After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications. To safeguard against the risks highlighted by the campaign, which originated in China, federal cybersecurity authorities released an extensive list of security recommendations for U.S. telecom companies — such as Verizon and AT&T — that were targeted. The advice includes one tip we can all put into practice with our phones: “Ensure that traffic is end-to-end encrypted to the maximum extent possible.” End-to-end encryption, also known as E2EE, means that messages are scrambled so that only the sender and recipient can see them. If anyone else intercepts the message, all they will see is garble that can't be unscrambled without the key. Law enforcement officials had until now resisted this type of encryption because it means the technology companies themselves won't be able to look at the messages, nor respond to law enforcement requests to turn the data over. Here's a look at various ways ordinary consumers can use end-to-end encryption: Officials said the hackers targeted the metadata of a large number of customers, including information on the dates, times and recipients of calls and texts. They also managed to see the content from texts from a much smaller number of victims. If you're an iPhone user, information in text messages that you send to someone else who also has an iPhone will be encrypted end-to-end. Just look for the blue text bubbles, which indicate that they are encrypted iMessages. The same goes for Android users sending texts through Google Messages. There will be a lock next to the timestamp on each message to indicate the encryption is on. But there's a weakness. When iPhone and Android users text each other, the messages are encrypted only using Rich Communication Services, an industry standard for instant messaging that replaces the older SMS and MMS standards. Apple has noted that RCS messages “aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they’re not protected from a third party reading them while they’re sent between devices.” Samsung, which sells Android smartphones, has also hinted at the issue in a footnote at the bottom of a press release last month on RCS, saying, “Encryption only available for Android to Android communication.” To avoid getting caught out when trading texts, experts recommend using encrypted messaging apps. Privacy advocates are big fans of Signal, which applies end-to-end encryption to all messages and voice calls. The independent nonprofit group behind the app promises never to sell, rent or lease customer data and has made its source code publicly available so that it can be audited by anyone to examine it “for security and correctness.” Signal's encryption protocol is so reputable that it has been integrated into rival WhatsApp, so users will enjoy the same level of security protection as Signal, which has a much smaller user base. End-to-end encryption is also the default mode for Facebook Messenger, which like WhatsApp is owned by Meta Platforms. Telegram is an app that can be used for one-on-one conversations, group chats and broadcast “channels" but contrary to popular perception, it doesn't turn on end-to-end encryption by default. Users have to switch on the option. And it doesn’t work with group chats. Cybersecurity experts have warned people against using Telegram for private communications and pointed out that only its opt-in ‘secret chat’ feature is encrypted from end-to-end. The app also has a reputation for being a haven for scammers and criminal activity, highlighted by founder and CEO Pavel Durov's arrest in France. Instead of using your phone to make calls through a wireless cellular network, you can make voice calls with Signal and WhatsApp. Both apps encrypt calls with the same technology that they use to encrypt messages. There are other options. If you have an iPhone you can use Facetime for calls, while Android owners can use the Google Fi service, which are both end-to-end encrypted. The only catch with all these options is that, as with using the chat services to send messages, the person on the other end will also have to have the app installed. WhatsApp and Signal users can customize their privacy preferences in the settings, including hiding an IP address during calls to prevent your general location from being guessed. Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After three straight losses, including back-to-back blowouts, the San Francisco 49ers needed a get-right game. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After three straight losses, including back-to-back blowouts, the San Francisco 49ers needed a get-right game. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — After three straight losses, including back-to-back blowouts, the San Francisco 49ers needed a get-right game. The Chicago Bears helped provide just that. Brock Purdy carved up Chicago’s defense to lead San Francisco to its best offensive output of the season and the defense dominated the Bears in a 38-13 win Sunday that looked a lot more like the team that went to the Super Bowl last season than the one that has struggled in 2024. “I think just the biggest thing was just getting some energy and momentum,” Purdy said. “This league is hard. It’s tough. If you don’t have momentum or energy and belief within a building, it can be really tough.” The problem for San Francisco (6-7) is it might be too late to salvage its playoff hopes. Three blown fourth-quarter leads to division rivals and the lopsided losses at Green Bay and Buffalo the previous two weeks leave the Niners two games out of the playoffs with only four games to go. They might need to win out to get back to the postseason for a fourth straight season, and even then they could need some help because their three division losses will make it tough to win any tiebreakers in the tightly packed NFC West. “If we win every single game, I think we’ve put ourselves in a very good position to either win the division or somehow sneak our way into playoff contention,” tight end George Kittle said. “I thought everyone’s focused on this one week. ... Forget the whole season whether you’ve played like crap the entire season, whether you’ve had missed opportunities, or whether you have a bunch of touchdowns. Whatever it is, flush all that and just focus on this one game.” What’s working Big plays. The Niners repeatedly gashed the Bears for big plays as the passing game looked as good as it has all season. Purdy had eight completions go for at least 20 yards — tied for the most in any game for the 49ers since at least 1991 — with Kittle catching four of them, Isaac Guerendo two and one