haha777 promo code For some Granite Staters, Jimmy Carter was more than the 39th president. He was a friend who left a lasting mark on their lives. Some have fond memories from his time on the trail in New Hampshire in 1976. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100 , was from the South and served only one term as president, but his legacy in New Hampshire is still felt to this day, particularly in the state's political scene and the first-in-the-nation primary. Carter's 1976 presidential run has entered a kind of legendary territory in the Granite State. The Georgia governor arrived as a total unknown and set up an organic, grassroots campaign that was so close to its volunteers. Carter would stay in their homes while he was on the trail. >> New Hampshire Primary Vault: The history behind Jimmy Carter's stunning primary win in 1976 He didn't have money. He didn't have name recognition. He didn't have a lot of powerful friends in the party. It was just a man from Plains, Georgia, coming to the Granite State and trying to meet people where they were. When he won in New Hampshire and then won the presidency, it took some of the emerging myths of the primary -- that New Hampshire is open to every candidate, and anyone who can make a real connection with the people in the Granite State can launch themselves into the White House -- and that suddenly became a reality. Bill Clinton, John McCain and others who have made that special connection with voters in New Hampshire have all followed in Carter's footsteps. >> Jimmy Carter remembered as honest, approachable from time in New Hampshire The other legacy of Carter in New Hampshire is the Democratic political powerhouse that is the Shaheen family. Now, it's likely Bill and Jeanne Shaheen would have risen in New Hampshire politics under any circumstances. But their close association with Carter and his ascension to the White House really accelerated their path to power. Jeanne Shaheen, of course, is a U.S. senator and Bill Shaheen is a member of the Democratic National Committee,but there are many other top New Hampshire Democrats who point to that 1976 Carter campaign as a formative moment in their own lives. And not just that primary, but also the 1980 primary, when Ted Kennedy challenged Carter, a sitting president, in New Hampshire and lost. So, while Carter is known for a difficult one-term presidency, and then redefining the kind of impact a president can have after they leave office, it really cannot be overstated how important Carter was and really still is in having shaped politics -- both primary and state -- in New Hampshire.

Boxing Day shopper footfall was down 7.9% from last year across all UK retail destinations up until 5pm, MRI Software’s OnLocation Footfall Index found. However, this year’s data had been compared with an unusual spike in footfall as 2023 was the first “proper Christmas” period without Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, an analyst at the retail technology company said. It found £4.6 billion will be spent overall on the festive sales. Before the pandemic the number of Boxing Day shoppers on the streets had been declining year on year. The last uplift recorded by MRI was in 2015. Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, told the PA news agency: “We’ve got to bear in mind that (last year) was our first proper Christmas without any (Covid-19) restrictions or limitations. “Figures have come out that things have stabilised, we’re almost back to what we saw pre-pandemic.” There were year-on-year declines in footfall anywhere between 5% and 12% before Covid-19 restrictions, she said. MRI found 12% fewer people were out shopping on Boxing Day in 2019 than in 2018, and there were 3% fewer in 2018 than in 2017, Ms Matthews added. She said: “It’s the shift to online shopping, it’s the convenience, you’ve got the family days that take place on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.” People are also increasingly stocking-up before Christmas, Ms Matthews said, and MRI found an 18% increase in footfall at all UK retail destinations on Christmas Eve this year compared with 2023. Ms Matthews said: “We see the shops are full of people all the way up to Christmas Eve, so they’ve probably got a couple of good days of food, goodies, everything that they need, and they don’t really need to go out again until later on in that week. “We did see that big boost on Christmas Eve. It looks like shoppers may have concentrated much of their spending in that pre-Christmas rush.” Many online sales kicked off between December 23 and the night of Christmas Day and “a lot of people would have grabbed those bargains from the comfort of their own home”, she said. She added: “I feel like it’s becoming more and more common that people are grabbing the bargains pre-Christmas.” Footfall is expected to rise on December 27 as people emerge from family visits and shops re-open, including Next, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis that all shut for Boxing Day. It will also be payday for some as it is the last Friday of the month. A study by Barclays Consumer Spend had forecast that shoppers would spend £236 each on average in the Boxing Day sales this year, but that the majority of purchases would be made online. Nearly half of respondents said the cost-of-living crisis will affect their post-Christmas shopping but the forecast average spend is still £50 more per person than it was before the pandemic, with some of that figure because of inflation, Barclays said. Amid the financial pressures, many people are planning to buy practical, perishable and essential items such as food and kitchenware. A total of 65% of shoppers are expecting to spend the majority of their sales budget online. Last year, Barclays found 63.9% of Boxing Day retail purchases were made online. However, a quarter of respondents aim to spend mostly in store – an 11% rise compared with last year. Karen Johnson, head of retail at Barclays, said: “Despite the ongoing cost-of-living pressures, it is encouraging to hear that consumers will be actively participating in the post-Christmas sales. “This year, we’re likely to see a shift towards practicality and sustainability, with more shoppers looking to bag bargains on kitchen appliances and second-hand goods.” Consumers choose in-store shopping largely because they enjoy the social aspect and touching items before they buy, Barclays said, adding that high streets and shopping centres are the most popular destinations.On Nov. 5, the diverse people of Pennsylvania spoke loudly, electing their national leader: Donald J. Trump. But, when it comes to the PA party leader: Republicans are denied a voice; their leader is selected instead. Do your readers even know that Pa. GOP Chairman Lawrence Tabas is not seeking reelection? And two candidates instantly entered the race – at which point, one was instantly propped up by party elites as the “anointed” one! Some “endorsed” him. Then, the media shouted it far and wide; and the next thing you know, candidate No. 2 withdrew before an election even got started. So wrong! Where are the people in this process? How many people knew Ted Christian entered the race? The people at large didn’t have a clue about this candidate, his goals/vision, his values – and make no mistake, this pivotal election will have long-reaching effects in our state! Christian is a longtime Trump adviser, a MAGA man; Greg Rothman backed DeSantis. Christian was the focus of a local alternative media source (“Harrisburg100”), and one state committee member was quoted as saying: “ I thought we were a party from the ground up, not the top down. I don’t like being dictated to.” That has stuck with me. While only the 300+ committee members can vote, many intended to vote for Christian, knowing that’s what their constituents want. These GOP state committee members represent us! Politics as usual in Pa.! The people need to rise up and reach out to Mr. Christian and ask him to re-enter the race and reach out also to their state committee members and ask the same! Heck, reach out to President Trump if you can. Pennsylvania is on the line! Caroline Machiraju Camp Hill Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!

