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2025-01-08   

okebet login ph With just one day to go, we're ready to bid farewell to this bustling year. Here are some venues set to deliver the final moments of fun and help everyone welcome the New Year in a truly memorable way. CentralWorld Bangkok Countdown 2025 -- The Original At CentralWorld The so-called "Times Square of Asia" has once again been transformed into a world-class music festival stage, expected to attract over 250,000 visitors for a non-stop extravaganza leading up to 2025. Over the past nine days, top artists have taken turns delivering live performances. Today, Dice, QRRA and Psychic Fever will perform starting at 5pm. Tomorrow promises the ultimate year-end celebration, beginning with concerts by top-tier artists from 6pm onwards. The line-up includes Billkin-PP Krit, BUS Because of You I Shine, Proxie, Pixxie, 4Eve, Jaylerr, Nont Tanont, Ice Paris, Tattoo Colour, Three Man Down, URBoyTJ and Zee Nunew. At 10.30pm, four renowned actresses from GL drama series will make exclusive surprise appearances as "Countdown Angels" -- Freen Sarocha, Becky Rebecca, Lingling Sirilak and Orm Kornnaphat. As midnight approaches, join Opal Suchata, third runner-up Miss Universe and Miss Universe Thailand 2024, for the final countdown to the New Year. The celebration will feature a breathtaking display of over 10,000 fireworks in a stunning 180-degree panoramic view, accompanied by inspiring global messages. This year's countdown is extra special with digital art toys showcased on Panoramix, an interactive digital screen spanning the mall's facade. Beloved characters like Labubu, Zimomo, Estella and Jessica x Abigail will come to life to spread year-end joy. Additionally, 100 limited-edition Mini Labubu Merry Ville figurines will be given away to lucky participants who register via the Central X app or watch the countdown event online and comment using a designated hashtag. For convenience, the venue offers extensive parking for 6,000 cars and 1,500 motorcycles, as well as a free shuttle bus service running between Victory Monument and CentralWorld from 5pm onwards. The BTS Skytrain will also operate until 2am to accommodate visitors. Visit campaign.centralpattana.co.th/ctwbkkcountdown2025. Amazing Thailand Countdown 2025 At River Park of Iconsiam Having earned worldwide acclaim over the past five years for its spectacular fireworks shows spanning 1,400m and visible from up to 5km along both banks of the Chao Phraya River, Iconsiam is set to captivate audiences once again with another global phenomenon featuring eco-friendly fireworks to welcome the New Year. This year's display will be crafted by award-winning Japanese fireworks designers in collaboration with Thai creative teams, using Thai sticky rice -- a symbol of Thailand's rich culinary heritage -- as a key material. This innovative approach is the first of its kind in the world, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and greenhouse gases. The 2025 show promises to be especially vibrant, featuring new pastel and golden hues alongside diverse, eye-catching shapes, all set against the iconic curve of the majestic river. The fireworks display will unfold in six acts: Vibrant Spectrum of Thai Wisdom; Rhythm of Blossoming Nature; Luminous Jewel of Thai Heritage; Magical Melody of the Cosmic Symphony; Supreme Magnificence on the Chao Phraya River; and Celebrating the Everlasting Legacy of Siam. Visitors can also enjoy music by famous artists from Thailand and abroad, with performances starting at 5.30pm today and tomorrow. Tonight's line-up includes two new T-pop bands, D-na and Wizzle, along with BUS Because of You I Shine, Proxie, and a Bangkok debut showcase by Chinese actor and singer Wei Zhe Ming. Tomorrow's year-end celebration will feature performances by Kongthap Peak, Nok KPN, 4Eve, Atlas, Jeff Satur, Nont Tanont, a group of actors from Pit Babe The Series, PP Krit & Billkin, Pek Palitchoke and Lalisa Manobal. The countdown celebration will be broadcast live across 18 channels, including both TV and online platforms. Visit facebook.com/ICONSIAM. One Bangkok Countdown Celebration 2025 At One Bangkok Bangkok revellers are invited to join the first-ever New Year's Eve celebration at One Bangkok, the city's newest global lifestyle destination. Held under the theme "Once – A Moment in Time, A Lifetime of Memories", the event will feature a cutting-edge "Time Capsule" stage designed to capture every precious moment through music by renowned Thai and international artists. The evening will