Qatar tribune Joelyn Baluyut Doha Palestinian film actor and Head of Jury for Made in Qatar, Saleh Bakri, praised this year’s Ajyal Film Festival as a ‘beacon of hope’ for a world built on equality, justice, and fairness. Speaking during the festival’s closing ceremony at Katara on Saturday, Bakri reflected on the importance of the festival in promoting creativity, humanity, and innovation in cinema. “Ajyal is a festival where I have seen shining bright, the spirit of humanity and the spirit also of innovation and creativity,” Bakri said. “I have seen dreams shine bright as well in Ajyal Film Festival.” He went on to emphasise the importance of the festival in revitalising the cinematic world. “DFI [Doha Film Institute] and Ajyal Film Festival gave cinema back its heart and its true meaning and its ingenuity as well,” he added, highlighting the festival’s commitment to providing a platform for diverse voices. Bakri also underscored the festival’s global influence, noting how it helps amplify the voices of filmmakers from around the world. “Ajyal also plays an important role on all levels in raising the voices of all filmmakers,” he said. This year, the festival included an initiative—Ajyal in Gaza—which, according to Bakri, carries a powerful message of resistance and resilience. “Ajyal in Gaza is a message. It is a message of defiance, it is a message of resistance,” he declared, stressing the festival as a platform in advocating for freedom of expression and social justice through film. Copy 24/11/2024 10
Dimopoulos shines in double OT and Northern Illinois beats Fresno State 28-20 in Idaho Potato BowlFormer Nebraska head coach Scott Frost has landed his first college job since his time with the Huskers, and it's a familiar location. Frost is set to take over at UCF, the program he coached from 2016-17 before heading to Nebraska, according to multiple reports. 247Sports and The Orlando Sentinel reported the news Saturday. Previous reports indicated that UCF was down to two candidates, Frost and UNLV head coach Barry Odom, in its quest to replace the fired Gus Malzahn. The Knights chose to reunite with Frost over the 48-year-old Odom, who led UNLV to a 10-win season this fall. Frost rebuilt a UCF football program coming off a winless season into a six-win squad, then a 13-0 team during the 2017 season which stands as the best in UCF's program history. Frost had been out of the college game since his firing at Nebraska in September 2022. He compiled a 16-31 record at his alma mater, completing four losing seasons before being fired three games into the 2022 campaign. The former Nebraska head coach's first job since was with the Los Angeles Rams this fall, where he briefly worked as an analyst. Having failed to rebuild at Nebraska, the 49-year-old Frost now returns to the school where he thrived as an up-and-coming offensive coach. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the market
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Jimmy Carter, 100, gained Nebraska admirers during and after his presidencyAppalachian State hires South Carolina offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as head coach
Stock market today: Wall Street slips as the 'Magnificent 7' weighs down the marketGiants players react to possibility of losing out on No. 1 pick: ‘We don’t care’
Coote was sacked earlier this month after the emergence of a video in which he made derogatory remarks about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) said that a thorough investigation had concluded he was “in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable”. “Supporting David Coote continues to be important to us and we remain committed to his welfare,” PGMOL’s statement on December 9 added. Coote had the right to appeal against the decision but PA understands the Nottinghamshire referee has decided not to. The video which triggered PGMOL’s investigation into Coote’s conduct first came to public attention on November 11. In it, Coote is asked for his views on a Liverpool match where he has just been fourth official, and describes them as “s***”. He then describes Klopp as a “c***”, and, asked why he felt that way, Coote says the German had “a right pop at me when I reffed them against Burnley in lockdown” and had accused him of lying. “I have got no interest in speaking to someone who’s f****** arrogant, so I do my best not to speak to him,” Coote said. Later in the video, Coote again refers to Klopp, this time as a “German c***”. The Football Association opened its own investigation into that video, understood to be centred on that last comment and whether Coote’s reference to Klopp’s nationality constituted an aggravated breach of its misconduct rules. The investigation by PGMOL which led to Coote’s contract being terminated is also understood to have looked at another video which appeared to show Coote snorting a white powder, purportedly during Euro 2024 where he was one of the assistant VARs for the tournament. European football’s governing body UEFA also appointed an ethics investigator to look into the matter.Artificial Intelligence is fast evolving. In doing so, it has increasingly challenged traditional conceptions of human-technology interaction. For quite some time, traditional AI systems were seen as ways through which processes could be automated, data managed, or even routine tasks executed. However, with the unveiling of Talkie Soulful AI by TalkietalkieAI, all perceptions of communication between humans and machines are changing. It nurtures emotional intelligence and connects humans more soulfully. Talkie AI is where the future of communication is going from functionality to an AI that creates depth on an emotional level. Concept of Talkie Soulful AI At its core, Talkie Soulful AI has advanced