President Biden and his family arrived Thursday in St. Croix for what may be the final unpaid vacation of his presidency at the home of wealthy businesspeople — after consistent freebies as commander-in-chief drew ethics questions and an outcry over his failure to report the gifts. Biden, 82, first lady Jill Biden and fist daughter Ashley Biden landed aboard Air Force One on the afternoon following Christmas and motorcaded straight to the beachfront villa of Bill and Connie Neville. The president hosted the couple at his first state dinner in 2022 and typically grants them an audience on the tarmac while leaving the island after the new year. The White House did not confirm that the Bidens were again residing at the Nevilles’ deluxe property, which features an in-ground pool, direct beach access and sweeping views of an offshore island, but the motorcade separated near the north shore home. The property typically lists as a VRBO rental available for roughly $900 per night. Biden stayed at the same house at the end of 2022 and 2023 for post-Christmas trips to celebrate New Year’s Eve — and also stayed there during his vice presidency, a fact that was used on promotional material. Unlike President-elect Donald Trump, who regularly stayed at his own properties during his first term, drawing different ethics issues, Biden as president has sought out unpaid stays with prominent supporters, in many cases generating concern about the homeowners securing access and influence. The Nevilles operate the US Viking software company, which makes an online content platform called ENPS marketed by The Associated Press and used by news outlets. The couple scored coveted tickets to Biden’s first state dinner, featuring French President Emmanuel Macron and a select group of the two countries’ business elite, 26 days before the Bidens’ first presidential trip to the Nevilles’ home. Although the precise sequence of events ahead of the initial trip to the beach house are unclear, the Bidens months later directly asked another homeowner , Maria Allwin, the widow of a prominent hedge fund operator, if they could use without payment her vacation mansion in Kiawah Island, S.C. Biden additionally has enjoyed four Thanksgiving-week stays at billionaire private equity titan David Rubenstein’s Nantucket compound — and in a small token of gratitude spoke this September at a lunch hosted by Rubenstein in Washington. Those four stays are presumed to have been unpaid, though neither party has confirmed it. This August, Biden’s family spent five days for free at the sprawling California ranch of medical technology billionaire Joe Kiani, whose substantial government contracts during the Biden administration and appointment by Biden to an advisory board drew Republican outcry. Last August, the Biden family spent nine days at billionaire climate investor Tom Steyer’s waterfront Lake Tahoe retreat in Nevada. The White House initially claimed the Bidens would pay for the stay, prompting a short-lived local investigation of Steyer’s lack of a rental permit, which was called off without explanation. Critics of the stays say they reek of corruption and that Biden’s consistent failure to report the gifts on annual ethics forms could be criminal, though Biden aides have taken the view that they don’t need to be listed due to the lack of clarity in federal law. Mark Paoletta, the incoming top lawyer for the White House budget office, who served in the same role during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term, slammed Biden’s reporting omissions in May. “His habit of taking over donors’ homes for vacations and not paying nor disclosing is consistent with his family’s long history of grift and corruption,” Paoletta told The Post after the release of Biden’s annual disclosure forms again showed the omissions. Republicans have accused the media of a double standard in aggressively reporting on conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas not disclosing trips with billionaire developer Harlan Crow, who had no known business before the court. Intentionally leaving gifts off the forms could amount to Biden violating federal law by making false statements — a crime punishable by up to five years in prison under 18 U.S. Code § 1001, former George W. Bush White House ethics lawyer Richard Painter previously told The Post. “It really hurts the Democrats because they have always been claiming to be the party of the people, and yet, time and time again, you find the president in the United States staying in the house of a billionaire,” said Painter, now a Democrat, after Biden stayed again at Rubenstein’s compound. “The problem is the not disclosing. And it makes us very hard for those of us who are very critical of the Supreme Court justices who are not disclosing this kind of stuff.”Lizzo showed off her figure in a form-fitting orange dress to celebrate Thanksgiving. “Yall wasn’t the only ones eating yesterday 😮‍💨,” Lizzo, 36, captioned a series of selfies shared via Instagram on Friday, November 29, which showed the “Truth Hurts” singer glowing in an orange off-the-shoulder maxi dress from Hanifa decorated with large flowers. Earlier this week, the “It’s About Damn Time” musician shared a video via TikTok of her workout routine in preparation for Thanksgiving. “Getting ready cus im definitely eating 3 plates tomorrow 🤪,” she captioned the video, which saw Lizzo break a sweat in an all-black workout outfit as she did lunges, squats and lifted weights. Lizzo’s posts come after months of accusations that she used Ozempic — a semaglutide primarily prescribed for adults who struggle with obesity and not approved for casual weight loss — to lose weight, which she has denied. Last month, the singer clapped back against the rumors by dressing up as Ozempic for Halloween. Despite the rumors, Lizzo has been proud of her weight loss journey. “When you finally get Ozempic allegations after 5 months of weight training and calorie deficit,” she wrote via social media in September. In the footage, Lizzo wore a silk robe and brandished a closed-mouth smile, captioning her post, “oZeMpIc oR cOkE?” which was attributed to a “fan” who, according to a screenshot included in her upload, had asked whether the singer had “[used] ozempic” or “[snorted] coke” on a previous image of Lizzo slipping wearing a Yitty bodysuit. (Yitty is the singer’s shapewear brand.) “I’ve been methodical, losing weight very slowly,” Lizzo said in a profile published by The New York Times in April, where she shared that she tries to walk or do Pilates every day . “I don’t really see it because if anyone who’s on a natural weight-loss journey knows, losing weight is actually the slowest thing in the world and you don’t really notice it until you notice it,” she continued. “Also the scale’s not really moving. But anyway, that doesn’t matter. I’m super proud of my current lifestyle.” You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News She added at the time that she was transforming her longtime ideology of “body positivity” into “body neutrality.” “I’m not going to lie and say I love my body every day,” Lizzo told the outlet. “The bottom line is, the way you feel about your body changes every single day. There are some days I adore my body, and others when I don’t feel completely positive.” She added, “My body is nobody’s business.”

