* * A magnitude 7.6 earthquake, with the Noto region of Ishikawa Prefecture at its epicenter, struck at 4:10 p.m. on Jan. 1. The quake registered a seismic intensity of 7 on the Japanese scale in Wajima and Shika as well as upper 6 in Nanao, Suzu, Anamizu and Noto. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the first major tsunami warning since the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. The tsunami reached a wide area which included Ishikawa, Toyama, Niigata and Yamagata prefectures. A total of 228 people died as a direct result of the earthquake, while 241 people have died in Ishikawa Prefecture due to quake-related causes, such as stress from life as evacuees, according to figures as of Dec. 17. Including quake-related deaths in Toyama and Niigata prefectures, the death toll from the earthquake totaled 475. The figure is the third highest among death tolls resulting from natural disasters since the Heisei era (1989-2019), following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Fault displacement resulting from the quake caused massive ground upheavals, which some described as being on a scale that could occur “only once in several thousand years,” mainly along the northern coastline of the Noto Peninsula. According to analysis by the Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, the upheavals reached as high as four meters in some parts of Wajima. More than 260 buildings were destroyed in a massive fire that broke out after the quake around the Asaichi-dori area in Wajima. The Wajima Morning Market is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the northern Noto Peninsula, with shops for lacquerware and souvenirs as well as stalls selling seafood and other products. Demolition of damaged buildings is underway, paid for using public funds. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. In addition to winning the National League home run and runs-batted-in (RBI) titles in the 2024 regular season, he was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. He left the Los Angeles Angels last December to join the Dodgers on a 10-year, $700 million contract, which was worth about ¥101.5 billion at the time. Surgery on his right elbow prevented him from returning to his two-way role as a hitter and pitcher, but he put his skills in running and hitting on display. Ohtani finished the season with his batting average of .310, 54 homers, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases, clinching the home run title for two years in a row and becoming the first Japanese player to win the RBI title in MLB. The Dodgers won the National League Championship Series and played in the World Series against the American League champion New York Yankees. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees to win the title for the first time in four years. On Nov. 21, Ohtani unanimously won this year’s National League MVP, following being unanimously chosen as the American League MVP in 2021 and 2023. He also became the first primary designated hitter to win the award. The 33rd Summer Olympic Games opened in Paris on July 26 for 17 days of competition through Aug. 11. Japan took 45 medals — 20 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze — a national record for an overseas Summer Olympics. Japan ranked third in the number of gold medals by country and region, behind the United States and China at 40. Japan finished sixth in the total number of medals. About 11,000 athletes competed in 329 events across 32 sports. The Japanese delegation numbered about 400, the country’s largest for an overseas Summer Games. Haruka Kitaguchi won the gold medal in the women’s javelin throw. This was the first time a Japanese woman won a gold medal in an athletics event other than the marathon. Japan’s artistic gymnastics team won the gold in the men’s all-around event, upsetting China on the final apparatus, the horizontal bar. Shinnosuke Oka won gold in the individual all-around event and men’s horizontal bar. The sport in which Japan shone brightest was wrestling. The squad won 11 medals in the 18 weight classes, including eight golds. The women, currently the dominant force in the world, medaled in all six divisions, taking home four golds and two bronzes. Japan also got two golds each in men’s freestyle and Greco-Roman. The Bank of Japan began delivering newly designed banknotes to financial institutions July 3, marking the first renewal in 20 years. The portrait on the new ¥10,000 bill is that of Eiichi Shibusawa, the industrialist known as the “father of Japanese capitalism,” and the ¥5,000 bill features Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer of women’s higher education in Japan. Bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato is the face of the new ¥1,000 bill. It has been 40 years since the portrait changed from Prince Shotoku to educator Yukichi Fukuzawa on the ¥10,000 banknote in 1984. For the first time in the world, a type of 3D hologram technology that makes the portrait appear to rotate when viewed from different angles was adopted as an anti-counterfeiting measure for the banknotes. The new banknotes use a larger font size or the numerals denoting the value of the bills. Also, the identifying marks on the notes that can be distinguished by touch are differently positioned according to the type of banknote to make them more accessible for visually impaired people. More than 20 robberies by “dark” part-time workers have occurred mainly in Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures since August. On Oct. 15, a man in his 70s was murdered and robbed of about ¥200,000 in cash by men who had broken into his Yokohama residence. Most of the perpetrators of these crimes were recruited to take part in the robberies through social media such as X. About 50 people have been arrested in connection with these incidents, including ones who actually committed robberies and ones who collected cash from them. About 80% of those arrested were in their teens or 20s. The National Police Agency has taken emergency measures to strengthen their analysis of smartphones belonging to the perpetrators. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito suffered a heavy defeat and lost its majority in the House of Representatives election on Oct. 27. The ruling camp failed to secure 233 lower house seats, the number required for a simple majority in the lower house, in the face of fierce public anger over money scandals involving LDP politicians. As a result of the 50th lower house election, the ruling coalition holds 215 seats, including 191 held by the LDP. In the final stage of the campaign it was revealed that the LDP headquarters had provided ¥20 million even to branches led by candidates who were unendorsed due to their involvement in a political funds scandal. This sparked further criticism. Opposition parties differed in their election outcomes. The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan increased its seats significantly to 148 from the 98 it had before the lower house dissolution, while the Democratic Party for the People quadrupled its number to 28. The number of lower house seats held by the Japan Innovation Party decreased by six, falling to 38. Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba was elected as the party’s 28th president on Sept. 27. Nine candidates vied to succeed then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the largest number since 1972, when endorsements from 20 LDP Diet members became a condition to file for candidacy. Kishida announced in August he would step down. In the election, Ishiba placed second in the first round of voting, but beat economic security minister Sanae Takaichi in a runoff. Ishiba became the 102nd prime minister after voting at the Diet to designate the prime minister, and he launched his Cabinet on Oct. 1. The approval rating for the Cabinet stood at 51% in a Yomiuri Shimbun survey held immediately after the launch, down from 56% logged by Kishida’s Cabinet in a survey conducted in October 2021 upon their launch. An Airbus A350-900 — Japan Airlines Flight 516, which was arriving from Shin-Chitose Airport in Hokkaido — and a Bombardier DHC-8 belonging to the Japan Coast Guard, collided and caught fire on a runway at Haneda Airport on Jan 2. While all 379 passengers and crew on board the JAL aircraft were able to escape, five people on board the JCG aircraft were killed. Only the Bombardier’s captain survived. The air traffic controller had addressed the JCG aircraft as “No. 1,” meaning it was to be the first in line to take off, and instructed the aircraft to run to the stop position before the runway, but the Bombardier proceeded onto the runway and collided with the JAL airplane that was about to land. The JCG aircraft had been scheduled to fly to Niigata Airport to deliver relief supplies to areas hit by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake. Nihon Hidankyo, or Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to eradicate nuclear weapons, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced Oct. 11. Nihon Hidankyo was highly praised for its continued efforts to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons through activities such as passing on the experiences of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On Dec. 10, cochair Terumi Tanaka reiterated the call for the abolition of nuclear weapons in a lecture he gave in Oslo for the peace prize. Nihon Hidankyo is the second Nobel Peace Prize laureate from Japan, with former Prime Minister Eisaku Sato having won in 1974 for advocating Japan’s three nonnuclear principles. Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. announced a voluntary recall of three of its products, including the Benikoji CholesteHelp supplement, on March 22 after kidney illnesses developed in several people who had taken one of the company’s supplements made with benikoji red rice mold. In September, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said it had identified puberulic acid derived fom blue mold detected in the supplements’ ingredients as the cause of the kidney damage. The number of deaths suspected to be related to consumption of the supplements has exceeded 100.Conduct Pending BMC Polls Before March 2025: SP Urges CM Fadnavis
ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, roughly 22 months after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections and house the homeless as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. Biden spoke later Sunday evening about Carter, calling it a “sad day” but one that “brings back an incredible amount of good memories.” “I’ve been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years,” Biden said in his remarks. He recalled the former president being a comfort to him and his wife Jill when their son Beau died in 2015 of cancer. The president remarked how cancer was a common bond between their families, with Carter himself having cancer later in his life. “Jimmy knew the ravages of the disease too well,” said Biden, who scheduled a state funeral in Washington, D.C., for Carter on Jan. 9. Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the nation and ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” Sanz is a former Associated Press reporter.Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant declares for NFL draft
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Jimmy Carter, a man of implacable faith, lived his valuesPa. legislators’ base pay to crack $110K for first time after latest round of raisesDale Hamilton's performance at the Yukon Agriculture Association’s North of 60 Banquet showcased alternative farming methods and highlighted the challenges and benefits of transitioning from conventional to regenerative practices. One-woman theatre performance depicted a hypothetical debate among family members with different ideas about the future of their farm. They discussed the challenges of transitioning from conventional methods to regenerative practices, which are believed by Hamilton to help mitigate climate change. Dr. Dorthea Gregoire, a program manager at Canadian Organic Growers, spoke at the banquet and provided feedback on the performance during a question-and-answer session at the Yukon public library on Nov. 24. She commented on some of the methods brought up in the performance and shared an industry perspective to making the transition to sustainable practices. “I've been working with farmers for over a decade, but what I do is help farmers transition to regenerative organic agriculture,” Gregoire said. “I came to the Yukon because I find that small mixed farms are the easiest to transition. It has the biggest, quickest payoff to make those changes.” Specific examples of alternative farming practices during the performance focused on moving away from agrichemicals and towards more diverse, regenerative and nature-based approaches. These include using biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from waste wood, to improve soil health; implementing rotational soil trampling with cattle to naturally fertilize and aerate soil; transitioning from synthetic fertilizers to natural alternatives such as rock phosphates and nitrogen-fixing plants; and planting flower