234win ph login register Kargil, Nov 23: Union Minister of Power, Housing, and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar Saturday concluded his three-day visit to Ladakh flagging off National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC)’s green hydrogen buses and visiting the waste-to-art sculpture site in Leh. Khattar had arrived in Leh on Thursday for a three-day visit, his maiden after assuming office. During his visit, he laid the foundation and inaugurated several projects. Khattar also met the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh and senior officials of the Ladakh administration and reviewed several projects and schemes under his ministry. On the last day of his tour, he flagged off the NTPC’s green hydrogen fuel cell buses as part of the Green Hydrogen Mobility Project, Leh. The project is the world’s highest altitude (3650m MSL) green hydrogen mobility project. After the flag-off, Khattar travelled 12 km in one of the H2 buses from the H2 filling station to the Leh airport. He congratulated NTPC for its contribution to the energy security and decarbonisation efforts of the country through the adoption of hydrogen technologies at various fronts like mobility, blending with PNG, green methanol and its overall thrust on renewable energy. Khattar also inaugurated NTPC’s Green Hydrogen Mobility Project in Leh, featuring a hydrogen fueling station, a 1.7 MW solar plant, and five fuel cell buses operating at 11,562 feet. This marks India’s first hydrogen bus deployment on public roads. NTPC targets 60 GW renewable energy capacity by 2032 and leadership in green hydrogen and energy storage. This station would mitigate the carbon emissions of approximately 350 metric tons a year and contribute 230 metric tons per year of pure oxygen into the atmosphere which is equal to the planting of approximately 13,000 trees. Earlier Khattar visited the waste-to-art sculptures site in Leh. The sculptures at the site have been created out of waste and junk material and installed during the Y-20 Summit in 2023.

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Inside America’s federal workforce that Trump has promised to eviscerate. THE tremors from Donald Trump’s decisive electoral victory have hit every corner of Washington. But their maximum intensity is felt by the United States capital’s federal workforce, which comprises tens of thousands of mostly anonymous employees not-so-fondly referred to by Trump as “the deep state.” Few notions have consumed the once and future president more than the belief that his executive power has been constrained by a cabal of unelected bureaucrats. In his first rally of the 2024 campaign in Waco, Texas, Trump framed the bureaucracy as a national adversary, declaring, “Either the deep state destroys America, or we destroy the deep state.” His intention to accomplish the latter is an explicit feature of Trump’s official to-do list, known as Agenda 47. From numerous interviews conducted with government officials spread across eight federal agencies, the overwhelming consensus is that Trump and his allies are not bluffing. And now the Department of Governmental Efficiency (DOGE) has been announced with Trump’s close associate, billionaire industrialist and owner of social media platform X Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy picked to head it. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal last Wednesday, the incoming “efficiency” tsars outlined plans for a “drastic reduction” in regulations and “mass head-count reductions”. Musk and Ramaswamy said they would rely on two recent Supreme Court rulings that limited the authority of federal regulatory agencies to “liberate individuals and businesses from illicit regulations never passed by Congress”. The heart of Trump and his allies have termed as ‘the deep state’ in Washington is bracing for changes that the Doge will bring. — Satellite image ©2020 Maxar Technologies via The New York Times “There’s definitely anxiety, no question,” said Thomas Yazdgerdi, president of the American Foreign Service Association, which represents about 17,000 active-duty and retired service members across six federal agencies. He said diplomats were asking him: “Is my job going to be OK? Will they shut down my bureau? What will happen to me?” Many longtime federal employees expressed exhaustion at the very prospect of a second go-round with Trump. “I believe there will be a significant exodus among the one-third of our workforce that is eligible to retire,” said Nicole Cantello, a former attorney for the Environmental Protection Agency speaking on behalf of the agency’s union, which she represents. “Many of them will be unwilling to relive all the hostility they experienced four years ago.” But most federal workers do not have the option to retire or to transfer their expertise to the private sector. So, while it has not been mentioned, yet, much of their concern centres on Trump’s pledge to re-institute Schedule F, an executive order he issued late in his presidency that would have empowered his administration to convert tens of thousands of civil servants to “at-will” workers, who could more easily be fired and replaced with political appointees. The legality of Schedule F was never tested because President Joe Biden revoked the order when he took office. “They are what makes this government work,” Natalie Quillian, a deputy chief of staff in the Biden White House, said of the federal workforce. Referring to a rule that Biden finalised this spring making it difficult to reinstate Schedule F, she continued, “I think we’ve taken all the actions we can to make sure they are protected and I’m not aware of any other action we can take.” Trump is hardly the first prominent politician to denounce the federal workforce. George Wallace, the former governor of Alabama and four-time presidential candidate, inveighed against “pointy-headed bureaucrats with thin briefcases full of guidelines.” Richard Nixon derisively termed them “little people in big jobs.” And though career government employees often serve in successive administrations from both parties, they are ultimately guided by viewpoints that some might construe as agendas. “It’s clear that there are civil servants with different policy views that work in government,” said David E. Lewis, a professor of political science at Vanderbilt University, who has written on bureaucracies. “And in some ways, that’s by design. We would expect experts to have opinions about what should be done. Sometimes those opinions fall along party lines, and you end up seeing some agencies with more Republicans and others with more Democrats. But historically