Cineworld to close first site TOMORROW ahead of six closing for good

The United States surpassed a horrific and unforgivable milestone in late September. With five prisoners executed in one week, the U.S. marked 1,600 executions since the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. Nine U.S. states have carried out 25 executions this year alone. Despite the trend toward the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, the U.S. stubbornly clings to a practice that is not only outdated and inhumane but also deeply flawed and unjust. President Joe Biden today moved the needle toward justice, commuting the federal death sentences of 37 men, taking a vital step toward addressing the cruelty, arbitrariness and bias embedded in the capital punishment system. In one day, Biden commuted more death sentences than any president before him, but he fell short of his 2020 campaign promise to end the death penalty at the federal level and incentivize states to do the same. Biden left three prisoners on federal death row – Robert Bowers, sentenced to death for the 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh; Dylann Roof, sentenced to death for the 2015 mass shooting at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina; and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, sentenced to death for the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Biden still has the opportunity to show moral leadership by opposing the death penalty under any circumstances and commuting their sentences, too. Austin Sarat Dec. 18, 2024 Before President-elect Donald Trump’s first term, the federal government had executed three people in the previous six decades. But Trump resumed executions , with 12 men and one woman put to death during his final months in office. The same systemic injustices that taint federal death sentences – racial bias, prosecutorial misconduct, wrongful convictions and more – also taint the cases of some 2,200 men and women on state death rows across the United States, according to figures from the Death Penalty Information Center . Biden’s commutation today sets an example for state leaders to follow. They must put an end to this inhumane practice once and for all and align the U.S. with global human rights standards . We stand at a moral crossroads: to perpetuate a system that is riddled with bias and error or to make a stand for justice and human rights. Many states have recognized the profound moral, legal and social costs of capital punishment. In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order that placed a moratorium on the death penalty in California and immediately dismantled the state’s execution chamber. In 2021, Virginia became the first southern state to abolish the death penalty. In North Carolina , advocates are urging Gov. Roy Cooper to commute the sentences of those currently on death row before he leaves office in January. Globally, more than two-thirds of countries have abolished or ceased executions , recognizing that capital punishment violates the right to life and the prohibition against cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights . The U.S. remains an outlier, aligning itself with such bedfellows as China, Iran and Saudi Arabia in continuing this barbaric and outdated practice. The death penalty is not just a relic of an inhumane past but a glaring contradiction of the values of fairness and justice that the U.S. champions. Marginalized communities and those without access to adequate legal defense are disproportionately condemned to death. Studies show that people of color , especially Black defendants , are even more likely to be sentenced to death and executed when the victim is white . Racial bias is just one of the many systemic flaws that plague the death penalty. Another is the risk of executing innocent people. The recent case of Marcellus Williams in Missouri serves as a stark reminder of this possible danger. Marc M. Howard Sept. 27, 2024 The state of Missouri executed Williams on Sept. 24 despite the fact that none of the forensic evidence at the crime scene matched him, and the county’s top prosecutor called for his conviction to be overturned . His case is not an anomaly; numerous studies show wrongful convictions in death penalty cases are disturbingly common. For every eight people executed in the U.S. since 1973, one person is exonerated . This is not justice; it is a system that gambles with human lives, often with tragic results. Its defenders contend the death penalty is a deterrent , but there is no reliable evidence of this. What is clear is that the death penalty is costly , arbitrary and profoundly unjust. It perpetuates cycles of violence and retribution, rather than offering the opportunity for rehabilitation and redemption. Leaders across the country have a tremendous opportunity now to advocate to end the death penalty and ensure that the U.S. moves toward justice and fairness. This is about who we are as a nation and what we stand for. The clock is ticking, and the lives of those who remain on death row – along with the moral fabric of our nation – hang in the balance. Terrance Sullivan is director of racial justice at Amnesty International USA, part of the world’s oldest, largest grassroots human rights organization. Olivia Ensign is the senior advocate and researcher at the U.S. program of Human Rights Watch, a global nonprofit organization that investigates and reports on abuses worldwide.

