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online gambling definition Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, once called a 'pretty good Canadian,' dies at 100

VMT-01 is under clinical development by Perspective Therapeutics and currently in Phase II for Metastatic Melanoma. According to GlobalData, Phase II drugs for Metastatic Melanoma have a 36% phase transition success rate (PTSR) indication benchmark for progressing into Phase III. GlobalData tracks drug-specific phase transition and likelihood of approval scores, in addition to indication benchmarks based off 18 years of historical drug development data. Attributes of the drug, company and its clinical trials play a fundamental role in drug-specific PTSR and likelihood of approval. VMT-01 overview VMT-01 is under development for the treatment of metastatic melanoma. The drug candidate is a MCR1-targeted radionuclide (90Y) therapy. therapy. It acts by targeting melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor (Melanocortin Receptor 1 or MSHR or MC1R). it is administered by intravenous route. Perspective Therapeutics overview Perspective Therapeutics, formerly known as Isoray, Inc., is a medical technology company. It specializes in the development and distribution of isotope-based personalized brachytherapy products and devices for advanced cancer treatments. The company’s core product is the Cesium-131 brachytherapy seed, a unique radioisotope seed used in the treatment of various cancers, including prostate, brain, head and neck, and lung cancers. Brachytherapy involves placing the radiation sources close to the tumor site to destroy the cancer cells. Perspective Therapeutics serves medical centers, hospitals, and clinics. It operates primarily in the US. Perspective Therapeutics is headquartered in Richland, Washington, the US. For a complete picture of VMT-01’s drug-specific PTSR and LoA scores, This content was updated on 12 April 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. GlobalData’s Likelihood of Approval analytics tool dynamically assesses and predicts how likely a drug will move to the next stage in clinical development (PTSR), as well as how likely the drug will be approved (LoA). This is based on a combination of machine learning and a proprietary algorithm to process data points from various databases found on GlobalData’s .None

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GRANDFIELD – Keira Pineda scored 20 points to help lift the Lady Bulldogs past Grandfield, 49-34, Tuesday and to their third consecutive victory to start the young season. Empire took care of business with big second and fourth quarters. The Lady Bulldogs scored 17 points in the second quarter and put the game away with a 19-point fourth period. Pineda scored just five points through the first three quarters but erupted for 16 tallies in the fourth. Sophomore Chazli Massey added nine points for the Lady Bulldogs. The Lady Bulldogs will put their perfect record on the line when they face Cement at 12:50 p.m. Thursday in the opening round of the Chattanooga Southwest Shootout. GIRLS Velma-Alma 71, Springer 26 VELMA – The Lady Comets earned their first win off the strength of a big first half. Velma-Alma scored 57 points over the first 16 minutes and grabbed a 42-point lead at half. The Lady Comets limited Springer to two points in the second quarter and one in the third. Makenna Oliver led the way for Velma-Alma with 18 points. Presley Condit added 17 tallies and Azya Pemberton 12. Sterling McLain hit three treys in the first quarter and finished with points for the Lady Comets. Velma-Alma hit 10 treys as a team. The Lady Comets will take on Dibble Thursday in the opening round of the Comet Classic. Dibble’s team recently suffered the loss of player Addy Lanham, who passed away unexpectedly Nov. 28. In Lanham’s honor, Velma-Alma encourages attendees to wear her favorite colors, pink and black, and asks for prayers for the family and the Dibble community. Lindsay 74, Marlow 36 LINDSAY – The Lady Outlaws cut the deficit to seven at halftime, but Lindsay outscored Marlow, 26-3, in the third quarter to blow open the game. Lindsay outscored Marlow, 43-12, in the second half. Guard Carson Lovett paced the Lady Outlaws with 12 points, all scored in the first half. Gracee Ottinger added eight. Leslie Wilmont led Lindsay with 15 points and Madison McGowan added 12. Marlow is 0-1 and will play Quinton at 11 a.m. in the Latta Panther Classic Tournament. Fletcher 62, Central 26 FLETCHER – Fletcher scored in double figures in every quarter and took over the game after jumping to a 30-18 halftime lead. Jaylin Johnson led Central with nine points. The Lady Bronchos fell to 0-4 and will play Waurika at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in the opening round of the Chattanooga Southwest Shootout.

