777 real vegas casino slots Editor’s note: This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . A missed flight. Cryptic text messages. Sightings around Los Angeles. A family tragedy. Each new update in the monthlong search for a missing Hawaii woman captivated the nation. And after family members announced Wednesday that Hannah Kobayashi, 30, had been found safe , questions are still swirling about what could have caused the photographer to abruptly stop communicating with her loved ones and leave the country. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Kobayashi walked through the U.S.-Mexico border in California voluntarily on Nov. 12, days after she missed her connecting flight to New York. She was not the victim of an abduction, foul play, or human trafficking as had been speculated on social media, McDonnell said. "We are happy to learn that Hannah has been found safe," the department said in a statement to USA TODAY. "Now that we have this new information, this has become a private matter and we will wrap up our investigation." But it's unlikely the public will ever see the results of that investigation or learn exactly what happened to Kobayashi after she was reported missing last month, said Michelle Jeanis, an assistant professor in the criminal justice department of The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. "If it's a voluntary departure, then there is no crime and there's nothing to investigate," said Jeanis, who researches missing persons phenomenon. "And they have no obligation to tell the public anything or the family anything." What happened to Hannah Kobayashi? According to accounts from family and police , on Nov. 8, Kobayashi missed a connecting flight from Maui to New York City at Los Angeles International Airport and was later spotted at different locations around the city. She sent a series of unusual text messages to her family, including mentions of not feeling safe and of someone attempting to steal her identity and money. Kobayashi stopped contacting them days later, prompting her family to file a missing person report and launch a sweeping, in-person search effort. During the search Kobayashi's father, Ryan Kobayashi , 58, died by suicide near LAX. Police later said Kobayashi intentionally missed her flight to New York - a claim the family disputes - and reclassified her as a voluntary missing person after reviewing footage that showed her crossing the southern border. On Wednesday, lawyers for the family said she had been found in Mexico . “This past month has been an unimaginable ordeal for our family, and we kindly ask for privacy as we take the time to heal and process everything we have been through,” the statement, attributed to her mother Brandi Yee and sister Sydni Kobayashi, said. “We want to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported us during this difficult time. Your kindness and concern have meant the world to us.” Kobayashi 'is not obligated' to explain disappearance to police It's not clear what led Kobayashi to cut off communication with her family and travel to Mexico. McDonnell told reporters that before she departed Maui, Kobayashi "expressed a desire to step away from modern connectivity," which may explain why she did not have her phone after departing LAX. Typically, voluntary departures are prompted by a high stress situation like a divorce, financial crisis, or potential criminal charges, said Jeanis. "We rarely see a case reach this level of exposure or attention for what seems like just family dysfunction or perhaps poor communication," she said. Jeanis said Kobayashi and her family are unlikely to share more details about what prompted her disappearance after experiencing such an "incredibly, profoundly traumatic" ordeal. And unlike in cases where people have misled law enforcement about their disappearance, police likely won't investigate Kobayashi further, Jeanis said. "We have not seen her and at this point we have no reason to compel her to see us," Lt. Doug Oldfield, a member of the LAPD missing persons unit, told PEOPLE . "It’s a big news story so she may decide to come with a lawyer, but she is not obligated to speak to us." Oldfield told PEOPLE that if Kobayashi crosses the border back into the United States, she will still "show as a missing person." He said the department is waiting for Customs and Border Protection or other law enforcement agents to make contact and determine she's okay. "Then we take her out of the system," he told the outlet, "unless something else happens." (This story has been updated to add new information.) Contributing: James Powel , Christopher Cann and Eduardo Cuevas , USA TODAYLTCN ETF: Bullish Due To Altcoin Season But Volatility Comes First

