Georgia quarterback Carson Beck announces plan to enter NFL draft after season-ending elbow injuryNEW HOPE, Pa. — Dayle Haddon, an actor, activist and trailblazing former “Sports Illustrated” model who pushed back against age discrimination by reentering the industry as a widow, has died in a Pennsylvania home from what authorities believe was carbon monoxide poisoning. Authorities in Bucks County found Haddon, 76, dead in a second-floor bedroom Friday morning after emergency dispatchers were notified about a person unconscious at the Solebury Township home. A 76-year-old man police later identified as Walter J. Blucas of Erie was hospitalized in critical condition. Responders detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the property and township police said Saturday that investigators determined that “a faulty flue and exhaust pipe on a gas heating system caused the carbon monoxide leak.” Two medics were taken to a hospital for carbon monoxide exposure and a police officer was treated at the scene. As a model, Haddon appeared on the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the 1973 Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. She also appeared in about two dozen films from the 1970s to 1990s, according to IMDb.com, including 1994’s “Bullets Over Broadway,” starring John Cusack. Haddon left modeling after giving birth to her daughter, Ryan, in the mid-1970s, but then had to reenter the workforce after her husband's 1991 death. This time she found the modeling industry far less friendly: “They said to me, ‘At 38, you’re not viable,’” Haddon told The New York Times in 2003. Working a menial job at an advertising agency, Haddon began reaching out to cosmetic companies, telling them there was a growing market to sell beauty products to aging baby boomers. She eventually landed a contract with Clairol, followed by Estée Lauder and then L’Oreal, for which she promoted the company's anti-aging products for more than a decade. She also hosted beauty segments for CBS’s “The Early Show.” "I kept modeling, but in a different way," she told The Times, “I became a spokesperson for my age.” In 2008, Haddon founded WomenOne, an organization aimed at advancing educational opportunities for girls and women in marginalized communities, including Rwanda, Haiti and Jordan.' Haddon was born in Toronto and began modeling as a teenager to pay for ballet classes — she began her career with the Canadian ballet company Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, according to her website . Haddon's daughter, Ryan, said in a social media post that her mother was “everyone’s greatest champion. An inspiration to many.” “A pure heart. A rich inner life. Touching so many lives. A life well lived. Rest in Light, Mom,” she said.slot game apk 。

Sezzle (NASDAQ:SEZL) Shares Up 5.3% – Still a Buy?Georgia quarterback Carson Beck on Saturday announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery . Beck, a fifth-year senior, made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. The procedure was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles. Beck is expected to begin throwing next spring. He could have returned for a sixth season but instead will enter the NFL draft. Beck posted on Instagram: “The past five years at the University of Georgia have been nothing short of a dream come true and I will forever cherish the memories that have been made.” Gunner Stockton, who took over for Beck in the second half against Texas, will start for Georgia on Wednesday in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Beck has started every game of the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He was 24-3 as a starter. Beck passed for 3,941 yards with 24 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2023 but had more difficulties with turnovers this season as he passed for 28 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He completed 7 of 13 passes for 56 yards before his injury in the SEC championship game. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Big Ten surprises IPS School 106 with new media centerNEW YORK (AP) — If you're planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you're not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they'll make at least one resolution for 2025. There's some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren't expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year's Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn't usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he's got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Every New Year's also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they'll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they'll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods' resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it's to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be at Wrigley Field on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Sanders reported from Washington.Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs David Lammy has hailed the bold economic reforms of Dr Manmohan Singh as a legacy which continues to shape modern India. In a social media tribute to the former prime minister who was cremated in New Delhi on Saturday, David Lammy also credited Singh for laying the foundations of the "thriving" bilateral partnership between India and the UK. "Dr Manmohan Singh's bold economic reforms transformed India's economy," Mr Lammy said in a post on X on Friday evening. "His legacy continues to shape modern India, and his vision laid the foundations for today's thriving UK-India partnership. My deepest condolences to his family and the Indian people," he said. Manmohan Singh, who was prime minister between 2004 and 2014 and finance minister before that, has been widely hailed the world over as the architect of India's economic liberalisation. He died aged 92 and was laid to rest with full state honours in a ceremony attended by leading political dignitaries and included a 21-gun salute. Following his death on Thursday night, the government declared seven days of national mourning. Earlier, British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron took to social media to pay tribute to "a great Prime Minister, Finance Minister and global statesman who advanced India's interests through bold economic reforms and played a key role in putting India in its rightful place on the world stage and stabilising the global economy after the financial crisis". "The