algorithms added with emotional intelligence in natural-sounding conversations to render realism and humanness. Whereas most of those general AI methods would just answer the responses in a script, Talkie AI is designed to give responses to even the nuances and complexity whenever an emotion inside the conversation calls for it. Because this technology uses natural language processing, literally every single interaction goes through, capturing context and sentiment, and gives out relevant responses that emotionally resonate. Gone are the mechanical and impersonal dialogues with Talkie Soulful AI; in their place come meaningful exchanges that stir and heighten feelings of empathy and understanding. This reflects the shift in the manner of communication of people in today’s society, which screams for real life connections at the back of increased automation. Talkie AI: Redefining How Humans Communicate Talkie Soulful AI is the frontier in the future revolution of communication. Well, here is how changes are: 1. Emotionally Intelligent Conversations It takes into consideration most of the serious criticism that traditional AI systems face on the ground of the inability of those to understand human sentiments and respond meaningfully towards these. The architecture within the core of Talkie Soulful AI holds emotional intelligence. While doing this, AI Talkie detects human sentiments ranging over joy, sadness, frustration, excitement, or other feeling manifestations. Further, the context changes depending on the sentiment portrayed. In the input given-for responding-give it a personal appeal, it is looking to light the conversation through emotions. 2. Personalization and Context Awareness What makes Talkie Soulful AI so special is the personalization it offers. It is continuously learning from previous interactions with the user over time. It shapes its patterns of response according to user preference, personality, and even emotional triggers to provide unique, connecting dialogues. Also, Talkie Soulful AI is contextually aware: instead of narrowing the focus down to just one message, it expands to the big conversation. It keeps in mind what has been said by the user, hence also capable of making responses coherent with those made earlier, enhancing continuity and authenticity. 3. Companionship and Emotional Support The role of emotional support cannot be overemphasized where Talkie AI is mentioned. People have been looking for companionship in distress moments or during counseling, and Talkie Soulful AI offers an easily accessible space to talk about a problem. Whether loneliness, anxiety, or just stress is felt, the response of AI Talkie pops up with soothing and empathetic statements that make a person feel heard and not abandoned. With the addition of real-time emotional intelligence, the Talkie Soulful AI ceases to be just a digital assistant but a companion, one in whom one would entrust their comfort and understanding. This is important in particular in moments when immediate human support is not available or if they would like to talk with an AI that really listened and understood them without judgment. 4. 24/7 Availability Yet another strong aspect with the use of Talkie Soulful AI: unlike the availability of human interaction-which, in turn, could be restricted by time zones, schedules, or general unavailability – AI Talkie is available 24/7. Be it deep into the night, through a busy workday, or even during the midst of a personal crisis, it’s always there to support one, guide them, or just converse with them. This no doubt makes AI Talkie an invaluable asset for any person who may seek emotional support or even assistance at any time. Soulful Communication In the rapid pace of the digital landscape, effective communication usually goes out the window. Yet, soulful communication is a basic human need-true empathy, comprehension, and acknowledgment. The capability to deeply connect with others fosters trust, collaboration, and emotional well-being both in personal relationships and at work. Talkie Soulful AI comes to fill in the need for conversations: warm, appealing, and responsive to the emotional cue. It is thus priceless in many areas, ranging from customer service to mental health support and education. TalkieTalkieAI Conceptualization of AI It is such pioneering and leading with vision that is undertaken in order to work for the remodeling of communications using an emotional intelligence approach. Therefore, TalkieTalkieAI believes in the principle of continuous improvement so that Talkie Soulful AI lets it grow into ever-changing user needs for the greater good of building up one connected digital space. The mission of TalkietalkieAI is straightforward: to make good use of advanced technology in bringing people closer and enriching their interactions. As the company envisions building Talkie AI, it sees a future wherein technology connects rather than isolates us from meaningful human understanding. Conclusion It is reconnecting with causes and deeper reasons for the imagination of ways through which we can communicate better. Talkie Soulful AI: This is an innovative technological creation leading the movement to authentic engagement in interactions within different aspects of our lives, brought to the audience by TalkietalkieAI. The prospect of a talkative and soulful AI points to a future in which good communication will be cherished. This exciting evolution not only amplifies our personal and professional interactions but also reaffirms, in our increasing digital world, the intrinsic value of connection. Welcome to the voice of the future in soul-speaking, welcome to Talkie AI. Technology will help us reach each other, create understanding, and deepen connections in an empathetic way.ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who tried to restore virtue to the White House after the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, then rebounded from a landslide defeat to become a global advocate of human rights and democracy, has died. He was 100 years old . The Carter Center said the 39th president died Sunday afternoon, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, lived most of their lives. The center said he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent and honorable, courageous and compassionate, humble and strong.” Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. A moderate Democrat, Carter ran for president in 1976 as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad grin, effusive Baptist faith and technocratic plans for efficient government. His promise to never 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 said. Carter’s victory over Republican Gerald Ford, whose fortunes fell after pardoning Nixon, came amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over race, women’s rights and America’s role in the world. His achievements included brokering Mideast peace by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at Camp David for 13 days in 1978. But his coalition splintered under double-digit inflation and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His negotiations ultimately brought all the hostages home alive, but in a final insult, Iran didn’t release them until the inauguration of Ronald Reagan, who had trounced him in the 1980 election. Humbled and back home in Georgia, Carter said his faith demanded that he keep doing whatever he could, for as long as he could, to try to make a difference. He and Rosalynn co-founded The Carter Center in 1982 and spent the next 40 years traveling the world as peacemakers, human rights advocates and champions of democracy and public health. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, Carter helped ease nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiate cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, the center had monitored at least 113 elections around the world. Carter was determined to eradicate guinea worm infections as one of many health initiatives. Swinging hammers into their 90s, the Carters built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The common observation that he was better as an ex-president rankled Carter. His allies were pleased that he lived long enough to see biographers and historians revisit his presidency and declare it more impactful than many understood at the time. Propelled in 1976 by voters in Iowa and then across the South, Carter ran a no-frills campaign. Americans were captivated by the earnest engineer, and while an election-year Playboy interview drew snickers when he said he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times,” voters tired of political cynicism found it endearing. The first family set an informal tone in the White House, carrying their own luggage, trying to silence the Marine Band’s traditional “Hail to the Chief" and enrolling daughter, Amy, in public schools. Carter was lampooned for wearing a cardigan and urging Americans to turn down their thermostats. But Carter set the stage for an economic revival and sharply reduced America's dependence on foreign oil by deregulating the energy industry along with airlines, trains and trucking. He established the departments of Energy and Education, appointed record numbers of women and nonwhites to federal posts, preserved millions of acres of Alaskan wilderness and pardoned most Vietnam draft evaders. Emphasizing human rights , he ended most support for military dictators and took on bribery by multinational corporations by signing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He persuaded the Senate to ratify the Panama Canal treaties and normalized relations with China, an outgrowth of Nixon’s outreach to Beijing. But crippling turns in foreign affairs took their toll. When OPEC hiked crude prices, making drivers line up for gasoline as inflation spiked to 11%, Carter tried to encourage Americans to overcome “a crisis of confidence.” Many voters lost confidence in Carter instead after the infamous address that media dubbed his “malaise" speech, even though he never used that word. After Carter reluctantly agreed to admit the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979. Negotiations to quickly free the hostages broke down, and then eight Americans died when a top-secret military rescue attempt failed. Carter also had to reverse course on the SALT II nuclear arms treaty after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Though historians would later credit Carter's diplomatic efforts for hastening the end of the Cold war, Republicans labeled his soft power weak. Reagan’s “make America great again” appeals resonated, and he beat Carter in all but six states. Born Oct. 1, 1924, James Earl Carter Jr. married fellow Plains native Rosalynn Smith in 1946, the year he graduated from the Naval Academy. He brought his young family back to Plains after his father died, abandoning his Navy career, and they soon turned their ambitions to politics . Carter reached the state Senate in 1962. After rural white and Black voters elected him governor in 1970, he drew national attention by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Carter published more than 30 books and remained influential as his center turned its democracy advocacy onto U.S. politics, monitoring an audit of Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results. After a 2015 cancer diagnosis, Carter said he felt “perfectly at ease with whatever comes.” “I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said. “I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.
