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Donald Trump pays tribute to Jimmy Carter after death despite nasty insult just months agoHistory has been kind to Jimmy Carter in a way the present never was during his one term as US president. His four years were dogged by economic "stagflation", which began during the term of his predecessor Richard Nixon, and America's stumbles on foreign policy. The surprise 1980 landslide loss to Ronald Reagan was deemed a referendum on Carter's leadership. Voters had daily reminders that their commander in chief was unable to free the dozens of Americans held captive in an embassy in the Iranian capital, Tehran. The enduring myth that Carter failed to act was strengthened by the fact the release of the hostages came after his departure from the White House. But when the crisis began 444 days earlier, no-one could have anticipated how long it would last, and how it would shape American politics. The fall of the Shah of Iran The seeds of the hostage crisis were planted in the chaos of Iran's Islamic Revolution. Iran and the United States had been on friendly terms while Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the Shah of Iran — the country's royal ruler. The Shah came to the throne in Tehran during World War II and his power in the oil-rich country was shored up in the 1950s after the US and UK backed a coup to depose the country's democratically elected prime minister. Carter hosted a state dinner for the Shah and his wife at the White House in November 1977 and, in turn, the Shah entertained Carter in Tehran on New Year's Day in 1978. But over the ensuing year, the Shah faced violent unrest at home as religious leader Ayatollah Khomeini returned from exile to overthrow the autocrat. The Shah fled to Egypt on January 16, 1979, and a month later the government collapsed. In October, the Shah arrived in New York to undergo surgery, angering Khomeini and his supporters, who demanded he be returned to stand trial. Khomeini called for a "purge" of "American-loving rotten brains", and encouraged activist students to "expand their attacks" against the US and Israel, America's major ally in the Middle East. The 52 hostages On November 4, 1979, hundreds of Iranian students breached the gates of the US embassy in Tehran. They quickly occupied the compound. Some had intended a peaceful sit-in, but the situation deteriorated rapidly. The armed mob took 66 Americans hostage. Consular employee Robert C Ode, who at 65 was the oldest person taken captive, recalled in his diary that the students tied his hands behind his back so tightly with nylon cord that it cut off the circulation. I strongly protested the violation of my diplomatic immunity, but these protests were ignored. Some students attempted to talk with us, stating how they didn't hate Americans — only our US government, President Carter, etc. We were not permitted to talk to our fellow hostages and from then on our hands were tied day and night and only removed while we were eating or had to go to the bathroom. Six American diplomats were able to avoid capture and spent three months hiding in the Canadian and Swedish embassies — their rescue would later be the plot of the 2012 movie Argo . About the same time as the US embassy was occupied, the British embassy was also stormed by Iranian students, but they left after several hours. Khomeini condoned the occupation of the embassies, threatening to do "whatever is necessary" to bring the Shah back for trial and force Britain to hand over exiled prime minister Shapour Bakhtiar. Two weeks later, on Khomeini's orders, the demonstrators freed five women and eight black men. Non-American hostages were also freed. Another American hostage was released on July 11, 1980 due to illness. The remaining 52 were moved around the compound constantly, handcuffed, beaten, tortured and forced to undergo mock executions at gunpoint. Operation Eagle Claw ends in disaster Carter took significant steps to sanction Iran in the first few months of the hostage crisis. He froze Iranian assets, stopped importing oil from Iran and expelled 183 Iranian diplomats from the US. Fifty thousand Iranian students in America were also told to report to the nearest immigration office and warned they would be deported if they were found to be in violation of the terms of their visas. But the militants didn't relent, and threatened to burn the embassy and kill the hostages if the US attempted any military action against Iran. Carter's actions worked in Khomeini's favour as he sought to free Iran from America's control and use his supreme powers to roll out Islamic doctrine. At 1am on April 25, 1980, the White House revealed it had attempted a military operation to rescue the hostages, known as Operation Eagle Claw. But the operation had failed: eight US servicemen were dead and several others injured. The rescuers got nowhere near the embassy — the mission was aborted when three of the eight helicopters suffered various equipment failures. As they withdrew from the rendezvous point in the desert, one of the helicopters collided with a transport plane, killing crew on both aircraft. Their bodies were taken to the embassy in Tehran, where they were put on display during a press conference. Iran arranged for them to be returned to the US the following month. A post-White House legacy Carter took full responsibility for the failed rescue attempt. With the hostages' lives at stake, he couldn't risk another military operation in Iran, and had to walk the slow diplomatic path to secure their freedom. Stephen Loosley from the United States Studies Centre at Sydney University says news coverage of the crisis was extensive for a time when media didn't run 24/7. "Both [US news anchors] Ted Koppel and Walter Cronkite would keep a laser-like focus on the hostage crisis," Mr Loosley says. "They'd keep the number of hostages up on the screen every night, and the number of days that the hostages had been incarcerated. "Americans never really lost sight of the fact that their people were imprisoned in a very hostile environment in Tehran." On July 27, 1980, the Shah died in a Cairo military hospital. The return of his wealth to Iran became a key part of the agreement to free the hostages, known as the Algiers Accords. The accords were signed