Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers celebrated in the locker room Saturday after they wrapped up a playoff spot with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots . But even as they realized one goal by making the postseason, Harbaugh tried to keep things focused on the road ahead by stressing: “There's more to do.” The Chargers (10-6) go into the regular-season finale at Las Vegas knowing they will be at least the AFC's sixth seed and avoid a trip to Buffalo for the wild-card round. Los Angeles currently is in line to face Baltimore in a Harbaugh Bowl rematch, but it has an outside shot at the fifth seed and a trip to Houston if Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh next weekend. While Harbaugh credited his players for the turnaround from five wins last year to double-digit victories this season, Herbert gave most of it to Harbaugh and first-year general manager Joe Hortiz. “They have done such a great job of getting the right guys here. You look in the locker room and everybody plays for each other,” Herbert said. “(Harbaugh's) a competitor, and he wants to win no matter what it is. It definitely shows, and it’s the way everyone fights for him, wants to play for him, and respects him.” Harbaugh is the fifth coach in NFL history to win at least 10 games in his first season with two teams. He is also the eighth to make the playoffs in his first season with two teams. “Very little to do with me. If it goes right, then it’s our players. They’re doing a great job. It’s gone bad a couple times. That’s on me,” he said. “I’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid here from day one, I can’t give enough credit to Derwin James, Justin Herbert, and those two in particular. And Khalil Mack and Rashawn Slater. I mean, stalwarts. Brad Bozeman has come in. He’s been a stalwart. There’s a bunch. There’s probably, like — I counted it up early. There was maybe 15, 15 stalwarts that we had, and it’s grown since then.” Even though the Chargers are 3-5 against teams with winning records at the time they've played them, they are 7-1 against teams that were at or under .500. Four of those wins against opponents with losing records have come by at least 17 points, the first time since 2017 the Bolts have won that many games by as big a margin. Since halftime of their Dec. 19 game against Denver, the Chargers have outscored the Broncos and Patriots 61-13 over six quarters. “That’s the type of football we want to be playing in December, January, and hopefully on. That’s the type of football you want to be playing, especially in these big games like that. It was really good to see,” Herbert said. What’s working Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has said throughout the season it's tough to use the full playbook when the Chargers have short drives. They came into Saturday's game ranked 26th with only 23 possessions of at least 10 plays, but they had four against the Patriots, leading to three touchdowns and a field goal. It was the first time since Week 10 last season against Detroit they have had at least four drives of double-digit plays. What needs help Kickoff return coverage. The Chargers have allowed nine kick returns of at least 30 yards, eighth most in the league. New England's Alex Erickson had three returns for 90 yards, including 34 and 31 yards. Stock up RB J.K. Dobbins was activated off injured reserve and provided a boost to the offense with 76 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Dobbins, who missed four games due to a knee injury, has set career highs in scrimmage yards (983) and rushing yards (842) in his first season with the Chargers. Stock down WR D.J. Chark was targeted four times but didn't have a catch. Chark was signed during the offseason to provide experience and speed to a young receiver group. However, he missed the first half of the season with a hip injury and has played sparingly since his return. He has three receptions on the season. Injuries Three starters — RB Gus Edwards (ankle), LB Denzel Perryman (groin) and OG Trey Pipkins (hip) — were inactive. WR Joshua Palmer (heel) and DB Elijah Molden (shin) were injured in the second half. Key numbers 77 and 1,054 — Receptions and receiving yards by Ladd McConkey, both records for a Chargers rookie. 5 — Consecutive seasons by Herbert with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes, tied with Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson for the most to start a career. 2 — Sacks by Derwin James Jr. against the Patriots, the first time in the safety's seven-year career he has had multiple sacks in a game. What’s next The Chargers go for their first season sweep of the Raiders since 2018 in the regular-season finale. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Joe Reedy, The Associated Press

Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams hit the six-month mark in space Thursday with two more to go. The pair rocketed into orbit on June 5, the first to ride Boeing’s new Starliner crew capsule on what was supposed to be a weeklong test flight. They arrived at the International Space Station the next day, only after overcoming a cascade of thruster failures and helium leaks. NASA deemed the capsule too risky for a return flight, so it will be February before their long and trying mission comes to a close. While NASA managers bristle at calling them stuck or stranded, the two retired Navy captains shrug off the description of their plight. They insist they’re fine and accepting of their fate. Wilmore views it as a detour of sorts: “We’re just on a different path.” “I like everything about being up here,” Williams told students Wednesday from an elementary school named for her in Needham, Massachusetts, her hometown. “Just living in space is super fun.” Both astronauts have lived up there before so they quickly became full-fledged members of the crew, helping with science experiments and chores like fixing a broken toilet, vacuuming the air vents and watering the plants. Williams took over as station commander in September. “Mindset does go a long way,” Wilmore said in response to a question from Nashville first-graders in October. He’s from Mount Juliet, Tennessee. “I don’t look at these situations in life as being downers.” Boeing flew its Starliner capsule home empty in September, and NASA moved Wilmore and Williams to a SpaceX flight not due back until late February. Two other astronauts were bumped to make room and to keep to a six-month schedule for crew rotations. Like other station crews, Wilmore and Williams trained for spacewalks and any unexpected situations that might arise. “When the crews go up, they know they could be there for up to a year,” said NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free. NASA astronaut Frank Rubio found that out the hard way when the Russian Space Agency had to rush up a replacement capsule for him and two cosmonauts in 2023, pushing their six-month mission to just past a year. Boeing said this week that input from Wilmore and Williams has been “invaluable” in the ongoing inquiry of what went wrong. The company said in a statement that it is preparing for Starliner’s next flight but declined comment on when it might launch again. NASA also has high praise for the pair. “Whether it was luck or whether it was selection, they were great folks to have for this mission,” NASA’s chief health and medical officer, Dr. JD Polk, said during an interview with The Associated Press. On top of everything else, Williams, 59, has had to deal with “rumors,” as she calls them, of serious weight loss. She insists her weight is the same as it was on launch day, which Polk confirms. During Wednesday’s student chat, Williams said she didn’t have much of an appetite when she first arrived in space. But now she’s “super hungry” and eating three meals a day plus snacks, while logging the required two hours of daily exercise. Williams, a distance runner, uses the space station treadmill to support races in her home state. She competed in Cape Cod’s 7-mile Falmouth Road Race in August. She ran the 2007 Boston Marathon up there as well. She has a New England Patriots shirt with her for game days, as well as a Red Sox spring training shirt. “Hopefully I’ll be home before that happens — but you never know,” she said in November. Husband Michael Williams, a retired federal marshal and former Navy aviator, is caring for their dogs back home in Houston. As for Wilmore, 61, he’s missing his younger daughter’s senior year in high school and his older daughter’s theater productions in college. “We can’t deny that being unexpectedly separated, especially during the holidays when the entire family gets together, brings increased yearnings to share the time and events together,” his wife, Deanna Wilmore, told the AP in a text this week. Her husband “has it worse than us” since he’s confined to the space station and can only connect via video for short periods. “We are certainly looking forward to February!!” she wrote. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. The Nov. 29 print edition of The Business Journal included The huge rally for U.S. stocks lost momentum on Thursday Eli Lilly is spending another $3 billion to bulk up Known across the globe as the stuck astronauts, Butch WilmoreWill Joe Biden Pardon Trump? What Betting Odds Say After Hunter's PardonMELBOURNE, Australia , Nov. 28, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Global fashion giant SHEIN will bring the ultimate Giftorium experience to life, right in time for the festive season. The SHEIN Giftorium will arrive at Oz Comic-Con Melbourne Xmas Edition for an unmissable experience December 7-8th . On offer will be a vibrant collection of beauty, fashion, home & living products – free and redeemable through participation in various games available at the activation – alongside experiences that will showcase SHEIN’s one-stop-shop range of on-trend and affordable products perfect for Holiday gifting. Oz Comic-Con is Australia’s premier pop culture event gathering fans of comics, movies, TV, anime, gaming, and more. A celebration of all things geek culture featuring exciting panels, cosplay competitions, and exclusive meet-and-greets with stars from the world of film, TV, and gaming. Oz Comic-Con Melbourne Xmas attendees can immerse themselves in a range of SHEIN gifting essentials; Jewellery & Accessories, Home & Living, Office & School Supplies, Toys & Games, and Beauty & Health throughout the SHEIN Giftorium. As well as SHEGLAM being a hero moment. “ Our SHEIN Giftorium experience at Oz Comic-Con will provide attendees the unique experience of selecting their favourite items and festive gifts, whether for themselves or loved ones, through engaging and interactive experiences ,” said a SHEIN Spokesperson. “ Our aim is to connect face-to-face with consumers, with no sales functions taking place at the event itself, the goal is to engage directly with attendees and showcase our range of ultimate Christmas gifting. “ But the experience doesn’t end there – on display will be a select range of key items as a part of the Giftoirum event, however, online is where all our Australian customers can look to dive into the full range available across SHEIN for festive gifting. “ Our customers will find everything under the sun related to fashion and lifestyle, all at cost-effective prices. With an easy shopping process including free returns, customers can shop efficiently from anywhere, ” said a SHEIN spokesperson . With unstoppable style and unbeatable fits, the SHEIN Giftorum experience continues online with a wide product range spanning fashion & beauty, home & lifestyle, accessories, kids, toys & games, electronics & tech accessories, office & school supplies – and so much more. The extensive range ensures that Aussies can find something special for everyone on the list, making holiday shopping a breeze. Embrace the convenience and variety SHEIN offers and make this Christmas memorable with gifts that delight and inspire. SHEIN Giftorium at Oz Comic-Con Melbourne Xmas Edition December 7-8 , Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre: ozcomiccon.com/melbourne-xmas-edition/ * Shop SHEIN for Holiday gift guide ideas: https://au.shein.com/ View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/shein-is-launching-the-ultimate-giftorium-experience-just-in-time-for-the-festive-season-302317926.html SOURCE SHEIN