PAROLE SYSTEM FOR ZIMBABWECHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets will be without point guard LaMelo Ball for at least two weeks because of a strained left calf. Ball felt discomfort in his calf after Wednesday night’s loss to the Miami Heat and did not play against the New York Knicks on Friday. The team said he will be reevaluated on Dec. 11, which is two weeks from the date of the original injury. Ball has been hot for the Hornets, averaging 40.3 points in his last four games. He is averaging a career-best 31.1 points and 4.7 3-pointers per game for the season, which ranks second in the NBA. He also is averaging 5.4 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 steals in 18 starts. Ball has had a history of injury problems, mostly to his ankles, since coming to the league as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. The only Hornets player to ever receive a max contract extension, Ball has played in just 202 games with 182 starts in five seasons. The team also said guard Tre Mann’s lower back soreness has been diagnosed as a disk irritation. His absence from the lineup began on Nov. 23 against Milwaukee. He will continue his rehabilitation and be reevaluated in two weeks. “They are competitors and they want to be out there on the court to compete and hoop, but they also want to be out there for their teammates,” Hornets coach Charles Lee said prior to Saturday night's game against the Atlanta Hawks. "I just walked past ’Melo as I was coming in here to do media, and he’s like, ‘I’m going to take care of everything I need to do on this return to play program and I’m going to attack it with the right mindset.’ I have all the confidence in the world in our performance staff and in those guys.” AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Dr Manmohan Singh (1932-2024): The economist who would be PMFormer Maryland governor and commissioner of the Social Security Administration Martin O’Malley has been called to testify before the House Oversight Committee next month about an agreement he signed to allow some Social Security employees to work remotely through 2029. O’Malley signed the agreement in late November, two days before leaving his Social Security Administration position. James Comer, a Republican representative from Kentucky who serves as the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, wrote in a letter to O’Malley that his agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees to guarantee a minimum amount of telework for 42,000 Social Security employees through 2029 “will tie the hands of your successor at SSA for the duration of the next administration, and beyond.” O’Malley hasn’t commented publicly on the letter. Comer questioned O’Malley’s motives and how the move would serve the public. Comer’s letter implies the move was politically motivated, saying it was popular with AFGE members and other unions “that form a core constituency of the DNC that you are now running to chair.” O’Malley resigned from the Social Security Administration in November, around when he announced his run for chair of the Democratic National Committee. Comer claimed the administration’s nearly 60,000 employees have spent less than half their time in the office as disability claim processing times have increased since the pandemic. “We believe your testimony will shed light on why so much of the federal workforce is currently at home, and federal agency offices are largely vacant,” he wrote. “We also expect it will educate Members as to how federal collective bargaining law and practice has helped facilitate this situation.” The AFGE represents 800,000 federal and D.C. employees across 900 different local unions, according to its website. “We support telework where it delivers for both the taxpayers and the workers who serve them. Telework and remote work are tools that have helped the federal government increase productivity and efficiency, maintain continuity of operations, and increase disaster preparedness. These policies also assist agencies across the government, including the Social Security Administration, in recruiting and retaining top talent,” said AFGE president Everett Kelley in a statement Dec. 16. Kelley went on to dispel “rumors of widespread federal telework,” saying only 10% of federal employees are fully remote while hybrid employees spend over 60% of working hours in-office. However, the majority of federal employees, he said, were completely ineligible for remote work due to the nature of their jobs. The election for DNC chair amongst its 447 committee members will take place in early 2025, according to the New York Times . Have a news tip? Contact Racquel Bazos at rbazos@baltsun.com, 443-813-0770 or on X as @rzbworks.