Juventus and Fiorentina drew 2-2 on Sunday as the Serie A match was interrupted after seven minutes following racist insults from the stands aimed at home striker Dusan Vlahovic. Earlier, Napoli edged past struggling Venezia 1-0 to move level on points with leaders Atalanta. In Turin, a Khephren Thuram double was cancelled out first by Fiorentina's Moise Kean and then late on by Riccardo Sottil. "I don't believe in bad luck," Juventus coach Thiago Motta told Sky Sport Italia after his side's 11th draw in 18 league outings this term. "We should have killed off the game and don't leave a chance to the opponent. I don't believe in bad luck. I believe in merit." But the match was overshadowed inside the first 10 minutes when referee Maurizio Mariani called over the two captains to tell them he was stopping play while an appeal over the tannoy at the Allianz Stadium called on fans to cut out racist chants. The two teams then gathered in the centre circle, before the match resumed. Broadcaster DAZN reported that Fiorentina fans hurled insults in the direction of their former player Vlahovic, who is Serbian. Since leaving Fiorentina, his club from 2018 to 2022, Vlahovic, 24, has been targeted by fans of the Viola. In November 2023, Fiorentina were given a suspended one-match ban for chants directed at three Juventus players, including Vlahovic. Juventus midfielder Thuram opened the scoring after play restarted with a 20th-minute strike. It was the first goal scored by the son of former Juventus and France international Lilian Thuram since he joined the Old Lady in the close-season. Former Juventus forward Kean levelled on 38 minutes before Thuram doubled up three minutes after half-time. The hosts looked set to leapfrog their fifth-placed opponents but Sottil struck in the 87th minute to ensure both sides remain level on 32 points. - 'Definitely happy' - Advertisement (function(v,d,o,ai){ai=d.createElement('script');ai.defer=true;ai.async=true;ai.src=v.location.protocol+o;d.head.appendChild(ai);})(window, document, '//a.vdo.ai/core/v-ndtv-v1/vdo.ai.js'); Earlier, Romelu Lukaku wasted a chance to put Napoli ahead in the 37th minute from the penalty spot. His effort was saved by visiting goalkeeper Filip Stankovic. Giacomo Raspadori decided the match with his first goal of the season after 79 minutes, slotting home a loose ball after Venezia failed to clear. Napoli's third-straight victory brought them level with Atalanta, who drew with Lazio on Saturday, and have a superior goal difference. "Totalling 41 points after 18 matches, nobody, even the most optimistic, thought we could do it at the start of the season, but we still have to improve, we're a developing team," said Napoli coach Antonio Conte. "I am definitely happy, because this is a team that is growing," Conte said. "If we could score a few more goals, we would all be calmer, more peaceful and less likely to have heart attacks." Inter Milan, 3-0 winners at Cagliari on Saturday, are third, one point behind the leading duo but with a game in hand. Napoli can move into sole possession of the lead next weekend when they face Fiorentina, while Atalanta and Inter face each other in the Italian Supercup in Saudi Arabia. Paulo Dybala 's crisp right-footed volley earned Roma a 1-1 draw at AC Milan in Sunday's final match. The Argentinian's 23rd-minute strike came seven minutes after Tijjani Reijnders had opened the scoring for Milan following a flowing counter-attack. Claudio Ranieri's Roma are 10th on 20 points, seven behind eighth-placed Milan. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Fuel made from plants In a groundbreaking achievement, Australian scientists have made a significant discovery that boosts oil production in plants, paving the way for the development of sustainable biofuels, including eco-friendly aviation fuel. According to Dr. Thomas Vanhercke of CSIRO, the driving force behind this innovation was the global demand for enhanced plant oil production without compromising food security. This breakthrough is poised to play a crucial role in advancing the production and utilisation of biofuels. In a major medical advancement, the injectable HIV treatment lenacapavir has been hailed as the 2024 Breakthrough of the Year by Science magazine. This innovative therapy has shown extraordinary promise in preventing new HIV infections, as evidenced by two large-scale clinical trials. Despite the ongoing challenge of HIV, which affects over a million people globally each year, lenacapavir offers a beacon of hope. With a vaccine still elusive, this groundbreaking treatment provides a crucial alternative. As Science magazine observed, "But this year the world got a glimpse of what might be the next best thing: an injectable drug that protects people for 6 months with each shot." A team of astronomers has made a thrilling discovery, uncovering a planet orbiting a star located approximately 137 light-years from Earth. The planet designated as TOI-715 b, is a "super-Earth" with a diameter roughly 1.5 times that of Earth. What's particularly exciting about TOI-715 b is its orbital position within the star's habitable zone, where temperatures are potentially suitable for liquid water to exist on its surface. This raises intriguing possibilities about the planet's potential for supporting life. In a significant leap forward for conservation efforts, a team of scientists led by Jing Liu, a renowned stem cell biologist, has made a groundbreaking discovery that could potentially save the giant panda from extinction. Liu's team has successfully generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from the skin cells of giant pandas, paving the way for a revolutionary new approach to conservation. This cutting-edge technology has already shown promise in preserving other endangered species, including the Sumatran rhinoceros, Grevy's zebra, and Tasmanian devil. In a fascinating discovery, scientists have found that tiny marmoset monkeys possess a unique form of communication, where they use personalised vocalisations to "name" and address specific individuals within their social group. By analysing the high-pitched conversations between pairs of marmosets in a controlled environment, researchers identified distinct vocal patterns, known as "phee-calls," which serve as a form of identification and greeting. Scientists in Berlin announced the first successful embryo transfer in a white rhinoceros using a method that offers hope for saving the critically endangered northern white rhino subspecies from extinction. A new medical breakthrough with embryo transfer offers hope for Africa's northern white rhinos-there are only two left. Northern white rhinos were once found across central Africa, but illegal poaching, fuelled by the demand for rhino horn, wiped out the wild population. A long-overlooked bodily fluid is emerging as a treasure trove of health data: menstrual blood. Rather than being discarded as waste, researchers are now harnessing the unique composition of menstrual blood to gain valuable insights into human health. The complex mixture of cells, proteins, and microorganisms present in menstrual blood has been shown to hold diagnostic potential for a range of conditions, from hormonal imbalances and cervical cancer to endometriosis, chlamydia, and diabetes. This innovative approach to health monitoring has already garnered significant attention, with the US FDA recently approving its first-ever health test utilising menstrual blood. In a trailblazing achievement, a research team