Alabama sophomore running back Justice Haynes entered the transfer portal and could be headed home to Georgia. Haynes played in all 12 games as part of a timeshare with co-starter Jam Miller for the Crimson Tide in 2024 and was third on the team in rushing with 448 yards and tied for second with seven TDs. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Cardlytics reports that card-linked cash-back offers represent a strategic stocking stuffer for smart shoppers navigating the expensive holiday landscape. Click for more. Holiday spending hacks: How to unwrap savings without sacrificing festive cheerJacobs Stock Photography Ltd/DigitalVision via Getty Images Enphase ( NASDAQ: ENPH ) has seen a perfect storm sweep up its stock price. The company’s anticipated acceleration in growth rates has proven more modest as customers continue to adjust to the higher interest rate environment. The outcomes of the recent presidential elections Sign Up For My Premium Service "Best of Breed Growth Stocks" After a historic valuation reset, the growth investing landscape has changed. Get my best research at your fingertips today. Get access to Best of Breed Growth Stocks: My portfolio of the highest quality growth stocks. My best deep-dive investment reports. My investing strategy for the current market. and much more Subscribe to Best of Breed Growth Stocks Today! Julian Lin is a financial analyst. He finds undervalued companies with secular growth that appreciate over time. His approach is to look for companies with strong balance sheets and management teams in sectors with long growth runways. Best Of Breed Growth Stocks Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ENPH either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. I am long all positions in the Best of Breed Growth Stocks Portfolio. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
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Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’
— Oct. 1, 1924: James Earl Carter Jr. is born in Plains, Georgia, son of James Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. — June 1946: Carter graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. — July 1946: Carter marries Rosalynn Smith, in Plains. They have four children, John William (“Jack”), born 1947; James Earl 3rd (“Chip”), 1950; Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), 1952; and Amy Lynn, 1967. — 1946-1953: Carter serves in a Navy nuclear submarine program, attaining rank of lieutenant commander. — Summer 1953: Carter resigns from the Navy, returns to Plains after father’s death. — 1953-1971: Carter helps run the family peanut farm and warehouse business. — 1963-1966: Carter serves in the Georgia state Senate. — 1966: Carter tries unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. — November 1970: Carter is elected governor of Georgia. Serves 1971-75. — Dec. 12, 1974: Carter announces a presidential bid. Atlanta newspaper answers with headline: “Jimmy Who?” — January 1976: Carter leads the Democratic field in Iowa, a huge campaign boost that also helps to establish Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus. — July 1976: Carter accepts the Democratic nomination and announces Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota as running mate. — November 1976: Carter defeats President Gerald R. Ford, winning 51% of the vote and 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240. — January 1977: Carter is sworn in as the 39th president of the United States. On his first full day in office, he pardons most Vietnam-era draft evaders. —September 1977: U.S. and Panama sign treaties to return the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999. Senate narrowly ratifies them in 1978. — September 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Carter sign Camp David accords, which lead to a peace deal between Egypt and Israel the following year. — June 15-18, 1979: Carter attends a summit with Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna that leads to the signing of the SALT II treaty. — November 1979: Iranian militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages. All survive and are freed minutes after Carter leaves office in January 1981. — April 1980: The Mariel boatlift begins, sending tens of thousands of Cubans to the U.S. Many are criminals and psychiatric patients set free by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, creating a major foreign policy crisis. — April 1980: An attempt by the U.S. to free hostages fails when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane in Iran, killing eight servicemen. — Nov. 4, 1980: Carter is denied a second term by Ronald Reagan, who wins 51.6% of the popular vote to 41.7% for Carter and 6.7% to independent John Anderson. — 1982: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter co-found The Carter Center in Atlanta, whose mission is to resolve conflicts, protect human rights and prevent disease around the world. — September 1984: The Carters spend a week building Habitat for Humanity houses, launching what becomes the annual Carter Work Project. — October 1986: A dedication is held for The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. The center includes the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Carter Center offices. — 1989: Carter leads the Carter Center’s first election monitoring mission, declaring Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega’s election fraudulent. — May 1992: Carter meets with Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at the Carter Center to discuss forming the Gorbachev Foundation. — June 1994: Carter plays a key role in North Korea nuclear disarmament talks. — September 1994: Carter leads a delegation to Haiti, arranging terms to avoid a U.S. invasion and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. — December 1994: Carter negotiates tentative cease-fire in Bosnia. — March 1995: Carter mediates cease-fire in Sudan’s war with southern rebels. — September 1995: Carter travels to Africa to advance the peace process in more troubled areas. — December 1998: Carter receives U.N. Human Rights Prize on 