Electric Vehicle Charging Station opens in Gainesville— Oct. 1, 1924: is born in Plains, Georgia, son of James Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. — June 1946: Carter graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. — July 1946: Carter marries Rosalynn Smith, in Plains. They have four children, John William (“Jack”), born 1947; James Earl 3rd (“Chip”), 1950; Donnel Jeffrey (Jeff), 1952; and Amy Lynn, 1967. — 1946-1953: Carter serves in a Navy nuclear submarine program, attaining rank of lieutenant commander. — Summer 1953: Carter resigns from the Navy, returns to Plains after father’s death. — 1953-1971: Carter helps run the family peanut farm and warehouse business. — 1963-1966: Carter serves in the Georgia state Senate. — 1966: Carter tries unsuccessfully for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination. — November 1970: Carter is elected governor of Georgia. Serves 1971-75. — Dec. 12, 1974: Carter announces a presidential bid. Atlanta newspaper answers with headline: “Jimmy Who?” — January 1976: Carter leads the Democratic field in Iowa, a huge campaign boost that also helps to establish Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus. — July 1976: Carter accepts the Democratic nomination and announces Sen. Walter Mondale of Minnesota as running mate. — November 1976: Carter defeats President Gerald R. Ford, winning 51% of the vote and 297 electoral votes to Ford’s 240. — January 1977: Carter is sworn in as the 39th president of the United States. On his first full day in office, he pardons most Vietnam-era draft evaders. —September 1977: U.S. and Panama sign treaties to return the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999. Senate narrowly ratifies them in 1978. — September 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Carter sign Camp David accords, which lead to a peace deal between Egypt and Israel the following year. — June 15-18, 1979: Carter attends a summit with Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev in Vienna that leads to the signing of the SALT II treaty. — November 1979: Iranian militants storm the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 52 hostages. All survive and are freed minutes after Carter leaves office in January 1981. — April 1980: The Mariel boatlift begins, sending tens of thousands of Cubans to the U.S. Many are criminals and psychiatric patients set free by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, creating a major foreign policy crisis. — April 1980: An attempt by the U.S. to free hostages fails when a helicopter crashes into a transport plane in Iran, killing eight servicemen. — Nov. 4, 1980: Carter is denied a second term by Ronald Reagan, who wins 51.6% of the popular vote to 41.7% for Carter and 6.7% to independent John Anderson. — 1982: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter co-found The Carter Center in Atlanta, whose mission is to resolve conflicts, protect human rights and prevent disease around the world. — September 1984: The Carters spend a week building Habitat for Humanity houses, launching what becomes the annual Carter Work Project. — October 1986: A dedication is held for The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. The center includes the Carter Presidential Library and Museum and Carter Center offices. — 1989: Carter leads the Carter Center’s first election monitoring mission, declaring Panamanian Gen. Manuel Noriega’s election fraudulent. — May 1992: Carter meets with Mikhail and Raisa Gorbachev at the Carter Center to discuss forming the Gorbachev Foundation. — June 1994: Carter plays a key role in North Korea nuclear disarmament talks. — September 1994: Carter leads a delegation to Haiti, arranging terms to avoid a U.S. invasion and return President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to power. — December 1994: Carter negotiates tentative cease-fire in Bosnia. — March 1995: Carter mediates cease-fire in Sudan’s war with southern rebels. — September 1995: Carter travels to Africa to advance the peace process in more troubled areas. — December 1998: Carter receives U.N. Human Rights Prize on 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. — August 1999: President Bill Clinton awards Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — September 2001: Carter joins former Presidents Ford, Bush and Clinton at a prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington after Sept. 11 attacks. — April 2002: Carter’s book “An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood” chosen as finalist for Pulitzer Prize in biography. — May 2002: Carter visits Cuba and addresses the communist nation on television. He is the highest-ranking American to visit in decades. — Dec. 10, 2002: Carter is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” — July 2007: Carter joins The Elders, a group of international leaders brought together by Nelson Mandela to focus on global issues. — Spring 2008: Carter remains officially neutral as Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton battle each other for the Democratic presidential nomination. — April 2008: Carter stirs controversy by meeting with the Islamic militant group Hamas. — August 2010: Carter travels to North Korea as the Carter Center negotiates the release of an imprisoned American teacher. — August 2013: Carter joins President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton at the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech and the March on Washington. — Oct. 1, 2014: Carter celebrates his 90th birthday. — December 2014: Carter is nominated for a Grammy in the best spoken word album category, for his book “A Call To Action.” — May 2015: Carter returns early from an election observation visit in Guyana — the Carter Center’s 100th — after feeling unwell. — August 2015: Carter has a small cancerous mass removed from his liver. He plans to receive treatment at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. — August 2015: Carter announces that his grandson Jason Carter will chair