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VIEW FROM THE GALLERY BY MAHMUD JEGA We all thought, with the impending withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger Republic from ECOWAS at the end of January 2025 and the unlikelihood that they will utilise the six months period offered by ECOWAS leaders for them to have a rethink, “All will be quiet on the Northern Front,” to paraphrase from the title of Erich Maria Remarque’s 1928 novel about a German soldier’s life in World War One. Not so. Much like the German dictator Adolf Hitler, who opened a second, Eastern Front against the Soviet Union when his war against France and UK was not yet won, Nigerien military ruler General Abdourahmane Tchiani opened a Southern Front against Nigeria even when his battle to banish the French and Americans from his country was not yet won. Luckily this is not a shooting war; it is a political, diplomatic, economic, cultural, psychological and propaganda war that could however easily spin out of the Nigerien ruler’s control, much as Adolf Hitler lost control of events after launching Operation Barbarossa in June 1941. Last week, Tchiani gave a wide-ranging televised interview to a fawning journalist. Not only did the reporter not interrogate the soldier’s claims or demand for evidence, but he bent over backwards to nod in agreement at every one of Tchiani’s claims. On many occasions, he even completed his sentences for him. Critically, the interview was conducted in Hausa language. To some extent that is understandable because Tchiani probably speaks no English, only French, while most people of Niger Republic speak Hausa either as first or as second language, including Tchiani himself, who is an ethnic Zarma. But there was a more important reason. Hausa is the dominant language spoken in northern Nigeria, by tens of millions of people as first language and by some more millions as second language. Tchiani’s message is directed at them as well as at his countrymen, for two different but related reasons. Until the recent misunderstanding arose following last year’s coup in Niger Republic, the peoples of Northern Nigeria and Niger Republic see themselves as one due to deep historical ties and socio-cultural similarities. The response of ECOWAS and Nigerian government to the events in that country, especially the initial threat of military action to depose the coupists, was not well received in Northern Nigeria, where many people thought a war with Niger Republic is unthinkable. Many people in Nigeria do not really think that restoring democracy to a friendly neighbouring country is worth a war, or even sanctions that could disrupt their lives and also hurt our own border communities. ECOWAS has since backtracked from those threats, but Tchiani is intent on whipping up sentiment in the North, using the agency of Hausa language, to further upstage President Tinubu and if possible, win the support of millions of other Africans in his fight against France. And for a good reason. The soldiers who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, in a desperate search for legitimacy, found, whipped up and rode on anti-French sentiment like an Argentine polo pony. Sure, French colonial and post-colonial record in Africa is sordid, hence the relative ease with which it was easy to whip up feelings against it and chase its troops and military bases out of a long swathe of West Africa all the way from Chad, Niger Republic, Burkina Faso, Mali and most recently, Senegal. However, Tchiani and the soldiers did not just promise to oust the French and Americans. They also promised that their country will oust terrorists, enjoy peace and security and also experience an economic boom, allegedly because France will no longer be stealing its resources. To boot, they sought to bring in the Russians to assist with both security and economic prosperity. A year down the road, neither prospect is on the cards. Trade with Nigeria, not to mention smuggling of petrol and food, has always been a major factor in Niger Republic’s economy. Even without ECOWAS sanctions, Nigeria’s government is trying to stem the flow of subsidised petrol to our neighbours, hence Niger will feel the heat. Expected Russian help on the security front was not forthcoming either. Tchiani must have wished it was the old Soviet Union, which had global reach and power, and deep commitment in those days to strategic alliances as well as the “Brezhnev Doctrine,” which the Communist Party defined as “defending the gains of socialism worldwide.” Matters were not helped by the mysterious death of Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, the arrow head of Russian military intervention in Africa. He was killed in a plane crash in August last year, immediately after he returned to Russia from a visit to Niger Republic. Russia itself is so mired in its war in Ukraine that it needs help from Iran, China and North Korea. That Russia couldn’t render help recently when its most prized strategic Middle East ally, Syrian President Hafiz al-Assad, was overthrown by rebels was the best pointer yet that a Sahelian African ally should hardly rely on it to help pull any chestnuts out of a domestic fire. Most probably, it was the recent bombing of the Niger-Benin Republic oil pipeline, allegedly by the Lakurawa terrorist group, that drove General Tchiani to desperation and he began his frantic search for a scapegoat. Nigeria came in handy. Not the whole of Nigeria, but specifically the Tinubu Administration, which he hopes to destabilise by inciting the Hausa speaking section of Nigeria’s population against it. How that will bring