Kenyan-based start-up launches insurance for small-scale farmersFormer U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Georgia's only president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia, at age 100. His death comes a year after the passing of his beloved wife Rosalynn Carter, prompting an outpouring of tributes from Georgia's political leaders and community figures. Why It Matters Carter's death marks the end of an era for Georgia and American politics. As the state's 76th governor and the nation's 39th president, the former president's legacy encompasses both his political achievements and his extensive humanitarian work through the Carter Center, significantly impacting Georgia's standing on the national and global stage. What To Know Carter, born in Plains, Georgia, in 1924, served as president from 1977 to 1981. His journey from a peanut farmer to the White House exemplified his commitment to public service. After his presidency, he established the Carter Center in Atlanta with his wife Rosalynn, focusing on human rights, democracy, and health initiatives worldwide. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his humanitarian work. Following a series of hospital stays, Carter began hospice care at home, opting to spend his remaining time surrounded by family and friends. Rosalynn, who was also in hospice care at their Georgia home following a diagnosis of dementia, died in November 2023. What People Are Saying Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement: "Today, Atlanta mourns Georgia's only President. My heart goes out to the entire Carter family here in Atlanta, across Georgia and our nation. I am so proud that President Carter's legacy will continue to endure here in Atlanta through the Carter Center." Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said on X: "Simply put, President Jimmy Carter was a good man. He was the epitome of a servant leader, changing the world and setting the highest example of what it meant to honor God, family, and country." Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams said on X: "President Jimmy Carter lived a life of courage, fortitude, kindness and grace. He was a giant who never saw anyone as smaller than himself... Jimmy Carter built homes, saved lives and tended to souls." Georgia Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock said in a statement: "President Carter was one of my heroes. His leadership was driven by love, his life's project grounded in compassion and a commitment to human dignity... Well done, good and faithful servant, well done." Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff said in a statement: "President Carter's lifetime of work and dedication to public service changed the lives of many across our state, our country, and around the world... The State of Georgia and the United States are better places because of President Jimmy Carter." Georgia Tech posted this message on X : "The Georgia Tech community, the nation, and the world have lost a towering yet humble, hardworking man of faith who devoted decades to enhancing democracy and freedom, improving health, and preventing and resolving conflicts at home and across the globe." Georgia Congressman Buddy Carter said on X : "President Carter was an amazing Georgian and a firm believer in Christ. Today, he goes to be with his beloved wife, Rosalynn, in Heaven." Rapper and Atlanta activist Killer Mike said on X: "As a Georgian, Southerner and Advocate for who deserve the dignity of decent shelter i am honored to say I have known a 'Good Man' who truly made a difference in a wicked world." What Happens Next Public observances will be held in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., followed by a private interment in Plains, Georgia. The Carter Center announced that final arrangements for President Carter's state funeral, including public events and motorcade routes, are pending and will be released by the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region.A shop remains closed in the Myeongdong shopping district in downtown Seoul, Dec. 29. Yonhap Tragic plane crash feared to drag consumer sentiment down further By Lee Kyung-min Sales at eateries and entertainment spending dropped 4 percent in the first 20 days of this month, compared to the same period of November, impacted by a short-lived imposition of martial law and subsequent impeachment proceedings, according to market watchers. Further clouding the outlook for the coming month is the reluctance of many to participate in year-end and New Year gatherings, which are typically a source of short-term profit for small businesses and the self-employed. A plane crash in Muan, South Jeolla Province, on Sunday could further weaken private consumption, which is already at a two-year low, with the month-on-month decline in indicators resembling the early-pandemic months when consumer confidence weakened. Major tragedies like this can deepen feelings of uncertainty and insecurity among the public, impacting their willingness to spend. Read More BOK cuts 2024 growth forecast due to martial law fiasco Diffusing panic key to containing martial law debacle fallout: BOK head Consumer sentiment falls by most in over 16 years in Dec. on political chaos Consumers seek affordable cakes, decorations as income gap grows "I don't expect any business from year-end gatherings, or even early next year," said Kim, who owns an eatery in Seoul. An increasing number of consumers have canceled their reservations. The cost of everything has surged and remains elevated. The prices of ingredients have gone up and there aren't enough customers coming in for lunch or dinner. “Many seem to believe having festivities is not appropriate given the martial law fiasco. Fewer are willing to spend. Self-employed small businesses are losing hope.” An office worker surnamed Lee said her friends are not as excited about year-end gatherings this year. "My friends say they would rather stay home than go out for a drink," she said. “They are not in the mood, understandably because of the ongoing political developments. I feel the same way. What’s the point of meeting up when all of us don’t feel like it?” An owner of a pub in central Seoul said he received calls canceling reservations for Monday and Tuesday. "The martial law fiasco led to a number of cancellations over the past few weeks and the plane crash happened," he said. "The slew of events unfolding are dampening overall sentiment further. People seem to think understandably that seeking joy and happiness can wait. Many said they can meet and greet later when things get back to normal. I hope I can hang in there until then – whenever that may be.” This sentiment is spreading, as shown by a Bank of Korea survey on the Consumer Sentiment Index (CCSI) for this month. The index fell to 88.4, down 12.3 points from a month earlier. This was the sharpest decline since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. A reading above 100 indicates that optimists outnumber pessimists, while a figure below 100 suggests the opposite. Many said they plan to cut back on spending for trips, clothing, leisure activities, and dining out. According to data cited by Rep. Kim Hyun-jung of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, combined sales at four major credit card firms — Shinhan, KB Kookmin, Samsung, and Hyundai — totaled 28.2 trillion won ($19.1 billion) in the first 20 days of this month, a 2 percent decrease from the same period of November. KB Kookmin data showed food sellers and eateries registered a sale of 711 billion won, down 4 percent from a month earlier. Samsung's data showed that sales at eateries declined to 576.3 billion won, a 4.1 percent drop from the previous month. The most pronounced declines were seen in the entertainment industries, including singing rooms, nightclubs, and pubs. Their combined sales totaled 20 billion won, marking a 13.8 percent drop from a year earlier.