Dimopoulos shines in double OT and Northern Illinois beats Fresno State 28-20 in Idaho Potato Bowl
In Jan. 2023, I wrote about my 10 top stocks to buy for the new year. I ended up pretty proud of my list because if you'd invested $1,000 in each of the 10 stocks the day the article was published, you'd have ended 2023 with $13,301, including dividends. If you'd instead put your $10,000 into an S&P 500 ( ^GSPC 0.25% ) index fund, you would've had just $11,900 at the end of the year. In other words, the total return of my stock picks beat the broad market by 74%. And last December, I updated my list of top 10 stocks for 2024 , which have again outperformed the market. With $10,000 invested equally across those 10 stocks at the beginning of the year, you'd have $14,281 as of the Dec. 5 market close. An equal investment in an S&P 500 index fund would be worth $12,890. That's a total return difference of 48%. That's an encouraging result given how strong stocks have been this year. When the market is down, it's much easier to beat. For example, when the S&P 500 lost 18% in 2022, 51% of U.S. equity managers underperformed the market. But through the first half of a bullish 2024, 57% of large-cap U.S. equity managers were underperforming the index, and 60% underperformed it last year when the index was up 24%. Let's take a closer look at how my picks are faring with about a month to go in 2024 and consider whether you should buy them for the coming year. Drumroll, please ... The top 10 stocks I chose for 2024 were Airbnb ( ABNB 0.44% ) , Amazon ( AMZN 2.94% ) , Costco Wholesale ( COST 1.05% ) , Global-e Online ( GLBE 1.94% ) , Lemonade ( LMND 2.22% ) , Lululemon Athletica ( LULU 15.89% ) , MercadoLibre ( MELI -1.90% ) , Nu Holdings ( NU 0.58% ) , SoFi Technologies ( SOFI 2.36% ) , and Visa ( V 0.62% ) . Here's how they are performing compared to the S&P 500 as of Dec. 5: Data by YCharts . Nine of my top 10 picks are up year to date. The lone exception, Lululemon, is experiencing some major challenges right now. Let's do a quick rundown on each of these stocks and their prospects for 2025. Airbnb: Flat After gaining 59% in 2023, Airbnb has been flat this year. Growth has slowed, but profitability has soared. It's looking more like a value stock right now, and it's building on its popular platform. Shares trade at only 22 times trailing-12-month free cash flow, and value investors should take a look. Amazon: Up 45% Amazon has launched powerful artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that are driving tremendous growth in its cloud computing segment, Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS is the leading global cloud services provider, and AI is bringing in new clients. It's also the largest e-commerce company in the U.S. with a wide lead. Amazon remains a top choice for almost any investor. Costco: Up 50% Costco is one of my favorite all-weather stocks, and it continues to climb despite reaching fresh all-time highs this year. It's reliable for strong performance under almost any macroeconomic conditions, and the market can't seem to get enough of it. If you have a long-term mindset, you can add some shares even now, but you might want to adopt a dollar-cost averaging strategy. Global-e Online: Up 34% Global-e is a small but growing e-commerce powerhouse that provides cross-border solutions for online retailers. It services A-list clients like Disney , LVMH , and Nordstrom , and it adds more customers every quarter. It boasts high growth, and it's getting closer to profitability too. That positions the company to extend its momentum into 2025. Lemonade: Up 185% Lemonade is the standout stock on this list, and you can see how one big winner can carry a portfolio. The insurance company entered 2024 down more than 90% from its all-time high as investors were frustrated with its progress toward profitability. It made great strides this year, and its AI algorithms are doing their job. Lemonade still has a tremendous opportunity. Lululemon: Down 33% Lululemon is a consumer favorite, but it made a few missteps this year in its product launches. That wasn't helped by a soft market in general for premium apparel, and Lululemon isn't the only activewear company struggling right now. However, at the current price, it trades at only 26 times trailing-12-month earnings, a discount to the S&P 500 average. There may be some more volatility in the near future, but long-term investors should view this as an opportunity to buy a leading consumer apparel brand on the dip. MercadoLibre: Up 26% MercadoLibre has been a top performer for a long time, but the stock fell earlier this year due to economic instability and new competition in some of its key markets. However, MercadoLibre continues to run an outstanding business that's highly profitable and still reporting high growth, and its opportunity across Latin America is enormous. Nu: Up 44% Nu is an all-digital bank headquartered in Brazil, and it's growing by leaps and bounds. It has a cross-selling strategy that's resulting in high engagement and rising average revenue per active customer. The company has 110 million global customers, and it's entering new markets that should fuel its gains through 2025 and beyond. SoFi: Up 57% SoFi is an all-digital bank in the U.S., and it's also demonstrating momentum as it captures market share and becomes sustainably profitable. It has reported positive net income in the past four quarters, and management expects that trend to continue. The business is successfully expanding into a full financial services app, adding to its core lending segment, and it has years of growth ahead of it. Visa: Up 20% Visa is an all-weather stock that grows when the economy does. It's slightly underperforming the market this year since the market's gains have been fueled by big tech stocks. But Visa has been a winning choice for years, and it's an excellent value pick. The best portfolio is diversified Ten stocks aren't enough for a diversified portfolio , and this list skews toward growth stocks. But if your research leads you to invest in a few of these companies and you round out your portfolio with additional stocks or even an exchange-traded fund for greater diversification, you can be well prepared for various market conditions. And it's important to remember that every year will look different -- some picks may be duds, while others surge. But these year-to-year swings become less important when you focus on buying quality stocks and holding them long term. This remains a winning strategy for building wealth in the stock market.RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Aziaha James had 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, Devyn Quigley scored a career-high 20 points and made four 3-pointers and NC State beat Coastal Carolina 89-68 on Thursday. NC State had its lead trimmed to 54-46 midway through the third quarter before James scored five straight points to begin a 13-2 run that ended in a 19-point lead. Quigley took over in the fourth, making three 3-pointers and scoring 15 points. 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 week
