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Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are having an enchanted holiday break with good friends. The pair was spotted out on a double date at BondST restaurant in New York City Dec. 27 with the Grammy winner’s longtime pal and collaborator Jack Antonoff and his wife, actress Margaret Qualley. Taylor wore an oversized, beige tweed, crystal-embroidered Stella McCartney blazer, paired with what appeared to be a black skirt, sheer, diamond-patterned black Sheertex tights and Marc Jacobs ankle-length platform boots, as seen in photos published by the Daily Mail. Travis matched the “Style” singer with a beige cardigan, paired with a black shirt, tan pants, dark shoes, glasses and a black cap. He and Taylor were photographed leaving the eatery, with the NFL star leading his girlfriend by the hand. Margaret bundled up in a dark coat with black tights, while Jack wore a yellow zip-up top, black jacket and jeans. Taylor had attended the couple’s wedding in August 2023, weeks before she was first photographed at one of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s games following romance rumors between the two. She and the NFL star have now been dating for over a year. They have supported each other’s careers consistently, with him attending more than a dozen concerts on her Eras tour, which ended Dec. 8, and Taylor being spotted at more than a dozen of Travis’ games, most recently Dec. 21, when the Chiefs beat the Houston Texans. While the “Blank Space” singer was absent from the Kansas City team’s Christmas Day game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, she did publicly express support for her boyfriend after he scored his 77th receiving touchdown-to break a record previously held by Chiefs legend Tony Gonzalez-by liking several social posts celebrating the feat. Travis had also celebrated Taylor’s career milestone-her Eras Tour, which began in March 2023 and included 149 concerts held in 51 cities, had set a world record to become the highest-grossing music tour by generating more than $1 billion in revenue. The athlete threw the singer a star-studded, Eras-tour-themed party. He also gave her a shoutout on his and brother Jason Kelce’s podcast. “Obviously, it’s her music, her tour and everything but that was a full production, man,” Travis said on the Dec. 11 episode of New Heights. “It was the best tour in the world because of a lot of people.” He added, “And mostly because of Taylor.”Carson Beck completed 20 of 31 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns as No. 10 Georgia pummeled UMass 59-21 on Saturday in Athens, Ga. Nate Frazier ran for career highs of 136 yards and three touchdowns, while Arian Smith caught three passes for 110 yards and a score as the Bulldogs (9-2) won their second straight game and 30th straight at home, dating back to 2019. AJ Hairston completed 7 of 16 passes for 121 yards and a score for the Minutemen (2-9), who dropped their third straight. Jalen John ran for 107 yards and a score and Jakobie Keeney-James caught three passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Peyton Woodring kicked a 53-yard field goal to extend Georgia's lead to 31-14 on the first drive of the third quarter. But UMass wasted little time responding, as Hairston hit Keeney-James for a 75-yard touchdown to get the deficit down to 10. Georgia then finished its sixth straight drive with a score, as Frazier's 9-yard run up the middle gave the Bulldogs a 38-21 lead at the 8:44 mark of the third quarter. After UMass punted, Georgia played add-on in its next possession, with Frazier scoring from 15 yards out with 1:39 left in the third to lead 45-21. Frazier stamped his career day with his third touchdown run, a 2-yarder with 6:33 left, before Georgia capped the scoring with Chris Cole's 28-yard fumble return with 3:28 remaining. UMass took the game's opening drive 75 yards down the field -- aided by Ahmad Haston's 38-yard run -- and scored on CJ Hester's 1-yard run with 9:15 left. Georgia answered on its ensuing drive, as Beck's 17-yard passing touchdown to Oscar Delp tied the game at the 5:05 mark of the first quarter. Following a short punt by UMass, Beck connected with Smith for 49 yards, and a roughing-the-passer penalty put the ball at Minutemen's 14-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-4 from the 8-yard line, Beck found Cash Jones for a touchdown to take a 14-7 lead with 10:30 left in the second quarter. On UMass' next play from scrimmage, Raylen Wilson recovered John's fumble on the Minutemen's 28-yard line. Three plays later, Beck connected with Dominic Lovett for a 15-yard touchdown with 8:56 remaining. UMass then scored after a 14-play, 75-yard drive, finished off with John's 3-yard rushing score with 1:55 left in the first half. Georgia answered quickly, as Beck's 20-yard pass to Cole Speer set up a 34-yard touchdown pass to Smith with 43 seconds remaining, giving the Bulldogs a 28-14 halftime lead. --Field Level Media
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ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. 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. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.