speaking, that effect has been small.” Trump clearly does not believe this, Lewis acknowledged. “I would say his views of the bureaucracy are more strident than what we’ve seen from recent presidents,” he said. The closest parallel, Lewis added, was the “spoils system” administration of Andrew Jackson’s administration nearly two centuries ago, in which government jobs were doled out to cronies and family members. Officials interviewed warned that making civil servants feel more vulnerable about their livelihood would almost certainly create a chilling effect on how they go about their work. The perception of exhibiting insufficient loyalty to Trump’s agenda is more discomfiting at some agencies than at others. Three mid-level EPA officials said they feared the subject of climate change would be off-limits in the new administration. At the Pentagon, officials were trying to game out what policies might catch Trump’s attention and prompt edicts like the one he announced five years ago on social media, forbidding transgender people from serving “in any capacity in the US Military.” There also are fears inside the Education Department that its legacy of civil rights reforms could soon be terminated, or that Trump will make good on his vow to dissolve the department altogether. Aaron Ament, who served as chief of staff of the Education Department’s general counsel’s office during the Obama administration, said that even if the Trump administration kept the agency intact, it could immediately test the resolve of its staff by cutting back many of the department’s main regulatory and enforcement functions. “During his first term, Trump outsourced higher education policy to for-profit industry executives who systematically dismantled enforcement and regulatory protections for students,” Ament said. “If this term is similar, we could not only see the same harms but find Trump weaponising the Office for Civil Rights to cut off funds for state universities that teach from books he doesn’t like or disagree with him politically.” Even agencies with distinctly non-ideological missions could come under scrutiny. At the Federal Aviation Administration, for example, the mission of safely landing airplanes has found no sceptic among the authors of Project 2025, a conservative policy blueprint for reshaping the federal government. But federal employees at the FAA and elsewhere have noted that Musk’s SpaceX rocket launches are regulated by the agency. Musk also has been openly contemptuous of collective bargaining rights. One FAA official said his co-workers fear that Musk may exercise undue influence in that regard and are concerned that Trump will roll back any protections against discrimination that the new president deems to be “woke.” One intelligence official predicted that many at the CIA would make their career decisions based on whether the new CIA director is respectful of the intelligence community. Several people who were interviewed pointed to Trump’s mercurial character as a factor that might ultimately save them. Though they did not doubt the sincerity of his hostility toward “the deep state,” they strained to imagine a 78-year-old man with a fleeting attention span poring over employee manifests and organisational charts. In the end, what might end up blunting any damage Trump might try to inflict upon the bureaucracy is its own hidebound imperviousness. One former official at the Transportation Department, who asked for anonymity to speak freely, recalled the more than yearlong effort to obtain the funding for a specific, relatively small project that had already been authorised. It was the nature of bureaucracy, the official said: Nothing could be done, or undone, with the stroke of a pen. — ©2024 The New York Times CompanyJust about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Ford F-150 Raptor R Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Cadillac Escalade-V Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 Lucid Air Sapphire What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Edmunds says Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future. ____ This story was provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds . Michael Cantu is a contributor at Edmunds.

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FOR most visitors to York its main attractions - York Minster, Clifford’s Tower and the National Railway Museum - are top of the must-see list. But the historic city harbours lesser-known sights which will surprise and thrill anyone seeking them out. Holgate Windmill is one of them. In its incongruous setting on a hilltop among suburban semi-detached homes, the location of the working structure is in itself interesting. The windmill sits on a small roundabout - once named best in Britain by the Roundabout Appreciation Society. Towering 45ft skywards, the four-storey, Grade ll-listed structure was built in 1770 by George Waud, a miller from Selby. In those days the skyline was dotted with windmills, with about 200 in York and the surrounding area. Today it is Yorkshire's only working windmill and the oldest five-sailed windmill in the country. Visitors enter by one of two doors which would originally have allowed millers to come and go when a sail was positioned across one of them. Inside the wooden interior your eye is drawn upwards towards a number of cast iron wheels and cogs - the ‘tentering’ gear for the millstones above. This allows the miller to set the exact gap required between the two surfaces of the millstones. We visited on a milling day, when volunteers were producing flour to transport to local bakeries. “The local primary school - Acomb Primary - also uses our flour to make food such as crumbles, biscuits and pizzas,” says volunteer Lesley Jones, who is showing my husband and me around. “We are very much part of the community. Local children coming to visit often take some flour home to cook with.” On a calm day, the process is powered by electricity. In suitable conditions wind power is used to turn the sails. We watched as miller Steve Potts - who is also secretary of the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society - carefully made adjustments and checked the flour for consistency. “It can go from fine to coarse,” he says. “The bottom stone stays still while the top one moves round, with small weights in between.” In days gone the small grooves on the millstones would have been re-cut , or ‘dressed’ by mill dressers using chisels, every three to six months. “We do it every three years,” says Steve. The mill produces strong wholemeal wheat flour, coarse strong wholemeal wheat flour, strong wholemeal spelt flour and wholemeal rye flour. The