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DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector came "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again."
Paper & forest products 2025 outlook and top stocks to ownIn a heated exchange, Thrissur Mayor M K Varghese has rejected allegations by CPI leader V S Sunil Kumar regarding his political loyalties. Accusations surfaced after Varghese met BJP state president K Surendran, which Sunil Kumar suggested was a move towards BJP allegiance. Varghese countered these claims on Saturday, stating that the controversy over a Christmas cake shared with Surendran was exaggerated and politically motivated. He insisted that no explanation was sought from him by the CPI leadership and that support among councillors remained firm. This incident highlights the delicate power balance in Thrissur's council, where both LDF and UDF possess 24 seats each, leaving Varghese's independent position as a crucial tie-breaker. (With inputs from agencies.)
JFK’s grandson Jack Schlossberg accuses cousin, RFK Jr, of being a ‘Russian spy’Mechanized AI Announces Expansion of Executive Team With Appointment of Amy Green as COOThe Russian government has approved a ban on mobile and landline connections via the Internet. Source : Russian government decree Details : The Russian government has removed "transmission of Internet data with voice information" from the list of licensed communication services, effectively banning calls over the Internet by mobile and landline phones. Russia claims the ban is aimed at combating fraud. "Most often, fraudsters used such technologies, as it allowed them to switch phone numbers. This type of telephone fraud will be significantly restricted, as connecting data networks to telephone networks will no longer be possible," the Russian government said in a statement. Background: Support UP or become our patron !
A media company taking on missions beyond the newsCanucks numbers: In Praise of Brock Boeser’s all-around game
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Michail Antonio spoke to his West Ham team-mates via a video call from his hospital bed before they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night. Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday. Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us. “I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.” MA9 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fXwtdSQWYE — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 9, 2024 West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off. The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK. Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up nine fingers to a TV camera. The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him. "He was here since I came and he's really my favourite" Tomáš Souček on dedicating his goal to Michail Antonio ❤️ pic.twitter.com/smNy26wmuX — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024 “I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.” Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR. But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row. While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt. “A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said. “But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group. “Where does this leave me? In the same place I was. I’m aware of the noise. But if anyone expected this to be easy – I’m happy to be judged on results but it should be done in context. “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.” There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry. “I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game. “I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.” O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him. “The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHub
Sanctuary Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Freshpet, Inc. ( NASDAQ:FRPT – Free Report ) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 2,565 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $351,000. Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Freshpet in the third quarter valued at about $29,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. raised its position in shares of Freshpet by 3,670.0% in the second quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 377 shares of the company’s stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 367 shares during the last quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Freshpet in the second quarter valued at about $52,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new stake in shares of Freshpet in the third quarter valued at about $54,000. Finally, Quarry LP raised its position in shares of Freshpet by 275.2% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 439 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,000 after buying an additional 322 shares during the last quarter. Freshpet Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of NASDAQ:FRPT opened at $146.36 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $147.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $137.21. The stock has a market cap of $7.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 164.45 and a beta of 1.41. Freshpet, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $82.16 and a fifty-two week high of $160.91. The company has a quick ratio of 3.91, a current ratio of 4.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of brokerages recently issued reports on FRPT. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Freshpet from $157.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Freshpet from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Freshpet from $161.00 to $163.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 5th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Freshpet from $155.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Freshpet from $157.