backed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has created the first comprehensive atlas of the neural connections in the brain of the humble fruit fly. This intricate map reveals the complex wiring of the brain and sheds light on the underlying signals that govern healthy brain function. The significance of this breakthrough extends far beyond the fruit fly itself. As a widely used model organism in scientific research, the fruit fly's brain map serves as a vital template for understanding the neural circuits that govern behavior and function in more complex brains, including our own. A revolutionary study has yielded remarkable results, confirming the exceptional accuracy of a novel blood test for detecting Alzheimer's disease in a real-world healthcare setting. This breakthrough may signal the culmination of a long-standing quest for a straightforward, reliable diagnostic tool. Traditionally, diagnosing Alzheimer's has required costly and invasive procedures, such as PET scans and cerebrospinal fluid tests. In contrast, this innovative blood test measures Plasma Phospho-Tau217 levels, offering a faster, more accessible, and minimally invasive alternative. The test's impressive performance in a routine healthcare trial heralds a new era in Alzheimer's diagnosis, potentially transforming the lives of millions worldwide. In a major breakthrough, researchers have discovered a potential treatment for Timothy syndrome, a rare and debilitating genetic disorder that affects brain development. By using a novel type of medication called an antisense oligonucleotide, scientists were able to reverse the damaging effects of the mutation, allowing human brain cells to grow and function normally. This innovative approach not only offers hope for individuals affected by Timothy syndrome but also has far-reaching implications for the treatment of other genetic disorders. The same therapeutic strategy could potentially be applied to conditions such as schizophrenia, epilepsy, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder, paving the way for new and effective treatments for these complex and often devastating conditions. Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world

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

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The cleaning has to get done, but you can give your weary arms a break by letting this nifty doodad do all of the hard work. Its bristles spin at a rate of up to 400 rotations per minute to bust away grime from grout, the tub and pretty much anywhere that could use a deep clean. It comes with seven heads for targeting different areas of your home — and at 70% off, it's a no-brainer. Not ready to drop hundreds of dollars on ? Then consider these bluetooth earbuds that are down to just $10 this weekend. More than 400 shoppers have given them a five-star rating, with many saying they're impressed with the quality. "These are very comfortable around my ears. The sound quality is great. For the price, I am very impressed," one customer commented. Another added, "I just recieved these headphones, put them on, and not even a half song into them I can tell these are going to be a solid pair. I turned the volume up halfway, and the music is clear and I can't hear outside noise. Hoping for these to last a long time because these sound phenomenal." If you've never slipped your foot inside a Dearfoams shoe, it's time. They're soft and supportive, and this pair is designed with temperature-regulating technology to prevent your tootsies from getting too hot or cold. They're available in three colors in sizes 5-12, and they're machine washable. What's not to love? Real talk: Those threadbare towels in your linen closet have served you well, and it's time to retire them. Luckily, replacements won't break the bank, seeing as this cotton set is a mere $10 for a bath towel, hand towel and washcloth. At this price, grab several sets to have on hand for guests. Good luck choosing between the 20-plus colors. Monopoly is fun, but who has hours to spend sitting around waiting for the game to end? If you want your buying and selling fix without the massive time commitment, Monopoly Deal is the way to go. It's designed for two to five people, can be played in as little as 15 minutes and it's just as fun as the original. "Short and fun!" raved one fan. "I don't play original board game anymore as it takes way too much time. This game has all the strategy and is still very entertaining! Love it. Buy It!" Give plant lovers everlasting blooms with this 758-piece set. The nine adorable plants and flowers can even be split among family members. A number of reviewers gushed that this was their first time building Legos since childhood and agreed that this was a wonderful reintroduction. With Sorry, players have no option but to turn on each other to try to win the game. You'll chase your opponents around the board while trying to get your pawns to the finish line. Cards tell you to move forward and back and can even send you back to the start, making for an exciting evening. The young ones will enjoy a taste of the open road (er, driveway) by cruising around in this sturdy two-seater. Older kids can steer it manually, but it also comes with a remote control that parents can operate if they choose. Safety features include seatbelts (of course) and non-deflatable wheels, as well as LED lights for when the sun starts to set. Need a sleek little laptop for tasks like web browsing and word processing? We've found one for an equally sleek little price. Features include an anti-glare display, 4GB RAM, 128GB flash storage, and up to 12 hours of battery life. Got a new TV for Christmas? Lucky you! Now, take it to the next level with a soundbar. This best-selling Samsung model connects easily via an HDMI cable and has surround sound capabilities. "Exceptional product, great price," one shopper noted in their review. "Significantly enhanced my home entertainment setup." Another fan commented, "This soundbar on my Samsung 65-inch TV is absolutely amazing. I replaced an LG soundbar for this one and oh what a difference. Perfect sound, easy hook up and it even comes with parts for hanging it on the wall just below my TV. Great deal for perfect sounds." If you've had an iPad on your wishlist, this is the most recent version and it's on rare sale. (It's not quite as low as it was for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, but it's one of the best prices we've seen otherwise.) As the unofficial Goldilocks of tech (less bulky than a laptop but larger than a smartphone), this tablet keeps you connected on the go or at home, and you can use it for everything from reading books to taking notes to watching videos. Our tech editor named this the owing to its "under-the-hood improvements, including a faster processor, more RAM (4GB instead of 3GB), Bluetooth 5.0 (up from 4.2) and a USB-C charging port." Experience the ultimate in home entertainment with this sleek TV. With perfect blacks and vibrant colors, every show and movie dazzles. And with Dolby Vision, it gives you a true cinematic experience in your living room. Grab it now and save $400. "Watching TV is now like going to the movies!" gushed one fan. "Football games are really cool as we feel like we are in the stadiums." Don't want to shell out big bucks for a new TV? No worries — you can upgrade your home theater for just $19 with this Roku streamer. Just plug it into your TV and connect to your Wi-Fi, and soon you'll be bingeing everything during the cold winter months. You'll save a whopping $120 with this deal, so if your old telly's on the fritz, go ahead and add this highly rated (as in, more than 21,000 five-star ratings) smart TV to your cart. It boasts 4K Ultra HD resolution for crystal-clear imagery as well as easy access to all of your favorite streaming platforms right on the home screen. Windy winter storms are a-coming, and sometimes the resulting fallen branches are a bit too large to be cut down to size by hand. This chainsaw is lightweight and simple to use, but don't let the demure size fool you. With a 6-inch blade, it has more than enough cutting power to handle most jobs. The handle comes with a rubberized grip that makes it easy to hold, even with just one hand, as well as a lock button that means you won't accidentally start things up while carrying it. 