regular rhythm of the workings felt like beating heart of the building as we climbed a ladder to the Stone Floor. The mill has four pairs of millstones - a high number for such a small mill. “You get to know the sounds of the mill, so if something goes wrong you know straight away,” says Lesley. “When the caps turns there’s a creaking noise, and if the wind is in the right direction it makes a musical, humming sound.” Holgate Windmill worked continuously between 1770 and 1933. From then it stood empty and decaying until the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society was formed in 2001. After more than a decade of fundraising a new set of sails was hoisted into place in December 2011. The restoration was completed in 2012. The mill is run by volunteers. “They come from all over Yorkshire including Leeds, Wetherby, Knaresborough and Richmond," says Lesley. A millwright, Dave, visits monthly to carry out maintenance. Says volunteer Alison Leadbetter: “It’s like the Fourth Bridge - the sails can rot at the point where the shutters fix into place. Dave goes up and down tapping, listening for signs of rot. We fill the wood or replace it with another piece.” We climb to the second floor - the Bin Floor - where grain bins sit. There’s wall-mounted information; exhibitions are also held here. Next is the Dust Floor, where grain is stored in sacks. The mill’s main drive shaft is here - a huge piece of pine tree trunk dating back to 1770. “It may have been a ship’s mast,” says Lesley. From this floor visitors can look up into the windmill’s cap. Young children will enjoy seeking out the many toy rats dotted about the mill - a nod to the days when the rodents were a common sight. A model terrier and a toy cat - likely rat catchers of the times - can be spotted. The views from the mill are stunning, from the city to the White Horse in Kilburn. During Covid the demand for flour was such that the mill went into overdrive to keep up. “We had never sold so much. Queues stretched right down the road. We got through a year’s grain in three months - we were milling about four or five times a week,” says Alison. A gift shop stocks souvenirs including guide books, greeting cards, tea towels and, of course, flour. There’s a toilet too. *holgatewindmill.org; Holgate Windmill, Windmill Rise, Holgate, York, YO26 4TX Open every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday morning from 10am to 12 noon. The mill is in operation on Wednesday and Friday. From April to October Saturday opening extends to 4.00pm. There is no need to book. Entry £5, free for under 16s and to members of the Holgate Windmill Preservation Society. All profits go towards the upkeep of the mill. *Visitors can park on Acomb Road or take a bus. Bus services from the city centre which stop nearby include numbers 1, 5, 5A and the 59 Park + Ride to Poppleton Bar.Who are the Covenant? The Halo universe's alien alliance explained

Jetliner Skids off Runway and Bursts Into Flames While Landing in South Korea, Killing 179TORONTO (AP) — The Utah Hockey Club said players were forced to walk to their game against the Maple Leafs after their bus got stuck in Toronto traffic Sunday night. The team posted a video on social media of team members walking to Scotiabank Arena, with player Maveric Lamoureux saying the bus was “not moving at all.” Several city streets had been closed during the day for the annual Santa Claus parade. The Maple Leafs earned their fourth consecutive win by defeating Utah 3-2. The viral incident prompted Ontario Premier Doug Ford to call the congestion “embarrassing” and “unacceptable,” highlighting his government’s plan to address the city’s gridlock through bike lane legislation. It wasn’t the first time a Toronto visitor had to ditch their vehicle to make it to an event on time. In June, former One Direction band member Niall Horan had to walk through traffic to get to his concert at Scotiabank Arena. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

GLENDALE, Ariz. – Penn State’s James Franklin has never been one to ignore the big picture, whether that’s strictly with his Nittany Lions program or the sport of college football, in general. PSU is in a great spot at the moment, preparing to face Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday. PSU-Boise State is one of the playoff quarterfinal games. But Franklin is not thrilled with the overall health of his sport. There are issues with the transfer portal and NIL, among other things. PSU recently lost talented backup quarterback Beau Pribula to another program, right around the time it became official that Drew Allar was returning to PSU in 2025. One thing Franklin wants to see a commissioner of college football, someone who has the best in interests of the sport in mind. And Franklin has a candidate in mind. “I think one of the most important things that we can do is, let’s get a commissioner of college football that is waking up every single morning and going to bed every single night, making decisions that’s in the best interest of college football,” Franklin said Sunday during Penn State’s Fiesta Bowl media session. “I think Nick Saban would be the obvious choice,” Franklin continued, referring to the former Alabama head coach. “I think if we made that decision Nick will probably call me tonight and say, ‘Don’t do this’. But I think he’s the obvious choice, right? I think there’s some other really good candidates out there. “But that would be a very, very important step moving forward to come up with some solutions and do what’s best for our sport.” · BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks. · Sign up for the PennLive’s Penn State newsletters, the daily Penn State Today and the subscriber-exclusive Penn State Insider ©2024 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Jimmy Carter, former U.S. president and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, dies at 100

The Minnesota Vikings (13-2) take on an NFC North foe when they are at home against the Green Bay Packers (11-4) on Sunday, December 29, 2024. If you are looking for Vikings vs. Packers tickets, information is available below. Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers game info NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more. How to buy Vikings vs. Packers tickets for NFL Week 17 You can purchase tickets to see the Vikings play the Packers from multiple providers. Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers betting odds, lines, spreads Odds courtesy of BetMGM Minnesota Vikings schedule Minnesota Vikings stats Green Bay Packers schedule Green Bay Packers stats This content was created for Gannett using technology provided by Data Skrive.1. A versatile chop, slice, and dice unit so you can drastically *cut* down on food prep and cleanup time with interchangeable blades that can each be popped into the dishwasher. You've been around long enough to know you never want to chop an onion by hand again. Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food, and it has a generous container." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors and three other styles). 2. A durable honeycomb drawer for eliminating the time-consuming drawer excavation you perform every time you're looking for a specific scarf, tie, or pair of underwear before it's time to head out the door. Thanks to its super simple design, the organizer can be assembled simply by snapping the pieces together. Plus, they can expand to fit the size of your drawers. Promising review: "I am a man of many socks, and these helped organize them much better than what I was doing. It's easy to do by color and style." — Think Blue Get it from Amazon for $7.99 . 3. A budget-friendly SkinSmart facial cleanser spray that reviewers compare to the pricier Tower 28 SOS Spray for its ability to target redness and bacteria without drying out your skin. It's suitable for all skin types and is ideal for busy bodies who still want to take good care of their skin. Just spray and go — no scrubbing needed! See it in action on TikTok . Promising review: "I rarely write reviews, but I am already in love with whatever sorcery is in this bottle! This was a TikTok-influenced buy, so I was skeptical. When I got the product, I was having a horrible breakout with a HUGE irritated pimple in the crevice of my nose, and after two days of using it before and after work, it’s gone! It immediately helped the redness and irritation as well, and I'm blown away! After less than a week, my breakout has almost cleared up completely." — Catherine bunch Get it from Amazon for $17.46 . 4. A set of reusable Wad-Free tools you might recognize from Shark Tank if you're tired of laundry day getting derailed by tangled bedsheets. These help maintain a balanced washer drum, reduce dry times, and prevent wet clothes from getting trapped in the sheets. Wad-Free is a small biz that was launched during the pandemic by Cyndi Bray, who had a wadding problem and no available solutions. So they did what anyone would do (JK) — learned CAD (computer-aided design) and invented a genius solution! Promising review: "Wow!!! You wonder if things like this really work and, well, I can absolutely confirm it does! First, I was impressed that the package came with two of the devices because I was only expecting one. So there was one for the fitted sheet and the flat sheet. Finally, I tried it out, and my sheets not only did NOT wad up, but they came out of the dryer feeling fresher, more dry, and unwrinkled! I will be buying a set of these for each of my immediate family members and close friends! What a great gift!!!" — katy Get a pair from Amazon for $19.99 (also available in a four-pack). 5. A nonaerosol dry shampoo powder packed in a travel-friendly compact to prolong wash day and revive greasy locks so you can basically roll right out of bed and into the office and STILL have coworkers complimenting your fabulous hair. Promising review: "I am so glad I gave this product a try, as it works amazingly well on my fine, oily hair. I have used just about every dry shampoo product on the market, and this is by far the best one yet . My hair looks beautiful, and I can now go nearly a week without washing (while still having absolutely gorgeous hair)! I used to have to wash my hair every other day when I was using my former favorite dry shampoo (and it made my scalp itch on day two). This product is definitely worth a try, and it may soon be your favorite!" — Melanie Havert Get it from Amazon for $18 (available in eight styles). 6. Some Sock Ons because no one told you that putting (and keeping) socks on your kid was such a time-consuming, daily ordeal. These stretchy sleeves sit over their sock to keep them exactly where they belong — on their feet. These are designed for ages 6–12 months. Promising review: "These things are GREAT! I normally wouldn't spend money on something that seemed kind of silly like this, but my sister-in-law gave me a box of baby stuff when I had my second kid, and there were two pairs of Sock Ons in there, and I had no idea what they were, but l et me tell you...they are HANDY to have ! So much so that I got on Amazon and bought a pink pair for my daughter. They keep the socks from falling off nonstop. Without these, her socks will fall off like...100 times a day, and with these, they only come off maybe once or twice if she is kicking a lot. It is cold here right now, so I love that they keep her socks on and keep her feet warmer. These would be a good purchase by a parent and a GREAT purchase for a gift because it's something a lot of people won't buy themselves unless they know that they work ! The ONLY downfall is that they cover up part of the sock design...which some of the little baby socks are cute...but it's worth it!" — zoey1012 Get them from Amazon for $14.77 . 7. A convenient automatic cat feeder so your favorite feline never misses a meal, even when a million other things are vying for your attention. Create a personalized meal schedule, and this feeder will dispense a pre-set amount of food up to four times a day. You can even add a cute little mealtime voice memo for when you're away! It plugs into the wall, but it also accepts batteries in case of power outages. Promising review : " We held off for years, telling ourselves our cat would eventually accept his feeding time if we were consistent in ignoring him. Well, here we are. Wish we bought this sooner; best money I've ever spent. Plus, we can more easily leave our cat for a few days without worrying as much. The battery backup is a nice feature, and it's easy to program, and once you get it set up you basically don't need to do anything except monitor the amount of remaining food . My only slight complaint is that the bowl itself is a hollow plastic, so the food hitting the bowl was actually loud enough in the other room to wake us up. So we now just have it dispense onto the mat we have." — Jen E Get it from Amazon for $55.99+ (available in two sizes and four colors). 