Young American college footballer Medrick Burnett Jr wrongly pronounced dead in since-deleted post
Multiparameter Patient Monitoring Market Set for Exceptional Growth in the Forecast 2024-2032By BILL BARROW, Associated Press PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Related Articles Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.Canada is already examining tariffs on certain US items following Trump’s tariff threatNEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball's winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12. Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). How much money will Soto get? Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. How could MLB's luxury tax factor into team's bids on Soto? The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. The winter meetings would be a fitting place for Boras to announce a record deal If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Besides Soto, which free agent hitters are available? Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’
The Evolution Of Gifting: How Children's Presents Changed Over TimeSoto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced. Soto is the top player available among this year's free agents . A four-time All-Star, Soto finished third in AL MVP voting after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs and 769 walks over seven major league seasons. Soto turned down a $440 million, 15-year offer from Washington in 2022, prompting the Nationals to trade him to San Diego, which then dealt him to the Yankees last December. Soto then combined with Aaron Judge to lead New York to the World Series, where the Yankees lost to the Dodgers . In his pitch to teams, Boras highlighted that Soto joined Mickey Mantle as the only players with seven RBIs in a World Series at age 21 or younger when he was with Washington, and at 20 became the youngest player with five postseason homers. Soto's .906 postseason OPS through age 25 topped Mantle (.900) and Derek Jeter (.852). Soto is likely to seek a record contract, topping Shohei Ohtani's $700 million, 10-year agreement with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. That might not mean Soto gets more than $700 million, though. Because Ohtani's deal included $680 million in deferred money payable through 2043, it can be valued by different methods. For instance, Ohtani's contract is valued at $46.1 million per season ($461 million total) under MLB's luxury tax system, which used a 4.43% discount rate. The players' association uses a 5% rate, which puts Ohtani's contract at $43.8 million per year. For MLB's regular payroll calculations, a 10% discount rates values Ohtani's deal at just $28.2 million. Which means if Soto gets even $462 million without deferred payments, there's an argument that his deal is the most valuable in MLB history. By average annual value, pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are tied for second in baseball history at $43.33 million as part of contracts they signed with the New York Mets, deals that expired at the end of the 2024 season. In terms of total value, Ohtani surpassed outfielder Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, 12-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels through 2030. MLB’s longest contract is outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s 14-year deal with the San Diego Padres through 2034. The Mets, Yankees, Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies all are likely to enter 2025 having paid luxury tax for three straight years, putting them at the highest rate: a 50% surcharge on payroll between $241 million and $261 million, 62% from $261 million to $281 million, 95% from $281 million to $301 million and 110% for each dollar above $301 million. Toronto may have dropped below the initial tax threshold this year, pending final figures next month. If the Blue Jays did fall under, their rates next year would reset to 20%, 32%, 62.5% and 80% for the four thresholds. If Soto reaches or announces an agreement at the winter meetings in Dallas' Hilton Anatole, it would be a familiar location for a big Boras deal. Alex Rodriguez's record $252 million, 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers was announced in December 2000 at what then was called the Wyndham Anatole Hotel. A-Rod's deal more than doubled MLB's previous high, a $121 million, eight-year contract between pitcher Mike Hampton and Colorado that was announced just two days earlier. “In two days, we’ve doubled a new highest salary,′′ said Sandy Alderson, then an executive vice president in the commissioner’s office. ”I don’t like the exponentiality of that." Rodriguez was 25 at the time of the agreement with Texas, a free agent before entering his likely prime, like Soto. Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, and outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are among the significant bats available to pursue and likely would interest some of the teams who fail to sign Soto. Bregman and Alonso, like Soto, are represented by Boras. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