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Freshpet has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $163.36. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Freshpet Insider Activity at Freshpet In other Freshpet news, President Scott James Morris sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $157.38, for a total transaction of $786,900.00. Following the sale, the president now owns 122,380 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,260,164.40. This trade represents a 3.93 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, insider Thembeka Machaba sold 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.85, for a total transaction of $384,625.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold a total of 12,500 shares of company stock valued at $1,962,175 over the last 90 days. 3.70% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Freshpet Company Profile ( Free Report ) Freshpet, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, distributes, and markets natural fresh meals and treats for dogs and cats in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It sells dog food, cat food, and dog treats under the Freshpet brand name; and Dognation and Dog Joy labels through various classes of retail, including grocery, mass, club, pet specialty, and natural, as well as online. Read More Five stocks we like better than Freshpet When to Sell a Stock for Profit or Loss S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains Low PE Growth Stocks: Unlocking Investment Opportunities How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 The Significance of a Trillion-Dollar Market Cap Goes Beyond a Number Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FRPT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Freshpet, Inc. ( NASDAQ:FRPT – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Freshpet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Freshpet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .President Javier Milei has confirmed that he will attempt to move forward with further pension and labor reforms in 2025, as well as seeking further privatizations of public companies. His comments came in an interview with Forbes published on Sunday. “We will keep removing regulations,” he said. “This year, we rose 70 places in economic freedom. We moved from being among the 35 worst to the middle.” The president did not specify which index he was referring to, although Argentina was ranked in the bottom 35 countries for which data was available in the Heritage Foundation’s most recent index of economic freedom. “We’ve only applied a quarter of the reforms,” he continued. “There are still 3,200 to go. We will remove them to the extent that Congress allows.” In 2025, he said, “we’re going to move forward with an agenda of privatizations and an expansion of labor reform. To the extent that the labor reform works out, we can advance with a pension reform.” In this respect, the president highlighted changes he had implemented through the Bases Law. He said that they would make it possible to expand Argentina’s labor market from 6.5 million people to 14.5 million people. This, he said, meant that “the pension system numbers will change dramatically in favor of retirees having better pensions.” Milei also reflected on the achievements of his first year in office. “We’re eliminating inflation, which means that the distortion in relative prices is being eliminated, and that favors the accumulation of capital. We’re cutting taxes. We’ve carried out 800 structural reforms. Every day we remove regulations,” he said. He is not done with the chainsaw, either. “We made a first major cut, and now we’re getting to the deeper stuff, which isn’t just deregulating and removing barriers, but it implies a new state reform, to make it even smaller.” An excerpt of the interview published on December 22 reported Milei’s comments that three conditions were necessary for him to lift Argentina’s capital controls: an independently floating exchange rate, resolving issues with the Central Bank’s stocks, and aligning the traditional and broad monetary bases. – C5N.com /HeraldWe'll soon see how high the bar is on taxes
The road to the NFL playoffs goes through San Francisco for the Los Angeles Rams . The bitter NFC rivals square off on Thursday Night Football. If the Rams win their playoff chances will improve to around 50 percent. If they lose those odds drop to 25 percent, irrespective of what happens around the rest of the division and league this weekend. 49ers Getting Slightly Healthier Ahead Of TNF Vs Los Angeles Rams And while the 49ers have a worse record and a severely injured starting lineup, they will get some reinforcement on both sides of the ball. It was reported this afternoon that they would activate linebacker Dre Greenlaw for the first time this season, the initially listed as questionable Nick Bosa and rookie running back Issac Guerendo are both now expected to play. Bosa is by far the 49ers’ best pass rusher, so getting him back is an instant upgrade to the whole unit after missing him for the last three games. They were only able to muster a paltry average of 10 pressures per game in that time. When healthy Bosa has averaged five pressures a game on his own. With Greenlaw, the benefit to the 49ers’ defense will be mitigated as he will be kept on a snap limit, but he will undoubtedly help in stopping the Rams’ formidable running backs, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. On offense, San Francisco’s running back room had grown bare after losing both Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason recently. But Guerendo has proved to have significant upside, with his sub-4.4 second 40-yard time. While he still has plenty of growth, head coach Kyle Shanahan has plenty of experience unleashing speedy lesser-known running backs in his offense. The Rams have struggled against strong and consistent rushing teams, posting the 27th-ranked EPA per play against the run this season. This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.Michail Antonio spoke to his West Ham team-mates via a video call from his hospital bed before they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night. Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday. Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us. “I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.” MA9 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/fXwtdSQWYE — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 9, 2024 West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off. The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK. Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up nine fingers to a TV camera. The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him. "He was here since I came and he's really my favourite" Tomáš Souček on dedicating his goal to Michail Antonio ❤️ pic.twitter.com/smNy26wmuX — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 9, 2024 “I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.” Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR. But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row. While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt. “A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said. “But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group. “Where does this leave me? In the same place I was. I’m aware of the noise. But if anyone expected this to be easy – I’m happy to be judged on results but it should be done in context. “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.” There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry. “I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game. “I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.” O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him. “The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”
Playoff game at Ohio State has sold 34% more tickets than Notre Dame game on StubHubThe Territory’s 25 best new cafes, bars and restaurants of 2024
Incarnate Word beats East Texas A&M 38-24 to finish undefeated in conference play
As businesses strive to stay ahead in today's fast-paced digital world, cloud migration has become a critical component of their strategy. The shift from traditional on-premises systems to cloud environments represents a significant turning point for organisations, enabling them to operate more efficiently, innovate more quickly, and connect with customers in new and meaningful ways. However, for many companies, the journey to the cloud is complicated by outdated legacy systems that can hold them back from achieving their full potential. Legacy systems, though reliable, can be a significant roadblock to growth and agility. Organisations need help responding quickly to changing market conditions, which can limit their ability to take advantage of new opportunities. That's why modernising legacy systems is so critical. It's not just about keeping up with the competition—it's about positioning your business for long-term success. By transitioning to cloud-based architectures, companies can streamline processes, boost performance, and unlock cost efficiencies that drive growth and innovation. Modern Solutions In Legacy Systems Migrating legacy systems to cloud environments involves several vital challenges, starting with compatibility issues. "Legacy systems are often not designed to integrate easily with modern cloud infrastructure," explains Sandeep Guduru, a trusted advisor and leader in the IT industry, emphasising the need to assess and refactor code to support cloud-native features. Containerisation technologies like Docker and Kubernetes can help break down monolithic structures into microservices, enabling a smoother and incremental migration. Data migration and security are also critical; adopting phased migration strategies, encryption, and secure transmission protocols helps maintain data integrity and protect information during transit. Minimising downtime and ensuring business continuity are equally important. Blue-green deployment strategies prove... Mike Malone
The mainstream newsrooms buried the good news and magnified the bad in last week’s national accounts. Alan Austin reports. THE CASE is strengthening that Australia has the worst economic reporters and the most hypocritical Opposition in the democratic world today. The appalling commentary on last week’s national accounts bolsters this view. In Logan last Thursday , Treasurer Jim Chalmers opened the fifth Medicare mental health clinic, one of 19 planned for Queensland and 61 nationwide. This landmark reform will benefit millions of citizens. The first question to the Treasurer from the gaggle of “journalists” was: “Treasurer, do you acknowledge Australia is in a people’s recession when accounting for economic growth per capita, that many people are thousands of dollars worse off than they were when Labor first came into office?” That was a regurgitation of one of several factually false narratives of the Liberal Party and the Institute for Public Affairs ( IPA ) and a smarmy attempt at a gotcha question. Australia sets impressive trade records which newsrooms refuse to report Recent World Bank data provides another endorsement of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s economy. The IPA wailed last Wednesday that ‘Australians are deep in recession — record seventh consecutive quarter of per capita GDP decline’ and ‘This means Australians today are $4,310 per annum worse off due to this personal recession’ . That is ridiculously false. All economic datasets show some citizens remain in poverty, but fewer as a proportion of the population than in any previous period. Those not in poverty are richer than ever. The latest data is from the National Debt Hotline ( NDH ) which reports at the beginning of each month the number of calls for emergency assistance for the previous month. This is the best real-time indicator of hardship increasing or decreasing. Last Monday’s number for November was 12,230, a decline from the October tally of 12,979 calls and