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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. In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. 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.” FILE - Jimmy Carter gives his acceptance speech after accepting the Democratic nomination for president on the convention floor, July 15, 1976, at New York's Madison Square Garden. 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. FILE - President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter are pictured with their daughter Amy at the first of seven inaugural balls in Washington, Jan. 20, 1977, at the Pension Building. 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. FILE - President Jimmy Carter leans across the roof of his car to shake hands along the parade route through Bardstown, Ky., July 31, 1979. The president climbed on top of the car as the parade moved toward the high school gym, where a town meeting was held. 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. FILE - Former President Jimmy Carter uses a hand saw to even an edge as he works on a Habitat for Humanity home in Pikeville, Ky., June 16, 1997. 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. FILE - President-elect Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd as he and his wife Rosalynn arrive at the Plains Baptist Church to attend services in Plains, Ga., Nov. 22, 1976. 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.” Former Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report. Jimmy Carter is shown at age 6, with his sister, Gloria, 4, in 1931 in Plains, Georgia. (AP Photo) This is a 1932 photo of Jimmy Carter at age 7 in Plains, Ga. (AP Photo) Lt. Jimmy Carter peers at instruments on submarine USS K-1 in a 1952 photo. Directly in front of Carter, smoking a cigar, is Don Dickson. He had forgotten he ever served with Carter until he came upon the photo during Christmas, 1977. A friend got it to the White House where Carter wrote: "To my friend Donald Dickson - Jimmy Carter, USS K-1 to White House." (AP Photo) FILE - In this Sept. 15, 1966 file photo, then Georgia State Sen. Jimmy Carter hugs his wife, Rosalynn, at his Atlanta campaign headquarters. Jimmy Carter, winner in Georgia's runoff primary in the Democratic Party to determine the party's candidate for the November election for governor, 1970. (AP Photo) Former State Sen. Jimmy Carter listens to applause at the Capitol in Atlanta on April 3, 1970, after announcing his candidacy or governor. In background, his wife Rosalyn holds two-year-old daughter Amy who joined in the applause. Carter, 45, of Plains, Ga., finished third in the 1966 Democratic Primary behind Gov. Lester Maddox and Ellis Arnall. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly) Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn clutch the microphones as he claims victory in a runoff election at campaign headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, September 24, 1970. Carter beat former Georgia Governor Carl Sanders for the nomination and will face Republican candidate Hal Suit, veteran television newsman, in the general election Nov. 3, 1970. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly) Former state Sen. Jimmy Carter breaks into a broad smile after early returns gave him a lead of almost 2-1 in the Democratic runoff against former Gov. Carl Sanders, Sept. 23, 1970, in Atlanta, Ga. The winner will meet the Republic Hal Suit for the governorship of Georgia on the Nov. 3 general election. (AP Photo/Charles Kelly) Governor-elect Jimmy Carter and his daughter Amy, 3, walk about the grounds by the fountain at the Governor's Mansion in Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 10, 1971, as they get to know the place where they will live for the next four years. Carter will be sworn in as governor of Georgia Tuesday. (AP Photo) Judge Robert H. Jordan administers the oath of office to Gov. Jimmy Carter during ceremonies at the state capitol in Atlanta. Ga., Jan. 12, 1971. Next to the judge is former Gov. Lester Maddox, who will take over as lieutenant governer of Georgia. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter of Georgia, seen here Feb. 6, 1971, already described as a symbol of a new breed of moderate southern politician, says that the race question has ceased to be a major issue "between or among candidates" running for office in the old confederacy. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter, Governor of Georgia, is shown at his desk in Atlanta, on February 19, 1971. (AP Photo) Georgia's Gov. Jimmy Carter reaches for pen February 25, 1972 to sign a Georgia Senate House resolution opposing forced busing to achieve integration in the classrooms of the United States. Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter joins a half-dozen Rockettes in a high kick, September 21, 1973, at Radio City Music Hall in New York, while visiting backstage before an afternoon performance. Carter is in New York to induce the film industry to make pictures in his state. (AP Photo/stf) Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, and Delaware Gov. Sherman Tribbitt say hello to Atlanta Braves Hank Aaron, left, following a rain canceled game with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Thursday, Sept. 27, 1973, Atlanta, Ga. The cancellation slowed Aaron’s opportunity to tie or break Babe Ruth’s home run record. (AP Photo) Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter spoke to 18,000 messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention on Thursday, June 13, 1974 in Dallas, Texas. He urged Baptists to use their personal and political influence to return the nation to ideals of stronger commitment and higher ethics. He said "there is no natural division between a man's Christian life and his political life." (AP Photo/Greg Smith) Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter tells a gathering, Saturday, Oct. 5, 1974 at the National Press Club in Washington about his ideas concerning energy conservation. (AP Photo) In this Thursday, Aug. 14, 1975 file photo, former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter announces in Washington that he qualified for federal matching funds to help finance his campaign for the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination. Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter, right, drew about 5,000 people to Youngstown's Federal Plaza in Youngstown, Ohio, in his quest for support in Tuesday's Ohio Democratic primary, June 7, 1976. The presidential hopeful waded into the crowd, shaking hands and signing autographs. Carter, speaking to the largest crowd to assemble during his Ohio campaign, said 1976 would be a Democratic year because of the Watergate aftermath and other national ills. (AP Photo) In this Monday, Aug. 23, 1976 file photo, Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter gives an informal press conference in Los Angeles during a campaign tour through the West and Midwest. On Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015. (AP Photo) Democratic Presidential nominee Jimmy Carter, left, eats some freshly roasted barbecue chicken with his brother Billy Carter at Billy's gas station, Sept 11, 1976, Plains, Ga. The nominee had returned the night before from a week of campaigning, and planned to hold an impromptu press conference at the gas station. (AP Photo/Jeff Taylor) Democratic presidential nominee, Jimmy Carter, is all smiles as he talks with his brother Billy at the Carter Family Peanut warehouse, September 18, 1976. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter stands in a large mound of peanuts at the Carter Peanut Warehouse in Plains, Ga., September 22, 1976. The Democratic party presidential nominee took an early morning walk through the warehouse to inspect some of the harvest. (AP Photo) FILE - In this Oct. 6, 1976 file photo with his wife Rosalynn Carter looking on at center, Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter, center left, shakes hands with President Gerald Ford at the conclusion of their debate at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in San Francisco, Calif. (AP Photo, File) Jimmy Carter, Democratic candidate for president, is joined by his daughter, Amy, as he waves from the rostrum at Fort Worth Convention Center, Texas, Sunday, Nov. 1, 1976. Carter and his family have been campaigning Texas, making a last minute bid for the state's 26 electoral votes. The others are not identified. (AP Photo) U.S. President-elect Jimmy Carter waves to supporters as he is surrounded by family members at a hotel in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 3, 1976. Carter won the presidential election by 297 electoral votes to 241 for Ford. Standing next to him is his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter Amy Lynn, far right. The others are unidentified. (AP Photo) President-elect Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn wipe tears from their eyes after returning to their home town in Plains, Ga., Nov. 3, 1976. The Carter family was greeted by local residents after returning from Atlanta. (AP Photo) President-elect Jimmy Carter leans over to shake hands with some of the people riding the "Peanut Special" to Washington D.C., Jan. 19, 1977. They will travel all night, arriving in Washington in time for Carter's inauguration as President tomorrow. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter takes the oath of office as the nation's 39th president during inauguration ceremonies in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 1977. Carter's wife, Rosalynn, holds the Bible used in the first inauguration by George Washington as U.S. Chief Justice Warren Burger administers the oath. Looking on at left are, Happy Rockefeller, Betty Ford, Joan Mondale, Amy Carter, and outgoing President Gerald Ford. Behind Carter is Vice President Walter Mondale. At far right is former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller. (AP Photo) Rosalynn Carter, left, looks up at her husband Jimmy Carter as he takes the oath of office as the 39th President of the United States at the Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 20, 1977, Washington, D.C. Mrs. Carter held a family Bible for her husband. (AP Photo) Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter walk down Pennsylvania Avenue after Carter was sworn in as the nations 39th President, Jan. 20, 1977, Washington, D.C. (AP Photo) FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 20, 1977 file photo, President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd while walking with his wife, Rosalynn, and their daughter, Amy, along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House following his inauguration in Washington. (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis) In this Jan. 24, 1977 file photo, President Jimmy Carter is interviewed in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. In this file photo dated May 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, right, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II with French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, at Buckingham Palace in London. In this Feb. 20, 1978, file photo, President Jimmy Carter listens to Sen. Joseph R. Biden, D-Del., as they wait to speak at fund raising reception at Padua Academy in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Barry Thumma, File) President Jimmy Carter tucks his thumbs into his jeans and laughs as he prepares to head down the Salmon River in Idaho August 1978 for a three day rubber raft float. (AP Photo) United States President Jimmy Carter, on a visit to West Germany in 1978, rides with Chancellor Helmut Schmidt during a review of United States Forces at a base near Frankfurt. (AP Photo) Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, left, U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin clasp hands on the north lawn of the White House after signing the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel on March 26, 1979. (AP Photo/ Bob Daugherty) President Jimmy Carter, left, and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev, right, sign the documents of the SALT II Treaty in the Vienna Imperial Hofburg Palace, Monday, June 18, 1979, Vienna, Austria. President Jimmy Carter leans across the roof of his car to shake hands along the parade route through Bardstown, Ky., Tuesday afternoon, July 31, 1979. The president climbed on top of the car as the parade moved toward the high school gym, where a town meeting was held. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty) In this April 25, 1980 file photo, President Jimmy Carter prepares to make a national television address from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on the failed mission to rescue the Iran hostages. President Jimmy Carter applauds as Sen. Edward Kennedy waves to cheering crowds of the Democratic National Convention in New York's Madison Square Garden, Aug. 14, 1980. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty) President Jimmy Carter raises a clenched fist during his address to the Democratic Convention, August 15, 1980, in New York's Madison Square Garden where he accepted his party's nomination to face Republican Ronald Reagan in the general election. (AP Photo/stf) Massachusetts Senator Edward M. Kennedy greets President Jimmy Carter after he landed at Boston's Logan Airport, Aug. 21, 1980. President Carter is in Boston to address the American Legion Convention being held in Boston. (AP Photo) President Jimmy Carter, left, and Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas enjoy a chuckle during a rally for Carter in Texarkana, Texas, Oct. 22, 1980. Texarkana was the last stop for Carter on a three-city one-day campaign swing through Texas. (AP Photo/John Duricka) In this Oct. 28, 1980 file photo, President Jimmy Carter shakes hands with Republican Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan after debating in the Cleveland Music Hall in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Madeline Drexler, File) Former US President Jimmy Carter, who had negotiated for the hostages release right up to the last hours of his Presidency, lifts his arm to the crowd, while putting his other hand around the shoulders of a former hostage in Iran, believed to be Bruce Laingen, at US AIR Force Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany, Wednesday, January 21, 1981. Former Pres. Jimmy Carter, center, is joined by his wife Rosalynn and his brother Billy Carter during session of the Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, July 19, 1988, Atlanta, Ga. Billy had been recently diagnosed with cancer. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter speaks to newsmen as PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, right, looks on after the two men met in Paris Wednesday, April 4, 1990. Carter said he felt some leaders did not represent the region's yearning for peace. (AP Photo/Pierre Gieizes) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, introduces his wife Rosalynn, right, to Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Jiang Zemin, April 14, 1991 in Beijing. (AP Photo/Mark Avery) Former President Jimmy Carter gestures at a United Nations news conference in New York, April 23, 1993 about the world conference on Human Rights to be held by the United Nations in Vienna June 14-25. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) Former Presidents George Bush, left, and Jimmy Carter, right, stand with President Clinton and wave to volunteers during a kick-off rally for the President's Volunteer Summit at Marcus Foster Stadium in Philladelphia, PA., Sunday morning April 27, 1997. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia) President Bill Clinton presents former President Jimmy Carter, right, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, during a ceremony at the Carter Center in Atlanta Monday, Aug. 9, 1999. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter adjusts his glasses during a press conference in Managua, Nicaragua, Thursday, July 6, 2006. The former president and 2002 Nobel Peace Prize winner is heading a delegation from the democracy-promoting Carter Center, based at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, to observe preparations for Nicaragua's Nov. 5 presidential election. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) In this Friday, Dec. 8, 2006 file photo, former President Jimmy Carter signs copies of his book "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Ga. (AP Photo/Ric Feld) Former President George H.W. Bush, left, watches as Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton chat during a dedication ceremony for the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, May 31, 2007. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) Former President Jimmy Carter poses for a portrait during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Former President Jimmy Carter poses on the red carpet for the documentary film, "Jimmy Carter: Man From Plains" during the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and his wife Rosalynn wave to the audience at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Former President Jimmy Carter, right, and former first lady Rosalynn Carter are seen on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Former President Jimmy Carter waves to the crowd as he goes on stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Monday, Aug. 25, 2008.