Ensuring a reliable supply of critical battery raw materials will be crucial to the global push to net-zero, especially with demand for battery electric vehicles (BEV) picking up pace towards the end of this decade, a new report by McKinsey finds. By 2030, McKinsey estimates that worldwide demand for passenger cars in the BEV segment will grow sixfold from 2021 through 2030, with annual unit sales increasing to roughly 28 million from 4.5 million during that period. Such a projection, the consultancy says, means that the industry is “likely to confront persistent long-term challenges” in keeping with demand. In particular, its reports highlights that automotive OEMs are giving more attention to reducing Scope 3 emissions from material usage, which contribute a large portion of what batteries emit. As a result, battery materials sourcing has become ever more important for battery producers. Based on the latest estimates, McKinsey’s analysis projects that demand will outpace base-case supply for certain materials, requiring additional investment and leading to fear of shortages and price volatility, among other challenges. Supply shortages looming Based on current market observations, battery manufacturers can expect challenges securing supply of several essential battery raw materials by 2030, McKinsey’s report finds. Battery makers use more than 80% of all lithium that is mined today, and that share could grow to 95% by 2030. With technological advancements shifting in favor of lithium-heavy batteries, lithium mining will need to increase substantially to meet 2030 demand, McKinsey says. For nickel, fears of a shortage prompted by the shift to BEVs have already triggered significant investments in new mines, particularly in Southeast Asia, but even more supply will need to be brought online. McKinsey’s report suggests the possibility of a slight shortage in 2030 as the battery sector continues to vie with steel and other sectors for Class 1 nickel. While the share of cobalt in battery chemistry mix is expected to decrease, the absolute demand for cobalt for all applications could rise by 7.5% a year from 2023 and 2030, McKinsey estimates, adding that shortages of cobalt are unlikely, but its supply will be driven by nickel and copper since it is largely a byproduct of their production. Meanwhile, the supply of manganese is projected to grow moderately through 2030, but an increasing demand for battery-grade material is likely to outpace supply, requiring the development of new refineries. To account for a rapid adoption of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) technology, McKinsey’s study models the 2030 supply and demand balances with two scenarios. Under the base case, only about 20% of the HPMSM (high-purity manganese sulfate monohydrate) supply will meet the requirements of battery applications (30% if all announced projects are realized), which themselves will account for only about 5% of total demand for manganese. In a world where the rapid adoption of LFP technology is coupled with a lower growth in EV production, the demand of battery materials could look different: Global trends Although overall demand for batteries and raw materials is increasing rapidly, supply is — and will remain — largely concentrated in a few naturally endowed countries, including Indonesia for nickel; Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile for lithium; and the DRC for cobalt, McKinsey says. Meanwhile, the refining typically takes place elsewhere, often in China (for cobalt and lithium), Indonesia (nickel), and Brazil (niobium). This value chain setup, according to McKinsey, poses additional considerations for regions such as the European Union and the United States, both of which have high demand for imported materials and often rely heavily on single-country sources. For example, the European Union imports 68% of its cobalt from the DRC, 24% of its nickel from Canada, and 79% of its refined lithium from Chile. Supply chain transparency Moreover, although supply concentration for materials such as refined nickel, cobalt and lithium are knowable, complete visibility into the origin of raw materials is sometimes unattainable. This is the case with high-purity manganese, of which more than 95% is produced in China and minor volumes come from Belgium and Japan; graphite, of which almost all is refined in China; and anode production, on which China has a near monopoly. Limited transparency into the origins of battery raw materials supply also poses broader ESG concerns and attention. For instance, the EU Batteries Regulation aims to make batteries sustainable throughout their entire life cycle, from material sourcing to battery collection, recycling and repurposing. As a result, McKinsey believes the pressure to address ESG concerns will likely increase moving forward. Recent supply chain disruptions, such as those affecting magnesium, silicon and semiconductors in from 2021 to 2023, have increased buyers’ needs to boost supply chain resilience for critical battery raw materials. Buyers’ risks of import dependency are further heightened by recent trade restrictions introduced by exporters, including China’s export controls on some materials (such as synthetic graphite and natural flake graphite products used in BEVs) and Indonesia’s ban on nickel ore exports.NAU ROUNDUP: Volleyball loses in conference quarters

Intrepid Potash, Inc. ( NYSE:IPI – Get Free Report ) major shareholder Robert P. Jornayvaz III sold 3,557 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.00, for a total transaction of $88,925.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 129,230 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,230,750. This represents a 2.68 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link . Large shareholders that own more than 10% of a company’s stock are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Intrepid Potash Price Performance NYSE:IPI opened at $21.79 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $286.82 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -6.50 and a beta of 2.21. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $25.75 and a 200-day moving average price of $24.48. Intrepid Potash, Inc. has a one year low of $17.52 and a one year high of $29.75. Intrepid Potash ( NYSE:IPI – Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, November 4th. The basic materials company reported ($0.14) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.11 by ($0.25). The company had revenue of $57.55 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $42.57 million. Intrepid Potash had a negative return on equity of 1.32% and a negative net margin of 16.86%. During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.53) EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Intrepid Potash, Inc. will post -0.17 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth View Our Latest Research Report on IPI Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intrepid Potash A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of IPI. First Eagle Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Intrepid Potash by 25.1% during the 2nd quarter. First Eagle Investment Management LLC now owns 602,770 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $14,123,000 after purchasing an additional 121,100 shares during the period. Glenorchy Capital Ltd raised its holdings in Intrepid Potash by 95.7% during the third quarter. Glenorchy Capital Ltd now owns 62,214 shares of the basic materials company’s stock valued at $1,493,000 after acquiring an additional 30,425 shares during the period. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Intrepid Potash in the third quarter valued at about $3,100,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company bought a new position in shares of Intrepid Potash in the third quarter worth about $602,000. Finally, Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of Intrepid Potash in the second quarter worth about $979,000. 56.13% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Intrepid Potash Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Intrepid Potash, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the extraction and production of the potash in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Potash, Trio, and Oilfield Solutions. The company offers muriate of potash for various markets, such as agricultural market as a fertilizer input; the industrial market as a component in drilling and fracturing fluids for oil and gas wells, as well as an input to other industrial processes; and the animal feed market as a nutrient supplement. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Intrepid Potash Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Intrepid Potash and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Football Offensive Player of the Year: Handley's Hassan AkanbiIn recent years, Afghanistan has been not only a battleground for war and political conflicts but also a stage for silent disasters that, under the shadow of government neglect, societal indifference, and even the inaction of international organizations, have claimed heavy human tolls. These disasters, manifesting as traffic accidents, mine collapses, and silent killings, claim more victims every day. Yet, no matter how frequent or devastating these events may be, they fail to provoke collective outrage within Afghan society. It seems such deaths, just as insignificant to the ruling regime, hold little importance for the community as well. One of the most significant examples of this “silent tragedy” is traffic accidents, which have become an unending nightmare for the people of Afghanistan. In a recent incident in Ghazni province, two fatal collisions occurred within just an hour. These accidents left over 100 casualties. Initially, the Taliban reported 52 deaths, but later it was revealed that at least 12 injured individuals also succumbed to their injuries. Such incidents are preventable, but due to disregard for people’s lives, no one or organization takes any action. The causes of these tragedies are well known, and addressing them is not impossible. Substandard roads, lack of enforcement of traffic regulations, and inadequate rescue and emergency services have normalized these deaths as part of daily life. These problems, however, are not unique to the current Taliban regime; they persisted during the republican era without any serious efforts to address them. While the current Taliban regime claims complete control over the country, it has failed even to manage the most basic aspects of public safety and welfare. Amidst this, the irrational competition among passenger transport companies is a significant cause of traffic accidents. It is said that some of these companies reward drivers who reach their destinations ahead of schedule. Moreover, many drivers are reportedly under the influence of drugs, including cannabis, while driving. The author has personally witnessed this alarming situation. The competition among bus drivers for winning quick transport prizes, coupled with the fact that many of them drive under the influence of narcotics, has turned Afghanistan’s pothole-ridden roads into deadly paths. On the other hand, mine collapses represent another aspect of this silent tragedy. Afghanistan’s mines, often exploited illegally and without adherence to even the minimum safety standards, have become graveyards for workers risking their lives to provide for their families. The recent incident at a mine in Herat province, which resulted in one death, and the entrapment of 35 individuals in a mine in Samangan, are mere examples of the chronic neglect by governments and regimes regarding worker safety and rights. The lack of rescue equipment, weak oversight, and unrestrained exploitation of natural resources have made such incidents repetitive and seemingly inevitable. However, the dimensions of this tragedy do not end here. Alongside these incidents, killings carried out under the guise of “unknown individuals” constitute another facet of this humanitarian disaster. In many cases, these so-called unknown gunmen are none other than Taliban fighters who commit murders for various reasons. The victims of such killings include women, men, and even innocent children who are either targeted for political reasons or fall victim to local hostilities and abuses of power. Despite the constant flow of news about the murder of innocent people, there is no visible reaction from society, the Taliban regime, or even international monitoring organizations. This silence in the face of these killings provides implicit legitimacy to the Taliban and other perpetrators of violence, paving the way for the continuation of such atrocities. This negligence perpetuates the vicious cycle of these killings and tragedies, with no measures being taken to prevent them. Public Indifference And The Negligence