WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration is urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of those as young as 18. A senior Biden administration official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private consultations, said Wednesday that the outgoing Democratic administration wants Ukraine to lower the mobilization age to 18 from the current age of 25 to expand the pool of fighting-age men available to help a badly outnumbered Ukraine in its nearly three-year-old war with Russia. The official said “the pure math” of Ukraine's situation now is that it needs more troops in the fight. Currently Ukraine is not mobilizing or training enough soldiers to replace its battlefield losses while keeping pace with Russia's growing military, the official added. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia's February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. But with time running out, the Biden White House is also sharpening its viewpoint that Ukraine has the weaponry it needs and now must dramatically increase its troop levels if it's going to stay in the fight with Russia. White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett in a statement said the administration will continue sending Ukraine weaponry but believes “manpower is the most vital need" Ukraine has at the moment. “So, we’re also ready to ramp up our training capacity if they take appropriate steps to fill out their ranks,” Savett said. The Ukrainians have said they need about 160,000 additional troops to keep up with its battlefield needs, but the U.S. administration believes they probably will need more than that. More than 1 million Ukrainians are now in uniform, including the National Guard and other units. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been hearing concerns from allies in other Western capitals as well that Ukraine has a troop level problem and not an arms problem, according to European officials who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic conversations. The European allies have stressed that the lack of depth means that it may soon become untenable for Ukraine to continue to operate in Russia’s Kursk border region . The situation in Kursk has become further complicated by the arrival of thousands of North Korean troops , who have come to help Moscow try to claw back the land seized in a Ukrainian incursion this year. The stepped-up push on Ukraine to strengthen its fighting ranks comes as Ukraine braces for President-elect Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20. The Republican said he would bring about a swift end to the war and has raised uncertainty about whether his administration would continue the vital U.S. military support for Ukraine. “There are no easy answers to Ukraine’s serious manpower shortage, but lowering the draft age would help,” said Bradley Bowman, senior director of the Center on Military and Political Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "These are obviously difficult decisions for a government and society that has already endured so much due to Russia’s invasion.” Ukraine has taken steps to broaden the pool of draft-eligible men, but the efforts have only scratched the surface against a much larger Russian military. In April, Ukraine’s parliament passed a series of laws, including one lowering its draft-eligible age for men from 27 to 25, aimed at broadening the universe of men who could be called on to join the grinding war. Those laws also did away with some draft exemptions and created an online registry for recruits. They were expected to add about 50,000 troops, far short of what Zelenskyy said at the time was needed. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that he has no plans to lower the mobilization age. A senior Ukrainian official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Ukraine does not have enough equipment to match the scale of its ongoing mobilization efforts. The official said Ukrainian officials see the push to the lower the draft age as part of an effort by some Western partners to deflect attention from their own delays in providing equipment or belated decisions. The official cited as an example the delay in giving Ukraine permission to use longer-range weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory. The Ukrainians do not see lowering the draft age to recruit more soldiers as a substitute for countering Russia’s advantage in equipment and weaponry, the official said. Conscription has been a sensitive matter in Ukraine throughout the war. Russia’s own problems with adequate troop levels and planning early in the war prevented Moscow from taking full advantage of its edge. But the tide has shifted and the U.S. says the Ukrainian shortage can no longer be overlooked. Some Ukrainians have expressed worry that further lowering the minimum conscription age and taking more young adults out of the workforce could backfire by further harming the war-ravaged economy. The senior Biden administration official added that the administration believes that Ukraine can also optimize its current force by more aggressively dealing with soldiers who desert or go absent without leave. AP White House correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed to this report.ARIES (March 21 to April 19) If you're not really in a fun or festive mood, that's OK. Give yourself permission to take it easy and lay low. TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Detach from emotionally charged or draining situations and avoid trying to control others and their behaviour. GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Be mindful of trying to pack too much into a day. Creating a schedule that's easy to stick to can save you valuable time and energy. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Try not to let your emotions drive your decision-making. Take an objective approach. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) You might be feeling noticeably irritable. Set aside some time for self-care. Also, don't take what others say or do too personally since it's probably not about you. VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Stress or nervous tension could be an issue. Connect with someone who makes you feel calm and grounded. LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) It's a good day to avoid the crowds, take a break from social media and put the outside world on hold. There may be more important things that deserve your attention. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) Just because you can do something doesn't always mean you should make it your job or responsibility. Find a more enjoyable activity. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) Consider refraining from sharing unsolicited opinions or advice. Pick and choose your battles wisely. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) If you're feeling uneasy about something, perhaps it's best to discuss it, rather than sweeping it under the rug. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) Someone may try to get a rise out of you. Don't take the bait. PISCES (Feb. 19 to Mar 20) Take care not to overextend yourself or take on more than you can handle. Set good boundaries for yourself. You're versatile and resourceful. You can adapt to any situation or environment. Your unwavering hope and belief in the goodness of the universe allow you to take risks without fear. You're also not afraid to say what's on your mind or share your opinions. Although you may need to be mindful of oversharing. Still, people appreciate you for your witty observations and encouraging attitude. This year, don't discount the power of rest and reflection. It will help you to better identify what's for you and what's not.

5 Key Milestones As The US Space Force Marks 5th Anniversary

No. 24 UCLA is seeking its eighth straight win on Saturday against an Arizona team that is trying to right the ship after dropping four of its last six games. The game is being played in Phoenix, billed as part of the Hall of Fame Series. It's the first meeting between the storied ex-Pac-12 rivals since the conference's collapse last year and will be the first time the teams have met in a nonconference matchup since 1977. UCLA (8-1) is off to a surprisingly hot start after a nightmarish last season. The Bruins have won seven in a row after falling to New Mexico on Nov. 8. They're coming directly off a 73-71 victory over No. 12 Oregon on Sunday on a game-winning 3-pointer by Dylan Andrews with 0.3 seconds remaining. Eric Dailey Jr. led the way with 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting. The Bruins sit at 2-0 in conference play in their first season as a member of the Big Ten. "My analysis early of the Big Ten is that it's so deep," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. "I know it probably always was that way, but now it's deeper. You've just got to get better. "I also coach at UCLA where we get the most titles and (have been to) the second-most finals. I didn't come to UCLA to win regular-season games. For us, it's about progression and getting better. "We were able to win (against Oregon) but I thought we got a lot better. We came together. We got more cohesive. The guys played with confidence." Tyler Bilodeau leads UCLA in scoring and rebounding, averaging 13.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Bilodeau played his first two collegiate seasons at Oregon State, although his maiden voyage at UCLA is only his second season as a regular starter. Dailey, a transfer from Oklahoma State, doesn't trail too far behind in either category, averaging 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. USC transfer Kobe Johnson leads the Bruins with 3.2 assists while also tallying 7.