Published 10:56 pm Sunday, December 29, 2024 By Joshua Windus Georgia Southwestern English professor Blue Argo shared recollections of her efforts in the campaign to elect Jimmy Carter president. While Argo stated that she was not a member of the Peanut Brigade, she did have the opportunity to campaign for Carter at a crucial time and place. Argo had just gotten accepted into graduate school at the University of Iowa before the election. “Since I was going to Iowa, I offered to help in any way I could. Future President Carter and his staff got really excited about that because they had a plan in place.” Argo states that she had a premonition of Carter’s candidacy. “I guess I was a senior, and this [was] before he ever announced that he was gonna run.” Argo told how she dreamed of a Carter presidency. “I had a dream in which there was a fife and drummer boy and President Carter and the flag was flowing behind them. And I woke up, and I told everybody President Carter is gonna be the next President, and everybody just laughed at me.” She told how at the time, there was no indication that Carter was planning to run. “But he did run, and they got very excited about the idea that I was gonna be in Iowa and so connected me with people that they were putting in place in Iowa.” Argo told of conferring with Hamilton Jordan and Jody Powell, along with Tim Kraft. “I got involved with the Johnson County democrats. I started the Carter for President Club at the University of Iowa and was president.” Argo shared details about her introduction to politics. “We met in places in Johnson County quite a bit. We met in Des Moines. We did the caucus thing. I really got kind of soured on politics because I saw the backroom kind of wheeling and dealing that people did.” She shared the focus of their campaign efforts. “When there were political rallies where various candidates would come for forums, we went to those things and talked to people about Carter. I really had a huge impact on the voting population that I talked to, because I knew him.” Argo told how the campaign efforts progressed. “I gave speeches in all kind of places, and speeches at some of these conventions. And then we had the Jefferson Jackson day dinner. We knew this was a big deal because there was always a straw poll. It was the first indication in the nation which candidate was in the lead. We had campaigned hard. Tim Kraft was there and then the Carter’s showed up. Carter won the straw poll handily.” She also shared a memory of how her personal connection with Carter helped with campaigning. Argo recalled talking to one potential voter who was dismissive of her support for Carter. “A woman said ‘yeah sure you know him, and that’s why you want, you say you want, to vote for him. And I said, ‘no ma’am, I know him and I still think he would be. . . the best candidate for president.’ I saw that had an effect on the people standing around me. They all did a double take. And so, you know, just little moments like that, I knew I made an impact.” For more stories about Jimmy Carter please go to www.americustimesrecorder.com/ category/jimmy-carter/zkMe Network Celebrates Second Anniversary, Announces Strategic Ecosystem Rewards Program for 2025

Jimmy Carter dies at 100: Peanut farmer, president, Nobel Peace Prize winner, humanitarianVENHUB GLOBAL, INC., A PROVIDER OF FULLY AUTONOMOUS AND ROBOTIC RETAIL SOLUTIONS, TO LIST ON NASDAQThe team that President-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead federal health agencies in his second administration includes a retired congressman, a surgeon and a former talk-show host. All could play pivotal roles in fulfilling a political agenda that could change how the government goes about safeguarding Americans' health — from health care and medicines to food safety and science research. In line to lead the Department of Health and Human Services secretary is environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine organizer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump's choices don't have experience running large bureaucratic agencies, but they know how to talk about health on TV . Centers for Medicare and Medicaid pick Dr. Mehmet Oz hosted a talk show for 13 years and is a well-known wellness and lifestyle influencer. The pick for the Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Marty Makary, and for surgeon general, Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, are frequent Fox News contributors. Many on the list were critical of COVID-19 measures like masking and booster vaccinations for young people. Some of them have ties to Florida like many of Trump's other Cabinet nominees: Dave Weldon , the pick for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, represented the state in Congress for 14 years and is affiliated with a medical group on the state's Atlantic coast. Nesheiwat's brother-in-law is Rep. Mike Waltz , R-Fla., tapped by Trump as national security adviser. Here's a look at the nominees' potential role in carrying out what Kennedy says is the task to “reorganize” agencies, which have an overall $1.7 trillion budget, employ 80,000 scientists, researchers, doctors and other officials, and effect Americans' daily lives: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The Atlanta-based CDC, with a $9.2 billion core budget, is charged with protecting Americans from disease outbreaks and other public health threats. Kennedy has long attacked vaccines and criticized the CDC, repeatedly alleging corruption at the agency. He said on a 2023 podcast that there is "no vaccine that is safe and effective,” and urged people to resist the CDC's guidelines about if and when kids should get vaccinated . The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines have saved more than 150 million lives over the past 50 years, and that 100 million of them were infants. Decades ago, Kennedy found common ground with Weldon , 71, who served in the Army and worked as an internal medicine doctor before he represented a central Florida congressional district from 1995 to 2009. Starting in the early 2000s, Weldon had a prominent part in a debate about whether there was a relationship between a vaccine preservative called thimerosal and autism. He was a founding member of the Congressional Autism Caucus and tried to ban thimerosal from all vaccines. Kennedy, then a senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council, believed there was a tie between thimerosal and autism and also charged that the government hid documents showing the danger. Since 2001, all vaccines manufactured for the U.S. market and routinely recommended for children 6 years or younger have contained no thimerosal or only trace amounts, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine. Meanwhile, study after study after study found no evidence that thimerosal caused autism. Weldon's congressional voting record suggests he may go along with Republican efforts to downsize the CDC, including to eliminate the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, which works on topics like drownings, drug overdoses and shooting deaths. Weldon also voted to ban federal funding for needle-exchange programs as an approach to reduce overdoses, and the National Rifle Association gave him an “A” rating for his pro-gun rights voting record. Food and Drug Administration Kennedy is extremely critical of the FDA, which has 18,000 employees and is responsible for the safety and effectiveness of prescription drugs, vaccines and other medical products, as well as overseeing cosmetics, electronic cigarettes and most foods. Makary, Trump’s pick to run the FDA, is closely aligned with Kennedy on several topics . The professor at Johns Hopkins University who is a trained surgeon and cancer specialist has decried the overprescribing of drugs, the use of pesticides on foods and the undue influence of pharmaceutical and insurance companies over doctors and government regulators. Kennedy has suggested he'll clear out “entire” FDA departments and also recently threatened to fire FDA employees for “aggressive suppression” of a host of unsubstantiated products and therapies, including stem cells, raw milk , psychedelics and discredited COVID-era treatments like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine. Makary's contrarian views during the COVID-19 pandemic included questioning the need for masking and giving young kids COVID-19 vaccine boosters. But anything Makary and Kennedy might want to do when it comes to unwinding FDA regulations or revoking long-standing vaccine and drug approvals would be challenging. The agency has lengthy requirements for removing medicines from the market, which are based on federal laws passed by Congress. Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services The agency provides health care coverage for more than 160 million people through Medicaid, Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, and also sets Medicare payment rates for hospitals, doctors and other providers. With a $1.1 trillion budget and more than 6,000 employees, Oz has a massive agency to run if confirmed — and an agency that Kennedy hasn't talked about much when it comes to his plans. While Trump tried to scrap the Affordable Care Act in his first term, Kennedy has not taken aim at it yet. But he has been critical of Medicaid and Medicare for covering expensive weight-loss drugs — though they're not widely covered by either . Trump said during his campaign that he would protect Medicare, which provides insurance for older Americans. Oz has endorsed expanding Medicare Advantage — a privately run version of Medicare that is popular but also a source of widespread fraud — in an AARP questionnaire during his failed 2022 bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania and in a 2020 Forbes op-ed with a former Kaiser Permanente CEO. Oz also said in a Washington Examiner op-ed with three co-writers that aging healthier and living longer could help fix the U.S. budget deficit because people would work longer and add more to the gross domestic product. Neither Trump nor Kennedy have said much about Medicaid, the insurance program for low-income Americans. Trump's first administration reshaped the program by allowing states to introduce work requirements for recipients. Surgeon general Kennedy doesn't appear to have said much publicly about what he'd like to see from surgeon general position, which is the nation's top doctor and oversees 6,000 U.S. Public Health Service Corps members. The surgeon general has little administrative power, but can be an influential government spokesperson on what counts as a public health danger and what to do about it — suggesting things like warning labels for products and issuing advisories. The current surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, declared gun violence as a public health crisis in June. Trump's pick, Nesheiwat, is employed as a New York City medical director with CityMD, a group of urgent care facilities in the New York and New Jersey area, and has been at City MD for 12 years. She also has appeared on Fox News and other TV shows, authored a book on the “transformative power of prayer” in her medical career and endorses a brand of vitamin supplements. She encouraged COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic, calling them “a gift from God” in a February 2021 Fox News op-ed, as well as anti-viral pills like Paxlovid. In a 2019 Q&A with the Women in Medicine Legacy Foundation , Nesheiwat said she is a “firm believer in preventive medicine” and “can give a dissertation on hand-washing alone.” National Institutes of Health As of Saturday, Trump had not yet named his choice to lead the National Institutes of Health, which funds medical research through grants to researchers across the nation and conducts its own research. It has a $48 billion budget. Kennedy has said he'd pause drug development and infectious disease research to shift the focus to chronic diseases. He'd like to keep NIH funding from researchers with conflicts of interest, and criticized the agency in 2017 for what he said was not doing enough research into the role of vaccines in autism — an idea that has long been debunked . Associated Press writers Amanda Seitz and Matt Perrone and AP editor Erica Hunzinger contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This story has been corrected to reflect that the health agencies have an overall budget of about $1.7 trillion, not $1.7 billion.