begin at 5pm with heartwarming memories and touching melodies from P.O.P, followed by Ink Waruntorn who will immerse everyone in pure happiness with her enchanting voice. Jeff Satur will deliver an emotional and captivating performance, while the delightful duo Lingling & Orm will set a romantic tone for the night. At around 8pm, guests can enjoy electrifying DJ sets, mesmerising laser shows and spectacular projection mapping. BUS Because of You I Shine will energise the crowd with their dynamic performance. The Toys will bring the carefree energy of youthful days to life, paving the way for the dynamic duo Daou & Offroad to take the audience on an imaginative journey, followed by Bowkylion, who will charm listeners with her mesmerising voice. As the final hour of the year approaches, celebrate with global K-pop sensation Jay B, leader of GOT7, and Junny, a multi-talented Korean artist and producer. The highlight of the night will be the countdown celebration, featuring a spectacular 360-degree fireworks display using special techniques to light up the sky. This breathtaking show is a collaboration between two world-renowned fireworks companies: Pyrotex Fireworx, an award-winning display company from the UK, and EDC China, celebrated for their work at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and World Expo 2010. Visit facebook.com/onebangkokth. Siam Paragon The Magical Countdown Celebration 2025 At Parc Paragon of Siam Paragon Experience an unparalleled celebration during the last two days of the year with concerts by popular Thai artists, starting at 7pm. Tonight's line-up features performances by Violette Wautier, Getsunova and Nont Tanont. On New Year's Eve, enjoy non-stop entertainment as ETC, Palmy, Paradox, Paper Planes, Naravit "Pond" Lertratkosum, Phuwin Tangsakyuen, Norawit "Gemini" Titicharoenrak, Nattawat "Fourth" Jirochtikul and Bodyslam take turns performing until midnight. Adding to the festive atmosphere, Santa Claus and his troupe will spread holiday cheer with three parades daily at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm, covering the M Floor and Parc Paragon. For shoppers, take advantage of the New Year's Eve sale with discounts of up to 90%, running from today until Wednesday. Plus, for every 25,000 baht spent, receive a Siam Gift Card worth 1,000 baht (limited to 150 rewards per day). Visit facebook.com/siamparagonshopping. EM District Winter Wonderland 2024: Countdown Celebration At Quartier Parc, M floor of EmQuatier This grand celebration of Christmas and the New Year countdown promises to be one of Bangkok's most iconic festive landmarks. Emporium, EmQuartier and Emsphere have been transformed into vibrant hubs of joy and entertainment, featuring top-tier artists and a spectacular fireworks display to welcome the new year in style. Kick off the festivities today with a concert by Tilly Birds at 8pm, and get ready for non-stop joy tomorrow with a countdown celebration featuring music performances by eight popular artists and acts, starting at 5pm. The line-up includes Japan's Psychic Fever alongside Thai sensations Stamp, Milli, Bowkylion, No One Else, D Gerrard, Ink Waruntorn and Lipta. The grand finale will light up the skies over the entire Em District with breathtaking fireworks. As part of the celebration, two special events will continue until Jan 5 -- the Wonders of Winter Market by HBD, featuring a winter-themed cocktail bar and exclusive festive menus at Quartier Avenue of EmQuartier; and Gourmet Winter Wondersquare, offering delectable dishes from 40 renowned vendors at Em Market Hall of Emsphere. Visit emquartier.co.th. NT Presents Mega Countdown 2025 At Megabangna Set to be the most colossal countdown concert in Bangkok's eastern region, this event promises incredible live performances by seven renowned artists: Atlas, D Gerrard, Joey Phuwasit, Ink Waruntorn, Potato, URBoyTJ and Three Man Down. Held under the theme "A Sonic Journey Into Mega Pop City", the year-end extravaganza will transport everyone into a metropolis of exhilaration, filled with dazzling lights and sounds during the non-stop 10-hour spectacle. The gates will open at 3pm, featuring a range of exciting activities before the celebrated artists take to the stage from 5pm onwards. After the grand New Year's Eve celebration ends with a light and sound show, a DJ will take the stage to keep the party going well into the night. To secure free tickets, add Line: @megabangnaofficial. Seats are limited. The event will be broadcast live nationwide on Workpoint TV Channel 23. Visit mega-bangna.com.