each for Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings. What needs help Kickoffs. Jake Moody attempted two line-drive kicks as San Francisco tried to pin Chicago deep instead of allowing a touchback. But both kicks landed shy of the landing zone at the 20, giving the Bears the ball at the 40. Stock up DL Yetur Gross-Matos. The Niners have been struggling to generate a pass rush with Nick Bosa sidelined, but Gross-Matos made a big impact on Sunday. He had a career-high three sacks in the game after coming into the game with just one this season. Stock down S Ji’Ayir Brown. The second-year safety lost his starting job with the return of Talanoa Hufanga from a wrist injury. Brown played 15 defensive snaps in a spot role and was beat on a TD pass to Rome Odunze in his limited action. Injuries Guerendo has a sprained foot and will be evaluated later this week to see if he can play. ... OL Ben Bartch will likely go on IR after suffering a high ankle sprain Sunday. ... LB Dre Greenlaw could return this week for the first time since tearing his Achilles tendon in the Super Bowl. ... DL Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) and LT Trent Williams (ankle) will be evaluated this week but there is no timeline on when they will return. ... LG Aaron Banks cleared the concussion protocol and should play this week. ... LB Dee Winters (ankle), S Malik Mustapha (chest, shoulder) and LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles are day-to-day. Key number Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 305 — The 49ers outgained the Bears by 305 yards in the first half for the ninth best advantage in a first half since at least 1991. The 319 yards for San Francisco were the most by any team in a first half this season and the 4 yards allowed were the fewest. What’s next The 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Advertisement Advertisement
Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the New York Jets continues to reach new lows in a disappointing season that has fallen well short of the hype generated by his signing. The former Green Bay Packers quarterback has looked well below the heights he reached as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks while the Jets have stumbled to a 4-11 record going into Sunday. On Sunday, Rodgers became the most-sacked quarterback in NFL history on a play midway through the third quarter with his team losing 12-0 to the Bills in Buffalo. The next play, things got even worse. With Rodgers looking to throw deep to former Packers teammate Alan Lazard, he was picked off by Bills cornerback Christian Benfort. Rodgers compounded his error shortly thereafter, chasing after Benfort on his runback and shoving him after he had already stepped out of bounds, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Michael Strahan gives honest NFL Playoff truth Sean Payton won't like on FOX Bill Belichick tipped to activate 'secret clause' in $50M contract and take top NFL job Television cameras captured Rodgers making a bemused expression as his number was called by referee Clete Blakeman. Adding insult to injury, Blakeman seemed to know how odd the penalty call was, smirking slightly before announcing Rodgers’ number as the Bills took over possession in great field position. The penalty ended up starting an avalanche of points that put the game beyond reach for the Jets, adding 15 yards into already-great field position and setting up Josh Allen for a 30-yard passing touchdown to Amari Cooper. The Bills continued to pour it on the struggling Jets throughout the remainder of the game, eventually building a 40-0 lead through three third-quarter touchdowns to put the final result beyond all doubt. Rodgers himself eventually paid the price for the lopsided scoreline, as the Jets benched him in favor of backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor after the score reached that 40-0 mark. In his limited time on the field, Taylor proved to be more effective than Rodgers in a number of ways. With Taylor under center, the Jets scored two touchdowns. The first of those went to wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with Rodgers’ preference for Lazard and Davante Adams in the Jets’ offensive and who is thought to be open to requesting a trade if Rodgers is back with the Jets for the 2025 season. Taylor’s second touchdown pass went to tight end Tyler Conklin, bringing a subdued end to an awful end-of-season performance for Rodgers and the New York Jets as a whole. **Want to watch more live sports? Peacock has your favorite sports, shows, and more all in one place. ** Peacock offers plans starting at $7.99 ** so you can stream live sports like NFL, Premier League, and Big Ten Football.**United States women’s head coach Emma Hayes admitted she initially grappled with how best to behave during ‘God Save The King’ ahead of her side’s goalless draw with England in their Wembley friendly. The billing of London-born former Chelsea boss Hayes against England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman – arguably the best two bosses in the women’s game – had generated more buzz in the build-up than the players on the pitch, despite it being a rare encounter between the two top-ranked sides in the world. Hayes enjoyed her return to familiar shores but felt the US lacked the “killer piece” after they looked the likelier side to make the breakthrough. Elite meeting of the minds ? pic.twitter.com/R4d8EArqTp — U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) November 30, 2024 Asked what was going through her mind during the national anthem, Hayes said: “I was definitely mouthing (it), and Naomi (Girma) and Lynn (Williams) could see that I was struggling with where to be and all that. “I got to the end of the anthems and I thought, ‘that’s so ridiculous. I’m proud to be English and I’m proud of our national anthem, and I’m also really proud to coach America’. “Two things are possible all at once. I don’t want to fuel a nationalist debate around it. The realities are both countries are really dear to me for lots of reasons, and I’m really proud to represent both of them.” The Lionesses did not register a shot on target in the first half but grew into the game in the second. Hayes, who left Chelsea after 12 trophy-packed years this summer, said: “I’ve been privileged to coach a lot of top-level games, including here, so there’s a familiarity to being here for me. “It’s not new to me, and because of that there was a whole sense of I’m coming back to a place I know. I have a really healthy perspective, and I want to have a really healthy perspective on my profession. “I