Tariff plan would hurt both the US and Mexico, Sheinbaum tells Trump

Visitors look at unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) products at the 2024 Chengdu International Low-altitude Equipment and Services Expo in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sept. 20, 2024. (Xinhua/Tang Wenhao) CHENGDU, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's first "4S store" for drones has been put into trial operation at a national base for civil unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) testing in southwest China, a move to further boost the country's burgeoning low-altitude economy. The "4S store," officially known as the Low-Altitude Economy Intelligent Equipment Exhibition and Sales Center, started trial operation on Thursday, the Chengdu Daily reported on Friday. The center is run by the testing base "Sky Eye," which is located in Pengzhou, some 70 km from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. Similar to traditional automobile 4S stores, it provides services on drone sales, maintenance, parts and information, according to the report. It also adds supplementary services such as drone insurance, financial services, public education and forum activities. A total of 32 drone-related companies have signed agreements to set up operations within the center. "Here, you can purchase a wide variety of drones with comprehensive functions at competitive prices, while also experiencing a one-stop 'buy and try' service," said Zhou Xiaoming, head of "Sky Eye." Finding test-flight sites and obtaining airspace approvals have long posed challenges for the drone industry in China. Located in the Longmen Mountain range, "Sky Eye" boasts an airspace with an elevation below 1,200 meters and a radius of 5 km, in which numerous types of drones conduct various test missions on a daily basis. On Dec. 8, 2017, "Sky Eye" received approval for airspace use, marking the official establishment of the first civil UAV flight base in southwest China. In August 2022, "Sky Eye" was approved as a national civil UAV testing base, allowing trial flights to be reported just one hour in advance. With this pioneering move, it saw a significant transition for airspace management from an "approval system" to a "notification system" in China, effectively addressing the surging demand for airspace use, reducing user costs, and enhancing operational efficiency, according to the newspaper report. Currently, "Sky Eye" boasts 10 test-flight locations and 19 low-altitude economic application scenarios, making it the largest of 20 national testing bases in terms of quantity in China. It has attracted 132 entities engaged in drone research and development, production, mission payloads and system management, injecting robust momentum into the development of Sichuan's low-altitude economy. China's drone industry has experienced rapid development, with nearly 608,000 UAVs newly registered in the first half (H1) of 2024, an increase of 48 percent from the figure registered at the end of 2023, according to data released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in July. The cumulative flight time of UAVs reached nearly 9.82 million hours in H1, an increase of 134,000 hours over the same period last year. The booming low-altitude economy, propelled by technological innovation, is experiencing rapid growth in China. A report by a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China showed that the sector's value reached 505.95 billion yuan (about 70.37 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, and is projected to surpass 1 trillion yuan by 2026.

It was a big year of news at The Epoch Times Australia, with several stories garnering local and international attention. The cause was taken up by One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson, who later said the retailer had responded to her queries to clarify its position—that store teams are free to mark Australia Day in a way that suits them. “In the past, some of our stores have chosen to display the Australian flag alongside the Aboriginal and the Torres Strait Islander flags, and others have run team and customer activities,” Director of Store Operations Ben Camire told The Epoch Times. Australia Day continues to be a contentious topic as some Indigenous and progressive groups call for the date to be moved. More than one in five Australian adults have high blood pressure, but researchers discovered many are not receiving adequate treatment. Around half of all sufferers are unaware they have an issue. “Blood pressure is the leading cause of death. Lots of people are not aware of that,” said lead author Alta Schutte, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at UNSW Sydney. Bankwest explained its decision had come about because only 2 percent of customers actually visited physical branches, while admitting the change would be “difficult news” for some. The Finance Sector Union criticised the move, saying it would disadvantage older or regional customers. Australian banks closed 424 branches and 718 automatic teller machines (ATM) during the 2023 financial year, proving the cashless trend is moving full steam ahead. Renmark High School, in the Riverland region, had brought in a third-party presenter from mental health clinic Berri. The presenter ushered the girls into a room and proceeded to swear and talk about bestiality and incest, and how those things were accepted under the LGBT banner. The Epoch Times reported some girls had been so upset they had to fake the need for bathroom breaks. It was understood the session happened without parental approval, and without teachers present. Ben Hood, shadow assistant minister for regional South Australia, said he had spoken to many parents about their growing concerns and determined that Renmark may not have been an isolated incident. A court found it was “unreasonable” to demand Ooi get vaccinated because she had a valid work-from-home agreement in place. “I’ve been on this file since 2006. It’s 18 years,” he told The Epoch Times on June 4, during his visit to the Australian Parliament. “That’s slow.” Matas and fellow human rights lawyer David Kilgour authored a report in 2006 that confirmed state-sanctioned organ harvesting was occurring in China. The investigation found the main source of organs was from practitioners of Falun Gong, a spiritual practice from the Buddhist tradition. The cancer, myeloma, is expected to affect 80,000 people by 2043. Myeloma affects plasma cells found inside bone marrow, which creates antibodies to kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi. When a person has myeloma, the cells do not fulfil their function and crowd the marrow so there is not enough room for new working cells to grow. Symptoms include fatigue, prolonged infections, and unexplained bone aches or bruising, but the signs can be subtle and often go undetected for some time. Male-to-female trans woman Roxanne Tickle brought legal action against the founder of the Giggle for Girls app Sall Grover after she blocked Tickle from joining. In Grover’s judgement, Tickle was not a biological woman. However, Justice Robert Bromwich found Grover had committed an instance of “indirect gender identity discrimination,” but not direct discrimination—a broader ground. Grover was ordered to pay $10,000 in compensation and legal costs—a fraction of the $200,000 claimed by Tickle. During the proceedings, the court found that “sex is changeable.” CEO Rachael Wong said the case was a let-down for women across the nation. Consumers were advised to go to their nearest MINI dealer for a free software upgrade at no cost. The story was one of many during the year highlighting the potential dangers of lithium batteries. The court ruled that the company cannot avoid responsibility for a fine or daily penalty for non-payment and must also pay the commissioner’s court costs. In October 2023, the Office of eSafety fined what was then Twitter $610,500 after it failed to satisfactorily answer questions about harmful content on its platform, particularly child sexual abuse material. This fine, issued under Australia’s Online Safety Act, could incur daily penalties of $780,000 for each additional day the company does not respond. The notice, issued in February 2023, required the platform to prepare a report about the extent to which it had complied with eSafety’s expectations for the year leading up to January. The deadline for submission was March 29, and the required form included 31 numbered questions, many with sub-questions. The conservative commentator, aged 83, faces a total number of 34 charges against him. Jones has always insisted he is innocent throughout the process, and has an active defamation case against Nine Entertainment newspapers that will likely be put on hold until the criminal trial takes place. The Juru people of the Burdekin region said the ceremony had become commercialised and were practiced divorced from their original traditional context—to ensure people were safe on the “country.” “What I can see today is Welcome to Country has become a bit of, it’s a business that supports some individuals and that’s where, again, they’re losing the cultural insight of what the Welcome to Countries are about,” Juru Indigenous elder Randall Ross told 4BC Radio.A look at how some of Trump's picks to lead health agencies could help carry out Kennedy's overhaul

Illinois leaders mourn Carter, honor legacy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. severely lags behind China in shipbuilding capacity, lawmakers and experts have warned, as the Biden administration tries to build up the country's ability to develop and produce weapons and other defense supplies to fend off war. Speaking at a congressional hearing Thursday, Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said the country lacks the capacity to “deter and win a fight” with China and called for action. “Bold policy changes and significant resources are now needed to restore deterrence and prevent a fight” with China, Moolenaar said. China’s navy is already the world’s largest, and its shipbuilding capacity, estimated to be 230 times larger, dwarfs that of the U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking Democratic member of the committee, told Fox News last week that “for every one oceangoing vessel that we can produce, China can produce 359 in one single year." The U.S. government has come to see China as its “pacing challenge," and officials have warned that Beijing is pursuing the largest peacetime military buildup in history, raising concerns about how the U.S. would respond and ensure victory in case of a conflict in the Indo-Pacific, where tensions are high in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea . Krishnamoorthi on Thursday warned that a weak military industrial base could invite aggression and argued that strengthening it is necessary to avoid war with China. “History tells us we need a healthy defense industrial base now to deter aggression and make sure the world’s dictators think again before dragging the U.S. and the world into yet another disastrous conflict,” Krishnamoorthi said. National security adviser Jake Sullivan called it a “generational project” to fix the problem after the American shipbuilding industry had its “bottom fell out” in the early 1980s. “Part of it is we don't have the backbone of a healthy commercial shipbuilding base to rest our naval shipbuilding on top of,” Sullivan said Wednesday at the Aspen Security Forum in Washington. “And that's part of the fragility of what we're contending with and why this is going to be such a generational project to fix.” The challenge in shipbuilding has been “especially immense,” stemming from the hollowing-out of the U.S. manufacturing base where its workforce shrank and suppliers left, Sullivan said. And it is part of the broader problem of a weakened U.S. military industrial base, as manifested in the weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, Sullivan said, when Kyiv in eight weeks “burned through a year's worth of U.S. 155-millimeter artillery production." “Decades of underinvestments and consolidation had seriously eroded our defense industrial base, and there was no way around it,” Sullivan said. The head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Adm. Samuel Paparo, warned last month that the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East were eating away at critical U.S. weapons stockpiles and could hamper the military’s ability to respond to China should a conflict arise. He said providing or selling billions of dollars worth of air defenses to both Ukraine and Israel were hampering U.S. ability to respond to threats in the Indo-Pacific. “It’s now eating into stocks, and to say otherwise would be dishonest,” he told an audience at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Nov . 