on January 19, 1981, the day before Carter was due to leave the White House. He'd lost the November 1980 election to Republican candidate Ronald Reagan, a former Hollywood actor and governor of California. The hostages were meant to be released while Carter was still president, but a delay meant they were freed in the first few hours of Reagan's administration on January 20. "The Iranians refused to give Carter the satisfaction of saying the hostages were released on his watch," Mr Loosley says. "Ronald Reagan is viewed as the president who secured the release of the hostages, because of the timing." In the next decade, Reagan would be credited with playing a major role in ending the Cold War, while Carter faded into relative obscurity Carter described the Iran hostage crisis as "the most difficult period of my life". The hostages themselves were traumatised by the ordeal and spent more than 30 years fighting for compensation, which was granted in 2015. Mr Loosley says Americans look more favourably on what Carter did after his time in the White House. The Carter Center, a not-for-profit set up by Carter and his wife Rosalynn in 1982, worked to improve human rights and health worldwide. One of its greatest achievements was the near-eradication of Guinea worm disease, caused by a water-borne parasite. The Carters also built homes with social housing organisation charity Habitat for Humanity. "He's looked upon with a fair amount of affection and respect," Mr Loosley said. "Unfortunately his presidency is seen as somewhat of a low point in in the post-war period because of the Iran hostage crisis." ABC

ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 30th Dec, 2024) ADNEC Group has announced its collaboration with Tawazun Council as a strategic partner to organise the largest edition of International Defence Exhibition (IDEX) and Naval Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX), which will be held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, 17th to 21st 2025 at the ADNEC Centre in . This partnership underscores Tawazun Council and ADNEC Group's shared commitment to advancing the ’s vision of becoming a leading global for defence, security, and advanced sectors. It also aims to provide a strategic platform that brings together decision-makers, experts, and leaders to showcase the latest innovations and technologies shaping the future of defence and security. Saeed Al Mansoori, Advisor for Defence Exhibitions at Capital Events, part of ADNEC Group, said, “We are proud of our partnership and collaboration with Tawazun Council in organising the 17th edition of IDEX and the 8th edition of NAVDEX 2025. This strategic collaboration is a testament to our collective commitment to positioning as a global capital of innovation and excellence in the defence and security sector, and a leading city in organising and hosting major specialised international events.” “We are working closely with our partners to ensure an exceptional experience for the 2025 edition, which will feature the largest participation in history. The two exhibitions will host the highest number of participants, experts, and leaders around the , coming together to develop innovative solutions that will drive the growth of the defence and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the ," he added. Mona Ahmed Al Jabber, Chief Corporate Communication Officer at Tawazun Council, emphasised that IDEX and NAVDEX are key milestones in the global defence exhibition sector. She highlighted how these events showcase significant advancements in defence and , while demonstrating the outstanding professionalism of the organisers and the extensive efforts dedicated to delivering an exceptional edition. These efforts draw the attention of the international community, leading companies, specialists, and decision-makers, further solidifying the 's role as a global for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). “We are proud to look ahead to the 2025 edition of IDEX and NAVDEX, organised by ADNEC Group in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and Tawazun Council. This strategic partnership shows Tawazun Council’s commitment to supporting defence and security exhibitions. It also reflects the strength of national partnerships and the collaboration between stakeholders to achieve the ’s ambitious goals in this important field, fostering international cooperation, attracting high-value investments, and driving sustainable development in defence and ,” she added. The exhibitions will witness innovative programs, including IDEX Next-Gen, a platform dedicated to global start-ups, and IDEX Think , which will bring together international defence and security experts to discuss the challenges and innovations shaping the sector. Other key features include the IDEX and NAVDEX Dialogues, which will convene policymakers, thought leaders, and futurists to explore cutting-edge technologies and innovations that are defining the future of the . The 16th edition of IDEX and the 7th edition of NAVDEX in 2023 were highly successful, attracting 132,507 participants. The exhibitions featured 41 international pavilions and included 1,353 exhibitors 65 countries.Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes officeBanana Cellular Solutions Commemorates Eight Years of Service in Nutley, New Jersey 12-27-2024 10:40 PM CET | Associations & Organizations Press release from: ABNewswire Trusted provider of mobile device repairs and accessories marks brand milestone. B [ https://bananacellsolutions.com/]anana Cellular Solutions [ https://bananacellsolutions.com/ ] proudly announces its eight-year anniversary as a leading mobile device service provider in Nutley, New Jersey. This milestone reflects the company's ongoing commitment to delivering trusted and reliable repairs, mobile device accessories, and expert consultations to customers throughout the region. With an emphasis on quality and efficient turnaround times, Banana Cellular Solutions has established itself as a go-to destination for phone, tablet, and computer maintenance. In addition to its extensive technical expertise, Banana Cellular Solutions is a New Jersey Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certified business-an accomplishment that reflects the company's adherence to