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NEW YORK — There has been much chatter about the Jets and their lack of discipline, even dating back to last season. In Sunday’s loss to Seattle, Gang Green committed 12 penalties for 83 yards. So, how does Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich define a disciplined player? “A disciplined player is a player that executes his job to the best of his abilities every single play, and you see that,” the coach said. “That doesn’t necessarily mean they win or lose the down, it means they are executing and doing exactly what you asked. Part of that process is the penalty or lack thereof. “Some penalties, as we spoke about at length before, are aggressive penalties, and you live with them. Solly’s [Solomon Thomas] penalty with the horse collar, he’s in the pits scrapping for a third-and-1, fourth-and-1, you are just trying to grab at whatever you can grab at. The beauty of that play is when he realized it, he let it go and ultimately, that wasn’t what tackled the guy. If you get called for stuff like that, we can live with those. “The ones that you can’t live with are the illegal shifts, the illegal formations, the delay of games, offsides, those are absolutely unacceptable, and those are the illustration of lack of discipline at times, so got to be better in that way.” Penalties, or self-inflicted wounds, as the coaching staff has repeatedly called them, have been a consistent issue for the Jets. They led the NFL in penalties last year (124) and are also among the leading offenders this season. Gang Green is fourth in the league in penalties, with 89 through 12 games. During the fourth quarter against the Seahawks, the Jets committed five penalties on a single drive. Among the penalties were too many men on the field, pass interference, and a horse collar penalty that helped Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet score the eventual game-winning touchdown. After the game, Jets cornerback D.J. Reed blasted officials on social media. “@NFLOfficiating you f—— suck, yall should be ashamed of yall selves!” Reed said on X before later deleting the post. Ulbrich said he holds Jets players accountable during team meetings to try and prevent penalties from being committed. Like many other teams, the Jets have a fine system for players who are late or get a warning, which could lead to fines for committing preventable penalties. Players receive a warning and after that they could be fined for every infraction that they receive. Team fines can also be less than what the NFL decides to fine players for hits or penalties. “It’s a bunch of different ways that you can do it,” Jets left guard John Simpson said to the New York Daily News. “I felt like I never really had a problem with it. I think it is about making those things a priority at showing those things at the beginning of the week, and that’s something that we do now. “We show certain things that go on in the league and allow people to understand and know this is what will happen when you do something like that. Not everybody knows what a penalty is. When they show us, that information helps guys for sure.” This week, the word “undisciplined” also came up after Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended three games for his illegal hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during Sunday’s game. During the first half of Sunday’s game, Lawrence slid following a scramble when Al-Shaair hit the quarterback in the head with a forearm blow. Lawrence quickly went into the fencing position after suffering a concussion, and he was later carted off the field. Al-Shaair was ejected from the game, but not before he engaged in a brawl with various Jaguars players. Al-Shaair apologized on social media Monday to Lawrence, saying first that he didn’t see the quarterback sliding until “it was too late,” and it happened “in the blink of an eye.” On Wednesday, the Jaguars placed Lawrence on injured reserve, which means Lawrence is out at least four games. With five games remaining and a 2-10 record, Lawrence’s season is likely over. “Every time I see a quarterback run, my thoughts are to go hit him,” Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley told the Daily News. “I was taught as a young backer, you always dive for the head because when they do slide, you are going to aim high. If they slide, you should go over and if they don’t dive then, it’s a body shot and for me it is that simple. “Some quarterbacks slide late, some try to draw a penalty. On that one, it was a bang, bang play. You can look at it both ways, but at the end of the day, you are taught to dive high and if they slide late, you try to aim over their head. “That’s the only coaching point I would receive. Some hits can be avoidable, but on that one, it was tough. Obviously, on the offensive side, you are going to take offense to it and on the defensive side, you are going to be defensive about making a legal tackle.” ©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Part of that was the play of backup Cooper Rush, who threw for 247 yards and two TDs in his third start in place of starter Dak Prescott. Part was also the defense forcing two turnovers, as Chauncey Golston ripped the ball out of Brian Robinson Jr.’s hands for what was called an interception of Daniels in the second quarter, and Donovan Wilson stripped John Bates midway through the fourth. KaVonte Turpin provided the fireworks with a spinning, 99-yard kickoff return TD seconds after Daniels found Zach Ertz in the end zone and scored on a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three with 3:02 left. In the final three minutes alone, the Commanders (7-5) scored 10 points and allowed Thomas' TD. All that after the score was 10-9 through three quarters before madness ensued. Washington's playoff hopes that looked solid not long ago are now in serious jeopardy after losing to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Dallas. Before the scoring outburst late, much of this defeat had to do with Daniels and the offense not being able to find any kind of a rhythm. The Cowboys did, despite playing without their two best offensive linemen, top cornerback and starting tight end. Rush's 6-yard pass to Jalen Tolbert was Dallas' first third-quarter TD of the season, and his 22-yarder to Luke Schoonmaker came after Wilson's forced fumble. Daniels finished 25 of 38 for 274 yards, including his second interception of the game on a failed Hail Mary as the clock expired. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards to spring the upset for the Cowboys, who were 10 1/2-point underdogs on BetMGM Sportsbook. Cowboys: LG Tyler Smith was inactive with ankle and knee injuries. ... RG Zack Martin (ankle), CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) and TE Jake Ferguson (concussion) were ruled out prior to game day and did not travel for the game. Commanders: RB Austin Ekeler was injured on a kickoff return in the final seconds. ... Robinson left with an ankle injury in the first half, returned and then left again. ... RT Andrew Wylie was concussed in the third quarter and did not return. ... C Tyler Biadasz was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth. ... CB Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) missed a third consecutive game since being acquired at the trade deadline from New Orleans. Cowboys: Host the New York Giants on Thursday in the traditional Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas. Commanders: Host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday in Washington’s final game before its late bye week. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The dramatic downfall of Syrian President Bashar Assad presents possible danger, and an opening, for neighboring Israel. After fighting wars on multiple fronts for months, Israel is now concerned that unrest in Syria could spill over into its territory. Israel also views the end of the Assad regime as a chance to disrupt Iran's ability to smuggle weapons through Syria to the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The Israeli military over the weekend began seizing control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. It said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border. But the incursion sparked condemnation, with critics accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire and possibly exploiting the chaos in Syria for a land grab. Israel still controls the Golan Heights that it captured from Syria during the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed — a move not recognized by most of the international community. Here’s a look at recent developments along the Syrian frontier. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israeli forces were moving to control a roughly 400-square-kilometer (155-square-mile) demilitarized buffer zone in Syrian territory. The buffer zone between Syria and the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights was created by the U.N. after the 1973 Mideast war. A U.N. force of about 1,100 troops has patrolled the area since then. On a visit Sunday to a Golan Heights hilltop overlooking Syria, Netanyahu said that because Syrian troops had abandoned their positions, Israel's move into the buffer zone was necessary as a "temporary defensive position.” “The peacekeepers at (the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, or UNDOF) informed the Israeli counterparts that these actions would constitute a violation of the 1974 disengagement agreement, that there should be no military forces or activities in the area of separation,” said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric. He added that the buffer zone was calm and UNDOF peacekeepers remained in their position. The Security Council is scheduled to meet for special consultations called by Russia to discuss the buffer zone issue. The rebels who ousted Assad and now control much of Syria are led by a former senior al-Qaida militant , although he severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance. On Monday evening, Netanyahu said Assad’s fall is the “direct result of the heavy blows we landed on Hamas, on Hezbollah and on Iran.” He added that Israel would occupy the summit of Mount Hermon, which is within the buffer zone on the Syria-Lebanon border, and at 2,814 meters (9,232 feet) is the highest peak in the eastern Mediterranean coast. Israel has sent both ground and air troops into the buffer zone, including on the Syrian side of snow-dusted Mount Hermon, which is divided between the Golan Heights, Lebanon, and Syria. Only the United States recognizes Israel's control of the Golan Heights. Israeli troops began moving into the buffer zone Saturday. Also on Saturday, armed men attacked U.N. forces near the border with Israel, according to Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. “(The Israeli military) took targeted and temporary control of certain areas near the border to prevent an Oct. 7 scenario from Syria,” Saar said, referring to Hamas' surprise 2023 attack into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Many in the region condemned the move. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of “exploiting the power vacuum ... to occupy more Syrian territories and create a fait accompli in violation of international law.” This isn’t the first time Israel has entered the buffer zone this year. An Associated Press report last month examining satellite imagery found that Israel had been working on a construction project, possibly a new road, along the border with Syria from as early as July, and had in some cases entered the buffer zone during construction. Following the AP report, U.N. forces warned that the Israeli military has committed “severe violations” of its ceasefire deal with Syria. Israeli political and military leaders have stressed that the seizure of the buffer zone is temporary and not a prelude to entering other parts of Syrian territory. “The plan at the moment is that this is a temporary step to make sure stability is kept in the border, making sure the buffer zone is kept, and the U.N. forces can stay,” said a military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with military guidelines. The official noted that in 2014, U.N. peacekeepers fled the buffer zone after al-Qaida-linked Syrian rebels attacked their encampments. After armed men attacked U.N. forces over the weekend, Israel wanted to ensure the situation did not repeat itself, the official said. Israel isn’t currently trying to change the border or prepare for an invasion into Syria, said Carmit Valensi, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, a Tel Aviv think-tank. “Right now, it’s a tactical operation, not a long-term strategy, in response to the dynamic situation in Syria,” she said. With the collapse of the Syrian army, Israel wants to protect its borders until the situation stabilizes, she said. Israel says its immediate goal is to prevent the instability in Syria from spreading into the border region. Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday laid out Israel’s plans for the border area. He said that after completing the takeover of the buffer zone, Israel would create a “security zone” beyond it by destroying heavy artillery across Syria and preventing Iran from smuggling weapons through Syria into Lebanon. Foreign Minister Saar said Monday that Israel has struck multiple sites holding chemical weapons and long-range missiles to prevent them from falling into the hands of hostile actors. Saar did not say when the strikes occurred. Analysts said Israel is likely to continue carrying out strikes against targets across Syria. Israel is planning outreach to Syria’s Druze population , a close-knit religious minority that also lives in Israel, Jordan and Lebanon and has maintained some ties across borders. Israel is also trying to open lines of communication with Syrian rebel groups, to help ensure Iranian-backed factions don’t reclaim any territory, according to Valensi. For many years, Israel quietly provided food, medicine, clothing and other assistance to war-ravaged southern Syria through “Operation Good Neighbor,” which ended in 2018. More than 4,000 wounded and sick Syrians received medical treatment in Israel or in Israeli field hospitals, and those non-diplomatic connections could now prove crucial. Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer contributed from the United Nations.Safety advocates fear Trump will drop long-sought rules to reduce fatal truck crashesJimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) New-elected President Jimmy Carter gives a press conference after being elected 39th President of the United States, on November 05, 1976 in Plains, Georgia. (Photo by GENE FORTE / CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES / AFP) (Photo by GENE FORTE/CONSOLIDATED NEWS PICTURES/AFP via Getty Images) Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter hold up signs during a rally on may 15, 1976 in New York. – Carter was elected on December 21, 1976 39th President of the United States, 51% voice against 48% for incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Chief Justice Warren Burger administers the oath of office to Jimmy Carter (R), flanked by his wife Rosalynn, as the 39th President of the United Sates on January 20, 1977. (Photo by CONSOLIDATED NEWS / AFP) (Photo by -/CONSOLIDATED NEWS/AFP via Getty Images) Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter embraces his wife Rosalynn after receiving the final news of his victory in the national general election, November 2, 1976. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, Gallup
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By Benjamin R. Punongbayan In recent weeks, there appear to be a welling up of commentaries, particularly on social media, about corruption in our government. There seems to be a growing perception that this disastrous practice is getting worse in terms of both its widening spread and the increasing scale of the amounts involved. This observation aroused an interest in me to analyze and try to portray in an understandable way the broad effects of corruption in the Philippine economy. Indeed, corruption in government has been prevalent in the Philippines for so long and appears to continue undiminished in the foreseeable future. I will not consider, though, that this lamentable practice is a part of Philippine culture, as others would do, for the simple reason that it is practiced by only a “few”. I mean “few” in relation to the number of perpetrators as compared to the entire Philippine population. Corruption is actually a crime that regrettably goes generally unpunished. I recognize, though, that others may claim that for the fact that a much greater part of the Philippine population tolerates the perpetration of this criminal practice makes the practice of corruption a part of Philippine culture. I would agree if such toleration is unforced. But it is not. The perpetrators hold considerable power. This power exudes intimidation and threat of retribution that greatly inhibits the concerned but unorganized citizens from taking appropriate action to challenge the perpetrators. Estimate of amount of corruption In the latest Corruption Perception Index released in September 2023 by the Berlin-based Transparency International, the Philippines is ranked 115 among 180 countries as being perceived to have a higher prevalence of corruption. While the country is not the most corrupt, it is more corrupt than 114 other countries out of 180. In a paper presented by an officer of the Department of Justice at the 13th Regional Seminar on Good Governance for Southeast Asian Countries in Tokyo in 2019, he stated that the amount of corruption in the Philippines at the national level was then estimated at 20% of the annual national budget. He applied that proportion to the 2015 and 2016 national budgets to show the magnitude of the resulting amounts. If we apply the same proportion on the current 2024 national budget, the amount of corruption at the national level currently translates to an estimated amount of about ₱1.6 trillion. And that estimated amount relates only to corruption at the national government level. If we include estimates of similar corruption at the level of the LGUs and bribery amounts at both national and local levels, the overall total will certainly be gargantuan. Types of corruption Corruption in government may be classified in a number of ways. For purposes of this commentary, I will classify them based on their nature, namely: overpricing; unrestricted appropriated funds; and bribery at both the national and local government levels. Overpricing relates to infrastructure and other construction contracts; purchases of equipment, materials, and supplies; and procurement of labor for the use of the national and local governments, including that of the various institutions under their respective jurisdictions. I define unrestricted appropriated funds or, simply, unrestricted appropriations as composed of what are commonly known as pork barrel, intelligence funds, and other intentionally mislabelled funds appropriated in both the national budget and local government budgets. Overpricing results in a complete loss of government funds equivalent to the amount of the overprice, while unrestricted appropriations result in a partial loss of government funds to the extent of the amount not used for the benefit of the Filipino people plus the overpricing of those goods procured for the benefit of the citizens. Bribery is different in the sense that these are in the form of money or valuable goods owned by citizens, private businesses, and other organizations and given to government officers and personnel, under coercion or not, to facilitate or expedite the release of required government permits, licenses, and other documentary requirements and approvals of all kinds. It also includes awarding of franchises and rights for exploitation and use of national resources and privileges; and favorable court decisions