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. — August 1999: President Bill Clinton awards Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — September 2001: Carter joins former Presidents Ford, Bush and Clinton at a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington after Sept. 11 attacks. — April 2002: Carter’s book “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” chosen as finalist for Pulitzer Prize in biography. — May 2002: Carter visits Cuba and addresses the communist nation on television. He is the highest-ranking American to visit in decades. — Dec. 10, 2002: Carter is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” — July 2007: Carter joins The Elders, a group of international leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to focus on global issues. — Spring 2008: Carter remains officially neutral as Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton battle each other for the Democratic presidential nomination. — April 2008: Carter stirs controversy by meeting with the Islamic militant group Hamas. — August 2010: Carter travels to North Korea as the Carter Center negotiates the release of an imprisoned American teacher. — August 2013: Carter joins President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and the March on Washington. — Oct. 1, 2014: Carter celebrates his 90th birthday. — December 2014: Carter is nominated for a Grammy in the best spoken word album category, for his book “A Call To Action.” — May 2015: Carter returns early from an election observation visit in Guyana — the Carter Center’s 100th — after feeling unwell. — August 2015: Carter has a small cancerous mass removed from his liver. He plans to receive treatment at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. — August 2015: Carter announces that his grandson Jason Carter will chair the Carter Center governing board. — March 6, 2016: Carter says an experimental drug has eliminated any sign of his cancer, and that he needs no further treatment. — May 25, 2016: Carter steps back from a “front-line” role with The Elders to become an emeritus member. — July 2016: Carter is treated for dehydration during a Habitat for Humanity build in Canada. — Spring 2018: Carter publishes “Faith: A Journey for All,” the last of 32 books. — March 22, 2019: Carter becomes the longest-lived U.S. president, surpassing President George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018. — September 18, 2019: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter deliver their final in-person annual report at the Carter Center. — October 2019: At 95, still recovering from a fall, Carter joins the Work Project with Habitat for Humanity in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s the last time he works personally on the annual project. — Fall 2019-early 2020: Democratic presidential hopefuls visit, publicly embracing Carter as a party elder, a first for his post-presidency. — November 2020:The Carter Center monitors an audit of presidential election results in the state of Georgia, marking a new era of democracy advocacy within the U.S. — Jan. 20, 2021: The Carters miss President Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the first presidential inauguration they don’t attend since Carter’s own ceremony in 1977. The Bidens later visit the Carters in Plains on April 29. — Feb. 19, 2023: Carter enters home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. — July 7, 2023: The Carters celebrate their 77th and final wedding anniversary. — Nov. 19, 2023: Rosalynn Carter dies at home, two days after the family announced that she had joined the former president in receiving hospice care. — Oct. 1, 2024 — Carter becomes the first former U.S. president to reach 100 years of age , celebrating at home with extended family and close friends. — Oct. 16, 2024 — Carter casts a Georgia mail ballot for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, having told his family he wanted to live long enough to vote for her. It marks his 21st presidential election as a voter. — Dec. 29, 2024: Carter dies at home.ng” all-solid-state batteries. The new EV battery tech promises a longer driving range, faster charging, and significantly higher energy density. Here’s what to expect. Last June, Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon revealed a massive $7.3 billion (9.5 trillion won) investment to advance electric vehicle battery development over the next decade. Hyundai plans to develop various EV batteries, including LFP, NCM, and all-solid-state, to cover a wide range of segments. According to sources familiar with the matter (via ), Hyundai’s all-solid-state EV batteries are about to hit a significant milestone. On December 23, industry sources claimed Hyundai was almost done establishing an all-solid-state battery production demo line. An official close to the project said the equipment for individual processes is almost complete. Now, only the logistics automation portion remains. Hyundai plans to begin testing electric vehicles with all-solid-state batteries by 2025. By the end of the decade, mass production is scheduled to start. The production line is at Hyundai’s in Korea. Hyundai has 22 joint research projects across four divisions, including lithium metal batteries, solid-state batteries, battery management systems, and battery process technology. Of these, 14 will be related to lithium metal and solid-state batteries. Hyundai said the initiatives will “pave the way for South Korea to become one of the world’s leading battery technology houses.” In September, Hyundai and Kia to develop a precursor for LFP battery cathode material for upcoming lower-priced EV models. Hyundai plans to launch EVs with LFP batteries developed in-house in 2025. The news comes after Honda unveiled its all-solid-state battery just last month. Honda also plans to launch EVs powered by the new battery tech by 2030. Factorial, which teamed up with Mercedes-Benz, announced its “Solstice” all-solid-state battery cells have been , a new milestone. With “breakthrough” energy density of up to 450 Wh/kg, Factorial claims its battery tech can boost EV range by up to 80%, or around 600 miles. With the promise of unlocking