the Carter Center governing board. — March 6, 2016: Carter says an experimental drug has eliminated any sign of his cancer, and that he needs no further treatment. — May 25, 2016: Carter steps back from a “front-line” role with The Elders to become an emeritus member. — July 2016: Carter is treated for dehydration during a Habitat for Humanity build in Canada. — Spring 2018: Carter publishes “Faith: A Journey for All,” the last of 32 books. — March 22, 2019: Carter becomes the longest-lived U.S. president, surpassing President George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018. — September 18, 2019: Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter deliver their final in-person annual report at the Carter Center. — October 2019: At 95, still recovering from a fall, Carter joins the Work Project with Habitat for Humanity in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s the last time he works personally on the annual project. — Fall 2019-early 2020: Democratic presidential hopefuls visit, publicly embracing Carter as a party elder, a first for his post-presidency. — November 2020:The Carter Center monitors an audit of presidential election results in the state of Georgia, marking a new era of democracy advocacy within the U.S. — Jan. 20, 2021: The Carters miss President Joe Biden’s swearing-in, the first presidential inauguration they don’t attend since Carter’s own ceremony in 1977. The Bidens later visit the Carters in Plains on April 29. — Feb. 19, 2023: Carter enters home hospice care after a series of short hospital stays. — July 7, 2023: The Carters celebrate their 77th and final wedding anniversary. — Nov. 19, 2023: Rosalynn Carter dies at home, two days after the family announced that she had joined the former president in receiving hospice care. — Oct. 1, 2024 — Carter becomes the first former U.S. president to reach , celebrating at home with extended family and close friends. — Oct. 16, 2024 — Carter for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, having told his family he wanted to live long enough to vote for her. It marks his 21st presidential election as a voter. — Dec. 29, 2024: Carter dies at home. The Associated Press
The Bold Environmental Vision of President Jimmy CarterIn case you missed the bulls with respect to Ripple (XRP), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Cardano (ADA), stay calm as new opportunities soon come your way. While XRP has been reinventing the edges of cross-border payments, DOGE has overjoyed the meme coin community, and ADA benefits from the scaling and eco-friendly systems. These coins have already made their mark. For investors looking for big opportunities, Rexas Finance (RXS) and Polygon (POL) have proven exceptionally lucrative. What Captivates Investors About Ripple, Dogecoin, And Cardano? There is no denying that Ripple (XRP) has created an edge in the market for cross-border payments powered by blockchain technology. Its recent impressive performance was demonstrated due to its partial regulatory clarity. Nevertheless, system monopolization and litigation battles/obstacles are long-term factors that can harm its worth. Becoming a meme and now a serious currency, Dogecoin has adopted social approaches with community surges over it and notably increased utility around merchant acceptances, including but not limited to merchant acceptances. Even so, speculation makes sense because this bull has limits in terms of growing on a long-term scale. Cardano (ADA) also has great fundamentals like the proof-of-stake consensus system and a focus on scale. As for its moderate growth rate, other newer tokens, such as Rexas Finance, are comparatively in the infant stage of their soaring up. Rexas Finance (RXS): the next level of Tokenization Rexas Finance is taking the world of Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenization by storm and turning investment in high-value assets such as real estate or fine arts pieces from the privileged few to a wider audience. Its ecosystem utilizes the power of blockchain technology to allow more people access to assets that are otherwise limited in availability, illiquid, and impervious to the traditional finance industry. This ERC-20 token has a maximum supply of one billion units, which includes 42.5% for presale, 22.5% for staking, and the rest for marketing, team, and partnerships. The presale is at the ninth stage and has raised $22,620,155 so far. Rexas Finance (RXS), through its QuickMint Bot for easy tokenization and Rexas Treasury for multi-chain yield optimization enabled by artificial intelligence, has made it possible to adopt a new form of asset. Currently in its presale stage 9, at the rate of $0.125, it declares at least a 6x return when it reaches the $0.20 listing price. By switching public presales for venture capital funding, Rexas Finance allows retail investor participation in this financial revolution. Polygon (POL): Surges in Price After Redeployment of Major dApps Polygon (POL) is a Layer-2 protocol that helps scale the Ethereum blockchain. Hence, the transaction speed increases, costs decrease, and dApps are utilized more maximally. Polygon is significant in constructing new markets thanks to expansion, demonetization, and decentralization. POL Tokenomics: Market Capital : $1.40 Billion Circulating Supply: POL has a total supply limit of 10 Billion, with 1.97 billion in circulation. POL's tokenomics favors slow capital appreciation, provided the future growth outlook for polygon materializes. The value of POL is estimated to be around $5 within a 10-year time frame, with the market cap hovering stealthily around $60 billion. Nonetheless, based on protocol adoption models, extra incentivization from the treasury would be required to guarantee attractive earnings for validators for the first five years. This is expected to result in spending $170 million on rewards to secure the network and keep it operational. Polygon stands out because of the triple convergence that it has been able to rally. Why RXS is the Smarter Pick Massive Upside Potential: RXS is a growth asset, unlike XRP and ADA, which have matured. RXS provides solutions to real-world issues in the finance space while expanding access to high-value assets. Affordability: RXS's presale price of $0.125 makes it very appealing to new and experienced investors. Conclusion Despite their growing popularity, Ripple (XRP), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Cardano (ADA) are now being challenged by new projects such as Rexas Finance (RXS), as more and more people are being attracted to their unique concepts and ecosystems which are designed with accessibility in mind. So don't wait to buy into the RXS presale or look into POL before the average market does. This is the future of the next wave of successful cryptocurrencies. Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.