19. Several researchers at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies said China’s rapid military buildup could allow the country to prevail over the U.S., especially in case of a prolonged conflict. “China’s massive shipbuilding industry would provide a strategic advantage in a war that stretches beyond a few weeks, allowing it to repair damaged vessels or construct replacements much faster than the United States,” the researchers wrote in June. On Thursday, the congressional panel heard suggestions from experts who said it would take time to rebuild the defense industrial base, but for quicker fixes, the U.S. could innovate to make low-cost and autonomous systems and tap resources of its allies. “We need to look at co-production of whether it's munitions in Australia or shipbuilding in Korea,” said William Greenwalt, a non-resident senior fellow at the Washington-based think tank American Enterprise Institute. “We need to get numbers as fast as we can," he said.1. An Our Place ovenware set complete with three gorgeous stone baking dishes perfect for cooking and serving, as well as the top-rated Oven Pan that they'll be able to use for just about anything. As a giant stove griddle for less dishes? Yep! In the oven for baking and roasting? Well, of course. It's cute and multifunctional! With the set, they'll be able to bake, roast, braise, serve, and SO much more. Promising review: "This ovenware set is wonderful! The different pieces are so versatile,... t hey’re a breeze to clean , and look so pretty that they can go from oven to table. I’m in love with them!" — Stephanie S. Shipping info: All orders with in-stock items take up to two business days to process and generally take 1-7 business days for delivery. Get it from Our Place for $115 (originally $195; available in four colors). 2. A fancy set of truffle-infused hot sauces for the person who loves to add some spice to their meals. With this set, they'll get a ~sophisticated~ spice with three different levels of hotness. Promising review: "I'm loving this variety pack!! The flavor is sweet and earthy with just a bit of spice (the black one is very mild, and the hotter one is more like low medium heat). I'm eating it on everything! One of my favorite simple things to have it on is rice with just a little bit of butter and Truff. Unbelievably good!!" — L. Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (also sold individually, in two-packs, and packets). 3. An easy-to-use SodaStream so they'll have yummy, refreshing sparkling water whenever they want it! Not only will this limit plastic bottle use, but you're helping them save tons of $$$ not buying cases of LaCroix every month. 😅 The SodaStream also comes with a 60-liter Co2 cylinder, a one-liter BPA-free reusable carbonating bottle, and lime flavoring! Reviewers suggest also buying two CO2 cartridges and trying various natural fruit flavors to spice things up! Promising review : "Why didn't I buy this sooner? Let me start by saying I drink a lot... A LOT... of seltzer. I was going through multiple cans a day which added up quickly in my garage and was a hassle to return). The Sodastream Terra has been a welcomed change in our household. I keep three 1L bottles cold on hand in the fridge at all times and rotate them around as we use them. The machine itself is so easy to use and fits right under the cabinets in my kitchen with very little footprint. The first canister lasted around a month, depending on how much fizz you enjoy it could last more or less. The CO2 quick connect is very easy to install as well making this item 1000% worth the time and energy to make my own seltzer vs buying at the store." — MM Get it from Amazon for $49.99 (available in three colors). Check out BuzzFeed editor Abby Kass's full SodaStream review . 4. An indoor herb garden for those who love gardening, but don't have the yard to do so. This compact garden features two different grow modes (for fruit and veggies) and has a built-in LED grow light to help them flourish indoors. Promising reviews: " Easily grow vegetables all year round indoors without having to worry about bugs! I love this product. It looks sleek on my countertop. Inbloom Hydroponic growing systems also make great gifts. Excellent quality and price point!" — Carolyn Davis "I purchased this as a gift for a friend and it was most enthusiastically received. Apparently, it was one of their most requested items, and they were absolutely thrilled to be gifted this hydroponic garden. The product is easy to use and doesn’t take up too much space. Such an ideal gift for new homeowners and those wanting to begin growing their own produce in a small space without being overwhelmed. Highly recommend!" — Samuel Brown Samuel Brown Get it from Amazon for $39.99+ (available in two sizes, two styles, and three colors). And grab an herb seed growing kit to complete the gift! 5. An Ember temperature-control smart mug because it can keep their coffee and tea as hot as when they first poured it. It's aaaall controlled through the app where they choose their desired temperature and can even make presets for specific beverages. Fancy stuff, right? Promising review: "Best thing since sliced bread! I hate when my coffee gets cold. I was originally looking for one of those warming coasters, but then, I saw the Ember mugs. ... There was no turning back. I can take my coffee with me into my boss's office, and it still stays hot?? Yes, please. I used that app and have adjusted my temp down to 127 degrees. It stays at that temperature the entire time. I’ve not had an issue with battery life either, doesn’t take me more than an hour to polish off a cup of coffee. I HIGHLY recommend." — Mathews Get it from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in two sizes and 10 colors). 6. A set of the fanciest olive oil, vinegar, and honey they will be bragging about any chance they get! The olive oil is handcrafted from California olives, the vinegar is made with chardonnay grapes and Valencia oranges, and the honey has a surprising orange blossom twist. How delicious does that sound!? Brightland Co. is a small business based in California. Promising reviews: " Wonderful, flavorful high-quality products. I love it all so much! Bright, interesting, and complex flavors in all three! I sent [this set] to my best friend for her birthday — that's how good it is! :) I will definitely buy again. Highly recommend." — Diane V. "WOW — the flavor, the packaging, ALL OF IT! I received Brightland as a gift, and If I had not received the gift, I would not have known about these amazing oils. The flavor is great, the packaging is great, and just the overall experience was amazing. Will purchase again." — Brittany Shipping info: Orders are typically processed within 1–3 business days. Expedited shipping is available for an additional cost at checkout. Get it from Brightland Co. for $88 . 7. An enameled, cast-iron Le Creuset Dutch Oven I'm positive they'll be cooking out of for years to come (seriously, reviewers say they last forever!). It's easy to clean and won't chip or crack even after years of use. Promising reviews: " Best cooking item I've ever bought . It really pays to buy the absolute best sometimes, and this is it in Dutch ovens. I've used it at least twice a week since I bought it. It's such a delight to use." — Consuela S. , Sur La Table customer " A must-have for your kitchen. Beautiful, high quality. Even temperatures and great for roasting anything. So easy to clean also. The hardest decision is the color and size!" — Gail C. , Sur La Table customer Get a 5.5 qt. from Sur La Table for $419.95 (available in 15 colors) or from Amazon for $399+ (available in 10 colors). 8. A Keurig K-Mini coffee maker for a quick and delicious cup of joe before starting their day. Will they get up early enough to stop at the cafe? Debatable. But will they have an easy, single-serve coffee maker at home? Yep, thanks to you! Need some coffee to go with? Try this variety pack of 60 K-Cups ( $36.09 ) or these reusable K-Cups ( $13.95 ) for a low-waste option. Promising review: "It’s the PERFECT size for my dorm room. Super pretty color and super cute. Nothing bad to say about this product. Shipped quickly and works great. Can’t wait for my 2 a.m. essay coffees with this bad boy!" — Mary Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (originally $99.99; available in six colors). 9. A *mini* KitchenAid stand mixer so they can bake to their heart's desire, without taking up a ton of counter space in the kitchen. This baby comes with over 10 attachments that'll allow them to mix dough for cookies, batter for pancakes, and SO much more. Promising review: "This mini is perfect for everything that doesn't need the capacity of my full size KitchenAid. It's great for beating eggs, whipping cream, etc., but it's also ideal for making small-batch cookie dough, dinner rolls, single loaves of yeast bread, crumble toppings, and on and on." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $279.95+ (available in eight colors). 10. An electric wine opener because opening a bottle of vino should be as stressless as possible. They are, after all, about to sit and relax with a glass, right? The modern and sleek design makes it stylish enough to sit right on top of their kitchen counter, too. They'll love it! Promising review: "Luxurious look. This product has a fancy design and is super quiet! It's easy to use, and within seconds, you will have wine ready to pour. Hassle free and a neat way to open bottles of wine. It lights up blue, easy to recharge, and most definitely a good product to give as a gift." — Babi Gendut Get it from Amazon for $19.80 . 