best free real money casino no deposit
If Aaron Rodgers wants to play for a new team, which destinations make sense for the aging Jets QB in 2025? - CBS SportsNEW YORK, Dec. 29, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF) between August 16, 2023 and November 6, 2024, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), of the important January 17, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Wolfspeed securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Wolfspeed class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=30954 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than January 17, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs’ Bar. Many of the firm’s attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: The alleged representations in this action concern Wolfspeed’s Mohawk Valley, New York fabrication facility. The complaint alleges that defendants provided the public with revenue projections that depended on the Mohawk Valley fabrication facility ramping its production to meet and/or exceed demand for its 200mm wafer product. According to the lawsuit, defendants provided these overwhelmingly positive statements to investors while simultaneously misrepresenting and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Wolfspeed’s growth potential and, in particular, the operational status and profitability of the Mohawk Valley fabrication facility. First, to meet its publicly stated projections, Wolfspeed would have to cancel or otherwise indefinitely suspend planned future projects such as the facility in Saarland, Germany. Second, Wolfspeed would have to terminate a significant portion of its workforce and shutter its Durham, North Carolina fabrication facility. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the Wolfspeed class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=30954 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor’s ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ . Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com
and a bottle of bubbly. However, one follower was not pleased with the promotion and took to Instagram to comment: "Do you ever think of the homeless while advertising expensive food and clothes?" Ruth, known for her quick wit, responded with a firm retort, stating: "You have no idea what I do for, or contribute to, charities so if you're trying to shame me it won't work!" This isn't the first time Ruth has faced criticism from trolls online. In October, a different user criticized her for promoting Tesco again, this time when she shared a video making a fish dish inspired by her holiday in Spain. The... Jenifer Jain
Hansi Flick-led Barcelona failed to return to winning ways tonight after letting their lead slip late in dramatic fashion in a 2-2 draw at Celta Vigo. Raphinha 15', Lewandowski 61'; González 84', Álvarez 86' Captain for the night Raphinha set Barça off and running on the night in the 15th minute after Jules Koundé’s ball over the top found the Brazilian, who danced around Óscar Mingueza before sliding past Vicente Guaita for his 8th league goal of the season. Celta were certainly up for the fight despite going down a goal, however, with the Galician side threatening Barcelona on the counter, and probably should have done better with a handful of half-chances they created. This particularly held true in the 39th minute when Jonathan Bamba got the better of Koundé before attempting to pick out the run of Anastasios Douvikas, but could only fluff his squared ball, which Barça calmly dealt with. Home supporters at the Estadio Abanca Balaídos were left shocked that Celta did not go up a man on the stroke of halftime after Gerard Martin looked to have brought down local hero Iago Aspas while already being on a yellow, but it would be an incandescent Aspas that went into the book instead. Smartly, Flick replaced Martin with Héctor Fort to begin the second half as Celta continued to push for an equalizer on the break, with their xG outstripping that of the visitors despite Barcelona’s regular possession dominance. It would appear to be all for nothing though when Robert Lewandowski bagged his 15th La Liga goal and 20th overall in the 2024-25 campaign in the 61st minute. 15 - Robert Lewandowski has scored 15 goals in LaLiga 2024/25, the best tally in the Top 5 European leagues (Harry Kane – 14 with Bayern München in the Bundesliga). Leader. — OptaJose (@OptaJose) Raphina won possession near the halfway line before feeding the Polish hitman who adjusted well to regain possession inside the box before seeing his effort glide past Guaita, quieting the Balaídos crowd. Flick would see his side reduced to ten men in the 82nd minute when Marc Casadó was sent off after receiving a second yellow. Claudio Giráldez's men would ultimately make them pay, first through substitute Alfonso González, who did well to strip Koundé at the back after the French international was clumsy in possession before reducing the deficit to just one goal. BARCA GET A RED CARD AND THEN GIVE UP TWO GOALS TO BLOW THEIR LEAD ALL IN JUST FOUR MINUTES 😮 — ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) It would then be a turnaround to write home about two minutes later as Celta smelled blood in the water, with Hugo Álvarez leveling the scoreline at two-all in the 86th minute after a composed finish. Barça now heads into their midweek Champions League program five points clear of Atlético Madrid while preparing to welcome surprise outfit Brest to Catalunya. A jubilant Celta ends the night sitting in eleventh but could fall further down the table depending on results tomorrow. 📸 Octavio Passos - 2024 Getty Images