28 Inexpensive Alternatives If You’re Frugal And Can’t Bring Yourself To Spend Big Bucks On Name Brand ProductsHedge fund manager Scott Bessent is a credible, safe choice for US Treasury secretary -- and one that is likely positive for markets -- observers said Saturday following President-elect Donald Trump's highly anticipated nomination. His selection came after competition for the top economic job spilled into the open last weekend, with the world's richest man Elon Musk throwing his support instead behind Trump's transition team co-chair Howard Lutnick. Lutnick has since been named commerce secretary to lead Trump's tariff and trade agenda, and Bessent's nomination days later appears to be uncontroversial for now. "Scott Bessent is a credible, mainstream pick for Treasury Secretary," said Jason Furman, a professor at Harvard University and former top White House economic adviser. "I could see previous administrations as having chosen him," Furman, a former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, told AFP. But a key difference is that Bessent, 62, has had to adopt and defend views on topics like tariffs, in a way "he never would have in pursuit of the job for a previous Republican administration." Tariffs are a key part of Trump's economic agenda, with the Republican president-elect vowing sweeping duties on allies and adversaries alike. In an opinion piece published earlier this month on Fox News, Bessent defended the potential use of tariffs as a means to raise revenue for the government, protect strategic US industries and negotiate with trading partners. He would be one of the first openly gay Cabinet officials if confirmed by the Senate, and the first at the helm of the Treasury Department. Jens Nordvig, chief executive of data and analytics firm Exante Data who has worked with Bessent, drew a contrast between his demeanor and that of other Trump supporters. While some Trump allies have a tendency towards "general sweeping statements," Bessent is an "analytical thinker, and he communicates accordingly," Nordvig told AFP. He counts Bessent among his early clients. "I would expect his messaging to be very focused, to get his key points across, without any unnecessary flamboyance or gusto," Nordvig added of the Wall Street veteran. Calling Bessent a "safe choice," Brookings senior fellow in economic studies David Wessel told AFP: "He will be an adult in the room for the Trump administration." Besides Bessent, others seen as top contenders for Treasury chief in recent days included former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh, Apollo Global Management chief executive Marc Rowan, and Tennessee Senator Bill Hagerty. It remains to be seen if Bessent will be a big influence "moderating some of the administration's more aggressive trade policy" or simply be a spokesman, Wessel said. He does not have much experience in dealing with Congress either, and this would be important next year as the Trump administration works to raise the debt ceiling and effort a tax bill to deliver on his economic promises. Bessent would also have to grapple with the country's debt burden, with debt borrowed at much lower interest rates previously and Trump's plans estimated to add trillions over time. In an open letter published Saturday, Nordvig called for "thoughtful leadership" at the Treasury, saying a realistic approach to tax cuts and bond issuance was needed. He also sounded a hopeful note, saying Bessent would work to reduce extreme risks for markets. Krishna Guha, vice chairman of Evercore ISI, believes Bessent's nomination "will be well received by financial markets," given his deep understanding of markets and macro conditions. Guha also warned of the risk of bond yields spiking and "pushing up mortgage rates and tanking the housing market, while also causing stocks to sell off." In his past administration, Trump has viewed the stock market as a gauge of his success. bys/md

Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen have targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said the bombardment on Thursday took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the international airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. An uneasy calm settles over Syrian city of Homs after outbreak of sectarian violence HOMS, Syria (AP) — Syria’s new security forces checked IDs and searched cars in the central city of Homs a day after protests by members of the Alawite minority erupted in gunfire and stirred fears that the country’s fragile peace could break down. A tense calm prevailed Thursday after checkpoints were set up throughout the country’s third-largest city, which has a mixed population of Sunni and Shia Muslims, Alawites and Christians. The security forces are controlled by the former insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which led the charge that unseated former President Bashar Assad. The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern. WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say they asked for — and got — the retraction of an independent monitor's warning of imminent famine in north Gaza. The internationally Famine Early Warning System Network issued the warning this week. The new report had warned that starvation deaths in north Gaza could reach famine levels as soon as next month. It cited what it called Israel's “near-total blockade” of food and water. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew, criticized the finding as inaccurate and irresponsible. The U.S. Agency for International Development, which funds the famine-monitoring group, told the AP it had asked for and gotten the report's retraction. USAID officials tell The Associated Press that it had asked the group for greater review of discrepancies in some of the data. Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travel DALLAS (AP) — Severe thunderstorms are firing up in parts of Texas and could trigger high winds, hail and potential tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more were canceled Thursday at airports in Dallas and Houston. The National Weather Service says the greatest weather risk stretched from just east of Dallas, and between Houston and portions of southern Arkansas and western Louisiana. The risk includes the possibility of tornadoes, wind gusts between 60 and 80 miles per hour and large hail. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for several counties in southeast Texas, including the Houston area. Trump has pressed for voting changes. GOP majorities in Congress will try to make that happen ATLANTA (AP) — Republicans in Congress plan to move quickly in their effort to overhaul the nation’s voting procedures, seeing an opportunity with control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. They want to push through long-sought changes such as voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements. They say the measures are needed to restore public confidence in elections. That's after an erosion of trust that Democrats note has been fueled by false claims from Donald Trump and his allies of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Democrats say they are willing to work with the GOP but want any changes to make it easier, not harder, to vote. Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they're tuning out NEW YORK (AP) — A lot of Americans, after an intense presidential election campaign, are looking for a break in political news. That's evident in cable television news ratings and a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found nearly two-thirds of Americans saying they've found the need recently to cut down on their consumption of political and government news. That's particularly true among Democrats following President-elect Donald Trump's victory, although a significant number of Republicans and independents feel the same way. Cable networks MSNBC and CNN are really seeing a slump. That's also happened in years past for networks that particularly appeal to supporters of one candidate. Aviation experts say Russia's air defense fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns Aviation experts say that Russian air defense fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured. Azerbaijan is observing a nationwide day of mourning on Thursday for the victims of the crash. Azerbaijan Airlines’ Embraer 190 was en route from Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku to the Russian city of Grozny in the North Caucasus on Wednesday when it was diverted for reasons yet unclear and crashed while making an attempt to land in Aktau in Kazakhstan. Cellphone footage circulating online appeared to show the aircraft making a steep descent before smashing into the ground in a fireball. Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy battlefield losses KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's military intelligence says North Korean troops are suffering heavy losses in Russia's Kursk region and face logistical difficulties as a result of Ukrainian attacks. The intelligence agency said Thursday that Ukrainian strikes near Novoivanovka inflicted heavy casualties on North Korean units. Ukraine's president said earlier this week that 3,000 North Korean troops have been killed and wounded in the fighting in the Kursk region. It marked the first significant estimate by Ukraine of North Korean casualties several weeks after Kyiv announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. Ex-Sen. Bob Menendez, citing 'emotional toll,' seeks sentencing delay in wake of wife's trial NEW YORK (AP) — Former U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez is asking a federal judge to delay his end-of-January sentencing on bribery charges, saying his family would suffer a “tremendous emotional toll” if the New Jersey Democrat was sentenced during his wife's trial. His lawyers told Judge Sidney H. Stein in a letter that Nadine Menendez would face a jury that might find it impossible not to hear about her husband's sentencing if it occurred eight days into her trial. The 70-year-old Menendez was convicted in July of 16 charges, including bribery. His wife, whose trial was postponed when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, faces much of the same evidence as her husband. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze.Vikings thrive under coach of year favorite O'Connell, a relatable state for Packers with LaFleur