11. A chic and compact Beast Blender — a mini version of the viral original but with *way* more color options. The ribbed design helps things blend faster and more smoothly. And bonus points for the matching to-go drinking lid, straws, and storage cap that's included! Promising review: "I bought this for my husband who has started drinking protein powder drinks every morning. The switch from typical blender to The Beast is a much quieter, cleaner, and more compact process... he's very happy with his Mini Blender, and the color Terra is lovely!" — Jan B. Beast Shipping info: Orders typically shipped within 48-72 hours of purchase. Free standard shipping for all domestic orders over $85+. Expedited shipping options also available. Get it from Amazon for $119+ (available in five colors) or straight from Beast for $84.15+ (originally $99+; available in five colors). Check out BuzzFeed's full review of the Beast Blender for more details. 12. An ~app-controlled~ touchscreen air fryer for make quick and delicious meals! With the help of five cooking presets, this Cosori air fryer can help even the worst of cooks make something great. Reviewers rave about making everything from french fries to whole steaks (and some yummy reheated meals in between). Promising review: "I'm obsessed with it. This Cosori air fryer is incredibly easy to operate and clean. The design is sleek and appealing (I leave it out on my counter). And the results have greatly exceeded my expectations. I'm hooked and I think for the foreseeable future I will be using this almost every day. Here are just a few examples of what I've made so far:- Brussels sprouts: the results of cooking these at home in a normal gas oven have always sucked. While not quite restaurant quality (restaurants use oil fryers) the Cosori comes incredibly close and shaves about 10 min of cooking time. - Reheating french fries: This alone was worth the purchase. They were crispy and just as delicious as the night before. - Reheating steak that I cooked to a rare temp the night before on the pan: no complaints and super easy to clean afterward. - Bacon: Way faster, way cleaner (and can easily save the bacon fat) and turned out perfect. I'm so excited to experiment more with this awesome machine. 5/5" — Nolan S. Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in three colors). 13. OR, a Dash compact air fryer that won't take up much space, but will make (or reheat) some amazing meals. Promising review: "Fantastic kitchen tool and well deserving of the hype. It’s helped me immensely when cooking meals in my kitchen, especially with side dishes such as Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and the ubiquitous fried potato. The Dash has removed all the stress of trying to get the timing right when preparing multiple dishes and cooks everything perfectly crisp on all sides. Getting tofu crisped has always been a struggle...but with this, I’ve been able to get results that I’ve been trying to for years. ... Highly recommended. It looks cool and doesn’t take up too much counter space either." — User of Consumer goods/bads Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in five colors). 14. A 12-piece ceramic, nonstick Caraway cookware set to give their kitchen a ✨pop✨ of color with topnotch quality to match. The sauté pan alone is 100% worth the investment because of how many things you can use it for! Bonus points: This bestselling set is oven-safe, has nontoxic coating, AND is easy to store (a lid holder and pan rack are included!). I started out with just the cream-colored sauté pan and loved it so much I knew I *needed* the entire set. TL;DR the hype is absolutely real. This cookware is gorge in person, but I love that it's actually non-stick! It's so easy to cook on, it's easy to clean , and it's cute enough to leave on top of the stove for all (i.e. me) to see. I also love the pan and lid storage that comes with the set. They each fit inside my kitchen cabinets perfectly and really help with keeping things tidy and organized. I'd say it's definitely worth the investment! Learn more about this cookware set in our full Caraway Pan Set review ! This set includes a 10.5" frying pan, 3-qt. saucepan and lid, 6.5-qt. Dutch oven and lid, 4.5-qt. sauté pan and lid, four modular magnetic pan racks, and a canvas lid holder with hooks. Caraway shipping info: Orders shipped through ground usually take between 2-4 business days to deliver once processed. On select products, customers may choose expedited shipping. Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $355.50+ (available in six colors) or straight from Caraway for $355.50+ (originally $545; available in 12 colorways). You can also shop the pots and pans individually on Amazon or Caraway starting at $85. 15. A ✨best-selling✨ wine purifier perfect for wine-lovers (especially wine-lovers prone to headaches). This purifier will even get their cheap wine tasting like they paid the big bucks. When attached, it allows the perfect amount of oxygen into your wine, allowing you to taste the nuances, and enhancing the flavor. Üllo is a wine-focused small business based in Chicago. Promising review: "Life-changing for my wife. Before this, she was not able to drink red wine at all. She has not had a problem at all since." — FLted , Williams Sonoma customer Williams Sonoma shipping info: Standard shipping is 3-5 business days (or $26 for next-day shipping); orders must by placed by December 19 for guaranteed delivery by December 24. Get it from Amazon for $55.99 or Williams Sonoma for $79.95 (also available as a wine decanter and purifier combo ). 16. An automatic grinder that can grind herbs and spices with just a push of a button. It comes with three spice pods that are easily interchangeable, making seasoning while cooking so much easier. BTW, this grinder is battery-operated. Make sure to get a few AA batteries , too! Promising reviews: "Nothing like freshly ground spices to add a little snap to your cooking. The pods snap on and off with ease, and the grind size is very easy to adjust from barely ground to pulverized. ... The ability to group commonly used spices together in threes and carry them across the kitchen or outside to the grill just adds to the usability." — Todd Tittle "I love this thing!!! It works beautifully. I ordered more pods and trays so I could use my various salts. It's easy to switch pods, and the triangular tray is perfect!" — cindybeadlady "My sons bought me this set for a gift and I love it! I use this set every time I cook. I have arthritis in my hands that tends to come and go. The ease of use is fantastic. One-handed wonder! " — MrsMcPatriot Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in seven colors, comes with grinder and two interchangeable pods). 17. A handheld mixer complete with three different attachments for whisking, frothing, and blending. The design is fully electric with a copper motor, which means no tired arms when they're making their favorite meals. It also features an ergonomic, comfy, nonslip handle! Reviewers use this handheld blender for everything from making salsa and soups to beating eggs and frothing milk for coffee! The possibilities are endless with this kitchen gadget. Promising reviews: "I LOVE it! I've intended to get a hand blender for years and finally just did it. I looked at ones that were much more expensive and was worried that this would be cheaply made (because you often get what you pay for). However, I have been pleasantly surprised with this one. At 500 watts, it has serious power, and it is super easy to use. I made tomato soup, and it blended it in under a minute; then, I just popped the bottom off and washed it! Super simple. Super happy with my purchase!" — amazonaddicted "Worked great, feels sturdy, took on boiling temperature to blend, but the top of the shaft stayed cool. Great buy!" — Nol Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (also available with three or seven accessories). 18. An Instant Pot 7-in-1 pressure cooker because it really does it all. Perfect for the cooks with limited space and even better for non-cooks with limited experience. It features 13 pre-programmed and customizable cooking settings for things as simple as soup or rice, to more complicated ventures like slow cooking and sautéing. It's a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and food warmer all rolled into one nifty appliance. Read our full review of the Instant Pot ! Promising review: "This is quite possibly the coolest, most versatile kitchen gadget I’ve ever owned. I love it so much that I’ve purchased two more for friends and relatives. What can it do? I think the real question is, 'What can’t it do?' I truly believe you could replace every cooking appliance (including your oven and stovetop) and do EVERYTHING in the Instant Pot. I purchased two sizes for my own use: the 3-quart (which is my almost-every-day workhorse for two-person dishes) and the 8-quart (which I bring out to handle my dinner party dishes). Everything I’ve tried has been fabulous. In the realm of kitchen appliances, there is no better investment than the Instant Pot. Highly recommended!!!" — Stereoman Get it from Amazon for $79.99 . AND a very handy pressure cooker magnetic cheat sheet set that'll be perfect as a stocking stuffer or matching bonus gift. It's got TONS of useful information like suggested cooking times, liquid ratios, and more. Cooking anything with an Instant Pot will be so much easier (and faster) with this! Promising review: "These magnets assisted me in using my Instant Pot for the first time and I love it. It was very helpful with the cooking time and very accurate. The different items I've made in the pot have come out perfect. The instructions were easy to follow for my older children to use as well. [The magnet on the refrigerator is convenient because] you don't have to go far to look for instructions, just turn around and peek. I recommend using this product for anyone who likes easy quick instructions when preparing food. I also have instructions for the air fryer, and everything has turned out perfect with the instructions as well. Helpful tool." — iverygirl Get it from Amazon for $7.49+ (available in two sizes and in an Airfryer version ). 19. A rapid egg cooker for quick eggs in tons of different styles: hard/medium/soft boiled, poached, scrambled — you name it! This gadget does it all EGGcellently. It also features an auto-shutoff function! It can boil up to six eggs at a time, poach up to two eggs at a time, or make an omelet! There's a poaching tray, omelet tray, a six-egg holder tray, a measuring cup, a recipe book, and access to a recipe database. All nonelectric parts are dishwasher-safe! BuzzFeed's own Samantha Wieder absolutely loves this egg cooker: "I love cooking, I really do, but there are two very inconvenient times that my cooking laziness strikes, and that is first thing in the morning when I wake up, and at the end of the day when it's time for dinner. Thankfully, in the morning, I now have this rapid egg cooker which allows me to make soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or an omelet, all without having to stand over the stove. It's also a great way to whip up a high-protein snack during the day when you're busy with work, school, or just in the middle of a very important Netflix binge. The egg maker will let out a sound when your eggs are cooked, and then, all you have to do is enjoy them!" Promising review: " I didn't believe the hype until I bought it for myself. My boiled eggs come out perfect EVERY TIME. Trust me, this is not one of those kitchen products you buy to make life easier that just ends up sitting on top of the cabinet collecting dust. If you are a deviled egg/hard boiled egg/omelet lover, YOU NEED THIS." — M. Brown Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in seven colors). 