and regulatory rulings to deserved or undeserved persons, activities, and pending cases. While these corrupt practices do not result in direct loss of existing government funds, some of these practices may result in loss of government revenue in the form of exemption from or reduced amounts of legally collectible taxes, duties, and fees in exchange for the bribe money. Economic effects of corruption on government programs and activities In sum, corruption in government results in loss of government funds in the cases of overpricing and portions of unrestricted appropriations, and loss of revenue in some cases of bribery. On the basis of the estimated rate of corruption mentioned earlier, the total amount of these losses of government funds and revenue on an annual basis is huge. When put together, the recurring total annual amount could have been deployed in large-scale programs that have long-term and wide beneficial effects on the nation’s economic growth and development, such as in large infrastructures that provide connectivity within and among the country’s various islands (roads, railways, bridges, sea ports, airports, and similar others); rehabilitation of the education system; substantial reduction of poverty; a more expansive health care system; and other urgently needed economic and social development programs. When broadening the base estimate of losses from corruption referred to earlier for reasons explained thereafter, the expanded annual estimate would be significantly higher than the ₱1.6 trillion current annual estimate mentioned before. By multiplying whatever higher amount that may come to mind by any number of years, it provides a result that gives us a picture of the enormity of the opportunities for continuous economic growth that we lost during the past many years. And much more than this, we continue to suffer such losses annually, and there seems to be no end in sight. There is an additional unfavorable economic effect in the case of overpricing, especially in infrastructure contracts. To enable the corruption, some or much of the completed constructions will generally be of a quality level lower than what is specified in the contract. As a result, the completed infrastructure would provide benefits only for a much shorter period of time than planned and will necessarily entail large amounts of opportunity cost during the period of necessary repairs and replacements. Moreover, such early repairs and replacements will necessitate a premature round of sourcing the required funding. As a result, this premature funding crowds out new economic development initiatives, which clearly further delays in no small measure Philippine economic growth. In addition, this condition creates a cycle that goes on indefinitely under present circumstances. There are similar effects in the case of overpricing in the government procurement of equipment, materials, supplies and labor if the level of quality of the procured goods and services is not in accordance with specified quality levels. In the case of unrestricted appropriations, whatever portion is spent for the benefit of the Filipino people, it is spent in a scattered way in relatively small amounts. The power of using that money in the aggregate to fund large-scale economic development programs that provide much wider and longer-term benefits to the nation is forever lost. Economic effects of using corrupt money On the part of the corrupt persons, they obtain additional wealth for their own personal benefit and disposal. To the extent that they deploy this additional wealth in consumption, investments, and savings in the Philippines, such deployment would offset to some extent the harmful effects of the loss of government funds and revenue. However, based on general observations, much of this corrupt money is not spent in the Philippines but instead is used to purchase foreign, especially expensive, goods and to transfer some portion abroad in the form of foreign currency. In those cases, no benefit accrues to the Philippine economy at all, except maybe for some retail sale markups and applicable payment of local taxes and fees, which sum up to a relatively small amount. Other effects on the national economy The huge fund losses resulting from corruption have required the Philippine government to borrow much more than would have been necessary. Such additional borrowings result in a higher debt ratio (to GDP) that in turn results in a lower international credit rating than would otherwise be and consequently entails a higher interest cost. Of course, the government may choose to retain that level of borrowings and, without corruption, spend the additional borrowings for expenditures on large-scale programs that have long-term and wide beneficial effects on the nation’s economic growth and development, as explained earlier. Conclusion Clearly, widespread corruption has caused the Philippines to lose great opportunities continuously over a long period of time to become a more economically developed country. Equally sadly, the country will continue to lose such great opportunities in the foreseeable future. I purposely confined myself to analyzing the economic effects of corruption in government, except for a few comments in passing that corruption, in my opinion, is not a part of Philippine culture. I avoided commenting on the underlying issue of righteousness regarding the practice of corruption. I do not think I have the right to suggest to anyone to be like Mother Teresa. _________ Ben Punongbayan is the Founder of Punongbayan & Araullo. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the Management Association of the Philippines. Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com . Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com .Jimmy Carter had the longest post-presidency of anyone to hold the office, and one of the most active. Here is a look back at his life. 1924 — Jimmy Carter was born on Oct. 1 to Earl and Lillian Carter in the small town of Plains, Georgia. 1928 — Earl Carter bought a 350-acre farm 3 miles from Plains in the tiny community of Archery. The Carter family lived in a house on the farm without running water or electricity. 1941 — He graduated from Plains High School and enrolled at Georgia Southwestern College in Americus. 1942 — He transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. 1943 — Carter’s boyhood dream of being in the Navy becomes a reality as he is appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. 1946 — He received his naval commission and on July 7 married Rosalynn Smith of Plains. They moved to Norfolk, Virginia. 1946-1952 — Carter’s three sons are born, Jack in 1947, Chip in 1950 and Jeff in 1952. 