Xavier Legette's drop dooms Panthers' late upset push against EaglesThree powerful explosions rock Syrian capital
1. A wooden bread box so stunning you may feel like the owner of a boulangerie every time you reach for a slice of bread. And it's not just serving up good looks! The plexiglass windows will help you know what bread you have at the ready. I've wasted more than one loaf of bread by hiding it in a concealed bread box and forgetting about it. I...will be buying this. I thought it was impossible to forget about bread...and YET. Promising review: "LOVE!! Bread has to be transported frozen to our town. Because of this, our bread gets super moist, molds quickly, and even gets soggy inside the bag before using it. This bread box really helps! Now, I have DRY STORAGE for my bread and it doesn't mold within a few days of buying it. This works great and looks great! Nice to have an organized place for all my bread loaves." — AkLiz2011 Get it from Amazon for $69.97+ (available in four colors). 2. A ceramic honey jar that'll look like it was plucked straight from the Hundred Acre Wood and placed on your counter. Pooh Bear might miss it, oh bother. Promising review: "I wanted a small honey pot to put next to my tea bag holder and coffee pot. And this little pot is perfect. It holds a honey-bear amount of honey... just right. Also, it is well made and very cute." — Elizabeth Sheraton Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in three colors). 3. A cabinet hammock — a fun fruit bowl replacement for folks who love having produce ~hanging~ around within eyesight (and extra, uncluttered counter space on top of that). Lesli Lenover's shop has all things macrame...even mini plant hangers for your car! The shop is based in Indianapolis. Promising review: "I was so excited to clear off counter space by getting rid of my fruit bowl. The quality is great, thank you!" — Melinda Myrick Get it from Macra-YAY Macrame on Etsy for $33 . 4. An embroidered linen reusable bowl cover so that, despite living in a suburban builder-grade duplex, all your homemade meals will transport you to a seaside cottage the instant you wrap up your leftovers. Stacy Kitchen Decor is a California-based, woman-owned Etsy shop established in 2020 that specializes in handmade reusable kitchen towels, aprons and bags. Promising review: "Love this bowl cover! It fits perfectly and looks so beautiful. It’s also sturdy, as I’ve washed it by hand and all the daisies are intact. I also appreciate the seller's prompt communication." — Nicoco Get it from Stacy Kitchen Decor on Etsy for $11.98+ (originally $17.12+; available in six standard sizes, custom sizes, and three patterns). 5. A floral cottagecore kitchen mat reviews compare to Rifle Paper Co. (without the price tag!!) for folks who want a stain-resistant and nonslip option that'll be as pretty as it is practical. Promising review : "I love Rifle Paper Co. rugs, but they’re really expensive and not super thick or anything. I mostly love their designs. I saw this rug, and it didn’t have a lot of reviews, but I took a chance and am so glad I did! I bought the runner and then the door size, both for my kitchen. I love the design of this rug and the colors! I personally would prefer a straight edge but it’s fine. I washed the runner in the laundry with no issues. It’s easy to vacuum and doesn’t get sucked up constantly. It’s soft and thin, but that’s fine for the price. I love them, and I hope they make more designs! " — Sydney Get it from Amazon for $20.24+ (available in 12 sizes and eight colors). 6. A strawberry tea kettle so you can accentuate your stovetop with an accessory worth keeping out 24/7. Promising review: "This tea kettle is so dang cute and I absolutely love it. The sound it makes when it’s ready is like a train coming, not your typical noise but I love it." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $54.49 . 7. And a strawberry vase to keep this ~berry~ cute theme going strong in your kitchen. Promising reviews: (Strawberry) "Oh my god I am obsessed with this. This is literally my favorite purchase I've made on this website. When I got it I was so excited. The paint is very vibrant and pretty and it's a lot bigger than I thought. I'm in love with this vase and I think you will be too. You need to get this." — Jenna Get it from Amazon for $26.95 . 8. A domed cake stand you can use to display desserts, fruits, and random snacks in a statement-making way. Having food on display is gonna be a surprisingly effective way to make your kitchen feel homey *and* fancy at the same time. Promising review : "I’m so happy with this purchase! It’s a great size, the wood is a beautiful color and I love the acrylic cover. It’s high quality and looks like glass. It’s very clear and shiny. Highly recommend!" — MC4 Get it from Amazon for $39.95 . 9. A quilted oven mitt and pot holder that'll look like the epitome of a comfortable, cozy kitchen. Imagine how you'll look pulling out a homemade pie from the oven with these mitts. You'll be giving off some *primo*-adored grandma energy. Promising review: "There are so pretty. They are as thick as they should be to protect your hand. And they look so colorful and happy." — Bonnie Bon Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in several styles). 