
Janet Yellen tells Congress US could hit debt limit in mid-JanuaryNew 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire gunsNo ex-president had a more prolific and diverse publishing career than Jimmy Carter. His more than two dozen books included nonfiction, poetry, fiction, religious meditations and a children’s story. His memoir “An Hour Before Daylight” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2002, while his 2006 best-seller “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” stirred a fierce debate by likening Israel’s policies in the West Bank to the brutal South African system of racial segregation. > Philadelphia news 24/7: Watch NBC10 free wherever you are And just before his 100th birthday, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize Foundation honored him with a lifetime achievement award for how he wielded "the power of the written word to foster peace, social justice, and global understanding.” In one recent work, “A Full Life,” Carter observed that he “enjoyed writing” and that his books “provided a much-needed source of income.” But some projects were easier than others. “Everything to Gain,” a 1987 collaboration with his wife, Rosalynn, turned into the “worst threat we ever experienced in our marriage,” an intractable standoff for the facilitator of the Camp David accords and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. According to Carter, Rosalynn was a meticulous author who considered “the resulting sentences as though they have come down from Mount Sinai, carved into stone.” Their memories differed on various events and they fell into “constant arguments.” They were ready to abandon the book and return the advance, until their editor persuaded them to simply divide any disputed passages between them. “In the book, each of these paragraphs is identified by a ‘J’ or an ‘R,’ and our marriage survived,” he wrote. Here is a partial list of books by Carter: “Keeping Faith: Memoirs of a President” “The Blood of Abraham: Insights into the Middle East” (With Rosalynn Carter) “Everything to Gain: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life” “An Outdoor Journal: Adventures and Reflections” “Turning Point: A Candidate, a State, and a Nation Come of Age” “Always a Reckoning, and Other Poems” (With daughter Amy Carter) “The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer” “Living Faith” “The Virtues of Aging” “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” “Christmas in Plains: Memories” “The Hornet’s Nest: A Novel of the Revolutionary War” “Our Endangered Values: America’s Moral Crisis” “Faith & Freedom: The Christian Challenge for the World” “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid” “A Remarkable Mother” “Beyond the White House” “We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land: A Plan That Will Work” “White House Diary” “NIV Lessons from Life Bible: Personal Reflections with Jimmy Carter” “A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power” “A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety”Bloomberg: Sony Working on New Handheld Console - Anime News Network
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New Orleans Pelicans could be getting some injury relief as soon as Friday's gameFor the first nine months of 2024, OR reported a net profit of 4.65 billion THB and sales revenue of 538.05 billion THB, driven by standout performances in its Lifestyle and Global business groups, which grew by 8.1% and 11.6%, respectively. These results reflect OR’s resilience and ability to adapt while positioning itself as a forward-thinking industry leader. Expanding Horizons: International Growth Strategy OR’s operations now span 11 countries—Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom of Bahrain—underscoring its ambition to become a global leader in the oil and retail sectors. With 411 PTT Stations and 382 Café Amazon outlets across Southeast Asia, OR is building a strong regional presence. To meet rising clean energy demand, OR is rapidly expanding EV Station PluZ, its electric vehicle charging network, supporting the region’s transition to sustainable mobility. Concurrently, PTT Lubricants is prioritizing growth in Indonesia and Taiwan, building on its established presence in over 40 countries across Asia, Africa, and Europe. Cambodia has emerged as a key market with 183 PTT Stations and 248 Café Amazon outlets, while the Philippines and Laos host 170 and 58 PTT Stations, respectively. Café Amazon, known for consistent, high-quality coffee, continues to thrive internationally, cementing OR’s presence in high-potential markets. To fuel its expansion, OR has committed 8 billion THB over the next five years (2024–2028), focusing on clean energy, infrastructure development, and global opportunities. This strategic investment aligns with OR’s vision of taking its sustainability-driven business model to the global stage. “We aim to create shared value for communities while delivering superior experiences to customers worldwide.” said M.L. Peekthong Thongyai, Chief Executive Officer of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited. Strategic Roadmap: Resilience and Transformation for 2025 Looking forward, OR has outlined a strategy emphasizing efficiency, innovation, and risk management: These initiatives reflect OR’s dedication to evolving its business model to meet the demands of a dynamic global landscape. Sustainability as a Driving Force Sustainability remains central to OR’s operations, aligned with its OR 2030 goals to: These efforts earned OR the Highly Commended Sustainability Award at the SET Awards 2024 and an AA+ credit rating from TRIS Rating, solidifying its position as a sustainability leader in Thailand and beyond. Balancing Profitability and Purpose Amid global uncertainty, OR has demonstrated that resilience, innovation, and sustainability can coexist. By embracing digital transformation, advancing sustainable practices, and pursuing international growth, OR is redefining the role of oil and retail businesses in a globalized economy. “OR’s ability to balance profitability with purpose sets a new standard for the industry” said M.L. Peekthong Thongyai. “We are not only creating value for our stakeholders but also building a legacy of positive impact for communities and the environment.” As OR embarks on its next chapter, it remains steadfast in its mission to drive sustainable growth and deliver meaningful outcomes for all. With its sights set on global leadership, OR is poised to shape a future where business success and societal progress go hand in hand. Hashtag: #PTTOilandRetailBusiness #OR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR) is a leading Thai energy and retail company with operations in 11 countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom of Bahrain. OR operates through four core business groups: Mobility Business, PTT Station, PTT Lubricants, FIT Auto, PTT LPG, EV Station PluZ and providing energy solutions for industrial, marine and aviation fuels; Lifestyles Business, featuring Café Amazon alongside convenience stores and space management; Global Business, driving international growth with over 411 PTT Stations and 382 Café Amazon outlets; and OR Innovation Business, focusing on sustainable solutions through technology and innovation. For more information, visit www.pttor.com .