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. The Wildcats (4-4) are in the midst of a dreadful start, needing a 102-66 win over Southern Utah to nurse themselves back to .500. Before that, Arizona was just one for its last five. The Wildcats are winless against fellow power-conference opponents, suffering double-digit losses to Wisconsin and Duke. Arizona also absorbed a five-point loss to Oklahoma and a seven-point overtime loss to West Virginia at the Battle 4 Atlantis. "Great programs are going to stumble once in a while," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. "The response is the key. Learning from it and coming back stronger is the objective and that's the challenge. We obviously have been challenged early in the season. "(The emphasis needs to be on) Arizona basketball, because here's the deal: UCLA is a good program. If we go in and all we're worried about is UCLA and we assume that we're going to show up and play well, we're going to get our ass kicked." The Wildcats are led by Caleb Love, who returned for a second season at Arizona and a fifth in college overall after he played his first three seasons at North Carolina. Love is averaging 14.1 points per game on 37.2 percent shooting, down from 18 points per game a season ago. Aside from Love, Arizona has four more players averaging in double figures for the season: Jaden Bradley (12.0 ppg), Trey Townsend (11.3), KJ Lewis (10.3) and Anthony Dell'Orso (10.0). --Field Level MediaFrom revisiting the political scandal that sparked a cultural reckoning in Canberra to a rich-lister’s unravelling, there were no shortage of court battles being waged — or defended — by the top end of town in 2024. We revisit some of the cases that dominated headlines and left us shocked, perplexed, and — at times — even entertained. Brittany Higgins defended a defamation action launched by Senator Linda Reynolds. Credit: Composite image/Holly Thompson Villain or victim? Reynolds v Higgins It was a story of an alleged rape in the halls of Parliament House and a covert political cover-up, and like all “fairytales”, it needed a villain. That was how WA Senator Linda Reynolds’ lawyer Martin Bennett began the five-week-long trial in her defamation suit against former staffer Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, the most high-profile case to go before WA’s civil courts in 2024. The former defence minister sued Higgins over social media posts accusing her of mishandling the former staffer’s alleged rape by Bruce Lehrmann in March 2019 — a claim that was later aired by the media and created a storm that led to Reynolds’ political demise. Higgins fiercely defended the action on the basis her posts were true, but opted against taking the stand at the eleventh hour amid concerns for her health. The trial, which the pair mortgaged and sold their homes to pursue, pored over the events of 2019 in excruciating detail, dragged in high-profile figures — from former prime minister Scott Morrison to broadcaster Peta Credlin — and threw private texts into the public arena we imagine the parties would have preferred to remain private. It also spawned fresh evidence Reynolds now wants to use as a weapon in her bid to have Higgins’ $2.4 million compensation claim probed by the corruption watchdog. Lehrmann has maintained his innocence since his 2022 criminal trial was aborted due to juror misconduct, but a Federal Court judgment found, on the balance of probabilities, that he did rape Higgins. Lehrmann is now appealing that ruling. Justice Paul Tottle is expected to hand down a judgment in the court row in the New Year, but we suspect there won’t be any winners in this saga. Western Australia’s mining dynasty, of which the nation’s richest person Gina Rinehart is the most famous member, was embroiled in a court fight over the rights to the Hope Downs projects in the state’s iron-rich Pilbara region. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Gina Rinehart: 1, Bianca and John: 0 The high-stakes clash over the Hope Downs iron ore project , which pitted Australia’s richest person Gina Rinehart against two mining dynasties and her eldest children, occupied two floors of the Supreme Court for more than six months in 2023. And yet still, there was unfinished business in the battle for the multibillion-dollar asset. The case made headlines again in April, when Rinehart’s eldest children lost an eleventh-hour bid for 82 top secret documents their billionaire mother claimed were protected by legal privilege. The pair, who have been locked in a bitter battle with their mother over mining assets left behind by their pioneer grandfather Lang Hancock, believed the files might aid their pursuit for ownership of Rinehart-led Hancock Prospecting’s sprawling mining tenements in the state’s north-west. But Justice Natalie Whitby ruled the pair had insufficient evidence, lashing the handling of the case and its burden on the public justice system after revealing the court book spanned 6000 pages. “To say that the resources dedicated to these privilege claims was grossly disproportionate to the issues in the dispute is an understatement,” she wrote. Ouch... We’re still awaiting a judgment from Justice Jennifer Smith on the broader row. We hope Justice Smith is not spending the whole festive season “in the area of or contiguous to” her desk and what we imagine is a very lengthy draft judgment. Beleaguered Mineral Resources boss takes on media to keep court row quiet He gained a reputation as the uninhibited billionaire mining boss behind Mineral Resources’ meteoric rise, but it would be what Chris Ellison kept hidden that would be his downfall. Depressed lithium prices, sweeping cost cuts and a debt-laden balance sheet saw Ellison declare it the “shittiest time” to be a managing director in one newspaper interview. Just a few months later, he would announce plans to vacate the top job, undone by an exposé in the Australian Financial Review detailing his involvement in an alleged decade-long tax evasion scheme. But as shareholders were demanding answers and the corporate regulator was beginning its own probe, Ellison’s lawyers were busy fighting to keep the media from undoing sweeping gag orders over documents filed in his now-settled row with a former contracts boss. The documents were central to the two-year court row MinRes, Ellison and self-proclaimed whistleblower Steven Pigozzo had been fighting on several fronts until inking a peace deal in July — which featured explosive allegations of misconduct. While a string of Pigozzo’s claims had been republished by the media, much of the case had been covered by suppression orders which were broadened when both parties asked that more than 16 legal documents be permanently removed from the case file. “The non-publication orders are sought to fortify matters raised previously about allegations that were not just irrelevant but scandalous,” Ellison’s lawyer told the court. WA Health, scientist ink top-secret stem cell patent peace deal She was the face of Royal Perth Hospital’s state-of-the-art cellular therapy facility, the Perth scientist behind a medical invention that saw her wheeled out by the health department’s publicity team to showcase its life-changing research. That was until the day of Dr Marian Sturm’s retirement in 2021, when the health service dragged her to court demanding compensation and that the licence agreement for the invention be torn up. The three-year medicine ownership battle came to an abrupt end in March after the East Metropolitan Health Service and Sturm’s company Isopogen inked a top-secret peace deal. The lawsuit centred around intellectual property rights to an improved method of manufacturing mesenchymal stromal cells used to treat inflammatory illnesses, which Sturm developed in 2007 and registered in her name and that of her capital-raising vehicle Isopogen. Sturm’s relationship with the EMHS soured amid claims she had breached her contract by asserting ownership over the medicine, which saw Isopogen, two former employees, the state’s own patents attorneys and its insurer embroiled in a bitter legal pursuit with the health service. The parties claimed they had reached a mutually acceptable, confidential settlement which provided a comprehensive framework for “an ongoing relationship”. A spokesperson for the health service told this masthead that gag order extended to how much this three-year sparring match cost the taxpayer. How convenient. Vegan activist Tash Peterson, partner cop $280k bill in defamation row She’s not quite the “top end of town”, but we couldn’t take a look back at the biggest civil cases of 2024 without referencing the whopping damages bill handed to Perth’s most prominent animal rights activist. In November, Tash Peterson and her partner were ordered to pay $280,000 in damages to the owners of a Perth veterinary clinic for defamation after a bizarre dispute in 2021. The dispute, which was later circulated on social media, was sparked after Peterson and Jack Higgs spotted two cockatiels in a large cage at the front of Dr Kay McIntosh and Andrew McIntosh’s Bicton Veterinary Clinic. What unfolded was a bizarre tirade in which Peterson accused the clinic of “advertising animal slavery” — despite neither of the birds being able to survive in the wild — and of eating their own patients. Peterson and Higgs had claimed their tirade was justified as honest opinion, defending the content on the basis it was substantially true and a matter of public interest. But the part of the trial that managed to capture the most attention were revelations about just how deep Peterson’s pockets were, with the V-Gan Booty Pty Ltd entity behind her burgeoning OnlyFans account generating more than $380,000 in earnings in 2022 alone. We suspect this won’t be the last we see of Peterson. Get alerts on breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert .

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Small Business Network Switches Market 2024 Size, Share, Growth Report 2032 12-06-2024 07:41 PM CET | Advertising, Media Consulting, Marketing Research Press release from: Prudent Markets Small Business Network Switches Market Small Business Network Switches Market Size & Growth 2024 Latest Updated Report 2024, The Global Small Business Network Switches Market to Growing A CAGR of % during forecast period of 2024-2031. The Market is segmented by Global Small Business Network Switches Market Breakdown by Application (8-Port, 16-Port, 24-Port) by Type (Fixed Port Switch, Modular Switch) and by Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific, MEA). The Small Business Network Switches Market 2024 Report makes available the current and forthcoming technical and financial details of the industry. It is one of the most comprehensive and important additions to the Prudent Markets archive of market research studies. 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Global Small Business Network Switches Market Overview: Global Small Business Network Switches Market Report 2020 comes with the extensive industry analysis of development components, patterns, flows and sizes. The report also calculates present and past market values to forecast potential market management through the forecast period between 2020-2025.This research study of Small Business Network Switches involved the extensive usage of both primary and secondary data sources. This includes the study of various parameters affecting the industry, including the government policy, market environment, competitive landscape, historical data, present trends in the market, technological innovation, upcoming technologies and the technical progress in related industry. Impact of COVID-19 on Small Business Network Switches Market Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to almost every country around the globe with the World Health Organization declaring it a public health emergency. The global impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are already starting to be felt, and will significantly affected the Small Business Network Switches market in 2020. Market Segmentation Are: Type Segmentation: Fixed Port Switch, Modular Switch Industry Segmentation: 8-Port, 16-Port, 24-Port Speak To Our Analyst For A Discussion On The Above Findings, And Ask For A Discount On The Report @ https://www.prudentmarkets.com/discount-request/113879/ Prudent Markets provides attractive discounts that fit your needs. Customization of the reports as per your requirement is also offered. Get in touch with our sales team, who will guarantee you a report that suits your needs. The report covers the competitive analysis of the market. 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For In-Depth Competitive Analysis - Purchase this Report now at a Complete Table of Contents (Single User License) @ https://www.prudentmarkets.com/checkout/?id=113879&license_type=su In conclusion, the Small Business Network Switches Market report is a genuine source for accessing the research data which is projected to exponentially grow your business. The report provides information such as economic scenarios, benefits, limits, trends, market growth rates, and figures. SWOT analysis and PESTLE analysis is also incorporated in the report. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/understanding-factors-influencing-rotary-limit-switch-ujsqc/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/comprehensive-review-lift-destination-control-system-kfeic/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/analysis-pcb-forming-machines-market-its-lxg0e/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/assessing-impact-growth-consumer-behavior-hny5e/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cold-pressed-skin-care-products-market-size-trends-ud63e/ Contact Us: Allan Carter Andheri, Maharashtra, 400102 USA/Canada(Toll Free): 1800-601-6071 Direct Line: +91 83560 50278 Mail: sales@prudentmarkets.com Web: www.prudentmarkets.com About Us: We are leaders in market analytics, business research, and consulting services for Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, financial & government institutions. 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1. A textured velvet wrap dress for any gathering that has found its way into your already busy holiday calendar. Reviewers say this looks and feels way more expensive than what they paid for it, and they love the snap closure at the neckline, so it stays in place. Promising review : "This is the perfect dress for when you know you'll be freezing or it is winter and you still need to look nice. I wore it to my company's holiday party and got many compliments. It isn't tight, so you'll feel comfortable all night. People will never guess you got it from amazon!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $56.99 (available in sizes S–XL and in 13 colors and two styles). 2. A satin rosette top that'll be sure to get so many compliments because not only does this show you keep up with the trends, but it's just super cute! Whether you dress it down with some blue jeans or pair it with a mini skirt, you'll look oh-so-chic! Get it from Target for $22 (available in sizes XS–4X and in black). 3. A shiny pleated A-line skirt to make you the talk of the town when you return home for the holidays. Reviewers love how soft this fabric is and that the elastic waist is super comfortable. Promising review: "This is a beautiful skirt; it looks just like in the product photos. The fabric actually feels very luxurious, not thin as you might expect from the price. It was a tremendous bargain at the price I paid. I absolutely love it!" — Doctor G. Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in sizes XS–3XL and 21 colors). 4. A cozy wrap sweater dress — the perfect combination of the warmth of a sweater and the style of a dress! With this cute number, you'll be the best dressed at your office's annual holiday party! Promising review: "Okay, I am totally in love with this dress. I am always skeptical buying clothes online, especially dresses, when I can’t try them on. But WOW. This dress is so beautiful. It fits like a dream and the material is such wonderful quality. I have already bought it in two colors. I love the tight fit and that it’s not too tight, but just tight enough. This dress keeps me incredibly warm as well so I can totally wear it during wintertime! I love that the tie is a separate piece because you can make it just how you want. It’s a perfect fit! I have nothing bad to say about this dress, and I can’t wait to buy more!! :)" — Katie Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in sizes S–XL and 23 colors). 5. An off-the-shoulder sweater for anyone who isn't afraid to show off some skin for the sake of style even though the temperatures are dropping. No ugly sweaters here when you've got this cozy lil' piece. Promising review : "I already loved my black off the shoulder sweater because it looks so classic. But this burgundy was too pretty to miss out on! It was the perfect fit and I love how it really is the main piece of any outfit." — Anonymous Get it from Abercrombie for $70 (available in sizes XXS–XL). 6. An oversized cable knit sweater dress if your usual attire is an oversized tee and Uggs, but you need something just a tad more sophisticated for the neighbor's holiday get-together. This is still super comfy and you can even pair it with a belt to change up the silhouette. Promising review : "I ordered this dress in a size medium and it fit great! This dress is definitely true to size! I purchased the purple, and while the color is beautiful, it is a very dark purple, so I paired it with some black tights and black boots. I lovvvedddd this look! I’m on the taller side, so I always worry about the length of the dress, but I felt with tights, it was not too short. I wore this to Christmas Eve service and felt very comfortable and confident! I will say- I would not have been able to lift my arms all the way in the air without showing underneath, so just make sure to wear something that covers you underneath the dress. I should also mention that I have small children, so I’m always bending down and picking kids up, etc, and I felt comfortable doing all of that in this dress . Overall, super cute! So many ways to style! I will be purchasing more colors!" — Hope H. Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in sizes XS–XL and in 19 colors). 7. Or a turtleneck sweater dress because when the party eventually moves itself to the backyard, you'll want something that will keep your neck warm without ruining the vibe of your outfit. Pair this with some tights or leggings, and you've got yourself an IG post-worthy outfit. These are popularly worn with knee-high boots if you're skipping tights/leggings! Promising review: " The best winter cozy dress . Omg where do I start. I’m usually a L, but I ordered an XL because I was worried about the length. I love this dress. It’s so big and chunky and cozy but also super sexy!!! The pockets are amazing and the material isn’t itchy at all. It looks great paired with tall boots, but I’m sure you could rock some leggings and ankle boots and it would look just as amazing. Totally worth the price. It is baggy for sure, but I anticipated that when I ordered one size up so I could get the length I wanted. I want one in EVERY COLOR. Another Amazon win!" — Ashlee Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in sizes S–3XL and in 35 colors). 8. A gorgeous velvet jumpsuit with pearl detailing that's a statement piece all on its own. Now you won't have to dig in your closet for the right pants to go with the right top since this one piece is a whole dang outfit! Promising review : "This is one of my favorite outfits ever! I absolutely LOVED this jumpsuit and wish it came in more colors! Perfect!" — Denise D. Get it from Lulus for $75 (available in sizes XXS–XL and in three colors). 