Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutionsIn the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, residents celebrate fall of Assad
Miami Dolphins make numerical NFL history in Sunday win | Sporting NewsSAN ANTONIO — Colorado secured what it said was record insurance coverage for quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter as the star duo opted to complete their college careers in the Alamo Bowl rather than sit out and prepare for the NFL draft. Colorado would not disclose the amount of insurance coverage each received, citing privacy laws. Coach Deion Sanders and athletic director Rick George both said it was the largest in college football history. "We happen to have two players that are probably going to be the first two picks of the NFL draft," Sanders said Monday. "We all know who those two are and they have received, I think, the highest number of coverage that has ever been covered in college football. It far exceeds anyone that has ever played this game of college football." While college programs maintain insurance policies for their athletes in case of injury, Colorado increased disability coverage for its entire roster in the Alamo Bowl. Sanders, the coach of the No. 20 Buffaloes, ensured his QB son and two-way star Hunter received larger policies since both are expected to be among the top 10 selections in the upcoming NFL draft. People are also reading... "It was his idea we should get disability insurance for our athletes for this game to ensure that they played and if there was some kind of injury that they would be well taken care of," George said. "So, we worked together on that. We're excited about it. We think it's great that all our players are playing in the game. That's what all bowl games should be like." Colorado (9-3, No. 23 CFP) will face the 17th-ranked BYU Cougars (10-2, No. 17 CFP) in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday. While most teams are scrambling with starters opting out of bowl games this year to enter the transfer portal or NFL draft, the Buffaloes did not lose any player on their two-deep roster. "It's more than what I got (when he played at Kansas State)," Colorado linebackers coach Andre' Hart said. "They gave us a helmet and said pop this on your leg and get out there and play. For them to get that (increased insurance coverage), I just think it's beneficial. To talk about where the game is, where it's going and how leadership is taking care of the players, I thought that's excellent." Shedeur Sanders completed 337 of 454 passes for 3,926 yards and 35 touchdowns this season. Many scouting services have Sanders rated as the top quarterback in this year's draft. Hunter received the Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout at cornerback and wide receiver. He had 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns and as a cornerback had four interceptions, broke up 11 passes and limited the opposition to 22 receptions on 688 defensive snaps. "They've taken care of us, everybody," Colorado running back Micah Welch said. "It really means a lot to have every teammate up here. That's a big thing. What I like about Coach Prime, they're taking care of us." Be the first to knowInterview: Gladiator II Production Designer Arthur Max Talks Building Roman Sets, Colosseum
As spotted by a Reddit user this weekend, Panic is now selling a macaroni yellow charging brick to go with the yellow cable that comes with the distinctively yellow Playdate. Say yellow again. The good news for anyone who wants a complete set of matching accessories is that it’s only $5 — the bad news is that shipping costs almost double that at its cheapest, so it’s kind of hard to justify buying on its own. AC Adapter $5 at Panic Also note that the 10W power adapter has a USB-A connection so it’ll work with your existing Playdate charging cable, but it’s otherwise kind of behind the times considering the general shift toward the USB-C connection. At the moment, Panic is only selling a version that’s compatible with the 2-prong plug type that’s standard in North America and Japan. It goes without saying that absolutely no one needs this — our Playdates have been charging just fine without it so far — but if you’re already on the site getting a pizza case now that they’re back in stock, then sure, go wild.OPP seeking witnesses of wrong way driver on Hwy. 401
Colorado adds record insurance coverage for Sanders and Hunter before Alamo BowlWASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Cover Five: What to make of wild week around Nebraska football, and 5 biggest impact signeesATLANTA (AP) — 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. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where 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. 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. 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. 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. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.