8. A bleach-free Wet & Forget shower cleaner for not only cleaning but preventing soap scum buildup with minimal effort. Once a week, simply give your shower a spray, let it sit overnight, rinse, and — BOOM — you're done and didn't even break a sweat. Promising review: "I have been having shower draining issues, so there was a buildup of soap scum in my shower. I have a very weak stomach, and cleaning the shower makes me physically ill. I have tried several products that have claimed to be no scrub/wipe but this has been the only one that has worked. I sprayed it after my shower and left it to sit until the next night. Found that A LOT of the grime had disappeared. Now, was it perfect? No. But I think with consistent use, it will get there. Highly recommend this product." — KZ Get it from Amazon for $20.98+ (available in two sizes and two scents). 9. A Dawn Powerwash spray bundle that eliminates the time-consuming dish pre-soak so you can clear out your sink sooner. Just spray, wait a few minutes while it works it's magic, and wipe the stains away. This bundle includes one spray bottle and three refills. It also works great for any other greasy messes you have around the house! Promising review: “The first place I tried this was in my air fryer basket. It gets caked with the grease that comes from the food. The dishwasher doesn't get it clean. I sprayed this on it, and within a few minutes, the soap started turning a brownish color. I sprayed a little more and let it sit for an hour. All of the grease came off with a rinse!! Bonus use: I just used it to get resin off of my and my daughter's hands!! How did I ever live without this??" — A D Get it from Amazon for $18.22 . 10. Or a pack of carborundum sponges if your normie sponge is failing to clear away the burnt-on bits your pans like to hold onto. Promising review: "Nice and thin. You'll find so many more uses for these around the house than just getting stuff off the underside of cookware! I had hard, scaly water deposits on the glass surrounding our powder room faucet (one of those fancy, highfalutin, modern-looking things). I've tried everything for 4 years to get this stuff off. One day, I thought, 'Maybe I'll try my sponges.' Took it all off super easily!!!! The faucet looks like new. My only rec is to spot-test your item first before using it because it will scratch certain surfaces if you scrub too aggressively (for example, it gets the burned-on, weird stuff off of the bottom of my fave Our Place pan, but I rubbed too hard in one spot and it took the color right off lol)." — Hoarder Get an eight-pack from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in two sponge thicknesses). 11. A Shark Tank -approved Souper Cubes freezer tray designed to fit a serving (1 cup) of soup or sauce per cube so you can freeze and then reheat when you need a quick meal instead of defrosting an entire big container. Souper Cubes is a family-run small business with a passion for better frozen meal prep and food waste reduction! Plus, their products are BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. This tray has fill lines on the side of the compartments for half and full cups. Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE. My freezer is so much more organized now. Gone are the days of having to defrost an entire bag of chicken broth for one cup for a recipe. I now have perfectly portioned 1/2-cup and 1-cup blocks ready to go. They fit easily in freezer bags, take up less space, and make me incredibly happy. There was a lot of attention to detail put into the design, and I particularly appreciate the wire inside the rim that holds everything steady — no more worrying about spilling all the liquid on the way to the freezer. Just a fantastic product all around. I purchased this and a cheaper version from another manufacturer at the same time but returned the other product. This one is definitely worth the added cost." — Kate Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in four colors and a two-pack). Check out my colleague's Souper Cubes review to learn more! 12. These rust-resistant double-sided shower hooks because changing out your curtain or liner doesn't have to be such a time-consuming ordeal. Plus, they're engineered with tiny roller balls that glide over the rod without the usual tugging and pulling. Promising review: "Wow. Game changer. I have to change my shower curtain liner a lot because of a humid bathroom (yes, even with a fan on 😬). Though there are greater issues in the world, why wouldn’t you want to save yourself some time with these hooks! Not having to take the curtain off each time I change the liner has really been more satisfying than I had anticipated. Added bonus are the rings themselves; the balls that were added hug the shower curtain rod so they never pop off. Something I never knew I needed either. Love these!" — Jdbouchart Get 12 hooks from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 12 colors). 13. An air-dry leave-in cream so you can get touchable, crunch-free curls and enjoy less frizz without getting the blow-dryer or other heat styling tools involved. It's wash and go, just like you've always dreamed. This cream helps define your natural texture and works best on those with wavy, curly, or coily hair!! Promising review: "I'm so grateful that I found this product. My hair is wavy and frizzy. Every once in a great while, my waves resemble curls, but the frizz is always there. I've only used this product once so far, and I never want to be without it. I put some on after towel-drying (no brushing) my hair, and my waves actually resembled curls! It wasn't instant, so I was skeptical, but after about 15 minutes, I caught a glimpse of my hair in the mirror, and I was amazed. It looked styled rather than a ratty mess. I slept on it, and it still looked great in the morning!!!" — mich0610 Get it from Amazon for $8.39 . 14. A beloved tub of pink cleaning paste for performing small cleaning miracles on virtually any surface in your home without endless scrubbing or constant switching between products. Try it out on those "forever" stains other solutions could never handle, and fly through your cleaning in a fraction of the time. Promising review: "Found this product on TikTok. I don’t think I’ve ever seen value like I do with this product! Literally, use it on EVERYTHING!! Kids and teens have dirt, grime, and grease on their walls? This will make it look like a new paint job. Baseboards need some love? A pea-sized amount of this makes them look brand new. Need a shoe cleaner? PERFECT for sneakers. I could name a million more uses, but I can ASSURE you this is worth every penny. What’s more? You need so LITTLE of this product that it will last a VERY long time. Thank you, TikTok! !!" — Rachel in CLT Get it from Amazon for $5.29 . 