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50jili vip EXCLUSIVE Fury as councils approve thousands of requests to work abroad - including one who worked from Ibiza for four years By DAVID CHURCHILL Published: 17:00 EST, 29 December 2024 | Updated: 17:00 EST, 29 December 2024 e-mail View comments Council staff have been allowed to ‘work from the beach’ more than 2,000 times since the pandemic. Town hall bosses approved at least 731 staff requests to work from abroad in 2023 – with one council worker logging in from Ibiza for four years. There were 440 approvals the year after the Covid pandemic and 708 in 2022, before rising again to 731 last year. A further 226 requests were granted in the first few months of 2024. Critics branded the figures ‘horrifying’ and called on the Government to order a crackdown amid plummeting public sector productivity and town-hall plans to hike council taxes next year. But Labour ministers refused to condemn them, saying it was a matter for councils. Town halls doubled down tonight, insisting they can still monitor employees’ performance from abroad and that offering the perk was crucial for hiring and retaining staff in ‘a competitive recruitment market’. Many of the destinations staff have been allowed to work from – such as Barbados and Australia – have time zones vastly different to the UK, raising concerns about whether staff can do their jobs properly and promptly respond to emails and telephone calls. The real figures are likely to be much higher as many councils failed or refused to answer Freedom of Information requests. A woman sat on a sunny beach working on her laptop (stock image). Council staff have been allowed to ‘work from the beach’ more than 2,000 times since the pandemic Derby City Council (pictured) approved someone working from France for 74 days and New Zealand for 42 days Sandwell Council (pictured) in Birmingham is one council which allowed staff to work from abroad The Tories’ local government spokesman, Kevin Hollinrake, said: ‘It’s shocking that Labour won’t condemn this for what it is. ‘But it is unsurprising given [Local Government Secretary] Angela Rayner is committed to ideological experiments like full-time pay for part-time work and French-style union laws that will wreck our economy. ‘It shows this is a Labour Government that raises taxes sky-high but couldn’t care less when it’s being wasted – and local people will suffer as a result.’ Joanna Marchong, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, which obtained the data, said: ‘Taxpayers will be horrified that more employees are being given permission than before to work from their sunbeds in what will come as a slap in the face to the residents who are facing higher council tax bills despite reduced frontline services.’ Former Tory Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg added: ‘It indicates a contempt for the taxpayer – they’re just not taking work seriously.’ The data shows one employee for West Devon Borough Council was allowed to work from the Spanish party island of Ibiza from March 2020 until February this year. Derby City Council approved someone working from France for 74 days and New Zealand for 42 days, while Sandwell Council in Birmingham allowed an employee to work from Dubai for nearly three weeks. Powys County Council in Wales granted permission for someone to work from Barbados in 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24, although it did not reveal for how long in each year. Central Bedfordshire Council approved more than 150 requests over the past two years. Tonight the local authority admitted it was official policy to allow staff to work from abroad for up to a month every year, with other councils having similar policies. One council allowed an employee to work from Dubai for nearly three weeks A beach in Sydney. Many of the destinations staff have been allowed to work from – such as Barbados and Australia – have time zones vastly different to the UK, raising concerns about whether staff can do their jobs properly A nightclub in Ibiza. The data shows one employee for West Devon Borough Council was allowed to work from the Spanish party island of Ibiza from March 2020 until February this year Former Tory Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg added: ‘It indicates a contempt for the taxpayer – they’re just not taking work seriously’ As many workers return to their jobs after the Christmas holidays, the figures will infuriate council taxpayers who do not have the luxury of working remotely. It also comes as some town halls look to hike council tax by at least 5 per cent while claiming they don’t have enough resources to continue delivering frontline services. Meanwhile, Office for National Statistics data show that public service productivity was estimated to be 8.5 per cent below pre-Covid levels in the second quarter of this year. The Daily Mail highlighted the growing trend of council staff logging on from abroad last summer, a phenomenon dubbed ‘working from the beach’. But while the private sector has been shifting away from remote working, councils have allowed it to expand. In September, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the previous Tory government’s emphasis on getting people to return to workplaces was ‘bizarre’, insisting that staff can be just as productive working remotely. The Local Government Association, which represents town halls, said: ‘Councils have long experience of managing staff remotely and it is a matter for individual councils to agree from where staff can work.’ The Local Government Department said: ‘Councils are independent employers and they are responsible for managing their own workforces.’ Of more than 300 councils in England and Wales, 271 replied to Freedom of Information requests, with 65 providing data. Wales Share or comment on this article: Fury as councils approve thousands of requests to work abroad - including one who worked from Ibiza for four years e-mail Add commentCooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level MediaMutual of America Capital Management LLC lessened its position in Mercury Systems, Inc. ( NASDAQ:MRCY – Free Report ) by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 66,765 shares of the technology company’s stock after selling 1,544 shares during the quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC owned 0.11% of Mercury Systems worth $2,470,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MRCY. Signaturefd LLC boosted its position in shares of Mercury Systems by 144.0% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 666 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 393 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Mercury Systems by 1,126.3% during the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,165 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 1,070 shares during the period. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. grew its position in Mercury Systems by 216.0% in the 2nd quarter. Harel Insurance Investments & Financial Services Ltd. now owns 2,373 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $64,000 after acquiring an additional 1,622 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in Mercury Systems by 41.2% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,124 shares of the technology company’s stock worth $78,000 after purchasing an additional 620 shares during the period. Finally, nVerses Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Mercury Systems during the second quarter worth $81,000. 95.99% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Insider Activity In other news, Director Jana Partners Management, Lp acquired 13,600 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $37.25 per share, with a total value of $506,600.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,944,633 shares in the company, valued at approximately $258,687,579.25. This represents a 0.20 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . Also, Director Debora A. Plunkett sold 1,843 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.07, for a total transaction of $70,163.01. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 11,339 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $431,675.73. The trade was a 13.98 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last three months, insiders have sold 3,439 shares of company stock worth $132,005. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Mercury Systems Stock Performance Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth MRCY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Mercury Systems from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Mercury Systems from $36.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Mercury Systems from $26.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 14th. StockNews.com cut Mercury Systems from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Mercury Systems from an “underperform” rating to a “hold” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $30.00 to $42.00 in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $35.50. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Mercury Systems Mercury Systems Company Profile ( Free Report ) Mercury Systems, Inc, a technology company, manufactures and sells components, products, modules, and subsystems for aerospace and defense industries in the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Its products and solutions are deployed in approximately 300 programs with 25 defense contractors and commercial aviation customers. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Mercury Systems Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mercury Systems and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

The system improvements are part of efforts to make doing business easier and more efficient for Illinois service providers, the department said. The Comprehensive Online Regulatory Environment, or CORE, opened on Oct. 30, nearly a year after the Illinois General Assembly passed House Bill 2394, a measure authorizing the IDFPR to upgrade its antiquated system that had led to long waiting periods for licensing and renewals. The new system will “eliminate the need for paper applications, give applicants more control over their application materials, and help prevent deficient applications from being submitted,” according to a statement from IDFPR. The agency calls CORE the first part of a multiphase approach by IDFPR to, over the next two years, ensure applications for more than 300 license types and records for