Unlike scores of people who for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.SANTA CLARA – Practicing behind a patchwork line is not how Brock Purdy dreamed of spending his 25th birthday Friday, never mind that he just gifted 49ers linemen a caravan of trucks and sports-utility vehicles on two-year leases. The 49ers are poised to field their most inexperienced offensive line in at least coach Kyle Shanahan’s eight seasons. Monday night’s chore for whoever blocks: protect Purdy and clear lanes for ball carriers Isaac Guerendo and Deebo Samuel against the NFC-leading Detroit Lions at Levi’s Stadium. Injuries have so thoroughly depleted the Niners (6-9) that 3-of-5 spots could feature linemen making their 49ers’ starting debuts. The only healthy starters are center Jake Brendel and right guard Dominick Puni, who might have to shift to other spots to provide for the best five-man look. Left tackle Trent Williams and his backup, Jaylon More, both went this week on injured reserve, which is where left guard Aaron Banks is expected to land before Monday night’s 5:15 p.m. kickoff. Right tackle Colton McKivitz did not practice Thursday, after being limited by a knee issue, and versatile backup Spencer Burford has been out with a calf injury he sustained as the sub at left tackle in Sunday’s loss at Miami. Offensive linemen Ben Bartch and Jon Feliciano are on injured reserve. Nick Zakelj is expected to make the first start of his career, most likely at left guard. “I know it’s just an amazing opportunity to have,” Zakelj said. “I can’t wait to go grasp it and go out there, fly off the ball and let it loose.” Charlie Heck, poached Wednesday off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, made 21 career starts for the Houston Texans from 2020-23, and Thursday acquisition Matt Hennessy made 22 starts as the Atlanta Falcons’ 2020-22 center. No other linemen have starting experience, including Zakelj, Austen Pleasants, Sebastian Gutierrez, Isaac Alarcon and undrafted rookie center Drake Nugent. If McKivitz is healthy, he’s an option to move to left tackle, where he made spot starts at left tackle in 2021 and ’22 in place of Williams. Burford, unbeknownst until last game, had practiced as the No. 3 left tackle most of the season. LYNCH’S STATE OF FRANCHISE General manager John Lynch, speaking for the first time since Sunday’s official elimination from the playoffs, is in the investigation process of examining the 49ers’ 2024 woes and potential cures. “I can’t believe we’re here, but we are. We have to accept that. We have to learn from that,” Lynch said on KNBR 680-AM. “We can’t just chalk it up to, ‘There were a lot of injuries.’ The team we’re playing, Detroit, they had a lot of injuries but they found a way. We have to look at the root, and we have been looking at the root causes. We’ll fix it.” One obvious issue is the 49ers’ inability to close out games, something that’s carried over from past playoff defeats to this season’s four NFC West defeats. Lynch noted that the absences of All-Pros Williams and Christian McCaffrey factors into that. “But we can’t chalk it up to just that. We have to go deeper,” Lynch said. “There are ways we could have gotten it done. When you have division opponents (down) multiple scores, you have to put people away, and that’s what we didn’t do this year. We have to own that. We have to get to the bottom of why exactly that happened, with every decision we make.” HEALTH CENTER Fullback Kyle Juszczyk did not practice because of illness. Juszczyk has played every game this season after taking a pay cut in the spring. He is aiming for his ninth straight Pro Bowl invitation. Running back Isaac Guerendo participated in a second straight practice and looks on track to make his third career start; he did not play in Sunday’s loss at Miami because of hamstring and foot injuries. Running back David Montgomery (knee) was the only player on the Lions’ active roster not to practice. Cornerback Terrion Arnold (illness) was limited after missing Thursday’s session. Full participants were guard Graham Glasgow (knee), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (neck). GAMEDAY GUIDE Levi’s Stadium parking lots are to open at 1:45 p.m. Stadium gates open 30 minutes later for club- and suite-ticket holders, with entry for all others starting at 3:15 p.m. Halftime entertainment will feature MIMS and Freedom Williams (from the C+C Music Factory). Tony Lindsay will perform the national anthem.