'Tis the season for frozen car batteries, which is why this jump starter — now discounted a whopping $120 — can literally be a lifesaver. It comes with intelligent clamps that will notify you if there are any issues and LED lights so you can see at night. It also works as a strobe light or an SOS light in an emergency and as a power bank for your electronic devices. Shoveling snow the old-school way can be exhausting, not to mention nearly back-breaking. With an electric option like this one, you'll have a whole lot of help cleaning up after Mother Nature's latest onslaught. It weighs just 8.8 pounds, meaning you can quickly clear your driveway, sidewalks, patios and more with less strain — the shovel will leave a 12-inch clearing path and blows snow up to 20 inches away. Your car emergency kit isn't complete without a tire pressure gauge. This easy-to-read digital model works in just seconds and has a handy light so you can see the screen in the dark. Shoppers give it 4.7 out of 5 stars and say it really is simple to use. "Easy to use and quick and handy! Works well both night and daytime. Won't drive without it and good for your bikes too!" one person noted. Cold weather calls for soul-warming soups and stews prepared in this Drew Barrymore slow cooker. It's extra large so that you can cook big batches, and the presets make meals like chili foolproof. There are nine aesthetically pleasing colors to choose from, all of which have elegant gold accents. Preparing homemade meals is much more enjoyable when you're not cooking with scratched, gunky pots and pans. If yours are ready to be replaced, you don't have to spend a fortune. These are made from induction-ready granite material, so they're safe for all stovetops, and nonstick so they're great for any at-home chef. Save over 60% on this hardworking set. Grill up burgers rain or shine with this indoor griddle. The family-size 14-inch grill top is large enough to feed the whole crew, but compact enough to tuck away. It heats up to 500°F to sear meats, veggies and more. Oh yeah, and the nonstick grill plate is removable, so it's easy to clean. "Amazing indoor grill, I use it every day," raved one five-star fan. "This is honestly my greatest kitchen gadget purchase I've ever made, it requires no oil when cooking and tastes just like it came off of my outdoor grill." Not every cooking job requires turning on the oven, you know? This versatile countertop gadget not only bakes and broils, but it also air fries, grills and toasts. Whether you want fries, cookies or another go at last night's leftovers, this Cuisinart model is up for the job. The word in this mixer's name isn't a throwaway — this timeless kitchen standby will do all the heavy lifting for you, whether you're cooking or baking a culinary treat. Score $100 off on the 4.5-quart tilt-head model in gorgeous colors like the pictured Pistachio. People of all pronouns ( ) scream for ice cream — yes, even when it's cold. This wildly popular appliance will satiate everyone's sweet tooth until it's warm enough for the ice cream truck to roll around. It churns out everything from ice cream and sorbet to milkshakes and more — just add your ingredients, freeze overnight, press a button and ta-da! Plus, you'll be able to customize your creation with your favorite mix-ins. This price beats Amazon's, so "scoop" it up while you can. Check out our full for more. Been dyin' to try a Dyson? Now would be a great time to snag this lightweight dust destroyer, considering it's 50% off. It can run for up to 40 minutes before needing a recharge, and because it's cordless, you won't have to look for a free outlet each time to move it to a different room. Oh, and it comes with several cleaning attachments, has a whole-machine filtration system and is effective on both hard and carpeted flooring. A soft, supportive pillow that also prevents overheating at night? Yes, please! More than 3,000 shoppers have given these never-flat pillows a perfect five-star rating. "Finally found a pillow that doesn't hurt my neck!" one satisfied shopper raved. "I'm a side sleeper. I've been through many pillows. My closet is a graveyard for brand new pillows that don't work. This pillow is just firm enough and doesn't make me hot." Another wrote, "This is truly the best cooling and most comfortable pillow I've used in decades." Save time, space and money with this two-in-one cleaner, which vacuums and mops to clean up just about any mess you're likely to come across on your floor. It's cordless, with a 30-minute runtime on a full charge, and safe for all sealed hard floors and surfaces. Are you one of those people who's always cold? There's a good chance you already have a pretty good collection of throw blankets around the house, but that shouldn't stop you from snagging this Eddie Bauer style while it's on sale. It's available in three sizes, made from a soft, cozy fleece and it's machine washable. If there's one type of Shark we're always happy to run into, it's one that's on sale. Complete with a HEPA filter, this bad boy will help purify the air while it sucks up dust bunnies. Yes, you can really score an authentic Michael Kors purse at Walmart. Whether for work or weekend errands, this spacious purse is roomy enough for everyday essentials, plus a book, planner or tablet. And the warm brown color means it will match any outfit in your closet. March your way into a loved one's heart this holiday season by gifting them a pair of comfy, all-day walking shoes — and grab another for yourself while you're at it. These Skechers slip-ons have a soft, breathable mesh upper and memory foam insole for cushioning and support. Wide-width options ensure a cozy fit for everyone. Trends come and go, but a classic puffer jacket will always stick around. This simple pick features the most flattering quilted pattern and is topped off with a cozy faux fur-lined collar. It also has zip-closure pockets so you can securely stash all your essentials. Snag it in any of four colors in sizes S to 3X. If your go-to bags have seen better travel days, it's time to level up. Lightweight and durable, each piece of this three-piece luggage set suitcase has 360-degree silent spinner wheels, so you can easily maneuver around the airport and book it during those tight layovers. Inside, you'll find zippered dividers to keep your belongings secure. Oh, and did we mention you can choose from five colors? Can we take a second to swoon over these precious puppy slip-ons? They're just too cute — not to mention incredibly soft, cushy and warm to keep your dogs (pun intended) cozy all winter. The nonslip soles offer stability on slick surfaces. Snag a few styles while they're nearly 50% off. (Don't miss the bear, bull, butterfly, cat