10. A daisy-shaped dish brush inside a vase caddy for folks who want a life so darling that even doing the dishes is whimsical. Check out a TikTok of the flower scrubber in action. Promising review : "Love having this on my kitchen sink. It’s happy and cute and makes me happy. One leaf did twist off after a few weeks of use but it’s still cute and I could’ve been more careful holding it. Not a super stiff brush but works well for most hand washing and quick rinses. Brush rinses well and food doesn’t get caught in it. I was happy to find it has a hidden scraper edge on top of the brush. Will def buy again when this one gets gross since it brings so much tiny joy into my kitchen." — Hannah Jo Wilson Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in two colors). 11. An Our Place Dream Cooker that's not just a pretty face. This *treasure* can slow cook, sear, saute, and pressure cook. Having one multi-use appliance can help keep your kitchen from feeling cluttered, encouraging you to cook more often because it's actually a NICE place to be. Dream Cooker? You're dreamy. What's included : Dream Cooker, cooker base, locking lid, inner cooking pot, condensation collector, and detachable power cord. Promising review : "The Dream Cooker is so easy to use, and I was able to try a recipe that I had never made before. It was delicious and came together very quickly. Amazing for a new mama! Cleaning up the Dream Cooker is also easy and it can easily be stored on the counter or down below! The many features are explained in detail and I was able utilize each one seamlessly. Wonderful!" — Missy P. Get it from Our Place for $185 (originally $199; available in four colors). 12. A fruit-themed knife set for anyone who likes a ~sharp~ aesthetic...as long as it's also charming and cheerful. Honestly, though, a good knife set is a true necessity if you're interested in cooking. Why not pick a high-quality option that also makes you smile? What's included: 8" bread knife, an 8" slicing knife, a 7" Santoku knife, a 6-1/2" utility knife, a 3-1/2" paring knife, and 6 sheath covers Promising review : "Got these for Christmas and I'm really impressed. The knives are sharp, VERY sharp and have a nice grip on the handle. My husband's hands are much bigger than mine, so they don't fit him as well, but I do a majority of the cooking, so I'm pleased with them. Love the color coordinated covers, as my previous knives didn't have that and I keep them in a drawer. Highly recommend these knives." — S.C. Get the six-piece set from Amazon for $20.99 (available in four styles). 13. A set of four stoneware measuring cups that'll look like they're from Anthropologie, with a price tag that'll leave room for all the baking ingredients you're gonna fill them with. Promising review : "Looks great decoratively, also functions exactly how it should. Well-made, each cup clearly labeled. Durable from my experience, and a great price considering I could see this exact thing being sold for $40+ at a normal store." — Theo S Get them from Amazon for $18.12 . 14. A peel-and-stick wallpaper to brighten up your home with its marvelous, Mediterranean tile touch. Promising review: "I am IN LOVE. I bought this to use as a backsplash in my rented studio apartment kitchen, which has potential to be pretty but really needs some help. I ordered two rolls thinking that if I liked it in my kitchen, I’d order more to use on the wall behind my bar cart. I loved it so much when it came in that I decided to go ahead and put it up on the big wall and deal with the kitchen later. The pattern is so easy to line up and it looks so good! My tiny, dark apartment instantly looked bigger and brighter. Even up close I can’t tell where the seams are. It was super easy to put up by myself, though I would recommend having another person to help if possible because it would have taken a lot less time if I’d had someone to hold it steady while I lined up the edges. If I could give six stars I would. It’s expensive but worth every penny!" — Lizzy Get it from Amazon on sale for $21.66+ (available in three colors). 15. A cat hand towel that'll lend a helping hand (or, ahem, paw) when you're cooking and cleaning around the house. Cinderella has shown us that furry friends are the *best* at chores. Those are simply the facts. Promising review: "This is the cutest house towel I have ever bought in my entire life! Also the material is actually durable so that if you want to use it you can. I have mine in my bathroom as a hand towel and it is absolutely adorable and looks just like my cat!" — Marl Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 36 styles). 16. A retro-style smoothie maker , which is, to put it lightly, overwhelmingly lovely. This includes a mason jar mug and smoothie bottle, making it the perfect blender for a two-person household. This thing is a Power Puff Girl level appliance — darling, for sure, but it can pulverize ice and frozen fruits in its SLEEP. Promising review: "Wow. I have been through many high end blenders that have broken or just didn’t cut it . Well, I am so amazed at this blender. Perfect size for my smoothies and so easy to use. I love how you simply twist on the lid and turn it on. It blends so nicely and doesn’t leave my protein powder on the sides like my old blenders do. It crushed ice and blends up to a perfect consistency. I’ve never written a review on here before but I am amazed at this!! Not to mention it’s so cute on the counter!" – Casey Get it from Amazon for $35.47+ (available in two colors). 17. An electric can opener/knife sharpener to go with it — if you're into cooking with canned goods, this *treasure* deserves a spot of honor on your counter. This lovely gadget is about to become the very best sous chef. Promising review: "I was looking for a basic simple can opener with a bit of style...this one is it! Works very well, opens cans smoothly. Also the color is perfect!" — Jennifer Cooley Get it from Amazon for $14.44 (available in six colors). 