give everything I possibly can for a team that I really, really enjoy coaching, and I thrive, not just under pressure, but I like these opportunities, I like being in these situations. They bring out the best in me. England and USA shared a goalless friendly draw at Wembley (John Walton/PA) Hayes had travelled to London without her entire Olympic gold medal-winning ‘Triple Espresso’ forward line of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, all nursing niggling injuries. Before the match, the 48-year-old was spotted chatting with Wiegman and her US men’s counterpart, fellow ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, who was also in attendance. England were also missing a number of key attackers for the friendly including Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, all ruled out with injury. “This shows where we are at and we need to keep improving. It is November now. This is good but we want to be better again. We have to be better again.” ? Reaction from the boss ⬇️ — Lionesses (@Lionesses) November 30, 2024 Wiegman brushed aside suggestions from some pundits that her side were content to settle for a draw. She said: “I think we were really defending as a team, very strong. We got momentum in the second half, we did better, and of course both teams went for the win. “So many things happened in this game, also in front of the goal, so I don’t think it was boring. “We wanted to go for the win, but it was such a high-intensity game, you have to deal with a very good opponent, so you can’t just say, ‘Now we’re going to go and score that goal’. “We tried, of course, to do that. We didn’t slow down to keep it 0-0. I think that was just how the game went.”Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs Dominic LeBlanc speaks virtually at a press conference in Ottawa. Ottawa's plan to send prohibited firearms to Ukraine to fight the Russian incursion has some experts scratching their heads, while staunch Ukraine supporters worry it could unintentionally pit aggrieved gun owners against the war effort. The Liberal government announced last week it will work with Canadian businesses to donate select weapons banned in Canada to Ukraine, though details about the new plan remain sparse even days later. Richard Shimooka, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and defence-procurement expert, said this isn't the sort of equipment Ukraine really needs to win the war and that it already suffers from a lack of standardized weapons. "In some ways it's symbolic and yet in other ways it's not helping at all," he said. "It's not going to move the needle." He points out the real problem is that shell-hungry Ukraine desperately needs 155 mm artillery ammunition, but Canada's munitions supply chain doesn't have the capacity to feed the country what it needs most. And when it comes to small arms, hundreds of one type of standardized assault rifle would be most useful. "They're all semi-automatic," he noted about the buyback guns. "If you want a true, military-style weapon being used in Ukraine, you want a fully automatic weapon." On Sunday, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump called for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, raising questions about how long the war could last. The United States has been by far Ukraine's largest military backer throughout the war. Kelly Sundberg, a criminologist at Mount Royal University, said the move seems more like political theatre to bolster Ottawa's controversial program than a carefully considered policy, since it appears it could wind up being a small assortment of weapons and ammunition in the end. “It sounds like a political stunt and not very well thought out at that,“ he said. “It seems very hastily thought up and somewhat desperate, frankly." The Canadian government would also need to test and possibly repair the guns for safety before sending them over, he added. Yaroslav Baran, a consultant with the Pendulum Group, former president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and well-known conservative commentator in Ottawa, meanwhile, said he worries the plan could inadvertently wedge gun owners against Ukraine. "While I always appreciate any support for Ukraine from the government of Canada, the idea of linking these two completely unrelated issues is misguided and dangerous," he said. "If you're at the receiving end of that message -- the hunter or farmer being told to hand over your firearm -- you're going to get your back up. Then, the follow-up message is, 'By the way, we're going to ship it overseas to help Ukraine,' (so) your reaction is going to be 'Like hell you are.'" Denys Volkov, a community advocate in Winnipeg who was born in Ukraine and has long pushed for help for the country during its war with Russia, said he shares that sentiment and that the announcement caught many in the diaspora off guard. He said to talk about sending Ukraine "random guns taken from law-abiding gun owners" is "not a serious conversation of how to help" the country. "The type of help Ukraine needs is on a massive scale." Ottawa has insisted the move could help, even if only a little. Defence Minister Bill Blair said last week that Canada reached out to Ukraine in October asking if any of the firearms listed under the program could be useful, and Ukraine said yes. "Every bit of assistance that we can offer to the Ukrainians is one step towards their victory, and a worthwhile investment of our collective time and efforts," Blair said. A government official not authorized to speak on the record said it would be businesses, not individuals providing the guns in this case, and that Ukraine has identified some 20 different firearms that could prove useful, so it would not be a random mashup of weaponry. The source noted this comes in addition to Canada's contributions of 21,000 small arms to Ukraine, including assault rifles and machine guns. Blair said last week he does not yet know how many weapons Ottawa can supply to Ukraine through this program, and will not know until retailers provide Ottawa with information about what weapons they have in stock so the government can match that with the list Ukraine provided. When asked for comment and additional details following the announcement, neither the department nor Blair's office provided a public statement by deadline. The announcement came last week as Ottawa outlined another 324 firearms that it outlawed, contending they belong on the battlefield instead of in Canadian homes.