more range and faster charging at a much higher energy density, many carmakers and other companies are rushing to unlock all-solid-state EV batteries. Global battery leaders , BYD, and Samsung SDI, as well as carmakers like Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Hyundai, are advancing the new technology. However, concerns over safety and manufacturing hurdles remain a challenge. According to the latest figures, China’s CATL remains the global EV battery leader with a commanding 36.8% share of the market through the first ten months of 2024. BYD was second with a 16.8% share, while Korea’s LG Energy placed third with an 11.8% share. Will the next generation of EV batteries shake up the list? Hyundai hopes to make its mark with a new all-solid-sate EV battery production pilot line that will be coming online soon. and subscribe to the . Peter Johnson is covering the auto industry’s step-by-step transformation to electric vehicles. He is an experienced investor, financial writer, and EV enthusiast. His enthusiasm for electric vehicles, primarily Tesla, is a significant reason he pursued a career in investments. If he isn’t telling you about his latest 10K findings, you can find him enjoying the outdoors or exercisingCHICAGO (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks placed running back Kenneth Walker III on injured reserve prior to their game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday because of an ankle injury. Walker hurt his ankle in last week's loss to Minnesota and left that game after sitting out the previous two because of a calf problem. He also missed two weeks in September with an oblique issue. Walker has run for 573 yards and seven touchdowns on 153 carries. A second-round draft pick by Seattle in 2022, he has 2,528 yards rushing and 24 TDs in his career. Walker could, in theory, return if the Seahawks win two playoff games, though their postseason hopes were slim entering the game against Chicago. Seattle (8-7) trailed the NFC West-leading Los Angeles Rams (9-6) by one game with two to play. The Seahawks' best path to the postseason was to win the final two regular-season games and have Los Angeles lose to Arizona on Saturday. Seattle visits the Rams to close the regular season. With Walker out, Seattle signed rookie running back George Holani off the practice squad. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL The Associated PressMUMBAI: Say goodbye to the fear of needles, the syringe just got a painless upgrade. Holding out much promise is a prototype of a needle-free syringe developed by a team of researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Believe it or not, this potentially ground-breaking syringe was inspired not by medicine but by the world of aerospace engineering. Called a ‘shock syringe’, it was developed by a team led by Prof Viren Menezes of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT-Bombay. The breakthrough offers an alternative for patients who fear needle pricks, often leading to missed vaccinations and delayed treatments. A research paper published in September 2024 in the Journal of Biomedical Materials & Devices, compared the efficacy of the shock syringe’s drug delivery to traditional needles in laboratory rats and, it said, the results are promising. It showed not only comparable efficacy but also reduced skin trauma and quicker healing. So, how does the syringe work? Unlike conventional syringes, which rely on needles to penetrate the skin, the shock syringe uses high-energy shock waves, which travel faster than the speed of sound, to deliver drugs. In an effect similar to what happens during a sonic boom, where an aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound, shock waves compress the surrounding medium, pushing it at high speed. In the syringe, the shock wave creates a microjet of liquid drug that penetrates the skin without causing significant discomfort. Priyanka Hankare, research scholar and lead author of the study, said the team started working on the device in 2021 and took two and a half years to develop it. Slightly longer than a ballpoint pen, the shock syringe features a micro-shock tube with three components: driver, driven and drug holder. It releases pressurised nitrogen gas, which generates a microjet that travels at speeds twice as fast as a commercial airplane during takeoff, said Hankare. “As an aerospace engineer, I have always viewed shock waves as a powerful and often destructive phenomenon—capable of breaking barriers and creating immense forces. However, this project reimagines the potential of shock waves, transforming them into something constructive and beneficial. By applying the principles of shock-wave dynamics, we can design needle-free drug delivery systems that not only overcome the trauma associated with traditional injections but also pave the way for a more comfortable and accessible healthcare experience for all,” said Hankare, who has an MTech degree in aerospace engineering from IIT-Kanpur and is now pursuing a PhD degree from IIT-Bombay. In the research paper, Professor Menezes said, “The researchers conducted tests using three types of drugs, including an anaesthetic (Ketamine-Xylazine), an antifungal (Terbinafine), and insulin. The shock syringe matched the anaesthetic effect of traditional needles and performed better with viscous formulations like terbinafine, depositing the drug deeper into the skin layers. For diabetic rats, insulin delivered via the shock syringe maintained lower blood sugar levels for a longer duration compared to needle injections.” He also claimed that the shock syringe causes less skin damage and inflammation than a traditional syringe, allowing for quicker healing at the injection site. The shock syringe holds immense promise for making immunisation drives quicker and more efficient, particularly for children and adults with a needle phobia. Its design reduces the risk of needle-stick injuries, which can spread blood-borne diseases, and offers cost-effective reliability with over 1,000 uses per nozzle replacement. Hankare said the team is in the process of filing for a patent and will then apply for regulatory approval.