15. A genius WD-40 pen that packs all the squeak-quieting, lubricating powers of the tried-and-true formula into a precision-tip pen that's easy to use and even easier to keep on hand for quick fixes, so you don't let that squeaky door live on for far too long. Promising review: "I love WD-40 products and use them for everything. I spray on shovels to keep dirt or snow from sticking, spray around windows and thresholds to deter bugs, clean Sharpies off wood and walls, and, of course, stop squeaky doors. These small direct-point application pens are great. Keep one in the glove box, my kitchen 'junk' drawer, and the house toolbox." — BBP623 Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99 . 16. A pack of stain-lifting pads to take care of stains like freshly spilled wine or old pet accidents on your carpet without you even having to touch it. Simply lay down the pad, stomp, and let it sit. Promising review: "WOW! Honestly, I was a little skeptical of the promise of these pads, but I bought them just to try them out. THEY WORKED AMAZINGLY WELL! Seriously. I have some stains that are 1.5–2 years old. I've tried everything to get them out. I put these pads on the stains (two to cover the spot), let them sit for about an hour, pulled them up, and the stain was gone. I truly couldn't believe it. The pad was yellow. Somehow, the old urine was soaked up into the pad. My carpet looks like new. I couldn't recommend these any higher for what I wanted and what I got. Wish I could give this more than 5 stars. " — Matt Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $27.48 . 17. A 40-pound bag of dust-free clumping litter because somehow you feel like all your time is spent hunched over the cat's litter box digging for gold. Make the chore quicker and easier with litter that's low tracking and quickly clumps for easy scooping. BuzzFeed Shopping editor Chelsea Stuart has this stuff on auto-ship: "I live in a third-story apartment in NYC, so I really don't have many options when it comes to cat litter. With Amazon's subscribe and save, though, I can get a 40-pound bag delivered right to my door, so I don't have to carry it back from a store or even up my own stairs! If you live in a multi-cat household, I think it's especially worthwhile because while those little two-pound bags are easy to carry, they go reallyyyy fast. This stuff also clumps up SO well and keeps odor at bay, which is a major blessing." Promising review : "I can hardly believe how well it does the job. It eliminates odors and absorbs excellently. I will only buy this litter from now on, and my cat 💘s it. P.S.: I've tried at least 10 kinds of cat litter, and they are very costly. This one's price is just right and works in every way I need it to. Thank you!" — Paula Stokes Get it from Amazon for $20.99 . 18. A Shark Tank -approved timed lock box so tempting distractions are LITERALLY inaccessible for a designated amount of time — from 1 minute up to 10 days! Pre-commitment devices like this one are a proven method for combatting decision fatigue and conserving willpower so you can fly through your to-do list and still have time for that oh-so-vital R&R. Kitchen Safe is a small business that previously appeared on Shark Tank pitching their locked timer as an effective way to handle temptations and distractions. Promising review: "This really helps to end chronic procrastination and avoid temptations. For me, I would always get distracted by my phone, but now I can finally stay on schedule and finish what I need to." — Lorenz Get it from Amazon for $59+ (available in three sizes and nine styles). 19. A nonstick microwave pasta cooker for the need-it-now noodle lover. This easy-to-use container cooks and drains so you get perfect al dente pasta every time without waiting for the water to boil or getting several dishes involved. Read our Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker review ! Promising review: "One of those 'why didn't I think of this?' kind of things. It makes cooking pasta so easy and foolproof! No trying to bend/break pasta to get it to fit into a round pan. The instructions tell you exactly how long to microwave it for the different size proportions." — EQUUS Get it from Amazon for $16.99 . 20. A detangling kids leave-in conditioner that'll tame frizz, hydrate curls, reduce breakage, and just generally decrease the amount of time spent fussing over your kid's hair — something you'll both be grateful for. Promising review: "My daughter’s curly hair is usually filled with tangles in the morning because she tosses and turns in her sleep, but this leave-in has been an absolute lifesaver. It is lightweight, adds shine and definition to her ringlets, and best of all, it’s much easier to run a brush through her hair in the morning. This spray also has a fruity scent that my little girl loves. I highly recommend it to other moms." — AME Get it from Amazon for $9.99 . 21. A patented ChomChom pet hair remover if Fido's shedding is taking over your home and you're sick of lugging out the vacuum every three seconds. This uses bristles, not sticky tape, to catch lint meaning you can clean and reuse it over and over and over again. ChomChom Roller is a Massachusetts-based small biz creating an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to sticky lint rollers. Promising review: " TikTok made me buy this, and it is money well spent!! I’m convinced my beagle sheds a full coat of hair and regrows it daily! I use this on my bed every single day, and it blows my mind how well it works. Before this, I was going through four to five disposable sticky rollers a month and spending three times longer to remove dog hair. I am buying these for everyone in my family as Christmas gifts this year! ❤️" — tiff4short Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in multiple styles). 22. An upholstered armless task chair featuring a wide seat for anyone who simply cannot function without sitting like a pretzel and needs a fidget-friendly setup to help them in that the flow. Promising review: "LOVE THIS CHAIR! So comfortable I strangely look forward to sitting at my desk now." — Anonymous Get it from Wayfair for $92.99+ (available in seven colors) 23. A gel toilet cleaning stamp to keep your porcelain throne looking and smelling clean between scrub sessions with approximately zero effort. Cleansing gel releases with every flush, leaving behind a fresh scent and preventing stain buildups. Each stamp lasts for around 12 days! Promising review: "I love these 'stamps.' They keep your toilet clean and make the entire bathroom smell fantastic, clean, and deodorized at all times. They are very easy to use; don't over-complicate the instructions. I did, thinking there had to be more to it than that. You just stick it on the inside of the toilet and it will stay in place and clean the toilet each time it is flushed. I love these!" — J. D. Robinson Get six stamps from Amazon for $5.49 . 