more than 1.2 million professionals are properly transitioned. The first professions to be licensed under the new system are clinical psychologists, music therapists and nail technicians. “Everyone wanting to earn a living in Illinois in the 21st century should have tools of the times available so they can be licensed and get to work as soon as possible,” IDFPR Secretary Mario Treto Jr., said in the statement. Music therapists On May 27, 2022, Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2243, which created a music therapy license for Illinois practitioners within the IDFPR. Music therapy is a form of treatment that incorporates “clinical & evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship” according to the American Music Therapy Association website. “We have been waiting for 2 1/2 years since our bill was passed for this new system to come,” said Mia Iliopoulos Krings, president of the Illinois Association for Music Therapy, in an interview. Instead of immediately allowing music therapists to apply for a license two years ago, Krings said that the department “didn't want to put us in the old system for us to just have to go into the new system.” Since the system’s launch, Krings praised how easy and efficient it was to complete the application process. “They have been working incredibly fast and efficiently in getting everything back to us. For example, I applied on Friday night on Nov. 1. I heard back by 8:30 a.m. Monday morning,” Krings said. She said her fellow music therapists posted their issued licenses on Facebook and shared similar experiences of a rapid response. Krings’ experience now is vastly different from what many Illinois professionals experienced in the past. Panache Perkins, director and an instructor of Your School of Beauty in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood, said that before the digitization, the IDFPR was “still in 1997,” with “old school” public servants stacking “pieces of paper applications into a 75-year-old filing system.” “They (IDFPR) lose paperwork all the time, because they don’t have the right system,” she said. With new integrated software and technology services provided by Tyler Technologies, however, the department’s CORE system will “notify prospective licensees directly within the system when applications are received, reviewed, and licenses are issued by the department—eliminating the need for paper mail and email responses,” according to IDFPR’s statement. Financial barriers for business The IDFPR’s mission is “to protect the residents of Illinois” through licensing and regulating industries and professions that offer services to the public. But some say these licenses can serve as a financial barrier to doing business. The initial music therapy license is $400 and renewal costs $300. In preparation for hardships, the Illinois Association for Music Therapists held a benefit concert to raise funds to help pay for the licenses for members in need. Two years ago, state lawmakers created the Comprehensive Licensing Information to Minimize Barriers Task Force, or CLIMB, to “investigate how occupational licensing of low-to-moderate-income occupations relates to economic inequities in Illinois and to recommend reforms,” according to a statement from the task force. Last month, CLIMB released a study of their two-year findings, and recommended easing licensing burdens for specific professions. The study recommended that hair braiders, for example, should be exempt from having a license. CLIMB’s research found that “requiring a license to braid hair does not enhance public safety but does disproportionately impact individuals from minority communities,” according to the statement. Perkins said she disagrees with that recommendation. “People’s addiction to social media has changed the (standard) that licensing set. Now everyone thinks they can do it,” she said. She also said braiders may not know proper hair care, how to properly clean their tools or prevent traction alopecia – a type of hair loss caused by tension from tight hair styles. There are 33 states that do not require a license for hair braiders; an increase of 21 from 2016. This includes Indiana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, according to the CLIMB. Perkins said she has been working in the beauty industry since she was 16 years old, noting, “my grandmother inspired me to go into cosmetology.” Perkins’s grandmother, Mildred Dixon, opened Your School of Beauty 66 years ago to train men and women to begin their careers in the beauty industry. Perkins said the beauty industry is among the most essential occupations and that it should be regulated accordingly. “Cosmetologists work closely with products that dermatologists prescribe and recommend. We were also essential during the pandemic,” Perkins said. However, she also acknowledged the state’s antiquated licensing system impacts how cosmetologists are regarded and can run their businesses. She said she doesn’t think licensing is a barrier. “If you can do enough ‘heads’ to pay taxes on your work, then you can pay the money to get your license,” she said, adding that this evokes a larger issue about how people see their futures. “If you’re not trying to get your license,” she said, “you’re also not thinking about your (long-term) future.”