UK will always be proud of his invaluable partnership with three UK Prime Ministers, and proud of him as an alumnus of two of our great universities. My thoughts and wishes are with his family and the people of India," she said. Dr Singh's tenure overlapped with Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and Conservative David Cameron, who later wrote in his memoir that he "got on well" with this "saintly man" who was robust on the threats India faced. "On a later visit he told me that another terrorist attack like that in Mumbai in July 2011, and India would have to take military action against Pakistan," notes the former UK PM in 'For the Record', published in 2019. The Guardian' newspaper referenced Dr Singh's "trademark sky-blue turbans and home-spun white kurta pyjamas" in its obituary. "Singh, called India's 'reluctant prime minister' due to his shyness and preference for being behind the scenes, was considered an unlikely choice to lead the world's biggest democracy. But when Congress leader Sonia Gandhi led her party to a surprise victory in 2004, she turned to Singh to be prime minister," the newspaper notes. The BBC, in its obituary, hailed Dr Singh as one of India's longest-serving prime ministers who was considered the "architect of key liberalising economic reforms, as premier from 2004-2014 and before that as finance minister". "In his maiden speech as finance minister he famously quoted Victor Hugo, saying that 'no power on Earth can stop an idea whose time has come'. That served as a launchpad for an ambitious and unprecedented economic reform programme: he cut taxes, devalued the rupee, privatised state-run companies and encouraged foreign investment," reads the report. (This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world

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The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5 , the first to ride Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks . NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they're fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: "We're just on a different path." "I like everything about being up here," Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. "Just living in space is super fun." Both astronauts lived up there before, so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. "Mindset does go a long way," Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first graders in October. He's from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. "I don't look at these situations in life as being downers." Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. "When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams was "invaluable" in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said it is preparing for Starliner's next flight but declined to comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. "Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission," NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, had to deal with "rumors," as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday's student chat, Williams said she didn't have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she's "super hungry" and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod's 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. "Hopefully I'll be home before that happens — but you never know," she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he's missing his younger daughter's senior year in high school and his older daughter's theater productions in college. "We can't deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together," his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband "has it worse than us" since he's confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. "We are certainly looking forward to February!!" she wrote.

Trump’s pick for Treasury secretary shows there’s a limit to Elon Musk’s influenceEU rules requiring all new smartphones, tablets and cameras to use the same charger came into force on Saturday, in a change Brussels said will cut costs and waste. Manufacturers are now obliged to fit devices sold in the 27-nation bloc with a USB-C, the port chosen by the European Union as the common standard for charging electronic tools. "Starting today, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, speakers, keyboards and many other electronics sold in the EU will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C charging port," the EU Parliament wrote on social media X. The EU has said the single charger rule will simplify the life of Europeans and slash costs for consumers. By allowing consumers to purchase a new device without a new charger, it will also reduce the mountain of obsolete chargers, the bloc has argued. The law was first approved in 2022 following a tussle with US tech giant Apple. It allowed companies until December 28 this year to adapt. Makers of laptops will have extra time, from early 2026, to also follow suit. Most devices already use these cables, but Apple was more than a little reluctant. The firm said in 2021 that such regulation "stifles innovation", but by September last year it had begun shipping phones with the new port. Makers of electronic consumer items in Europe had agreed on a single charging norm from dozens on the market a decade ago under a voluntary agreement with the European Commission. But Apple, the world's biggest seller of smartphones, refused to abide by it and ditch its Lightning ports. Other manufacturers kept their alternative cables going, meaning there were about half a dozen types knocking around, creating a jumble of cables for consumers. USB-C ports can charge at up to 100 Watts, transfer data up to 40 gigabits per second, and can serve to hook up to external displays. At the time of its approval, the commission said the law was expected to save at least 200 million euros ($208 million) per year and cut more than a thousand tonnes of EU electronic waste every year. "It's time for THE charger," the European Commission wrote on X on Saturday. "It means better-charging technology, reduced e-waste, and less fuss to find the chargers you need." ub/giv

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Fans of the Real Housewives franchise might get to see some new faces on a new show sooner than they think. While several installments of the beloved franchise are in various stages of production, rumors are swirling that the network is also planning something new. According to social media sleuths, a new state might be represented on Bravo very soon. Andy Cohen tells fans to “stay tuned” for more ‘The Real Housewives’ news Earlier this month, Andy Cohen refused to say whether another Real Housewives series was in the works. Despite his non-committal answer during a Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen After Show , his words seem to suggest something could be brewing. At the very least, his “stay tuned” comment feels more positive than comments he’s made about the possibility in the past. Cohen might be keeping a secret. It’s possible he seems more optimistic now because a new series is already in the works. At the very least, rumors are swirling that the network is already working on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island . Rumors suggest ‘The Real Housewives of Rhode Island’ is in the works Neither Bravo nor Andy Cohen have announced a new Real Housewives installment. Still, rumors are swirling that the network has assembled a cast for The Real Housewives of Rhode Island . WJAR , a local Rhode Island news outlet, reported on the rumor this week. According to the media outlet, insiders claim Bravo has been speaking to prominent Rhode Island residents for two reality shows they plan to film in the state. One of those shows, reportedly, is a new installment of The Real Housewives . A Reddit user who claims to be connected to the production alleges Ashley Iaconetti, a member of Bachelor Nation, is in talks to appear. The user also claims Bravo has approached a Rhode Island resident who has a connection to Olivia Culpo. The pausing of two installments could mean the timing is right While we don’t have official word on a new installment just yet, the timing feels right. After all, Bravo has always been dedicated to representing a variety of regions in the franchise. They have recently paused two installments, which could leave room for a new city to be represented. Season 2 of The Real Housewives of Dubai wrapped in September, but there are no plans for another season of the show at the moment. The network’s first attempt at an international city was rife with problems, and it seems probable that a third season won’t be made. The network has also opted to pause The Real Housewives of New Jersey . Executives are trying to figure out the best path forward amid serious cast strife. News on the iconic installment won’t come for many months, claims Cohen. The hole in programming does present an interesting opportunity for a new cast and a new city. For now, only time will tell.Australian Privacy Law Amendments and Social Media Age Restrictions Enacted

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CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hit the six-month mark in space Thursday with two more to go. The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5, the first to ride Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they're fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: "We're just on a different path." "I like everything about being up here," Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. "Just living in space is super fun." Both astronauts lived up there before, so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. "Mindset does go a long way," Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first graders in October. He's from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. "I don't look at these situations in life as being downers." Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. "When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year," NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free said. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams was "invaluable" in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said it is preparing for Starliner's next flight but declined to comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. "Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission," NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, had to deal with "rumors," as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday's student chat, Williams said she didn't have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she's "super hungry" and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod's 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. "Hopefully I'll be home before that happens — but you never know," she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he's missing his younger daughter's senior year in high school and his older daughter's theater productions in college. "We can't deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together," his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband "has it worse than us" since he's confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. "We are certainly looking forward to February!!" she wrote.

Adani Enterprises Ltd’s share has potential upside of 57.8 pc in 24 months: Ventura SecuritiesBuilding on previous successful engagements, both parties will collaborate to understand the national e-marketplace for procurement initiative, increase SME participation, and strengthen payment infrastructure. Additionally, Visa and FPT will explore innovative solutions for digitalizing municipal services, such as exploring solutions to expand access to finance and equip SMEs with business credit cards for better cash flow management . This collaboration will foster ongoing cooperation and innovation in the public sector. “This enhanced collaboration underscores our shared commitment to accelerating Vietnam’s digital transformation within the public sector and fostering greater financial inclusion,” said Ms. Dung Dang, Visa Country Manager of Vietnam and Laos . “By leveraging our combined expertise and technology , we aim to create a more efficient, transparent, and inclusive digital ecosystem for government services and businesses across Vietnam.” “For more than three decades, FPT has been a pioneer in innovation, providing technology products and solutions that drive the development of businesses and society worldwide. The collaboration with Visa marks a significant milestone, enabling us to combine the expertise and experience of both parties to continue bringing technological advancement to advance digital transformation and cashless payment in Vietnam within the public sector, healthcare, education, social welfare, and so on. Thereby realizing FPT’s mission of fostering national prosperity through innovation and scientific & technological