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A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul

"If I can't get it in it will probably cripple me." That's what Steven Crosbie says about the current issues affecting Guinness supplies . As the landlord of the Liffey, an Irish pub in Liverpool, Guinness is his top seller. Steven usually gets 12 50-litre barrels a week from his main distributor. But he says that on Wednesday, he was told he could only get one barrel this week because of allocation limits imposed by Diageo, which owns Guinness. Landlords across the country say that their distributors have been allocating them less Guinness than usual, to make sure there's enough stock to meet demand over Christmas. "Over the past month we have seen exceptional consumer demand for Guinness in GB," a Diageo spokesperson said. "We have maximised supply and we are working proactively with our customers to manage the distribution to trade as efficiently as possible." Enda Murray, landlord of three pubs in London, says that his supplier has restricted his supply of Guinness to one or two kegs per pub - just 10% of what they need. He says he's managed to ring-fence some from another supplier and should have enough "for the next week or two". Pub managers say they've been scrambling to secure supplies at reasonable prices. "It's been hard work," says Shaun Jenkinson, operations manager at Katie O'Brien's. He says he's not sure whether the chain's seven Irish pubs will have enough Guinness to make it through the weekend. Other operators he's spoken to "really are on their bare bones," as some ran out of Guinness on Friday night, he says. Some landlords say that pubs have been "panic buying" Guinness. Patrick Fitzsimons, landlord of the Faltering Fullback in Finsbury Park, London, says this "has dried up the market even further." He says his pub has a small cellar which means it needs continuous deliveries - he can't stockpile like others. Landlords say that the uniqueness of Guinness means it's hard to provide an alternative. "Guinness has a very niche market," Enda says. "A lot of pubs don't sell other stouts." Some pubs say that people had been stocking up on Murphy's as an alternative to Guinness but they claim that has led to Murphy's limiting allocations, too. Guinness sales have been on the rise in 2024. Volumes of Guinness sold in kegs were up by more than a fifth between July and October compared to the same period last year, bucking a slight decline in overall beer sales, according to data from food and drink research company CGA. While a Diageo spokesperson said there has been "exceptional demand" over the past three weeks, Enda notes that Guinness sales have grown significantly since the pandemic in his pub. "We've seen a massive upshot in young people especially drinking Guinness," he says. He credits this to "the trend of splitting the G, all the Guinness influencers, everyone seems to want to be a Guinness influencer". "Splitting the G" is a trend whereby drinkers try take a big enough first swig of Guinness so that the stout comes to halfway down the "G" in the word "Guinness" on pint glass. And as more people are drinking non-alcoholic beer , sales of the zero-alcohol beer Guinness 0.0 are strong too - it now accounts for nearly 3% of total Guinness volume globally. The limits on Guinness supplies come at a particularly busy time of year for pubs, which see large gatherings for Christmas and New Year celebrations. Steven from the Liffey says that if pubs do run out of Guinness, he expects people to go from "bar to bar" in search of places that are still stocking it. Still, not all landlords are worried about supply restrictions. Ashley English, one of the landlords at the Kings Head in Docklow, Herefordshire, says that his wholesaler hadn't placed any restrictions on him because he only orders one or two barrels a week anyway. He says he is "not too concerned" about running out. And Bryan Fitzsimons, landlord of Skehans in Nunhead, London, says he isn't worried about selling out because he has multiple suppliers and was able to secure some in advance. The BBC understands that the firm is still working at a 100% production capacity and allocation limits just affect Great Britain. A Diageo spokesperson told BBC News NI that it would make its planned deliveries across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland "without disruption". Patrick, at the Faltering Fullback, says he's worried he'll run out of Guinness by Wednesday, but said he has managed to secure a supply of Camden Stout as an alternative. "Hopefully customers will realise that there's more than just Guinness on the market," he says.