state-regulated standards and expands its opportunities to serve both the public and private sectors. This certification highlights the company's dedication to supporting local economic growth and further underscores its commitment to delivering trustworthy, high-quality services to the community. The company has also been officially recognized by Google for its consistent high ratings with customers. In its continued effort to provide convenient and affordable solutions, Banana Cellular Solutions prioritizes exceptional service, knowledgeable technicians, and a welcoming atmosphere. From screen and battery replacements to water damage restorations, the company is equipped to handle a wide variety of issues for smartphones, tablets, and laptops. While serving customers from Nutley and its neighboring communities for the last eight years, Banana Cellular Solutions has built its reputation on a personalized approach that demonstrates care and professionalism. This focus on reliability and customer satisfaction has led to strong word-of-mouth recommendations and a growing clientele. According to the management team at Banana Cellular Solutions, the company's friendly motto, "Whoops! It's ok. We can fix that!" underscores their central mission of offering reassuring, effective repairs. Beyond their in-person services, the business also carries a broad selection of device accessories, enabling customers to protect and personalize their phones and tablets. In addition, Banana Cellular Solutions provides customers with valuable smart device training and consultation, ensuring that individuals of all technical backgrounds feel empowered to use their technology confidently. Customers from across New Jersey continue to share positive experiences that highlight the company's knowledgeable staff and efficient repairs. One satisfied customer, Jill, enthusiastically stated, "I had a fantastic experience at Banana Cellular Solutions. I brought in my phone for repair, and the service was outstanding from start to finish. The staff were incredibly knowledgeable and transparent, explaining the entire process to me in detail. Not only did they repair my phone quickly, but they also went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfect before handing it back. The customer service was top-notch, and I left feeling very satisfied with the repair quality and the overall experience. I highly recommend them for any phone repair needs!" As Banana Cellular Solutions celebrates eight years of success, the company reaffirms its dedication to becoming the preferred destination for mobile device repair throughout the state of New Jersey, with plans to expand to neighboring areas in the future. By continuously offering practical, high-quality services, the organization remains committed to helping customers stay connected to their favorite devices. For more information visit https://bananacellsolutions.com [ https://bananacellsolutions.com/ ]. About Banana Cellular Solutions Banana Cellular Solutions is a Nutley, New Jersey-based mobile device repair service specializing in smartphones, tablets, and computers. Established eight years ago, the company places a strong emphasis on reliable repairs, high-quality parts, and exceptional customer service. From screen and battery replacements to comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, Banana Cellular Solutions ensures that customers receive efficient and affordable support for all their device needs. Media Contact Company Name: Banana Cellular Solutions Contact Person: Roy Howson Jr. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=banana-cellular-solutions-commemorates-eight-years-of-service-in-nutley-new-jersey ] Phone: (973) 922-0095 Country: United States Website: https://bananacellsolutions.com This release was published on openPR.

President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a “political resolution” to the issue. The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk. “President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act’s deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case,” said Trump’s amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump’s choice for solicitor general. The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table. Trump has also reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the app during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger voters, especially male voters, by pushing content that was often macho and aimed at going viral. He said earlier this year that he still believed there were national security risks with TikTok, but that he opposed banning it. This month, Trump met with TikTok CEO Shou Chew at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The filings Friday come ahead of oral arguments scheduled for Jan. 10 on whether the law, which requires TikTok to divest from its China-based parent company or face a ban, unlawfully restricts speech in violation of the First Amendment. Earlier this month, a panel of three federal judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously upheld the statute , leading TikTok to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. The brief from Trump said he opposes banning TikTok at this junction and “seeks the ability to resolve the issues at hand through political means once he takes office.” In their brief to the Supreme Court on Friday, attorneys for TikTok and its parent company ByteDance argued the federal appeals court erred in its ruling and based its decision on “alleged ‘risks’ that China could exercise control” over TikTok’s U.S. platform by pressuring its foreign affiliates. The Biden administration has argued in court that TikTok poses a national security risk due to its connections to China. Officials say Chinese authorities can compel ByteDance to hand over information on TikTok’s U.S. patrons or use the platform to spread or suppress information. But the government “concedes that it has no evidence China has ever attempted to do so,” TikTok’s legal filing said, adding that the U.S. fears are predicated on future risks. In its filing Friday, the Biden administration said because TikTok “is integrated with ByteDance and relies on its propriety engine developed and maintained in China,” its corporate structure carries with it risk.