RJ Godfrey and Tyrin Lawrence each scored 14 points to help lead Georgia to a 79-72 win over visiting South Carolina State on Sunday in Athens, Ga. Asa Newell and Dakota Leffew added 12 apiece for Georgia (12-1) which rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit. Silas Demary Jr. had 11 points followed by De'Shayne Montgomery's 10, as the Bulldogs won their seventh straight game, marking their best start to a season since 1930-31 (13-0). Reserve Jayden Johnson led South Carolina State (6-9) with 16 points, followed by Michael Teal's 13 and Wilson Dubinsky's 12. South Carolina State dropped its third game in four tries entering Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play on Jan. 4. Trailing 41-24 at halftime, Demary's triple and Montgomery's dunk began a 12-5 scoring run to open the second half, pulling Georgia within 10 at the 16:18 mark. After Teal's layup extended South Carolina State's lead to 50-39, Demary's basket stamped a 7-0 Georgia run, pulling the Bulldogs within four at the 11:17 mark of the second half. Dubinsky answered with a triple on the other end, but Leffew and Demary's layups began a 14-2 Georgia run -- which was capped with Lawrence's personal 8-0 spurt. Trailing 60-55, South Carolina State cut its deficit to one after Drayton Jones' four straight points. From there, Newell's three-point play jump started an 8-0 Georgia run, stamped with Montgomery's free throw with 3:42 left. After Davion Everett split a pair of free throws to pull South Carolina State within four with 1:44 left, Georgia made seven of its eight free-throw attempts to ice the victory. Georgia connected on just one field goal early in the game until Dylan James' layup trimmed its deficit to 7-5 at the 14:44 mark. After Johnson's basket put South Carolina State ahead 13-10, Leffew's 3-pointer followed by Montgomery's free throw gave Georgia its first lead with 10:27 left in the opening half. Godfrey's pair of free throws flipped the lead to Georgia with 5:30 remaining, before Dubinsky's triple gave South Carolina State a 24-22 advantage on the ensuing possession. Georgia was held scoreless until Somto Cyril's free throws snapped a 14-0 South Carolina State run with 50 seconds left. Johnson then capped the first half with consecutive 3-pointers, giving South Carolina State a 41-24 halftime lead. --Field Level MediaJimmy Carter , humanitarian, diplomat, and 39th president of the United States, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia after receiving hospice care, according to his son James E. Carter III per The Washington Post . He was 100. Carter’s death comes after the death of his wife Rosalynn , to whom he was married for 77 years. A former state legislator and Georgia governor, Carter unexpectedly rose to clinch the 1976 Democratic primary and presidency. His folksy charm and Washington outsider status won over a nation searching for a moral compass in the wake of Watergate and the Vietnam War. But Carter would serve only one term. Despite several landmark foreign-policy accomplishments, his time in office was characterized by struggles to manage an energy crisis, an unstable economy, and the Iran hostage crisis, which spanned 444 days of his presidency. To many Americans, Carter never seemed a natural fit for the White House, turning his back on many of the trappings of the office — he famously banned the playing of “Hail to the Chief” — and failing to project a resolute image in the face of a series of national maladies. Though his time in office was fraught, Carter’s post-presidential legacy of humanitarian and diplomatic work was unparalleled. In 2002, he became the third president after Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson to win the Nobel Peace Prize (Obama would also win the prize, in 2009.) With his wife Rosalynn, he founded the Carter Center, a nonprofit through which he worked to promote human rights until his death. He credited his religious faith as his moral lodestar and lived a famously modest life after holding the highest office in the land, returning to the same small ranch home he lived in prior to moving to Washington, buying his clothes at the Dollar General store, and teaching Sunday school almost every week at the Maranatha Baptist Church in the rural town of Plains, Georgia. Born October 1st, 1924, in Plains, Carter was raised in a family of peanut farmers. He attended Georgia Southwestern State University, Georgia Tech, and the United States Naval Academy. His seven years of active-duty service in the Navy was spent mostly as a submariner, including working in the nuclear-submarine program. After Carter’s father died in 1953, he returned to Plains to take over his family’s peanut business (which he relinquished control of before being sworn in as president, a concession that has often been cited for its stark contrast to President Trump’s refusal to divest himself from the Trump Organization despite clear conflicts of interest). Editor’s picks The 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time The 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Carter soon established himself as a progressive local leader. In Jim Crow Georgia — where racism among the ruling class was unvarnished — he resisted pressure to join the local White Citizens Council, a white-supremacist organization that, unlike the KKK, met openly and was considered part of the community. Carter jumped into politics in 1962, winning a seat in the Georgia state Senate. He became governor on his second bid, in 1970, claiming that he and Rosalynn shook 600,000 hands and visited every factory in the state en route to victory. Though he was a long shot, Carter’s relentless campaigning and honest man-of-the-people message landed him the 1976 Democratic presidential nomination. Rolling Stone endorsed Carter with a cover story written by Hunter S. Thompson, who met the future president in 1974 when he gave what Thompson described as a “king hell bastard of a speech” about how the judicial system had failed minorities. “Hunter was my good buddy,” Carter said in 2007 when asked by Tom Brokaw about his relationship with the gonzo journalist. So too were Willie Nelson, Gregg Allman, and Bob Dylan, the latter Carter referred to in that speech as a “poet” who aided his “understanding of what’s right and wrong in this society.” Carter’s outsider status may have helped him win the presidency, but his aversion to playing politics made for a coarse relationship with Congress throughout his time in office. Though most historians have not considered Carter a particularly effective president, he was able to normalize relations with China; broker peace between Israel and Egypt through the Camp David Accords; and ratify the Panama Canal treaties, which turned control of the waterway