advancement,” said Mr. Vu Anh Tu, Chief Technology Officer of FPT Corporation . Visa and FPT Corporation will leverage their resources to support project implementation and business expansion in Vietnam. This collaboration is a testament to Visa’s commitment to supporting the nation’s digital transformation and push towards a cashless society. Hashtag: #Visa #FPTCorporation #VisaGovernmentSolutions #SME https://www.visa.com.vn/en_VN/about-visa/newsroom.html https://www.linkedin.com/company/visa https://www.facebook.com/visavn The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive. We believe economies that include everyone uplifts everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com . FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT service provider headquartered in Vietnam. FPT operates in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. During over three decades of development, FPT has constantly provided practical and effective products to millions of people and tens of thousands of business and non-business organizations worldwide, establishing Vietnam’s position on the global tech map. Keeping up with the latest market trends and emerging technologies, FPT has developed the Made-by-FPT ecosystem of services, products, solutions, and platforms, which enables sustainable growth for organizations and businesses and offers distinctive experiences to customers.DAKAR (AP) – For the artistic and cultural elites of Senegal, the month-long Dakar Biennale of Contemporary African Arts is a celebratory moment. Every two years, hundreds of artists, curators and art lovers from across the world descend on the West African capital to attend the event, which was founded in 1989 by the Senegalese government and has over the decades become one of the most important showcases on the continent. Pop-up exhibitions are held in hundreds of venues, from stylish five-star hotels to local art galleries. Roads are even more crowded than usual, with traffic jams stretching out for miles along the Corniche, the city’s picturesque seaside boulevard. Every night, there are music concerts, fashion shows, talks with artists and movie screenings held against the backdrop of palm trees. But it wasn’t until this year that the local artisans in the Soumbedioune crafts market, just off the Corniche and at the doorstep on the Medina working-class neighbourhood, realised what the Biennale was. For years, “we saw the OFF signs, but we didn’t know what was going on,” said Ndiouga Dia, a 48-year-old leatherworker from Soumbedioune, referring to a series of events organised in parallel to the official government program, scattered all over the city. “Only the artists knew among themselves what was going on.” ABOVE & BELOW: President of the Soumbedioune craftsmen’s association Ndiouga visits the ‘rebondir’ exhibition in Soubedioune, Senegal; and jeweller Moussa Diop works on a bronze hippopotamus in his workshop. PHOTO: AP PHOTO: AP Woodcarver Papis Kanté sculpts a wooden hippopotamus. PHOTO: AP A woman walks through the Soubedioune craft market in Dakar. PHOTO: AP Craftsmanship is deeply rooted in the country’s culture. Senegal, like most African nations, has little capacity for industrial production and traditionally much of its economy has relied on locally produced goods. For centuries, craftsmen played a central role in Senegalese social life, sculpting religious statues and ceremonial masks, sewing boubous (traditional colourful wide-sleeved robes), moulding pottery and weaving baskets. But these days, their role is in decline. As living costs rise, many Senegalese opt for cheaper, often Asian products. And those that can afford it buy Western clothes and furniture to mark their social status. So when two designers approached Dia, who is also the community leader of the Soumbedioune artisans, with a proposal for a joint exhibition, he didn’t hesitate for a second. It felt good to be noticed and included, Dia said. Designers Kemi Bassène and Khadim Ndiaye asked five artisans – a sculptor, a painter, a jeweller, a leatherworker and a upholsterer – to interpret the theme of ‘hippo’. They chose the theme because it was easily recognisable across Africa, they said, bringing together people from different nations who live next to the water. The exhibition, held in the central square of Soumbedioune, surrounded by artisanal boutiques and restaurants selling thieboudienne, the most famous Senegalese dish, has been a hit among locals. There are hippo earrings and a hippo necklace; a giant wooden sculpture of a sleeping hippo; and a hippo-shaped bag. Papise Kanté, a 45-year-old sculptor who created two wooden hippo statues for the exhibition, said it allowed him to tap into a more creative part of his work, instead of just producing objects that he intended to sell. “I have been sculpting since I was a young child,” said Kanté, who comes from a long line of sculptors. “Every artist wants to get better.” But it also gave his work recognition. “It’s because of the Biennale that people know my work,” he said. If you participate in the Biennale, he added, “you are proud”. Bassène, the curator, grew up in Medina, next to Soumbedioune, but is now based in Paris. He said he wanted to bridge the divide between arts and crafts. “This is the first time in the history that artisans, especially those who are custodians of traditional craftsmanship, are invited to the Biennale,” Bassène said. “For craftsmen in Africa, there is a natural progression towards the world of modern design.” It was “normal”, he said, to include artisans in the Biennale “if we wanted to try to decolonise a little”. This year’s Biennale is being held as Senegal is undergoing profound political change, with the newly elected authorities charting a more self-reliant and pan-African course. Last month, the governing party, PASTEF, secured a resounding victory in legislative elections. Its win granted President Bassirou Diomaye Faye a clear mandate to carry out ambitious reforms promised during the campaign to improve living conditions for ordinary Senegalese – including greater economic self-reliance, revamping the fishing industry and making maximum use of natural resources. The theme of this year’s Biennale has been ‘The Wake’, alluding to the emancipation of the African continent from its remaining dependence on former colonial powers. The new government of Senegal has “a transformational agenda”, said Bassène. “I think that what we have experienced politically will impact all the social sciences and all art.”