strips to attract natural pest predators. Dr. Gregoire, an attendee from Manitoba, pointed out that larger scale farming operations are encumbered by high debt and cash flow restrictions, often making transitions toward new farming methods risky. She noted that federal and territorial subsidies offer Yukon farmers a good opportunity to diversify their practices while reducing financial risk. The governments of Canada and Yukon jointly fund specific agricultural projects and initiatives, according to a Yukon government (YG) webpage. The eligibility criteria broadly covers whether a farming project’s operations can help reduce greenhouse gases, promote sector growth or adds resiliency. The Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership is a $3.5 billion five-year agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments, according to a federal government webpage. Dr. Gregoire highlighted that these subsidies can provide a safety net for farmers to experiment with new projects that meet funding eligibility criteria, as she says has been demonstrated in the Yukon. Hamilton's performance highlighted the indigenous practice of growing corn, squash, and beans together to boost crop yield. According to the Yukon government website, developing a First Nations agriculture or food system qualifies for agricultural project funding. The “Three Sisters” crop model was noted in Hamilton’s performance and is widely used by several First Nations of the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence Lowlands regions, according to a federal government webpage on scientific achievements in agriculture. Hiring scientific consultation for assessments on projects that require a permit from the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) is also an eligible activity for applicants of the YG agriculture fund. Hamilton's performance highlighted bio-dome wood-burning projects in Montana that use waste wood to produce biochar as a regenerative farming method. According to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Act, this technology may require assessment or permitting for agricultural facility construction. Another possible requirement for permitting regenerative agricultural activities under the act is planting "beetle banks." This involves mixing flowers with crops to attract predator insects for pest control. The British Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust trialled this project and introduced the first beetle banks to the Netherlands, according to the European Regional Development Fund. Hamilton’s performance demonstrates a model that North American growers can adopt. The Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario points out that while there are successful examples of beetle banks in North America, particularly in attracting predator beetles, these are mostly found in agroecosystems on the west coast of the United States. There are limited examples in the east or among small-scale farmers and market gardens.
SMM Morning Comment For SHFE Base Metals On December 30Drop in Boxing Day footfall ‘signals return to declining pre-pandemic levels’
NoneNebraska looks to stretch its season-long winning streak to five games when it hosts Southern on Monday night in Lincoln. The streak began after Michigan State crushed the Cornhuskers 89-52 in Nebraska's Big Ten opener on Dec. 7. Nebraska started the winning streak with an 85-68 home victory over Indiana to even its conference record at 1-1. Then the Cornhuskers (10-2) swept their way through the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, beating Murray State, host Hawaii and lastly Oregon State on Christmas Day to win the tournament championship. Nebraska coach Fred Hoiberg was pleased with the three double-digit victories in Hawaii, including the 78-66 win over the Beavers to earn the title. "The importance of winning three games against three quality teams, that's going to be help us down the road," Hoiberg said. Brice Williams scored 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting against Oregon State to cap a run that ended with earning tournament MVP. Williams tallied 32 points in the semifinal victory over Hawaii. He averaged 22 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in the tournament. Williams controlled the pace in the finale. "I was aggressive and wanted to let my defense lead my offense," Williams said. "I came out pretty hot and my team took it from there." Williams leads the Cornhuskers with a 19.7 scoring average. Juwan Gary (11.9 ppg) and Connor Essegian (11.8) are also scoring in double digits. Southern (5-7) is in the midst of a tough portion of its schedule and has been outscored by an average of 20 points during a three-game losing streak. The Jaguars started the skid by falling 74-61 at then-No. 17 Ole Miss on Dec. 17, then lost 89-73 at Loyola Marymount three days later. Southern was then mauled 82-51 at Southern California on Dec. 22. The Jaguars shot just 32.7 percent from the field against the Trojans and were a measly 2 of 19 from 3-point range. Southern coach Kevin Johnson said prior to the season that this stretch will help the team when it gets into SWAC play. "I feel we put together another strong schedule, that will challenge our team and give us some strong competition," Johnson said. "... We feel that this schedule will help us compete at the highest level going into SWAC play." Michael Jacobs is averaging a team-best 10.6 points, just ahead of Jordan Johnson's 10.4. Nebraska is 4-0 all-time against the Jaguars, including an 82-59 home win on Nov. 21, 2021, in the most recent meeting. --Field Level MediaThe Israeli Justice Ministry made the announcement in a message late on Thursday, saying the investigation would focus on the findings of a recent report by the Uvda investigative programme into Sara Netanyahu. The programme uncovered a trove of WhatsApp messages in which Mrs Netanyahu appears to instruct a former aide to organise protests against political opponents and to intimidate Hadas Klein, a key witness in the trial. The announcement did not mention Mrs Netanyahu by name and the Justice Ministry declined further comment. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu blasted the Uvda report as “lies”. It is the latest in a long line of legal troubles for the Netanyahus, highlighted by the PM’s ongoing corruption trial. Mr Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of cases alleging he exchanged favours with powerful media moguls and wealthy associates. He denies the charges and says he is the victim of a “witch hunt” by overzealous prosecutors, police and the media.