LG PRESENTS "LIVE BEYOND" WITH EXPANDED SECOND-GENERATION LG SIGNATURE LINEUP AT CES 2025IND vs AUS 4th Test 2024: Rishabh Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal Bat out Afternoon Session To Steer India to 112/3 Against Australia

Siliguri witnessed its sixth Pride Walk today, organised by members of the LGBT community, who marched through the city demanding their fundamental rights, including those for adoption, marriage, and the recognition of love. The LGBT group first united in Siliguri in 2018 and has since been organising such pride rallies to raise awareness about their issues. Despite a turnout of fewer than 100 participants this year, organisers noted that many others were unable to join due to social stigma and pressures. One participant highlighted their challenges, saying, “We are often victims of molestation, torture, rape, and assault. Sadly, when we seek justice, the police often dismiss our complaints. The recent incident at R.G. Kar Medical College has shocked us deeply, as it reflects the continued marginalisation of our community.” Diksha Kundu, one of the organisers, explained: “This is the sixth Pride Rally in Siliguri since we started in 2018. Similar rallies are held across the country, all demanding basic human rights for the LGBT community. Our primary focus is on securing legal recognition for adoption and marriage, as these are fundamental to our lives and love.” Another member expressed hope for change, adding: “We appeal to the Supreme Court to grant us marriage rights. While there is a 1% reservation for transgender individuals, local authorities have yet to implement this appropriately.” The rally, which included slogans demanding justice for the R.G. Kar incident, served as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by the LGBT community and their determination to achieve equality. Advertisement Advertisement AdvertisementShort Interest in Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY) Increases By 100.0%

ACV Auctions to expand city ops in the New YearNo. 7 Tennessee outscored UT Martin by 28 points in the second half in routing the visiting Skyhawks 78-35 on Friday afternoon in Knoxville. Chaz Lanier scored a game-high 18 points for the Volunteers (7-0), who expanded on a 35-20 halftime lead with a 43-15 second half. Felix Okpara had 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, helping Tennessee command the paint along with Igor Milicic, who added nine points and 13 rebounds. Zakai Zeigler nearly had a double-double with 11 points and nine assists. The Volunteers used their size to their advantage, outscoring UT Martin 36-10 in the paint and out rebounding the Skyhawks 49-24. That included 20 offensive rebounds for Tennessee, which led to 19 second-chance points. UT Martin (2-5) was cold coming out of the locker room after halftime, missing its first eight shots. Conversely, the Vols started the second half with a nine-point run to extend their lead to 24 points. The Vols never let the Skyhawks score consecutive baskets in the first half, holding UT Martin to 25 percent shooting (4 of 16) from beyond the arc and allowing a total of only three points from the starting five. For the game, guard Josue Grullon led UT Martin with 15 points. The leading scorer in the Ohio Valley Conference entering Friday at 18.2 points per game, Grullon has not started any game for head coach Jeremy Shulman. Most of the Skyhawks' points -- 28 of 35 -- came from their reserves. The starting five combined to score seven points -- six points from Matija Zuzic and a free throw for Lamine Niag. The starters went a combined 2 of 18 from the floor, while UT Martin as a team shot 22.6 percent (12 of 53) from the field. The Skyhawks made 5 of 7 free-throw attempts and made 18 turnovers. The Volunteers, who got 23 points off the bench, were 8-for-10 and had 11 turnovers. Tennessee improved to 6-0 all-time against UT Martin since 1993. --Field Level Media

BRYANT 97, TENNESSEE STATE 85

NoneFormer Barcelona and Uruguay striker Luis Suarez has signed a one-year contract extension with the Major League Soccer club and will line up under new coach Javier Mascherano next season, the club said. The 37-year-old striker has scored 25 goals in all competitions since joining the club before the start of this season including 20 in Miami's record-breaking regular season campaign. After winning the Supporters' Shield for the best record in the regular season, with a new points tally record, Miami were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round by Atlanta United. Since then Argentina head coach Gerardo Martino has left the club with his compatriot and Suarez's former team-mate at Barca, Mascherano appointed on Tuesday. "I'm very happy, very excited to continue for another year and to be able to enjoy being here with this fan base, which for us is like family. We feel very, very connected with them, and hopefully, next year, we can bring them even more joy," said Suarez. Miami's president of football operations Raul Sanllehi said Suarez had shown he remains an elite level forward but was also a key component in the dressing room. "Luis was not only our leading scorer this season, but also a leader for the group. His impact cannot be understated," he said. Suarez announced in September he was retiring from international duty with the Uruguay national team after scoring 69 goals in 143 games. The forward played in Europe for Ajax, Liverpool and Atletico Madrid and had a season in Brazil with Gremio before joining Miami. sev/mw