A view of the DUN Sarawak Complex where the members of the Assembly convened in May and November this year. — Photo by Roystein Emmor 2024 Revisited Logo yearender 2024 THE State Legislative Assembly (DUN) convened two impactful sittings in 2024, passing a total of nine Bills aimed at addressing crucial aspects of governance, public health, natural resources management, and fiscal planning. These legislative measures reflect the state government’s commitment to advancing Sarawak’s development goals and addressing the needs of its people. (From right) Abang Johari, Uggah and Dr Sim share a light moment in the DUN chambers after the tabling of the 2025 State Budget. — Information Department photo People-centric, inclusive budget In November, the DUN unanimously passed an expansionary State Budget of RM15.8 billion for 2025, marking the largest budget in Sarawak’s history. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state anticipated a revenue of RM14.2 billion in 2025, projected to be the highest revenue collection to date. “The 2025 State Budget, which is expected to generate a surplus of RM486 million, indeed marks the largest budget in Sarawak’s history, reflecting the success of our revenue reengineering strategies and prudent financial management. “Through this expansionary Budget, we are making substantial investments in infrastructure while placing the well-being of the ‘rakyat’ (people) at the forefront of our priorities,” he said when tabling the budget at the DUN sitting on Nov 11. The Premier announced several initiatives under the 2025 State Budget such as one-off financial assistance in the form of pocket money worth RM1,200 to all Sarawakian university-level students next year; the Sarawak government continuing to provide National Higher Education Corporation Fund (PTPTN) loan repayment discounts of 30 per cent for graduates who have repaid 30 per cent and above of their loans; and book vouchers worth RM500 and free laptop initiatives for university students from the Bottom 40 Per Cent (B40) income group to be extended into next year. Abang Johari tabling the 2025 State Budget during the DUN sitting on Nov 11. — Information Department photo Abang Johari also announced a new financial assistance called Sarawak Basic Needs Contribution (SKAS), meant to alleviate the financial burden of low-income groups most affected by the rising cost of living. He said the financial aid would range from RM250 to RM800 annually according to the recipient’s eligibility, and that most of the SKAS recipients would also be receiving financial contributions under the ‘Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah’ (STR). Full autonomy over environmental governance The November DUN sitting also saw the passing of the Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024, out to enable Sarawak to exercise full autonomy over its environmental governance. Awang Tengah tabling the Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024 during the November DUN Sarawak sitting. — Information Department photo The passing of the Bill, tabled by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and seconded by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, received unanimous support from all the members of the Assembly present. Awang Tengah said this autonomy would strengthen Sarawak’s ability to preserve its unique ecosystems while fostering sustainable economic and social development. “This Bill represents a significant step in Sarawak’s commitment to sustainable development, offering a comprehensive framework that strengthens environmental protection laws and promotes long-term socio-economic growth. “By instituting these stringent legislations, this Bill addresses the critical need to combat climate change and environmental degradation,” he said in his third reading of the Bill. The Second Natural Resources and Urban Development Minister also said that the Bill would provide Sarawak with the tools needed to minimise environmental degradation while encouraging economic development. “By regulating emissions, waste, and pollution from industries, it ensures a cleaner, healthier environment for Sarawak’s citizens, fostering a better quality of life. “This Bill demonstrates that economic growth and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive but can, in fact, complement each other, ensuring that future generations inherit a thriving, resilient environment,” he said. Establishing legal framework to regulate hydrogen distribution Also passed unanimously at the sitting last month was the Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Bill 2024, which sought to establish a legal framework to regulate the distribution of hydrogen generated in Sarawak using feedstocks produced, obtained or imported into Sarawak; the premises to be used for the generation or storage of hydrogen; and the transportation of hydrogen for distribution and delivery to consumers in Sarawak and for export. Julaihi shows a copy of the Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Bill 2024. — Photo by Roystein Emmor Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, who tabled the Bill, said the amendment would allow Sarawak to be empowered to regulate hydrogen activities, reinforcing the state’s commitment to growing its hydrogen economy through a transparent and investor-friendly regulatory framework to support clean energy development. He emphasised Sarawak government’s dedication to establishing a robust regulatory framework that prioritised public safety, while fostering the hydrogen industry’s growth. “Hydrogen is not a new fuel, and international safety standards are already in place to manage the risks related to its production, storage, transportation, and use. “The safety systems and protocols that Sarawak will adopt will align with those for other fuels, ensuring that hydrogen can be produced, stored, and used safely in accordance with international standards,” said Julaihi. Authority to manage all ports in Sarawak In the first meeting of the third term of the 19th DUN held in May, the Assembly passed the Sarawak Ports Authority Bill 2024, which sought for a central port authority known as the Sarawak Ports Authority to be established to manage, regulate, control and administer all ports in the state. Uggah (second right) in a group photo with (from left) Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sebastian Ting; Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; and Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu at the DUN Complex lobby. — Photo by Chimon Upon The Bill was tabled by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who told the august House that this authority would serve as a regulatory body and that the operations of ports would be managed by a separated operator. He said the new centralised port authority would replace all existing port authorities, and that this model of centralisation could help Sarawak ports become more competitive and efficient, aligning with the broader economic goals of the regions. “The regulatory control