below the average of the first ten months of the year, which was 12,607. The strongest evidence that poverty is easing, however, is comparing calls now with past years, before the recent inflation surge. Calls in November 2017, the first year of NDH records, numbered 14,829. This increased in November 2018 to 15,741, then declined in 2019 to 14,196. If we regard the pre-COVID period from 2017 to 2019 as fairly normal times, then the situation today appears unusually benign. (Yes, this is only one source. But this is consistent with all the others .) Meeting the global challenges Last Wednesday’s national accounts show Australia recorded positive quarterly GDP growth for the 12th consecutive quarter. The only other wealthy members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development ( OECD ) to achieve this are Belgium, Spain and Costa Rica. None of these has an economy anywhere near as strong as Australia’s. They all have worse inflation , much higher jobless rates, lower wealth per person, more than double the debt to GDP , are all in budget deficits and none has triple-A credit ratings . ‘Labor big spenders’ myth can finally be laid to rest Substantial evidence from independent agencies last week has affirmed the Albanese Government’s economic credentials. Australia’s 0.33% growth is above the September OECD average , which is 0.25%, now ranking 13th among all 38 member countries. That’s up from 35th in September 2020 and 36th in September 2021 under the Coalition. Australia’s economy overall, given global conditions, is the envy of the world. Workers’ well-being advancing apace Other good news items in last Wednesday’s accounts include real net national disposable income growing by 0.4% for the year to September 2024, the household savings ratio lifting to 3.2% and the share of national income going to employees continuing to rise. The workers' share is now 53.5%, up from 49.3% under the Coalition. That’s the highest since September 2016. See chart below. (Data source: ABS ) Commensurately, the percentage going to corporate profits has declined from 33.0% when Labor took office to 27.9% in September. The false mantra of the per capita recession Disappointing outcomes in the September accounts include that productivity remains stalled; commodity prices have been declining; wage growth continued to grow faster than the CPI, but not as fast as earlier in the year; and that economic growth of 0.33% was below population growth of 0.61%. It is true that GDP per person has been declining, as in most advanced economies. But that does not mean anyone is experiencing lower living standards. Consider a family of four – two parents and two kids – with a house, two cars and other assets valued at $1,000,000. That means each family member is worth $250,000. If they have another child, bringing the family to five, wealth per person drops to $200,000. Simple arithmetic. Does this mean that Mum, Dad and the first two kids have lost $50,000 each and now must live in far deeper poverty? Of course not. Families don’t work like that. Neither do nations. No one will be deprived of essentials because of population expansion. It is a trade-off in which the social benefits outweigh the financial adjustments. Australia’s aggregate wealth increased through the September quarter. That it increased slightly below the rate of population growth is an interesting observation, but does not affect anyone’s standard of living. Business is booming — defying newsroom doom and gloom Australian businesses have had a highly profitable year. Thanks, Jim, thanks, Albo. Coalition cant and hypocrisy Responding to last week’s national accounts, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor asserted that ‘Australians’ living standards have fallen off a cliff — the largest fall on record’ . This is manifestly false, as shown above. He added: ‘The Treasurer’s addiction to spending is keeping inflation in Australia higher for longer.’ The biggest spend was on defence, required to meet foolish and unnecessarily costly commitments made by the corrupt and incompetent Coalition. Inflation when Labor took over was 6.12%. It is now 2.15%. The Coalition parties, the IPA and their spruikers in the mainstream newsrooms are craven liars seeking political gain by fomenting needless anxiety, depression and anger — the very evils the current Government’s mental health initiatives are striving to eliminate. Alan Austin is an Independent Australia columnist and freelance journalist. You can follow him on Twitter @alanaustin001 . This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License Support independent journalism Subscribe to IA. Related Articles Australia sets impressive trade records which newsrooms refuse to report ‘Labor big spenders’ myth can finally be laid to rest Cost of Australia's wildlife destruction immeasurable Good global citizenship benefits everyone, especially the good global citizen Albanese Government covers for Coalition in ASIC corruption probe POLITICS MEDIA ECONOMICS ALBANESE GOVERNMENT Australian economy Jim Chalmers Coalition mainstream media Medicare Auspol Institute for Public Affairs IPA recession Share ArticleATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.