Azincourt Energy (CVE:AAZ) Stock Price Up 50% – Still a Buy?Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF ( NASDAQ:BSCQ – Get Free Report ) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 688,800 shares, a drop of 19.2% from the November 30th total of 852,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,026,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.7 days. Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF Stock Performance BSCQ stock opened at $19.42 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $19.44 and a two-hundred day moving average of $19.42. Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $19.05 and a 52-week high of $19.64. Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Monday, December 23rd were paid a dividend of $0.0694 per share. This is an increase from Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF’s previous dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 23rd. Institutional Trading of Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF About Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF ( Get Free Report ) The Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF (BSCQ) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks an index of investment grade corporate bonds with effective maturities in 2026. The fund will unwind in December 2026 and return capitals and proceeds to investors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco BulletShares 2026 Corporate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 13, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! How Has The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market Performed In The Recent Years? The commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $1.44 billion in 2023 to $1.49 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 3.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing vehicle production, growing focus on safety features, rising fuel prices, rising connected vehicles, and rising demand for fleet management. Explore Comprehensive Insights Into The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market With A Detailed Sample Report: What Is The Projected Growth Rate And Market Size Of The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market? The commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $1.7 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 3.3%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising urbanization, increasing vehicle electrification, growth in commercial vehicles, the emergence of autonomous vehicles, rise in e-commerce, and rising disposable income. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in automotive technology, innovations in switch technology, the Internet of Things, connected vehicle technologies, and integration with advanced driver assistance systems ADAS. What Are Key Drivers Behind The Growth Of The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market? The growing demand for electric vehicles EVs is expected to propel the growth of the commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market going forward. An electric vehicle EV refers to a vehicle that utilizes one or more electric motors for propulsion. The growing demand for electric vehicles EVs is increasing due to several reasons, such as environmental benefits, energy independence, economic benefits, and climate goals. Electromechanical switches help in controlling the flow of electricity from the battery to different vehicle systems. They regulate power distribution to avoid overloading and efficiently manage charging and discharging cycles. For instance, in March 2023, according to the International Energy Agency, a France-based intergovernmental organization, global electric car sales approached 14 million in 2023, accounting for 18% of total car sales, up from 14% in 2022. This marked an increase of 3.5 million units compared to the previous year, reflecting a 35% year-on-year growth. Therefore, the growing demand for electric vehicles EVs is driving the growth of the commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market. To Learn More About This Market, Pre-book the report at: Who Are The Key Players In The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market? Major companies operating in the commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market are Panasonic Corporation, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Honeywell International Inc., Valeo SA, Eaton Corporation PLC, TE Connectivity Ltd., Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA, Alps Alpine Co. Ltd., Omron Corporation, Sensata Technologies Inc., Kostal Group, Littelfuse Inc., Preh GmbH, Furukawa Group, Marquardt GmbH, Uno Minda Group, Stoneridge Inc., APEM Inc., OTTO Engineering Inc., NKK Switches Co. Ltd. What Are The Recent Innovations From Key Players In The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market? Major companies operating in the commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market are developing innovative smart high-side power switches to enhance driver experience, improve safety, and meet the growing demand for more reliable and durable components in modern vehicles. Smart high-side power switches are electronic components that control and protect power distribution by managing the flow of current to connected loads, offering features like overcurrent protection, fault detection, and diagnostics in automotive and industrial applications. For instance, in April 2023, Infineon Technologies AG, a Germany-based semiconductor company, launched the automotive smart high-side power-switch portfolio PROFET Load Guard 12V, a new portfolio of automotive smart high-side power switches designed to enhance safety-critical systems such as advanced driver-assistance systems ADAS. These devices offer adjustable overcurrent limitation and capacitive load switching CLS mode, providing robust protection and fast fault isolation for modern power distribution architectures. How Is The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market Segmented? The commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market covered in this report is segmented in terms of type, sales channel, and application. By type, the market is divided into tactile, rocker, toggle, push, detect, and other types. In terms of sales channel, the market is split into original equipment manufacturer OEM and aftermarket. By application, the market includes trucks, buses, material handling, construction, agriculture, boats and recreation, two or three wheelers, and rail. What Are The Regional Insights Into The Commercial Vehicle Electromechanical Switch Market? Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market in 2023. Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa are the regions covered in the commercial vehicle electromechanical switch market report. Browse more similar reports- Industrial And Commercial LED Lighting Global Market Report 2024 Commercial Printing Services Global Market Report 2024 Commercial Aircraft Landing Gear Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Contact us at: The Business Research Company: Americas +1 3156230293 Asia +44 2071930708 Europe +44 2071930708 Email us at ... Follow us on: LinkedIn: YouTube: Global Market Model: global-market-model Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "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 author above. MENAFN12122024003118003196ID1108988698 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.