CELSIUS ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Announces That A Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Celsius Holdings, Inc. And Encourages Investors To Contact The FirmNov 28 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in Asian markets. Investors were grappling with fresh U.S. inflation data and its implications for Federal Reserve policy along with continued fallout from Donald Trump's tariff pledges as trading in the U.S. was thinning out ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. Asian markets were waking up to a tepid day for U.S. equities, with technology shares leading major indexes lower. Shares of Dell (DELL.N) , opens new tab and HP (HPQ.N) , opens new tab sank after weak forecasts from the personal computer makers, weighing on the tech sector (.SPLRCT) , opens new tab . Data showed the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index -- an inflation gauge followed by the Fed -- rose 2.3% in the 12 months through October, a slight uptick from the prior month. Traders were still expecting another interest rate cut when the Fed meets in mid-December, with Fed futures showing that expectations of a 25 basis point reduction remained intact following the PCE data. Investors were trying to sort through the potential fallout from Trump's pledge earlier this week of big tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, which has rattled assets including currencies and auto shares . For example, Goldman Sachs economists estimated the tariffs, if implemented, would increase U.S. core PCE inflation by 0.9%. Meanwhile, Mexico's president warned the country would retaliate if Trump followed through with his 25% across-the-board tariff, a move her government warned could kill 400,000 U.S. jobs. With tariffs as a continued specter, major Asian indexes posted mixed sessions on Wednesday. Japan's Nikkei (.N225) , opens new tab ended lower, with automakers leading the losses, amid concerns about the impact of Trump's tariff plans and a stronger yen. But key China equity gauges gained more than 1%, as data showed a less sharp decline in the country's industrial profits and traders bet that Beijing will provide stimulus to counter risks from the U.S. tariffs. In India, a Reuters poll of equity analysts found that equity markets will take time to recover from their recent sell-off because they remain overvalued, with last week's Adani indictments only adding to the pain. Beyond the U.S., central bank policy was in focus elsewhere globally. New Zealand's central bank cut rates on Wednesday for a third time in four months, and flagged more substantial easing. The Bank of Korea is up next. The BOK is expected to keep its key policy rate at 3.25% on Thursday to support the Korean won against a strong U.S. dollar, according to a Reuters poll of economists, who forecast at least three rate cuts next year. The end of the week is expected to bring more eventful data in Asia, with GDP figures due in India and Taiwan on Friday, along with Tokyo CPI data. "Black Friday" -- the day after Thanksgiving -- also marks the unofficial start of U.S. holiday shopping season . The extent to which inflation-challenged shoppers flock to deals will be of interest to markets, with consumer spending making up more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity. Here are key developments that could provide more direction to markets on Thursday: - Bank of Korea monetary policy meeting - Australia capex data (Q3) - Germany CPI (Nov) Sign up here. Reporting by Lewis KrauskopfEditing by Bill Berkrot Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab
NoneThe Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb for the rest of the season after the star wideout played through a shoulder injury for nearly two months. Lamb initially sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder on Nov. 3 but has not missed any of the Cowboys' first 15 games this season. "Additional examinations and scans this week on CeeDee Lamb's shoulder have determined that his injury has now progressed to a point that he will be listed as ‘Out' for the remaining two games of the season," a team spokesperson said in a statement to media outlets. "He will undergo a process of treatment and rehabilitation for his shoulder, is not currently expected to require surgery and is projected to make a full recovery." The Cowboys (7-8), eliminated from playoff contention, face two division rivals to close the season. They visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday and will host the Washington Commanders in Week 18. Lamb, 25, hauled in 101 receptions for 1,194 yards and six touchdowns this season. It marked his fourth straight 1,000-yard season, and he may be selected to a fourth straight Pro Bowl for his efforts. Lamb signed a four-year, $136 million contract extension in August, covering the 2025-28 seasons. --Field Level Media
xefstock The Drop Adds Up Almost 15% For The Month, But It's Not A Bargain For Me It’s no surprise that Kura Sushi ( NASDAQ: KRUS ) is going through some growing pains right now. Along with these pains came a pullback Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. 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. 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.