Peterson 0-2 0-2 0, Pierce 7-13 6-9 20, Harvey 0-3 0-0 0, Mincy 5-11 0-0 12, Stewart 4-9 2-2 11, Scott 4-8 3-4 11, King 4-5 1-2 10, Parrish 1-2 0-0 3, Pettaway 0-1 0-0 0, Wilson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-54 12-19 67. Dynes 1-1 0-1 2, Farmer 4-10 1-2 10, Galette 2-11 0-0 5, Harper 5-8 0-1 12, Nelson 1-4 0-0 3, Carroll 1-6 3-4 5, Maxey 1-8 0-1 3, Uijtendaal 1-5 0-0 2, Kirkland 0-4 0-0 0, Wilkerson 0-2 0-0 0, DePante 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 16-59 4-9 42. Halftime_Presbyterian 28-16. 3-Point Goals_Presbyterian 5-11 (Mincy 2-5, Parrish 1-1, King 1-2, Stewart 1-2, Harvey 0-1), Youngstown St. 6-27 (Harper 2-3, Nelson 1-2, Farmer 1-3, Galette 1-4, Maxey 1-6, Kirkland 0-1, Uijtendaal 0-2, Wilkerson 0-2, Carroll 0-4). Rebounds_Presbyterian 35 (Pierce 9), Youngstown St. 32 (Kirkland 6). Assists_Presbyterian 11 (Peterson, Mincy, Pettaway 2), Youngstown St. 7 (Harper 2). Total Fouls_Presbyterian 13, Youngstown St. 14. A_103 (7,203).

Shopping on Temu can feel like playing an arcade game. Instead of using a joystick-controlled claw to grab a toy, visitors to the online marketplace maneuver their computer mouses or cellphone screens to browse colorful gadgets, accessories and trinkets with prices that look too good to refuse. A pop-up spinning wheel offers the chance to win a coupon. Rotating captions warn that a less than $2 camouflage print balaclava and a $1.23 skeleton hand back scratcher are “Almost sold out.” A flame symbol indicates a $9.69 plush cat print hoodie is selling fast. A timed-down selection of discounted items adds to the sense of urgency. Pages from the Shein website, left, and from the Temu site, right. Welcome to the new online world of impulse buying, a place of guilty pleasures where the selection is vast, every day is Cyber Monday, and an instant dopamine hit is always just a click away. People are also reading... By all accounts, we’re living in an accelerating age for consumerism, one that Temu, which is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, and Shein, its fierce rival , supercharged with social media savvy and an interminable assortment of cheap goods, most shipped directly from merchants in China based on real-time demand. The business models of the two platforms, coupled with avalanches of digital or influencer advertising, have enabled them to give Western retailers a run for their money this holiday shopping season. A Christmas tree ornament purchased on Temu. Software company Salesforce said it expects roughly one in five online purchases in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada to be made through four online marketplaces based or founded in Asia: Shein, Temu, TikTok Shop — the e-commerce arm of video-sharing platform TikTok — and AliExpress. Analysts with Salesforce said they are expected to pull in roughly $160 billion in global sales outside of China. Most of the sales will go to Temu and Shein, a privately held company which is thought to lead the worldwide fast fashion market in revenue. Lisa Xiaoli Neville, a nonprofit manager who lives in Los Angeles, is sold on Shein. The bedroom of her home is stocked with jeans, shoes, press-on nails and other items from the ultra-fast fashion retailer, all of which she amassed after getting on the platform to buy a $2 pair of earrings she saw in a Facebook ad. Neville, 46, estimates she spends at least $75 a month on products from Shein. A $2 eggshell opener, a portable apple peeler and an apple corer, both costing less than $5, are among the quirky, single-use kitchen tools taking up drawer space. She acknowledges she doesn’t need them because she “doesn’t even cook like that.” Plus, she’s allergic to apples. “I won’t eat apples. It will kill me,” Neville said, laughing. “But I still want the coring thing.” Is it safe to shop on Temu? Here are 5 scams to avoid on the popular online shopping platform Shein, now based in Singapore, uses some of the same web design features as Temu’s, such as pop-up coupons and ads, to persuade shoppers to keep clicking, but it appears a bit more restrained in its approach. Shein primarily targets young women through partnerships with social media influencers. Searching the company's name on video platforms turns up creators promoting Shein's Black Friday sales event and displaying the dozens of of trendy clothes and accessories they got for comparatively little money. But the Shein-focused content also includes videos of TikTokers saying they're embarrassed to admit they shopped there and critics lashing out at fans for not taking into account the environmental harms or potential labor abuses associated with products that are churned out and shipped worldwide at a speedy pace. Neville has already picked out holiday gifts for family and friends from the site. Most of the products in her online cart cost under $10, including graphic T-shirts she intends to buy for her son and jeans and loafers for her daughter. All told, she plans to spend about $200 on gifts, significantly less than $500 she used to shell out at other stores in prior years. “The visuals just make you want to spend more money,” she said, referring to the clothes on Shein's site. “They're very cheap and everything is just so cute.” Can AI chatbots make your holiday shopping easier? Unlike Shein, Temu's appeal cuts across age groups and gender. The platform is the world’s second most-visited online shopping site, software company Similarweb reported in September. Customers go there looking for practical items like doormats and silly products like a whiskey flask shaped like a vintage cellphone from the 1990s. Temu advertised Black Friday bargains for some items at upwards of 70% off the recommended retail price. Making a purchase can quickly result in receiving dozens of emails offering free giveaways. The caveat: customers have to buy more products. Despite their rise, Temu and Shein have proven particularly ripe for pushback. Last year, a coalition of unnamed brands and organizations launched a campaign to oppose Shein in Washington. U.S. lawmakers also have raised the possibility that Temu is allowing goods made with forced labor to enter the country. More recently, the Biden administration put forward rules that would crack down on a trade rule known as the de minimis exception, which has allowed a lot of cheap products to come into the U.S. duty-free. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to slap high tariffs on goods from China, a move that would likely raise prices across the retail world. Both Shein and Temu have set up warehouses in the U.S. to speed up delivery times and help them better compete with Amazon, which is trying to erode their price advantage through a new storefront that also ships products directly from China. The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50 Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more 2024 Christmas TV Guide: When to watch Rudolph, Charlie Brown and other holiday favorites The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.

Trump asks Supreme Court to delay TikTok ban so he can weigh in after he takes officeShopping on Temu can feel like playing an arcade game. Instead of using a joystick-controlled claw to grab a toy, visitors to the online marketplace maneuver their computer mouses or cellphone screens to browse colorful gadgets, accessories and trinkets with prices that look too good to refuse. A pop-up spinning wheel offers the chance to win a coupon. Rotating captions warn that a less than $2 camouflage print balaclava and a $1.23 skeleton hand back scratcher are “Almost sold out.” A flame symbol indicates a $9.69 plush cat print hoodie is selling fast. A timed-down selection of discounted items adds to the sense of urgency. Pages from the Shein website, left, and from the Temu site, right. Richard Drew, Associated Press Welcome to the new online world of impulse buying, a place of guilty pleasures where the selection is vast, every day is Cyber Monday, and an instant dopamine hit is always just a click away. People are also reading... By all accounts, we’re living in an accelerating age for consumerism, one that Temu, which is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, and Shein, its fierce rival, supercharged with social media savvy and an interminable assortment of cheap goods, most shipped directly from merchants in China based on real-time demand. The business models of the two platforms, coupled with avalanches of digital or influencer advertising, have enabled them to give Western retailers a run for their money this holiday shopping season. A Christmas tree ornament purchased on Temu. Haleluya Hadero, Associated Press Software company Salesforce said it expects roughly one in five online purchases in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada to be made through four online marketplaces based or founded in Asia: Shein, Temu, TikTok Shop — the e-commerce arm of video-sharing platform TikTok — and AliExpress. Analysts with Salesforce said they are expected to pull in roughly $160 billion in global sales outside of China. Most of the sales will go to Temu and Shein, a privately held company which is thought to lead the worldwide fast fashion market in revenue. Lisa Xiaoli Neville, a nonprofit manager who lives in Los Angeles, is sold on Shein. The bedroom of her home is stocked with jeans, shoes, press-on nails and other items from the ultra-fast fashion retailer, all of which she amassed after getting on the platform to buy a $2 pair of earrings she saw in a Facebook ad. Neville, 46, estimates she spends at least $75 a month on products from Shein. A $2 eggshell opener, a portable apple peeler and an apple corer, both costing less than $5, are among the quirky, single-use kitchen tools taking up drawer space. She acknowledges she doesn’t need them because she “doesn’t even cook like that.” Plus, she’s allergic to apples. “I won’t eat apples. It will kill me,” Neville said, laughing. “But I still want the coring thing.” Is it safe to shop on Temu? Here are 5 scams to avoid on the popular online shopping platform Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Shein, now based in Singapore, uses some of the same web design features as Temu’s, such as pop-up coupons and ads, to persuade shoppers to keep clicking, but it appears a bit more restrained in its approach. Shein primarily targets young women through partnerships with social media influencers. Searching the company's name on video platforms turns up creators promoting Shein's Black Friday sales event and displaying the dozens of of trendy clothes and accessories they got for comparatively little money. But the Shein-focused content also includes videos of TikTokers saying they're embarrassed to admit they shopped there and critics lashing out at fans for not taking into account the environmental harms or potential labor abuses associated with products that are churned out and shipped worldwide at a speedy pace. Neville has already picked out holiday gifts for family and friends from the site. Most of the products in her online cart cost under $10, including graphic T-shirts she intends to buy for her son and jeans and loafers for her daughter. All told, she plans to spend about $200 on gifts, significantly less than $500 