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Trump says he can't guarantee tariffs won't raise US prices and won't rule out revenge prosecutions
Over the last couple of years, abnormally high inflation in combination with rising borrowing costs inspired some businesses to focus more on internal efforts and push off any ideas about acquisitions or special projects. But now that inflation is cooling and the Federal Reserve has begun to taper interest rates, corporate balance sheets are strengthening. Moreover, I think it's only a matter of time until the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chairwoman, Lina Khan, resigns before President-elect Trump is sworn into office. One of my main predictions for 2025 is that mergers and acquisitions will see a comeback amid an improving macroeconomic picture and the high likelihood that leadership at the FTC changes under the incoming administration. One company that I see as an attractive acquisition candidate is SoundHound AI ( SOUN 12.60% ) , which specializes in voice-recognition assistants powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Below, I'm going to detail why speech recognition is an important component of the AI ecosystem, and explore why SoundHound AI looks like a logical acquisition prospect. Why is voice-powered AI so important? Voice-enabled AI uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to train devices to understand and process words and phrases. Common applications of this technology include Internet of Things ( IoT ) appliances such as smart thermostats or assistants like Amazon 's Alexa. The AI embedded in these tools can help you set reminders, obtain general information by asking a question, or even change the temperature throughout your home -- all by leveraging your voice and removing any manual or physical steps in between. According to Statista, the global total addressable market (TAM) for speech recognition is estimated to reach $15.9 billion by 2030 -- slightly more than double what it is worth today. While there is clear demand for AI-powered speech recognition, which businesses are actually investing in this technology? The answer may surprise you. What companies are investing in voice assistants? In addition to Amazon, the companies listed below have invested significantly into AI voice assistants over the last several years: Alphabet: Similar to Amazon, it also has a line of smart-home products. The company's Google Home devices are essentially a direct competitor to Amazon's Alexa, while the company's smart-home products -- including speakers, thermostats, doorbells and locks, and much more -- are sold under its Nest brand. Microsoft: A couple of years ago, the company acquired a developer of AI voice recognition called Nuance for nearly $20 billion. Nuance gained traction in a few crucial end markets, but mainly focused on healthcare. For Microsoft, the deal represented an opportunity to leverage a new type of technology while also allowing the company to cross-sell its various services -- particular its Azure cloud computing infrastructure -- to major organizations already working with Nuance. Its partner OpenAI has also been experimenting with voice-powered AI tools . Although it's still early days, Microsoft appears to be well positioned in the speech recognition segment of the AI landscape. Apple: The company's primary foray into speech recognition is through its AI assistant, Siri. It's integrated throughout Apple's hardware products and can understand users' voices to answer questions and perform basic tasks such as scheduling. Several years ago, Apple also acquired Shazam, an app that can process musical lyrics and generate information including the artist, album, and song name. Nvidia: The company is perhaps the most peripheral player among big tech when it comes to voice recognition software. According to its 13F filings , Nvidia owns a small equity stake in SoundHound AI through an investment it made in the company when it was still private. Why SoundHound AI makes a logical acquisition candidate I see a few reasons SoundHound is an attractive acquisition candidate. First, the market for AI speech recognition is expected to grow considerably over the next several years. Furthermore, many of the world's most influential businesses have already invested significantly into this type of technology. To me, SoundHound AI represents another stitch in the broader AI voice fabric -- and one that comes with some unique features. It primarily focuses on business-to-business ( B2B ) end markets such as restaurants, hospitality, and automaking. However, the company also developed an app that competes with Shazam, and so it also has products that tackle a more business-to-consumer ( B2C ) opportunity as well. SOUN revenue (quarterly) data by YCharts. I find the trends detailed above quite interesting. SoundHound AI is witnessing impressive demand, but the company is yet to reach the scale needed to grow profitably. Considering that big tech is already investing heavily in voice-powered AI, I think it's safe to say that SoundHound AI is going to have trouble competing with these businesses given its limited financial horsepower. The one drawback with SoundHound AI is valuation. At a price-to-sales multiple (P/S) of 46, the stock is far from a bargain. But with that said, the company's market cap is roughly $5 billion. For most logical acquirers, such a price tag isn't a problem. These factors have me thinking it would be better off functioning within a larger organization with a more robust balance sheet. In other words, having access to the resources of larger businesses could potentially speed up SoundHound AI's progress considerably.Musk’s AI startup raises further $6bn PARIS: Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk’s startup xAI said it had raised $6 billion from investors in its latest funding round, as it battles stiff competition in the artificial intelligence market. The firm, whose flagship product is the Grok chatbot, garnered support from US venture capitalists, chipmakers NVIDIA and AMD, and investment funds from Saudi Arabia and Qatar among others. Musk has repeatedly warned that AI poses a risk to human civilisation, but he is pushing hard for a bigger slice of investment in the sector and xAI already raised $6 billion in May. The company is now one of the world ́s most valuable startups with an estimated $50 billion valuation, though still dwarfed by chief competitor OpenAI’s estimated $157 billion. Despite the sky-high estimates, critics have pointed out that AI firms are burning through cash and still have no clear path to profitability. Announcing the funding on Monday, xAI said it would use the cash injection to “ship groundbreaking products that will be used by billions of people”. It would also “accelerate the research and development of future technologies enabling the company’s mission to understand the true nature of the universe”. Musk, who also acts as boss of SpaceX and Tesla and is a chief backer of US president-elect Donald Trump, wrote on his X account that “a lot of compute is needed” to power AI products. He launched the company in July 2023 shortly after he signed an open letter calling for a pause in the development of powerful AI models. Musk is currently taking legal action against ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, which he co-founded as a non-profit in 2015 before leaving in 2018, alleging that its conversion to a for-profit company breaks legally binding commitments.