The political face of India has undergone great changes with the leadership of those who have guided this nation to its present stature. Among them, a giant of a man recently passed away, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, at the age of 92. His demise has affected many politicians and citizens alike. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi put this grief into words in a poignant post on X, where he described Singh as “a mentor and guide.” Table of Contents A Leader of Integrity Manmohan Singh and his role in Indian economy A Complex Legacy A Leader of Integrity In his tribute, Gandhi said Singh had distinguished qualities, with his leadership marked by wisdom and integrity. “He led India with a profound sense of humility and a thorough understanding of economics,” Gandhi recalled, pointing to the significance of Singh in the life of the nation. “I have lost a mentor. Millions will remember him with pride,” he declared, his words striking the hearts of many who felt that Singh had served the country for decades. Similarly, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul’s sister, praised Singh for the deep respect he commanded in the political arena. She said that he was a man of utmost honesty and that he stood tall in adversity, which reflected his character. This feeling of praise was expressed on social media platforms by people who were celebrating Singh’s legacy. Manmohan Singh and his role in Indian economy From humble beginnings, Dr. Manmohan Singh rose to become a towering figure in Indian politics and economy. His role as Union Finance Minister during the 1991 economic crisis made him a reluctant yet powerful architect of India’s economic reforms. Singh’s guidance ushered India into the world of global markets, completely changing the country’s economic scenario. He carried this transformation further when he entered the position of Prime Minister as the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance won the elections of 2004—a career landmark for him. He relentlessly worked on bringing the Indian economy up, and he worked on upgrading millions of people. One of the first to pay tributes was Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who described Singh as “one of India’s most distinguished leaders.” Modi highlighted Singh’s background from humble beginnings to being a respected economist. He acknowledged that Singh had an immense impact on economic policies during his tenure in different official capacities, which forms a testament to his legacy in India’s development. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also condoled, saying Singh had been a very valuable contribution to the country and a very strong Finance Minister. These tributes speak to the broad appeal and respect that transcended party lines. A Complex Legacy Dr. Singh’s journey was not without challenges. Though he was admired for his integrity, his government was substantially criticized for allegations of corruption and inaction. But 2G spectrum and the Commonwealth Games scams marred the latter half of the tenure of his government; hence, some people regarded him as the “Accidental Prime Minister.” For his part, Singh claimed to believe that history was going to treat him differently, a feeling that defines the complexity of his times. Manmohan Singh’s life and accomplishments only reflect the gigantic figure of Indian politics that he formed. His commitment to reforming India’s economy as well as his dedication to the betterment of public welfare leaves an indelible mark on the country. That is evident by the spate of sorrow and homage paid after he breathed his last. True, it is but another way to say that the legend has come to pass away; yet its legacy will shape and form many more in the future. Also, see: Watch video: Lamborghini catches fire on Mumbai’s Coastal Road, questions raised on safety standards
Threat to artificially propped up economy will persist: Imran PTI founder says, “2025 is year of real freedom, God willing, 2024 was difficult year for Pakistan" Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. — Facebook@Imrankhanofficial/File ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder chairman Imran Khan Thursday said though the government stabilised the economy, threat to artificially stabilised economy would persist. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); }); In a conversation with reporters at Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, when asked if he admits that the government has stabilised the economy, the former prime minister replied that the economy stabilised and avoided bankruptcy, but there was no development. He said the threat of default would stay there if the economy is stabilised through artificial means. Imran posted a message on the social networking website ‘X’ and said: “2025 is the year of real freedom, God willing, 2024 was a difficult year for Pakistan, obviously freedom is difficult to achieve!” He claimed that has received a message of deal with him and the message was that “we will give your party political space but you will be placed under house arrest and shifted to Bani Gala”. The PTI founder chairman said that he had replied to the offer that first release all the remaining political prisoners. “I will remain in jail but will not accept any deal, I will not go to house arrest or any jail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said. Imran said that he had asked his nation that they did not have to panic, as “your captain is steadfast, I will tell my overseas Pakistanis to join the campaign to boycott remittances”. He contended that right now, only ‘committee, committee’ is being played regarding PTI demands; however, if the negotiations yield positive results, the campaign to boycott remittances would be stopped, adding that it was a protest for the restoration of ‘true’ freedom and democracy. He emphasised that if there was rule of law, investment would come to the country and the economy would recover, but no attention was paid to it, capitalists were withdrawing their capital and factories were closing down. Reacting to the sentences handed down by military courts, he said that arbitrary trials were conducted in the military court regarding May 9, saying if trials were conducted in an open court, the video footage of May 9 would have had to be produced. He said that the video record of the attack on him in the Judicial Complex, Islamabad on March 18, 2023, was deliberately hidden. He insisted that a transparent trial was a fundamental constitutional right of citizens. The PTI supremo believed that conducting cases in military courts had deprived citizens of their fundamental rights and Pakistan had been severely reprimanded internationally. He suggested a review of policies, adding that Afghanistan was bombed twice. Earlier, it was claimed that forcibly sending back refugees would reduce terrorism, but that method increased hatred, which was not good for regional peace and order. Imran claimed that when Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became the foreign minister, he did not visit Afghanistan even once, while it should have been a priority. The former prime minister said that he had also told former army chief General Bajwa that after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, the situation was not such that the then ISI chief General (retd) Faiz should be replaced immediately, but he was making all the decisions for his own expansion plan instead of Pakistan, which harmed Pakistan and increased terrorism. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and the PTI negotiation committee met separately with Imran in the jail. Opposition Leader Omar Ayub, NA former Speaker Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja, Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) chief Sahibzada Hamid Raza, who were part of the PTI negotiation committee, met the PTI founder. After the meeting, talking to the media, Hamid Raza said that they want to bring the talks to a logical conclusion by January 31. He said that there was a clear position on November 26 that “shots were fired and that 13 of our workers were martyred on that day; the workers were tortured; and those who ordered the shooting are responsible for the May 9 incident”. He revealed that the party founder said that for the survival of Pakistan, he was ready to forgive all the ill-treatment done to him and that he was ready to forgive everyone for the sake of Pakistan. Hamid Raza said that they have only two demands, as, while the other side is accusing us of the May 9 issue, a judicial commission consisting of the three most senior judges of the Supreme Court should be formed, an investigation be conducted to find out who were the people who were inciting the people on May 9. “Our demand is that the PTI founder should be released, we do not want the founder’s release as a result of any deal, as he wants the courts to decide all the cases against him,” he maintained. He said that the party founder had a special conversation with Gandapur on the issue of Kurram. Hamid Raza emphasised PTI founder Imran’s unwavering stance on resolving key issues through dialogue rather than conflict. He reiterated Imran’s condemnation of external aggression, particularly regarding Afghanistan, and stressed the importance of negotiations to address disputes. “Imran Khan believes Afghanistan-related matters must be resolved through dialogue, not violence. He remains firmly against engaging in external wars,” said Hamid Raza. Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Shaikh Waqas Akram denied the party founder Imran Khan’s statement about economy and said in fact he had termed the related government steps as cosmetic ones and an artificial bubble. In a video message, shared with the media, he claimed that the party leader had been misquoted, who said that the government had ‘shut down’ the entire economy in order to bring down inflation and interest rate. He said the party founder believed the economy was on the verge of collapse and could fall any time, as economic stability could come by job creation and investment, whereas the rule of law and political stability were its pre-requisites, which were not there to be seen. Waqas emphasised that his party leader had fixed January 31 for the things to reach to their logical conclusion this way or that way. “To show seriousness towards talks, the government should have put on hold its ministers’ statements and news conferences and military trials,” the party information secretary contended. Regarding latest sentences given by the military courts to the persons, related to May 9, he said that their party position was the same, which was expressed when such reports surfaced a few days back. “Imran Khan had rejected civilians’ trials in military courts, as this is not a proper thing,” he pointed out. About the civil disobedience campaign, he said that no one had neither withdrawn the call, nor anyone could do so, as the call was given by the party founder and only he could withdraw it. The PTI spokesperson said that the call given to the overseas Pakistanis to halt remittances to the country could be withdrawn by Imran, if he sees positive progress in talks between the opposition and the government allies committees’ meetings.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Nigel Farage of “fakery” over Reform UK membership numbers, after his party claimed they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”, but Mr Farage said he would “gladly invite” a firm to “audit our membership numbers” as long as the Conservatives do the same. The row comes after a digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. When the figure was announced, Mr Farage said it was an “historic moment”. However in a thread on X later on Thursday, Mrs Badenoch said it was “a fake” and used a clock emoji to say that it was “coded to tick up automatically”. She added that “we’ve been watching the back end” of the counter “for days” Mrs Badenoch added: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn, but Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. In response to the thread, Mr Farage said that the “Conservative brand is dying” under Mrs Badenoch’s leadership, and added: “We will gladly invite one of the Big 4 firms in to audit our membership numbers as long as you do the same.” A research briefing published by the House of Commons Library in 2022 said comparing party membership numbers can be “difficult”, saying there is not a uniformly recognised definition of membership, or an established method to monitor it. Luke Tryl, director of the More in Common think tank, similarly told the PA news agency it is an “opaque” process. Speaking before Mrs Badenoch made her accusations, Mr Tryl said: “ Parties are notoriously opaque about this sort of thing”. He described party membership as “very opaque and murky as a metric anyway”. On Reform, Mr Tryl said one of the challenges for the party will be whether membership converts to campaigners. He told PA: “There is no doubt Reform had a very good autumn. I think they capitalised off some of Labour’s early mistakes, but also the fact the Conservative brand is still struggling. They’ve clearly got momentum.” Discussing Reform’s membership, he said: “We know that lots of Reform’s most vocal supporters are very online. “Do those people who are very online and joined up, do they also go out and pound the streets, deliver leaflets, canvass, that sort of thing? “That remains an open question.” Reform was set up as a limited company and in September Mr Farage announced that he would change the ownership structure so that it would be owned by members. “I no longer need to control this party,” he said at the time. In a video posted on X, he said: “We will change the structure of the party from one limited by shares to a company limited by guarantee, and that means it’s the members of Reform that will own this party.”