Nvidia, Netflix Lead Market Cap Stock Movers on MondayG7 foreign ministers push for Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in final G7 of Biden administrationTottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has revealed that he played for an hour against Manchester City with a broken bone in his ankle. Spurs have been rocked by a major new injury blow after releasing a statement on Monday night to confirm that their No1 had undergone surgery to repair a fracture sustained during Saturday evening’s historic 4-0 victory over the reigning Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium. Vicario is now set for an extended spell on the sidelines as he recovers from the operation to his right ankle, with veteran deputy Fraser Forster set to take on starting duties in the weeks ahead supported by the likes of Brandon Austin and Alfie Whiteman. Spurs did not speculate on how long it might be until the Italian international is able to return to action, saying only that he would be assessed by club medical staff in future to determine when he can resume training. It remains to be seen if Tottenham are now tempted to pursue the signing of a new goalkeeper in the January transfer window to compensate for the loss of one of Ange Postecoglou’s most influential players. Vicario has now publicly addressed his injury, revealing on social media that he played through it for 60 minutes of the rousing win over crisis-stricken City in which he played an important role with a succession of fine saves. Vicario had initially gone down in the first half but received treatment and came back out for the second period before being seen limping after the game. “Sometimes football gives you its highs, and sometimes it challenges you in ways you don't expect," the 28-year-old wrote on Instagram on Monday night alongside a picture of him flexing his arms in his hospital bed. "I played 60 minutes at the Etihad with a broken bone in my ankle, giving absolutely everything I had for the team. "Unfortunately there was no way around this one.. I needed surgery. I'm disappointed I won't be able to help the team for a while. "A massive thank you to the doctors and the staff. The operation went well, and from tomorrow I'll be working hard to come back stronger, fitter, and ready to give my all for you again. "Thank you to the Spurs fans for all the love. See you soon on the pitch."
2 Strong Reasons to Buy Magna Stock Like There’s No Tomorrow( MENAFN - The Conversation) In December 1978, Jimmy Carter – who has died aged 100 – outlined his belief that American strategic decisions abroad should be shaped by an adherence to human rights.“Human rights is the soul of our foreign policy ... because human rights is the soul of our sense of nationhood.” In the sphere of foreign affairs, Jimmy Carter's one term as US president (1977-1981) had some notable achievements. The most significant was the 1978 Camp David accords . Carter, Israeli prime Minister Menachem Begin, and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat signed an agreement that saw Begin agree to relinquish the entire Sinai Peninsula, captured by Israel in the 1967 six-day war, in exchange for peace and full diplomatic relations with Egypt. This exemplified Carter's belief in the power of American diplomacy and why US presidents should courageously assume the difficult task of peace-making . Twenty-five years later, and against the backdrop of the build-up to the second Gulf war, Carter was recognised for his role in the accords and awarded the 2002 Nobel peace prize. The Nobel committee said that while President George W. Bush was planning an invasion of Iraq:“former President Jimmy Carter was awarded the Peace Prize for undertaking peace negotiations, campaigning for human rights, and working for social welfare”. They added that the prize was in recognition of“his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development”. On leaving office in January 1981, Carter sought to use his status as a former president to engage in the issues and causes that mattered to him most. He established the Carter Center to pursue his own course of personal diplomacy. Starting in 1982, the centre has monitored more than 110 elections in 39 countries. Ahead of the 2020 US presidential election and as then president Donald Trump on refused to commit to a peaceful transition should he lose, the Carter Center took the extraordinary step of designating the US as a “backsliding” democracy . Carter, a devout Christian, maximised his personal relationships with former