Telegram , which is the encrypted messaging app founded by Pavel Durov has finally achieved profitability for the first time in its 11 year history in the year 2024, reported Dnyuz. ET Year-end Special Reads Top 10 equity mutual funds of the year. Do you have any? How India flexed its global power muscles in 2024 2024 was the year India became the talk of America According to Dnyuz, the revenue of the company Telegram surpassed $1 billion with $500 million in cash reserves while excluding cryptocurrency assets. This financial milestone finally comes after years of financial challenges and mounting debt. The success of the platform actually stems from diversified monetization strategies which include a premium subscription service priced at $4.99 monthly, which now boasts 12 million paid users and an aggressive advertising approach, asserted Dnyuz. Pavel Durov has repaid a significant portion of the company's $2 billion debt and emphasized on the fact that the company can maintain financial sustainability while respecting user rights. In spite of its financial triumph, Telegram still continues to face a global scrutiny over content moderation issues. The app has been pretty controversial due to its minimal content filtering while leading to potential bans in multiple countries, noted Dnyuz. Pavel Durov himself is currently under investigation in France for alleged criminal activities facilitated through the platform. 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FAQs: Which renowned messaging app has finally achieved profitability? Telegram, which is the encrypted messaging app founded by Pavel Durov has finally achieved profitability for the first time in its 11 year history in the year 2024. Currently, what is the revenue of Telegram? The revenue of the company Telegram surpassed $1 billion with $500 million in cash reserves while excluding cryptocurrency assets. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump said he can't guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won't raise prices for American consumers and he suggested once more that some political rivals and federal officials who pursued legal cases against him should be imprisoned. The president-elect, in a wide-ranging interview with NBC's “Meet the Press” that aired Sunday, also touched on monetary policy, immigration, abortion and health care, and U.S. involvement in Ukraine, Israel and elsewhere.
This week, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, a vocal advocate for privacy rights and transparency, joined forces with a bipartisan coalition to demand a thorough investigation into the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) use of facial recognition technology, signaling that the long contentious debate over the increasing use of facial recognition technology at airport security checkpoints isn’t going to cool down anytime soon. The bipartisan group sent a to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari. Their message was clear: TSA’s rollout of biometric systems raises serious concerns about accuracy, necessity, and the potential erosion of passenger privacy. Merkley’s campaign against TSA’s facial recognition efforts has garnered the support of five Democrats, five Republicans, and one Independent from across the political spectrum to push back against what they see to be an overreach of federal power. The coalition reflects a widespread unease in Congress over TSA’s without sufficient oversight or safeguards. Each of the Senators who signed the letter have advocated for a cautious and regulated approach to the government’s use of biometric technologies, emphasizing the protection of privacy and civil liberties. “We ... urge you to conduct thorough oversight of TSA’s use of facial recognition technology for passenger verification from both an authorities and privacy perspective,” the Senators said in their November 20 letter to Cuffari. “This technology will soon be in use at hundreds of major and mid-size airports without an independent evaluation of the technology’s precision or an audit of whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to protect passenger privacy.” The Senators said, “this technology poses significant threats to our privacy and civil liberties, and Congress should prohibit TSA’s development and deployment of facial recognition tools until rigorous congressional oversight occurs.” The involvement of Senate Republicans shouldn’t come as a surprise. last week that Senate Republicans have increasingly emphasized the importance of individual privacy rights and informed consent in the context of biometric data collection, especially as the use of biometrics becomes more widespread. While Republicans – who will control the Senate when the new Congress convenes in January – have typically supported the use of biometrics for law enforcement and national security purposes, so long as such use is properly regulated and accountable, they’ve also been leery of how biometric data is and can be used by government agencies, particularly regarding civil liberties and the potential for abuse. TSA’s facial recognition program