20. A sous vide precision cooker so they can have restaurant-quality meals at home, minus all of the effort. This cooker can be controlled right from their phone and even provides cooking notifications from up to 30 feet away! Multitasking has never been so easy. The temperature range is 32-197 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, you get access to over 1,000 recipes, so you'll have inspiration for yummy meals! Get the Anova app here . Promising reviews: "After years of hearing about how great sous vide cooking is, I finally pulled the trigger on this unit, and it really does live up to the hype. Super easy to set up, and the app provides a ton of recipes to use." — PL "Since I started cooking sous vide, my family says my cooking has gone to a new level. I started with the original Anova, and just recently, picked up this Nano. The Nano is awesome because it's much smaller vs. the first Anova, making it easier to store in a drawer or something. It sounds trivial, but by making it easier to grab, setup is so much quicker, and I can cook a beef roast for 30 hours without adding ANY water. If you're just starting out in sous vide, I recommend this cooker." — Jeff Nichols Get it from Amazon for $64.99 . 21. An automatic bread maker , the perfect gift for those who still love their newfound quarantine hobby but hate the time it takes. This bread maker handles the entire baking process from start to finish and allows you to make other things such as cake and jams. Yum! This machine has 12 settings: French, quick bread (no yeast), sweet, 1.5-pound express, 2-pound express, dough, jam, cake, whole grain, and bake. It allows you to select your loaf size and between a light, medium, or dark crust setting. Includes an interior pan and two kneading paddles that are all dishwasher-safe! Promising review: "The machine is perfect!!!! I already made two loaves of bread yesterday and am getting ready to make another loaf today. If you are lazy like me and would rather put all the ingredients into a machine and let it do all the work, this is the bread maker for you. " — Pam Charmley Get it from Amazon for $89.99 . 22. A cold brew pitcher if they're strictly an iced coffee fan. All they need to do is put grounds into the filter, add some water, and let it sit overnight. The next day, they'll have some yummy cold brew and ~you'll~ have a phone full of thank you texts! Promising reviews: " Believe the hype! This thing is the real deal. I bought a second one because I love this iced coffee maker so much! This thing is a game-changer. If you love iced coffee, BUY IT NOW! You won’t regret it. So easy to use and clean. Unbelievable!" — Connie Howard "I am a HUGE believer in the Takeya cold brew coffee maker for several reasons. I have two, one that I use at home, and one that I use in the field doing Army work or on deployments. It requires no electricity to make my delicious cold brew, it is plastic, and it is water-tight. This means in a pinch, I can throw it into the vehicle or into a bag and run out to a new location with no worries about breaking, spilling, or leaking. ... Overall, awesome investment and no real gripes." — electronmods Get it from Amazon for $19.94 (available in two sizes and two styles). 23. OR, a HyperChiller beverage cooler a cool gadget that turns a hot beverage — like coffee, soda, or wine — ice cold in 60 seconds (yes, seconds) flat. All they'll need to do is fill the container with water and keep it in the freezer so it's always ready when needed. The dishwasher-safe container can also be used to chill tea, juice, wine , or whatever else you feel like drinking. No water comes into contact with your beverage, so you don't have to worry about dilution, either. Promising reviews : "Wow. Believe the hype. It really works and is easy to use. So much better than just waiting for your coffee to cool or putting it in the freezer. Great item. Had to wait months for it to be in stock." — Mary E. Burnett Get it from Amazon for $17.49+ (available in five colors). 24. A Breville waffle maker that adjusts the temperature as it cooks and works so well it'll make even to crankiest giftee a morning person. It can make up to four thick and delicious 4-inch waffles at a time, has an auto-temperature adjuster with Smart technology, AND has nonstick coating for easy cleanup. Promising review: "Yes, it's pricey...but so worth it! Having the preset options and timer make it so easy. Our waffles have turned out great every time. The moat is awesome, too, as my husband often overfills, and the batter will spill out, making for easy cleanup." — hkatem Shipping info: Standard shipping is 3-5 business days (or $26 for next-day shipping); orders must be placed by December 16 for guaranteed delivery by December 24. Get it from Williams Sonoma for $219.95+ (available with two or four squares). 25. A soft-serve dessert maker to turn their favorite fruits into a creamy, sorbet treat! It's the perfect gift for anyone with a sweet tooth, but especially for that one person who loves ice cream even in the dead of winter. Promising review: "This deserves 50 stars! Oh my gosh, why did it take me so long to find this amazing gadget! Ice cream lovers, fruit lovers, sorbet lovers — THIS IS THE BEST INVENTION! So easy, quick, delicious, and magical!!" — Jackie Get it from Amazon for $34.49 (available in six colors). 26. A manual food ch o pper so they can quickly and easily chop up fruits, veggies, and even ice in a flash. It's also dishwasher-safe (top rack only!), so cleanup is super simple. Promising reviews: "Great purchase — believe the hype! Makes chopping up veggies super quick!" — Amalia "This is great for cutting lots of veggies super fast . All you have to do is rough chop down your veggies, toss them in, and give it four to five pulls for perfectly diced chunks for salsa or toppings on eggs or tacos. It comes with a handy cover, too, so all you have to do is rinse the blade and toss the container in the fridge or cooler." — Kevin B. Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three colors). 27. A Toshiba voice-controlled microwave that'll allow them to multitask in the kitchen or stay put on the couch for five more minutes (whichever they prefer). This microwave can also be controlled through an app. ... No wonder it's got 36,000+ 5-star reviews! BTW, the voice control feature on this microwave is Alexa-powered, so you'll need an Echo Dot to get her going. Promising review: "I love this microwave!! I needed one that was the same size for a specific space on my counter. Most larger microwaves are extremely expensive if they're of good quality. However, this one was very reasonable, and it's surpassed my wildest expectations. Besides being the perfect size and not being overly heavy, it also connects to my Alexa. I can be doing other things in my kitchen and just talk to Alexa, and she will automatically start the microwave. If you don't have an Alexa, there is an app for the microwave that works with your Wi-Fi. So, that is another option that works really well! I'm extremely impressed by all of the functions available to me! You won't be disappointed if you buy this one!" — Sweetthang Get it from Amazon for $143.99 . 28. A Fellow electric gooseneck kettle to make preparing hot beverages an effortless task. The stainless-steel gooseneck actually makes pouring much smoother and more precise, while the balance handle (see where the thumb goes?) gives you a better grip and less chance of overflow. I've been using my Fellow kettle for yeaaars now (that's mine above on the right!), and it's honestly heaven-sent. Easy coffee in the morning, matcha in the afternoon, and tea before bed. It heats up very quickly, the stainless steel interior makes it easy to clean , and it just looks really sleek on my kitchen counter. All you need to do is add water and place the kettle on the included base, press the 'on' button, set your desired temperature on the LCD screen (it goes up to 212 degrees F), and it heats up in *seconds* . It can also keep the water hot for up to an hour which is extremely convenient for when you know you'll be back for more in a short period of time. TL;DR: It's a must for anyone who loves making hot beverages at home! Fellow is a San Francisco-based small biz that's aaall about coffee, creating high-end coffee grinders, brew systems, mugs, and more. Get it straight from Fellow for $132+ (originally $165+; available in seven colors and four handle finishes) or from Amazon for $156 (available in black only). 29. An electric indoor grill for when they're in the mood for grilling meat or veggies, making a panini, or barbecuing right in their kitchen — any time of year👏 ! The grill plate is completely removable, so it's also super easy to clean, too. Promising review: "Seriously, I love this grill. Recently moved into the city and can't use my grill, so thought I'd give this a try. Man, it's amazing how well this works considering what it is and what it costs. I really can't see why anyone would have ANYTHING negative to say about it. The first two meals I cooked on it looked fantastic and tasted even better. Seriously, if you've been on the fence about this grill, get off and just buy it. You won't be disappointed." — AdventureChuck Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available with or without a viewing window). 30. A NutriBullet blender set complete with not one, but two travel cups! This baby has some ultra powerful blades that can whip up anything they need, from protein shakes and smoothies to homemade salsa and (most importantly) frozen margs. They'll love it! It comes with a regular large blender container and two travel cups. Promising review: "I use this to make smoothies and cashew cream and any other job that calls for a blender. It's powerful and has a specific button for extracting. ... It does a good job for what I need a blender for. Love that it comes with separate blade and cups for personal smoothie to go." — Amazon shopper Get it from Amazon for $67.99 . 31. An espresso machine that's *truly* worth the investment (and the hype). No more Starbucks lines, messed up orders, and hundreds of dollars spent every year on coffee! This baby brings barista-level caffeine right into their home. And BTW, it's a best seller with over 14,000 5-⭐️ reviews! If you're someone who buys a specialty cup of coffee every single day (what's that, like $4 a cup now??), add in the cost of gas/transportation, and you're spending way more on coffee every year. This is definitely worth the investment in the long run! Promising reviews: " This thing lives up to the hype! ... The actual espresso pull mechanism looks and acts exactly as you would see at your local $18-per-cup coffee place just without a barista to spell your name wrong. The steamer attachment also works well and does the job. I literally have a cup (or two) of cafe-quality coffee every morning now, and it is even more gratifying than I thought it would be. ... [It's] an amazingly delicious, dare I say bliss-inducing, coffee experience every day. Absolutely recommend this splurge!" — K Clark "I really love the way this machine works and the espresso and latte that I can make. It makes the espresso easily and much quicker than any machine I have used. The taste and texture of the lattes are beyond compare. " — Tom T. (Make sure to check out the entire review, they give TONS of advice on use, benefits of the machine, and more.) Get it from Amazon for $549.95 (available in black and stainless steel). 