Zions Bancorp N.A. stock outperforms competitors despite losses on the dayKeith Higgins Jr. scores 22 to lead Lehigh to 87-67 victory over NeumannPresident Emmanuel Macron will announce on Friday his choice for France's next prime minister, his office says, in a bid to end months of political turmoil. or signup to continue reading Macron said two days ago he wanted to name a new head of government within 48 hours. The new team is due to replace the one led by Michel Barnier, who resigned last week after far-right and leftist lawmakers voted to topple his government, plunging France into its second major political crisis in six months. Macron will try to nominate a unifying figure, although media reports say there is no clear frontrunner. Centre-right politician François Bayrou, 73, has been mentioned most often by political commentators after Macron consulted with all parties except the extreme left and right to try to form the broadest possible government. If Bayrou is chosen, it remains to be seen whether the Macron ally will be able to form a majority capable of governing, and there are expectations he could face a similar fate to former Brexit negotiator Barnier. Former Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve has also been mooted in the press, as well as former defence minister Sébastien Lecornu and former decentralisation minister Catherine Vautrin. Last Wednesday, the opposition brought down Barnier after he had only been in office for three months in a dispute over an austerity budget. Macron is under pressure due to the fall of the government after he called snap elections this year which backfired. Opposition parties have even demanded Macron resign amid the political and economic crisis, with a 2025 budget still not passed by parliament. with DPA Advertisement Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date. We care about the protection of your data. Read our . AdvertisementENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — John Elway says any remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in the 2018 NFL draft is quickly dissipating with rookie Bo Nix’s rapid rise, suggesting the Denver Broncos have finally found their next franchise quarterback. Elway said Nix, the sixth passer selected in April’s draft, is an ideal fit in Denver with coach Sean Payton navigating his transition to the pros and Vance Joseph’s defense serving as a pressure release valve for the former Oregon QB. “We’ve seen the progression of Bo in continuing to get better and better each week and Sean giving him more each week and trusting him more and more to where last week we saw his best game of the year,” Elway said in a nod to Nix’s first game with 300 yards and four touchdown throws in a rout of Atlanta. For that performance, Nix earned his second straight NFL Rookie of the Week honor along with the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. “I think the sky’s the limit,” Elway said, “and that’s just going to continue to get better and better.” In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, Elway also touted former coach Mike Shanahan’s Hall of Fame credentials, spoke about the future of University of Colorado star and Heisman favorite Travis Hunter and discussed his ongoing bout with a chronic hand condition. RELATED COVERAGE Nick Chubb plows through heavy snow for 2-yard TD, giving Browns 24-19 win over Steelers Browns’ Myles Garrett sends message to Steelers and T.J. Watt with 3 first-half sacks Patriots’ Drake Maye vs. Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa could be the first meeting of many Elway spent the last half of his decade as the Broncos’ GM in a futile search for a worthy successor to Peyton Manning, a pursuit that continued as he transitioned into a two-year consultant role that ended after the 2022 season. “You have all these young quarterbacks and you look at the ones that make it and the ones that don’t and it’s so important to have the right system and a coach that really knows how to tutelage quarterbacks, and Sean’s really good at that,” Elway said. The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . “I think the combination of Bo’s maturity, having started 61 games in college, his athletic ability and his knowledge of the game has been such a tremendous help for him,’” Elway added. “But also Vance Joseph’s done a heck of a job on the defensive side to where all that pressure’s not being put on Bo and the offense to score all the time.” Payton and his staff have methodically expanded Nix’s repertoire and incorporated his speed into their blueprints. Elway lauded them for “what they’re doing offensively and how they’re breaking Bo into the NFL because it’s a huge jump and I think patience is something that goes a long way in the NFL when it comes down to quarterbacks.” Elway said he hopes to sit down with Nix at some point when things slow down for the rookie. Nix, whose six wins are one more than Elway had as a rookie, said he looks forward to meeting the man who won two Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame playing career and another from the front office. “He’s a legend not only here for this organization, but for the entire NFL,” Nix said, adding, “most guys, they would love to have a chat with John Elway, just pick his brain. It’s just awesome that I’m even in that situation.” Hall of Fame Orange Crush linebacker Randy Gradishar joined Elway in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, something Elway called “way, way overdue.” Elway suggested it’s also long past time for the Hall to honor Shanahan, who won back-to-back Super Bowls in Denver with Elway at QB and whose footprint you see every weekend in the NFL because of his expansive coaching tree. Sanders & Hunter Elway called University of Colorado stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders “both great athletes.” He said he really hopes Sanders gets drafted by a team that will bring him along like the Broncos have done with Nix and he sees Hunter being able to play both ways in the pros but not full time. Elway said he thinks Hunter will be primarily a corner in the NFL but with significant contributions on offense: “He’s great at both. He’s got great instincts, and that’s what you need at corner.” Hand condition It’s been five years since Elway announced he was dealing with Dupuytren’s contracture, a chronic condition that typically appears after age 40 and causes one or more fingers to permanently bend toward the palm. Elway’s ring fingers on both hands were originally affected and he said now the middle finger on his right hand is starting to pull forward. So, he’ll get another injection of a drug called Xiaflex, which is the only FDA-approved non-surgical treatment, one that he’s endorsing in an awareness campaign for the chronic condition that affects 17 million Americans. The condition can make it difficult to do everyday tasks such as shaking hands or picking up a coffee mug. Elway said what bothered him most was “I couldn’t pick up a football and I could not imagine not being able to put my hand around a football.” ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