has been steadily expanding, with plans to introduce next-generation credential authentication technology (CAT) equipped with facial recognition capabilities to over 430 airports nationwide. TSA touts these systems as tools to enhance security, streamline passenger verification, and reduce wait times. Yet, the Senators’ letter highlights a critical issue: TSA has failed to demonstrate that facial recognition is necessary when existing non-biometric systems, such as CAT-1 scanners, can already detect fraudulent identification. Moreover, the technology’s accuracy remains questionable, the Senators said, noting that TSA data reputedly shows a 3 percent false negative rate in identity capture. When applied to the 2.3 million travelers passing through airports daily, this rate could result in nearly 70,000 discrepancies every day. “TSA has not provided Congress with evidence that facial recognition technology is necessary to catch fraudulent documents, decrease wait times at security checkpoints, or stop terrorists from boarding airplanes,” the Senators said, adding that “facial recognition would also fail to stop the hundreds of people who reportedly bypass security checkpoints in a given year.” Merkley and his colleagues say they are concerned about potential privacy issues with the program. Critics warn that these systems could evolve into one of the largest federal surveillance databases, a prospect that Merkley says he finds deeply troubling. “If this becomes mandatory,” Merkley warns, “the TSA’s program could transform overnight into a sweeping surveillance apparatus without the authorization of Congress.” TSA claims that its facial recognition program is optional, but evidence has emerged that suggests otherwise. There are anecdotal reports from travelers who describe intimidating encounters with Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) when attempting to opt out. Travelers have recounted being pressured or misled into compliance, with TSOs sometimes claiming that opting out would lead to significant delays. Meanwhile, signage explaining the opt-out option is often poorly displayed or hidden, leaving passengers unaware of their rights. “While TSA claims facial recognition is optional,” the Senators said in their letter, “it is confusing and intimidating to opt out of TSA’s facial recognition scans, and our offices have received numerous anecdotal reports of TSOs becoming belligerent when a traveler asks to opt out, or simply being unaware of that right.” The Senators further said that “signage directing passengers to follow officer instructions and step in front of the facial recognition camera is prominently displays, while the signage for opting out is often strategically placed in inconspicuous locations, making it challenging to read and locate. TSOs are inconsistently trained on how to respond to passengers who request to pt out and have told passengers they will face delays for opting out.” These tactics have not gone unnoticed by Merkley, who said he personally opted out of the program during a flight from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Oregon, his home state. Merkley said his firsthand experience, combined with numerous constituent complaints, underscores systemic flaws in the program’s implementation. “Privacy cannot be an afterthought,” Merkley said in a statement. “It must be a fundamental consideration, especially when dealing with sensitive biometric data.” “Additionally, despite promising lawmakers and the public that this technology is not mandatory, TSA has stated its intent to expand this technology beyond the security checkpoint and make it mandatory in the future,” Merkley said, noting that “in April 2023, TSA Administrator [David] Pekoske admitted at the South by Southwest Conference that ‘we will get to the point where we will require biometrics across the board.’ If that happens, this program could become one of the largest federal surveillance databases overnight without authorization from Congress.” Such comments have only fueled bipartisan skepticism. Merkley and his colleagues argue that Congress has not authorized such sweeping changes to passenger verification protocols, and they demand a full audit of the program’s implications before it becomes the default at airports nationwide. For Merkley, this fight is far from new. He has consistently championed privacy rights in the face of expanding surveillance technologies. Earlier this year, he led a bipartisan effort to include privacy safeguards in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act which became law in May. He also introduced the which is aimed at restricting TSA’s use of facial recognition at airports and has bipartisan support. The bill has been bottled up in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Merkley’s advocacy resonates with Americans concerned about the growing encroachment of surveillance in public spaces, a fear that many Republicans share. While proponents of facial recognition argue that the technology enhances security, opponents contend that it sets a dangerous precedent. They warn of a future where