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (AP) — Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant is skipping his final college season to enter the NFL draft. Grant, a key part of the Wolverines' 2023 national championship team, announced his decision Thursday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Fellow Michigan interior lineman Mason Graham had already declared for the draft. Both are projected as likely first-round picks. The 6-foot-3, 339-pound Grant was a third-team Associated Press All-American. He had 32 tackles, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and a pair of fumble recoveries. Grant helped Michigan upset Ohio State in the Big Ten regular-season finale, making four tackles. Cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland have also declared for the draft leading up to Michigan's game against No. 11 Alabama in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota regulators approved permits Thursday for underground storage of carbon dioxide delivered through a massive pipeline proposed for the Midwest, marking another victory for a project that has drawn fierce opposition from landowners. The governor-led Industrial Commission voted unanimously to approve permits for Summit Carbon Solutions’ three proposed storage sites in central North Dakota. Summit says construction of the project would begin in 2026 with operations beginning in 2027, but it’s expected that resistant landowners will file lawsuits seeking to block the storage plans. “With these permits, we’re one step closer to providing vital infrastructure that benefits farmers, ethanol producers, and communities across the Midwest," Summit Executive VP Wade Boeshans said in a statement. Summit’s proposed 2,500-mile (4,023-kilometer), $8 billion pipeline would transport planet-warming CO2 emissions from 57 ethanol plants in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska for underground storage. Carbon dioxide would move through the pipeline in a pressurized form to be injected deep underground into a rock formation. The company has permits for its route in North Dakota and Iowa but can’t yet begin construction. Also on Thursday, Minnesota regulators approved a permit for a 28-mile (45-kilometer) leg of the project in western Minnesota. Summit also recently applied in South Dakota, where regulators denied the company’s previous application last year. Last month, the company gained approval for its North Dakota route , and Iowa regulators also have given conditional approval. Summit faces several lawsuits related to the project, including a North Dakota Supreme Court appeal over a property rights law related to the underground storage plan. Further court challenges are likely. North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug Burgum, who chairs the Industrial Commission, is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Interior Secretary and to lead a new National Energy Council. Burgum has frequently touted North Dakota's underground carbon dioxide storage as a “geologic jackpot.” In 2021, he set a goal for the No. 3 oil-producing state to be carbon-neutral by 2030. His term ends Saturday. Summit's storage facilities would hold an estimated maximum of 352 million metric tons of CO2 over 20 years. The pipeline would carry up to 18 million metric tons of CO2 per year to be injected about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) underground, according to an application fact sheet. Jessie Stolark, who leads a group that supports the project and includes Summit, said the oil industry has long used similar technology. “We know that this can be done safely in a manner that is protective of human health and underground sources of drinking water,” said Stolark, executive director of the Carbon Capture Coalition. Summit's project has drawn the ire of landowners around the region. They oppose the potential taking of their property for the pipeline and fear a pipeline rupture releasing a cloud of heavy, hazardous gas over the land. A North Dakota landowners group is challenging a property rights law related to the underground storage, and attorney Derrick Braaten said they likely would challenge the granting of permits. “The landowners that I'm working with aren't necessarily opposed to carbon sequestration itself,” Braaten said. “They're opposed to the idea that a private company can come in and use their property without having to negotiate with them or pay them just compensation for taking their private property and using it.” Carbon capture projects such as Summit's are eligible for lucrative federal tax credits intended to encourage cleaner-burning ethanol and potentially result in corn-based ethanol being refined into jet fuel. Some opponents argue the amount of greenhouse gases sequestered through the process would make little difference and could lead farmers to grow more corn despite environmental concerns about the crop. In Minnesota, regulators granted a route permit that would connect an ethanol plant in Fergus Falls to Summit’s broader network. They attached several conditions, including requirements that Summit first begin construction in North Dakota. An administrative law judge who conducted hearings concluded in November that the environmental impacts from the Minnesota segment would be minimal and noted that Summit has secured agreements from landowners along most of the recommended route. Environmental groups that oppose the project disputed the judge’s finding that the project would have a net benefit for the environment. Iowa regulators required Summit to obtain approvals for routes in the Dakotas and underground storage in North Dakota before it can begin construction in Iowa. The Iowa Utilities Commission's approval sparked lawsuits related to the project. In Nebraska, where there is no state regulatory process for CO2 pipelines, Summit is working with individual counties to advance its project. At least one county has denied a permit. Karnowski reported from Minneapolis.