Culture ministry holds forum on AI in librariesTelix Files TLX250-Cdx (Zircaix®) BLA For Kidney Cancer ImagingFLAGSTAR FINANCIAL, INC. APPOINTS BRIAN CALLANAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The African Transformation Movement ( ATM) is calling for the immediate closure of all spaza shops and revitalisation of the township economy run by citizens. The government last week classified food-borne illnesses as a national disaster. “This measure is essential to mitigate the risks associated with unregulated food supply chains linked to these establishments,” ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona said. “Furthermore, we urge the government to implement a robust programme aimed at revitalising the township economy, which must be firmly placed in the hands of township residents. Empowering local citizens to take ownership of their economic future is paramount. “We advocate for the establishment of spaza shops that are solely owned and operated by vetted South African citizens, ensuring that they possess legitimate supply and distribution networks to guarantee food safety and quality for our communities.” Only spaza shops implicated in food-borne illnesses that claimed the lives of more than 20 children have been closed down. Food outlet and spaza shop owners have been given until December 13 to register their businesses or face closure. Members of Operation Dudula in Soweto had blocked foreign nationals from registering their spaza shops, claiming they are stealing business from locals. ATM believes registration of spaza shops should be exclusive to citizens. “We contend that allowing foreign nationals to register spaza shops will not resolve the ongoing issues with fake and expired food products. Instead, it worsens the problem and undermines the economic stability of our communities. We call on law enforcement agencies to take a strong stance against any attempts to register spaza shops by foreign nationals, as such actions must be met with strict legal repercussions. Those found guilty of these offences should face arrest and prosecution.” Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya said in a post on X that spaza shop registration was reserved for South African citizens only in Tshwane. During a mayoral imbizo in Themba, Hammanskraal, on Saturday, Moya repeated the same sentiments during her engagement with the community. “They are killing us, and they are killing your properties. Our children are dying because we made it happen. Without us they would not be in our areas. Can we agree that spaza shops belong to the residents of Tshwane. Only locals will own spaza shops,” said Moya. “Now we are getting into trouble because people are tapping us on the shoulder telling us about the constitution, but we don't care. We have over 34% unemployment in the city, those are our brothers and sisters. I don't think this is the time to be politically correct. What we are asking is that let us not chase these people for nothing. When we close down a spaza shop, be ready with yours.” TimesLIVE
Jirga discusses steps to restore peace to Tirah valley BARA: A grand jirga on Friday reviewed the security situation and discussed ways and means to restore peace in Tirah valley in Khyber district, particularly in Bagh Maidan area. Chaired by Commissioner, Peshawar Division, Riaz Khan Mahsud, the Jirga was held at the deputy commissioner’s office in Khyber in Tirah. The tribal elders from various tribes, political leaders and government officials attended the jirga. The jirga focused on recent security incidents in Tirah and Bagh Maidan. Addressing the gathering, Riaz Mahsud reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring peace to Khyber district, stating that such efforts can only succeed through the cooperation of tribal elders, political figures, and local communities. “Establishing peace is not only a priority but a necessity for the prosperity of Khyber district,” he added. Riaz Mahsud also announced that the provincial government has approved Rs13 million in financial aid for the victims of recent incidents in Bhutan Sharif and Peer Mela, with plans to distribute the funds to affected families soon. During the jirga, the tribal elders presented the names of special committees from various tribes that would participate in further discussions with senior provincial and military officials. These committees will present their views on the security situation and propose recommendations for addressing the challenges in Tirah and Bagh Maidan. Following these discussions, a comprehensive action plan would be devised. The tribal elders expressed their gratitude to Riaz Mahsud, the district administration, and security forces for organising the jirga and providing a platform for dialogue.Helping to drown out the noise
‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Alum, Jonathan Rone Says His New Girlfriend Was Shocked He Didn’t Live in CaliforniaHrithik Roshan shares excitement as Karan Arjun re-release emerges 2nd highest opener
Pa. spending headed into the red? As budget season approaches, clashing views aboundNone
‘The Golden Bachelorette’ Alum, Jonathan Rone Says His New Girlfriend Was Shocked He Didn’t Live in CaliforniaDrBalcony App Redefines Balcony Inspections with Unparalleled EfficiencyBucks get second crack at NBA Cup semis vs. Trae Young, HawksThe crisis of LGBTQ+ homelessness in Baltimore | GUEST COMMENTARY