EDITORIAL: Jew hatred is now a national emergencyIntel has announced it's second generation of discrete desktop graphics cards designed for PC gamers. The Xe2 architecture-based Battlemage Arc B580 and B570 , which were leaked last week , are targeted at the $200-300 price segment, competing with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3050 and 4060 and AMD's Radeon RX 7600 and 7600 XT with a view to disrupting the low end of the market. Intel's Arc B580 graphics card What's new with the Intel Arc A580 and a 570? How fast are the Intel Arc A580 and a 570? Intel has released various performance claims for the new cards. The Arc B580 is on average 24% faster at 1440p than the previous similarly-priced Arc A750 and has up to 50% more performance per watt and more importantly offers 32% better performance per dollar than the competition - presumably the models listed above such as the RTX 4060, although Intel didn't mention any specific models from AMD or Nvidia. Intel's Arc B580 graphics card will be up to 24% faster than the previous generation on average, ... [+] beating the competition in performance per dollar according to Intel Save Up To 75% With The Best Black Friday Clothing Deals That Are Still Running 10 Unofficial Hoka Cyber Week Sales You Don’t Want To Miss How much will Intel Arc A580 and a 570 cost? The Arc B580 will cost $249 and B570 $219. This puts them into contention with some of the cheaper options from AMD and Nvidia such as the GeForce RTX 3050 and Radeon RX 7600. Based on Intel's claims, the new cards will be on average 24% faster at a similar price. Intel's Arc B580 graphics card How much memory do the Intel Arc A580 and a 570 have? The biggest headline features, though, are the memory options. The Arc 580 is equipped with a decent 12GB of memory - 50% more than its predecessors. The ARC B570 meanwhile This is significant as 8GB is widely viewed as not enough to deal with todays games, even at lower resolutions such as 1,920 x 1,080p and with comparatively low-end graphics cards. Nvidia certainly came in for critisizm with its cheaper RTX 4000-series cards such as the RTX 4060 Ti, which started at 8GB, while AMD's equivalents had larger amounts. The increased amounts of memory are likely add to the appeal in addition to Intel's claimed performance figures, even if the amounts are what would be expected for a graphics card in this price range to have launching right now. Of course, all eyes will be on Nvidia come January when it is expected to launch its RTX 5000 series. When will the Intel Arc A580 and a 570 be available? So far Intel has stated that add-in board partners Acer, ASRock, GUNNIR, ONIXX, MAXSUN and Sparkle will offer the Arc B580 from December 13th from $249, with Intel also offering a Limited Edition version too. The Arc B570 will be available from January 16th, 2025, starting at $219. Are the Intel Arc A580 and a 570 significant? Ultimately Intel is aiming to disrupt the most popular part of the market in terms of discrete graphics card sales - one currently dominated by Nvidia's RTX 4060 and 3060 cards. There has also been very little movement in terms of new releases at this price point with both AMD and Intel relying on older models to fill the gaps. Nvidia's for example, hasn't released an RTX 4050 - its product stack begins with the RTX 4060 8GB that cost over $300 when new. Nvidia's RTX 4060 graphics card will be a target for Intel's Battlemage models, even if it's about ... [+] to be replaced with Nvidia's RTX 5000 cards Intel hasn't had an easy time trying to break into the GPU market, though, with the unenviable task of optimizing drivers for hundreds of games to compete with AMD and Nvidia. the current situation based on recent tests by various tech review outlets is that there is still work to be done, but performance in much improved. Still, the release of a new graphics cards is encouraging and shows Intel's commitment to continue to push forwards and when graphics card prices show no signs of falling, additional options below $300 are very welcome.BALTIMORE (AP) — Nendah Tarke's 24 points helped Towson defeat Morgan State 64-60 on Sunday night. Tarke added seven rebounds for the Tigers (4-2). Tomiwa Sulaiman scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Christian May scored nine. The Bears (3-5) were led in scoring by Wynston Tabbs with 19 points. Kameron Hobbs had 13 points and Ahmarie Simpkins finished with nine points, three steals and two blocks. Towson went into halftime leading Morgan State 35-26. Tarke scored 14 points in the half. Towson used a 7-0 run in the second half to build an 11-point lead at 58-47 with 5:51 left in the half before finishing off the win. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by and data from .