‘I love fighting for this club’: Guardiola on his drive to stay at Manchester CityThe Indiana vs. Notre Dame matchup in the first round of the College Football Playoff is the most expensive ticket on StubHub, but it's Tennessee vs. Ohio State that's selling the fastest. StubHub spokesperson Adam Budelli said Monday that the game being hosted in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 21 has sold 34% more tickets than the game in South Bend, Indiana, on Dec. 20. “The expanded college football playoffs are seeing early high demand, especially as we see new teams enter the competition for the first time,” Budelli said. StubHub lists tickets for sale from official event organizers, but most of its offerings are from the resale market. Here's the ticket marketplace's average CFP first-round prices as of Monday evening: 1. Indiana at Notre Dame — $733 2. Clemson at Texas — $518 3. Tennessee at Ohio State — $413 4. SMU at Penn State — $271 Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Losses to the Chargers and Bengals with a playoff berth on the line show Sean Payton made a miscalculation when he agreed to flex the Denver Broncos' Week 16 game to a Thursday night. The NFL needed the Broncos' approval to replace the Cincinnati-Cleveland game with the Broncos-Chargers game because Denver had already played on a Thursday night on the road. He eagerly agreed to the switch, figuring the team's fanbase always travels well to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the Broncos would be the more rested team at Cincinnati. But after an emotional comeback win over the Colts, the Broncos (9-7) lost to the Chargers in part because Payton got away from the run even though it helped them score touchdowns on their first three drives — and he had written “Run It!!” in marker on top of his play sheet. And they lost to the Bengals 30-24 in overtime on Saturday after Payton decided against going for 2 and the win when Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in a highlight-reel touchdown grab between two defenders with 8 seconds left in regulation. “We knew a tie for us was just as beneficial as a win,” Payton explained. “We felt like we had the momentum at that point.” Holding up two fingers, rookie QB Bo Nix lobbied for the 2-point try to no avail. “We discussed it all. We had plenty of time, plenty of time, plenty of time,” Payton said. "And the decision we made was the right one.” Well ... An extra point assured Joe Burrow would get the ball back, and the Broncos hadn't forced a single punt all game, something Payton acknowledged afterward that he wasn't aware of, and they hadn't stopped the Bengals since twice holding them on fourth down in the first half. They finally forced a punt in overtime, but the Broncos went three-and-out, something they did again after Bengals kicker Cade York doinked a 33-yard field-goal attempt off the left upright on Cincinnati's second possession. With the Bengals out of timeouts, all the Broncos needed was a first down and they'd be playoff-bound for the first time since 2015, but Bo Nix misfired to tight end Adam Trautman on third-and-long, so the Broncos punted and Burrow led the Bengals (8-8) on their game-winning touchdown drive. “I thought we could move the ball in overtime,” Nix said, “but we didn't.” The Broncos could render all of it moot with a win in Week 18 against Kansas City with the Chiefs (15-1) expected to rely heavily on backups as they rest up for the playoffs as the AFC's top seed. But Denver's defense has been dismal since November, giving up the most yards in the league, and another letdown against the Chiefs would give the Broncos their biggest collapse in two decades. “This is what we do it for — meaningful games here,” Payton said. "I think it’s important that you embrace it, and it is exciting. There’s nothing worse than playing games in the last part of the season where there’s nothing at stake. So I think it’s something we’ll all be excited about.” What’s working Denver's pass rush. The Broncos sacked Burrow seven times, giving them a league-high 58 for the season. Zach Allen had a career-best 3 1/2 of them and Dondrea Tillman's sack gives the Broncos six players without at least five sacks this season. What needs help Riley Moss led the Broncos with 14 tackles but he had a tough return to action after missing a month with a sprained MCL. Burrow targeted him over and over, including on the game-winning touchdown throw to Tee Higgins, who caught three TD passes. “Riley could have been healthy for the last eight weeks. Whoever’s opposite Pat, they’re going to go that direction, right?" Payton said. (Higgins) is a good player. A real good player. It wasn’t anything that we didn’t expect. In other words, that happens when you’re teammates with Pat.” Stock up WR Marvin Mims Jr. had a breakout performance with eight catches for 103 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, a 51-yarder and the 25-yard catch on fourth down in the closing seconds while sandwiched between two veteran defenders. Stock down Denver's defense. Even with Moss back, which allowed DC Vance Joseph to go back to relying more on man coverage, the Broncos defense continued to struggle since the calendar turned to December. Injuries The Broncos came out healthy although superstar CB Patrick Surtain II was limping on the game's final snaps. Key number 5 — Number of NFL rookie QBs to throw for at least 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns with Nix joining Justin Herbert, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning. What’s next It's all or nothing next week when a win over the Chiefs would send Denver to the playoffs. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL