winph 99 800 Million People Living With Sexually Transmitted InfectionNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The right frame can freeze a moment in time, creating meaning for the masses from a fist pump over a bloodied ear , a bridge crumbled by a ship , towns shredded by nature , and a victory sealed with an on-field kiss . In 2024, photographers across the U.S. captured glimpses of humanity, ranging from a deeply divisive presidential election , to hurricanes and fires that ravaged communities, to campus protests over the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The gallery from The Associated Press illustrates a new chapter of political history — the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump , the moment President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run again , the campaign sprint by Vice President Kamala Harris in Biden’s place, and the raw emotion from voters during a grueling contest ultimately won by Trump . Related Articles Hurricanes whipped through the country with devastating imagery, leaving a path of wreckage and death from Florida to Appalachia . After Hurricane Helene , Lake Lure in North Carolina was shown in a jarring photo covered in shards of debris thick enough to hide the surface of the water. Hurricane Milton ripped apart the roof of Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays. The scale of destruction experienced in some corners of the country in 2024 was hard to capture and might have been harder to fathom. That was the case when a container ship slammed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing it to collapse and crumple around the vessel, killing construction workers on the bridge. As flames torched the landscape in California , another image captured firefighters and sheriff’s deputies pushing a vintage car away from a burning home. Elsewhere in California , one photo is aglow with bright orange flames, broken up only by the subtle features of an animal running through them. But hope also persevered in the face of devastation. In Helene’s aftermath , an image from Crystal River, Florida, shows Dustin Holmes holding hands with his girlfriend, Hailey Morgan, as they sloshed through floodwaters with her 4- and 7-year-old children to return to their flooded home. And in Manasota Key, Florida, a family was lit up by the glow of flashlights as they walked to check on their home damaged by Milton. Other photos from 2024 also grabbed the darkness and shadows to emphasize light: among them, a rocket liftoff and a total solar eclipse . And, yes, eclipse glasses were back in style for a shared moment of skygazing. But many other photos delivered a blast of color, from the spectrum of the northern lights across a Maine sky to a crew of workers wading into the deep-red of a Massachusetts cranberry bog . And, once again, Taylor Swift captured the country’s attention, even as a part of the crowd. She rushed down from the stands to kiss her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, after the Chiefs won the AFC Championship , en route to another Super Bowl win.A Jeju Air flight from Bangkok to South Korea, with 181 people on board, crashed during landing on Sunday, leaving 179 dead and only two survivors rescued from the wreckage. Officials said a Boeing 737-800, operated by low-cost carrier Jeju Air, was warned of a bird strike by the control tower during its first landing attempt at Muan airport, after departing from Bangkok around 9:00 am (0000 GMT). Moments later, the pilot declared a “mayday” and tried to land again. Footage captured the plane attempting a belly landing, its landing gear still retracted. Dramatic footage shows the plane skidding along the runway, trailing smoke, before crashing into a wall at the end and bursting into flames . All 175 passengers and four of the six crew members on board were killed in the crash. The passengers, aged three to 78, were all Korean apart from two Thais, authorities said. Rescue workers rescued two survivors, flight attendants aged 25 and 33, from the wreckage. What caused the accident? Investigations have begun, with officials focusing on a potential bird strike and adverse weather as possible causes. “It really has to be a series of catastrophic events that led to such a high loss of life,” aviation consultant Philip Butterworth-Hayes told AFP. “Crash protection systems on board are extremely robust,” he said, describing the disaster as “the most serious incident I've seen” in recent years. When asked whether the runway might be too short , one official said this was likely not a factor. "The runway is 2,800 metres long," or 9,200 feet, “and similar-sized aircraft have been operating on it without issues,” the official said. Both black boxes -- the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder -- have been recovered, deputy transport minister Joo Jong-wan said. What is a bird strike? A bird strike -- a collision between a bird and an aircraft in flight -- can be hazardous to aircraft. Jets can lose power if birds are sucked into their air intakes, according to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency. Bird strikes have caused a number of fatal accidents globally. “We're looking at substantial birds hitting an engine, and that is, as we know, very rare,” said Butterworth-Hayes. He mentioned the famous "Miracle on the Hudson" incident in 2009, when a US Airways Airbus A320 was forced to ditch in New York's Hudson River after a bird strike damaged both of its engines. All aboard managed to escape. Hundreds of firefighters, emergency responders, and military personnel were deployed to the Muan airport area, with the acting president declaring it a special disaster zone. Meanwhile, family members, many in tears, waited on the airport's first floor. What is government's response? The accident occurred with South Korea in the throes of a political crisis that began when then-president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, days before being impeached. Acting President Choi Sang-mok, on his third day in office, convened an emergency meeting with cabinet members Sunday and visited the crash scene. With AFP inputs