Mthuli Ncube’s budget under-fire for prioritising defence over peopleDavid-Chyddy Eleke in Awka Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has been called upon to intervene in the continued detention of Frederick Nwajagu. Okechukwu Nwanguma, a human rights activist said it was unjust to continue to detain Nwajagu for close to two years, whereas those who provoked Nwajagu’s response are still free. The detainee had while reacting to threats by some Lagos youths against Igbo people living in Lagos said that he may be forced to bring separatist group, IPOB to Lagos to protect Ndigbo. This has led to his arrest and detention for close to two years now. Nwanguma reacting to the continued detention in a press release he signed and made available to journalists said it was unjust to leave him to continue to languish in detention. He said: “I hereby call upon Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the socio-cultural and political organisation dedicated to representing and advancing the interests of the Igbo people in Nigeria, to take immediate action regarding the continued unjust detention of Frederick Nwajagu. “Mr. Nwajagu has now spent nearly two years in prison following his arrest in April 2023. It is deeply concerning that those who made the initial threats which Mr. Nwajagu responded to have not faced legal consequences, while he has been left to languish in prison. This situation highlights what appears to be a discriminatory application of the law driven by ethnic bias. “I urge Ohanaeze Ndigbo to intervene on behalf of Mr. Nwajagu, advocating for the Lagos State Government to drop all charges against him. We must stand for justice and equality for all citizens, regardless of their ethnic background. “I believe that the voice of Ohanaeze can be a powerful instrument in ensuring fairness and representation for all members of the Igbo community,” he said.

Mutual of America Capital Management LLC Sells 972 Shares of Western Digital Co. (NASDAQ:WDC)As a way to promote her newest endorsement deal, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese recently of her "Angel X Reese's Puffs" cereal to random fans in the streets. Reese shared the video on social media as a bunch of unexpected supporters were left in disbelief by their chance encounter with the WNBA All-Star. Reese's cereals hit supermarket shelves on Nov. 14, and it appears to have been quite a hit. So much so, that some stores have run out of stocks. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Thanks for the feedback.OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC Buys New Stake in iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (NASDAQ:ICLN)

Swedish fika adds to the fun of the Great Outdoors at €1.05m Cherry Lodge on Model Farm RoadYuewen Music Festival received scathing reviews from attendees after the first of its three-day event at Siloso Beach, Sentosa, on Dec 28. The festival, organised by Chinese entertainment company Yuewen Group, has two more days to go on Dec 29 and 31, but attendees on the first day are already calling it a disaster on social media platforms including Reddit, Xiaohongshu, Instagram and TikTok. The festival features a slate of Asian acts. On Dec 28, the line-up included Taiwanese Mandopop singers Maggie Chiang and Lala Hsu, K-pop girl groups Kiss Of Life, Itzy and Red Velvet’s sub-unit Irene & Seulgi, and Thai singer-actor idols Billkin Putthipong Assaratanakul and PP Krit Amnuaydechkorn. Trouble reportedly started midway through Chiang’s set, when a lightning warning was issued. Attendees were evacuated from the event area, and Chiang’s set was cut short. Netizens said they understood safety concerns regarding the weather, but one TikTok user claimed that Yuewen had “no wet weather plan”. While Yuewen’s official Instagram account stated that holders of standard passes to the event were supposed to be able to take shelter at the Sapphire Pavilion at Siloso Beach, several attendees reported that they were ushered out onto the road, where there was no shelter available. A Reddit user on the Singapore Raw forum alleged that organisers exposed attendees to a lightning risk and called the festival the “worst event” the user had attended. Singaporean contestant Yang Yan on Starlight Boys eliminated Many standard-pass ticket holders also said they were made to queue and go through bag checks again when re-entering the event, after the lightning warning was lifted. This caused a long line to form outside the entrance, and several fans of K-pop girl group Kiss Of Life – the first group to perform after the event resumed – said they missed the quartet’s show while being stuck in the re-entry queue. A post shared by Yuewen Official (@officialyuewen) One user on Yuewen’s Instagram account wrote: “Ridiculous that you dispersed people in the queue due to the lightning warning and when resumed, (the) show started immediately with lots of people still waiting for entry outside.” Another user said: “Came for Kiss Of Life, but couldn’t even get in during the performance because of horrible management (of the event).” Some also complained that during Thai singer PP Krit’s set, part