and sea turtle options.) Want to feel more confident with every smile? It's time to brighten things up. These strips promise to remove over 15 years of stains after just seven days of consistent use. The advanced-seal no-slip grip on these strips will keep them firmly in place to let them work their magic, leaving your teeth up to eight levels whiter. If your current toothbrush isn't cutting it, this electric one will leave them feeling cleaner than they've been in ages. To accomplish this noble task, it uses 8,800 plaque-slaying strokes per minute. You'll also get eight brush heads, which can cost a pretty penny on their own. As much as we love the , it's admittedly a splurge — and this five-in-one set promises the same quick hairstyling, but for a fraction of the price. With blow-drying, straightening, curling, styling and electrostatic brush head attachments, it's like having a salon right at your fingertips. Want to save even more? Make sure you’re signed up for . It’s easy to . You’ll get free shipping and grocery delivery, savings on gas and prescriptions, exclusive access to major deals, and more.With Kyle Teel out of the picture, who is the Red Sox’ catcher of the future? Teel was one of four prospects Boston traded to the White Sox on Wednesday to acquire frontline starter Garrett Crochet. Parting with Teel must have been difficult for chief baseball officer Craig Breslow because the Red Sox have no other top catching prospects at the upper levels of the minors. Teel was expected to begin 2025 at Triple-A Worcester, but his major league ETA is sometime this coming summer. Boston now has no top prospects remotely close to the big leagues at arguably the most important position. It appeared like Connor Wong, who is under team control through 2028, would eventually become Teel’s backup. Now it looks like he could remain the No. 1 catcher long-term. That said, Wong must improve his defense significantly. Johanfran Garcia now is Boston’s top catching prospect but he’s likely a few years away from the big leagues. He also is coming off major knee surgery after tearing ligaments in his knee in May. A National League scout said in summer 2023 that Garcia has a plus arm to all bases and “projects as an above-average skill-position player, supplying a 5-hole bat.” He batted .385 (20-for-52) with a .467 on-base percentage, .596 slugging percentage, 1.063 OPS, two homers and five doubles in 14 games (60 plate appearances) at Low-A Salem in 2024 before his season came to an abrupt end. The Venezuela native turned 20 earlier this month and has appeared in only 29 games at Low A. So a lot of development remains. Brooks Brannon is another interesting 20-year-old catching prospect but he’s also several years away from the majors. He has never played above Low A, where he has appeared in just 60 games and recorded 255 plate appearances. Brannon, who has raw power, was thought of highly coming out of high school. The Red Sox drafted him in the ninth round (No. 279 overall) out of Randleman High in North Carolina in 2022, then signed him to a well-above slot value bonus of $712,500. The second-highest ninth-round bonus that year was $390,000 less. Only one draft pick in rounds 5-9 received a higher bonus than Brannon did. Baseball America wrote before the 2024 season, “Defensively, Brannon faces questions about whether he has the athleticism to stay behind the plate, but he has strong hands, plus arm strength and works relentlessly.” Brannon went 21-for-68 (.309) with a .347 on-base percentage, .456 slugging percentage, two home runs and four doubles in 16 games in the 2024 Arizona Fall League. Boston drafted 22-year-old catcher Hudson White in the ninth round out of Arkansas in July. Baseball America wrote ahead of the draft, “White has been inconsistent as a defender behind the plate and he’ll need to add arm strength and tighten up his release, though he’s a solid receiver and ultimately has a chance to be an average defender.” Nathan Hickey, a 2021 fifth round pick out of Florida, remains in the Red Sox system but he has not developed enough defensively to be considered someone who can help the big league club at the catcher position.

Lawyers Action Committee demands full court hear petitions challenging 26th Amendment Lawyers hold a rally against the 26th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2024, in Karachi on October 26, 2024. — Online The All Pakistan Lawyers Action Committee (APLAC) has reiterated its demand for the full Supreme Court to hear the petitions challenging the 26th Amendment. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); “This demand is not a matter of politics but a constitutional necessity to ensure public confidence in the judiciary's independence,” read a statement issued by former and present bar council and associations leaders on Friday. The APLAC also rebuked what it said a misleading and factually inaccurate press statement issued by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) regarding legitimate concerns raised by the APLAC about the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) and independence of the judiciary. The action committee said the SCBA’s claim that the lawyers endorsing the APLAC were ‘unelected representatives’ was patently false. The APLAC statement read that prominent signatories of its demand such as Abid S Zuberi, Tahir Faraz Abbassi, Munir Kakar, Shafqat Mehmood Cohan, Maqsood Buttar, Asad Manzoor Butt, Riasat Ali Azad, Salman Mansoor, Haider Imam, Rahib Buledi, Naeem Qureshi, Abdul Hafeez Lashari and Rehman Korai were all elected and had been office bearers of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and various bar associations across the country and their voices reflected the collective will of the legal fraternity. The APLAC said any attempt to discredit such senior lawyers’ legitimacy was not only unwarranted but also detrimental to the unity and integrity of the legal profession. The statement read that it was essential to underscore that all members of the PBC and SCBA, whether previously elected or currently serving, were representatives of the legal fraternity chosen through democratic processes. They said these leaders’ voices were rooted in the trust and confidence of the legal community, and to undermine their legitimacy was to challenge the very principles of democracy and representation that the bar associations stood for. The APLAC said the SCBA had historically been an institution that stood for the rule of law and judicial independence but it was regrettable that the current SCBA leadership had chosen to disregard the contributions of its former presidents and legal luminaries. The action committee said the SCBA had always acknowledged, respected and regarded its former presidents as torchbearers of the bar’s principles and values. “This tradition must be upheld, not undermined,” the statement read. The APLAC said the SCBA's endorsement of the executive-dominated extension of the constitutional bench ignored historical lessons and undermined judicial independence. They recalled that during the lawyers' movement of 2007, it was precisely such executive interference that had led to a judicial crisis. They said that many of the endorsers of the APLAC statement, including former SCBA presidents and elected bar leaders, played pivotal roles in resisting such manipulations and their sacrifices and dedication restored the judiciary’s independence and cemented its role as a bulwark against unconstitutional practices. The APLAC said the 26th constitutional