Jimmy Carter held a unique place in US politics: he was the oldest former president and a Nobel peace laureate, but his one term in office was forever tainted by his inability to end the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, arguably wielded his greatest influence not during his 1977-1981 term in the White House, but in the decades following, when he served as a global mediator, rights activist and elder statesman. The Southern Democrat, who left 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in January 1981 after a crushing election loss to Ronald Reagan, was perceived as naive and weak in the dog-eat-dog world of Washington politics. Even within his own party, the Georgia native with the broad toothy grin -- a "born-again" Christian who taught Sunday school well into his 90s -- was something of a persona non grata for a long time. But as the years passed, a more nuanced image of Carter emerged, one that took in his post-presidential activities and reassessed his achievements, like the brokering of a peace deal between Israel and Egypt. He placed a commitment to human rights and social justice at the core of his tenure as the 39th president of the United States. That dedication later served as the cornerstone of The Carter Center, which he founded in 1982 to pursue his vision of world diplomacy, earning broad international praise. Carter represented a new generation of Southern men who were more tolerant and progressive on issues of race. The former president -- who had been both a naval officer and a peanut farmer -- heartily embraced his roots. "I am a Southerner and an American," said Carter, a virtual unknown on the national political scene when he launched his presidential campaign ahead of the 1976 election. - From farm to White House - James Earl Carter Jr. -- the full name he rarely used -- was born on October 1, 1924 in the small farm town of Plains, Georgia, south of Atlanta -- the same town where he lived out his golden years. After seven years in the navy, where he worked on the nuclear submarine program and rose to the rank of lieutenant, he returned home to run the family peanut farm. But eventually, politics came calling. He served in Georgia's state senate and took over as governor in 1971. Only a few years later, his unlikely White House bid began. Carter arrived in Washington in January 1977, sworn in to head a country needing a strong leader to dispel the gloom left over from the Vietnam War, the Watergate scandal and a deep recession. For the first time since 1968, the Democrats controlled the White House and Congress, so hopes were high as Carter took office. - 'Extraordinarily difficult' - He enjoyed a strong first two years, with high approval ratings. A shining moment of his term in office was the historic 1978 Camp David Accords signed by Israel's Menachem Begin and Egypt's Anwar Sadat, which ultimately led to a peace treaty the following year. Carter also established diplomatic relations with China following the rapprochement initiated by then-president Richard Nixon, and endorsed solar energy, even installing solar panels on the White House. But his administration hit numerous snags, the most serious being the Iran hostage crisis and the disastrous failed attempt to rescue the 52 captive Americans in 1980. His handling of the renewed oil crisis in 1979-1980 was also sharply criticized. Images of cars lined up at gas stations were long associated with his presidency. In the wake of Carter's defeat at the polls, the Democratic Party weathered a political storm -- 12 years of Republican presidents in Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Even now, few Democrats claim to be picking up Carter's mantle. In a biography published in 2010, historian Julian Zelizer, a professor at Princeton University, said Carter had fallen victim to "an extraordinarily difficult set of circumstances that would have challenged any president." - 'Best ex-president' - But Carter bounced back in perhaps the most spectacular reinvention of any US leader and was often called America's "best ex-president." Carter founded his eponymous center in Atlanta and emerged as a prominent international mediator, tackling some of the most intransigent global dilemmas -- including North Korea and Bosnia in the 1990s. He monitored dozens of elections around the world, from Haiti to East Timor, and went to Cuba in 2002 for a historic meeting with then longtime communist leader Fidel Castro to prod him on human rights. Carter won a host of awards including the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize and the highest US civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He won three Grammys for best spoken-word album, a category that included audiobooks. Carter maintained a busy schedule into his 90s. He and wife Rosalynn helped build houses for the charity Habitat for Humanity for decades. Rosalynn died in November 2023 at age 96. The couple had three sons and a daughter. In August 2015, Carter revealed he had cancer on his brain and was undergoing radiation