over to its namesake nation and ensured its neutrality. These were all foreign-policy accomplishments, however. Where Carter struggled was in inspiring hope domestically. See Also Charles Shyer, ‘Father of the Bride’ Director, Dead at 83 Olivia Hussey, Star of 1968 Classic ‘Romeo and Juliet,' Dead at 73 “There was something more than a desire to lead,” Carter’s speechwriter Hendrik Hertzberg told Rolling Stone in 2011 . “That was very strong. But as strong was the self-sacrificial ideal of doing the right thing even if it cost him the presidency. He risked it over and over. He loved thankless tasks like the Panama Canal. It’s a perfect Carter achievement. He got absolutely no mileage out of it. It sparked Reagan. Reagan rode it to the election. And yet, by doing it, he avoided a catastrophic, very serious war in Latin America.” By 1979, the U.S. was gripped by an energy crisis, sparked by instability in the Middle East, which resulted in skyrocketing oil prices and long queues of cars at gas stations. The nation’s fears about energy security were further heightened by the nuclear mishap at Three Mile Island that March. On July 15th, Carter delivered an address that has since become known as the “malaise speech,” in which he criticized the nation’s crisis of confidence. “The threat is nearly invisible in ordinary ways,” said Carter. “It is a crisis that strikes at the very heart and soul and spirit of our national will. We can see this crisis in the growing doubt about the meaning of our own lives and in the loss of a unity of purpose for our nation.” But Carter’s attempt to right the course of his presidency was foiled when a group of Iranian students took control of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage that November. The standoff consumed Carter, who often secluded himself in the White House as he grappled with how to resolve it. In April 1980, he ordered Operation Eagle Claw, a military mission to rescue the hostages. It failed, and eight American service members were killed. The crisis persisted through the end of Carter’s presidency, and triggered his landslide Electoral College defeat in 1980. After warding off a primary challenge from Ted Kennedy, Carter lost all but six states and the District of Columbia to Ronald Reagan, who ran on the campaign slogan, “Let’s make America great again.” (All 52 hostages were freed minutes after Reagan took the oath of office.) In 1982, Carter and Rosalynn founded the Carter Center to “advance peace and health worldwide.” The nonpartisan nonprofit sent election-monitoring delegations everywhere from Panama to Indonesia; worked to eradicate Guinea worm, an effort Carter called “one of the most gratifying experiences of my life”; and led initiatives aimed at cultivating equality around the world. Two years after founding the Carter Center, he and Rosalynn began volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, a Georgia-headquartered nonprofit devoted to building housing in poverty-stricken areas. As part of the Carter Work Project, the couple spent time on the ground helping to build houses around the world, from Southeast Asia’s Mekong River region to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Carter’s post-presidential work as a diplomat was equally far-reaching. He traveled to North Korea in 1994 to negotiate a treaty freezing the nation’s nuclear program, and would visit the nation again in 2010, when he arranged for the release of Aijalon Gomes, an American teacher who had been detained after illegally entering the country. Carter’s diplomatic efforts also took him throughout the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, but such excursions were often a source of frustration for the White House. As Nicholas Dawidoff wrote for Rolling Stone in 2011 , Carter “operates as a foreign service of one, going where he pleases, making his own assessments, issuing statements that can alter the course of world events. The ambiguity of this official-yet-unofficial status has irritated every American president from Reagan on.” Carter’s “own assessments” — often relayed through opinion pieces — were a constant in the American political discourse. In 2003, he urged President Bush not to invade Iraq, arguing that “ our government has not made a case for a pre-emptive military strike .” He long advocated for Palestine’s right to statehood, green energy solutions, and universal health care. After the Supreme Court ruled in step with Citizens United in 2014, effectively eliminating caps on campaign donations, Carter described the United States as an “oligarchy with unlimited political bribery.” Prior to the 2018 midterm elections, he called on Georgia’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, Brian Kemp, who was accused of deploying myriad voter suppression tactics, to resign as the state’s secretary of state . While Carter was critical of President Trump, he made his expertise available to the administration. In 2017, at the age of 93, he offered to serve as an envoy to North Korea as tensions escalated between Trump and Kim Jong-un. “This is the most serious existing threat to world peace, and it is imperative that Pyongyang and Washington find some way to ease the escalating tension and reach a lasting, peaceful agreement,” Carter wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post . Though he noted that President Trump “reacted quite well” to an invitation to talk with North Korea — Carter himself was criticized over the years for his willingness to meet with dictators — he was typically more critical of the 45th president. “If I were foolish enough to feel I could be president again, I think the first thing I would do would be to change all of the policies that President Trump has initiated,” he said in 2018 at Emory University, where he was a professor. “I pray for him fairly regularly. If he answered my prayers, he’d have to change a lot of things.” Unlike other presidents, Carter did not parlay his post-presidential fame into monetary gain. He spent his later years living modestly in Plains, painting, reading, and writing. Carter authored dozens of books. An Hour Before Daylight , his 2001 memoir of his upbringing in rural Georgia, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. He won two Grammy awards, among nine nominations, including for the audio version of his final book, 2018’s Faith: A Journey For All. To the end, Carter was a realist who never lost sight of his ideals, which he strove toward more tirelessly and for far longer than anyone else who has occupied the Oval Office. For Carter, there was no other option. “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices,” he said in 2002 while accepting the Nobel Peace Prize. “God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes — and we must.”