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.
Unwrap the latest AI features with Amazon Fire TabletsFormer president Jimmy Carter died on Sunday, December 29. He was 100. Carter’s son confirmed the late president’s death to The Washington Post , noting he died at his home in Georgia. Carter became the longest-living former president in U.S. history in March 2019 when he surpassed the late George H.W. Bush , who died in November 2018 at 94 years and 171 days old. Carter and his wife of 76 years, Rosalynn Carter , were also the longest-married first couple, surpassing Bush and Barbara Bush . Prior to his death, the Carter Center, the former president’s foundation, announced in February 2023 that he was entering hospice care. “After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention,” the statement read. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team.” Nine months later, Rosalynn also began end-of-life care . The Carter Center confirmed on November 19, 2023, that she had “peacefully” died at the age of 96. The politician battled numerous health issues in the final years of his life. He announced in December 2015 that he was cancer-free , months after metastatic melanoma spread throughout his body , including to his brain. Three and a half years later, he underwent surgery for a broken hip. Jimmy suffered two more falls at his Georgia home in October 2019. Despite having to get 14 stitches above his left eye as a result of the first fall, he traveled to Nashville to work with Habitat for Humanity volunteers and helped build a home. In November 2019, he was admitted to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta to undergo a procedure to relieve pressure on his brain, caused by bleeding due to his recent falls. Jimmy, who was the first U.S. president to be born in a hospital, grew up in Plains, Georgia, with three siblings: Gloria, Ruth and Billy Carter. He studied at Georgia Southwestern College and the Georgia Institute of Technology before being admitted to the Naval Academy in 1943. He met Rosalynn, who had been friends with his sister Ruth, while attending the academy. The couple married in 1946 after Jimmy’s graduation. He later became a member of the U.S. Navy in the submarine program before leaving active duty in 1953 to take over his family’s peanut business in Georgia in the wake of his father’s death. As an active member of the Democratic Party, Jimmy decided to run for office in the early 1960s. He served in the Georgia State Senate from 1963 to 1967. Three years later, he was elected governor. During that time, the civil rights activist and evangelical Christian was not widely known outside of his home state. However, he managed to secure a nomination in the 1976 presidential election and went on to defeat incumbent Republican president Gerald Ford to become the 39th POTUS. Jimmy got to work right away, pardoning Vietnam War draft dodgers on his second day in the White House. During his four years in office, he established the Department of Energy and the Department of Education, in addition to making an energy policy his top domestic priority. In foreign affairs, Jimmy found success with his mediation of the Camp David Accords. Despite his achievements, Jimmy faced many challenges as commander in chief. He infamously delivered what would come to be known as the “Crisis of Confidence” speech in 1979, in which he blamed the country’s problems on the poor spirit of its citizens. He also struggled to enact legislation due to his oft-tempestuous relationship with Congress. In the final stretch of his presidency, he came under fire for the way he handled the Iranian hostage crisis, in which dozens of Americans were held captive for 444 days. Jimmy ran for re-election in 1980, but Ronald Reagan won the popular and electoral votes. 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 After leaving the Oval Office in 1981, Jimmy received a great deal of praise for his humanitarian work. He worked extensively with Habitat for Humanity and founded the Carter Center human rights organization. In 2002, Jimmy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in finding peace in international conflicts. Prior to his death, the Faith author made arrangements to be buried in front of his Georgia home. Jimmy is survived by his and Rosalynn’s children — sons Jack , James and Donnel and daughter Amy — and more than 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.Mark McGlone: Coach Brown deserves better
NoneJacobs Stock Photography Ltd/DigitalVision via Getty Images Enphase ( NASDAQ: ENPH ) has seen a perfect storm sweep up its stock price. The company’s anticipated acceleration in growth rates has proven more modest as customers continue to adjust to the higher interest rate environment. The outcomes of the recent presidential elections Sign Up For My Premium Service "Best of Breed Growth Stocks" After a historic valuation reset, the growth investing landscape has changed. Get my best research at your fingertips today. Get access to Best of Breed Growth Stocks: My portfolio of the highest quality growth stocks. My best deep-dive investment reports. My investing strategy for the current market. and much more Subscribe to Best of Breed Growth Stocks Today! Julian Lin is a financial analyst. He finds undervalued companies with secular growth that appreciate over time. His approach is to look for companies with strong balance sheets and management teams in sectors with long growth runways. Best Of Breed Growth Stocks Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ENPH either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. I am long all positions in the Best of Breed Growth Stocks Portfolio. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