treatment. At the time of his diagnosis, Carter said that while the presidency was the "pinnacle" of his political career, "life since the White House has been personally more gratifying." During a church service in November 2019 in Plains, Carter looked back -- with serenity, and a touch of humor -- at his battle with cancer. "I assumed, naturally, that I was going to die very quickly," he said. "I obviously prayed about it. I didn't ask God to let me live, but I asked God to give me a proper attitude toward death." "And I found that I was absolutely and completely at ease with death." bur-jca-mlm/sst/ec/bbk Originally published as Jimmy Carter: president, global mediator, Nobel laureate Breaking News Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. More related stories Breaking News Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100 Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100 Read more Breaking News Croatia’s president faces conservative rival in election run-off Croatia's president faces conservative rival in election run-off Read more

( MENAFN - PR Newswire) Features grand prize of 150K USDT - equivalent to a luxury paradise villa NASSAU, the Bahamas, Dec. 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- OKX , a leading crypto exchange and global onchain technology company, today launched 'Ticket to Paradise ' - transforming trades into treasure with its largest-ever 2.6M USDT prize pool. Whether trading on the OKX Exchange or swapping tokens through the OKX Wallet, eligible participants have the chance to win a grand prize of 150K USDT - equivalent to the value of a luxury villa in an exotic location - alongside 2.35M USDT in partner rewards across both platforms. The campaign brings together OKX's exchange trading and wallet swap activities, offering two paths to rewards through both CEX and DEX trading. Supported by leading partners including Polyhedra, Foxy, UXLINK, Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Alliance and memecoin projects, every trade brings participants closer to their version of paradise: OKX launched 'Ticket to Paradise' to showcase what crypto trading can be - connected, accessible and rewarding. By gamifying both exchange and wallet trading, OKX aims to make the trading experience more engaging. The campaign highlights the natural synergy between CEX and DEX trading, offering rewards at every step to help traders get closer to their own version of paradise. 'Ticket to Paradise' runs from December 13, 2024 to January 9, 2025, launched alongside OKX's latest campaign video that captures the message "Whatever your version of paradise might be, we're here to take you there." For complete campaign details and to watch the video, visit: okx/campaigns/paradise For further information, please contact: [email protected] About OKX OKX is a technology company with a mission to organize the world's blockchains and make them more accessible and useful. We want to create a future that makes our world more efficient, transparent and connected. OKX began as a crypto exchange giving millions of people access to trading and over time became among the largest platforms in the world. In recent years, we have developed one of the most connected onchain wallets used by millions to access decentralized applications (dApps). OKX is a brand trusted by hundreds of large institutions seeking access to crypto markets on a reliable platform that seamlessly connects with global banking and payments. Our most well-known products include: The OKX Exchange, OKX Wallet, OKX Marketplace, OKX Explorer, OKX Chain and OS for developers, OKX Ventures and OKX Institutional Services. To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx Disclaimer SOURCE OKX MENAFN12122024003732001241ID1108988693 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.When Bashar al-Assad's government brutally cracked down on protesters in 2011, former President Barack Obama wanted to ramp up sanctions but faced a dilemma. was already so heavily sanctioned that few cords connecting it to the global financial system were left to cut. "We're talking about a country whose economy is about the size of Pittsburgh's," a US official the New York Times in 2011. Those deliberations are worth remembering as 2024 comes to a close and Western and regional governments look to engage Syria's new government, which is led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Human rights groups and aid organisations will look to expand aid into Syria, where an estimated 90 percent of the country lives in poverty. Turkey, which enjoys close ties to HTS, is eyeing Syrian reconstruction opportunities. Oil-rich Gulf states including the , and could expand their influence in Syria, sandwiched in the heart of the Levant, at a time when Iran is in retreat. If reconstruction does get underway in Syria it could also be a boon to European and American engineering firms, an Arab official told MEE. Recently, talk about sanctions relief has focused on HTS, a former Al Qaeda affiliate that is sanctioned by the US and EU. In