18. A decorative cork canister that'll make your kitchen look clean, cool, and movie-ready. Picture a shelf of these vs. a shelf of cereal boxes. These are a game changer! Promising review: " I absolutely love the look of these storage containers (pictured above, right)! They are so unique and modern. The quality is great, the glass is pretty thick, and they seem very durable. The reason I'm docking one star is because some containers don’t quite seal air tight correctly like the rest. Not sure if it’s the glass container or the cork but I did come across that one issue with some of the jars. Overall though, I would recommend these containers." — Mig and Les Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in three pack sizes). 19. A set of fridge organizers because keeping your food organized in neat little cubbies is gonna feel as satisfying as a tidy preschool closet. Your produce will be sure to thank you. Promising review : "My daughter wanted to organize the fridge after watching a series of TikTok videos! These were exactly what she wanted! Download TikTok for your kids and maybe they will want to help organize, too!" — Timothy C. Get a set of eight bins from Amazon for $25.99 (available in four sizes and in sets of two, four, and six). 20. A set of foldable dining chairs so you can host folks in your dollhouse-sized kitchen in fold-out chairs that are as good-lookin' as the rest of your furniture. Go ahead, be the host who manages to keep things cozy even when it gets crowded. Promising review: "I need folding chairs so the whole family can get together but most of the time we just use two chairs when we don't have company. These chairs fold very easily and store well, but they still offer every bit of comfort that a classic dining chair has. The upholstery doesn't stain easily and spots come up well, but the fabric is quality and classy. I'm always proud to use them when we have guests." — Amazon Customer Get a set of two from Amazon for $152.90+ (available in two colors). 21. A matching set of oil and vinegar dispensers with metal pour spouts sure to add an upscale touch to your space. There's something extra satisfying about removing busy packaging labels from your line of sight — and these are gonna do just that! Promising review : "I LOVE these dispensers!!! They look so cute and make me feel so organized. They dispense liquids really well and do not leak. They come with almost every label you would need." — Tara Foster Get them from Amazon for $22.95+ (available in two sizes, sets of one, two, or four, and in three styles). 22. And a similar coffee syrup dispenser set complete with premade flavor labels for turning your kitchen into the intimidatingly chic cafe you, sigh, don't have in suburbia. New England Stories is a small business that specializes in home and kitchen products. Promising review : "These are worth the money! There are labels for almost every basic syrup as well as blanks so you can label them yourself. If you get a regular size Torani syrup bottle it will hold the whole bottle, so you don't need to worry about story a quarter of the bottle of syrup. SO AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, TOO." — Naomi Get them from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three colors and in two- and six-packs). 23. A cottage-style table in a warm wood with smooth curves — this piece is sure to create an airy space perfect for a bit o' brunch. Promising review: "Small table, but big surface for a small kitchen. A good choice I am glad I made!" – Heidi Get it from Wayfair for $147.99 (available in two colors). 24. Or a three-piece nesting table set that'll provide you with a place to actually sit and enjoy a meal in your kitchen, almost magically creating space without taking any up. Promising review: "Cute, functional and space saver." – Lisa W. Get it from Amazon for $75.99+ (available in four colors). 25. A wooden pedestal so you can elevate soaps, salt and pepper, syrups, or florals on your kitchen counters. Creating different levels can give your space interest and help pull the focus to items you'd prefer to be on display. Yay! Promising review : "Sturdy design and a great value. If it’s very near to water maybe just spray a quick coat of sealer or poly on it to seal it from water damage. Came quickly and looks great with any decor!" — Lara Kessler Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two finishes). 26. A trio of airtight canisters , because storing bulk food in simple ceramics is gonna feel like a breath of fresh air after years of flour flying all over the place every time you tried to shake it out of the store packaging. Promising review : "I was hesitant to buy these online but could not find anything locally I liked. I am so happy with these containers! They are HEAVY and very well made. Much higher quality than I anticipated receiving." — Courtney N. Get it the set from Amazon for $39.99 (also individually sold in different sizes). 27. A charming waterproof shelf liner for impressing your friends with an aesthetic solution that'll keep your shelves from getting gunky. Even opening the fridge is gonna be a delightful surprise at your place. Good on ya. Promising review : "Very good quality liner. I love the daisy print and it is a good thickness. Super easy to cut (I used a box cutter). Definitely recommend!" — Karen Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 10 sizes and 20 patterns). 28. A stove-top spice organizer because any time you can add a warmer material than metal to the kitchens, you should. This spiffy shelf helps create storage space where there once was none. Bless. Promising review : "Purchased a new stove recently, unfortunately I didn’t realize the back didn’t have a indention for my plug box that sticks out from wall. The new stoves are flat in the back and this makes my new stove push out and my spices were falling behind stove. I could have paid an electrician to move the plug box but I purchased this spice rack which fits perfect!!!! Problem solved. I love the metal and wood combo, plus you can decorate with the seasons. Looks expensive but priced right. Great quality!! Hope this helps anyone with the same dilemma." — Barb Get it from Wayfair for $50.99 . 