either security or economic prosperity to his country, I am yet to figure out. The most important allegations that Tchiani made are that the Nigerian government is working to destabilise Niger Republic, that it created and sponsors the Lakurawa terrorist group, and that there are French military bases in Nigeria. With respect to the first allegation, since I am not a government official in Nigeria, I have no access to secret planning files. However, three people who have access to those files and will be privy to any such plans if they exist, namely National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Information Minister Mohammed Idris and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, have all denied that there is such a plot. I believe them. Why because, what can Nigeria possibly gain by destabilising Niger Republic? Last year, the initially stated goal of both Nigeria and ECOWAS in adopting a hostile attitude towards Tchiani and the coupists was to restore democratic rule, and if possible, restore President Bazoum to power. Those aims are all but abandoned now because neither Nigerians nor Nigeriens have exhibited a hunger for restoring democratic rule in that country. A possible reason for the Nigerian government’s initial response was the fear that a successful military coup in Niger Republic could have a contagious effect in neighbouring countries, including Nigeria. I don’t think there is a good reason for that fear now. Besides, if chaos were to envelop Niger Republic, millions of its citizens could flee to Nigeria, as happened during the 1973-74 Sahelian drought. Luckily General Yakubu Gowon is still around; we only have to ask him how he grappled with the mass inflow. Nigeria created Lakurawa terrorist group in order to destabilise Niger Republic? To begin with, all the Lakurawa men are of Nigerien and possibly Burkinabe and Malian origin, as attested to by people of northern and western Sokoto and Kebbi states who encountered them. These people know a Nigerien when they see one, from his looks, dress, accent, tribal marks, manners and ways of speaking, greeting and praying. We have 200 million plus people in Nigeria, many of them in desperate search for employment and adventure, including a lot of ex-servicemen and veteran Boko Haramists, ISWAPists and bandits. We don’t have to go very far in a search for recruits. More seriously, if Nigerian security agents created the Lakurawa army, why was it unleashed against communities in Nigeria, why is it causing so much mayhem, such that Nigerian Air Force has to drop bombs on its suspected camps, with image-damaging collateral damage on hapless villagers? Tchiani’s most specific allegation was that there are French military camps in Nigeria. He even mentioned a place, Banga, which he said is in Silame Local Government of Sokoto State, and another place in Borno State. Well, there were reports in the newspapers yesterday where communities in northern Sokoto State denied that there were any foreign military bases in the area. If there are, they will know. Even a Nigerian Army Forward Operating Base will be very visible in a local community. A foreign military base will be known to everyone. For one, white French soldiers will stand out in a local Nigerian community like an archbishop in a brothel, to borrow a French saying. Tanks, armoured vehicles, huge radars and even aircraft will be all over such a base. Tchiani knows best what a foreign military base looks like because there were several of them in his country during his 13-year stint as Head of the Presidential Guard. As NSA Nuhu Ribadu stated, we never had foreign military bases in Nigeria, but during my primary and secondary school days, I read much about the American Clark Air Base and Subic Naval Base both in the Philippines, before they were closed down in the 1990s. We also read much about America’s strategic bomber base in Diego Garcia, its Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, its naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, as well as bases in Munich, South Korea and its Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. A foreign military base cannot be innocuous. Tchiani alleged there are such bases in Nigeria and locals say there are none. A judge who is judging over this case will invoke the legal principle of falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus. That is, “False in one, false in all.” If you tell one lie, all your other testimony is thrown out. How times change. In the 1960s, Nigerian university students staged protests against French testing of nuclear weapons in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria, slightly to the north of Niger Republic. Prime Minister Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa even went to London to protest. Did Niger Republic lodge a protest? See who is now accusing the other of acquiescing in French military machinations.777pub download 。