24. A windshield cover with a thermal protective layer because it'll defend your car from snow and frost before it ever has a chance to settle in and delay your commute. You'll be happy to skip the scraping, and your boss will be even happier when you actually roll in on time for once. Promising review: "I decided I wanted a windshield cover this winter for my 2012 Dodge Journey — let me just tell you — best investment ever! I live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and our winters tend to be pretty harsh. Right now, our weather is mild, but I have saved minutes of scraping in the morning when there was frost. The best thing about this product is it has elastic to go over mirrors and then flaps to go inside the car to prevent theft. It has worked fantastic. I put my windshield wipers over the material just to help it stay in place, especially when windy, and that has worked great!!" — Katherine K. Get it from Amazon for $19.95 . 25. A pair of nonstick silicone baking mats so you can say "buh-bye" to burnt-on bits that make your sheet pans impossible to clean. AND these have all the same slick, nonstick benefits of single-use parchment paper and foil but without the waste! Promising review: "I was recommended this product by a friend and all I can think is, 'Where has this been all my life?!' Nothing so far has stuck to these, and they are so easy to clean. I bought new baking sheets to go with them, and they keep them so clean!! Food still gets beautifully done but without the need to scrape the residue off your baking sheets afterward. I love this product!!!" — Charmed316 Get a pair from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two styles). 26. A 52-sheet to-do list pad for when you're overwhelmed with all the things that need doing and just don't know where to start. Blank legal pads do not inspire, but this cutie sure does! Promising review: "I LOVE this product! I live off lists every day at work, and this keeps me super organized! I have my daily list, top three priorities, things I need to remember for the next day, and miscellaneous notes all on the same page!" — Ldsappy Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in six colors/styles). 27. A handy bag holder featured on Shark Tank that'll get all your groceries from the car to the house in ONE run. It easily holds up to 80 pounds and can be carried by hand or tossed over your shoulder (it's padded) for hands-free ease. Click & Carry is a Los Angeles-based, woman-owned small biz founded by Kim Meckwood as a way to solve her own struggles lugging shopping bags around. Since then, the Click & Carry has been utilized for a range of uses, from carrying paint cans to sports equipment. Promising review: "I heard about this product from a friend and had been meaning to check it out. My only regret about this purchase is not getting it earlier! I used to dread going to the grocery store due to the hassle of struggling with all my bags and the multiple trips to and from the car. Now, those days are a thing of the past because of this ESSENTIAL product. After realizing my newfound love of this product, I did some research and found all sorts of other uses for it, such as using it to secure my purse to my shopping cart and hooking my dog leashes together to walk both dogs at the same time. I love this product and love gifting it to others as well!" — Lisa Gilroy Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in seven colors). 28. A wall-mounted shower hair catcher if too much of your shower time is spent working to free your fingers from a nest of loose hair. Instead of shaking it off to clog your drain or smearing it on the wall, simply run your fingers through this cat's silicone "teeth" to trap that hairball and move on. Shower Cat is the small business behind this...well..shower cat. Promising review: " This little thing has saved us so much time and effort when cleaning the shower! Just stick it up with the included adhesive, and every time you wash your hair you can just rub your finger along the silicone nubs to catch it. Holds quite a bit of hair, and has outlasted even bleaching the shower. Super simple to clean, and stood up to being sprayed directly with cleaner and rinsed out." — Gwynne Bee Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in white and pink). 29. A convenient waterless pet shampoo to quickly freshen up your furry friend when it's been a tad too long since their last bath. Simply spray it on, towel it off, and enjoy your dog's silky, shiny, freshly scented coat. Promising review: "This product has a somewhat strong lavender smell while applying, instructions say spray — let sit for a minute — towel off excess and brush your dog. The smell is lovely and leaves my dogs' fur feeling clean and soft. I have three large dogs and have used it three times on each dog's full body and still have half a bottle left! Will for sure order again. I have never experienced a product that works so well! " — Sarah Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in three sizes and in three scents). 30. A slide-away storage bag because you're tired of feeling like every waking moment is spent picking up stray Lego blocks and other tiny (aka painful) toys. This drawstring compartment doubles as a play mat and, when your kid is done, closes in on itself to whisk away toys quicker than you can say, "Put your toys away." Promising review: "I really like this for my kid's Duplo Lego bricks, but I think it could be used for a lot more than that. I want to get one for my kid's train track. The fabric part is really large and would fit the track on it. I found the cleanup is extremely easy ; all you do is lift up the fabric and it all goes in the bin. An added bonus: My 2-year-old can dump over the bin, and it stays on the fabric part. I also would like to add that I like the fabric on the outside of the bin; it looks durable and good quality ." — KFundy Get it from Amazon for $52.99 (available in four colors). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Marine Construction Ship Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030Legal challenges loom as abortion is enshrined in Arizona's constitutionATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said in posting about his death on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors . He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners . He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian , would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015 . “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.” ----- By Bill Barrow for the Associated Press Associated Press journalist Alex Sanz contributed to this report.