29. A pack of vinyl tangerine decals — these are gonna show off your great ~taste~ by instantly improving your rental's basic beige walls, or your white refrigerator's sterile aesthetic. Promising review: "Love these decals! I’m in a rental space and wanted to spruce things up for the summer without breaking the bank. It took me 20 minutes to do, super easy to stick and smooth out nicely, even on my textured walls. Makes my space so much cozier and is a very budget friendly option, especially for renters. I will say that two of my decals did rip when I was removing them from the paper... cutting the torn pieces off and using on the edge of the wall made for an easy fix. Completely worth the money!!!" — Casey Get it from Amazon for $6.99 (includes 32 leaves). 30. A wood and leather storage rail you can use to store products under your sink, so that even the hidden areas of your kitchen look intentionally put together. OR hang this up on the wall to show off cute utensils and decor. Keyaiira is a Santa Rosa, California-based shop that sells leather and fiber home goods. And grab some S-hooks to open up your options for what you can hang on the rail. Promising review: "Love how simple but unique this is. Great quality and easy to install. Will buy from again!" — Amanda Shaw Get it from Keyaiira on Etsy for $32.99 (available in seven leather loop colors, two rail materials, and three rail lengths). 31. A beeswax candle , because kitchens deserve a dose of decor as much as the rest of your place! Add these to your open cabinets or counter to give your kitchen some character. This small business is in Ukraine and run by Yulia (an Etsy star seller!) who creates gorgeous giftable candles. Want to add more to your mix? There's another mushroom version I love and some terribly cute pine cones . Promising review: "Exactly as advertised! All came in perfect condition." — Christian Flashman Get two from Shop of Happy Gifts on Etsy for $13.60+ (originally $16.99; available in three pairs or as a set of six). 32. A whopping five-tier plant stand open on both sides, so you can see your plants from every angle. This can be an ideal option as a room divider in a small apartment, as it doesn't block any light but creates a divide between spaces. The open and airy shelving system also makes this great for plants that need to be in front of a window — don't lose that lovely sunlight! Reviewers have also used this to hang and store kitchen tools , as the wire grid top and various shelving sizes are great for pots and pans! Promising review: "This is a perfect way to add more plants to your home! It’s not too big but the height and various shelves make it a great accent piece. I was worried about my oversize cat knocking it over however it’s very sturdy! It’s not too heavy so I am able to move it around when I please (pictured above, left)." — Grace Get it from Amazon for $109.99 . 33. A four-slice retro toaster *with a dedicated bagel button* for folks who like their breakfasts juuust so. Whether you're prepping bagels, toast, or frozen foods, the seven shade settings and dual independent control panels are sure to make it amazing. Promising review : "Is it possible...a toaster can be...this sexy? Yes. Absolutely yes. This sexy toaster fit right in my farmhouse-style kitchen with its cool mint-green color and retro vibes. Pros: four slots, and they are the wide-and-long type, meaning those fancier breads fit without squishing the sides of your slice. It has a bagel setting, as well as a nifty reheat button so your toast doesn't get burnt or overly crispy if you aren't hovering over it and miss it pop up and have to retoast it. It is fairly easy to clean, just dump the tray, so no worries about crumbs or bits of bread burning in the bottom and ruining the perfect taste of your slice. The knobs have a neat texture and are adjustable so you can time it just right for Pop Tarts, toast, or toasted sandwich bread. Cons: My husband is a little jealous of how much I love this toaster, and has been asking me if it is better than him. What could I say? I mean it makes TOAST, all he makes is methane gas so... Maybe consider ordering a couples therapy workbook to go with this toaster when purchasing." — Alice R. Get it it from Amazon for $79.99 (also available in a two-slice style and eight colors). 34. A bamboo baker's rack for creating an open shelf aesthetic without wrecking your rental's walls. There are seven levels of shelving, including ample space for awkward gadgets and gizmos that don't fit inside your kitchen cupboards. Promising review: "I have absolutely no prep space in my kitchen. This baker's rack was fun to put together, I did it alone. It holds so much and it evolves with me and my need. I recommend this to anyone who has a tiny kitchen like me! It's super sturdy, versatile, and the bamboo is such a softer look then the metal ones. This was a life saver for my small space. " — Claire Get it from Amazon for $111.99+ (available in two sizes). 35. A nonskid washable runner — that one reviewer confirms is way better than the too-thin washable rugs they've tried before — because your kitchen deserves an eye-catching rug just as much as your living room! Promising review : "I've grown tired of 'washable rugs' that are as thin as paper. They're folded into small squares and placed in bags, and the creases never seem to disappear when you unfold them. This rug lies flat immediately and it features a rubber backing that keeps it in place. What surprised me even more is its remarkable thickness, nearly comparable to a professional anti-fatigue mat. Its thickness effectively protects my spine, making me feel less tired when I leave the kitchen. It's very easy to clean, effortlessly vacuums, and spills can be wiped away with a towel. Cleaning tools easily collect pet hair, too." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in seven sizes and two colors). 36. A renter-friendly Tulip shade for making your rental's boob lighting in the kitchen look luxe. To install, simply mount the ring to the ceiling with double-sided tape and pop on the magnetic shade. Easy as pie! Tulip is a small business from Lori Smyth. Her inspiration? The drab lighting in a college dorm! Her innovative design requires no re-wiring, no power tools, no nothing! Check out the different styles and how easily they install via Tulip's TikTok . Promising review : "I have been searching for a paper lamp or replacement for my current apartment lights, but they either wouldn't fit or it would require too much effort that my landlord wouldn't appreciate. That's when I came across Tulip. I can't be more blunt than this — you literally Command Strip the ring to the ceiling and the shade attaches via magnet... seriously ingenious. " — Oliver O. What's included : Ceiling mount, Tulip shade, 12x removable tape, and 3x screws (as needed for textured ceiling applications). Get it from Tulip for $149 (check out other styles here ). 37. A wicker basket and terra-cotta warming stone — a gorgeous way to serve your homemade rolls, baked breads, and fresh pastries while keeping them toasty warm at the table. Plus, it's sure to make your kitchen look cute when out on the counter. To use, just place the warming stone in the oven until it's hot, then put it in the bottom of the basket, toss your treats on top, and eat up! Promising review: "This is a beautiful and functional bread basket and warming plate combo. I absolutely love it. We host a lot and this is a must have for keeping bread, tortillas, or any other pastries warm. It's the perfect size, looks great, is easy to use, and actually works. It also makes a great gift." — Marge P. Get it from Amazon for $57.99 . 38. A charming pumpkin cocotte so you can serve up your favorite seasonal soups and stews in style. This 16-ounce dish comes with a removable lid and carrying handles. It's oven, broiler, and microwave-safe up to 572 degrees (without the lid) and freezer safe (with the lid). You can also run it through the dishwasher for easy cleanup. Promising review : "I love how adorable this Staub pumpkin cocotte is. I wanted something small for my dips that I could use to bake in the oven but also had a fall feel to it and this is perfect. The size fits perfectly on a table. When using in the oven, I noticed that my food cooked evenly as well. I mean, it's a Staub piece of cookware so it has to be great right?" — Jennifer Sikora Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in three colors and two sizes). 39. A pair of cane dining chairs with plush seats, rattan backing, and metal legs — the mix of materials can bring together your curious collection of found furniture and make your place look eclectic (rather than chaotic). Promising review: "These are easy to build, sturdy, look great in my dining room! Highly recommend." — Lauren Wolf Get them from Amazon for $129.99+ (available in four colors and in 2, 4, and 6-piece sets). 40. A pair of linen café curtains reviewers use both over their windows as a way to create privacy (while still getting light!) *and* as a gorgeous upgrade to unsightly storage spaces. If you find yourself glaring down at the cereal boxes and mismatched dishes you have underneath your kitchen island, set these curtains up and hide that all away *while* making your kitchen look chic-as-can-be! Promising review: "Very pretty curtains! I love how they are thick enough for some privacy yet still let the sunshine in. I chose the taupe striped so I can transition my kitchen for the fall, but think they will look pretty all year long." — Stacy Get them from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three sizes and 18 colors/styles). 41. A mossy garland light — place this on your kitchen table, counter, or over the sink's windowsill to give your kitchen a bringing-the-outdoors-in vibe you'll love seeing at mealtimes. Promising review: "Used this as a garland for my fireplace mantle. So beautiful and soft looking year round." — Bonnie Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in 11 styles). 42. A floral recipe box that'll encourage you to cook more often. Fill this with recipes from friends, family, and your FYP, so you have your favorite meals at-the-ready. Promising review : "Cute and attractive recipe card holder. It holds several hundred 4x6-inch recipe cards. It helps keep my recipes organized while adding nicely to the kitchen decor." — Sonja in Idaho Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in 10 designs). Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.Vice President Kashim Shettima has directed the adoption of technology-driven strategies to combat terrorism, cybercrime, and border security challenges facing Nigeria and the entire African continent. According to him, while Africa and Nigeria are currently navigating some of the most troubling times in areas such as security and economy, the challenges require innovative solutions. Speaking Monday while receiving in audience members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17 from the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), Shettima acknowledged the current security and economic challenges in Nigeria. He said, “Africa and Nigeria are currently navigating some of the most troubling times, especially in the security and economic arenas. The challenges we face require innovative solutions, and AI presents a vista of opportunities to address issues in agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, and security.” Referencing Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous words, the Vice President urged resilience, saying, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” He highlighted the successful implementation of security measures by the Governor of Enugu State, stating: “He has effectively curbed the excesses of those exploiting our security vacuum to cause havoc. This is a testament