With just days left before Ireland goes to the polls, the leaders of Ireland’s three largest political parties appeared on the national broadcaster for their final televised debate before the general election. The leaders of the three main political parties took part in the final debate of the campaign in a Prime Time special led by Miriam O’Callaghan and Sarah McInerney. Speaking to reporters on arrival, Mr Harris said he was ‘really looking forward to the debate’ but acknowledged that ‘things don’t always go right in campaigns’. He was questioned on contact between his team and RTE before the clip of a contentious exchange he had with a care worker went public. The Taoiseach has previously said he ‘made mistakes’ in how he handled the interaction. When asked if one his officials had alleged to RTE that the care worker was a member of Sinn Fein, Mr Harris said: ‘I don’t believe so at all.’ Later asked if he was tired, Mr Harris added: ‘Not at all, I’m really energised.’ The final leader’s debate on RTÉ came just over a week after the debate which included all ten political party leaders, which was hosted on Upfront with Katie Hannon. In the debate, the party leaders outlined their policies and briefly touched on who they would or wouldn’t go into coalition with. The debate comes also in the wake of what could potentially be the defining moment for An Taoiseach Simon Harris as he continues to deal with the fall out following a frosty interaction with a care worker while campaigning in North Cork last week. Simon Harris responds to questions about his interaction with care sector worker, Charlotte Fallon, in Kanturk, and whether his staff contacted RTÉ about coverage of it. #rtept | @RTENews pic.twitter.com/pRpAoKboNe The Taoiseach and party leader was forced to apologise to Charlotte Fallon on Saturday after a clip of him engaging with her – and walking off mid-conversation as she became emotional – went viral. In the video, which has been viewed more than 3.4million times, Mr Harris can be seen disagreeing with Ms Fallon about the work the Government has done for carers, and becoming frustrated. Asked on Monday if any member of his team had contacted RTÉ in a bid not to have the footage run , Mr Harris said: ‘I don’t believe so.’ But the Irish Daily Mail established that Fine Gael figures contacted staff in RTÉ to express their concern over the video and how it would be featured. The first question was to Simon Harris about the video from Kanturk on his interaction with a carer and whether Fine Gael communicated with RTÉ in the aftermath about coverage of the matter. Harris said he had ‘no knowledge’ of any request being made not to air the clip. Micheal Martin and Simon Harris should feel ‘very ashamed’ over the Government’s record on carers and disability, Mary Lou McDonald said. The Sinn Fein leader took aim at the heads of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael during RTE Prime Time’s televised leaders’ debate. She said the outgoing Government did not seem ‘capable’ of listening to people’s experiences. Asked if he felt ashamed, Mr Martin said he was not happy with the ‘level of progress’ but said there had been advancements in some areas. Mr Harris said the issue of disability is something he has been passionate about his entire life. He said there needed to be a radical expansion of training places for occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. As the debate moved on, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said Sinn Fein’s ‘enormous’ tax increases will destroy Ireland’s enterprise economy. Mr Martin said: ‘Sinn Fein do not get the enterprise economy, they don’t get trade.’ Meanwhile, Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said his party was proposing the least amount of spending in its manifesto, when compared to the other two parties. Mr Harris said Friday marks election day and the 14th anniversary of the bailout programme following the financial crash. He said: ‘People sitting at home tonight are still living with the scars of that financial crash, and we have to learn from that as a country.’ Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the financial crash was instigated and driven by Fianna Fail, while austerity was brought by Fine Gael. Ms McDonald said she would agree with Mr Harris and added: ‘There are people watching this programme who still the bear the scars of your crash and of your austerity.’ Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he “learned from” his time in Government during the financial crash. Speaking during the RTE Prime Time debate, he said: ‘I get the crash, I was in Government.’ Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald interrupted: ‘I know, sure you authored it.’ Mr Martin continued: ‘I learned from the experience, I kept with politics, I kept with public service. ‘I supported through confidence and supply the [Fine Gael] Government to get the country through Brexit. ‘One thing that people can be guaranteed with Micheal Martin is I will always put the country before party.’ Fianna Fail has taken ‘radical action’ on housing, Micheal Martin later said. He was responding to a question on the Housing Commission’s recommendation for a radical reset in housing policy. Mr Martin defended actions already taken by Fianna Fail and added: ‘It is not about some magical reset right now.’ Asked if Fine Gael had failed to make housing a top priority – as contended by former housing minister Eoghan Murphy, party leader Simon Harris said those comments came in the context of Brexit. He added: ‘Housing is the number one priority.’ Pressed on whether Fine Gael had put the party in front of the country on reforming housing policy, Mr Harris said: ‘My party never put party before country.’ He added: ‘My party’s never crashed the economy.’ "There is a need for a radical reset on housing policy..." Simon Harris responds to questions from Sarah McInerney about Fine Gael's approach to housing. #rtept | @RTENews pic.twitter.com/uwnzqydjIS Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Government parties ‘do not recognise the scale of the problem’ around housing delivery, as she defended her own party’s policies. Pressed on whether banks would definitely lend to home buyers under a Sinn Fein scheme where people would not own the land under the house, Ms McDonald said: ‘We’ve engaged with the banks. The banks have requirements that will have to be met. ‘I don’t think anybody should be shocked by that, they’re not some kind of Robin Hood institution giving money away. ‘The bottom line is they will want to know that if they invest that they’ll get their money back. We’re absolutely confident that those requirements can be met.’ Ms McDonald said her party had done “due diligence” in relation to the policy. “At no stage has the banking Federation said that ‘we will not lend into a scheme of this nature’.” Viewers took to X to have their say on all the key moments of the final TV debate of the General Election 2024 trail. One viewer spoke about An Taoiseach’s response towards whether FG communicated with RTE over the now-viral clip and said: ‘Still dodging it basically not a black or white yes/no’. Another person wrote: ‘Simon Harris is very shifty so far, Kanturk has him absolutely rattled.’ TD for Wicklow John Brady wrote: ‘Simon Harris talks about his ‘lived experience’ and ‘since his teenage years’ the fact is Fine Gael has been in government since his teenage years and disability services have been on a downward spiral during all those years! The reality is that the longer Fine Gael are in Government the worse the lived experience is for those with disabilities.’ Michael Martin: “I get the crash, I was in government for the crash.” @MaryLouMcDonald : “I know, sure you were the author of it.” Zinger #RTEPT There’s just something about Mary Lou calmly calling Micheál Martin and Simon Harris “Gentlemen” when they try to argue with her #leadersdebate pic.twitter.com/uDygTaZDem Debate drinking game: Take a drink every time Simon Harris talks about his "lived experience " #RTEPT At the end of the day, FFers will think Michéal Martin won, SFers will think Mary Lou McDonald has won, and FGers will think Simon Harris won Beauty is in the eye of the beholder #LeadersDebate One other viewer wrote: This isn’t a debate, it is just 2 RTÉ journos asking questions of the three leaders. Rather than call it the #leadersdebate maybe it should be called the #leadersgrilling.’ Another viewer took to X to say: ‘The winner of this debate is Sarah McInerney. She’s not letting them dodge her questions.’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Quinton Morton-Robertson's 16 points helped Purdue Fort Wayne defeat Green Bay 83-67 on Sunday night. Morton-Robertson had three steals for the Mastodons (10-5, 3-1 Horizon League). Jalen Jackson added 15 points while going 6 of 11 from the field and had five assists. Trey Lewis shot 3 for 6 (3 for 5 from 3-point range) and 3 of 4 from the free-throw line to finish with 12 points. The Phoenix (2-13, 0-4) were led in scoring by Preston Ruedinger, who finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Green Bay also got 11 points from Ryan Wade. The loss is the 10th in a row for the Phoenix. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .

'Unbelievable' Odegaard transforms Arsenal and gets Saka smiling again

Manchester City defender Nathan Ake said his side must “show character” if they are to end their winless streak after Feyenoord scored three times in the final 15 minutes to claim a 3-3 draw in the Champions League at the Etihad Stadium. City are now six games without a victory but appeared to be cruising towards three points before being stunned by the Eredivisie side, who hit them with goals from Anis Hadj Moussa, Santiago Gimenez and David Hancko to fight back from 3-0 down. Two goals from Erling Haaland , one of them a penalty, and one from Ilkay Gundogan had the 2023 European champions three up after 53 minutes as they sought the win that would help to get their ailing season back on track. After the team collapsed in the closing stages, Ake called on his team-mates to show their mettle if their campaign is not to wither away. Speaking to Amazon Prime, he was asked whether he believed the the team’s problem is a mental one. “Maybe it is,” he said. “It is difficult to say. Obviously we have not been in this situation many times but this is where we have to show our character. “When everything seems to go against us and everyone is writing us off, we have to stay strong mentally, believe in ourselves and stick together. “Every season there is a period when they write us off. We have to make sure we stay strong as a team and staff and make sure we get out of it.” The draw leaves City with work to do if they are to secure one of the eight automatic spots in the last 16 of this season’s Champions League. They are currently 15th in the table, two points outside of the top eight, and will need positive results in their next two games against Juventus and Paris St Germain to keep their hopes alive. They then face Club Brugge in their final league match on January 29. The result at least ended a run of five straight defeats in all competitions ahead of Sunday’s Premier League showdown with leaders Liverpool at Anfield. “When you are three goals up it feels like a defeat when you give up three goals at home,” said Ake. “It is tough now, a tough night, but the only thing we can do is look forward to the next one. Liverpool is a big game and it is another challenge to overcome. “(We were) 3-0 up and we played quite well and were under control, but then it all changed. “You just have to stay strong mentally. At 3-1 they then push on but I think we need to go for it a bit earlier so we could keep the pressure on them, but we stayed playing at the back and maybe invited more pressure on us. “Then when you concede the second one there is even more pressure and then we have to stay stronger mentally.”