32. A Levo II to make cooking from scratch a much more realistic (and fun) possibility for your giftee. They'll be making infused butter, oil, honey, and even salad dressing or gummy candy (among a ton of other things) with ease. PS: You can even make soaps and bath bombs with the Levo. All you have to do is fill the herb pod and set your dry or activation cycle, add oil or butter, set your infuse cycle, dispense, and enjoy. Levo is a woman-owned small business founded in 2016 by Christina Bellman and based in Denver, Colorado. Promising review: "We love our Levo II! Can't imagine a better way to spend time than learning how to make my own infused oils that help our whole family, whatever the need. Want to add zest to a recipe? Make a concoction to help your loved one sleep? Try a new salad dressing without the mess? Whatever the need, LEVO II will help make an oil, a botanical, a new soap, tea, or a lotion that is perfect. The app is abundant with recipes and ideas, so I feel supported with each and every step. Easy, fast cleanup. End-to-end customer experience is exceptional!" — Kendall E. Coleman Get it from Amazon for $299 (available in five colors). 33. An electric matcha maker that will grind and whisk the matcha for them. This cool gadget even comes with matcha leaf packets so they can have the freshest, cafe-level matcha lattes every morning and afternoon. Just select the preferred strength and go! Cuzen Matcha is an Asian-owned small business with the goal to make authentic, fresh matcha available in homes all over the world in a sustainable way. Promising review: " This machine will change my life, not only health-wise but also saving money from buying so many matcha lattes from cafes. Obviously, for the price point, you want incredible matcha, and let me tell you, this product is worth every penny. ... The design is beautiful. It’s the most beautiful device I have in my apartment, but the most impressive thing is how quickly it creates a perfect and delicious shot of matcha. I like my matcha strong so the two times strength is beyond perfect for me. I can drink the premium blend straight, and it tastes smooth and not bitter. Watching the machine do its thing is so much fun. Knowing that it’s grinding the leaves and then producing fresh matcha powder is so cool and fun, and when you drink it , you know you’re experiencing this tea the way it was meant to be experienced." — Lisa , Cuzen Matcha Customer Cuzen Matcha shipping info: All orders received before noon in PST will be fulfilled on the same day. The rest will be fulfilled on the next day. Expedited shipping is available. Get it from Cuzen Matcha or from Amazon for $299 (available in two colors). How I'd describe your gift-giving skills: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Sam Darnold-led Vikings down Packers for ninth straight winJim Harbaugh and Chargers focused on accomplishing more after wrapping up playoff berth Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers celebrated in the locker room Saturday after they wrapped up a playoff spot with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots . Joe Reedy, The Associated Press Dec 29, 2024 2:02 PM Dec 29, 2024 2:05 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert celebrates during the second half of an NFL football game , Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers celebrated in the locker room Saturday after they wrapped up a playoff spot with a 40-7 victory over the New England Patriots . But even as they realized one goal by making the postseason, Harbaugh tried to keep things focused on the road ahead by stressing: “There's more to do.” The Chargers (10-6) go into the regular-season finale at Las Vegas knowing they will be at least the AFC's sixth seed and avoid a trip to Buffalo for the wild-card round. Los Angeles currently is in line to face Baltimore in a Harbaugh Bowl rematch, but it has an outside shot at the fifth seed and a trip to Houston if Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh next weekend. While Harbaugh credited his players for the turnaround from five wins last year to double-digit victories this season, Herbert gave most of it to Harbaugh and first-year general manager Joe Hortiz. “They have done such a great job of getting the right guys here. You look in the locker room and everybody plays for each other,” Herbert said. “(Harbaugh's) a competitor, and he wants to win no matter what it is. It definitely shows, and it’s the way everyone fights for him, wants to play for him, and respects him.” Harbaugh is the fifth coach in NFL history to win at least 10 games in his first season with two teams. He is also the eighth to make the playoffs in his first season with two teams. “Very little to do with me. If it goes right, then it’s our players. They’re doing a great job. It’s gone bad a couple times. That’s on me,” he said. “I’ve been drinking the Kool-Aid here from day one, I can’t give enough credit to Derwin James, Justin Herbert, and those two in particular. And Khalil Mack and Rashawn Slater. I mean, stalwarts. Brad Bozeman has come in. He’s been a stalwart. There’s a bunch. There’s probably, like — I counted it up early. There was maybe 15, 15 stalwarts that we had, and it’s grown since then.” Even though the Chargers are 3-5 against teams with winning records at the time they've played them, they are 7-1 against teams that were at or under .500. Four of those wins against opponents with losing records have come by at least 17 points, the first time since 2017 the Bolts have won that many games by as big a margin. Since halftime of their Dec. 19 game against Denver, the Chargers have outscored the Broncos and Patriots 61-13 over six quarters. “That’s the type of football we want to be playing in December, January, and hopefully on. That’s the type of football you want to be playing, especially in these big games like that. It was really good to see,” Herbert said. What’s working Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has said throughout the season it's tough to use the full playbook when the Chargers have short drives. They came into Saturday's game ranked 26th with only 23 possessions of at least 10 plays, but they had four against the Patriots, leading to three touchdowns and a field goal. It was the first time since Week 10 last season against Detroit they have had at least four drives of double-digit plays. What needs help Kickoff return coverage. The Chargers have allowed nine kick returns of at least 30 yards, eighth most in the league. New England's Alex Erickson had three returns for 90 yards, including 34 and 31 yards. Stock up RB J.K. Dobbins was activated off injured reserve and provided a boost to the offense with 76 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. Dobbins, who missed four games due to a knee injury, has set career highs in scrimmage yards (983) and rushing yards (842) in his first season with the Chargers. Stock down WR D.J. Chark was targeted four times but didn't have a catch. Chark was signed during the offseason to provide experience and speed to a young receiver group. However, he missed the first half of the season with a hip injury and has played sparingly since his return. He has three receptions on the season. Injuries Three starters — RB Gus Edwards (ankle), LB Denzel Perryman (groin) and OG Trey Pipkins (hip) — were inactive. WR Joshua Palmer (heel) and DB Elijah Molden (shin) were injured in the second half. Key numbers 77 and 1,054 — Receptions and receiving yards by Ladd McConkey, both records for a Chargers rookie. 5 — Consecutive seasons by Herbert with at least 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdown passes, tied with Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson for the most to start a career. 2 — Sacks by Derwin James Jr. against the Patriots, the first time in the safety's seven-year career he has had multiple sacks in a game. What’s next The Chargers go for their first season sweep of the Raiders since 2018 in the regular-season finale. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Joe Reedy, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Football (NFL) Giants topple Colts 45-33 to eliminate Indy from the playoff race Dec 29, 2024 1:52 PM Bills clinch the AFC's No. 2 seed with a 40-14 rout of the undisciplined Jets Dec 29, 2024 1:36 PM Brock Bowers sets NFL rookie records as the Raiders roll to a 25-10 victory over the Saints Dec 29, 2024 1:35 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says he will nominate former White House aide Brooke Rollins to be agriculture secretary.University of Michigan will no longer use diversity statements in faculty hiring, promotion, tenure

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — Jalen Rucker's 27 points helped Army defeat UTSA 78-75 on Sunday night. Rucker added six rebounds for the Black Knights (6-6). Ryan Curry scored 15 points while shooting 4 for 9 (3 for 8 from 3-point range) and 4 of 5 from the free-throw line and added five assists. AJ Allenspach shot 4 of 4 from the field and 4 for 5 from the foul line to finish with 12 points, while adding eight rebounds. The Roadrunners (6-6) were led by Amir "Primo" Spears, who recorded 22 points and nine rebounds. Tai'Reon Joseph added 16 points and two steals for UTSA. Raekwon Horton finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Army went into halftime ahead of UTSA 39-35. Rucker scored 11 points in the half. Rucker scored 16 points down the stretch in the second half to help lead Army to a three-point victory. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Analysis: Protecting QBs from violent late hits like the one that leveled Trevor Lawrence isn't easy

