sign of his cancer, and that he needs no further treatment. — May 25, 2016: Carter steps back from a “front-line” role with The Elders to become an emeritus member. — July 2016: Carter is treated for dehydration during a Habitat for Humanity build in Canada. — Spring 2018: Carter publishes “Faith: A Journey for All,” the last of 32 books. — March 22, 2019: Carter becomes the longest-lived U.S. president, surpassing President George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018. — September 18, 2019: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter deliver their final in-person annual report at the Carter Center. — October 2019: At 95, still recovering from a fall, Carter joins the Work Project with Habitat for Humanity in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s the last time he works personally on the annual project. — Fall 2019-early 2020: Democratic presidential hopefuls visit, publicly embracing Carter as a party elder, a first for his post-presidency. — November 2020:The Carter Center monitors an audit of presidential election results in the state of Georgia, marking a new era of democracy advocacy within the U.S. — Jan. 20, 2021: The Carters miss President Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the first presidential inauguration they don’t attend since Carter’s own ceremony in 1977. The Bidens later visit the Carters in Plains on April 29. — Feb. 19, 2023: Carter enters home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. — July 7, 2023: The Carters celebrate their 77th and final wedding anniversary. — Nov. 19, 2023: Rosalynn Carter dies at home, two days after the family announced that she had joined the former president in receiving hospice care. — Oct. 1, 2024 — Carter becomes the first former U.S. president to reach 100 years of age, celebrating at home with extended family and close friends. — Oct. 16, 2024 — Carter casts a Georgia mail ballot for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, having told his family he wanted to live long enough to vote for her. It marks his 21st presidential election as a voter. — Dec. 29, 2024: Carter dies at home. Notable quotes: We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. I have come to realize that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment. Political and religious leaders must attempt to provide a society within which these human attributes can be nurtured and enhanced. — from 1975 book “Why Not the Best?” ___ Our government can express the highest common ideals of human beings — if we demand of government true standards of excellence. At this Bicentennial time of introspection and concern, we must demand such standards. — “Why Not the Best?” ___ I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry. — “Why Not the Best?” ___ Christ said, “I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.” I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do — and I have done it — and God forgives me for it. But that doesn’t mean that I condemn someone who not only looks on a woman with lust but who leaves his wife and shacks up with somebody out of wedlock. — Interview, November 1976 Playboy. ___ This inauguration ceremony marks a new beginning, a new dedication within our Government, and a new spirit among us all. A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a people can provide it. — Inaugural address, January 1977. ___ It’s clear that the true problems of our nation are much deeper — deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation and recession. ... All the legislation in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with America. ... It is a crisis of confidence. — So-called “malaise” speech, July 1979. ___ But we know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges. For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival; liberty is human rights; the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants. — Farewell Address, January 1981. ___ We appreciate the past. We are grateful for the present and we’re looking forward to the future with great anticipation and commitment. — October 1986, at the dedication of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. ___ War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live together in peace by killing each other’s children. — December 2002, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech. ___ Fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree. ... The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation’s historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship. — From 2005 book “Our Endangered Values.” ___ I think that this breakthrough by Barack Obama has been remarkable. When he made his speech (on race) a few months ago in Philadelphia, I wept. I sat in front of the television and cried, because I saw that as the most enlightening and transforming analysis of racism and a potential end of it that I ever saw in my life. — August 2008, commenting on then-Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy. ___ I think it’s based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president. ... No matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect. — September 2009, reacting to Rep. Joe Wilson’s shout of “You lie!” during a speech to Congress by President Barack Obama. ___ I’m still determined to outlive the last guinea worm. — 2010, on The Carter Center’s work to eradicate guinea worm disease. ___ You know how much I raised to run against Gerald Ford? Zero. You know how much I raised to run against Ronald Reagan? Zero. You know how much will be raised this year by all presidential, Senate and House campaigns? $6 billion. That’s 6,000 millions. — September 2012, reacting to the 2010 “Citizens United” U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting unlimited third-party political spending. ___ I have become convinced that the most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare, unfortunately following the example set during my lifetime by the United States. — From 2014 book “A Call to Action.” ___ I don’t think there’s any doubt now that the NSA or other agencies monitor or record almost every telephone call made in the United States, including cellphones, and I presume email as well. We’ve gone a long way down the road of violating Americans’ basic civil rights, as far as privacy is concerned. — March 2014, commenting on U.S. intelligence monitoring after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks ___ We accept self-congratulations about the wonderful 50th anniversary – which is wonderful – but we feel like Lyndon Johnson did it and we don’t have to do anything anymore. — April 2014, commenting on racial inequality during a celebration of the Civil Rights Act’s 40th anniversary. ___ I had a very challenging question at Emory (University) the other night: “How would you describe the United States of America today in one word?” And I didn’t know what to say for a few moments, but I finally said, “Searching.” I think the country in which we live is still searching for what it ought to be, and what it can be, and I’m not sure we’re making much progress right at this moment. — October 2014 during a celebration of his 90th birthday. ___ The life we have now is the best of all. We have an expanding and harmonious family, a rich life in our church and the Plains community, and a diversity of projects at The Carter Center that is adventurous and exciting. Rosalynn and I have visited more than 145 countries, and both of us are as active as we have ever been. We are blessed with good health and look to the future with eagerness and confidence, but are prepared for inevitable adversity when it comes. — From 2015 book, “A Full Life.”