I can’t sugarcoat how progressives feel at the close of 2024: rough. President-elect Donald Trump won back the White House with a campaign that was bigoted and fascist. And from President Joe Biden’s backing of Israel’s ghastly war in Gaza to his ill-fated decision to seek reelection, progressives aren’t celebrating his tenure, either. The next few years will see an onslaught of challenges. If you look closely, you’ll see signs people aren’t just going to roll over and accept it. Here are five that caught my eye. The American public has had it with economic elites. Union activity has been on an upswing for a few years, with union petition filings in 2024 significantly up over 2023. After a successful national strike in 2023, the United Auto Workers won an election in Tennessee this year, a significant breakthrough in the traditionally anti-union South. And more Amazon warehouse workers and drivers are pushing to join. Meanwhile, communities in places such as Wisconsin fought back against a private-equity takeover of nursing care. And nationally, widespread anger exploded over the greed of health insurance companies. Trump likes to play a populist on TV. But if he moves to slash workers’ rights, cut taxes for CEOs and erode access to health care, he’ll have a fight. The movement for a ceasefire in Gaza drew support from a vast, diverse coalition of young people — with additional support from faith communities, unions, environmentalists and others who’d previously stayed “in their lane.” They haven’t succeeded yet. But they’ve won broad, bipartisan public support for a ceasefire, an arms embargo on Israel and, more generally, foreign policy informed by human rights. Democratic politicians, in particular, won’t be able to avoid this issue. Temperatures continue to rise. Natural disasters worsen, and our leaders fail us on climate. The Biden administration’s signature climate law, the Inflation Reduction Act, is unleashing record investments in green jobs, fueling unprecedented growth in renewable power. Meanwhile, Indigenous-led efforts are quietly reintroducing species to their natural habitats. The more local support initiatives such as these win, the harder they’ll be to reverse. One of the worst moments of the 2024 campaign was the ridiculous slander of Haitian Americans in Springfield, Ohio, by Trump, and other right-wingers. Springfield natives turned out to support their Haitian neighbors. Locals flocked to Haitian restaurants, churches and community centers to show their solidarity. The lesson is that, while hardline immigration measures can attract support in the abstract, people feel differently when they realize members of their communities could be affected. Progressives should defend their immigrant neighbors without apology. They may win some unlikely allies if they stand up for what’s right. Forget “red states” and “blue states” — there’s support for progressive ideas in all 50 states. Just look at the election. Several conservative states passed ballot measures to raise the minimum wage, guarantee paid leave, protect abortion access and liberalize marijuana laws. Once you filter out the noise around candidates and ask people about progressive policies directly, even “red state” voters tend to support them. The key is to make candidates run on those policies — without watering them down. Our politics are a mess. But the U.S. isn’t lost — only our leaders are. When Americans organize around our common decency, it will be a lot harder for bullies such as Trump to walk over us. Certo is the communications director of the Institute for Policy Studies. He wrote this for InsideSources.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!

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WASHINGTON D.C., DC — Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived American president died Sunday – more than a year 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. President Joe Biden gave an address Sunday evening from a hotel in the U.S. Virgin Islands where he's on a holiday vacation with his family. "Millions of people all over the world feel like they've lost a friend as well, even without meeting him," said Biden. "(He was) someone who embodied the most human values we can never let slip away... He really believed everyone deserved a shot." The president and First Lady Jill Biden are among the many Americans mourning the loss Sunday, also putting out a joint statement honoring the late Carters. “Today, America and the world lost an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian,” they said in a statement . “He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe. He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism. We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together.” Their statement continued to recognize the work Carter did for the country and encouraged "young people" in the country to study Carter and his life if they're in "search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning." 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 father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights and unselfish love,” said Chip Carter, the former president’s son, in a statement . “My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs.” President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Rosalynn, and one grandchild, according to the Carter Center . “We will miss them both dearly, but take solace knowing they are reunited once again and will remain forever in our hearts,” said Jill and Joe Biden. “To the entire Carter family, we send our gratitude for sharing them with America and the world.” President-elect Donald Trump took to his social media website Truth Social to offer the family his condolences and remember Carter. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude," he said. "Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers." In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday's” but added that the late former president “will never be far away — buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said it is a testament to his "unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end," they said in a statement . The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said. Biden issued an official state funeral to be held in Washington D.C. for James Earl Carter, Jr., 39th President of the United States, 76th Governor of Georgia, Lieutenant of the United States Navy, graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and favorite son of Plains, Georgia, who gave his full life in service to God and country.