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Former President Jimmy Carter, right, is seen with Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) President-elect Barack Obama is welcomed by President George W. Bush for a meeting at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009, with former presidents, from left, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) In this photo taken Saturday, May 29, 2010, former South Africa president Nelson Mandela, right, reacts with former US president Jimmy Carter, during a reunion with The Elders, three years after he launched the group, in Johannesburg, South Africa. (AP Photo/Jeff Moore, Pool) Former US President Jimmy Carter, center, one of the delegates of the Elders group of retired prominent world figures, holds a Palestinian child during a visit to the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010. (AP Photo/Menahem Kahana, Pool) Former President Jimmy Carter, 86, leads Habitat for Humanity volunteers to help build and repair houses in Washington's Ivy City neighborhood, Monday, Oct. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 file photo, former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, background right, looks at former U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, center, while visiting a weekly protest in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. The protest was organized by groups supporting Palestinians evicted from their homes in east Jerusalem by Israeli authorities. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, his wife, Rosalynn, and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan conclude a visit to a polling center the southern capital of Juba Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011. (AP Photo/Pete Muller) Former President Jimmy Carter signs his name in the guest book at the Jewish Community center in Havana, Cuba, Monday March 28, 2011. Carter arrived in Cuba to discuss economic policies and ways to improve Washington-Havana relations, which are even more tense than usual over the imprisonment of Alan Gross, a U.S. contractor, on the island. C (AP Photo/Adalberto Roque, Pool) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter pauses during an interview as he and his wife Rosalynn visit a Habitat for Humanity project in Leogane, Haiti, Monday Nov. 7, 2011. The Carters joined volunteers from around the world to build 100 homes in partnership with earthquake-affected families in Haiti during a week-long Habitat for Humanity housing project. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, sits prior to a meeting with Israel's President Shimon Peres at the President's residence in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. Peres met two of 'The Elders', a group composed of eminent global leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter watches baseball players work out before Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) Former President Jimmy Carter speaks during a forum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014. Among other topics, Carter discussed his new book, "A Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power." (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) President Jimmy Carter, left, and Rosalynn Carter arrive at the 2015 MusiCares Person of the Year event at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP) In this July 10, 2015, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter is seen in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) In a Sunday, Aug. 23, 2015 file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday School class at Maranatha Baptist Church in his hometown, in Plains, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) Former President Jimmy Carter answers questions during a news conference at a Habitat for Humanity building site Monday, Nov. 2, 2015, in Memphis, Tenn. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have volunteered a week of their time annually to Habitat for Humanity since 1984, events dubbed "Carter work projects" that draw thousands of volunteers and take months of planning. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) Former President Bill Clinton, left, and former president Jimmy Carter shake hands after speaking at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter holds a morning devotion in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, before he and his wife Rosalynn help build a home for Habitat for Humanity. (AP Photo/Alex Sanz) Former president Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter arrive during the 58th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) In this Feb. 8, 2017, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony for a solar panel project on farmland he owns in his hometown of Plains, Ga. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) Former President George W. Bush, center, speaks as fellow former Presidents from right, Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter look on during a hurricanes relief concert in College Station, Texas, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. All five living former U.S. presidents joined to support a Texas concert raising money for relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria's devastation in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Former President Jimmy Carter, 93, sits for an interview about his new book "Faith: A Journey For All" which will debut at no. 7 on the New York Times best sellers list, pictured before a book signing Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis) Former President Jimmy Carter speaks as Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams listens during a news conference to announce Abrams' rural health care plan Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, in Plains, Ga. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter are seen ahead of an NFL football game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Former President Jimmy Carter takes questions submitted by students during an annual Carter Town Hall held at Emory University Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis) Democratic presidential candidate former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, left, meets with former President Jimmy Carter, center, at Buffalo Cafe in Plains, Ga., Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Former President Jimmy Carter reacts as his wife Rosalynn Carter speaks during a reception to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on July 10, 2021, in Plains, Ga. In this Nov. 3, 2019, file photo, former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga. FILE - Former President Jimmy Carter teaches Sunday school at Maranatha Baptist Church, in Plains, Ga., Nov. 3, 2019. Well-wishes and fond remembrances for the former president continued to roll in Sunday, Feb. 19, 2023, a day after he entered hospice care at his home in Georgia. (AP Photo/John Amis, File) Former President Jimmy Carter, arrives to attend a tribute service for his wife and former first lady Rosalynn Carter, at Glenn Memorial Church, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Former President Jimmy Carter arrives for the funeral service for his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church, Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Plains, Ga. The former first lady died on Nov. 19. She was 96. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) A sign wishing former President Jimmy Carter a happy 100th birthday sits on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.We're closing in on the end of the year, so it's time to look back at 2024. We've seen some great products (as the many newcomers in our list can attest), some real innovations... and some proper duff moves. So which brands impressed over the last 12 months? And which have some serious work to do in 2025? Let's see... Loser: Sonos app blunder was costly If Sonos is multi-room royalty, then 2024 was very much its annus horribilis. It started the year with such promise, with the and still riding high and a strong soundbar game to its name. Sonos had barely put a foot wrong for years. But then came the spring, and the missteps began... First up was the , its highly anticipated debut in the wireless headphone market. But they felt rushed, with so-so sound quality and features missing at launch, and were accompanied by an that is up there with the Amazon Fire Phone as one of the worst tech decisions in recent memory. The app update introduced numerous bugs and removed some much-loved features – an impressive double whammy, akin to scoring an own goal while shooting yourself in the foot. , before backtracking and setting out a . The Sonos board also agreed to forego its annual bonus "unless the company succeeds in improving the quality of the app experience and rebuilding customer trust". Which is a bit like me deciding whether I've earned another mince pie or not (and you know what? I definitely have). It also released the . With only minor improvements over the original and no bump in sound quality, it scored a disappointing three out of five stars in our expert review team's review. Sonos did, however, end the year on a more positive note. The soundbar landed in November and scored a perfect five-star in our new review, prompting us to call it "a huge upgrade on the still-very-good original ". In light of the newcomer's arrival, the original Arc has also dropped to a record-low price to shift final stock. Let's hope Sonos continues this upward trend into the new year. Its is rumoured to be on the horizon. Winner: LG OLEDs are back on top LG's mid-series OLED TV for 2023, the was fairly disappointing. For years we had extolled the popular TV model as the ideal premium telly for its class-leading picture quality and reasonable pricing, but last year's C3 was a black mark on its track record. It offered minimal improvements over the and a higher price, opening the door for the to saunter in and claim the mid-price OLED crown. Thankfully this black mark turned out to be a minor blemish rather than a permanent stain, as this year's was very good indeed. In fact, our TV editor was . A rich, engaging picture, a full suite of streaming apps and unrivalled gaming specs (plus a more reasonable price than its predecessor) helped it win three What Hi-Fi? Awards and five-star ratings across the sizes we tested ( , and ). The step-up model was another winner. While it didn't pick up any Awards, it did score five out of five, with its second-generation -equipped screen proving a step up on 2023's already excellent . In what is a hugely competitive premium TV market, 2024 saw a welcome return to form for LG. Winner: Sony wireless headphones continue their form Sony's wireless headphones once again dominated the market this year – the brand won five out of seven What Hi-Fi? Awards in the ever-popular product category. The noise-cancelling earbuds once again picked up Product of the Year, while the brand-new proved to be the best budget earbuds around. Both Sony's flagship XM5 earbuds and over-ears won for another year, as did its mid-ranging over-ears. Despite having another stellar year, Sony wasn't as dominant as it was last year when it pulled off a clean sweep in the wireless headphones category. That's not down to Sony doing anything wrong exactly; the competition just upped their ante. The wireless over-ears and premium earbuds are phenomenal headphones and squeezed in around the various Sony pairs. Winner: Bose silences the competition Sticking with headphones, Bose refreshed an old classic, the . Bose's entry-level pair of wireless noise-cancelling earbuds scored the full five-star set for their compelling ANC, entertaining sound and very good price. Despite only launching recently, they have already had a price cut, making them worthy competitors to the flagship (though ageing) . It just shows the rate of progress that