of his performance was blocked by rain tents the organisers had set up onstage. The event did not allow attendees to take along umbrellas or water bottles, but also did not provide rain ponchos or drinking water. According to a Xiaohongshu user, ponchos reportedly cost $12, while a cup of water reportedly cost $5. Many netizens were also upset with the number of advertisements that ran between acts, with some saying that 10 to 30 minutes of advertisements for sponsors and Yuewen’s own works played between the performances. One comment written in Chinese on Yuewen’s Instagram account read: “We bought tickets to watch the artistes’ perform, we’re not here to watch your advertisements.” Prices ranged from $208 to $228 for a standard one-day ticket and $398 for a premium one-day ticket. The event had earlier been hit with criticisms. Its early-bird tickets were available from Oct 29 to Nov 9 at a 20 per cent discount, but a later sale – from Nov 29 to Dec 2 during Black Friday and Cyber Monday – offered tickets at up to 40 per cent off. The price difference angered many buyers of the early-bird tickets. A post shared by Akimoto Taiki (@akimototaiki) In response to the backlash, Yuewen Group issued a statement saying all outdoor performances, aside from the festival’s show on Dec 31, have to end by 10.30pm – which was why certain acts started their performances while many attendees were still waiting for re-entry. The group has added six extra tents to the main entrance, where standard-pass ticket holders can seek shelter in the event of an evacuation due to weather conditions, and handed out free ponchos on Dec 29 when it rained. The statement added: “In the event of unexpected weather, we will continue working with the police and the performing artistes’ teams to find solutions and ensure that every performance proceeds as scheduled.” More acts, including K-pop boy band BigBang’s Daesung and Taeyang, as well as Japanese pop diva Mika Nakashima are expected over the following days.

ATLANTA — 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.”Preview: Leyton Orient vs. Huddersfield Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Cooper Rush passed for two touchdowns, Dallas returned two kicks for scores and the visiting Cowboys held off the Washington Commanders in a wild fourth quarter for a 34-26 win. Dallas led 10-9 after three quarters. With Washington trailing 27-26, Jayden Daniels hit Terry McLaurin for an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds left, but Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game. Juanyeh Thomas of the Cowboys then returned the onside kick 43 yards for a touchdown. Rush completed 24 of 32 passes for 247 yards for Dallas (4-7), which snapped a five-game losing streak. Rico Dowdle ran 19 times for 86 yards and CeeDee Lamb had 10 catches for 67 yards. Jayden Daniels was 25-of-38 passing for 274 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for reeling Washington (7-5), which has lost three straight. He ran for 74 yards and one score. McLaurin had five catches for 102 yards. Trailing 20-9 late in the fourth quarter, Daniels drove Washington 69 yards in nine plays and hit Zach Ertz for a 4-yard touchdown. Daniels ran for two points and Washington trailed 20-17 with 3:02 remaining. KaVontae Turpin muffed the ensuing kickoff, picked it up at the one, and raced 99 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. Austin Seibert's 51-yard field goal pulled the Commanders within 27-20 with 1:40 left, With the score tied 3-3, Washington took the second half kick and went 60 yards in 10 plays. On third-and-three from the Dallas 17, Daniels faked a handoff, ran left and scored his first rushing touchdown since Week 4. Seibert missed the point after and Washington led 9-3. Dallas answered with an 80-yard drive. A 23-yard pass interference penalty gave the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the 4. Two plays later Rush found Jalen Tolbert in the end zone and the extra point made it 10-9. Brandon Aubrey's 48-yard field goal made it 13-9 with 8:11 remaining in the game. On the next play, Daniels hit John Bates for 14 yards, but Donovan Wilson forced a fumble and Dallas recovered at the Washington 44. Five plays later, Rush found Luke Schoonmaker down the middle for a 22-yard touchdown and Dallas led 20-9 with 5:16 left. The first quarter was all about field goals. Aubrey's field goal attempt was blocked on the opening drive and Michael Davis returned it to the Dallas 40. Washington later settled for Seibert's 41-yard field goal. On the next Dallas drive, Aubrey hit the right upright from 42 yards out, and then Seibert missed from 51 yards. With 14 seconds left in the half, Rush found Jalen Brooks for a 41-yard gain to the Washington 28. On the next play Aubrey connected from 46 yards to tie it. --Field Level MediaThe six-week campaign matched employee donations and volunteer efforts to the American Red Cross in support of the company's core value of passionately serving local communities MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Acentra Health , a technology and health solutions and services company dedicated to