9. A corduroy overall dress you can pair with your favorite long-sleeve top because layering is a MUST as the temperatures are dropping. This is super versatile and comes in sooo many colors! Promising review : "I love, love, love this dress. It look cute with tights or without. I have worn it with several different options underneath and all work well. Easy way to style a nice and comfortable work outfit or cute seasonal friendly going out fit." — Lacey Lewey Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in sizes XXS–3XL and in 27 colors). 10. A darling tulle skirt if the thought of dancing sugar plum fairies has you inspired to embrace a more ballerina-like style for your holiday party. It has an inner lining so it won't feel scratchy on your legs and five layers of tulle for the ultimate whimsical look. Promising review: "I read tons of reviews for this skirt and I felt confident in the sizing that I chose. It fits wonderfully as a high-waisted skirt. It is very full and it has a slip attached to it. I ordered this skirt in white. It is so pretty. I know I will receive compliments on it. I plan to order another. I definitely give this skirt two thumbs up. And you really can't beat the price! " — tanisha Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in sizes XS–5X and 45 colors). 11. A sequin button-down that will add some real pizzazz no matter how you style it! This top has a soft inner lining, so it isn't scratchy, unlike some other sequin tops. A top this cute should be worn for the holiday party AND the NYE party because why not? Promising review : "Love this top in the slate color! Versatile to wear with jeans for a casual night out or with a maxi tulle skirt for dressier occasions. The lining is not scratchy, and the sequins are holding up well." — chi_twinmom Get it from Anthropologie for $138 (available in four colors, three styles, and sizes XXS–XL). 12. Or, a sheer glitter top if you're feeling a little risqué and want to show off some skin but not actually leave your arms bare to the bone. Reviewers love how stretchy this is, and you'll definitely be giving the star on top of the Christmas tree a run for its money because of how sparkly you'll look. Promising review : "It’s adorable. Worth every penny. Well made. Silver threads woven into fabric make the whole thing shine. It’s NOT itchy! I’m a huge [stickler] about the feel of clothing and this shirt is shiny but super soft as well. Wore it to a Christmas holiday concert and got TONS of compliments . Will probably order more colors when my size is back in stock. It’s VERY stretchy so if you’re not sure go down a size. ;)" — Megaphono Get it from Amazon for $18.98 (available in sizes XS–XXL and in nine styles/colors). 13. A wool blend coat since you want a coat that will keep you warm but not make it look like you came to the party straight from the North Pole (we still love a puffer jacket once in a while though). And reviewers love the asymmetrical hemline that makes it more stylish than a traditional coat! Promising review: "Loved how it made me look. Felt so good on my body . A little tight around the waist but once you get it in, it just sits so nice on the body. As you can see in my picture and video, I had worn this to my friend’s 2022 Christmas party and it was the perfect fit for the day because it wasn’t too cold. It was chilly and I didn’t want something that would make me feel hot. I wore this and I felt like a cool chic and somewhat sexy too. Totally recommend!" — Noni Salma Get it from Amazon for $79.90+ (available in sizes XXS–3XL and nine styles). 14. Or, a faux-shearling moto jacket to put the "rock" in "rockin' around the Christmas tree." This has the style of a leather jacket, all while keeping you nice and warm. So when you're waiting for your friends to finally buzz you into the party, you won't shiver your timbers. Some reviewers suggest sizing up if you plan on wearing bulky sweaters or have thicker arms or a larger chest. Doing so will give you a more oversized fit! Promising review: "I purchased this jacket before my trip to Canada during winter. I honestly thought I might not be able to wear it as often. HOWEVER, it kept me really warm no matter how windy and snowy it got!! It’s beautiful and stylish. The material looks better in real life than in the picture. The inside is super soft and comfy. I would go a size up, though, I had enough space to move around and wear bulky sweaters, but the sleeves are not long enough for me to roll up the sleeves like the picture. Still an amazing product, I am beyond satisfied." — Gabriela G. Get it from Amazon for $55.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and 10 styles). 15. A downright glamorous pleated button-down set because as much as you wish the holiday party was pajama-themed, this is the next best thing. You'll be looking real fancy, all while enjoying the comfort of this lightweight fabric. One reviewer even said they looked like they " walked out of a Gucci magazine " while wearing it! Promising review: "This set is to die for. Can dress it up, wear as pajamas, lounge around in, etc., etc., etc. I will definitely be buying more colors and lengths because this is a steal! It was very true to size, I went with a large which was comfy. And the color shocked me that it was even better in person!" — Anne Marie Shurtz Get it from Amazon for $23.49+ (available in sizes S–XL, in shorts or pants, and 17 colors/prints). 16. A Fair Isle cardigan that is winter style to 👏🏼 its 👏🏼 core. 👏🏼 This is great for a more casual gathering because of its relaxed fit. You, in this sweater with a cup of hot cocoa in your hand, mingling around the Christmas tree? A spitting image of a true holiday party if you ask me. Get it from Levi's for $53.70 (originally $89.50; available in sizes XS–XL). 17. A heart button sweater dress because if there's anything we remember about the holidays... it's the little things that matter the most (aka these adorable heart buttons!). This versatile dress will keep you warm from head to toe, and your friends might just ❤️ it as much as you do! I love how the dress itself is super elegant and then the buttons add a cutesy charm. Promising review: "Yes yes yes yes. Soft, good weight and quality, and I love it." — Crystal C Get it from Eloquii for $49 (originally $109.95; available in black or light pink and sizes 14–32). 18. A polka-dot organza-sleeve top if you're feeling a little fun 'n' flirty and want an eye-catching top that will turn heads the minute you walk in the door. Promising review: "I was surprised at how great this looks and feels! The lace isn’t itchy at all, the bodysuit is super soft and I love that it has three snaps across, it makes it so I don’t end up with a wedgie! Love it! Getting white next. 😍" — Colleen Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes XS–4X and 39 colors/styles). 19. A faux-fur jacket because 🎶 the party don't start ’til you walk in 🎶 with this fun, furry piece. It's super cute, and I'm sure everyone will want to welcome you with open arms just so they can feel how soft this is. Promising review: "Soft, warm and attractive. This cute little jacket is easy to wear with any style. It feels like a warm hug, and has a nice thickness for crazy Texas weather. It is roomy, but not boxy. I wear a small, and there is still room to wear a sweater underneath." — anonymous Get it from Old Navy for $55.99 (originally $79.99; available in sizes M–4X). 20. A midi-length satin dress with a cowl neck — truly a classic that will work for all occasions. Whether you rock this with a big coat or just accessorize with a Santa hat, you'll be looking so, so cute! FYI there are TONS of pregnant reviewers who are obsessed with the amount of stretch this dress has. Promising reviews: "This dress is super gorgeous and totally worth the money! TikTok made me buy it and it was on sale so even better. The fabric is also really good quality." — Melanie Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available in sizes XS–XL and in 23 colors and styles). And here's a similar plus size version (L–4X) for $41.99+ ! 21. A knit sweater with pearl detailing that'll help you stand out against all the other people who decided to play it safe with a regular sweater. Plus, reviewers say that the pearls are securely sewn on, and the sweater is super soft! Promising review : "I was a bit hesitant on purchasing this sweater because I thought it was a bit expensive in my eyes. Boy, was I surprised! This sweater is gorgeous! The pearls are individually sewn - on, not glued. The material is thick enough for fall and winter. I bought the M and it was perfect with the cuff extending past my wrist. It's very festive looking and I'm certain I'll get plenty wear over the upcoming holiday season. You will not be disappointed. This sweater is amazing!" – Closet Shoeaholic Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in XS–XXL and in 13 colors). 22. A belted jumpsuit so you don't have to blow up the group chat with repeated "What bottoms go best with this top?" texts. This is easy to throw on and might just convince someone *you* should be on the top of their Christmas wishlist. Promising review: "Best jumpsuit ever!! The material is nice and stretchy without feeling cheap and it's nice and long for heels. I got so many compliments that I'm buying two more!!" — Sheiba352 Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available for S–XXL and in 15 colors). 