only a couple of years after a flagship pair launched, another brand's mid-range model can give them a run for their money. And it's a sign that Bose's buds remain ones to be reckoned with. Winner: Apple pulls off ANC without eartips launched in two varieties – one with active noise-cancelling, one without. But even the retains the eartip-less design of the standard AirPods, making them the first earbuds to offer with such an 'open' design. Cue . But it works. By focusing its noise-cancelling energies on low-end frequencies, Apple has proven that you don't need to plug up your ears to achieve a decent standard of sound isolation. Sure, the effect isn't as isolating as that delivered by Bose's traditional flagship , but then it is more comfortable over long listening sessions. Here we have a case of Apple living up to its classic 'Think different' slogan. Loser: Earfun fails to recapture its former glory (again) Oh, Earfun. What happened? How bright the future must have seemed when, four years ago, the budget wireless earbuds came out of nowhere to score five stars and a What Hi-Fi? Award. Never before had we given such eminently affordable earbuds such a glowing review. The big brands have duly followed, targeting the entry-level end of the wireless earbuds space, but Earfun was there first, redefining what was possible at such a scandalously low price. Good on it. But now? Well, the present hasn't actually turned out so bright. The followed hot on their heels and added ANC to the mix to achieve another five-star review, but the more recently released and only notched up three stars apiece, as did this year's and . We're hoping the brand can return to its former glory, but going on its recent form that is looking less and less likely. Loser: Spotify fails to move with the times And still we wait. The three-year delay of lossless tier has become such a joke in the industry that we're considering creating an Award in its honour, to hand out every year until Spotify finally launches the blasted thing. It's been close to a decade since Spotify first a lossless streaming tier. This prompted us to re-evaluate the world's most popular music streaming service this year. With 's paid service now costing more than rivals' (most of whom offer lossless streaming), we had no choice but to dock Spotify a star when updating our review. The service still has plenty going for it, including a genuinely free tier, an intuitive app and Spotify Wrapped. But it's not enough for the sound quality-conscious listener. Winner? Loser? The jury's out... McIntosh is brought into the Bose family Shockwaves were sent around the technology industry when the announcement reached it that , owner of audiophile brands McIntosh, Sonus Faber and Sumiko Phono Cartridges. This caused much consternation among audiophiles that the specialist brands would be diluted – and the quality compromised – by such a mass-market tech owner. But for now, . Bose has been in the audio game for a long time and has deep pockets that could prove beneficial to the legacy hi-fi brands. Doesn't that make for a better home than McIntosh's previous owner, a private equity firm? As my esteemed colleague Becky Roberts pointed out: "I'm confident that this ownership will last longer than the previous one – and that the new owners are likely far more interested in growing the brands rather than simply turning a quick profit." It also opens some exciting possibilities for in-car audio. Bose has kitted out cars made by Porsche, Chevrolet, Honda and Mazda, while McIntosh and Sonus Faber have had systems installed in cars at the higher end of the market, Jeep, Maserati and Lamborghini, to name but three. Plenty of potential, then. Whether the brands' hardcore fans see it that way is another matter...Five Questions with JCS District Teachers of the Yearokebet biz 。

Allar puts critics on mute, keeps winning for Penn State( MENAFN - Jordan Times) AMMAN - The 16th Arab conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic energy kicked off in Amman on Sunday, with Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Saleh Kharabsheh attending the event on behalf of Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. The conference, organised by the Arab Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission (JAEC), attracted scientists, researchers and experts from across the Arab world to discuss advances in nuclear technology and its peaceful applications, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. In his keynote address, JAEC Chairman Khaled Toukan stressed the importance of the conference as a platform for collaboration where Arab experts can share achievements, explore challenges and promote innovation. Toukan highlighted Jordan's progress in nuclear energy, particularly through the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR), which has become a "cornerstone" of the Kingdom's nuclear programme. The reactor has a vital role in the production of radiopharmaceutical isotopes, including iodine-131, which is used to diagnose and treat thyroid cancer. It now supplies all national nuclear medicine centres with isotopes that meet international standards, he said. Toukan also provided an update on uranium mining in central Jordan, where an estimated 41,000 tonnes of uranium ore is undergoing detailed economic and technical evaluation. Highlighting Jordan's role in scientific research, Toukan discussed the SESAME (Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) facility, which now operates five beamlines. He added that SESAME researchers have completed 367 laboratory projects, resulting in 127 publications in leading scientific journals, noting that a sixth beamline, focusing on soft X-ray technology, is expected to be operational by mid-2025. Speaking at the event, Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit highlighted the region's growing energy needs, predicting a 70 per cent increase in electricity capacity by 2050. The conference has attracted more than 150 Arab scientists and researchers, as well as international experts from renowned institutions, to share findings on topics such as water resources, food security, health, environmental sustainability, nuclear safety, advanced reactor technologies and materials science. During the five-day event, participants will explore cutting-edge innovations, including advanced reactor designs, nuclear applications in health and environmental management, and the role of nuclear technology in meeting the growing demand for clean energy. MENAFN15122024000028011005ID1108995663 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Kim Jong Un Vows 'Toughest' Anti-U.S. Strategy As Trump Nears Return