By 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.” 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.Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’UMBC defeats Morgan State 92-69NEW YORK (AP) — No ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter . His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded “the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. RELATED COVERAGE Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’ The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is dead at age 100 Notable quotes by Jimmy Carter According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”
DAMASCUS (AP) — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad , gathering in the capital's historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon at the Umayyad Mosque, declaring that a new era of “freedom, dignity and justice” was dawning for Syria. The gatherings illustrated the dramatic changes that have swept over Syria less than a week after insurgents marched into Damascus and toppled Assad. Amid the jubilation, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with allies around the region and called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian” interim government. Blinken arrived in Iraq on a previously unannounced stop after talks in Jordan and Turkey, which backs some of the Syrian insurgent factions. So far, U.S. officials have not talked of direct meetings with Syria's new rulers. The main insurgent force, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, has worked to establish security and start a political transition after seizing Damascus early Sunday. The group has tried to reassure a public both stunned by Assad's fall and concerned about extremist jihadis among the rebels. Insurgent leaders say the group has broken with its extremist past, though HTS is still labeled a terrorist group by the United States and European countries. HTS's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Golani, appeared in a video message Friday congratulating “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” “I invite them to head to the squares to show their happiness without shooting bullets and scaring people,” he said. “And then after, we will work to build this country, and as I said in the beginning, we will be victorious by the help of God.” Huge crowds, including some insurgents, packed the historic Umayyad Mosque in the capital's old city, many waving the rebel opposition flag — with its three red stars — which has swiftly replaced the Assad-era flag with with its two green stars. Syrian state television reported that the sermon was delivered by Mohammed al-Bashir, the interim prime minister installed by HTS this week. The scene resonated on multiple levels. The mosque, one of the world's oldest dating back some 1,200 years, is a beloved symbol of Syria, and sermons there like all mosque sermons across Syria were tightly controlled under Assad's rule. Also, in the early days of the anti-government uprising in 2011, protesters would leave Friday prayers to march in rallies against Assad before he launched a brutal crackdown that turned the uprising into a long and bloody civil war. “I didn’t step foot in Umayyad Mosque since 2011," because of the tight security controls around it, said one worshipper, Ibrahim al-Araby. “Since 11 or 12 years, I haven’t been this happy.” Another worshipper, Khair Taha, said there was “fear and trepidation for what’s to come. But there is also a lot of hope that now we have a say and we can try to build.” Blocks away in Damascus' biggest roundabout, named Umayyad Square, thousands gathered, including many families with small children — a sign of how, so far at least, the country's transformation has not caused violent instability. “Unified Syria to build Syria,” the crowd chanted. Some shouted slurs against Assad and his late father, calling them pigs, an insult that would have previously led to offenders being hauled off to one of the feared detention centers of Assad’s security forces. One man in the crowd, 51-year-old Khaled Abu Chahine — originally from the southern province of Daraa, where the 2011 uprising first erupted — said he hoped for “freedom and coexistence between all Syrians, Alawites, Sunnis, Shiites and Druze.” The interim prime minister, al-Bashir, had been the head of a de facto administration created by HTS in Idlib, the opposition's enclave in northwest Syria. The rebels were bottled up in Idlib for years before fighters broke out in a shock offensive and marched across Syria in 10 days. Similar scenes of joy unfolded in other major cities, including in Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Latakia and Raqqa. Al-Sharaa, HTS' leader, has promised to bring a pluralistic government to Syria, seeking to dispel fears among many Syrians — especially its many minority communities — that the insurgents will impose a hard-line, extremist rule. Another key factor will be winning international recognition for a new government in a country where multiple foreign powers have their hands in the mix. The Sunni Arab insurgents who overthrew Assad did so with vital help from Turkey, a longtime foe of the U.S.