The all-new MG RX9 premium SUV: A perfect blend of modern design, power, and versatility
Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: President Joe Biden will speak about Carter Sunday evening. The president will make his address from a hotel in St. Croix, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is on a holiday vacation with his family. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the great love stories and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history. The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.” They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn. She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians. He says their four years in Washington were just one period of putting their values into action and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.” As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” The longest-lived American president died 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. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter 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. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” 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. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.DALLAS (AP) — More than 60 years after , conspiracy theories still swirl and any new glimpse into the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas . Related Articles President-elect Donald Trump that he would declassify all of the remaining government records surrounding the assassination if he returned to office. He made a similar pledge during his first term, but ultimately bended to keep some documents withheld. At this point, only a few thousand of the related to the assassination have yet to be fully released, and those who have studied the records released so far say that even if the remaining files are declassified, the public shouldn’t anticipate any earth-shattering revelations. “Anybody waiting for a smoking gun that’s going to turn this case upside down will be sorely disappointed,” said Gerald Posner, author of “Case Closed,” which concludes that assassin acted alone. Friday’s 61st anniversary is expected to be marked with a moment of silence at 12:30 p.m. in Dealey Plaza, where Kennedy’s motorcade was passing through when he was fatally shot. And throughout this week there have been events marking the anniversary. When Air Force One carrying Kennedy and first lady Jacqueline Kennedy , they were greeted by a clear sky and enthusiastic crowds. With a reelection campaign on the horizon the next year, they had gone to Texas on political fence-mending trip. But as the motorcade was finishing its parade route downtown, shots rang out from the Texas School Book Depository building. Police arrested 24-year-old Oswald and, two days later, nightclub owner Jack Ruby fatally shot Oswald during a jail transfer. A year after the assassination, the Warren Commission, which President Lyndon B. Johnson established to investigate the assassination, concluded that Oswald acted alone and there was no evidence of a conspiracy. But that hasn’t quelled a web of alternative theories over the decades. In the early 1990s, the federal government mandated that all assassination-related documents be housed in a single collection in the National Archives and Records Administration. The collection of over 5 million records was required to be opened by 2017, barring any exemptions designated by the president. Trump, who took office for his first term in 2017, had boasted that he’d allow the release of all of the remaining records but ended up holding some back because of what he called the And while files have during President Joe Biden’s administration, some still remain unseen. The documents offer details on the way intelligence services operated at the time, and include CIA cables and memos discussing visits by Oswald to the Soviet and Cuban embassies during a trip to Mexico City just weeks before the assassination. The former Marine had previously defected to the Soviet Union before returning home to Texas. Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney in Washington, said what’s been released so far has contributed to the understanding of the time period, giving “a great picture” of what was happening during the Cold War and the activities of the CIA. Posner estimates that there are still about 3,000 to 4,000 documents in the collection that haven’t yet been fully released. Of those documents, some are still completely redacted while others just have small redactions, like someone’s Social Security number. There are about 500 documents where all the information is redacted, Posner said, and those include Oswald’s and Ruby’s tax returns. “If you have been following it, as I have and others have, you sort of are zeroed in on the pages you think might provide some additional information for history,” Posner said. Trump’s transition team hasn’t responded to questions this week about his plans when he takes office. From the start, there were those who believed there had to be more to the story than just Oswald acting alone, said Stephen Fagin, curator of the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which tells the story of the assassination from the building where Oswald made his sniper’s perch. “People want to make sense of this and they want to find the solution that fits the crime,” said Fagin, who said that while there are lingering questions, law enforcement made “a pretty compelling case” against Oswald. Larry J. Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, said his interest in the assassination dates back to the event itself, when he was a child. “It just seemed so fantastical that one very disturbed individual could end up pulling off the crime of the century,” Sabato said. “But the more I studied it, the more I realized that is a very possible, maybe even probable in my view, hypothesis.”
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