Illinois Board of Education to Use Nearly $20 Million in Federal Grants on Electric School Buses
A DUP minister rebuffed a suggestion that there could be an extension of pub opening hours in Northern Ireland to celebrate the golden jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, declassified files show. Stormont minister Maurice Morrow told an official he would not raise the issue with the Northern Ireland Executive , despite similar measures being considered in England and Wales. A file on planning arrangements for the jubilee celebrations reveals a series of civil service correspondences on how Northern Ireland would mark the occasion. It includes a letter sent on January 11 2001 from an official in the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) to the Department of Social Development, advising that a committee had been set up in London to consider a programme of celebrations. The correspondence says: “One of the issues the committee is currently considering is the possibility of deregulating liquor licensing laws during the golden jubilee celebrations on the same lines as the arrangements made for the millennium. “It is felt that the golden jubilee bank holiday on Monday 3 June 2002 is likely to be an occasion on which many public houses and similar licensed premises would wish to stay open beyond normal closing time.” The letter said a paper had been prepared on the issue of extending opening hours. It adds: “You will note that paragraph seven of the paper indicates that the devolved administrations ‘would need to consider deregulation separately within their own jurisdictions’. “I thought that you would wish to be aware that this issue is receiving active consideration for England and Wales and to consider whether anything needs to be done for Northern Ireland.” Some months later a “progress report” was sent between officials in OFMDFM, which again raised the issue of licensing laws. It says: “I spoke to Gordon Gibson, DSD, about Terry Smith’s letter of 12 January 2001 about licensing laws: the matter was put to their minister Maurice Morrow (DUP) who indicated that he would not be asking the NIE (Northern Ireland Executive) to approve any change to current licensing laws in NI to allow for either 24 hour opening (as at the millennium) nor a blanket approval for extended opening hours as is being considered in GB. “In both cases, primary legislation would be required here and would necessitate consultation and the minister has ruled out any consultation process.” The correspondence says individual licensees could still apply for an extension to opening hours on an ad hoc basis, adding “there the matter rests”. It goes on: “DSD await further pronouncements from the Home Office and Gibson and I have agreed to notify each other of any developments we become aware of and he will copy me to any (existing) relevant papers. “Ministers may well come under pressure in due course for a relaxation and/or parity with GB.” The document concludes “That’s it so far...making haste slowly?” Emails sent between officials in the department the same month said that lord lieutenants in Northern Ireland had been approached about local events to mark the jubilee. One message says: “Lord lieutenants have not shown any enthusiasm for encouraging GJ celebrations at a local level. “Lady Carswell in particular believes that it would be difficult for LLs to encourage such activities without appearing political.”THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar (70), who will succeed Arif Muhammad Khan, is known for his outreach to the public, much like Khan. While at office, Arlekar had opened the doors of the Raj Bhavan to the people of Bihar and Himachal and even didn’t shy away from visiting squalid colonies. Arlekar, a staunch RSS man with good ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership, heading to Kerala barely a year and a half before the assembly elections speaks volumes of the political objective at play. Arlekar, a leader from Goa, will try to bridge the gap between Christian sections and the BJP in Kerala. Arlekar meticulously manoeuvred the move in Goa that saw a majority Christian community turn lenient towards the BJP. He will have to turn back pages from his rule book to emulate the same in Kerala. Arlekar is not new to controversies either. His last week's speech sparked outrage when he said that the British left India not because of fear of Satyagraha, but because people took up arms. Arlekar will continue Arif Khan's policies including the appointment of university VCs. During his tenure as Governor in Bihar, he entered into a tussle with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar by returning the Vice-Chancellor appointment recommendation given by the government. He is also a fierce critic of the left. Once Arlekar remarked that Kanhaiya Kumar, the former JNU leader, would not be allowed to talk gibberish in the name of Freedom of speech. Arlekar would go head over heels for classical music and religiously play Marathi light music to cool his head off the official hassles.Spike in religious hate crimes over Middle East war and Southport killings branded deeply troubling