Of Rulers In The Face Of These Dormant Tragedies not only endanger human lives but also highlight a profound crisis in social and political accountability in Afghanistan. Whether during the era of the republic or under the current Taliban rule, ineffective governance and a lack of commitment to human lives have normalized these preventable deaths. Such tragedies have become a routine part of daily life. Even large-scale incidents, such as the recent road accidents in Ghazni, fail to elicit public outrage and are accepted as ordinary events. These silent disasters will persist until governments, society, and international organizations take their responsibilities toward these tragedies seriously and replace their silence with sustainable and practical actions. A future where human lives are valued beyond political games and personal interests remains a distant vision on Afghanistan’s horizon. You can read the Persian version of this analysis here: فاجعه خفته؛ بی‌تفاوتی مرگبار در برابر حوادث و کشتارهای قابل پیش‌گیری در افغانستان | روزنامه ۸صبح

(The Center Square) – Eleven states, led by Texas, have sued the three largest institutional investors in the world for allegedly conspiring to buy coal company stocks to control the market, reduce competition and violate federal and state antitrust laws. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division and demands a trial by jury. It names as defendants BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corporation, and Vanguard Group, Inc., which combined manage more than $26 trillion in assets.This Multitasking Face Gadget Is 64% Off on Amazon

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned home Saturday after his meeting with Donald Trump without assurances the president-elect will back away from threatened tariffs on all products from the major American trading partner. Trump called the talks “productive” but signaled no retreat from a pledge that Canada says unfairly lumps it in with Mexico over the flow of drugs and migrants into the United States. After the leaders’ hastily arranged dinner Friday night at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trudeau spoke of “an excellent conversation" and said in a post later Saturday on X, accompanied by a photo of the two men seated a table and smiling, that he looked forward to “the work we can do together, again.” Trump said earlier on Truth Social that they discussed “many important topics that will require both Countries to work together to address.” For issues in need of such cooperation, Trump cited fentanyl and the “Drug Crisis that has decimated so many lives as a result of Illegal Immigration," fair trade deals "that do not jeopardize American Workers” and the U.S. trade deficit with its ally to the north. Trump asserted that the prime minister had made “a commitment to work with us to end this terrible devastation” of American families from fentanyl from China reaching the United States through its neighbors. The U.S., he said, “will no longer sit idly by as our Citizens become victims to the scourge of this Drug Epidemic.” The Republican president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders when he takes office in January. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol made 56,530 arrests at the Mexican border in October alone and 23,721 arrests at the Canadian border between October 2023 and September 2024 — and Canadian officials say they are ready to make new investments in border security. Trudeau called Trump after the Republican's social media posts about the tariffs last Monday and they agreed to meet, according to a official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to publicly discuss detail of the private talks. The official said other countries are calling Canadian officials to hear how about how the meeting was arranged and to ask for advice. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, after speaking with Trump on the telephone, said Thursday she was confident a tariff war with Washington would be averted. At the dinner that was said to last three hours, Trump said he and Trudeau also discussed energy, trade and the Arctic. A second official cited defense, Ukraine, NATO, China, the Mideast, pipelines and the Group of Seven meeting in Canada next year as other issues that arose. Trudeau's office said in a statement that the leaders “shared a productive wide-ranging discussion” centering on “collaboration and strengthening our relationship,” adding, "As Canada’s closest friend and ally, the United States is our key partner, and we are committed to working together in the interests of Canadians and Americans.” Trump, during his first term as president, once called Trudeau “weak” and “dishonest,” but it was the prime minister who was the first G7 leader to visit Trump since the Nov. 5 election. "Tariffs are a crucial issue for Canada and a bold move was in order. Perhaps it was a risk, but a risk worth taking,” Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Trudeau had said before leaving from Friday that Trump was elected because he promised to bring down the cost of groceries but now was talking about adding 25% to the cost of all kinds of products, including potatoes from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. “It is important to understand that Donald Trump, when he makes statements like that, he plans on carrying them out. There’s no question about it,” Trudeau said. “Our responsibility is to point out that he would not just be harming Canadians, who work so well with the United States, but he would actually be raising prices for Americans citizens as well and hurting American industry and business,” he added. The threatened tariffs could essentially blow up the North American trade pact that Trump’s team negotiated during his first term. Trudeau noted they were able to successfully renegotiate the deal, which he calls a “win win” for both countries. When Trump imposed higher tariffs as president, other countries responded with retaliatory tariffs of their own. Canada, for instance, announced billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US $2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security. Canada is one of the most trade-dependent countries in the world, and 77% of Canada’s exports go to the U.S. ___ Gillies reported from Toronto.

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-footballMyanmar fishermen and dolphins' rare partnership faces uncertain future