amendment and its implementation by an executive-dominated Judicial Commission directly violate the constitutional principle of judicial independence enshrined in the Article 175(3) of the Constitution and the SCBA’s failure to recognise this constitutional breach was both disappointing and alarming. The action committee it said it remained steadfast in its commitment to upholding Pakistan's constitutional framework, ensuring judicial autonomy and protecting the rule of law. ­A day earlier on Thursday, SCBA President Mian Muhammad Rauf Atta had condemned a statement issued by the APLAC about the meeting of the Judicial Commission that took place on December 21, 2024. “The statement from the representatives of the so-called committee deserves strong condemnation, as it is both unfounded and reprehensible. Their actions are nothing less than a motivated political campaign aimed to sabotage and politicise the fair and transparent proceedings of the JCP,” Atta said, adding that APLAC was trying to bring disrepute to prestigious institutions.With a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." On Sunday, Panamanian President Jose Mulino praised Carter for helping his country achieve "full sovereignty." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" Cubans "will remember with gratitude his efforts to improve relations," the island's current leader Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Sunday. In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk/nro/acb

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 29: stc has consistently demonstrated its commitment to supporting the community through its comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which was further strengthened this year with its Sustainability Program. As a pioneer in Kuwait’s telecom and digital industries, stc has been a catalyst for positive change by implementing or participating in initiatives within the key areas of education, environmental sustainability, sports, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. Through these activities and initiatives, stc aimed to create lasting contributions for the community, while also aligning with the Company’s strategic focus on enabling digital transformation. Danah AlJasem, General Manager of Corporate Communications at stc, said, “Over the years, stc broadened its CSR framework to include various sub-programs that have played a role in shaping the Company’s commitment to its key pillars. Initiatives such as ‘Weyak’, the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, and ‘Because We Care’ have now taken on a more prominent role under the framework, with annual reoccurring initiatives launched under their respective umbrellas.” In 2024, stc signed several strategic partnerships with various local institutions to create a wider and more positive impact within the community. These partnerships came in addition to the different initiatives launched by stc annually, as we all the Company’s CSR agenda for the year. Under each partnership, stc contributed in different ways to the core pillars defined under its CSR framework. This enabled the Company to support the youth, as well as segments in the community in unique ways alongside trusted partners.” Aside from its partnerships and collaborations, stc launched its own unique initiatives focused on addressing and highlighting key topics that impact the community. The initiatives, in alignment with the Company’s CSR pillars, aimed to either engage with the community or the Company’s employees in different positive ways. One key subject that stc strongly stands by is empowering the youth and supporting the younger generation. In launching its own initiatives under this category, stc held its annual programs for students, while introducing various educational platforms. These efforts, as well as other activities implemented by stc, have significantly contributed to strengthening the social fabric and fostering unity across diverse segments of Kuwait’s society. Sustainability Program - Small Move, Big Impact With a newfound outlook on sustainable practices, stc announced its Sustainability Program, an annual initiative that reinforces the Company’s commitment to sustainability across the ESG pillars. Under this program, stc implemented a series of strategic initiatives to enhance its carbon footprint and promote eco-friendly practices through community-driven projects focused on education, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship. Additionally, stc worked closely with government bodies and regulatory agencies to ensure compliance with the highest governance standards, further embedding transparency, accountability, and ethical business practices into its operations. Through this comprehensive approach, the Sustainability Program reflects stc’s long-term vision of integrating sustainability into every aspect of its business, creating a positive and lasting impact on society and the environment. A highlight of the ‘Sustainability Program was the launch of the first standalone Sustainability Report in line with our commitment to transparency and progress. This milestone reflects our dedication to integrating sustainable practices across all aspects of our business while creating long-term value for our stakeholders. As part of the campaign, stc collaborated with the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy (MEW), through an awareness-based social media campaign highlighting the importance of conserving water and electricity. Another initiative was the Partnership with Tadwire to launch E-waste recycling initiative. Supported by the Kuwait National SME Fund, Tadwire complemented stc’s sustainability initiative for the year 2024, focusing on ways to reduce the waste footprint in its offices, operations, and the community. stc partnered with SEEDs by sponsoring Bloom Market, the first market dedicated to promoting sustainable lifestyle and entertainment in Kuwait, in addition to launching the Plastic Free July initiative, which included 17 sustainable Kuwaiti projects. All vendors in the market were committed to not using plastic, and participants ranged from recycled furniture stores to eco-friendly daily consumer goods and fashion clothing. As part of a series of initiatives, stc announced its strategic sponsorship of the sustainability forum organized by the Kuwait Transparency Society. The forum, bearing the slogan, “Governance and environmental sustainability: Effective methods and practices”, was held at the National Library Theater under the patronage of H.E. Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaila, Minister of Social Affairs, Family and Childhood Affairs. Through this program, the Company aimed to raise awareness on various issues, while adopting long-term sustainable practices that leave a positive impact on the community and future generations. stc also collaborated with the Ministry of Municipality to launch a significant cleaning campaign in the Al Mutlaa desert area. With the spirit of environmental consciousness and community service in mind, employees were invited to participate in the clean-up, where they were presented with an opportunity to actively contribute to the preservation of the environment. Celebrating Kuwait in a national TVC In celebration of Kuwait’s National and Liberation Days, stc launched its TVC concept, titled “الكويتي مازال”, which blended modernity and tradition through a focus on the importance of progression and sustainability in the community. The production featured several influential figures that have played a role in empowering the community, especially the younger generation. Following its long-standing commitment to sustainability, coupled with its extensive corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, the TVC aimed to reflect the values that stc stands by along with the importance of these activities in nurturing and empowering entrepreneurs, innovators, and the younger generation. The concept and execution of the production was done by Together Production, with Sine Agency as the production house. The production featured the well-known singer Bader Al-Shaeebi, lyrist and composer Ali Bougheith, under the direction of Shamlan Al-Nassar and the director of photography Amin Shamsuddin. Youssef Al-Omran, also known as "Bu Jarrah”, a well-known advocate for sustainability, as well as other influencers and supporters featured in the production alongside the Kuwaiti award-winning inventor Jenan Al Shehab, along with media influencers Alia Ahmad, Jenan Al Zaid and Ali Najm were featured in the TVC considering their roles as influencers who encourage the importance of knowledge, achievements, and other aspects that drive progression and innovation. ‘With good, we go further’ During the Holy Month of Ramadan, stc launched its “With good, we go further” campaign, which consisted of different activities and programs designed to emphasize the importance of performing good deeds for the greater good of the community. The approach behind the “With good, we go further” campaign was to show participants and the public the trickle effect of doing good in the community, and how the impact can grow towards a positive sustainable future. stc, with the support of its various partners, launched initiatives that aimed to spread goodness in the community in ways that positively impact members of the community. These initiatives came in the form of distributing meals, supporting worshippers during Ramadan, spreading awareness on various issues, and engaging with the community. The initiatives launched during the campaign included partnering with the Zajel Volunteer Team to organize various activities including the largest Futoor with over 3,000 meals distributed in Mubarakiya in collaboration with Kuwait Municipality, Gastronomica, and Jahez Kuwait. This came in addition to distributing Eid gifts at the Zajel Expo to families in need. stc also collaborated with Flare Fitness to host the “Your Calories = internet” event, as well as collaborating with the Aspire Kids Club to distribute iftar meals and hold workshops to assist children in memorizing the Holy Quran. On the community front, stc participated in various initiatives such as the Al Qabas 2024 Padel Tournament where the Company was a sponsor for the 3rd year in a row. stc also hosted a Quran memorization contest in collaboration with the Imam of Grand Mosque Sheikh Omar Al Damkhi. During the Qiyam prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan, a special service for worshippers was organized by stc during the last 10 days of Ramadan at different mosques in Kuwait. Additionally, stc hosted several Girgean celebrations within the different events it participated in as part of its Ramadan celebrations for the youth. These initiatives, as well as other implemented under the “With good, we go further” theme aimed to diversify stc’s range of activities, programs, and sponsorships, positively aligning with the core objectives behind the Company’s CSR and sustainability frameworks. “Weyak” - Empowering Kuwaiti youth while nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the community AlJasem added, “The ‘Weyak’ initiative remained to be an integral part of stc’s CSR efforts in 2024, with innovative approaches to inspiring and empowering Kuwaiti youth while nurturing the entrepreneurial ecosystem within the community. Designed to support the aspirations of young innovators, startups, and SMEs, ‘Weyak’ provided tools and resources needed to either bring ambitious ideas to life or support existing concepts in thriving. With a special focus on blending creativity with business skills, the various programs under the initiative helped individuals achieve their set out objectives while contributing to the progression of Kuwait’s economy.” With its objectives set on supporting SMEs in Kuwait, stc’s ‘Weyak’ initiative engaged with aspiring entrepreneurs throughout various activities and programs. The Company organized several gatherings for entrepreneurs and SMEs as part of its strategic focus on empowering the private sector to drive economic growth and societal advancement. The interactive experience enabled like minded individuals to share their experiences and unique journeys in starting their own businesses, while discussing the entrepreneurial landscape in Kuwait. Aside from that, stc strengthened its strategic partnership with Flare Fitness by sponsoring the ‘Flare Festival’ for the 5th consecutive year. Flare Festival is considered one of the largest events of its kind in Kuwait and this year welcomed over 3,500 registered competitors across all tournament events, with a total of over 8,000 attendees over the course of three days. stc also organized its first gathering for Kuwaiti female photographers coinciding with ‘World Photography Day’, with a workshop conducted by Kuwaiti photographer, Haya Buqammaz. The event brought together 45 talented female photographers to discuss various styles of capturing photographs stc organized several workshops that covered important entrepreneurial topics to support entrepreneurs and start-ups in Kuwait. Through ‘weyak’ program and workshops, stc seeks to support and equip motivated business leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed and thrive. The ‘Weyak’ initiative reflects stc’s deep commitment to building a thriving economy for young entrepreneurs and innovators. The initiative is rooted in the belief that Kuwait’s future prosperity depends on empowering its youth and supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in line with Kuwait Vision 2035. Over the years, stc made this a priority within its CSR strategy, ensuring that its initiatives resonate with this vision. In 2024, the Company continued to push boundaries by introducing innovative ideas and platforms, assisting individuals and businesses navigate and benefit from the rapidly evolving digital world. ‘upgrade’ - focusing on supporting educational programs and platforms that aim to spread knowledge to members of the community Commenting on the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, AlJasem said, “Education remains one of the key pillars of stc’s CSR framework, especially in 2024. Since the launch of its educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, stc focused on supporting educational programs and platforms that aim to uplift the education sector while spreading knowledge to members of the community. Several initiatives were launched throughout the year under the umbrella of the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative, each serving a different purpose. This focus mirrors stc's understanding of the nature of academic excellence in building a sustainable future.” Throughout the year, stc formed strategic partnerships with various institutions such as the National Union of Kuwaiti Students (NUKS) – Kuwait University Branch, Kuwait College for Science and Technology (KCST), Kuwait Technical College (KTECH), and the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity (SACGC). The strategic partnerships focused