23. A sophisticated silk blouse with a tie front neckline you'll be able to wear to the office and then the office holiday party and still look festive. This timeless piece will look great with trousers or jeans if you're going for a more casual but still luxe look. Promising review: "I've been working on updating my office wardrobe and this blouse is going to be a new staple. I bought both the black and ivory and I can't wait to put them in rotation. I'm a sucker for a tie neck blouse and this one is so classy and elegant. It will go perfectly by itself with trousers or a skirt as well as under a blazer." — Lindsey Get it from Quince for $79.90 (originally $178; available in sizes XS–XL and in seven colors). 24. A stunning black mini dress because everyone needs an LBD when it comes time to celebrate the holidays. The sweetheart neckline and ruffled trim just add a touch of detail that'll make this your new go-to dress. Get it from Free People for $128 (available in sizes XS–XL). 25. A sparkly fit and flare skater dress that'll make you "shine bright like a diamond" 💎 and stand out in all those pics you take with your family and friends. And make sure the flash is on so you can really shimmer! ✨ Promising review: "I love this dress. True to size, stretchy and comfy, good quality fabric. Subtle sparkles on the fabric make it easy to dress up for a formal evening or dress down for a casual event. I’ve gotten tons of compliments every time I’ve worn it!" — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $45.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and in 12 colors). 26. A festive tunic dress because this just screams Christmas and is way cuter than a bulky sweater plastered with Santa's face and Christmas lights. Plus, it even has pockets!! Promising review: "Love it! Ordered this for a plaid-themed Christmas party. It was super comfortable and very cute! I got lots of compliments! AND IT HAS POCKETS! Considering ordering in more colors." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and 14 styles). 27. A tie front top — it's giving chic, it's giving coquette, it's giving "Omg, where'd you get that?" This adorable top proves that you ARE the gift that keeps on giving this holiday season and I can't argue with that. Promising review : "This shirt is very on trend right now. The fabric is soft and it's well made. I really like the hidden buttons on this shirt - you can button them or leave them open - I love that option. I need more in different colors!" — Stephanie W. Get it from Amazon for $21 (available in sizes S–XXL and in 18 colors). Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.Eleven local schools received grants for educators to develop science, technology, engineering and math education projects from the Tennessee Valley Authority partnership with Bicentennial Volunteers Inc. Grants were awarded to 342 schools across the state, according to a news release. Schools in Washington, Sullivan and Hawkins counties are among those to receive funds. “We know STEM teachers across the region are inspiring students to become the workforce of the future and that’s why it’s so important for TVA to continue to support this grant program,” Jeff Lyash, TVA president and CEO, stated in the release. “Providing additional resources to schools helps provide essential hands-on learning programs that equip students with skills that will help them be successful in whatever they choose to do in life.” The STEM grant program received 647 grant applications, and 342 were awarded. T he TVA will give out $1.5 million among those schools. “Bicentennial Volunteers, Inc. has a reputation for giving back to the community. BVI is proud to partner with TVA in empowering teachers to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math,” Kathy Black, president of BVI, stated in the release. “We believe that by enriching their educational experiences, we are helping create lifelong learners and building the workforce of tomorrow.” The TVA focused on applications that explored environment, energy, economic development and community problem-solving. All schools that receive their power from a local power company served by TVA were eligible to apply for the grants. The following Northeast Tennessee schools and teachers received grant money for their projects: HAWKINS COUNTY Kristen Riley of Bulls Gap School received $5,000 for the development of Our CAD Garden. It is a greenhouse that introduces students to the iterative design process and helps their creative problem solving and communication. Katie Brabham of Hawkins Elementary received $5,000 for use of the SPHERO Bold system, block coding and recycled materials to create an efficient school bus route. Kerry Bloodworth of Mooresburg Elementary received $5,000 to make the STEAM programs more rigorous. She will do so by introducing Makey-Makey sets, Sphero Indi Cars and a 3D printer. Abigail Daniels of Surgoinsville Middle School received $5,000 to get new aerial drones for the students to trace examples of drone use and learn how technology changes the way things can be done. Jeffrey Buck of Volunteer High School received $2,5000 to help the robotics team compete in the Robot Drone League competitions; they will also get an Advanced RDL GoBilda Terrestrial Kit. SULLIVAN COUNTY Autumn Roe of Anderson Elementary received $5,000 to initiate her “STEM Careers in the Arts” program. It will immerse students to the arts and technology convergence and introduce them to careers that mix creativity and technical expertise. Sarah Knight of West Ridge High School received $5,000 to integrate state-of-the-art hydroponic technology into agriculture and culinary programs. This offers students hands-on experience in modern agriculture. WASHINGTON COUNTY Jared Smith of Jonesborough Elementary received $5,000 to enable students in the Eye of the Tiger Filmmaking and Digital Media Club to be equipped to script, direct, film and edit their short film projects. Kallam McKay of Mountain View Elementary received $5,000 to help students get new hands-on experience to code, build and program robots in the STEAM studio. Luanna Rolston of North Side Elementary received $3,500 to implement Blue-Bots (engaging, programmable floor robots) into the computer science curriculum for the K-3 STEM lab. Jacob Street of South Side Elementary received $3,500 to get an interactive modular STEM wall with pipe fitting, gears, tools and a color-changing light table with human x-rays and engineering manipulatives. 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Josh Dallas didn’t become an integral part of the Georgia Southern offense overnight. It just may seem that way. Dallas, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt sophomore wide receiver who played his high school football at Trinity Christian High School in Sharpsburg, Ga., where he was coached by his father, Kenny, is beginning to bloom and become a threat under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Ryan Aplin. A member of Coach Clay Helton’s first recruiting class along with his brother David, who is a quarterback currently on the sidelines due to an injury, Dallas is an excellent example of the by-product of hard work and coaching. “It’s been a cool transition,” said Dallas of his evolving into being one of the Eagles’ playmakers. “I’ve been here a few years now. The first year I redshirted, last year I got to play a lot of special teams and I integrated a little bit with the offense. “This past season I got challenged by Coach Ap,” Dallas said. “I was going to get an opportunity this year to be a playmaker. “The first few games I got some good opportunities but as the season has progressed, I think Coach Ap has done a really good job of really using all of us to the best of our abilities. Everyone on the field is a little different and so I think he’s done a great job of figuring out different ways to use all of us.” Although he has decent speed and quickness Dallas is not a speed burner. He is an excellent route runner and has sure hands. He is also developing an ability to create separation from defenders. For the season Dallas has 34 catches for 490 yards and four touchdowns, an average of 14.41 yards per catch. He also has one touchdown rushing, that coming against Troy last Saturday. However, it was once Sun Belt Conference play that Dallas began showing his potential. He had a coming out party against Georgia State when he caught nine balls for 89 yards and his first collegiate touchdown. In six conference games he has 27 receptions for 388 yards and four touchdowns. Dallas gives Aplin a great deal of credit for his improving numbers but he admits he has also put in a great deal of work to make himself better. “It took a little bit of time to figure out where I truly fit in with the offense,” Dallas said. “Coach Ap has done a great job of fitting me in different cool sets, too. “I continue to work on coming out of the breaks and stuff,” Dallas said. “I think I run really solid routes, but I’m continuing to work on all those things. The reason I’m able to produce this year is because I’ve put my head down and I’ve worked catching JC (quarterback JC French) and coming out of my breaks every single day, perfecting my routes and working on leverage to create separation, maybe chicken winging the guy to create separation. “If I can be physical with the DB and create separation JC is always going to throw a great ball and it helps him if I can create some separation at the top of my route.” As the son of a successful football coach —Trinity won a state championship Dallas’ senior year when it went 14-0 after having lost in the championship game the previous year and Kenny is 154-74 overall – Dallas has a thorough understanding of the game which enables him to assist teammates. “I pride myself on a leadership role,” Dallas said. “I like to think when I’m out there I make the guys around me better in the sense I have one of the best grasps of the offense in the building so I can help guys be where they need to be, learning the system, learning the game plan, in the film room. I just want to make everyone around me better.”

Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams addressed the media on Friday amid the team’s five-game losing streak, sticking by his roster and expressing belief this is a team that can compete for the playoffs. "I'm going to go to war with these guys," he said. "I believe in the people in our room." The Sabres (11-12-3) have tumbled to 23rd place in the NHL, suffered the worst home loss in franchise history this past week and are looking to avoid extending the longest playoff drought in North American professional sports — currently at 13 years. Adams said he’s not panicking or going to make a move just to make one, adding Buffalo is not currently a destination city for free agents or players with no-trade clauses, but he believes that can change through winning. "You become a perennial playoff team, you make the playoffs, you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup year after year, [then] you’re on less [players'] no-trade lists," he said. “We don’t have palm trees, we have taxes in New York.” Adams added he believes the proper way to build a team's core is through drafting and developing. Regarding the struggles of players like forward Jack Quinn, 23, and defenseman Owen Power, 22, Adams reiterated that mistakes are part of a young player’s development. "I think, sometimes, especially with younger players, not that Jack’s young per se anymore, but still finding his way into the league, you have ups and downs, but you have to work with them and have to find ways to help them improve," Adams said. "Do we want [Power] to become more physically imposing and harder to play against? Yes, and there’s daily work that’s going in right now with the coaches and Owen to do that. And he wants to do that and he wants to get better." While the team is near the bottom of the league, and has roughly $7 million in cap space to make additions to the roster, Adams says he also has to be mindful of saving for the team's future. "We’re trying to build our roster out so that we're able to year-after-year compete. And if you go add an $8 million player that’s got five years left on his contract, what does that do for the next round of guys?" Adams said. When asked about the involvement of owner Terry Pegula, Adams stated he provides him with "every possible resource to win hockey games." "Terry's all in," he said. "I talk to him every day. He wants this as bad as any of us, trust me. He wants to be part of the solution with me to talk about where do we need to find success or what do we need to do to help this team." During Pegula's tenure as owner, three general managers and seven head coaches have been fired, and the team has made the playoffs once, his first year of ownership, in 2011.

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Fast bowler Lahiru Kumara unleashed a spellbinding display of raw pace and hostility, delivering unplayable thunderbolts as Sri Lanka tightened their grip on the first Test against South Africa in Durban yesterday. Fast bowling coach Darshana Gamage, brimming with optimism, declared that the best of Kumara is yet to come—a tantalizing promise for Sri Lanka’s cricketing future. Kumara’s performance brought echoes of his heroics at The Oval in September, where he played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s landmark Test victory against England. In Durban, the 27-year-old once again proved why he’s considered a gem in Sri Lanka’s pace-bowling crown. “Pace is Lahiru’s strength,” Gamage remarked. “Our focus has been on refining his control, and there’s no doubt he has the potential to deliver even greater things as he matures. Consistently hitting speeds of 145 kmph is a huge feather in his cap, and it’s a weapon we value immensely.” Kumara, however, has been a bit of a double-edged sword—brilliant when fit, but often hindered by recurring hamstring issues. Recognizing the need for careful management, Sri Lanka have chosen to preserve him primarily for Test cricket, a strategy that now appears to be reaping dividends. “We’re using him sparingly for Tests, and that decision has paid off,” Gamage explained. “Right now, he’s in a fantastic rhythm. The Durban wicket offered plenty of assistance, and he capitalized brilliantly. In this World Test Championship cycle, our priority has been to keep all our fast bowlers fresh and firing on all cylinders.” Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling cupboard, once bare, now brims with promise. With Kumara leading the charge, the team seems well-poised to finally conquer the long-elusive goal of consistent overseas victories. “We’ve long yearned for wins on foreign soil, and the key to achieving that lies with our quicks,” Gamage emphasized. “I’m confident we’ve found the nucleus of a formidable pace attack, one capable of delivering the goods away from home.” Kumara, for his part, bagged two vital wickets to break the South African middle order, while fellow seamers Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando combined to remove the openers.By BILL BARROW, Associated Press PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — Newly married and sworn as a Naval officer, Jimmy Carter left his tiny hometown in 1946 hoping to climb the ranks and see the world. Less than a decade later, the death of his father and namesake, a merchant farmer and local politician who went by “Mr. Earl,” prompted the submariner and his wife, Rosalynn, to return to the rural life of Plains, Georgia, they thought they’d escaped. The lieutenant never would be an admiral. Instead, he became commander in chief. Years after his presidency ended in humbling defeat, he would add a Nobel Peace Prize, awarded not for his White House accomplishments but “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” The life of James Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, ended Sunday at the age of 100 where it began: Plains, the town of 600 that fueled his political rise, welcomed him after his fall and sustained him during 40 years of service that redefined what it means to be a former president. With the stubborn confidence of an engineer and an optimism rooted in his Baptist faith, Carter described his motivations in politics and beyond in the same way: an almost missionary zeal to solve problems and improve lives. Carter was raised amid racism, abject poverty and hard rural living — realities that shaped both his deliberate politics and emphasis on human rights. “He always felt a responsibility to help people,” said Jill Stuckey, a longtime friend of Carter’s in Plains. “And when he couldn’t make change wherever he was, he decided he had to go higher.” Carter’s path, a mix of happenstance and calculation , pitted moral imperatives against political pragmatism; and it defied typical labels of American politics, especially caricatures of one-term presidents as failures. “We shouldn’t judge presidents by how popular they are in their day. That’s a very narrow way of assessing them,” Carter biographer Jonathan Alter told the Associated Press. “We should judge them by how they changed the country and the world for the better. On that score, Jimmy Carter is not in the first rank of American presidents, but he stands up quite well.” Later in life, Carter conceded that many Americans, even those too young to remember his tenure, judged him ineffective for failing to contain inflation or interest rates, end the energy crisis or quickly bring home American hostages in Iran. He gained admirers instead for his work at The Carter Center — advocating globally for public health, human rights and democracy since 1982 — and the decades he and Rosalynn wore hardhats and swung hammers with Habitat for Humanity. Yet the common view that he was better after the Oval Office than in it annoyed Carter, and his allies relished him living long enough to see historians reassess his presidency. “He doesn’t quite fit in today’s terms” of a left-right, red-blue scoreboard, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited the former president multiple times during his own White House bid. At various points in his political career, Carter labeled himself “progressive” or “conservative” — sometimes both at once. His most ambitious health care bill failed — perhaps one of his biggest legislative disappointments — because it didn’t go far enough to suit liberals. Republicans, especially after his 1980 defeat, cast him as a left-wing cartoon. It would be easiest to classify Carter as a centrist, Buttigieg said, “but there’s also something radical about the depth of his commitment to looking after those who are left out of society and out of the economy.” Indeed, Carter’s legacy is stitched with complexities, contradictions and evolutions — personal and political. The self-styled peacemaker was a war-trained Naval Academy graduate who promised Democratic challenger Ted Kennedy that he’d “kick his ass.” But he campaigned with a call to treat everyone with “respect and compassion and with love.” Carter vowed to restore America’s virtue after the shame of Vietnam and Watergate, and his technocratic, good-government approach didn’t suit Republicans who tagged government itself as the problem. It also sometimes put Carter at odds with fellow Democrats. The result still was a notable legislative record, with wins on the environment, education, and mental health care. He dramatically expanded federally protected lands, began deregulating air travel, railroads and trucking, and he put human rights at the center of U.S. foreign policy. As a fiscal hawk, Carter added a relative pittance to the national debt, unlike successors from both parties. Carter nonetheless struggled to make his achievements resonate with the electorate he charmed in 1976. Quoting Bob Dylan and grinning enthusiastically, he had promised voters he would “never tell a lie.” Once in Washington, though, he led like a joyless engineer, insisting his ideas would become reality and he’d be rewarded politically if only he could convince enough people with facts and logic. This served him well at Camp David, where he brokered peace between Israel’s Menachem Begin and Epypt’s Anwar Sadat, an experience that later sparked the idea of The Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter’s tenacity helped the center grow to a global force that monitored elections across five continents, enabled his freelance diplomacy and sent public health experts across the developing world. The center’s wins were personal for Carter, who hoped to outlive the last Guinea worm parasite, and nearly did. As president, though, the approach fell short when he urged consumers beleaguered by energy costs to turn down their thermostats. Or when he tried to be the nation’s cheerleader, beseeching Americans to overcome a collective “crisis of confidence.” Republican Ronald Reagan exploited Carter’s lecturing tone with a belittling quip in their lone 1980 debate. “There you go again,” the former Hollywood actor said in response to a wonky answer from the sitting president. “The Great Communicator” outpaced Carter in all but six states. Carter later suggested he “tried to do too much, too soon” and mused that he was incompatible with Washington culture: media figures, lobbyists and Georgetown social elites who looked down on the Georgians and their inner circle as “country come to town.” Carter carefully navigated divides on race and class on his way to the Oval Office. Born Oct. 1, 1924 , Carter was raised in the mostly Black community of Archery, just outside Plains, by a progressive mother and white supremacist father. Their home had no running water or electricity but the future president still grew up with the relative advantages of a locally prominent, land-owning family in a system of Jim Crow segregation. He wrote of President Franklin Roosevelt’s towering presence and his family’s Democratic Party roots, but his father soured on FDR, and Jimmy Carter never campaigned or governed as a New Deal liberal. He offered himself as a small-town peanut farmer with an understated style, carrying his own luggage, bunking with supporters during his first presidential campaign and always using his nickname. And he began his political career in a whites-only Democratic Party. As private citizens, he and Rosalynn supported integration as early as the 1950s and believed it inevitable. Carter refused to join the White Citizens Council in Plains and spoke out in his Baptist church against denying Black people access to worship services. “This is not my house; this is not your house,” he said in a churchwide meeting, reminding fellow parishioners their sanctuary belonged to God. Yet as the appointed chairman of Sumter County schools he never pushed to desegregate, thinking it impractical after the Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board decision. And while presidential candidate Carter would hail the 1965 Voting Rights Act, signed by fellow Democrat Lyndon Johnson when Carter was a state senator, there is no record of Carter publicly supporting it at the time. Carter overcame a ballot-stuffing opponent to win his legislative seat, then lost the 1966 governor’s race to an arch-segregationist. He won four years later by avoiding explicit mentions of race and campaigning to the right of his rival, who he mocked as “Cufflinks Carl” — the insult of an ascendant politician who never saw himself as part the establishment. Carter’s rural and small-town coalition in 1970 would match any victorious Republican electoral map in 2024. Once elected, though, Carter shocked his white conservative supporters — and landed on the cover of Time magazine — by declaring that “the time for racial discrimination is over.” Before making the jump to Washington, Carter befriended the family of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., whom he’d never sought out as he eyed the governor’s office. Carter lamented his foot-dragging on school integration as a “mistake.” But he also met, conspicuously, with Alabama’s segregationist Gov. George Wallace to accept his primary rival’s endorsement ahead of the 1976 Democratic convention. “He very shrewdly took advantage of his own Southerness,” said Amber Roessner, a University of Tennessee professor and expert on Carter’s campaigns. A coalition of Black voters and white moderate Democrats ultimately made Carter the last Democratic presidential nominee to sweep the Deep South. Then, just as he did in Georgia, he used his power in office to appoint more non-whites than all his predecessors had, combined. He once acknowledged “the secret shame” of white Americans who didn’t fight segregation. But he also told Alter that doing more would have sacrificed his political viability – and thus everything he accomplished in office and after. King’s daughter, Bernice King, described Carter as wisely “strategic” in winning higher offices to enact change. “He was a leader of conscience,” she said in an interview. Rosalynn Carter, who died on Nov. 19 at the age of 96, was identified by both husband and wife as the “more political” of the pair; she sat in on Cabinet meetings and urged him to postpone certain priorities, like pressing the Senate to relinquish control of the Panama Canal. “Let that go until the second term,” she would sometimes say. The president, recalled her former aide Kathy Cade, retorted that he was “going to do what’s right” even if “it might cut short the time I have.” Rosalynn held firm, Cade said: “She’d remind him you have to win to govern.” Carter also was the first president to appoint multiple women as Cabinet officers. Yet by his own telling, his career sprouted from chauvinism in the Carters’ early marriage: He did not consult Rosalynn when deciding to move back to Plains in 1953 or before launching his state Senate bid a decade later. Many years later, he called it “inconceivable” that he didn’t confer with the woman he described as his “full partner,” at home, in government and at The Carter Center. “We developed a partnership when we were working in the farm supply business, and it continued when Jimmy got involved in politics,” Rosalynn Carter told AP in 2021. So deep was their trust that when Carter remained tethered to the White House in 1980 as 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran, it was Rosalynn who campaigned on her husband’s behalf. “I just loved it,” she said, despite the bitterness of defeat. Fair or not, the label of a disastrous presidency had leading Democrats keep their distance, at least publicly, for many years, but Carter managed to remain relevant, writing books and weighing in on societal challenges. He lamented widening wealth gaps and the influence of money in politics. He voted for democratic socialist Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in 2016, and later declared that America had devolved from fully functioning democracy to “oligarchy.” Related Articles Yet looking ahead to 2020, with Sanders running again, Carter warned Democrats not to “move to a very liberal program,” lest they help re-elect President Donald Trump. Carter scolded the Republican for his serial lies and threats to democracy, and chided the U.S. establishment for misunderstanding Trump’s populist appeal. He delighted in yearly convocations with Emory University freshmen, often asking them to guess how much he’d raised in his two general election campaigns. “Zero,” he’d gesture with a smile, explaining the public financing system candidates now avoid so they can raise billions. Carter still remained quite practical in partnering with wealthy corporations and foundations to advance Carter Center programs. Carter recognized that economic woes and the Iran crisis doomed his presidency, but offered no apologies for appointing Paul Volcker as the Federal Reserve chairman whose interest rate hikes would not curb inflation until Reagan’s presidency. He was proud of getting all the hostages home without starting a shooting war, even though Tehran would not free them until Reagan’s Inauguration Day. “Carter didn’t look at it” as a failure, Alter emphasized. “He said, ‘They came home safely.’ And that’s what he wanted.” Well into their 90s, the Carters greeted visitors at Plains’ Maranatha Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and where he will have his last funeral before being buried on family property alongside Rosalynn . Carter, who made the congregation’s collection plates in his woodworking shop, still garnered headlines there, calling for women’s rights within religious institutions, many of which, he said, “subjugate” women in church and society. Carter was not one to dwell on regrets. “I am at peace with the accomplishments, regret the unrealized goals and utilize my former political position to enhance everything we do,” he wrote around his 90th birthday. The politician who had supposedly hated Washington politics also enjoyed hosting Democratic presidential contenders as public pilgrimages to Plains became advantageous again. Carter sat with Buttigieg for the final time March 1, 2020, hours before the Indiana mayor ended his campaign and endorsed eventual winner Joe Biden. “He asked me how I thought the campaign was going,” Buttigieg said, recalling that Carter flashed his signature grin and nodded along as the young candidate, born a year after Carter left office, “put the best face” on the walloping he endured the day before in South Carolina. Never breaking his smile, the 95-year-old host fired back, “I think you ought to drop out.” “So matter of fact,” Buttigieg said with a laugh. “It was somehow encouraging.” Carter had lived enough, won plenty and lost enough to take the long view. “He talked a lot about coming from nowhere,” Buttigieg said, not just to attain the presidency but to leverage “all of the instruments you have in life” and “make the world more peaceful.” In his farewell address as president, Carter said as much to the country that had embraced and rejected him. “The struggle for human rights overrides all differences of color, nation or language,” he declared. “Those who hunger for freedom, who thirst for human dignity and who suffer for the sake of justice — they are the patriots of this cause.” Carter pledged to remain engaged with and for them as he returned “home to the South where I was born and raised,” home to Plains, where that young lieutenant had indeed become “a fellow citizen of the world.” —- Bill Barrow, based in Atlanta, has covered national politics including multiple presidential campaigns for the AP since 2012.