NoneWhich winter gloves for women should you buy? The skin on your hands can take some harsh punishment during cold weather. Even prolonged exposure to the air during a chilly snap can leave your hands with dry skin or chilblains. If you live in an area where extreme cold is a high probability, spending time outdoors makes gloves an absolute necessity. But to make sure your gloves can withstand the winter season, you need a pair that’s fit for your climate and lifestyle. Types of winter gloves for women Women’s gloves fall into three main categories: What to consider before buying winter gloves 9 best women’s winter gloves to buy Dimore Winter Gloves for Women These fashionable gloves are soft, comfortable and will help keep your hands warm through the fall and winter. They come with touch-screen technology that lets you use your smartphone while out in the cold without having to take your gloves off. Geyoga Elastic Cuff Winter Warm Fleece Gloves Equipped with an elastic cuff so they can slip under your jacket’s sleeve, these gloves create an insulating effect on your hands and wrist. The warm fleece line keeps your hands warm in winter, and the gloves are machine-washable. Trendoux Winter Gloves These black gloves are made with 50% conductive yarn on the fingertips so you can use your tablet or smartphone without taking off your gloves. They’re thickened to be windproof, have a warm lining and come with triangle silicone non-slip designs on the palms. Fantastic Zone Women’s Winter Touch-screen Gloves These fleece gloves are made with breathable material to keep hands warm without irritating sensitive skin. Although they are hand-wash only, they are made with high-density, ultra-soft chenille fabric and have three touchscreen-friendly fingertips on each hand. Isotoner Women’s Spandex Cold Weather Stretch Gloves This fashionable pair of gloves have vegan leather patches, fleece lining and stretch spandex to give you a comfortable, warm experience through the cold days of winter. The stretch fabric helps the gloves to repel snow and rain, so your hands stay nice and dry. Carhartt Women’s Quilted Insulated Gloves This set of cold weather gloves is made of polyester with a loop and hook closure and microfiber lining with a stretchy fleece cuff. They’re waterproof and quilted to keep hands dry and warm. Bodvera Thermal Insulation Fingerless Texting Wool Gloves These wool and acrylic gloves have a double-layered elastic cuff and are made with comfortable fabric that insulates your hands during cold snaps. They have flip-up fingertips for convenience, flexibility and style. Vislivin Full-Hand Women’s Gloves These lambskin gloves come in a high-end gift box, making them a lovely gift or treat for yourself or a loved one. The full-finger gloves let you operate a touch screen and the lambskin exterior provides grip for activities such as driving or cycling. Alepo Winter PU Leather Gloves for Women The cashmere lining in these gloves will keep hands nice and snug during cold snaps. The elegant design comes from the gloves’ leather outer lining, which is not only high-quality but soft and supple, too. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Flag football uses talent camps to uncover new stars
Trump steps into skilled-work visa clash, saying they’re ‘great’B.C. court cases capturing the attention of British Columbians in 2024 usually involved murders but several civil cases, one about a fake nurse and another alleging passing documents to China, also caught people’s attention. Ibrahim Ali gets life in teen's killing Easily the most high-profile case of the year was the tumultuous trial of the man convicted of sexually assaulting and killing a teen girl in Burnaby’s Central Park. Ibrahim Ali was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole for 25 years in June after a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder in the girl’s death. The girl’s partially naked body was found in the bush beside a trail in Central Park on July 18, 2017. "Mr. Ali, you have been found guilty of first-degree murder, and you have heard the profound harm and grief you have caused for raping and murdering 13-year-old (name redacted) in Central Park on July 18, 2017," B.C. Supreme Court Justice Lance Bernard said. Not criminally responsible B.C. Supreme Court Justice David Crossin ruled Dec. 11 that Jian Wei Wang, 52, was not criminally responsible for the murder of his wife Jian Ying “Angela” Du's May 2022 death due to a mental disorder. Du, 51, suffered 27 stab wounds and seven slash wounds, Crossin said. “His mental disorder rendered him incapable of knowing his action was wrong,” Crossin said. Sister Lucy Du told Glacier Media the decision was sad and disappointing, “morally unfair” and “unjust.” Double homicide Wade William Cudmore was convicted in the deaths of two Kamloops brothers in a drug deal case. On Nov. 19, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Brenda Brown sentenced Cudmore to life in prison without parole eligibility for 18 years for the “savage” Naramata drug-related killings. Cudmore was convicted in October of second-degree murder by a jury in the May 10, 2021 deaths of Erick and Carlo Fryer. “Two victims were killed in a brutal, gratuitous fashion,” Brown said Nov. 19, as Cudmore attended by video from prison. “I had nothing to do with the murders,” Cudmore told the court before sentencing. “My story’s not going to change.” Fake nurse Brigitte Cleroux pleaded guilty to multiple charges of assault, fraud, impersonating a nurse and forgery in connection with cases at BC Women's Hospital, a dentist’s office in Surrey and a Vancouver Island clinic. Her December sentencing hearing in B.C. Supreme Court heard Cleroux had used the identity and credentials of a real nurse to get employment. She will spend a total of seven years in prison . She was brought to Vancouver for the case from an Ontario prison where she is serving a sentence for similar offences. Defence lawyer Guillaume Garih argued her offences across Canada were a spree and should be treated as such in the sentencing process. Alleged China documents passing The case of a former RCMP officer charged with allegedly working with the People's Republic of China to harm Canadian interests is a matter of national security, a B.C. judge heard Sept. 13. William Robert Majcher is charged with retaining or gaining access to information and preparation for the commission of an offence. The charges are laid under the federal Security of Information Act. A Prosecution Service of Canada 2023 report said the case of R. v. William Robert Majcher is about a former RCMP inspector alleged to have been obtaining, with the help of others, information for the purpose of helping China to damage Canadian interests. Stock market fraud A B.C. Supreme Court judge in August froze assets of Fred Sharp , a former Vancouver lawyer found liable in the United States for being the mastermind of a $1-billion stock market fraud scheme. Justice Amy Francis issued a Mareva injunction against Sharp on June 26, according to a written decision issued Aug. 12. A Mareva injunction freezes assets to prevent a defendant from hiding them when faced with forfeiture proceedings. In this case, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sought the injunction, plus a list of Sharp’s assets, after Sharp was found liable in civil proceedings on May 12, 2022, for orchestrating a network of pump-and-dump arrangements via offshore shell companies. Ripudman Singh Malik Two men pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in New Westminster Supreme Court to the killing of former Air India bombing suspect Ripudaman Singh Malik. Malik , 75, was gunned down on July 14, 2022, near his Newton office on Surrey’s 128 Street and died at the scene. Police called it a targeted killing. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said those responsible fled in a white Honda CR-V . It was later found on fire at 122 Street and 82 Avenue. Tanner Fox and Jose Lopez were charged with first-degree murder in July 2022. With files from Graeme Wood and Cornelia Naylor
Murders, fake nurse, fraud and Chinese documents case occupy B.C. courts in 2024
Share Tweet Share Share Email In today’s fast-paced business world, leveraging emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation is crucial for driving efficiency, innovation, and growth. As industries across the globe are increasingly adopting these technologies, entrepreneurs are presented with unparalleled opportunities to scale their businesses, optimize operations, and enhance customer experiences. Bharath Kumar Kakkireni , the Chairman & CEO of KBK Group, a leader in multi-sector innovation, shares his expert insights on how entrepreneurs can harness the power of AI and automation to build resilient, forward-thinking businesses. AI and Automation: A Game-Changer for Entrepreneurs Artificial Intelligence and automation have already begun reshaping the business landscape, offering entrepreneurs the tools to streamline processes, reduce costs, and unlock new revenue streams. From automating mundane tasks to analyzing data for smarter decision-making, AI and automation enable entrepreneurs to focus on scaling their businesses and meeting the ever-changing demands of the market. According to Kakkireni, “AI and automation are no longer just tools for large corporations; they are essential for businesses of all sizes looking to remain competitive and drive sustainable growth. By embracing these technologies, entrepreneurs can optimize their operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and make more informed strategic decisions.” Key Benefits of AI and Automation for Entrepreneurs Kakkireni, who has successfully integrated AI and automation across KBK Group’s diverse portfolio, highlights the following key benefits of these technologies for entrepreneurs: Enhanced