-backed Kurds . Turkey controls a strip of Syrian territory along the shared border and backs an insurgent faction uneasily allied to HTS — and is deeply opposed to any gains by Syria's Kurds. In other developments, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey’s Embassy in Damascus would reopen Saturday for the first time since 2012, when it closed due to the Syrian civil war. The U.S. has troops in eastern Syria to combat remnants of the Islamic State group and supports Kurdish-led fighters who rule most of the east. Since Assad's fall, Israel has bombed sites all over Syria, saying it is trying to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. It has also seized a swath of southern Syria along the border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a buffer zone. After talks with Fidan, Blinken said there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the U.S. on what they would like to see in Syria. That starts with an "interim government in Syria, one that is inclusive and non-sectarian and one that protects the rights of minorities and women” and does not “pose any kind of threat to any of Syria’s neighbors,” Blinken said. Fidan said the priority was “establishing stability in Syria as soon as possible, preventing terrorism from gaining ground, and ensuring that IS and the PKK aren’t dominant” — referring to the Islamic State group and the Kurdistan Workers Party. Ankara considers the PKK within Turkey's borders a terrorist group, as it does the Kurdish-backed forces in Syria backed by the U.S. A U.S. official said that in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Fidan both told Blinken that Kurdish attacks on Turkish positions would require a response. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss private diplomatic talks. The U.S. has been trying to limit such incidents in recent days and had helped organize an agreement to prevent confrontations around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, which was taken by Turkey-backed opposition fighters from the U.S.-backed Kurdish forces earlier this week. In Baghdad, Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed al-Sudani, saying both countries wanted to ensure the Islamic State group — also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh — doesn't exploit Syria's transition to re-emerge. “Having put Daesh back in its box, we can’t let it out, and we’re determined to make sure that that doesn’t happen," Blinken said. The U.S. official who briefed reporters said that Blinken had impressed upon al-Sudani the importance of Iraq exercising its full sovereignty over its territory and airspace to stop Iran from transporting weapons and equipment to Syria, either for Assad supporters or onward to the militant Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Lee reported from Ankara, Turkey. Associated Press writers Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Sally Abou AlJoud in Beirut contributed to this report.PHOENIX — The River Valley High School cheerleading team competed in their first competition of the season on Friday at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The Dust Devils advanced to the final and finished fifth in the game-day routine, all girls stunt and partner stunt while also winning best crowd leading. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Jim Abrahams, who pioneered spoof comedy films like Airplane and Naked Gun, dead at 80Home | News | Opinion Renaissance Of Handcrafts In A Digital World Opinion: Renaissance of handcrafts in a digital world Resurgence of crafts in a digital world is about creating a conscious economy that respects resources By Telangana Today Published Date - 29 December 2024, 10:30 PM By Viiveck Verma One might argue that in a world of digital innovation and artificial intelligence, the return to traditional craftsmanship might seem paradoxical, yet it has gained momentum as consumers and creators alike seek connection, authenticity, and sustainability in an era of rapid consumption. Once viewed as remnants of a bygone era, handcrafts are witnessing a renaissance as artisans and enthusiasts rekindle the value of skills passed down through generations. This revival isn’t just a nostalgic nod to the past; it represents a growing awareness of the social, economic and environmental potential of craftsmanship in a world that increasingly prizes speed and convenience over substance and soul. Also Read Opinion: Preserve human touch with AI Opinion: Learning from nature Opinion: AI for self-betterment Deep Connect The current demand for handcrafted goods is fueled, in part, by a reaction to the digital saturation that has reshaped modern life. In a society where mass-produced items flood the market and the pace of consumption outpaces any sort of reflection, handmade items offer an appealing counterbalance. They embody uniqueness, with each piece marked by the subtle imperfections that make it genuinely one-of-a-kind. Handcrafted products allow buyers to establish a deeper connection with their purchases, knowing that they are supporting an artisan’s skill, effort and personal touch. This quest for connection is particularly evident in sectors of fashion, home decor and culinary arts, where customers are increasingly willing to pay a premium for items that reflect craftsmanship over mechanical precision. A meticulously hand-stitched leather bag or a bespoke piece of furniture speaks volumes in a world where nearly everything is plucked from an assembly line. People are drawn to the idea of owning something that requires time, care and expertise, qualities that machines, for all their efficiency, struggle to replicate. Economic Empowerment Craftsmanship is, at its core, a cultural and historical repository, preserving traditional techniques, local materials, and native designs. The global resurgence of handcrafted