December, the US lifted a $10m bounty on HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, after he met senior US officials in Damascus. MEE previously that the US weighed removing the bounty as a "first step" to engage Syria's new rulers. HTS is still sanctioned and designated a US terror group. But the reality is that the sanctions on HTS are a drop in the bucket, compared to an overlapping sanctions regime on Syria that was five decades in the making, predating even the 2011 Arab Spring and Syrian civil war. When Hafez al-Assad took power in Syria in a 1970 coup, Syria was receiving financial and military aid from the Soviet Union. The elder Assad was renowned for keeping channels open to the US and its Cold War foes, but in 1979, he fell out with the US over Lebanon, and Syria was a state sponsor of terrorism. Those sanctions came after Assad's Baath party imposed sweeping nationalisation that chased out Syria's old bourgeois business class and deterred western investment. The designation put Syria in the same bracket as Cuba and Iran as a terror sponsor and imposed sweeping new restrictions on US foreign aid, a ban on defence sales, export controls for dual-use items and other financial restrictions. Despite the designation, Syria was still courted by the West and sanctions mainly applied to transactions involving the Syrian government. Ties between the US and Syria improved briefly after the elder Assad joined a US-led coalition to fight Saddam Hussein in the first Gulf War, but over Syria's ties to Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the flow of foreign fighters from Syria into Iraq after the 2003 US invasion. These tensions sparked the first massive wave of sanctions on Syria. Congress the Congressional Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act in 2003 and the following year former President George W. Bush imposed sweeping sanctions. American exports to Syria were all but prohibited, except for food and basic medicines. Then in 2006, the US banned transactions with the Commercial Bank of Syria. Syria's financial ties to the US were severely restricted, but not totally severed from the US. For example, the US federal government also continued to fund Arabic language students with five-figure grants to at Damascus University almost right up until 2011. US sanctions on Syria ramped up massively after Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters and as the civil war raged. The US slapped sanctions on Syrian businessmen, banks and the government. Bilateral US-Syria trade which still stood at roughly $900m in 2010 dropped below $60m in 2012. US economic ties have since revolved around northeast Syria, which is controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. In 2020, a US company was a sanctions waiver to develop oil fields in the region, but that project After 2011, the European Union also imposed sanctions on Syria similar to the US. The web of sanctions fell broadly into two categories. The first targeted individuals with travel bans and asset freezes. The second sought to prevent the Syrian government from accessing global financial channels, curb Syrian imports from Western countries and embargo Syrian oil exports. US sanctions in particular carry weight because the dollar is the world's reserve currency, and most international trade is conducted via the greenback. After the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, the US then began implementing secondary sanctions which means that anyone who did business with a sanctioned Syrian entity could see their access to the US-dollar-based economy curbed. The sanctions meant that even after the Assad government wrested control of two-thirds of Syria from rebels it could not emerge out of isolation. Assad visited the UAE in 2022 and the next year rejoined the Arab League, but the Gulf states who invest widely in the US and trade their oil in dollars refused to contribute to reconstruction. Similarly, in 2021, the US's top geopolitical foe, China, welcomed Syria into the Belt and Road Initiative. The multi-trillion-dollar programme for development and infrastructure was almost tailor-made for Syria's pummeled cities and highways, but Syria saw hardly a penny of Chinese investment, analysts because of US sanctions. One of the most restrictive measures on Syria is US sanctions on the Central Bank which go back to 2011, making it virtually impossible for the Syrian government to tap international financial markets or receive aid. The sanctions on the bank were reaffirmed under the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act which was named after a Syrian military photographer who smuggled tens of thousands of gruesome photos out of the country that documented evidence of war crimes. On Thursday, the Gulf Cooperation Council called for sanctions to be lifted "provide all means of support to the brotherly Syrian people". Some in the US have gone even further, underscoring their vision for a post-Assad Syria. "A Trump tower in Damascus one day would be a welcome development!" Republican