she used to shell out at other stores in prior years. “The visuals just make you want to spend more money,” she said, referring to the clothes on Shein's site. “They're very cheap and everything is just so cute.” Can AI chatbots make your holiday shopping easier? Unlike Shein, Temu's appeal cuts across age groups and gender. The platform is the world’s second most-visited online shopping site, software company Similarweb reported in September. Customers go there looking for practical items like doormats and silly products like a whiskey flask shaped like a vintage cellphone from the 1990s. Temu advertised Black Friday bargains for some items at upwards of 70% off the recommended retail price. Making a purchase can quickly result in receiving dozens of emails offering free giveaways. The caveat: customers have to buy more products. Despite their rise, Temu and Shein have proven particularly ripe for pushback. Last year, a coalition of unnamed brands and organizations launched a campaign to oppose Shein in Washington. U.S. lawmakers also have raised the possibility that Temu is allowing goods made with forced labor to enter the country. More recently, the Biden administration put forward rules that would crack down on a trade rule known as the de minimis exception, which has allowed a lot of cheap products to come into the U.S. duty-free. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to slap high tariffs on goods from China, a move that would likely raise prices across the retail world. Both Shein and Temu have set up warehouses in the U.S. to speed up delivery times and help them better compete with Amazon, which is trying to erode their price advantage through a new storefront that also ships products directly from China. The right book can inspire the young readers in your life, from picture books to YA novels Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50 Game-changing holiday gifts for building fires, printing photos, watching birds and more 2024 Christmas TV Guide: When to watch Rudolph, Charlie Brown and other holiday favorites The business news you need

Shopping on Temu can feel like playing an arcade game. Instead of using a joystick-controlled claw to grab a toy, visitors to the online marketplace maneuver their computer mouses or cellphone screens to browse colorful gadgets, accessories and trinkets with prices that look too good to refuse. A pop-up spinning wheel offers the chance to win a coupon. Rotating captions warn that a less than $2 camouflage print balaclava and a $1.23 skeleton hand back scratcher are “Almost sold out.” A flame symbol indicates a $9.69 plush cat print hoodie is selling fast. A timed-down selection of discounted items adds to the sense of urgency. Pages from the Shein website, left, and from the Temu site, right. Welcome to the new online world of impulse buying, a place of guilty pleasures where the selection is vast, every day is Cyber Monday, and an instant dopamine hit is always just a click away. By all accounts, we’re living in an accelerating age for consumerism, one that Temu, which is owned by the Chinese e-commerce company PDD Holdings, and Shein, its fierce rival , supercharged with social media savvy and an interminable assortment of cheap goods, most shipped directly from merchants in China based on real-time demand. The business models of the two platforms, coupled with avalanches of digital or influencer advertising, have enabled them to give Western retailers a run for their money this holiday shopping season. A Christmas tree ornament purchased on Temu. Software company Salesforce said it expects roughly one in five online purchases in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada to be made through four online marketplaces based or founded in Asia: Shein, Temu, TikTok Shop — the e-commerce arm of video-sharing platform TikTok — and AliExpress. Analysts with Salesforce said they are expected to pull in roughly $160 billion in global sales outside of China. Most of the sales will go to Temu and Shein, a privately held company which is thought to lead the worldwide fast fashion market in revenue. Lisa Xiaoli Neville, a nonprofit manager who lives in Los Angeles, is sold on Shein. The bedroom of her home is stocked with jeans, shoes, press-on nails and other items from the ultra-fast fashion retailer, all of which she amassed after getting on the platform to buy a $2 pair of earrings she saw in a Facebook ad. Neville, 46, estimates she spends at least $75 a month on products from Shein. A $2 eggshell opener, a portable apple peeler and an apple corer, both costing less than $5, are among the quirky, single-use kitchen tools taking up drawer space. She acknowledges she doesn’t need them because she “doesn’t even cook like that.” Plus, she’s allergic to apples. “I won’t eat apples. It will kill me,” Neville said, laughing. “But I still want the coring thing.” Shein, now based in Singapore, uses some of the same web design features as Temu’s, such as pop-up coupons and ads, to persuade shoppers to keep clicking, but it appears a bit more restrained in its approach. Shein primarily targets young women through partnerships with social media influencers. Searching the company's name on video platforms turns up creators promoting Shein's Black Friday sales event and displaying the dozens of of trendy clothes and accessories they got for comparatively little money. But the Shein-focused content also includes videos of TikTokers saying they're embarrassed to admit they shopped there and critics lashing out at fans for not taking into account the environmental harms or potential labor abuses associated with