1962-66 — Carter is elected to the Georgia State Senate and serves two terms. 1953 — Carter’s father died and he cut his naval career short to save the family farm. Due to a limited income, Jimmy, Rosalynn and their three sons moved into Public Housing Apartment 9A in Plains. 1966 — He ran for governor, but lost. 1967 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter’s fourth child, Amy, is born. 1971 — He ran for governor again and won the election, becoming Georgia’s 76th governor on Jan. 12. 1974 — Carter announced his candidacy for president. 1976 — Carter was elected 39th president on Nov. 2, narrowly defeating incumbent Gerald Ford. 1978 — U.S. and the Peoples’ Republic of China establish full diplomatic relations. President Carter negotiates and mediates an accord between Egypt and Israel at Camp David. 1979 — The Department of Education is formed. Iranian radicals overrun the U.S. Embassy and seize American hostages. The Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty is signed. 1980 — On March 21, Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the Olympic Games scheduled in Moscow. A rescue attempt to get American hostages out of Iran is unsuccessful. Carter was defeated in his bid for a second term as president by Ronald Reagan in November. 1981 — President Carter continues to negotiate the release of the American hostages in Iran. Minutes before his term as president is over, the hostages are released. 1982 — Carter became a distinguished professor at Emory University in Atlanta, and founded The Carter Center. The nonpartisan and nonprofit center addresses national and international issues of public policy. 1984 — Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter volunteer one week a year for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization that helps needy people in the United States and in other countries renovate and build homes, until 2020. He also taught Sunday school in the Maranatha Baptist Church of Plains from the mid-’80s until 2020. 2002 — Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 2015 — Carter announced in August he had been diagnosed with melanoma that spread to his brain. 2016 — He said in March that he no longer needed cancer treatment. 2024 — Carter dies at 100 years old. Sources: Cartercenter.org, Plains Historical Preservation Trust, The Associated Press; The Brookings Institution; U.S. Navy; WhiteHouse.gov, Gallup
Creating the economy
NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”For the past 14 years, Alex Vynokur, the co-founder of Betashares, has quietly built his company into one of the largest local providers of exchange-traded funds and one of the country’s fastest growing asset managers. In 2024, Betashares attracted inflows of $16 billion, lifting its total funds under management to $46 billion. “The focus for the past decade has very much been about building out the core ETF capability,” explains Vynokur. “We are now a steward of significant capital on behalf of more than 1 million Australian investors and over two-thirds of financial advisors.” Betashares now accounts for one-third of every dollar that goes into the Australian ETF industry, according to Vynokur, and is eyeing growth in Asia. Alex Vynokur, the chief executive of Betashares. Credit: Louie Douvis An ETF is a basket of securities that are pooled into one fund, which is traded on a stock exchange. An investor in an ETF doesn’t own the securities, instead owning units in the ETF, while the ETF provider owns the shares or assets. ETFs have grown in popularity with investors because they are cost-effective and offer exposure to thousands of diversified assets, such as a group of defence stocks, or the ASX200 index, or a variety of bonds. Globally, ETFs have had a banner year with more than $1 trillion invested into the sector, which is now worth an estimated $14 trillion. Vynokur and his family arrived in Australia from Ukraine more than three decades ago, at the time when ETFs launched. He was a teenager, and his family came with just a few hundred dollars in their pockets. Vynokur became a lawyer, then moved into venture capital, before co-founding Betashares with David Nathanson, also a former lawyer and investment banker, who had worked at Goldman Sachs and Macquarie. We’re definitely, very cautiously, studying opportunities outside of Australia. As with any start-up, Vynokur and Nathanson put in enormous hours to build the company to where it is today, as Australia’s second-largest ETF provider behind market leader Vanguard. Both are now multi-millionaires, though there has been a physical cost, says 46-year-old Vynokur: “I didn’t have any grey hair 14 years ago.” The pay-off for both as come in the past few years. In 2021, private equity group TA Associates became Betashares’ majority shareholder, with at least 53.5 per cent ownership. In the middle of this year, Singapore’s Temasek, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds, bought a minority stake. Temasek paid $300 million for that shareholding, the size of which was undisclosed. The deal ascribed a multi-billion-dollar valuation to Betashares. It was Temasek’s first investment in a financial services business in Australia. In a global portfolio valued at $S389 billion ($459 billion), Temasek has just over half invested in private assets. “They have invested with the objective of maybe having more ownership,” says Vynokur. “We’re building this business for the long term, and they are genuinely interested in long-term value creation. We’ve never been about building something up quickly and flogging it. It doesn’t mean I’m opposed to being listed one day, but we’re definitely not in a hurry to go down that path.” The proceeds are expected to help fund Betashares’ growth into new products. In the past year, the company launched retail investment platform Betashares Direct and bought a superannuation business from Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. Vynokur also believes that Betashares has more room to expand its main ETF business. “According to the ASX data, there are 8 million Australians who invest outside their superannuation,” he says. “Also, if you think about younger Australians, who are locked out of the property ownership game, you know being smart with money outside of property is absolutely crucial. We have a real role to play in that.” There is also the opportunity for Betashares to expand its ETF business into Asia but, as for a priority, Vynokur won’t nominate a country. “We’re definitely, very cautiously, studying opportunities outside of Australia ... and that’s going to form part of our longer-term growth.” The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning .
Longest-lived US president was always happy to speak his mindGiants owners face a decision on how to mollify frustrated fans(Reuters) – Intel will have a CEO with manufacturing expertise as well as experience in the product side of the business, interim co-CEO David Zinsner said at the UBS technology conference on Wednesday. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Intel has started evaluating a handful of outsiders including former board member Lip-Bu Tan to take the reins of the struggling chipmaker. Intel’s “core strategy remains intact”, Zinsner said at the conference, two days after the struggling U.S. chipmaker announced the resignation of CEO Pat Gelsinger following impatience with the pace of a costly turnaround. The company also requires a “significant cultural change” to become a successful foundry player as well as in the semiconductor business, Intel’s head of foundry manufacturing and supply chain Naga Chandrasekaran said. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta) Disclaimer: This report is auto generated from the Reuters news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );
Croatia’s incumbent president wins most votes at polls but still faces runoffIt has taken new Michigan coach Dusty May just nine games to guide the Wolverines into the Top 25. May and the Wolverines enter the poll at No. 14 and strive to continue their strong start when they face Arkansas in the Jimmy V Classic on Tuesday night in New York. Michigan (8-1) has reeled off seven straight wins to crack the rankings for the first time in nearly 25 months. "All this stuff doesn't matter to me," May said of the rankings. "It does change the complexion of what we think about and things like that. Overall, I like where we are. We have guys who work well together and they put in the time." The Wolverines look to remain hot against the Razorbacks (7-2). John Calipari's first Arkansas squad has won its past two games. Calipari spent the previous 15 seasons as coach of Kentucky and claims he's excited to be in Arkansas. "I'm not bitter about anything. I'm not," Calipari said. "This is the first page of the first chapter of a new book. The timing for me and my career and my life, this is perfect. And I appreciate the fans and everybody giving me the opportunity to do that." The Razorbacks will be searching for their initial milestone victory under Calipari during their first visit to Madison Square Garden since 1997. Their losses this season are to then-No. 8 Baylor and Illinois on neutral courts. Calipari grabbed several players out of the transfer portal in the offseason, including guard Johnell Davis, one of the stars of the Florida Atlantic team that reached the 2023 Final Four. That squad was coached by May. One of the other Florida Atlantic starters was center Vladislav Goldin, who followed May to Michigan after the coach was hired in the offseason. Goldin has strung together three straight solid games, including a season-best 24 points in a 67-64 road win over then-No. 11 Wisconsin on Dec. 3. He followed that up with 20 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in Saturday's 85-83 home win over Iowa. "He's just been a guy that you can see when he's really locked in and focused there's a different level of play," said May, "and I think now he's finding that level of play." Goldin is part of a balanced attack. Roddy Gayle Jr. averages a team-best 12.2 points per game, followed by Tre Donaldson and Danny Wolf at 12.1 and Goldin at 12.0. Wolf averages a team-best 10 rebounds per game. Arkansas is coming off a 75-60 home victory over UTSA on Saturday. Adou Thiero excelled by matching his career high of 26 points to go with 10 rebounds. Thiero scored 17 points in the second half when the Razorbacks overcame a five-point halftime deficit to outscore the Roadrunners by 20. "We've been seeing that the whole summer," Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile said of Thiero's strong play. "Him dominating. Dominating in practice and (Calipari) pushing him. This is just a reflection of the work he's done this summer and him trusting the coaches." Thiero leads the Razorbacks with averages of 18.6 points and 6.1 rebounds. Boogie Fland is averaging 15 points and Zvonimir Ivisic is scoring 12 per game. Davis (9.3) started slow with just two double-digit outings in the first seven games before averaging 12.5 over the last two games. Michigan holds a 4-3 edge in the all-time series. The Wolverines recorded an 80-67 home victory on Dec. 8, 2012 in the most recent meeting. --Field Level Media
With a Juan Soto free agent decision looming, the MLB free agent market is largely at a standstill. That has teams like the New York Yankees doing their homework on backup plans if Soto decides to sign elsewhere. The Yankees are considering infielder Willy Adames as a possible backup plan if Soto decides not to sign with them, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com . Adames would fit at shortstop or third base for the Yankees, depending on what they choose to do with Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm. Adames has been a shortstop for his entire career, but has signaled an openness to move to third base in order to expand his market. Volpe played shortstop for the Yankees this season, but he could move to second base to accommodate Adames and replace free agent Gleyber Torres. The Yankees could also move Adames to third and keep Volpe at short while having Chisholm play second. Regarded as one of the game’s best hitting shortstops, Adames hit over 30 home runs last season for the second time in three years. The career .248 hitter has never made an All-Star team, but finished 10th in NL MVP voting with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. The Yankees will not be alone in their pursuit of him, as he has drawn interest from multiple teams . The Yankees are still regarded as one of the favorites to land Soto. Previous reports indicated the Yankees would likely spread that money around were he to sign elsewhere. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.