Insurtech startups that wanted to change the way India buys insurance seem to have fallen back on the tried and tested model. The likes of Policybazaar had built a business around selling insurance virtually, instead of relying on agents to sell insurance policies through doorstep visits. But this same crop of players is now setting up an army of field agents, or point-of-sales personnel, to sell insurance products. Policybazaar has around 250,000 physical agents, and according to the results of its parent PB Fintech , the Gurugram-based insurance aggregator posted nearly Rs 400 crore of revenue from this business in the quarter ended September 30. InsuranceDekho , another major player in this segment has more than 200,000 agents on the ground. The business has grown too, with the company which is set to acquire smaller rival Renewbuy reporting total revenue of Rs 743 crore for the financial year 2024 with a net profit of Rs 85 crore. Mumbai-based Turtlemint claims to have around 400,000 physical agents. Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. 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Data from the Insurance and Regulatory Development Authority of India ( IRDAI ) show that between financial years 2023 and 2022, intermediaries increased their agent count by 300,000 to more than a million. Insurance companies had 700,000 agents in the same time frame. The regulator has yet to release the figures for FY24. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Intermediaries say working with them allows agents to provide more options to their customers. “The agent wants the choice or options from multiple insurance companies to offer to their clients and we as a broking platform have aggregated insurers and their products. We have also built technology which has made it easier for our agents to manage these policies and to service their clients,” said Turtlemint cofounder Anand Prabhudesai. ETtech The challenging part While the insurtech industry has been growing at a fast speed, there are challenges of sustainability around this growth rate. Industry insiders pointed out that the physical distribution business is primarily a volume-led business with margins being squeezed due to aggressive competition. PB Fintech group chief executive officer Yashish Dahiya, while addressing the company’s September quarter analyst call, spoke about business sustainability. “A confident market leader who's a marathon runner has to be countercyclical. He does not start sprinting just because some kids are sprinting for 5 kms; he waits (for) them to tire out. When they tire out, he tells them that you're tired, and I'm going fast now,” he said. For a business which is generating almost 40% of the revenue for a group like PB Fintech, why is the insurance veteran taking a contrarian stance — that he doesn’t want to grow very fast by burning cash. “Growth of agents in this sector is being achieved through offers of lucrative commissions mostly; add to that a technology stack which can help them manage sales and on-time pay-outs of commissions,” said an insurtech founder on the condition of anonymity. While competition among well-funded players means higher pay-outs to business partners and perhaps better deals for the consumers, there are questions about whether it is helping insurance penetration in the country or are brokers eating into the agent network of insurers with promises of lofty pay-outs? Industry insiders pointed out that the average commission paid to the field agent has gone up significantly and it could eventually hurt insurance companies. Motor commissions which should have been around 15% have shot up to around 30% and life and health commissions can go as high as 45%, they said. Also, insurance brokers are paying higher commissions to the agent by dipping into their own share of the revenue in some cases, which raises questions of sustainability in the long run, the insurtech founder cited earlier said. "The strategy for us is to go deep into the country where you can make more money per insurance sale, beyond tier one two cities, we are getting around 80% of our business from tier two cities and beyond and around 60% from tier three and beyond," said Ankit Agrawal, chief executive officer, InsuranceDekho. Regulatory scrutiny The question around brokers’ commissions and the aggression in this agent-driven market did attract regulatory attention. This question was raised last year in the Regulations Review Committee of the IRDAI, which suggested that agents be allowed to work only with insurers and intermediaries be allowed to sell insurance only through their on-roll employees. The Insurance Brokers Association had defended the role played by brokers in taking insurance to the masses. According to it, by offering choices from multiple insurance companies, they were actually helping customers get better products with a higher degree of clarity on the products. The committee’s proposal, though debated last year, seems to have been put on the backburner as of now. So the question that remains is the financial viability of these businesses. “We