over all ports in Sarawak will be exercised through a licensing regime provided by this Ordinance, which would facilitate the corporatisation and eventual privatisation of the operations of the port and port undertakings to enable our ports to be operated as commercial entities embracing good corporate governance and financial discipline.” Uggah, also the state Minister of Infrastructure and Port Development, added that the functions of the authority would include planning, streamlining and coordinating the development, expansion and improvement of ports in Sarawak; promoting and facilitating the development of business of the port and its hinterland and connectivity with other ports and transportation hubs outside Sarawak; and to license all port operators and port undertakings. “Its role would also be to promote efficiency and reliability of services and facilities in accordance with recognised international standards and best practices; to act as an authority for any free zone established under and subject to section 3(2) of the Free Zones Act 1990; and to adopt low carbon solutions in the management and operation of port undertakings,” he said. Streamlining SFC’s roles Awang Tengah, in the DUN sitting held in May, had tabled the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was passed by the state Legislature. The Bill meant to streamline and refine the roles of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC). Awang Tengah (left) and Uggah chatting at the lobby of the DUN Sarawak Complex. Seen between the two is Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Len Talif Salleh. — Photo by Chimon Upon Awang Tengah highlighted the need to amend the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Ordinance 1995 [Cap. 17], as in 2020, the government had mandated that the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) would assume all responsibilities previously held by the SFC. “This is provided for under Forests Ordinance 2015, which includes forest management, research and development, compliance, engineering, and revenue collection. “Conversely, the SFC was tasked with duties specified under the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998, and the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998. “Hence, to give effect to this mandate, amendments to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Ordinance 1995 are necessary to streamline the overlapping functions between the FDS and the SFC,” he said. Awang Tengah also said that the amendment would have the interpretation referring to the words ‘director’ and ‘forest produce’ be deleted to reflect the current structure of SFC as an agent of the government to enforce the provisions under the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998, and the Wildlife Protection Ordinance 1998. “The forestry functions such as sustainable forest management, reforestation, forestry research and forestry policy under the Ordinance, are to be taken out with this amendment; in other words, these functions would be under the purview of the FDS so as to make a clear demarcation on the roles and functions between SFC and FDS. “SFC is optimally positioned under natural resources, aligning with its mandates of sustainable natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. “The scope of the SFC’s responsibilities includes managing natural resources such as flora and fauna within national parks, and the protection of wildlife throughout Sarawak. “This is in tandem with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development’s focus on balancing conservation with economic uses like tourism,” he said. Dr Sim (centre) shows a page from a DUN document while joined by Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Michael Tiang (left) and Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Francis Harden Hollis. — Photo by Chimon Upon Penalty, enforcement on public health matters The Assembly, in May, also saw the passing of the Protection of Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2024, which was tabled by Dr Sim, also the state Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Minister. He said the amendment to the Public Protection of Public Health 1999 Ordinance was necessary in order to update and strengthen the provisions in the Ordinance to meet the changes and expectations of the present situation. The Ordinance had never been amended since it was passed on Dec 6, 1999, and came into force on Nov 1, 2000. Dr Sim said the amendment was aimed at strengthening certain provisions related to penalty and enforcement on public health matters. During the second reading, he said among the features of the Bill was to amend Section 2 of the Ordinance to reflect the new Strata (Subsidiary Titles) Ordinance 2019, which repealed the Strata Title Ordinance 1995. “Under the Bill, there is a proposed new provision to enable local authorities to issue a temporary licence to food premises operators by giving them a timeframe to comply with the requirements of other relevant laws. “Some of these food premises operators cannot be issued with a licence just because they are unable to comply with the provisions under the Local Authorities Ordinance 1996 and Building Ordinance 1994 or any other relevant laws. “The amendment is to Section 23 by adding the new Sub Paragraph (3), which is to prohibit animals or pets from entering any food premises. This is to ensure the health of the public and consumers are protected from unacceptable and unhygienic food premises,” he said. Other amendments included the licensing of funeral parlours and cemeteries with a proposed new Subsection (3) of Section 38 to add the word ‘columbarium’, and to ensure that any land used as a licensed funeral parlour, cemetery, etc., to be maintained and cleaned regularly; amendment to Section 56, which was to strengthen the power of inspection and investigation, enabling any person to be authorised by the director or the chief administrative officer of the ministry; and amendment to Section 58, which was to make it an offence for non-compliance with any closing order or notice to any person and to impose a penalty and upon conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding RM500,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both. Other Bills passed were the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill 2024 and Supplementary Supply (2023) Bill 2024 in May to authorise additional allocations for the state, ensuring continued funding for priority programmes and addressing unforeseen financial needs; and the Supplementary Supply (2024) Bill 2024 in November, which was approved to address additional funding requirements for ongoing projects and new initiatives. Members of the Assembly in a group photo with Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who is flanked by DUN Sarawak Speaker Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar and Abang Johari, taken on May 6 at the opening ceremony for the first meeting of the third term of the 19th DUN Sarawak. — Photo by Roystein Emmor