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DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were back at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country's public sector came "to a complete and abrupt halt." Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for relatives who disappeared during Assad's brutal rule. The rebel alliance now in control of much of the country is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and promises representative government and religious tolerance. The rebel command said Monday they would not tell women how to dress. Syrian citizens stand on a government forces tank that was left on a street Monday as they celebrate in Damascus, Syria. "It is strictly forbidden to interfere with women's dress or impose any request related to their clothing or appearance, including requests for modesty," the command said on social media. People are also reading... Iredell County deputies charge 7 people in drug trafficking investigation 2 Statesville men face murder charges in 2011 shooting death of Joey Brewer 3 men face arson charges in Statesville house fire that severely burned woman Top vote-getter Houpe: Why am I not chairman of Iredell board of commissioners? Statesville native Tomlin leads Delaware State to MEAC volleyball title, NCAA berth 4 pounds of marijuana, gun seized by Mooresville police officers Iredell-Statesville Schools closed Tuesday due to snow, ice Tiny, 4 more dogs seeking homes at Iredell County Animal Services New school chairman rules 2 fellow board members out of order in Iredell Now streaming and on DVD: 'It Ends With Us' just prompts head shakes 3 Eagle Scouts and 1 grateful Iredell County resident Get to know Mooresville basketball player Cadence Lane Families prepare for mass deportations: 'A sad and painful time' Hear the songs, see Santa at Sunday's Statesville Christmas Parade Colombia native brings tastes of his homeland to downtown Statesville Nearly two days after rebels entered the capital, some key government services shut down after state workers ignored calls to go back to their jobs, the U.N. official said, causing issues at airports and borders and slowing the flow of humanitarian aid. Rebel leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was long known by his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, also met for the first time with Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi Jalali, who stayed in Syria when Assad fled. Israel said it carried out airstrikes on suspected chemical weapons sites and long-range rockets to keep them from falling into the hands of extremists. Israel also seized a buffer zone inside Syria after Syrian troops withdrew. Syrians wait to cross into Syria from Turkey on Monday at the Oncupinar border gate near the town of Kilis, southern Turkey. In northern Syria, Turkey said allied opposition forces seized the town of Manbij from Kurdish-led forces backed by the United States, a reminder that even after Assad's departure, the country remains split among armed groups that have fought in the past. The Kremlin said Russia granted political asylum to Assad, a decision made by President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on Assad's specific whereabouts and said Putin did not plan to meet with him. Damascus was quiet Monday, with life slowly returning to normal, though most shops and public institutions were closed. In public squares, some people still celebrated. Civilian traffic resumed, but there was no public transport. Long lines formed in front of bakeries and other food stores. There was little sign of any security presence, though in some areas small groups of armed men were stationed in the streets. Syrian citizens celebrate Monday during the second day of the takeover of the city by the insurgents in Damascus, Syria. Across swathes of Syria, families are now waiting outside prisons, security offices and courts, hoping for news of loved ones who were imprisoned or who disappeared. Just north of Damascus in the feared Saydnaya military prison, women detainees, some with their children, screamed as rebels broke locks off their cell doors. Amnesty International and other groups say dozens of people were secretly executed every week in Saydnaya, and they estimate that up to 13,000 Syrians were killed between 2011 and 2016. "Don't be afraid," one rebel said as he ushered women from packed cells. "Bashar Assad has fallen!" In southern Turkey, Mustafa Sultan was among hundreds of Syrian refugees waiting at border crossings to head home. He was searching for his older brother, who was imprisoned under Assad. "I haven't seen him for 13 years," he said. "I am going to go see whether he's alive." Jalali, the prime minister, sought to project normalcy since Assad fled. "We are working so that the transitional period is quick and smooth," he told Sky News Arabia TV on Monday, saying the security situation already improved from the day before. Israeli soldiers sit on top of a tank Monday along the so-called Alpha Line that separates the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights from Syria, in the town of Majdal Shams. At the court of Justice in Damascus, which was stormed by the rebels to free detainees, Judge Khitam Haddad, an aide to the justice minister in the outgoing government, said Sunday that judges were ready to resume work quickly. "We want to give everyone their rights," Haddad said outside the courthouse. "We want to build a new Syria and to keep the work, but with new methods." But a U.N. official said some government services were paralyzed as worried state employees stayed home. The public sector "has just come to a complete and abrupt halt," said U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula, noting, for example, that an aid flight carrying urgently needed medical supplies was put on hold after aviation employees abandoned their jobs. "This is a country that has had one government for 53 years and then suddenly all of those who have been demonized by the public media are now in charge in the nation's capital," Abdelmoula told The Associated Press. "I think it will take a couple of days and a lot of assurance on the part of the armed groups for these people to return to work again." World reacts to overthrow of Syria's Assad regime People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Members of the Syrian community in Finland wave a Syrian flag and celebrate in Helsinki, Finland, Dec. 8, 2024. (Roni Rekomaa/Lehtikuva via AP) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Syrians wave opposition flags and give out sweets during a spontaneous rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) Syrians celebrate the fall of the Assad regime in Syria at a demonstration in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Jonas Ekstroemer/TT News Agency via AP) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime, in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians wave Syrian opposition flags at a rally in Wuppertal, Germany, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government. (Christoph Reichwein/dpa/dpa via AP) People wave Syrian opposition flags at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (Emil Nicolai Helms/Ritzau Scanpix via AP) Syrians living in France gather on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government's fall, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) Syrians living in France hug during a rally on Republique square after the Syrian government fell early today in a stunning end to the 50-year rule of the Assad family, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) People gather to react following the fall of Syrian president Bashar Assad’s government, in Trafalgar Square, in London, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali) People gather to celebrate the Syrian government fall at Faith mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel) People attend a rally celebrating the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad's government, at central Syntagma square, in Athens, Greece, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) A Syrian man waves a flag during a spontaneous demonstration celebrating the fall of the Assad regime in Nicosia, Cyprus, Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias) Get local news delivered to your inbox!PUP holds 1st student-industry conferenceAmerican Airlines Group Inc said that a tech issue with DXC Technology Co, a third-party vendor that maintains the company’s flight-operating systems, caused a brief ground stop on all US flights on Tuesday. The carrier said that a network hardware-related issue has been resolved and flights have resumed. American’s flight-operating system allows for air transport to be coordinated and dispatched, it said. The halt lasted for about an hour. “We sincerely apologise to our customers for the inconvenience,” American said in a statement. “It’s all hands on deck as our team is working diligently to get customers where they need to go as quickly as possible.” The airline didn’t say if it expected any further delays or other knock-on effects. American Airlines had 3,320 domestic flights and 581 international flights scheduled for the day, according to aviation data provider Cirium. Only 19 of its flights were cancelled by the early afternoon, in line with the typical 1% cancellation rate across airlines, Cirium said. But there were delays: Only about 37% of American Airlines flights were leaving on time as of the early afternoon, Cirium said, noting that most airlines aim for 80% of flights departing and arriving within 15 minutes of the scheduled time. The data provider said that most of the delays at American were under two hours. For example, 72% of flights departing out of American’s Dallas hub left within an hour of the scheduled time. “Based on previous such incidents, it appears American has been able to maintain its schedule, albeit with delays,” said Cirium spokesperson Mike Arnot. “There may be an uptick in cancellations later in the day as crews time out.” American Airlines had said earlier it was experiencing technical issues affecting all of its flights, disrupting operations on a day when the Federal Aviation Administration expects to see about 30,000 US flights across all carriers. Some online postings said the airline suffered a software outage preventing it from calculating weight and balance requirements for its flights. The incident comes after Delta Air Lines Inc suffered a multi-day grounding in July affecting thousands of travellers due to a software glitch. Two years ago, Southwest Airlines Co suffered a year-end meltdown involving computer-system issues. Related Story Kam Air commences operations between Kabul and Doha Hot Air Balloon Festival soars to new heights with global enthusiasm
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The former England footballer, 39, said he was “proud” of how Coleen was doing in the Australian jungle in a post on social media on Saturday. The couple, who first met at school and began dating aged 16, share four sons – Kai Wayne, Klay Anthony, Kit Joseph and Cass Mac. Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great ❤️ Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. If you can download the #ImACeleb app and let’s get voting! 🗳️🕷️🐍 pic.twitter.com/f1VEihHVzy — Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) November 23, 2024 “Proud of @ColeenRoo on @imacelebrity she’s doing great”, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, alongside a collage of photos of her on the show. “Me and the boys would love to see her doing a trial and we know she’d want to put herself to the test. “If you can download the #ImACeleb and let’s get voting!” During the first task of the series, BBC Radio 1 presenter Dean McCullough chose to partner up with TV personality Coleen as he hailed her as “Wagatha Christie”. Rooney, 38, was given the nickname when she accused Rebekah Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, of leaking her private information to The Sun in a viral post on social media. In July 2022, a judge at the High Court found the post was “substantially true”. During Vardy’s stint on I’m A Celebrity, she became the third celebrity to leave, saying the series helped her become more tolerant. Earlier this week, Liverpool-born Coleen told her fellow campmate that going to court over her feud with Vardy was her “worst nightmare” as she felt she was “putting on a show for the whole world”. However, she said she was not scared about making the viral post which kicked off the dispute, saying: “I just didn’t think it would have the impact it did, because I was just that sick and tired of it, it was draining.” Later in the episode, Rooney became emotional over the loss of her sister Rosie, after boxing star Barry McGuigan spoke about the death of his daughter. I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