Operational Efficiency: By automating repetitive tasks, entrepreneurs can streamline their operations and free up valuable time for more strategic initiatives. Whether it’s managing inventory, processing orders, or handling customer queries, automation tools help businesses save time and resources while reducing human error. Improved Customer Experience: AI-driven tools, such as chatbots and personalized recommendation systems, enable businesses to provide seamless, real-time customer support and tailor offerings to individual preferences. These technologies create more personalized experiences, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty. Data-Driven Insights: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data to uncover valuable insights into customer behavior, market trends, and business performance. Entrepreneurs can use these insights to make smarter decisions, optimize marketing efforts, and predict future business needs. Cost Savings: AI and automation help reduce operational costs by minimizing the need for manual intervention. Automation tools can handle repetitive administrative tasks like data entry and accounting, allowing businesses to operate more efficiently and scale without increasing overhead costs. Scalability and Flexibility: As businesses grow, managing an expanding volume of tasks and customer interactions becomes challenging. AI and automation offer scalable solutions that can handle increased workloads and adapt to changing market conditions, enabling businesses to scale smoothly without sacrificing quality. Integrating AI and Automation into Your Business: A Step-by-Step Guide For entrepreneurs looking to integrate AI and automation into their operations, Kakkireni provides a clear roadmap to ensure successful implementation: Identify Repetitive Tasks for Automation: Start by identifying tasks within your business that are time-consuming and repetitive. These might include managing customer inquiries, processing invoices, or scheduling meetings. Implementing automation tools in these areas can save time and increase efficiency. Invest in AI-Powered Tools: AI-powered tools, such as chatbots, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and predictive analytics platforms, can help businesses enhance customer interactions and optimize operations. Kakkireni emphasizes the importance of selecting tools that align with your specific business goals and objectives. Leverage Data for Decision-Making: AI can help you analyze data in real time, offering insights that can inform your decisions. By leveraging data analytics tools, you can uncover patterns, predict trends, and make more informed business decisions that lead to better outcomes. Focus on Employee Training and Development: As AI and automation take over repetitive tasks, it’s essential to train your employees to focus on higher-value activities that require creativity, problem-solving, and strategy. Investing in employee development ensures that your team remains adaptable and empowered to leverage new technologies. Start Small and Scale Gradually: For entrepreneurs just beginning their journey with AI and automation, it’s advisable to start with small, manageable projects before scaling them across your business. This allows you to test the waters, learn from initial implementations, and gradually integrate AI and automation throughout your operations. The Future of AI and Automation in Business Looking ahead, Kakkireni believes that AI and automation will continue to evolve and become even more integral to business success. “The future of AI and automation is incredibly promising, and we are only scratching the surface. As these technologies become more advanced, they will continue to drive innovation across industries and transform how businesses operate,” he adds. For entrepreneurs, this is an exciting opportunity to stay ahead of the competition and position their businesses for success in an increasingly digital-first world. Kakkireni urges entrepreneurs to embrace AI and automation as critical drivers of business transformation and to invest in the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the digital age. About Bharath Kumar Kakkireni: Bharath Kumar Kakkireni is the Chairman & CEO of KBK Group, a conglomerate with a diversified portfolio in industries such as IT, healthcare, media, and wellness. With a focus on innovation, technology, and sustainability, Kakkireni has successfully led the group to global prominence. He is a proponent of leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and automation to drive business growth, streamline operations, and enhance customer satisfaction. Related Items: @mdextech , tech Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you How Bots Are Changing Sports an Alternative to Games Lightweight vs. Rigidity: The Trade-offs of Road Bike Frames Yabo: The Leading Online Integrated Entertainment Platform CommentsSD City Attorney Sues Retailers for Allegedly Violating Flavored Tobacco Ban