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to implement the "toughest" anti-U.S. policy, state media reported Sunday, less than a month before Donald Trump takes office as U.S. president. Trump's return to the White House raises prospects for high-profile diplomacy with North Korea. During his first term, Trump met Kim three times for talks on the North's nuclear program. Many experts, however, say a quick resumption of Kim-Trump summitry is unlikely as Trump would first focus on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. North Korea's support for Russia's war against Ukraine also poses a challenge to efforts to revive diplomacy, experts say. During a five-day plenary meeting of the ruling Workers' Party that ended Friday, Kim called the U.S. "the most reactionary state that regards anti-communism as its invariable state policy." Kim said that the U.S.-South Korea-Japan security partnership is expanding into "a nuclear military bloc for aggression." "This reality clearly shows to which direction we should advance and what we should do and how," Kim said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. It said Kim's speech "clarified the strategy for the toughest anti-U.S. counteraction to be launched aggressively" by North Korea for its long-term national interests and security. KCNA didn't elaborate on the anti-U.S. strategy. But it said Kim set forth tasks to bolster military capability through defense technology advancements and stressed the need to improve the mental toughness of North Korean soldiers. The previous meetings between Trump and Kim had not only put an end to their exchanges of fiery rhetoric and threats of destruction, but they developed personal connections. Trump once famously said he and Kim "fell in love." But their talks eventually collapsed in 2019, as they wrangled over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. North Korea has since sharply increased the pace of its weapons testing activities to build more reliable nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding their military bilateral drills and also trilateral ones involving Japan, drawing strong rebukes from the North, which views such U.S.-led exercises as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating efforts to convince North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons in return for economic and political benefits is its deepening military cooperation with Russia. According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops and conventional weapons systems to support Moscow's war against Ukraine. There are concerns that Russia could give North Korea advanced weapons technology in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in Russia's Kursk region. It was the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties since the North Korean troop deployment to Russia began in October. Russia and China, locked in separate disputes with the U.S., have repeatedly blocked U.S.-led pushes to levy more U.N. sanctions on North Korea despite its repeated missile tests in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. Last month, Kim said that his past negotiations with the United States only confirmed Washington's "unchangeable" hostility toward his country and described his nuclear buildup as the only way to counter external threats. War Donald Trump Politics North Korea Volodymyr Zelenskyy Middle EastAlkami technology directors sell $119.25 million in stock

Ousted Syrian leader Assad flees to Moscow after fall of Damascus, Russian state media sayFirst Bancorp EVP and COO Donald Kafka sells $1.75m in stock

NoneNeurogene Inc. sees significant stock purchases by Samsara BioCapitalINTERNATIONAL TASTE A culinary student of the Joji Ilagan International School of Hotel and Tourism Management prepares a dish of French-Western fusion, introducing him to international cuisine. —PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOJI ILAGAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF HOTEL AND TOURISM MANAGEMENT DAVAO CITY—For businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian, running a family business is not just about money. For a business to thrive and last beyond its time, there has to be fulfillment for those who work and devote their time and energy in it. “At the end of the day, if [money] is the only goal you have, I don’t think that’s going to last,” she said. “For a family business, fulfillment has to be there; and what I’m saying is the internal fulfillment, something that is not measured by money.” From the four-classroom school known as the Joji Ilagan Career Center (JICC) that she started in 1982, offering short courses for the youth, her company has grown into a network of international schools and a business process outsourcing (BPO) and call center. These are now under the Joji Ilagan Bian (JIB) Group run by her son and daughters. But the company’s core values remain. Bian instilled in her children, and also in people who worked with her, the passion for their work and the pride to be the best of what they can be. “If you work with me, it could not just be half-hearted. There has to be passion in your work because it is this business that will provide them better opportunities in life,” she said. As a young teacher in the early 1980s, Bian was looking around Davao and discovered quite a number of youth who wanted to be financially independent early in life. But everyone’s focus then was on acquiring college education, then thought of as the main yardstick for measuring one’s competence and ability to go through a professional career. That was when she realized there was a room for an educational institution that offers short courses for those who couldn’t go to college but who wanted to earn good so they could pursue their own dreams and that of their families. That was also the time when technical and vocational courses were yet looked down as merely for those who do not have the acumen for or could not afford college education. “I was thinking I should restore respect and dignity to short-term courses. It’s part of a lifelong learning,” Bian said. So she ensured that the short courses offered by JICC were top of the line even as she nurtured among her employees and students passion for excellence and pride in their work. “One of the core values that I put in my school is pride,” she said. “Pride not only among people who work for me but more importantly, [among] the students. They have to have that pride in themselves so that they remain confident in themselves, they’re able to talk well, communicate well, and that is the signature of JIB students even today.” As a result, JIB graduates have become top choices among fast-growing hospitality and tourism industry players here and in other parts of the country. They were immediately hired by restaurants, hotels and resorts as JICC started earning its reputation for quality and excellence that continued up to this day. “We have the best graduates until today because what makes our training program’s curriculum and methodology [the best] is the inclusion of personality development and communication skills,” Bian said. Aside from passion for their work, the company nurtures the value of respect, honesty and integrity. “We listen, we argue, we fight in [the process of] making decisions, but at the end of the day, there is to be respect for each other,” she said. “Integrity is very important. Honesty is very important in everything that we do for us to grow, and integrity has a place not only at the business table but also in our family relationship,” Bian said. She also cited the need to develop the sense of dynamism to make the business responsive to change and new challenges. “Everything changes very fast, even without technology and social media before, the best marketing was through word of mouth and we easily took advantage of that because of our dynamism.” Bian considers it the death of family enterprises when old people stop to be dynamic and when people continue to stick to old solutions to new problems. But in the company that she founded, the young people at the helm are allowed to make mistakes and learn from these. Joji Ilagan Bian So, from the four-classroom school when it started, what is now the Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation Inc. has grown into the Joji Ilagan Bian (JIB) International Schools, a network of learning centers in Davao City and General Santos City, and a call center. As Bian gradually retreats, the new generation takes the helm of the family business. About 90 percent of the business had been turned over to the new generation, Bian said, with daughter Nicole, now the chief executive officer of JIB International Schools, while son Michael runs Six Eleven Global Services Inc., which this year was cited as the fastest-growing Davao-based IT company and one with the best employee engagement. The award was given during the recent Innovation Summit organized by the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. and ICT Davao. “These accolades reflect not only our rapid growth but also our unwavering commitment to excellence in everything we do,” said Michael, CEO of Six Eleven. For him, every business aims to be profitable, but “true, sustainable profit is built on a foundation of strong ethical principles—understanding what is right and wrong.” “These core values guide our decision-making and shape how we engage with our partners, employees and customers,” he added. By adhering to these principles, the company ensures that their success is not only measured by financial performance but also by the positive impact on those they work with. “Our values help us foster meaningful relationships, prioritize integrity in all our dealings and create an environment where both employees and customers are valued and cared for. This commitment to doing what is right drives us to succeed, not just for the bottom line but for the long-term well-being of everyone involved,” he said. Six Eleven started at the time when the call center industry was just emerging, and the JIB Group offered specialized training courses to prepare individuals for careers in the sector. But there were few local call centers in Davao City, so most of the JIB graduates had to relocate to Cebu or Metro Manila in search of jobs. Michael founded Six Eleven to address this gap so that trained graduates no longer had to leave their home region, but could now find rewarding careers right in Mindanao. “Our journey began with just 20 graduates, who made up the first batch of agents hired by Six Eleven. Since then, we’ve experienced tremendous growth. Today, we proudly employ over 5,000 call center agents and BPO professionals, working with top-tier, internationally recognized companies,” Michael said. Now, his company is the largest independently owned and locally operated BPO company in Mindanao. Michael said there were moments when they were tempted to prioritize rapid growth over their mission and vision. “While this approach might offer short-term advantages, we recognize that it’s not a path that leads to long-term success,” he said. “We believe that true sustainable growth requires us to look beyond immediate gains and focus on building a solid foundation and [the] infrastructure that will support us for the long haul. By staying true to our core values and long-term objectives, we ensure that our growth is not just fast, but also lasting and meaningful towards the community,” he added. These principles, according to Michael, could be behind the recognition that the relatively young company had been getting. Bian observed the changes her children had initiated in running their family businesses, which reflected on how the core values remain even as the company navigates the digital age. “A lot has changed [in the business] after my children took over,” she said, particularly citing the organizational setup. “Before, the structure used to be authoritarian with the boss on top [and] the people below. But things have changed,” she said. “They initiated change, they created teams, they reorganized the whole way of doing business. When they started, they looked at the people, studied the organization charts and combined functions.” 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 . “During my time, the office had walls. Every time you needed me, you had to knock. But in the digital era, offices no longer have walls. Now, you see open spaces, everyone is connected to each other seamlessly, no longer as compartmentalized as before. Then, if you’re the top, you’re the top; if your work is B, you’re B.” INQ

Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: Carter's state funeral will be Jan. 9 President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9. Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday. Guterres' remembrance focuses on Carter's contributions to peace United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday praised Carter for his significant contributions to international peace through the Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal treaties. “President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency,” Guterres said in a statement. "He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations. “President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity,” Guterres said. Reflections from King Charles III King Charles III joined leaders from around the world in issuing their condolences and sharing their reflections on the former president. “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter," the king said in a public statement. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977." Biden remembers Carter for his decency President Joe Biden broke from his family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands to remember Carter, recalling his predecessor as a role model and friend. America and the world lost a “remarkable leader” with Carter’s death, Biden said, adding that he had spoken to several of the former president's children and was working with them to formalize memorial arrangements in Washington. Speaking for roughly 10 minutes, Biden remembered Carter as a humanitarian and statesman, someone he couldn't imagine walking past a person in need without trying to help them. He represented “the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away,” Biden said. The president repeatedly praised Carter's “simple decency” and his values, saying some will see him as a man of honesty and humility from a bygone era. “I don’t believe it’s a bygone era. I see a man not only of our time, but for all times,” Biden said. “To know his core, you need to know he never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.” Egyptian president notes historic Camp David Accords Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on X that Carter's significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel "will remain etched in the annals of history.” He went on to say Carter's “humanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.” Carter will be remembered as “one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity,” el-Sissi said. Biden to speak on Carter's death President Joe Biden will speak about Carter Sunday evening. The president will make his address from a hotel in St. Croix, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is on a holiday vacation with his family. Carter’s relationship with his wife Rosalynn spanned a near-lifetime Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the great love stories and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history. The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.” They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn. She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. Grandson Jason Carter says Plains kept his grandparents humble Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians. He says their four years in Washington were just one period of putting their values into action and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.” President Biden mourns his predecessor As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Pelosi says Carter’s life ‘was saintly’ in devotion to peace Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” Historical praise from the United Kingdom British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. Commemoration in New York City To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. The Obamas recall Carter's Sunday services In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” A somber announcement The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter Center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. A Southerner and a man of faith In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “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.” A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Gore remembers Carter for life "of purpose” Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. The Clintons react to Jimmy Carter's death Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said. The Associated PressGEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (AP) — Kimani Hamilton led High Point with 18 points and Bobby Pettiford made a contested shot in the lane with 10.9 seconds remaining as the Panthers knocked off Hampton 76-73 on Tuesday. Hamilton also added eight rebounds for the Panthers (7-1). Trae Benham scored 17 points while shooting 4 for 5 (4 for 4 from 3-point range) and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line. Kezza Giffa shot 4 of 10 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free-throw line to finish with 11 points. George Beale led the way for the Pirates (3-5) with 17 points. Noah Farrakhan added 16 points for Hampton. High Point went into halftime ahead of Hampton 38-33. Giffa scored 11 points in the half. Hamilton scored a team-high 13 points in the second half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .None

Echoes of change: Comparing Serbia’s student protests with N. Macedonia's Color RevolutionJordan Plays Palestine In FIBA Asia Cup QualifiersLHASA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region was home to 523,900 private sector entities at the end of the third quarter of 2024, making up 97.4 percent of the region's total business entities, said local authorities. The tax revenue of Xizang's private sector was 22.49 billion yuan (about 3.13 billion U.S. dollars) during the period, accounting for about 76.3 percent of the region's total. Private entities also provided more than 80 percent of jobs in the whole region, according to the Xizang Regional Federation of Industry and Commerce. The private sector of Xizang has been expanding. In 1978, the year China began to reform and open up, there were just 53 registered private businesses in the region. The number increased to nearly 120,000 in 2012 and jumped to 486,500 in 2023. From 2019 to 2023, the region's private sector contributed to over 35 percent of economic output and more than 80 percent of tax revenue, and provided over 80 percent of employment, according to the federation. Private businesses have contributed greatly to the region's economic development, scientific and technological development, and the improvement of people's livelihoods and well-being. This year, 858 private enterprises assisted nearly 1,000 villages, with funds reaching 840 million yuan.

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