China’s central government urges local governments to give cash handouts for New Year

Walmart is dropping huge markdowns on TV during its “Black Friday Deals” sale and the discount on this massive 75-inch 4K UHD TV model is super cheap. Starting on Nov. 25, the 75-inch VIZIO 4K UHD LED HDR TV is on sale for $478, instead of $598, for a savings of $120 off. Related: Walmart’s Black Friday has the best deals of the season with up to 70% off — including these 21 holiday steals Walmart is kicking off its mega “Black Friday Deals” sale online on Monday, Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. ET, with exclusive access for Walmart+ members at 12 p.m. ET. Deals start in stores on Nov. 29 at 6 a.m. local time. This is a huge Black Friday discount on a massive-sized 75-inch VIZIO TV with 4K UHD resolution and a real-life picture quality with an extensive color range and detail. Dolby Audio provides cinema-quality sound to the TV, with Dolby Atmos compatibility also included. The 75-inch VIZIO TV supports WiFi6 for improved streaming and gaming performance with access to your favorite streaming channels and free TV content with the built-in WatchFree+ app. Video game play is also enhanced with the Dolby Vision HDR Gaming feature that has automatic latency detection and voice control is enabled with the VIZIO app on your Android or iOS devices and Shop for this 75-inch VIZIO 4K UHD LED HDR TV deal at Walmart here. Walmart Black Friday TV Deals You can also check out more TVs on sale at Walmart during its “Black Friday Deals” sale, including these popular models: Hisense 55′′ Class U6HR Series QLED 4K UHD Roku Smart TV for $288, instead of $348 Hisense 85′′ Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV for $548, instead of $798 TCL 65” Class S4 4K UHD HDR LED Roku TV for $228, instead of $378 Hisense 55′′ Class R6 Series 4K UHD Roku Smart TV for $178, instead of $278 Shop for even more markdowns from Walmart’s big “Black Friday Deals” sale here. The Best Black Friday Deals in 2024 Walmart’s Black Friday has the best deals of the season with up to 70% off — including these 21 holiday steals Brooks Black Friday deals just dropped with up to 41% off, including the Adrenaline GTS 23 for under $100 Amazon is knocking $40 off the top-rated Shark SpeedStyle Hair Dryer for Black Friday Amazon has the new Dyson OnTrac wireless headphones on sale for the first time ever for Black Friday Amazon knocked $100 off its No. 1 best-selling smart baby monitor from Owlet in a huge Black Friday sale Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com . Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com . Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/ .