Chinese money given to the Duke of York is being investigated by the security services, The Telegraph can disclose. Prince Andrew’s business venture is understood to have received money from Chinese donors with links to an alleged Communist party spy. The disclosure comes after it emerged on Thursday that the alleged spy, in court documents, had been banned from the UK on national security grounds. In his first comments on the scandal on Friday night, the Duke insisted that he “ceased all contact” with after concerns were raised, with “nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed”. However, the case over how he funds a lavish lifestyle that includes the upkeep on Royal Lodge, his 30-room home at Windsor, and The Telegraph can disclose that Buckingham Palace has no way of including the money used for the upkeep of Royal Lodge, which is owned by the Crown Estate. Sources said the palace had “no power, authority or legal right” to do so and that all palace officials could do was seek assurances that the Duke’s money was “legitimately earned”. It can also be revealed that the King was made aware of the MI5 investigation into his brother and his links to the alleged Chinese agent before the bombshell judgment which exposed their friendship. The latest scandal to beset the Duke is likely to have contributed to the King’s decision earlier in the year Buckingham Palace declined to say when the King was told about the MI5 investigation into the alleged spy but royal sources pointed out that the Duke was “no longer privately supported by the King”. It is likely that the domestic intelligence agency informed the Royal household through who was Lord Chamberlain up until a month ago and before that MI5’s director general. The alleged spy, known only as H6, is a former junior civil servant in China who is accused of working for the United Front Work Department (UFWD), an arm of the Chinese state used to gather intelligence, recruit agents and buy influence abroad. Whitehall sources have told The Telegraph that the UFWD used financial inducements to gain access and buy influence in the West, engaging in “deceptive” acts. A source said: “The UFWD does influence. This is much more than just gathering sensitive information.” The Telegraph has been told that money received by Prince Andrew was being investigated. The alleged Chinese spy was also invited into Buckingham Palace by the Duke of York, according to reports. The suspected spy attended the Palace on two occasions. He also attended a function at St James’s Palace and an event at Windsor Castle, reported. The Prince launched an initiative across China called which ran Dragons’ Den-style business competitions operated for profits. The Telegraph can disclose that H6 was connected to Pitch@Palace’s Chinese operations. Any profits made from the business venture are subject to scrutiny by the security services. Prince Andrew launched Pitch@Palace in the UK on a not-for-profit basis in 2014. Two years later, he launched overseas versions, including in China, which were run to make to money. It is unclear when he met H6. But sources have pointed to a series of speeches and comments given by Prince Andrew in which he encouraged H6 was so close to Prince Andrew that he had been told he could act on the Duke’s behalf when dealing with potential investors in China, according to court documents. He was even invited to the Duke’s birthday party in 2020, and was described by the judges overseeing the case as a “close confidant of the Duke”. Buckingham Palace has let its despair be known over the latest scandal. Royal sources said they were made aware of the court case against H6 and that his close association with the Duke was eventually going to emerge. The King was told “at the appropriate juncture through appropriate government channels”. The cost of maintenance on Royal Lodge and Prince Andrew’s security bill is thought to add up to millions of pounds a year. The Duke has had longstanding money problems, including the convicted child sex offender who killed himself while awaiting trial on fresh charges in 2019. On Friday night, a statement was released from the Duke’s office insisting he had cut off all contact with H6 after receiving advice from the Government. It said: “The Duke of York followed advice from HMG [the Government] and ceased all contact with the individual after concerns were raised. “The Duke met the individual through official channels, with nothing of a sensitive nature ever discussed. He is unable to comment further on matters relating to national security.” The Home Office decided to ban H6, who is 50, from the UK in July 2023 after MI5 deemed him to be an agent who had engaged in “covert and deceptive activity” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and that he likely posed a threat to national security. Two judges for the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) on Thursday ruled that the Home Office was justified in keeping him out of the country. H6 is contesting that decision and denies he is a spy or agent for the CCP. However, his identity has remained secret. SIAC initially granted H6 anonymity but this was lifted by the judges to take effect from Thursday. H6 appealed the lifting of the anonymity order and was granted “interim relief”, meaning the High Court could decide at a future date whether he should be named. A hearing could be as early as next week. On Friday night, senior Tories including Suella Braverman, the former Home Secretary, Mrs Braverman was Home Secretary when H6 was barred from entry in 2023. Mrs Braverman said: “We know that China is using all means necessary, particularly espionage and exploiting vulnerabilities in the UK to get access to state secrets and other sensitive information that can harm our national security. “So disclosing the identity of this person will have a deterrent effect on others taking part in similar activities but it will also ensure full transparency is afforded to this issue of utmost national security importance.” The Duke’s precarious position was further undermined when Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, said his involvement with H6 was , and demonstrated how the Chinese state was trying to seek influence and interfere in Britain’s affairs. “The United Front Work Department, which is a branch of the Communist Party, is seeking influence across the UK in everything across social, academic, financial, industrial, and various other ways,” Mr Tugendhat said. A spokesman for the Chinese embassy said: “Some people in the UK are so keen on making up all kinds of spy stories against China. This again is a typical case of the thief crying ‘catch thief’. Their purpose is to smear China and sabotage normal people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK. We strongly condemn this.”While it's the end of an era for Findlay's Vacuum and Sewing on the North Shore, the location won't be vacant for long as Lee's Music is primed to take over the building by next spring. 's storefront has been at its location at 249 Tranquille Road since 1983. Owner and operator Patti Montpetit said she has worked at the store since 2002, bought the business in 2004 and has run it with her family since. It's last day of operation was Saturday, Dec. 28. “I’m ready for retirement, I have two wonderful grandchildren and I want to move back to the Island. I miss the ocean,” said Montpetit. “The community is impacted every time a family business closes down, of course it does. But unfortunately, we have to live our lives too.” With Findlay’s vacating the location, a deal was struck with Lee’s Music, which will be moving in some time next year. Montpetit said The Sewing Machine Doctors will be taking over the business’ sewing machine repair contracts and Hi-Tech Vacuums will be doing vacuum repairs “We wanted to make sure we didn’t leave everybody in the lurch, we are the last sewing machine sales people here,” Montpetit said. While the business had searched for a new owner, Montpetit said no buyer could be found. She said she's always had to compete with online shopping. “It’s a sign of change, and change happens and we have to allow that in life. It’s sad when you’re not shopping local, you notice Amazon prices are starting to rise because there’s no competition,” she said. “Nowadays I almost feel obsolete.” Montpetit said since the store announced it was closing she has heard from hundreds in the community wishing her the best. “The North Shore is amazing, the storefront’s been here forever, it seems like, and our community has always supported us,” she said. “I’m going out on a happy note, because I know that my clients appreciated this, and a sad note, because we're leaving them.” Mike Miltimore of Lee’s Music and Riversong Guitar says he has been consolidate his operations at his location at 13th Avenue and Battle Street, selling off the former Riversong Guitar location on Lorne Street two years ago. As part of a , Riversong Guitar has found a new guitar factory in Sicamous in a former houseboat manufacturing facility. Miltimore said he sold his Battle Street location three years ago, making way for a five-storey condominium complex, and Lee’s Music will have to make the move to the North Shore by April 1, 2025 when his lease is up. “When you’re in a place for 22 years, things like your office get pretty stagnant and sometimes you need those changes just to go through and clean and reorganize and have a refresh," Miltimore said. “We are excited to go into the North Shore, which we believe has had a lot of investment and it's becoming the arts and culture centre of Kamloops." He said music lessons, the retail music store and some guitar manufacturing will be moved to the new North Shore location. With the new digs also comes new possibilities. “Maybe we have an outdoor stage in the parking lot on the side, because we’re right on Tranquille,” he said. “We got all sorts of ideas like that, running around and working with the NSBIA [North Shore Business Improvement Association].” Founded in 1974, the announcement of the move coincides with the 50th anniversary of Lee's Music. While she plans on possibly doing some travelling and design work in retirement, Montpetit said she was happy that Lee’s Music will be taking over her location. “It's nice to know that another family business is moving into my old family building,” she said. With Miltimore required to be out of his Battle Street location by the beginning of April, he said he’ll be clearing out some of his stock. “We have an absolute ton of gear that we don’t want to move,” he said. “If anybody is looking for a musical instrument or has a need for something kind of old, we’ve got 50 years of stock that we’re willing to make some deals on.”

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