goods has allowed artisans to reclaim their cultural heritage, often transforming it into economic empowerment. Take, for example, the resurgence of demand for Japanese indigo dyeing or India’s intricate block-printing techniques. These crafts not only embody the history and traditions of their regions but also provide livelihoods in areas where other economic opportunities may be scarce. Brands must ensure that their partnerships with artisans are equitable and respect the labour-intensive nature of true craftsmanship Countries around the world are recognising this value. In Mexico, the government has implemented initiatives to preserve traditional crafts like Oaxacan weaving and Alebrije carving, while in Africa, organisations are investing in handwoven textiles to support local economies. These initiatives do so much more than sustain age-old practices. They allow communities to thrive and maintain a unique identity in a globalised world. In fact, it’s not unusual now to find designers, both local and international, collaborating with indigenous artisans to incorporate traditional elements into modern designs, creating pieces that are both timeless and contemporary. However, while this trend benefits artisans, it also raises ethical considerations. As the demand for handcrafted goods rises, artisans face pressure to produce at a pace that matches mill production, thus contradicting the philosophy of craftsmanship itself. Brands looking to capitalise on the appeal of ‘authenticity’ must tread carefully, ensuring that their partnerships with artisans are equitable and respect the time and labour-intensive nature of true craftsmanship. Otherwise, the industry risks undermining the very principles it aims to uphold. Tech Advantage It may seem that technology is the antithesis of traditional craftsmanship, but the digital age has, paradoxically, been a powerful enabler for the craft revival. Social media platforms like Instagram and Etsy have provided artisans with visibility and a global audience previously unimaginable. Artisans can now share their processes, tell their stories, and showcase their work to consumers across the world, bridging the gap between creator and consumer without the expense of moving themselves or their work. This democratisation of art and craft has allowed small, independent artisans to find buyers from across the globe, who appreciate their work, sidestepping the need for intermediaries and allowing for more direct and profitable transactions. Technology has also enhanced collaboration between artisans and designers across borders. Digital tools enable designers to experiment with traditional motifs, adapting them into new forms with hybrid aesthetics that appeal to modern tastes. However, the question remains: to what extent can digital tools coexist with or enhance traditional craftsmanship without diluting it? There is a fine line between innovation and appropriation, and as the craft industry expands, it must navigate this balance carefully. While technology facilitates access and expands markets, the essence of craftsmanship, the focus on skill, patience, and artistry, must not be compromised. Automation can certainly replicate techniques, but it cannot capture the human intention behind each individual creation. A handcrafted object possesses an emotional resonance precisely because it was made by human hands, a quality that cannot be digitised. Sustainable Consumption The revival of craftsmanship dovetails with the increasing consumer awareness around sustainability. The fashion and home goods industries, notorious for their environmental impact, are under scrutiny as consumers seek more eco-friendly options. Handcrafted goods, with their emphasis on quality and durability, offer an appealing alternative to fast fashion and disposable decor. Products made by artisans tend to be designed for longevity rather than obsolescence, contributing to a more sustainable consumption model. For instance, a handwoven rug made with natural dyes or a piece of pottery crafted from local clay typically has a lower carbon footprint than its mass-produced equivalents. Artisans are often more in tune with sustainable practices, sourcing materials locally and producing in small batches, avoiding overproduction. The craft revival isn’t merely about celebrating tradition; it’s about creating a conscious, circular economy that respects resources and values durability over trend-driven consumption. As the digital world accelerates, the slow, methodical pace of craftsmanship offers a welcome counterpoint. For all the advancements in technology, the resurgence of traditional crafts reveals a universal human truth: people crave meaning and connection in their lives. Craftsmanship, with its emphasis on skill, artistry and cultural resonance, offers a tactile and emotional depth that digital products often lack. Yet, as this revival continues, it is crucial to protect the integrity of traditional crafts, ensuring they are not commodified to the point of losing their authenticity. (The author is the founder & CEO, Upsurge Global, co-founder, Global Carbon Warriors, and Adjunct Professor, EThames College) Follow Us : Tags Handcrafts Opinion Viiveck Verma Related News Opinion: Integrate geocaching with green Opinion: Ambition and well-being Opinion: Embrace imperfection Opinion: Learning from nature
Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. president, has died at 100
- Previous: 9s app casino real money philippines
- Next: best real money casino app