Romanian lawmakers narrowly approve new pro-European coalition during period of political turmoilFrench President Emmanuel Macron’s office has announced a new government, after the previous Cabinet collapsed in a historic vote prompted by fighting over the country’s budget. Newly named Prime Minister Francois Bayrou put together the government that includes members of the outgoing conservative-dominated team and some new figures from centrist or left-leaning backgrounds. Advertisement Coming up with a 2025 budget will be the most urgent order of business. French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027 (AP) The new government enters office after months of political deadlock and pressure from financial markets to reduce France’s colossal debt. Advertisement Mr Macron has vowed to remain in office until his term ends in 2027, but has struggled to govern since snap elections in the summer left no single party with a majority in the National Assembly. Since his appointment 10 days ago, Mr Bayrou has held talks with political leaders from various parties in search of the right balance for the new government. Some critics were angry at Mr Bayrou for consulting with Marine Le Pen’s far-right party, and some argue the government looks too much like the old one to win the trust of politicians. Former prime minister Michel Barnier resigned this month following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the National Assembly, leaving France without a functioning government. Advertisement Ms Le Pen played a key role in Mr Barnier’s downfall by joining her National Rally party’s forces with the left to pass the no-confidence motion. Mr Bayrou will need support from moderate legislators on the right and left to keep his government alive. Alexis Kohler, secretary-general of the Elysee Palace, announces the names of the new Cabinet ministers (Saboor Abdul/pool via AP) Advertisement Banker Eric Lombard will be finance minister, a crucial post when France is working to fulfil its promises to European Union partners to reduce its deficit, estimated to reach 6% of its gross domestic product this year. Mr Lombard briefly worked as an adviser to a socialist finance minister in the 1990s. Mr Bayrou has said he supports tax hikes championed by his predecessor, but it is not clear how the new government can find the right calculation for a budget that satisfies a majority of politicians angry over spending cuts. Bruno Retailleau stays on as interior minister, with responsibility for France’s security and migration policy. Advertisement Sebastien Lecornu, who has been at the forefront of France’s military support for Ukraine, remains defence minister, while foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who has travelled extensively in the Middle East in recent weeks, also retains his post. Among the new faces are two former prime ministers. Manuel Valls will be minister for overseas affairs, and Elisabeth Borne takes the education ministry.Mozambique top court confirms ruling party disputed win

Customers of British Gas, OVO, and Octopus Energy who are facing financial struggles are set to benefit from increased support this winter as they cope with rising energy bills. Following discussions with the Government, these energy providers have committed a combined £120million towards a wider £500million initiative pledged by energy suppliers to help households amid climbing energy costs. Portions of this fund are also earmarked for charities that support consumers who are difficult to reach. . To alleviate costs, companies will provide loans to individuals, lower standing charges—constituting parts of all energy bills—and contribute to funding a nationwide debt advice initiative. Amidst efforts to mitigate the effects of reduced winter fuel payments for about 10 million senior citizens—a move officials worry could thrust 100,000 pensioners into relative poverty within this decade—the price cap imposed by Ofgem is slated for an additional increase of 1.2% this winter after October’s 10% surge in wholesale prices. Miatta Fahnbulleh, Minister for Energy Consumers, commented: "The impact of the energy crisis is still being felt by people across the country, and the Government and energy suppliers are working in lockstep to help vulnerable households this winter." She detailed that the aid offered by the companies along with the Government's warm homes scheme—which aims to fund home improvements for enhanced energy efficiency—will amount to roughly £1billion in support, reports the Express . Get all the latest money news and budgeting tips from Chronicle Live with our free newsletter Fahnbulleh will also helm a task force alongside industry figures in a concerted endeavour to make energy more affordable over the long term. . A number of energy suppliers are advocating for the introduction of a social tariff, similar to the one used in the telecoms industry to help benefit recipients, such as those on Universal Credit, pay their broadband bills. This measure, which has been backed by campaign groups for several years, would provide a discounted rate for low-income households, lower than standard tariffs. Dhara Vyas, the head of the trade body Energy UK, highlighted the record high levels of consumer debt, which stood at £3.7 billion in June. She noted that many people have yet to recover from a prolonged period of high energy bills and a corresponding increase in the cost of living. Ms Vyas stated: "As in previous winters, energy suppliers have already been stepping up the amount and range of support they offer to customers. There is, however, only so much they can do when a large number of households are struggling to afford energy at the price it costs to supply it." "We've very much welcomed the Government's constructive approach in our discussions so far and the recognition this is not a temporary problem. "The establishment of a working group and the commitment to look at how data sharing can help target support are important steps towards putting in place an enduring plan for future winters." Those struggling with their energy bills can visit their supplier's website to find out what support is available. British Gas is extending a helping hand with up to £2,000 worth of support, while Octopus Energy customers can tap into its generous £30million Octo Assist Fund. Customers can also get free electric blankets, winter fuel payments, and standing charge waivers. ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . Join the ChronicleLive Breaking News and Top Stories community Join our Court & Crime community Join the Things to do in Newcastle and the North East community Join our Northumberland community Join our County Durham community Join our Sunderland community Join our NUFC community Join our SAFC community Join our Great North Run community

MineHub to Host Third Quarter Financial Results Webinar on December 19, 2024