world leaders to promote democracy and human rights, support scientific work on eliminating diseases, and to mediate where possible to prevent conflict. His activism was not always appreciated by some of his White House successors, both Republican and Democrat. Randall Balmer , professor of religion at Dartmouth College, said that the former president's personal brand of diplomacy could often complicate and even contradict contemporary US diplomatic initiatives. Carter was a member of The Elders , an independent group of global leaders working on peace promotion, social justice, climate change and global human rights. During his years of active membership Carter dedicated significant energy to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict , visiting the region on a number of occasions to support the Elders' work. In the early 1990s the former president became involved in mediation work between the US State Department and several rogue states including North Korea and Libya. In 1994, Carter supported the US government's diplomatic efforts to resolve an increasingly tense nuclear weapons' situation with North Korean leader Kim Il Sung. Carter met with Kim in June 1994, becoming the first former US president to visit the country. The trip laid the groundwork for an eventual bilateral deal between North Korea and the US. The agreement saw North Korea pledge to freeze its plutonium weapons programme, while the US agreed to offer aid. Carter continued to weigh-in on contemporary geopolitical events well into his 90s. He was openly critical when Trump announced in May 2018 that he was withdrawing the US from the Iran nuclear agreement , which had been negotiated by the Obama administration in 2015. He called Trump's move a “serious mistake” . Carter felt that an international agreement made by an American president needed to be binding on all their successors and that by walking away from the Iran deal the US was signalling a“message to North Korea that if the United States signs an agreement, it may or may not be honored”. One of Carter's major accomplishments since leaving office was his centre's work in health care, and specifically the eradication of Guinea-worm disease. This is a parasitic infection caused by drinking contaminated water. The consequences of the illness , while not fatal, can incapacitate the sufferer and lead to permanent disability. The Carter Center committed to training over 100,000 village-based health care workers, invested in education programmes and provided water filters to protect people from swallowing the parasite. The results have been highly successful. According to the centre:“incidences of Guinea-worm disease have been reduced from an estimated 3.5 million in 1986 to 13 in 2023 , with the disease being eliminated in 17 countries”. Jimmy Carter's commitment to human rights never went away and his concept of a human-rights focused foreign policy has become permanently encoded in the global conversation . The former president's work brought him international acclaim, and illustrated why the nation's leaders should reject short-sighted calculations that risk the US being complicit in human rights violations . MENAFN29122024000199003603ID1109040022 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. 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Cleveland Police Reform: Commission Approves New Disciplinary Policies and Drone Usage Rules Amid ControversyALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York state government agencies will have to conduct reviews and publish reports that detail how they're using artificial intelligence software, under a new law signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul. Hochul, a Democrat, signed the bill last week after it was passed by state lawmakers earlier this year. The law requires state agencies to perform assessments of any software that uses algorithms, computational models or AI techniques, and then submit those reviews to the governor and top legislative leaders along with posting them online. It also bars the use of AI in certain situations, such as an automated decision on whether someone receives unemployment benefits or child care assistance, unless the system is being consistently monitored by a human. State workers would also be shielded from having their hours or job duties limited because of AI under the law. State Sen. Kristen Gonzalez, a Democrat who sponsored the bill, called the law an important step in setting up some guardrails in how the emerging technology is used in state government.