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who passed away last week, embodied a calm resilience and nonchalance that was diametrically opposed to the chaos and high-pitched clamour representative of national politics. As the chief cartographer of India's economic reforms roadmap, Singh unshackled the country from the chains of the Licence Raj, threw open the floodgates of liberalisation, and pulled it back from the brink of catastrophe when even its gold reserve was pledged. The unassuming, erudite, and soft-spoken scholar has been described as the midwife of India's emergence as one of the world's leading economic powerhouses. To place his contribution into context, examine a period in our economic history when terminologies like GDP, forex reserves, bourses and per capita income growth weren't part of the common citizen's lexicon. During his stint as Finance Minister, between 1991-92 to 1995-96, he helped propel the economy from a near stagnation growth rate of 1.4% to a high growth trajectory of 7.3%. Similarly, during his prime ministerial tenure, the nation witnessed an unprecedented five years of over 7% GDP growth which in turn led to a never before over 6% annual jump in the average Indian's income. Between 2005-06 and 2007-08, India witnessed a growth rate in excess of 9%. Between June 1991 and June 1996, the country's foreign exchange reserves also witnessed a 5x rise — from $4.7 bn to $22.1 bn. A triple jump in annual rate of poverty decline during the UPA years (2004-05 to 2011-12) as compared to the previous decade — from 0.74% in 1993-94 to 2004-05 to 2.18% in the 2004-05 to 2011-12 period, also underscored how Singh's attempts to sync the economy with the dreams of a billion Indians were bearing fruit. His reforms in 1991 included the fearsome devaluation of the rupee from Rs 21 against the dollar to Rs 25 in two stages. Liberalisation of the trade policy entailed abolishing of export subsidies, ending the monopoly of state trading companies. The revamp of the industrial policy ended licensing for most sectors, opening up to FDI of up to 51% via automatic route in 34 sectors. Under Singh's guidance, the Controller of Capital Issues, the Indian market's regulatory authority, was abolished and Sebi was given statutory powers. Principles of social justice and inclusive growth formed the bedrock of Singh's revolutionary reforms — thanks to legislations like the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Right to Education Act, 2009; the Special Economic Zones Act, 2005; and the National Food Security Act, 2013 and the MGNREGA. The Congress leader, who steered the country as PM for 10 years from 2004-2014, also notched up several achievements on the foreign policy front, as part of presenting a picture of a newer, headstrong India to the world. He was at the helm of the civil nuclear deal with the US that trumpeted India's long awaited arrival on the international arena. The deal permitted New Delhi to carry out nuclear commerce without signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Mind you, Singh had even risked his own prime ministerial perch on account of defending the nuke deal, as an indispensable pillar of the UPA, the CPM had threatened to quit the alliance on this matter, and delivered on the scare too. Singh’s passing signals the end of an epoch in our polity — of an era when civility and temperance were considered the prerequisites for a life in service of the nation.

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Saturday, November 23, 2024 Gujarat Tourism is hosting two exciting photography contests, providing an exceptional opportunity for enthusiasts to capture and showcase the diverse beauty of the state through their lenses. Launched on November 19, these contests are set to conclude on November 24, drawing both amateur and professional photographers to participate in this unique initiative. The first contest, titled “Hidden Gems of Gujarat – Gujarat Tourism 2025 Calendar” , focuses on unveiling the state’s lesser-known marvels. Participants are encouraged to explore and highlight the hidden treasures that make Gujarat a fascinating destination, from quaint villages and ancient architectural sites to serene landscapes and vibrant cultural hubs. The second contest, “Gujarat: A Bird’s-Eye View” , offers a thrilling challenge to photographers by emphasizing drone photography. This competition aims to capture the state’s iconic landmarks, bustling urban centers, and breathtaking natural vistas from a unique aerial perspective. By presenting Gujarat from the skies, the contest promises to redefine how the state’s beauty is perceived, adding a fresh dimension to its visual narrative. Winners of both contests will have their photographs featured in the Gujarat Tourism 2025 Calendar , a prestigious platform that celebrates the state’s visual grandeur. Additionally, their works will gain widespread recognition through Gujarat Tourism’s official social media channels, further amplifying their artistic contributions. These contests aim to inspire a deeper appreciation for Gujarat’s charm while providing a significant platform for budding and seasoned photographers alike. Beyond the Competition: Nurturing a Culture of Art and Tourism This initiative not only highlights Gujarat’s physical beauty but also underscores the state’s commitment to promoting art and tourism in harmony. By blending photography with travel, the contests invite participants and viewers to rediscover Gujarat through fresh perspectives. Moreover, the campaigns help foster a sense of pride and connection among residents while showcasing Gujarat as an attractive destination for tourists worldwide. This collaborative approach between art, technology, and tourism positions Gujarat as a forward-thinking state, celebrating creativity and its multifaceted cultural heritage.Mbappe, Vinicius and Bellingham on target as Real Madrid beats Atalanta 3-2. Liverpool wins againGeorgia quarterback Carson Beck has been ruled out for the second half of Saturday's SEC Championship Game against Texas after being injured on the final play of the first half. Texas' Trey Moore forced a fumble on Beck's pass attempt, appearing to injure the Georgia quarterback's throwing arm. Beck remained motionless on the field for a short time before joining the team in the locker room. Coach Kirby Smart told ESPN at halftime that Beck was done for the day. During the third quarter, Beck was seen with ice on his right elbow. Beck completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards and was sacked once before exiting. Georgia backup Gunner Stockton entered and led Georgia on a 10-play, 75-yard opening second-half drive, giving the Bulldogs their first lead at 10-6. Bulldogs punter Brett Thorson injured his left knee in the third quarter and was ruled out of the contest. He was taken off on a cart. --Field Level Media