Political tensions are mounting within the Maha Vikas Aghadi as speculation grows about potential defections. NCP Chief Whip Anil Patil suggested that as many as six MLAs could join the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the near future. The Maharashtra assembly elections were a blow to MVA, securing just 46 out of 288 seats compared to the ruling coalition's 230. MLAs from the MVA express concern over their uncertain future and the benefits of being allied with a ruling faction to foster development in their constituencies. (With inputs from agencies.)12 November 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Ismahane Elouafi, EMD of CGIAR attend the inauguration of the Food and Agriculture Pavilion FAO/CGIAR during COP29. Credit: FAO/Alessandra Benedetti This created an unprecedented opportunity to bolster food systems against climate change, improve their environmental impacts, and concretize support for smallholder farmers – some of the people most affected by climate change, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Across the summits, negotiators broadly agreed on the need to integrate food systems into the UN's three environmental frameworks, a step in the right direction given the interconnectedness of food and agriculture, and the environment at large. However, to build on the flagship UAE Declaration on food systems at the COP28 climate talks in 2023, the global community must urgently ramp up financing and action to make good on the ambitious goals set. In other words, the next 12 months to the COP30 climate talks in Brazil are critical for "walking the talk" of the COPs this year. To make the most of the opportunity for food systems to support environmental and climate goals, several steps are needed. The first is increased investment into low-emissions technologies and innovations for food systems. This includes both investment into new and emerging solutions as well as financing for scaling up existing technologies. Just as increased investment and support in recent decades led to a solar energy boom, causing the price of solar panels to fall sharply and became cheaper than fossil fuels, food systems need similar long-term and sustained investments. Channelling international finance towards agricultural research and development would accelerate and scale affordable, impactful, and clean technologies that curb emissions and enhance biodiversity...

Which countries in Europe have banned or want to restrict smartphones in schools?TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City Light and Power is closing South Cass Street, between 14th Street and South Airport Road, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. Crews will be installing overhead primary wire across South Cass Street between Dendrinos Drive and Fairway Hills Drive. Detour signs will be in place. Questions? Call (231)932-4565. BENZONIA — Benzie Area Historical Museum will be closed through Jan. 2. The museum will reopen at 11 a.m. Jan. 3. OKLAHOMA CITY — Stand for the Silent has launched the Stand Out program. Teachers around the United States may nominate students who are positive role models, are kind, show leadership skills, address bullying and more. Winners will receive a T-shirt and gift card. Nominations for the spring semester are accepted from Jan. 1 to April 1. To learn more, visit standforthesilent.org/schools/standout . DEARBORN — The AAA Auto Club Group is continuing its “Tow to Go” program through 6 a.m. Jan. 2. The program provides free transportation for impaired drivers and their vehicles, both AAA members and others. Michigan residents can call 1(855)286-9246 for a ride during the holidays. The service may not be available during severe weather or rural areas. TRAVERSE CITY — Northwest Education Services Career Tech has received an Excellence in Practice Award from the Michigan Department of Education. The health sciences program was recognized in the “Engaging Instruction” category. The program includes hands-on training, clinical rotations and industry certifications for students who are interested in a health care career. Students learn about anatomy, patient care and health care delivery systems. GRAYLING — The Michigan National Guard Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center received $224,000 from the U.S. Army 2024 Environmental Resilience Funding program. Funds will support three projects: habitat restoration for federally-threatened species, Eastern massasauga rattlesnake surveys using the Adapted-Hunt Drift Fence technique and Hungerford’s crawling water beetle surveys. Camp Grayling has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Michigan on project planning and proposals. SCOTTVILLE — West Shore Community College has received a $33,660 Barrier Removal: Direct to Students grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement and Potential. Students can apply for gas cards, emergency grants or technology assistance through westshore.edu/future-students/campus-life/care-team .

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) has created an account on the social platform Cameo, following a handful of her former Republican colleagues cashing in on the app. Boebert joined the platform Saturday, charging customers for personalized messages of her wishing loved ones a happy birthday or offering personal advice. Customers can also ask Boebert their burning questions or receive a pep talk. It has become a trend for former lawmakers, especially firebrand Republicans, to join the social platform after leaving office, beginning with former Rep. George Santos, who created an account after being ousted from Congress last year. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz also joined the app after resigning from office this month, charging up to $500 for personalized messages. Boebert may have different restrictions than her former embattled colleagues, however. Because she is still in office, she must adhere to congressional rules limiting how much money she can make. There are questions on whether Boebert’s use of the app is in violation of House rules that prohibit members from receiving “honoraria,” defined as a “payment of money or a thing of value for an appearance, speech or article.” If Cameo videos are deemed to fall under that category, Boebert may need to close up shop. The Washington Examiner contacted Boebert’s office for comment. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Santos, who maintains his innocence, was ousted from the House last year in the face of identity fraud and campaign finance charges. Gaetz, who faced a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct, resigned after President-elect Donald Trump nominated him for attorney general. Gaetz, who dropped out of the running for attorney general a week later, denies the allegations against him.Mumbai : The highly anticipated horror-comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, starring Kartik Aaryan, is set to premiere on Netflix on December 27. Directed by Anees Bazmee, the third installment of the successful franchise had a stellar box office run after its theatrical release on November 1. Netflix India confirmed the OTT debut of the film through a thrilling Instagram post. In a teaser video, Kartik Aaryan was seen in a suspenseful scene, running from an invisible force before crashing into the camera. The spooky clip featured Netflix’s signature Tudum sound and the caption, “TUDUM: @kartikaaryan has an X-mas surprise for you! Coming soon.” The video concluded with the premiere date, December 27, igniting excitement among fans. A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 continues the legacy of the much-loved franchise, following Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022). The film boasts an impressive cast, including Vidya Balan reprising her iconic role from the original, alongside Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, and Sanjay Mishra. Produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series Films and Cine1 Studios, the film blends spine-chilling moments with comedic twists. The film received both critical acclaim and commercial success, making it one of the standout releases of the year.