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Percentages: FG .368, FT .857. 3-Point Goals: 14-32, .438 (Taylor 5-13, Cato 3-5, Fagbemi 3-7, Fox 2-3, Evbagharu 1-1, Seixas 0-3). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 3 (Cato 2, Fox). Turnovers: 8 (Evbagharu 2, Fagbemi 2, Seixas 2, Cato, Taylor). Steals: 3 (Etim, Fagbemi, Fox). Technical Fouls: None. Percentages: FG .475, FT .800. 3-Point Goals: 13-32, .406 (Terry 5-10, George 4-10, O'Brien 2-6, Mustaf 1-2, Powell 1-2, Onwuchekwa 0-1, Souare 0-1). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: None. Blocked Shots: 1 (Terry). Turnovers: 5 (Powell 2, George, Mustaf, Onwuchekwa). Steals: 7 (Terry 3, Mustaf 2, George, Powell). Technical Fouls: None. .
California to consider requiring mental health warnings on social media sitesYear after year, small businesses are challenged to apply new technologies to keep up with their competitors – both large and small. In no area is this more relevant today than in the application of artificial intelligence. According to a new analysis released by the U.S. Census Bureau in December 2024, while the largest enterprises have clearly led the way, even the smallest businesses (with one to four employees) have increasingly been using AI tools at relatively high rates. Implementing AI used to require sophisticated programming that most small businesses couldn’t afford and couldn’t easily understand. That has changed dramatically over the past two years. AI is now more accessible than ever before. To discuss how small businesses can take advantage of this technology application in 2025, Digital Journal sat down with Pam Cronin, owner of Pam Ann Marketing , who consults with small businesses regarding their understanding and adoption of AI technologies. Digital Journal: What led to such a dramatic increase in AI accessibility? Pam Cronin: In November of 2022, OpenAI released ChatGPT, which would become the pivot point for making AI accessible to small businesses. Initially, early adopters were mostly limited to the “techy” types, but now the awareness of not only the existence of ChatGPT but also its ease of use has drawn the attention of small business owners. As a digital marketing agency owner, I get to speak to a wide variety of business owners. In 2023, I don’t recall any of them mentioning AI or ChatGPT. But this year, just about all of my clients have mentioned it in one way or another. The current level of AI awareness among small business owners is palpable. DJ: How are small businesses currently using AI? Cronin: Despite near-total awareness of AI, adoption levels vary. Only a few of my clients have incorporated ChatGPT or similar AI tools into their business operations. The most common use case I see is small businesses using these tools to help with marketing tasks such as drafting social media posts, coming up with ideas for content marketing, and planning and/or writing website content. (Though, as an SEO consultant, I need to constantly discourage them from publishing content fully written by AI as that will not serve their search engine optimization goals well). DJ: What else should small business owners be using AI for? Cronin: Everything! In addition to marketing, AI can greatly help streamline tasks related to accounting, operations, project management, customer service, and more. Essentially, any process that is fairly simple yet time-consuming should be considered as a use case for AI. DJ: How does the implementation process work? Cronin: Interestingly, many of the things that people perceive as “AI” are actually automation. Automation tools like Make.com and Zapier enable things to happen “automagically” even without AI. I’ve been using Zapier to automate portions of my business for ten years now (since 2014), creating automations for anything that requires tedious tasks. For example, my most complex and effective automation is for client onboarding. Taking on a new client requires setup tasks in about seven different places – Quickbooks for billing, Teamwork for project management, Slack for project communications, Google Drive for file storage, etc. This used to take 1 to 2 hours to do manually, but now happens automatically with no human interaction at all. Although this automation does not use AI, when tasks complete themselves without a single mouse click, it’s easy to see why people perceive it as an “artificial” person doing the work. This perception is actually becoming more accurate as automation platforms like Zapier are adding AI tools, and AI tools are adding automation “agents” to perform tasks for users. Essentially, these two worlds are colliding and becoming one: AI-powered automation. This is what small business owners should be thinking about implementing in 2025. DJ: What AI tools do you expect to become popular in 2025? Cronin: For AI-powered automation, Zapier and Make.com will continue to increase in popularity as they incorporate more AI tool integrations and solidify themselves as the most accessible way for small businesses to implement AI in 2025. However, what will really upend the AI world in 2025 is AI agents. “Agentic AI” is a term with search volume that is skyrocketing month over month right now. Automation platforms, even when integrated with AI tools, do not incorporate any decision-making other than basic “if this, then that” filters that select one routine over another. An AI “agent” can make decisions and act autonomously, which goes far beyond the abilities of AI-powered automation. Right now, agentic AIs are mostly custom-coded, which is not accessible for small businesses, but 2025 will be the year that user-friendly agentic AI platforms hit the market. Anthropic, the company behind the popular Claude AI chatbot, already released an agentic AI feature they call “Computer Use” which can control a computer to complete tasks in the same way a human does. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, will be launching their agentic AI product called “Operator” early in 2025, and of course – Google, Microsoft, and others won’t be far behind with their own versions as well. DJ: Will AI and automation replace employees? Cronin: Not for small businesses. Unlike enterprise-level corporations, where a single person might be employed only to handle tedious tasks, small business employees wear many hats and have responsibilities requiring human brainpower and interaction. Small business owners should view AI and automation not as employee replacement, but as employee enhancement. When used to relieve talented employees of tedious tasks, the business owner gets better results, employees get to spend more time on work they love, and the company becomes stronger and more effective. Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news.Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.