Jimmy Carter, the 39th US president, has died at 100

Finalists for Visual Effects Oscar Revealed Ahead of Shortlist Voting: ‘Wicked,’ ‘Dune 2,’ ‘Mufasa’ and More (EXCLUSIVE)The former Picture Palace is the 26th historic building in Prescot town centre to benefit from restoration work as part of Knowsley Council’s wider regeneration programme for the town. The Grade II listed building is a rare example of its type and was one of the earliest cine-variety houses in the country. The expert restoration work focussed on the exterior of the building and was carried out by Knowsley Council with support from Purcell, specialist conservation-accredited architects. Historical photographs were used to help recreate some of the original design features, which were created in the flamboyant Edwardian Neo-Baroque style. This has all helped to bring the building back to its former splendour. READ > Works to major M62 junction to cause 'unavoidable delays' The work has been funded jointly by Historic England and Knowsley Council as part of the Prescot Heritage Action Zone project. The work includes: Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic development said: “The restoration of the former Prescot Picture Palace building is the single biggest project the council has undertaken as part of our successful High Street Heritage Action Zone project here in Prescot. "The architectural heritage and cultural history of this iconic building is incomparable, and I am delighted that we have been able to safeguard this building and its heritage for many more years to come.” A picture taken inside Prescot Picture Palace in 2021 (Image: Stock) Associate Architect at Purcell, Jane Roylance added: “We are proud to have contributed to the conservation of the Grade II listed Prescot Picture Palace, a much-loved icon of Knowsley’s heritage, which has carefully restored the building’s original features. The works form the first phase of the building’s regeneration which will secure its future for generations to come.” Historic England’s Julie Griffiths said: “We’re delighted to see this historic gem in the heart of Prescot now fully restored and ready for a new use. This is testament to the hard work of Knowsley Council, local people and expert contractors who’ve worked together to make this happen.” The former Prescot Picture Palace Cinema at 8-14 Kemble Street was established in 1912. The Prescot Picture Palace Company Ltd purchased number 12 to 14 Kemble Street (a pair of amalgamated C19 town houses) and plans were approved by the Urban District Council for their conversion into a cine-variety theatre in September of that year. At its opening it was described as presenting a palatial appearance and ‘quite luxurious’ with the theatre seating 630 customers, which increased with the addition of a balcony around 1913. The U-shaped balcony, carried on ten pairs of columns, was accessed by a central L-shaped staircase off the foyer. The Picture Palace served as a picture-drome, music-hall and Variety Theatre. It was operated as part of the J F Emery Circuit by 1923, renamed ‘Palace Cinema’ in 1927, and equipped with a British Thomson-Houston (BTH) sound system by 1929. In 1957 the cinema closed, and the building became a carpet and furniture warehouse. The plan form remained unchanged until the mid-1970s, although the 1920s cinema seating was removed from the auditorium and stored in the upper floors. Around 1975 former shops (8-10 Kemble St) were purchased by Tudor Bingo and incorporated into the cinema building. Number 8 was a purpose-built early-C20 shop, with an Edwardian shopfront to the ground and first floor, and Number 10 a former C19 house converted to a shop. Both shop frontages were boarded up and modifications included the creation of internal access between the newly purchased buildings and the former cinema, and the removal of the cinema entrance entablature for a fascia sign. A flat roof extension was added to the rear of numbers 8-10 and another at the south end of the auditorium’s east elevation. Internally the east arm of the balcony was extended to the south end of the auditorium, over the stage and beneath the proscenium arch. Coral Bingo took over the bingo club in the late 1980s and established a social club, with the loss of the shop front to number 10 for the insertion of two ground floor windows. In 1995 the buildings were purchased by Prescot Community Church (an Elim Pentecostal Congregation), who remained in residence until 2021. Knowsley Council acquired the building in 2021, and the revival of the building is the single largest project of Prescot’s High Street Heritage Action Zone project, jointly funded by Knowsley Council and Historic England. Prescot was selected as one of the 68 high streets to benefit from the High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme in 2020. The £3.1 million heritage-led regeneration programme has seen major investment from Knowsley Council and Historic England into a number of key projects in Prescot town centre.

Top war-crimes court issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and others in Israel-Hamas fightingNonePresident Bashar al-Assad Has Fled Syria and His Brutal Regime is Finally OverFrom peanut farmer to US President: Jimmy Carter dies at 100, sets a stunning record in US history

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

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia 76ers forward Paul George has a bone bruise on his left knee and will miss two games, the team said Thursday. The 76ers said George did not suffer any structural damage when he injured the same knee that he hyperextended during the preseason in Wednesday night's loss at Memphis. The game marked the first time this season the All-Star trio of George, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey started a game together. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekCharvarius Ward will join the list of 49ers missing Monday night’s game against the Lions at Levi’s Stadium after the team ruled him out Sunday afternoon. The veteran cornerback and his girlfriend, Monique Cook, have been expecting the birth of a baby boy. The team cited personal reasons for Ward’s absence after coach Kyle Shanahan indicated Friday that Ward had good news but declined to explain further. Two months ago, Ward and Cook lost their first-born daughter unexpectedly at 23 months old. Ward missed three games in the wake of the devastating loss. As a pending free agent, Ward may have played his last game for the 49ers. He has been with the team the last three seasons after signing as a free agent from Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl honors last year as the top corner on an NFC champion team. He has 51 tackles and seven passes defensed this season after 72 tackles and five interceptions in 2023, including a two-pick, one-touchdown day last Dec. 17 at Arizona . In his absence, more will be thrust on the recently extended Deommodore Lenoir against the Lions’ air attack, and rookie Renardo Green will likely start in Ward’s place. Free agent signee Isaac Yiadom also may see more playing time. Along with Ward, left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and linebacker Dre Greenlaw (calf) were ruled out earlier this week, as were guards Aaron Banks (knee) and Spencer Burford (calf). Williams was placed on injured reserve and Greenlaw is also out for the season.

Jimmy Carter, 39th US President, Nobel Winner, Dies at 100DPWH finds ‘structural defects’ in Biliran bridge

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