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As sunrise of 2025 begins to light the horizon, now is the time to look back on the year about to end and become reminded of what has transpired. There is no better way to do that in this day of advanced technology than to look through the photos taken on a smartphone, all conveniently dated and in order. Scanning through the hundreds of pictures with a 2024 date helps me recall that it has been a full year. JANUARY: The year started in a wonderful way as we ventured to the frozen streets of Chicago to be present for the birth of our eighth grandchild. We welcomed Levi into the world, spent time with his siblings and got to enjoy more than enough snow for the year. There was the added experience of dressing for sub-zero temperatures – something that thankfully is not part of our South Carolina winters. FEBRUARY: Mid-month found our front garden filled with blooming daffodils, a sure sign that spring is not far away. The warmth of that season is preferable to the frost of winter. Unfortunately, memories of a year are not always warm and happy. This month also saw the loss of my older brother, David, who left us on Leap Day. While his departure left us filled with sadness, we are left with many happy memories of times past. MARCH: I normally think of baseball as a summer sport, but several friends and I went to a University of South Carolina game at North Augusta’s stadium. With perfect seats just a few rows behind home plate, we watched Carolina come out victorious. APRIL: This month brought us a visit from our 8-year-old granddaughter Livvy and also a trip for us to Hahira, Georgia, to take her home. Few things in life are more uplifting for a grandfather than getting to spend time with family. MAY: This was a busy month. We were on hand as our oldest grandson Carter graduated from Carolina and prepared for his next step in life. I also visited the campus the following week with my best friend as we strolled around recalling our time at USC. Later in the month, two friends and I went to Atlanta and took in a Braves game from the front row of a section in left-center field. We had a great time, but the Braves lost. JUNE: Another busy month. Granddaughter Hadley graduated from Fort Mill High School. Livvy came for another stay, and we went to her favorite place – Eudora Farms near Salley. That’s where the animals come right up to the car window, stick their heads in and wait to be fed. As Livvy always says, “Remember, DON’T FEED THE ZEBRAS!” We then made a quick trip to Chicago which is preferable when there is no snow and the temperatures are more comfortable. There I had my all-time best score in the dice-rolling game Yahtzee. In one game I rolled four Yahtzees and had a score of 544 which came on the heels of a score of 148. JULY: This month that represents independence found us in France on our Fourth of July as well as on that country’s Bastille Day. Mary Lou and I took the trip to celebrate our 52nd anniversary, and what an amazing time it was on a river cruise down the Rhone. In the biggest surprise of the trip, we ran into across-the-aisle pew neighbors Carolyn and Billy Tyler while at the Louvre. The boat trip was filled with wonderful scenes and fabulous food – but what does one expect from a trip to France? AUGUST: This was a relaxing month as I prepared for new classes at USC Aiken and summer began to wane. We took another trip to Hahira to see grandson Josh play in the first football game of his senior season. His team won 41-7. SEPTEMBER: Helene. OCTOBER: Cleanup. And another trip to Hahira for Josh’s Senior Night. His team won 38-7. That was the same weekend that Livvy turned 9 and got a trip to Disney World – her thrill of a lifetime (so far!). NOVEMBER: This time it was a drive to Statesboro, Georgia, for the championship game for Josh’s team. Unfortunately, they lost 19-15. Despite that sporting setback, there was lots to be thankful for as we celebrated Thanksgiving with our Fort Mill daughter and family. And what a feast it was! Two turkeys, two types of dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, collards, brown rice and four kinds of pies. All homemade. DECEMBER: The month started with Helene pile pickups on our street, a welcome sight indeed. Mary Lou had her annual Christmas season dinner for the ladies of her church circle – 17 in all along with the delicious food they brought. My pool-shooting pals and I were hosted to a special luncheon by sharpshooter Jim Mathis. Wonderful food, wonderful friends and I wonder if I’ll ever get better at this game! Christmas at Fripp with family, and all of a sudden, the year is over. Check the photos on your phone for reminders of the past 12 months. Happy New Year!

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