Former President Jimmy Carter has died at the age of 100. The 39th president of the United States was a Georgia peanut farmer who sought to restore trust in government when he assumed the presidency in 1977 and then built a reputation for tireless work as a humanitarian. He earned a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Carter died Sunday, coming up on two years after entering hospice care, at his home in Plains, Georgia. At age 52, Carter was sworn in as president on Jan. 20, 1977, after defeating President Gerald R. Ford in the 1976 general election. Carter left office on Jan. 20, 1981, following his 1980 general election loss to Ronald Reagan. Here's the latest: President Joe Biden has scheduled a state funeral in Washington for former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 9. Biden also declared Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning across the U.S. Carter, the longest-lived former president, died Sunday at his home in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Biden also ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from Sunday. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday praised Carter for his significant contributions to international peace through the Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal treaties. “President Carter’s commitment to international peace and human rights also found full expression after he left the presidency,” Guterres said in a statement. "He played a key role in conflict mediation, election monitoring, the promotion of democracy, and disease prevention and eradication. These and other efforts earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 and helped advance the work of the United Nations. “President Carter will be remembered for his solidarity with the vulnerable, his abiding grace, and his unrelenting faith in the common good and our common humanity,” Guterres said. King Charles III joined leaders from around the world in issuing their condolences and sharing their reflections on the former president. “It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of former President Carter," the king said in a public statement. “He was a committed public servant, and devoted his life to promoting peace and human rights. His dedication and humility served as an inspiration to many, and I remember with great fondness his visit to the United Kingdom in 1977." President Joe Biden broke from his family vacation in the U.S. Virgin Islands to remember Carter, recalling his predecessor as a role model and friend. America and the world lost a “remarkable leader” with Carter’s death, Biden said, adding that he had spoken to several of the former president's children and was working with them to formalize memorial arrangements in Washington. Speaking for roughly 10 minutes, Biden remembered Carter as a humanitarian and statesman, someone he couldn't imagine walking past a person in need without trying to help them. He represented “the most fundamental human values we can never let slip away,” Biden said. The president repeatedly praised Carter's “simple decency” and his values, saying some will see him as a man of honesty and humility from a bygone era. “I don’t believe it’s a bygone era. I see a man not only of our time, but for all times,” Biden said. “To know his core, you need to know he never stopped being a Sunday school teacher at that Baptist church in Plains, Georgia.” Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on X that Carter's significant role in achieving the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel "will remain etched in the annals of history.” He went on to say Carter's “humanitarian work exemplifies a lofty standard of love, peace, and brotherhood.” Carter will be remembered as “one of the world’s most prominent leaders in service to humanity,” el-Sissi said. President Joe Biden will speak about Carter Sunday evening. The president will make his address from a hotel in St. Croix, from the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he is on a holiday vacation with his family. Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter had one of the great love stories and political partnerships in U.S. presidential history. The former president sometimes called his wife, who died Nov. 19. 2023, “Rosie,” which is a good way to remember how her name actually is pronounced. It is “ROSE-uh-lyn,” not, repeat NOT, “RAHZ-uh-lyn.” They were married more than 77 years but their relationship went back even further. Jimmy’s mother, “Miss Lillian,” delivered Eleanor Rosalynn Smith at the Smith home in Plains on Aug. 18, 1927. The nurse brought her eldest child back a few days later to visit, meaning the longest-married presidential couple met as preschooler and newborn. She became his trusted campaign aide and White House adviser, surprising Washington by sitting in on Cabinet meetings. Then they traveled the world together as co-founders of The Carter Center. Most of the nation saw the former president for the last time at Rosalynn Carter’s funeral. Jason Carter is now the chairman of The Carter Center’s board of governors. He said his grandparents “never changed who they were” even after reaching the White House and becoming global humanitarians. He says their four years in Washington were just one period of putting their values into action and that the center his grandparents founded in Atlanta is a lasting “extension of their belief in human rights as a fundamental global force.” Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter traveled the world advocating for democracy and fighting disease, but Jason Carter said they weren’t motivated by pity, or arrogance that a former American president had all the answers — they ventured to remote places because they could “recognize these people.” They too were from “a 600-person village” and understood that even the poorest people “have the power ... the ability ... the knowledge and the expertise to change their own community.” As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s compassion and moral clarity, his work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless and advocacy for the disadvantaged as an example for others. Biden said he is ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is remembering Carter as a man steeped “in devotion to public service and peace.” The California Democrat said in a statement Sunday that Carter was committed to “honoring the spark of divinity within every person,” something she said manifested in “teaching Sunday school in his beloved Marantha Baptist Church, brokering the landmark Camp David Accords to pave the way to peace or building homes with Habitat for Humanity.” Pelosi also said Carter led “perhaps the most impactful post-presidency in history.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noted in a post on X the special contribution Carter made by brokering the Camp David Accords between Israel and Egypt and through his work with the Carter Center. “Motivated by his strong faith and values, President Carter redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad,” Starmer said. To commemorate Carter’s death, officials with the Empire State Building said in a post on social media that the iconic New York City landmark would be lit in red, white and blue on Sunday night, “to honor the life and legacy” of the late former president. In a statement issued Sunday, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama said Carter’s beloved Maranatha Baptist Church “will be a little quieter on Sunday,s” but added that the late former president “will never be far away -- buried alongside Rosalynn next to a willow tree down the road, his memory calling all of us to heed our better angels.” Noting the “hundreds of tourists from around the world crammed into the pews” to see the former president teach Sunday school, as he did “for most of his adult life,” the Obamas listed Carter’s accomplishments as president. But they made special note of the Sunday school lessons, saying they were catalysts for people making a pilgrimage to the church. “Many people in that church on Sunday morning were there, at least in part, because of something more fundamental: President Carter’s decency.” The longest-lived American president died Sunday, more than a year after entering hospice care , at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023 , spent most of their lives. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” The Carter 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. In his 1975 book “Why Not The Best,” Carter said of himself: “I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry.” 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. After he left office and returned home to his tiny hometown of Plains in southwest Georgia, Carter regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world. Former Vice President Al Gore praised Jimmy Carter for living “a life full of purpose, commitment and kindness” and for being a “lifelong role model for the entire environmental movement.” Carter, who left the White House in 1981 after a landslide defeat to Ronald Reagan. concentrated on conflict resolution, defending democracy and fighting disease in the developing world. Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential election to George W. Bush, remains a leading advocate for action to fight climate change. Both won Nobel Peace Prizes. Gore said that “it is a testament to his unyielding determination to help build a more just and peaceful world” that Carter is often “remembered equally for the work he did as President as he is for his leadership over the 42 years after he left office.” During Gore’s time in the White House, President Bill Clinton had an uneasy relationship with Carter. But Gore said he is “grateful” for “many years of friendship and collaboration” with Carter. Former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, remember Carter as a man who lived to serve others. “Hillary and I mourn the passing of President Jimmy Carter and give thanks for his long, good life. Guided by his faith, President Carter lived to serve others — until the very end." The statement recalled Carter's many achievements and priorities, including efforts “to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David." After he left office, the Clinton statement said, Carter continued efforts in "supporting honest elections, advancing peace, combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn’s devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity — he worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world,” the statement said.P112 million found in safes of Bataan company tagged as PogoNEW YORK (AP) — Top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen is headed back to the World Blitz Championship on Monday after its governing body agreed to loosen a dress code that got him fined and denied a late-round game in another tournament for refusing to change out of jeans . Lamenting the contretemps, International Chess Federation President Arkady Dvorkovich said in a statement Sunday that he'd let World Blitz Championship tournament officials consider allowing “appropriate jeans” with a jacket, and other “elegant minor deviations” from the dress code. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.WASHINGTON – President-elect Donald Trump has named billionaire investment banker Warren Stephens as his envoy to Britain, a prestigious posting for the Republican donor whose contributions this year included $2 million to a Trump-backing super PAC. Trump, in a post on his Truth Social site Monday evening, announced he was selecting Stephens to be the U.S. ambassador to the Court of Saint James. The Senate is required to confirm the choice. Recommended Videos “Warren has always dreamed of serving the United States full time. I am thrilled that he will now have that opportunity as the top Diplomat, representing the U.S.A. to one of America’s most cherished and beloved Allies,” Trump said in in his post. Stephens is the chairman, president and CEO of Little Rock, Arkansas-based financial services firm Stephens Inc., having taken over the firm from his father. Trump has already named many of his nominees for his Cabinet and high-profile diplomatic posts, assembling a roster of staunch loyalists. Over the weekend, Trump announced he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner , father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France. During his first term, Trump selected Robert “Woody” Johnson, a contributor to his campaign and the owner of the New York Jets football team, as his representative to the United Kingdom.