on launching and sponsoring different programs that aimed to enhance the accessibility to educational platforms that can assist students and individuals in learning more about different subjects. Some of the programs stc participated in following the partnerships included the TechNext program launched by KTECH which was designed to channel their creativity and innovation within the field of technology. Another program was KTECH’s coding competition that witnessed the participation of over 30 public high schools where students had to put their problem solving and python programming skills to use. stc also sponsored the Journey in Kuwait” robotics competition under its strategic partnership with SACGC. The “Journey in Kuwait” competition focused on the exciting world of robotics, programming, and artificial intelligence (AI), and was for children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. Other than the programs stc participated in as part of the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) that it formed with various institutions, the Company also participated in several honoring ceremonies for academic excellence. stc honored top performing high school students at stc’s headquarters in Olympia Tower which was attended by Maryam Al-Enezi, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Development & Activities Sector at the Ministry of Education, and stc executives including Eng. Muataz Aldharrab, CEO of stc. The Company also honored 130 exceptional students with physical disabilities for the 3rd consecutive year in the presence of Mansour Al-Dhafiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Special and Specific Education, Mahmoud Abdel-Rida, acting Director of Special Education Schools Administration and the presence of several GCC ambassadors in Kuwait. 60 Kuwait University students who displayed academic excellence in the College of Arts were also celebrated by stc during 2024. Through a range of impactful programs and activities in 2024, the educational ‘upgrade’ initiative reinforced stc’s dedication to cultivating a society rooted in knowledge and awareness. The activities carried out under the initiative align with the Company’s broader vision of social responsibility, addressing immediate community needs while creating a positive long-term impact on the younger generation. ‘Because we care’ – to reinforce our commitment towards the community As for stc’s commitment to the environment and the community, AlJasem stated, “Environmental preservation, sustainable practices, and personal wellness are all key themes under stc’s ‘Because we care’ initiative. Throughout 2024, stc launched and participated in numerous campaigns that aimed to spread awareness on various health issues and environmental causes that impact the community.” Under the ‘Because we care’ initiative, stc carried out its annual health initiatives related to Blood Donation, Breast Cancer and Prostate Cancer. The Company collaborated with various entities to promote and raise awareness on these health issues and the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. stc welcomed arriving Hejaj at Kuwait International Airport’s Terminal 4 from Mecca for the 3rd year in a row, in collaboration with the Kuwait International Airport and the Directorate General for Civil Aviation and Incheon Korea for Airports Services- T4. In celebration of Eid Al Adha, stc organized a visit to Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Hospital in the presence of Gergasha Characters and stc Sofara’a Team from all departments to distribute gifts and bring joy to the children who are seeking medical needs. As part of stc’s ongoing commitment to foster health and wellbeing across the community and in collaboration with the Kuwait Oncology Association and other strategic partners, the Company launched its annual breast cancer awareness campaign called, “Your Awareness protects you” in line with Breast Cancer Awareness Month to promote early detection and prevention The activities launched under stc’s ‘Because we care’ initiative were designed to promote community wellbeing while raising awareness about environmental, health and societal issues. To create a lasting positive impact, stc strongly believes in the power of engaging with the community by providing them with platforms to come together and do good for the community. The activities organized under the initiative also align closely with the stc’s broader strategy to enhance the quality of life and lifestyle choices for its customers. 11th intake of ‘inspireU’ entrepreneur accelerator In collaboration with inspireU from stc group, this year witnessed the launch of the 2nd take of the inspireU Program in Kuwait, an entrepreneurial state-of-the-art incubator and accelerator designed to support startups and SMEs in Kuwait which focused on several areas including fintech, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT, and online gaming. The program aims to equip entrepreneurs with the tools and guidance needed to turn their ideas into successful projects, fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship to create new job opportunities and enhance sustainable growth, in line with stc's vision for enabling digital transformation And by the end of 2024, stc celebrated the graduates of the “inspireU” program in a graduation ceremony held by stc Group in its HQ in Riyadh that recognized 44 businesses and startups that completed the inspireU program, including 5 startups from Kuwait. This marked the successful conclusion of the program’s 10th and 11th intakes, as well as the first season of the advanced inspireU program. A lasting positive impact As stc looks ahead, the Company remains deeply committed to creating a positive and lasting impact on the community through its comprehensive CSR and sustainability programs. These initiatives, rooted in stc’s core values, aim to empower individuals, drive social and economic progress, and foster environmental stewardship. By addressing immediate community needs while laying the groundwork for long-term benefits, stc continues to build a legacy of positive change that resonates across Kuwait. AlJasem concluded, “The progress we have made through our CSR and sustainability programs, as well as our collaborations with various institutions in Kuwait, align with our overall mission to drive positive and lasting change in the community. We are grateful for the opportunities we have had to contribute meaningfully to the lives of individuals and society as a whole. Moving forward, we aim to build on these achievements by strengthening our partnerships and exploring new ways to address the evolving needs of our community, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come.” Looking ahead, stc envisions deepening its role as a responsible corporate citizen by further integrating sustainability into its core business strategy and operation. Having set its long-term strategic goals, stc will continue to build strategic partnerships with local and international organizations, adding value to its programs through wider reach and exposure to remain impactful and relevant. The Company will also continue focusing on expanding its environmental initiatives, with plans to launch new projects that contribute to Kuwait’s sustainability goals. By aligning its CSR and Sustainability programs with both national and global objectives, stc reaffirms its commitment to creating lasting, positive change across the community and driving sustainable development for future generations.