A few days after losing re-election in 1980, President Jimmy Carter attended a tribute to Aaron Copeland that included his Fanfare for the Common Man . If any president embodied that work, it was Carter. Citizen, veteran, farmer, governor, president, Sunday school teacher, peace promoter, home builder for those without shelter. Carter was the antidote to the disgraced president Richard Nixon and all the damage he inflicted on America’s democracy. Carter projected honesty, compassion, religious rectitude, morality, racial justice and public service. Rosalynn, his life partner in marriage and governance, his wife of 77 years and First Lady, was as devoted to public service as her husband. President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd while walking with wife Rosalynn and their daughter Amy to the White House following his inauguration on January 20, 1977. Credit: AP//Suzanne Vlamis Carter’s virtues embroidered his presidency. He worked so hard. His ambitions were noble. Carter’s approval rating was 75 per cent in his first months in office in 1977. But a series of events overtook him. Carter’s highest priority, a national energy plan, took 18 months to enact and was only a marginal success. In 1979, the US was hit with an oil shock spurred by Iran and OPEC that cut supplies and drove up prices. There were petrol lines everywhere. That summer, the country was gripped by a sense of profound drift. For 10 days, Carter retreated to Camp David for meetings and consultations with experts and citizens to help him find answers to the country’s deepening malaise. Carter came down from the mountain and delivered a sermon to the country on what was wrong: “It is a crisis of confidence. It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation. The erosion of our confidence in the future is threatening to destroy the social and the political fabric of America.” A few days later, Carter fired five members of his cabinet. His approval rating sank to 30 per cent. The American people’s loss of confidence was in the president and his ability to govern. In November 1979, following the return of Ayatollah Khomeini and the overthrow of the Shah, who was aligned with the West, the US Embassy in Tehran was seized and 52 American diplomats were taken hostage. A rescue mission failed spectacularly in April 1980, with American service members lost when their helicopters crashed in the desert. The Iranians, intent on further humiliating America and its leader, did not release the hostages until moments after Carter ceased being president. Those were the depths of Carter’s presidency. The fights over his policy agenda were agonising. It got to a point where many Democrats in Congress took more relish in attacking and criticising the White House than in attacking and beating the Republicans. Inflation would hit an all-time high of 14.6 per cent in the election year of 1980, accompanied by even higher interest rates. Those wars inside the party led many Democrats to support Ted Kennedy, the last surviving brother after JFK and Bobby, to aim for the White House and reclaim the Kennedy mantle. The party was torn down the middle. Carter prevailed and won renomination, yet his presidency was fatally weakened. He was crushed by Ronald Reagan. The Carter presidency continues to shape America’s destiny today. The reason Democrats were able to pass so much legislation under President Joe Biden is because they remembered that disunity was death to Carter’s domestic policy agenda. During his presidency, Carter never visited Australia but met prime minister Malcolm Fraser three times. The leaders faced momentous events. In 1978, the US recognised China and severed ties with Taiwan. Australia formally joined the US boycott of the 1980 Olympics following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Jimmy Carter with Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser in 1979. Credit: Fairfax Media Most Americans at that time judged Jimmy Carter’s presidency as a failure. Yet his profound virtues and decency, his compassion for humanity, the noble principles he stood for and sought to fulfil, his exemplary conduct as a former president, and his all-encompassing marriage to Rosalynn are being remembered and celebrated today, more than four decades later. On taking office as governor of Georgia in 1971, Jimmy Carter declared: “The time for racial discrimination is over.” As with his southern predecessor in the presidency, Lyndon Johnson, Carter fought segregation and was irrevocably committed to civil rights, racial justice and racial equity. Carter’s last public act was to live long enough, at age 100, to redeem his fundamental values with his vote to make Kamala Harris the first Black woman to take the oath of office. Jimmy Carter met a moment in American politics when the country was yearning for honesty, fidelity to basic American values, a restoration of faith in good government, and a belief that the country could go forward together. He could not fulfil his goals as president, but what Carter stood for endures. Bruce Wolpe is a senior fellow at the University of Sydney’s United States Studies Centre. He has served on the Democratic staff in the US Congress and as chief of staff to former prime minister Julia Gillard.Littler threatened to overturn an early deficit but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. World number one Luke Humphries retained his Players Championship Finals title with an 11-7 victory over teenager Luke Littler in Minehead. Littler, who won the Grand Slam of Darts last week, hit checkouts of 170, 164 and 136 as he threatened to overturn an early deficit, but Humphries held his nerve to win the last three legs. “I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him. “He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for. “Luke is a special talent and he was right – I said to him I’ve got to get these (titles) early before he wins them all. “I’d love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre, he’s probably the best player in the world right now but there’s something about me that never gives up. “This is a great way to go into the worlds.” Littler, who lost the world championship final to Humphries last year, said: “It was tough, missed a few doubles and if you don’t take chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. “I hit the 170 and the 164 but just didn’t have enough in the end. “It’s been a good past two weeks. I just can’t wait to go home, chill out, obviously practice at home for the worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.”

Global Hazelnut Market Projected to Reach $21.23 Billion by 2028 with an 8.9% Annual Growth