accelerating better outcomes for its government and commercial healthcare clients and the populations they serve, announced the company and its employees raised $31,000 in contributions to support relief efforts in the southeastern United States following the devastation from hurricanes Helene and Milton. More than half of the total funds raised during the corporate social responsibility (CSR) campaign were provided as a company match to support the American Red Cross' hurricane response. "As Americans gather to give thanks and celebrate this holiday season, we know that many others are still struggling to rebuild from the devastating loss of back-to-back hurricanes,” said CEO Todd Stottlemyer. "When the storms hit, Acentra Health employees embraced the opportunity to help our neighbors in need through donations of cash, food, and essential items, as well as hands-on volunteer work. I am thankful to work alongside so many who live out our company's core value of passionately serving our communities.” The company's Acentra Health Cares program invited employees to support the hurricane relief campaign in two meaningful ways, either by donating to a hurricane relief cause of their choosing or by volunteering with organizations that align with the company's core value of passionately serving local communities. Employees were also encouraged to use their Acentra Health volunteer time off benefit, which provides up to eight hours of annual paid leave for volunteering. In response, Acentra Health matched employee donations and donated a set dollar amount for each volunteer activity, further amplifying the positive impact on affected communities. At the campaign's close on November 15, 2024, Acentra Health employees supported more than 20 organizations providing direct hurricane relief in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, all also states where Acentra Health employees live and work. Employees also logged 176 hours of volunteer work, consisting of hurricane clean-up, sorting supplies, and loading delivery trucks. Acentra Health matched employee contributions in a lump sum to the American Red Cross, for a campaign grand total of $31,000. Acentra Health Cares provides corporate social responsibility opportunities for employees to live the company's core value of passionately serving its clients, communities, and colleagues through philanthropy and volunteering. The program focuses on making a positive impact on the social determinants of health affecting the individuals and communities where our employees live and work. About Acentra Health Acentra Health combines public sector knowledge, clinical expertise, and technological ingenuity to modernize the healthcare experience for its state, federal, and commercial partners, and the populations they serve. From designing and developing advanced claims, encounter, and provider solutions that drive efficiency and cost savings to delivering clinically focused service models for care management, clinical assessments, and quality oversight, Acentra Health is accelerating better health outcomes. Acentra Health is backed by Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG), a global investment firm. Learn more at acentra.com . Media Contact : Janice Moore Vice President, Corporate Communications 703-214-3552Eagles WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) ruled out vs. Rams

ATLANTA — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in a posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that 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. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to 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 repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian president Anwar Sadat and Israeli prime minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where the Carters lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday school lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting fliers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota U.S. Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.

Florida State continues torrid star with rout of UMassSullinger shot 9 of 20 from the field, including 4 for 10 from 3-point range, and went 3 for 4 from the line for the Golden Flashes (9-3). VonCameron Davis scored 21 points while shooting 8 for 13 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line and added five rebounds and five assists. Mike Bekelja had 14 points and shot 4 for 5 from beyond the arc and 2 of 4 from the free-throw line. Eric Panning finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Student Princes. Manny Hill added 15 points and seven rebounds for Heidelberg. Elijah Harden had 15 points. Sullinger scored 11 points in the first half and Kent State went into halftime trailing 42-36. Davis scored 15 points in the second half. Kent State outscored Heidelberg by 10 points over the final half. Kent State hosts Ball State in its next matchup on Saturday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .VIDEO: Who has turned Rivers State to his personal estate? Wike calls out Odili

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