have stayed away from higher pay-outs to agents, we want them to work with us for our technology stack and timely pay-outs, we want to be seen as a reliable partner,” Prabhudesai of Turtlemint commented. Even PB Fintech’s Dahiya at the September analyst call pointed out that this business would never make a lot of money for his company in terms of margin percentage, but at scale it would have a significant contribution to the overall business. The wild card in all of this is Bima Sugam , the IRDAI’s attempt to create a digital public infrastructure which can connect all insurance companies through a common technology platform. If turned into a reality and at scale, it could play a significant role in stabilising prices and competition in the insurance distribution market. “As of now we are yet to see any significant achievement on that front. While insurance companies will love to have a regulator-managed online platform, the amount of capital required and the efforts needed will be huge and it will be a test for the sector to come together to build it,” said one of the founders. The Business Standard newspaper wrote on November 24 that the capital requirement for this platform has shot up to Rs 500 crore, significantly higher than previously anticipated. So whether it is an IRDAI order to restrict brokers from appointing agents, or an industry initiative to democratise technology or high burn which results in ultimate slowdown in growth, the fast growing insurance distribution industry needs to grapple with many challenges. In the meantime, every player is looking to build its own business moats, either through a war chest of venture dollars or through a network of possibly loyal agents.Pocket Change Picks: Cryptos Cheaper Than Coffee Ready to Explode!Aussie super influencer and ‘s have officially surrounded by friends, family and fellow influencers. After months upon months of rumours of a , Tammy and Matthew have hushed the haters by officially putting rings on it, if ya catch my drift. According to the Daily Mail, the highly-anticipated wedding took place over the weekend in NSW’s Byron Bay at the oh-so-fancy Chateau Du Solei. In cheeky paparazzi photos obtained by the publication, Tammy can be seen sporting a divine blush pink gown, that gave major vibes. IYKYK. As for the host, Matt was sporting the regular tux, but regardless, the ‘fit absolutely matched the romantic set-up the pair had prepared for their big day. Peep the lush wedding photos right . What was really interesting about the set-up was that the guests seemed to be seated around a pool with the seats slightly angled towards the couple during the ceremony. Maybe this is a rich people thing, but this is definitely a unique seating plan to what I usually see at the weddings I go to. But hey, we’re in totally different tax brackets, so who knows? The publication also reported that an insider source shared that Tammy’s father, , missed the ceremony due to a “last-minute injury”. Some notable guests included fellow influencer , and Matthew’s podcast co-host . Prior to the nuptials, Matt received a shit tonne of criticism from Tammy’s fans after on the beloved influencer. However, the former reality TV star clapped back at the rumours after an influencer sleuth page accused him of cheating after he was spotted at an event speaking to other women without a ring. “I don’t normally comment on this stuff, but thought I’d jump in here. They are my mates and we have the same management so we have met at many events before,” Zukowski wrote in response to the scathing post. “I was invited to this event weeks ago and would have gone whether my fiancée was in Australia or not.” The podcaster went on to slam the anonymous internet sleuth, telling them to “get a life”. “You guys need to get a life. Seriously it’s so strange how obsessed you are with people you have never met and know only from on social media,” he wrote. “Also you know the man gets a wedding band after the marriage? Some of us don’t wear engagement rings.” Tammy never addressed the cheating rumours. However, fans noticed that the pair would unfollow each other on Instagram every now and then, which fuelled rumours of a breakup. Now that they’ve officially tied the knot, I guess those rumours can be officially put to bed. And honestly, I love this for her. She truly deserves her fairytale ending!

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World News | Croatia's Incumbent President, NATO Critic Leads in Exit Poll After Presidential ElectionFilmmaker Todd Haynes has finally spoken out for the first time about his next film, the gay detective noir film that fell apart just five days before filming was to begin after star Joaquin Phoenix pulled out. The project was announced a year ago with Haynes directing, while Phoenix reportedly came to Haynes with the project, helping develop the script with Haynes and Jon Raymond. Phoenix was set to play the lead – a volatile cop in 1930s Los Angeles named Richard Rent while Danny Ramirez was to co-star as Native American schoolteacher Joe Thomas. Both characters become targets of the city’s corrupt political machine. Together they flee to Mexico and enter a love affair in the humid jungles of the Western coastline. The reasoning for Phoenix’s exit remains unclear, but his exit sank the project with producers unable to recast as Phoenix was key to the film’s financing. During a talk at Marrakech Film Festival on Friday, Haynes made a very brief statement on the project, saying he’s determined to push forward with the film in some form: “What happened this summer was tough, but the film itself and the script itself may resurrect in a different form.” That’s a more hopeful tone than producer Christine Vachon who a few months ago called the project dead. Ramirez meanwhile says he’s hopeful it will happen. Source:Syria's Assad: the president who led a bloody crackdown