constant monitoring becomes normalized, eroding the expectation of privacy in everyday life. The senators’ letter calls for a thorough investigation into TSA’s use of facial recognition technology, urging Inspector General Cuffari to examine its accuracy, necessity, and compliance with privacy standards. They also stress the need for transparency in how the TSA plans to handle the vast amounts of biometric data it collects. Will this data be stored securely? Who will have access to it? And what safeguards are in place to prevent misuse? As the holiday travel season reaches its peak, the debate over TSA’s facial recognition program takes on new urgency. Millions of Americans will pass through security checkpoints, many of them unknowingly subject to biometric scans. For lawmakers like Merkley, this moment represents a critical juncture, and a chance to shape the policies governing biometric technology before its widespread adoption becomes irreversible. At its core, the fight against TSA’s facial recognition program is about accountability. Merkley and his bipartisan allies are calling on the federal government to pause, evaluate, and justify its actions. They argue that any program with such far-reaching implications must be subject to rigorous scrutiny, not only to protect privacy, but also to uphold public trust. “Security and privacy are not mutually exclusive. We can protect our skies without compromising the rights of those who travel beneath them,” Merkley said. “Whether the TSA will heed this call for restraint and transparency remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the debate over facial recognition technology is far from over. Meanwhile, Pekoske has indicated he wants to stay on as TSA Administrator under President Donald Trump, at least until his term as administrator ends in 2027. It was Trump who nominated Pekoske to head TSA during Trump’s first term as president. “It’s important for continuity in TSA to run the second term to its conclusion,” Pekoske said. | | | | |Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’Military courts’ verdicts under law enacted by parliament: FO
San Diego Unified weighs plans for 1,000 affordable homes for school district employeesTaurus – (20th April to 20th May) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Risks make you powerful Look for happy moments with the lover and consider performing the best at work. Expect minor troubles from seniors. Prosperity will be at your side today. Diligent handling of romantic affairs is the need of the hour. Minor issues will be there at the workplace but nothing will stop you from performing brilliantly. Do not invest money blindly and instead go for professional help in financial handling. Health is good. Taurus Love Horoscope Today Do not let egos impact the relationship. Devote more time for the partner and during the conversations, avoid delving into the unpleasant past. Your parents may be supportive today and some females may also take a call on marriage. Single females will be the point of attraction at events or functions and can expect a proposal. Some married lives will see the interference of a third person which may cause turbulence. Some natives will see the partners getting highly emotional and you need to handle this as per the need. Taurus Career Horoscope Today Keep tremors at the office aside and focus on the tasks assigned. Your commitment is crucial as some tasks may also require you to work additional hours. Some clients will not be happy with performance and you will need to pull up the socks to accomplish every assigned task. Those who have interviews lined up can confidently attend them to receive an offer letter. Marketing and salespersons will struggle to convince clients. Taurus Money Horoscope Today Wealth will be your companion today. A previous investment would bring in a good income which will reflect in the lifestyle. You may utilize the money to buy electronic appliances and even a vehicle. The second part of the day is good to seriously consider real estate. Ensure you have proper guidance while trying your fortune in stock, trade, and speculative business. Businessmen will succeed in raising funds through promoters. Taurus Health Horoscope Today Do not let the lifestyle impact your health. Make a balance between the personal and professional life. Start the day with exercise and keep oil and fat off the plate. Some children will develop viral fever, sore throat, or digestion issues today. Female natives may also develop migraine or severe headaches in the second half of the day. Taurus Sign Attributes Strength - Passionate, Practical, Meticulous, Patient, Artsy, Compassionate Weakness Intolerant, Reliant, stubborn Symbol Bull Element Earth Body Part Neck & Throat Sign Ruler Venus Lucky Day Friday Lucky Color Pink Lucky Number 6 Lucky Stone Opal Taurus Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Good compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio Fair compatibility: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Less compatibility: Leo, Aquarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)