W hile sales of electric vehicles surge in China, adoption of more environmentally friendly vehicles is stumbling in the United States and Europe as carmakers and governments struggle to meet years-old promises about affordability and charging stations. Adding to those headwinds: an incoming new U.S. president who has disparaged government support for electric vehicles. China is the exception. Driven by government subsidies and mandates, vehicles with electric motors, including plug-in hybrids that combine electric and fossil fuel motors, topped 50% of sales in the month of July. Concerns about range, charging infrastructure and higher prices are sore points among both electric car enthusiasts and skeptics in Europe and the U.S. Solar panels power charging at Detlef Mueller-Salis’ home in Mainz, Germany, so he thought he was all set to go electric. But range concerns, charging times and confusing charging payment methods proved frustrating. So after four years, he and his wife sold their Porsche Taycan and Fiat 500 electrics and bought a BMW 5-Series and a Volkswagen Polo, both internal combustion. The smaller Fiat could run about 136 miles on a charge in summer and 112 in winter, he said, against the manufacturer’s specification of 198 miles. Constantly checking the battery before quick trips to visit grandchildren and elderly parents grew annoying. So did going on vacation with payment cards from five charging plans. The Porsche took 30 minutes to charge instead of the 22 minutes advertised, not a huge difference but “not what the company promised,” said Mueller-Salis, who is retired from a logistics company. Driving fast on the autobahn reduced range so that “you paid for it with charging time.” Both retirees in their 70s, Ken and Roxanne Honeycutt mainly drive their used Kia Soul around their town near Oakland, California. They charge the EV, with a range of about 111 miles, in their garage and don’t rely much on public infrastructure. But for longer trips they have to plan fast-charging stops ahead of time. “We wanted to try it,” Roxanne said of the EV. “Sometimes we found that the charging stations don’t always work, they’re broken down, so that gives you a little bit of anxiety if you know, OK, I need to charge.” On one cold, rainy January day, the Soul’s range dropped faster than expected, so they had to stop twice to charge. Another time, they hit multiple nonfunctioning chargers — even in California, where EV adoption leads the rest of the country. Their range dropped to 13 miles. “We’re used to having a gas station on every corner, 24 hours a day,” Roxanne said, adding they still like the vehicle. Electric cars aren’t going away. They are essential for planet-warming carbon emissions reductions governments agreed to under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Electrified vehicle sales will reach 17 million this year, or one car in five sold globally, according to the International Energy Agency. That includes plug-in hybrids that combine electric with internal combustion motors. But about 60% of those sales are in China. In Europe, sales of electric-only cars fell 5.8% in January-September from a year earlier, while their market share fell to 13% from 14%. Pure EVs accounted for 8% of overall U.S. vehicle sales in October. So, the market is growing, but sales slowed. They’re not plunging, but they’re not yet growing fast enough to meet climate goals. Higher prices matter. A Volkswagen ID. 3 hatchback costs about $42,090, compared to the similar-sized Volkswagen Golf fuel engine version at $29,136, according to the ADAC auto association. U.S. EV prices have fallen significantly since 2022, but the average price in October for a new one, $56,902, still exceeded the average $48,623 for a new vehicle. Cost remains an issue for the more mainstream American consumers EV makers hope to target, according to a recent poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Uncertainty over purchase subsidies also complicates price comparisons. EV sales plunged in Germany early this year after the government abruptly canceled the purchase premium of roughly $7,100 for cars up to $42,000 and about $4,700 for cars up to about $68,000. ADAC says that means most internal combustion models are a better deal over a car’s lifetime. Conservative political parties and the industry are now questioning the EU’s goal of eliminating most fuel engine vehicles by 2035, a decision that’s up for review in 2026. The European Auto Manufacturers’ Association is urging that carbon dioxide limits, which carmakers must meet by 2026 or face heavy fines, be relaxed. Some carmakers have pushed back electrification plans. Republican President-elect Donald Trump vowed to end what he called the Democratic Biden administration’s EV “mandate,” though he softened his anti-EV stance as his ties with Tesla CEO Elon Musk grew closer. Automakers are not required to sell EVs under the Environmental Protection Agency’s greenhouse gas emissions standards regulating tailpipe pollution, though they need EVs to make up at least 56% of their total sales to meet the ambitious standards for cutting emissions. Trump may also eliminate critical EV tax credits. Even if fewer buyers choose EVs, tax credits or not, auto companies show no intention of fully retreating from the transition away from gas-burning cars and trucks. China’s auto market, the world’s largest, was transformed by billions of dollars in subsidies, with EV sales reaching 25.8% of the 13.5 million vehicles sold in January-August, according to the China Passenger Car Association. The government is encouraging car buyers to go electric, and many are buying EVs or plug-in hybrids under an economic stimulus program. The phasing out of earlier subsidies in 2022 unleashed a fierce price war, toppling some weaker automakers. Some Chinese EVs sell for less than $20,000 in their home market. The government push encouraged many start-ups that took the Tesla model and ran with it. They simplified car designs to cut costs and filled interiors with gadgetry appealing to a smartphone-savvy generation. Photographer Wu Cong sat inside his $23,000 Hongqi E-QM5 as it recharged in Beijing. He travels often for work, racking up 50,000 miles in the past two years. The EV saves him about $7 in fuel costs for every 62 miles, he said, which would add up to $5,600 over two years. The sedan’s navigation system reminds him to recharge after driving a distance of his choosing. “It will tell you if there are charging stations ahead and if anyone is using them,” he said. Beijing tech worker Shang Wenting said her family hardly uses its gasoline-powered car anymore except for on long trips, preferring a sapphire Tesla Model Y that cost about $37,000. During a weekly trip to a charging station 10 minutes from her home, Shang said the Tesla is cheaper to drive and she loves its “smart features,” like an energy recovery system that means she can press on the accelerator less. “It feels like switching from an old phone to a smartphone,” she said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!