products that are churned out and shipped worldwide at a speedy pace. Neville has already picked out holiday gifts for family and friends from the site. Most of the products in her online cart cost under $10, including graphic T-shirts she intends to buy for her son and jeans and loafers for her daughter. All told, she plans to spend about $200 on gifts, significantly less than $500 she used to shell out at other stores in prior years. “The visuals just make you want to spend more money,” she said, referring to the clothes on Shein's site. “They're very cheap and everything is just so cute.” Unlike Shein, Temu's appeal cuts across age groups and gender. The platform is the world’s second most-visited online shopping site, software company Similarweb reported in September. Customers go there looking for practical items like doormats and silly products like a whiskey flask shaped like a vintage cellphone from the 1990s. Temu advertised Black Friday bargains for some items at upwards of 70% off the recommended retail price. Making a purchase can quickly result in receiving dozens of emails offering free giveaways. The caveat: customers have to buy more products. Despite their rise, Temu and Shein have proven particularly ripe for pushback. Last year, a coalition of unnamed brands and organizations launched a campaign to oppose Shein in Washington. U.S. lawmakers also have raised the possibility that Temu is allowing goods made with forced labor to enter the country. More recently, the Biden administration put forward rules that would crack down on a trade rule known as the de minimis exception, which has allowed a lot of cheap products to come into the U.S. duty-free. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to slap high tariffs on goods from China, a move that would likely raise prices across the retail world. Both Shein and Temu have set up warehouses in the U.S. to speed up delivery times and help them better compete with Amazon, which is trying to erode their price advantage through a new storefront that also ships products directly from China. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.NoneUnrivaled, the new 3-on-3 women's basketball league launching this winter, signed LSU star guard Flau'jae Johnson to a name, image and likeness deal. Johnson is the second college player to ink an agreement with Unrivaled, following UConn's Paige Bueckers. They won't be participating in the upcoming inaugural season, but Johnson and Bueckers will have equity stakes in the league. Unrivaled dropped a video on social media Thursday showing Johnson -- who also has a burgeoning rap career -- performing a song while wearing a shirt that reads, "The Future is Unrivaled." The deal will see Johnson create additional promotional content for the league. Johnson, 21, was a freshman on the LSU team that won the 2023 national championship. Now in her junior year, Johnson is averaging career highs of 22.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game through 10 games for the No. 5 Tigers (10-0). She ranks eighth in Division I in scoring. Johnson has career averages of 14.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 82 career appearances (80 starts) for LSU. --Field Level Media

Air Canada to bar carry-on bags for lowest-fare customersWashington to retire Kelsey Plum's No. 10Jimmy Carter, the self-effacing peanut farmer, humanitarian and former navy lieutenant who helped Canada avert a nuclear catastrophe before ascending to the highest political office in the United States, died Sunday at his home in Georgia. He was 100, making him the longest-lived U.S. president in American history. Concern for Carter's health had become a recurring theme in recent years. He was successfully treated for brain cancer in 2015, then suffered a number of falls, including one in 2019 that resulted in a broken hip. Alarm spiked in February 2023, however, when the Carter Center — the philanthropic organization he and his wife Rosalynn founded in 1982 — announced he would enter hospice care at his modest, three-bedroom house in Plains, Ga. Rosalynn Carter, a mental health advocate whose role as presidential spouse helped to define the modern first lady, predeceased her husband in November 2023 — a death at 96 that triggered a remembrance to rival his. "Rosalynn was my equal partner in everything I ever accomplished," the former president said in a statement after she died. "As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me." Conventional wisdom saw his single White House term as middling. But Carter's altruistic work ethic, faith-filled benevolence and famous disdain for the financial trappings of high office only endeared him to generations after he left politics in 1981. "The trite phrase has been, 'Jimmy Carter has been the best former president in the history of the United States,'" said Gordon Giffin, a former U.S. ambassador to Canada who sits on the Carter Center's board of trustees. "That grated on him, because it distinguished his service as president from his service — and I literally mean service — as a former president." His relentless advocacy for human rights, a term Carter popularized long before it became part of the political lexicon, included helping to build homes for the poor across the U.S. and in 14 other countries, including Canada, well into his 90s. He devoted the resources of the Carter Center to tackling Guinea worm, a parasite that afflicted an estimated 3.5 million people in the developing world in the early 1980s and is today all but eradicated, with just 13 cases reported in 2022. And he was a tireless champion of ending armed conflict and promoting democratic elections in the wake of the Cold War, with his centre monitoring 113 such votes in 39 different countries — and offering conflict-resolution expertise when democracy receded. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, nearly a quarter-century after his seminal work on the Camp David Accords helped pave the way for a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt in 1979, the first of its kind. "His presidency got sidelined in the historic evaluation too quickly, and now people are revisiting it," Giffin said. "I think his standing in history as president will grow." A lifelong Democrat who never officially visited Canada as president, Carter was nonetheless a pioneer of sorts when it came to Canada-U.S. relations and a close friend to the two Canadian prime ministers he served alongside. One of them, former Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark, once called Carter a "pretty good Canadian" — a testament to the former commander-in-chief's authenticity and centre-left politics, which always resonated north of the Canada-U.S. border. The pair were reunited in 2017 at a panel discussion in Atlanta hosted by the Canadian American Business Council, and seemed to delight in teasing the host when she described Clark as a "conservative" and Carter as a "progressive." "I'm a Progressive Conservative — that's very important," Clark corrected her. Piped up Carter: "I'm a conservative progressive." In 2012, the Carters visited Kingston, Ont., to receive an honorary degree from Queen's University. Instead of a fancy hotel, they stayed with Arthur Milnes, a former speech writer, journalist and political scholar who'd long since become a close friend. "He became my hero, believe it or not, probably when I was about 12," said Milnes, whose parents had come of age during the Cold War and lived in perpetual fear of the ever-present nuclear threat until Carter took over the White House in 1977. "My mother never discussed politics, with one exception — and that was when Jimmy Carter was in the White House. She'd say, 'Art, Jimmy Carter is a good and decent man,'" Milnes recalled. "They always said, both of them, that for the first time since the 1950s, they felt safe, knowing that it was this special man from rural Georgia, Jimmy Carter, who had his finger on the proverbial button." While Richard Nixon and Pierre Trudeau appeared to share a mutual antipathy during their shared time in office, Carter got along famously with the prime minister. Indeed, it was at the express request of the Trudeau family that Carter attended the former prime minister's funeral in 2000, Giffin said. "The message I got back was the family would appreciate it if Jimmy Carter could come," said Giffin, who was the U.S. envoy in Ottawa at the time. "So he did come. He was at the Trudeau funeral. And to me, that said a lot about not only the relationship he had with Trudeau, but the relationship he had in the Canada-U.S. dynamic." It was at that funeral in Montreal that Carter — "much to my frustration," Giffin allowed — spent more than two hours in a holding room with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, a meeting that resulted in Carter visiting Cuba in 2002, the first former president to do so. But it was long before Carter ever entered politics that he established a permanent bond with Canada — one forged in the radioactive aftermath of what might otherwise have become the country's worst nuclear calamity. In 1952, Carter was a 28-year-old U.S. navy lieutenant, a submariner with a budding expertise in nuclear power, when he and his crew were dispatched to help control a partial meltdown at the experimental Chalk River Laboratories northwest of Ottawa. In his 2016 book "A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety," Carter described working in teams of three, first practising on a mock-up of the reactor, then on the real thing, in short 90-second bursts to avoid absorbing more than the maximum allowable dose of radiation. "The limit on radiation absorption in the early 1950s was approximately 1,000 times higher than it is 60 years later," he wrote. "There were a lot of jokes about the effects of radioactivity, mostly about the prospect of being sterilized, and we had to monitor our urine until all our bodies returned to the normal range." That, Carter would later acknowledge in interviews, took him about six months. Carter and Clark were both in office during the so-called "Canadian Caper," a top-secret operation to spirit a group of U.S. diplomats out of Iran following the fall of the U.S. embassy in Tehran in 1979. The elaborate ploy, which involved passing the group off as a Canadian science-fiction film crew, was documented in the Oscar-winning 2012 Ben Affleck film "Argo." Carter didn't think much of the film. "The movie that was made, 'Argo,' was very distorted. They hardly mentioned the Canadian role in this very heroic, courageous event," he said during the CABC event. He described the true events of that escapade as "one of the greatest examples of a personal application of national friendship I have ever known." To the end, Carter was an innately humble and understated man, said Giffin — a rare commodity in any world leader, much less in one from the United States. "People underestimate who Jimmy Carter is because he leads with his humanity," he said. "I read an account the other day that said the Secret Service vehicles that are parked outside his house are worth more than the house. How many former presidents have done that?" This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec, 29, 2024. James McCarten, The Canadian Press