Chhattisgarh BJP has intensified its attack on the Congress following new revelations in the Bitcoin scam, accusing senior party leaders, including former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, of possible involvement. BJP State General Secretary Sanjay Srivastava demanded that Baghel and the Congress leadership provide answers regarding their alleged role in the scandal, which he claims has far-reaching implications, particularly in the context of the Maharashtra elections. Addressing a press conference at the BJP office in Ekatm Complex, Srivastava cited an online post by former Congress leader Radhika Khera, which questioned Baghel’s links to Gaurav Mehta, an accused in the Bitcoin scam. Srivastava emphasized that the revelations about the Bitcoin scam come on the heels of the Mahadev App case, which had already exposed ties between Congress and international criminal networks. He suggested that these new disclosures further solidify the case against Congress. Srivastava also referred to an audio tape involving Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole, insinuating that the Chhattisgarh Congress, under Baghel's leadership, could be complicit in the Bitcoin scam. He reiterated earlier allegations that funds siphoned from the Chhattisgarh government had been used to finance Congress campaigns in other states. In a pointed attack, Srivastava named several individuals, including Soumya Chaurasia, Sameer Vishnoi, and Aijaz Dhebar, all of whom he claimed were involved in corruption cases under the Congress government. He stated that many of Baghel’s close associates are either in jail or out on bail in connection with economic offenses. Srivastava also took aim at the judicial proceedings surrounding the case, particularly the denial of bail to several key accused, including former Public Service Commission (PSC) Chairman Taman Sonwani. He argued that these developments pointed to systemic corruption within the Congress government, and criticized Baghel for defending individuals under investigation. He dismissed the former CM’s claims that the cases were politically motivated. The issue also gained traction at the national level, with BJP’s IT Cell Head Amit Malviya accusing Baghel of being linked to multiple corruption scandals. Malviya noted that in every major scam, Baghel’s name has surfaced, further fueling the BJP’s narrative of systemic corruption within the Congress party. The BJP's aggression was further fueled when Bhupesh Baghel posted a news clipping on his X account, alleging that black money had been found with BJP and its allies in Maharashtra. The BJP swiftly responded, viewing it as an attempt to deflect attention from the growing allegations against Congress in the Bitcoin scam. With both parties exchanging heated accusations, the Bitcoin scam controversy is expected to remain a focal point in political discourse as the Maharashtra elections draw nearer.
Forthright and fearless, the Nobel Prize winner took pot-shots at former prime minister Tony Blair and ex-US president George W Bush among others. His death came after repeated bouts of illness in which images of the increasingly frail former president failed to erase memories of his fierce spirit. Democrat James Earl “Jimmy” Carter Jr swept to power in 1977 with his Trust Me campaign helping to beat Republican president Gerald Ford. Serving as 39th US president from 1977 to 1981, he sought to make government “competent and compassionate” but was ousted by the unstoppable Hollywood appeal of a certain Ronald Reagan. A skilled sportsman, Mr Carter left his home of Plains, Georgia, to join the US Navy, returning later to run his family’s peanut business. A stint in the Georgia senate lit the touchpaper on his political career and he rose to the top of the Democratic movement. But he will also be remembered for a bizarre encounter with a deeply disgruntled opponent. The president was enjoying a relaxing fishing trip near his home town in 1979 when his craft was attacked by a furious swamp rabbit which reportedly swam up to the boat hissing wildly. The press had a field day, with one paper bearing the headline President Attacked By Rabbit. Away from encounters with belligerent bunnies, Mr Carter’s willingness to address politically uncomfortable topics did not diminish with age. He recently said that he would be willing to travel to North Korea for peace talks on behalf of US President Donald Trump. He also famously mounted a ferocious and personal attack on Tony Blair over the Iraq war, weeks before the prime minister left office in June 2007. Mr Carter, who had already denounced George W Bush’s presidency as “the worst in history”, used an interview on BBC radio to condemn Mr Blair for his tight relations with Mr Bush, particularly concerning the Iraq War. Asked how he would characterise Mr Blair’s relationship with Mr Bush, Mr Carter replied: “Abominable. Loyal, blind, apparently subservient. “I think that the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world.” Mr Carter was also voluble over the Rhodesia crisis, which was about to end during his presidency. His support for Robert Mugabe at the time generated widespread criticism. He was said to have ignored the warnings of many prominent Zimbabweans, black and white, about what sort of leader Mugabe would be. This was seen by Mr Carter’s critics as “deserving a prominent place among the outrages of the Carter years”. Mr Carter has since said he and his administration had spent more effort and worry on Rhodesia than on the Middle East. He admitted he had supported two revolutionaries in Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo, and with hindsight said later that Mugabe had been “a good leader gone bad”, having at first been “a very enlightened president”. One US commentator wrote: “History will not look kindly on those in the West who insisted on bringing the avowed Marxist Mugabe into the government. “In particular, the Jimmy Carter foreign policy... bears some responsibility for the fate of a small African country with scant connection to American national interests.” In recent years Mr Carter developed a reputation as an international peace negotiator. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his commitment to finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts, his work with human rights and democracy initiatives, and his promotion of economic and social programmes. Mr Carter was dispatched to North Korea in August 2008 to secure the release of US citizen Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been sentenced to eight years of hard labour after being found guilty of illegally entering North Korea. He successfully secured the release of Mr Gomes. In 2010 he returned to the White House to greet President Barack Obama and discuss international affairs amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula. Proving politics runs in the family, in 2013 his grandson Jason, a state senator, announced his bid to become governor in Georgia, where his famous grandfather governed before becoming president. He eventually lost to incumbent Republican Nathan Deal. Fears that Mr Carter’s health was deteriorating were sparked in 2015 when he cut short an election observation visit in Guyana because he was “not feeling well”. It would have been Mr Carter’s 39th trip to personally observe an international election. Three months later, on August 12, he revealed he had cancer which had been diagnosed after he underwent surgery to remove a small mass in his liver. Mr Obama was among the well-wishers hoping for Mr Carter’s full recovery after it was confirmed the cancer had spread widely. Melanoma had been found in his brain and liver, and Mr Carter underwent immunotherapy and radiation therapy, before announcing in March the following year that he no longer needed any treatment. In 2017, Mr Carter was taken to hospital as a precaution, after he became dehydrated at a home-building project in Canada. He was admitted to hospital on multiple occasions in 2019 having had a series of falls, suffering a brain bleed and a broken pelvis, as well as a stint to be treated for a urinary tract infection. Mr Carter spent much of the coronavirus pandemic largely at his home in Georgia, and did not attend Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration in 2021, but extended his “best wishes”. Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, the closest adviser to Mr Carter during his term as US president, died in November 2023. She had been living with dementia and suffering many months of declining health. “Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished,” Mr Carter said in a statement following her death. “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.”NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The largest artificial intelligence data center ever built by Facebook’s parent company Meta is coming to northeast Louisiana, the company said Wednesday, bringing hopes that the $10 billion facility will transform an economically neglected corner of the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry called it “game-changing” for his state's expanding tech sector, yet some environmental groups have raised concerns over the amount of energy it would use — and whether it could lead to higher energy bills in the future. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, is expanding its existing supercomputer project in Memphis, Tennessee, the city's chamber of commerce said Wednesday. The chamber also said that Nvidia, Dell, and Supermicro Computer will be “establishing operations in Memphis,” without offering further details. Louisiana is among a growing number of states seeking to lure big tech firms in need of energy-intensive data centers with tax credits and other incentives. The U.S. Commerce Department found that there aren’t enough data centers in the U.S. to meet the rising AI-fueled demand, which is projected to grow by 9% each year through 2030, citing industry reports. Meta anticipates its Louisiana data center will create 500 operational jobs and 5,000 temporary construction jobs, said Kevin Janda, director of data center strategy. At 4 million square feet (370,000 square meters), it will be the company's largest AI data center to date, he added. “We want to make sure we are having a positive impact on the local level,” Janda said. Congressional leaders and local representatives from across the political spectrum heralded the Meta facility as a boon for Richland parish, a rural part of Louisiana with a population of 20,000 historically reliant on agriculture. About one in four residents are considered to live in poverty and the parish has an employment rate below 50%, according to the U.S. census data. Meta plans to invest $200 million into road and water infrastructure improvements for the parish to offset its water usage. The facility is expected to be completed in 2030. Entergy, one of the nation's largest utilities providers, is fast-tracking plans to build three natural gas power plants in Louisiana capable of generating 2,262 megawatts for Meta's data center over a 15 year period — nearly one-tenth of Entergy's existing energy capacity across four states. The Louisiana Public Service Commission is weighing Entergy's proposal as some environmental groups have opposed locking the state into more fossil fuel-based energy infrastructure. Meta said it plans to help bring 1,500 megawatts of renewable energy onto the grid in the future. Louisiana residents may ultimately end up with rate increases to pay off the cost of operating these natural gas power plants when Meta's contract with Entergy expires, said Jessica Hendricks, state policy director for the Alliance for Affordable Energy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit advocating for energy consumers. “There’s no reason why residential customers in Louisiana need to pay for a power plant for energy that they’re not going to use," Hendricks said. "And we want to make sure that there’s safeguards in place.” Public service commissioner Foster Campbell, who represents northeast Louisiana, said he does not believe the data center will increase rates for Louisianians and views it as vital for his region. “It’s going in one of the most needed places in Louisiana and maybe one of the most needed places in the United States of America,” Foster said. “I’m for it 100%.” Environmental groups have also warned of the pollution generated from Musk's AI data center in Memphis. The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer could strain the power grid, prompting attention from the Environmental Protection Agency. Eighteen gas turbines currently running at xAI’s south Memphis facility are significant sources of ground-level ozone, better known as smog, the group said. Patrick Anderson, an attorney at the law center, said xAI has operated with “a stunning lack of transparency” in developing its South Memphis facility, which is located near predominantly Black neighborhoods that have long dealt with pollution and health risks from factories and other industrial sites. “Memphians deserve to know how xAI will affect them,” he said, “and should have a seat at the table when these decisions are being made.” Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Matt O’Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Brook on the social platform X: @jack_brook96