US Congressman Joe Wilson, a prominent architect of recent Syria sanctions, in December, advocating for Syria to be swiftly reconnected to the global economy. Wilson said he wanted "private and commercial investment" to fuel Syria's reconstruction, which the UN estimates will cost $400bn. Many groups are united in wanting to see Syria emerge out of isolation, for humanitarian, political and business reasons. But before the signature gold-lettered "Trump" sign can emblazon Damascus's skyline, a thicket of sanctions must be undone that prevent Syria from tapping the global financial system or western goods.New Delhi [India], November 23 (ANI): Delhi's Rouse Avenue court has recently issued Non-Bailable Warrants (NBW) against three persons in a money laundering case linked to Rs. 1200 crores bank Fraud case. This case is related to Amira Pure Foods Private Limited. Special CBI Judge Amitabh Rawat allowed the application of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking the issuance of non-bailable warrants against the accused namely Karan A. Chanana, Anita Daing & Rajesh Arora. Also Read | Nana Patole, Maharashtra Congress Chief, Scrapes Through in Sakoli Assembly Constituency, Wins by 208 Votes. "Considering the facts and circumstances and the fact that all three respondents are named accused both in predicate offence and in this ED case and wanted to be arrested by the ED for commission of offence under PMLA and all of them deliberately and intentionally appears to be evading summons and not participating in the investigation at all and one or some of them having escaped out of India and LOCs being opened against them and for aiding investigation and proceedings further in this case, issuance of NBWs would be justified," Special Judge Rawat said in the order dated November 20. "Let NBWs be issued against said three respondents/accused persons to be executed through the concerned IO returnable on February 3, 2025," the court ordered. Also Read | Assembly By-Elections Result 2024: Ruling Parties Hold Sway in States; BJP Gains in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan; TMC Reigns in West Bengal. It was submitted by the ED that summons were issued to the respondents but they have not complied with the said summons. Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Manish Jain along with Snehal Sharda submitted that Even after the last summons was issued on September 3, 2024, and till date they have not joined the investigation under PMLA. It was also submitted that the respondents have deliberately, intentionally and knowingly avoided their presence before the IO in compliance with summons issued under Section 50(2) and (3) of PMLA. The Enforcement Directorate had moved an application for the issuance of non-bailable warrants against respondents namely Karan A. Chanana, Anita Daing and Rajesh Arora. ED had prayed for the issuance of open ended Non-Bailable Warrant against three respondents namely Karan A. Chanana, Anita Daing and Rajesh Arora to be executed through its officers. The Special Public Prosecutor for ED had submitted that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered an FIR on November 23, 2020, under Section 120B, 420 and 471 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Act, 1860 and Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, 1988 on the basis of complaint dated 17.11.2020 filed by Canara Bank. In the said FIR, it was alleged that the accused company M/s Amira Pure Foods Private Limited through its Directors/Promoters/Employees and others have committed fraud by siphoning and diverting funds, criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust, cheating, fraud, etc. by causing wrongful loss to the tune of approx. Rs.1201.85 crores to the consortium of banks led by Canara Bank. The Directorate of Enforcement, on the basis of the CBI FIR recorded the present case June 22, 2022 under PMLA. It was argued that an investigation conducted by the Directorate revealed that M/s Amira Pure Foods Private Limited was sanctioned fund-based and non-fund-based limits by a consortium of Banks led by Canara Bank to the tune of approximately Rs. 1367 crores from 2009 to 2016. The stated purpose of the loan as per the loan documents was, inter-alia, for working capital requirements. The account of the company was. declared as Non Performing Asset (NPA) on September 29, 2017. The account of M/s APFPL was declared as fraud by all the member Banks to the tune of approximately Rs 1201 crores. The company not only defaulted in repayment of interest but also failed to submit its financial statements, net worth particulars of guarantors, routed transactions outside consortium lenders, did not enable stock audits etc, it was added. Investigations by ED showed that said entity siphoned off/ diverted the borrowed money to the tune of Rs 734.20 crores through non-genuine and sham business transactions with various fictitious entities, which were used as conduit for the diversion of money of the lenders. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)