Nagpur: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday unveiled an ambitious 100-day action plan aimed at driving sustainable development, leveraging technology, and enhancing citizen-centric governance. At a high-level review meeting held at Mumbai's Sahyadri Guest House, Fadnavis proposed the establishment of a carbon credit company to incentivise green practices and advocated adopting the Miyawaki plantation method to promote urban greenery. Emphasising the importance of effective governance, Fadnavis directed all departments to focus on delivering measurable outcomes within 100 days. He had spoken about holding such a meeting during his first media briefing in Nagpur on Wednesday, stating that it was a part of his agenda. "There is a need for citizen-centric initiatives, leveraging technology for seamless implementation and focusing on sustainable growth to ensure Maharashtra remains a leader in progress," he said. The CM stressed the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and information technology (IT) to address critical issues, particularly human-wildlife conflicts. "There is a need for the establishment of a Rapid Rescue Force, equipped with advanced training, to handle such emergencies swiftly," he said. Fadnavis also highlighted the importance of sustainable forestry practices, calling for permanent tree plantation programmes to instil a culture of environment conservation. "With the rising population of leopards in the state, there is a need to relocate some of them to wildlife sanctuaries in other states and expand the capacity of leopard rescue centres," he suggested. Turning his focus to rural development, Fadnavis urged the agriculture department to prioritise farmer-centric schemes and ensure timely execution. "We need to leverage modern technology to improve agricultural productivity and profitability," he said. On the education front, the CM emphasised the need to attract foreign universities to set up campuses in Maharashtra. "The higher and technical education department should attract foreign universities to establish educational campuses, positioning the state as a global education hub," he said. The review meeting also included presentations by secretaries of various departments, outlining their respective 100-day action plans. Key proposals included enhancing disaster management systems, modernising infrastructure, and improving service delivery mechanisms. Fadnavis reiterated his govt's commitment to achieving transformative changes through well-defined strategies and effective implementation. "With a focus on technology, sustainability, and inclusivity, the 100-day action plan aims to bring transformative changes, making governance more responsive and impactful," he said. The meeting was attended by chief secretary Sujata Saunik, additional chief secretary to CM Vikas Kharge, principal secretary Ashwini Bhide, planning department additional chief secretary Rajgopal Deora, and other senior officials. Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India . Don't miss daily games like Crossword , Sudoku , Location Guesser and Mini Crossword .Goodman Group shines among Australian property firms on data-centre push
Yusei Kikuchi helps the Angels, but he can’t be their big offseason move: Law - The Athletic - The Athletic
( MENAFN - GlobeNewsWire - Nasdaq) NEW YORK, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Wolfspeed, Inc. (“Wolfspeed” or the“Company”) (NYSE:WOLF) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Wolfspeed securities between August 16, 2023 to November 6, 2024, both dates inclusive (the“Class Period”). Investors have until January 17, 2025 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Click here to participate in the action. According to the complaint, defendants provided the public with revenue projections that depended on Wolfspeed's Mohawk Valley fabrication facility ramping its production to meet and/or exceed demand for its 200mm wafer product. On November 6, 2024, Wolfspeed announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 and unveiled guidance for the second quarter well below expectations. While defendants had repeatedly claimed that 20% utilization of the Mohawk Valley fabrication facility would result in $100 million revenue out of the facility, defendants now guided to a range 30% to 50% below that mark. The Company attributed its results and lowered guidance to "demand ... ramp[ing] more slowly than we originally anticipated" as "EV customers revise their launch time lines as the market works though this transition period." Investors and analysts reacted immediately to Wolfspeed's revelation. The price of Wolfspeed's common stock declined dramatically. From a closing market price of $13.71 per share on November 6, 2024, Wolfspeed's stock price fell to $8.33 per share on November 7, 2024, a decline of about 39.24% in the span of just a single day. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Wolfspeed shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore by email at ... , telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form . There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit . Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact Information: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Brandon Walker, Esq. Marion Passmore, Esq. (212) 355-4648 ... MENAFN26122024004107003653ID1109033706 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.