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Losses to the Chargers and Bengals with a playoff berth on the line show Sean Payton made a miscalculation when he agreed to flex the Denver Broncos' Week 16 game to a Thursday night. The NFL needed the Broncos' approval to replace the Cincinnati-Cleveland game with the Broncos-Chargers game because Denver had already played on a Thursday night on the road. He eagerly agreed to the switch, figuring the team's fanbase always travels well to SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the Broncos would be the more rested team at Cincinnati. But after an emotional comeback win over the Colts, the Broncos (9-7) lost to the Chargers in part because Payton got away from the run even though it helped them score touchdowns on their first three drives — and he had written “Run It!!” in marker on top of his play sheet. And they lost to the Bengals 30-24 in overtime on Saturday after Payton decided against going for 2 and the win when Marvin Mims Jr. hauled in a highlight-reel touchdown grab between two defenders with 8 seconds left in regulation. “We knew a tie for us was just as beneficial as a win,” Payton explained. “We felt like we had the momentum at that point.” Holding up two fingers, rookie QB Bo Nix lobbied for the 2-point try to no avail. Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) jumps into the arms of guard Quinn Meinerz (77) after a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Credit: AP/Jeff Dean “We discussed it all. We had plenty of time, plenty of time, plenty of time,” Payton said. "And the decision we made was the right one.” Well ... An extra point assured Joe Burrow would get the ball back, and the Broncos hadn't forced a single punt all game, something Payton acknowledged afterward that he wasn't aware of, and they hadn't stopped the Bengals since twice holding them on fourth down in the first half. They finally forced a punt in overtime, but the Broncos went three-and-out, something they did again after Bengals kicker Cade York doinked a 33-yard field-goal attempt off the left upright on Cincinnati's second possession. Denver Broncos wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. (19) makes catch for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaster With the Bengals out of timeouts, all the Broncos needed was a first down and they'd be playoff-bound for the first time since 2015, but Bo Nix misfired to tight end Adam Trautman on third-and-long, so the Broncos punted and Burrow led the Bengals (8-8) on their game-winning touchdown drive. “I thought we could move the ball in overtime,” Nix said, “but we didn't.” The Broncos could render all of it moot with a win in Week 18 against Kansas City with the Chiefs (15-1) expected to rely heavily on backups as they rest up for the playoffs as the AFC's top seed. But Denver's defense has been dismal since November, giving up the most yards in the league, and another letdown against the Chiefs would give the Broncos their biggest collapse in two decades. “This is what we do it for — meaningful games here,” Payton said. "I think it’s important that you embrace it, and it is exciting. There’s nothing worse than playing games in the last part of the season where there’s nothing at stake. So I think it’s something we’ll all be excited about.” What’s working Denver's pass rush. The Broncos sacked Burrow seven times, giving them a league-high 58 for the season. Zach Allen had a career-best 3 1/2 of them and Dondrea Tillman's sack gives the Broncos six players without at least five sacks this season. What needs help Riley Moss led the Broncos with 14 tackles but he had a tough return to action after missing a month with a sprained MCL. Burrow targeted him over and over, including on the game-winning touchdown throw to Tee Higgins, who caught three TD passes. “Riley could have been healthy for the last eight weeks. Whoever’s opposite Pat, they’re going to go that direction, right?" Payton said. (Higgins) is a good player. A real good player. It wasn’t anything that we didn’t expect. In other words, that happens when you’re teammates with Pat.” Stock up WR Marvin Mims Jr. had a breakout performance with eight catches for 103 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, a 51-yarder and the 25-yard catch on fourth down in the closing seconds while sandwiched between two veteran defenders. Stock down Denver's defense. Even with Moss back, which allowed DC Vance Joseph to go back to relying more on man coverage, the Broncos defense continued to struggle since the calendar turned to December. Injuries The Broncos came out healthy although superstar CB Patrick Surtain II was limping on the game's final snaps. Key number 5 — Number of NFL rookie QBs to throw for at least 3,000 yards and 25 touchdowns with Nix joining Justin Herbert, Baker Mayfield, Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning. What’s next It's all or nothing next week when a win over the Chiefs would send Denver to the playoffs.