to what can be achieved with the right strategies.” Shettima also spotlighted Nigeria’s youthful population, with an average age of 16.9 years, as a significant asset. Specifically, he noted that advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) present significant opportunities to improve sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, and security. “Africa is the youngest continent, and our tech-savvy youth are essential in bridging the skill gaps needed to tackle these challenges. Where there is a will, there is always a way,” he affirmed. The Vice President also pointed to successful Nigerian unicorns such as Moniepoint, Interswitch, Flutterwave, and OPay, saying, “Despite our infrastructural deficits, these companies demonstrate that with innovation and determination, we can achieve remarkable success.” Shettima challenged leaders and participants to remain optimistic and proactive, just as he said, “Let the challenges we face inspire us to put in our best efforts. Our youth hold the key to AI-driven progress in agriculture, health, and finance. Together, we can overcome the obstacles and build a prosperous future for Nigeria and Africa.” Addressing the dual nature of AI, the Vice President said, “AI can help us combat emerging threats like terrorism and cybercrime, while also enhancing border security. By leveraging technology, we can replicate African success stories and apply them domestically.” Earlier in his speech, Commandant Joseph Obule Odama of NISS lauded the success of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17, which commenced in February 2024 with 91 participants from Nigeria’s military, paramilitary, federal and state ministries, and five African countries, including Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Rwanda, and The Gambia. “The theme of this year’s course, “Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Economies in Africa: Challenges and Prospects”, has fostered rigorous academic discussion, strategic thinking, and innovative problem-solving,” Odama said. According to him: “Since its inception, NISS has graduated 961 participants, significantly enhancing national security strategies and international cooperation”. Deji Elumoye Follow us on:
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FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Zavian McLean scored 18 points to lead FGCU and Michael Duax secured the victory with a free throw with 21 seconds left as the Eagles defeated Florida International 60-59 on Sunday. McLean shot 7 for 12, including 2 for 5 from beyond the arc for the Eagles (2-5). Rahmir Barno scored 11 points and added five assists and three steals. Jevin Muniz shot 2 of 7 from the field and 5 for 5 from the line to finish with nine points. Jayden Brewer finished with 18 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers (2-5). Jonathan Aybar added 12 points for Florida International. Dashon Gittens also had seven points and eight rebounds. McLean scored 14 points in the first half and FGCU went into the break trailing 30-29. Barno scored a team-high nine points for FGCU in the second half. FGCU outscored Florida International by two points over the final half. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .Perma-Fix Announces Proposed Public Offering of Common Stock
New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team's starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team's starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? New York Jets interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said Aaron Rodgers “absolutely” will remain the team’s starting quarterback and start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Rodgers, who turns 41 next Monday, has been hampered at times during the Jets’ 3-8 start by various injuries to his left leg, including a sore knee, sprained ankle and balky hamstring. Ulbrich said Monday the quarterback came back from the team’s bye-week break ready to go. “All I can say, and you’d have to ask Aaron if he’s fully healthy, but he’s better off today than he’s been as of late,” Ulbrich said. “So he’s definitely feeling healthier than he has probably for the past month. A healthy Aaron Rodgers is the Aaron Rodgers we all love. “So, I’m excited about what that looks like.” NFL Network reported on Sunday that Rodgers, who missed all but four snaps last season with a torn left Achilles tendon, has declined having medical scans on his injured leg so he can continue to play. “I have not been informed of that, either way,” Ulbrich said. Rodgers suffered what NFL Network reported was a “significant” hamstring injury against Denver in Week 4. He then sprained his left ankle against Minnesota in London a week later. The four-time MVP has not been able to consistently move around during games as he has in the past, when extending plays and making things happen on the run became such a big part of his game. Rodgers said leading into New York’s 28-27 loss to Indianapolis last Sunday that it was the healthiest he felt in a while. But he struggled against the Colts, finishing 22 of 29 for 184 yards after a brutally slow start during which he went 9 of 13 for just 76 yards. The Athletic reported last week that owner Woody Johnson broached the idea during a meeting with the coaching staff of having the banged-up Rodgers sit after the Jets’ loss to Denver in Week 4. With Rodgers’ struggles and perhaps compromised health the past few games, a hot debate on social media and sports talk shows during the past week has been whether the quarterback should take a seat in favor of Tyrod Taylor. But when asked if there has been any talk of shutting down Rodgers, Ulbrich replied flatly: “There has not.” In a follow-up question, the interim coach was asked if Rodgers will, in fact, be the Jets’ starting quarterback at home Sunday against the Seahawks. “Absolutely,” Ulbrich said. He added that he didn’t feel the need to sit down with Rodgers and address all the reports and chatter outside the facility. “No, I feel like we are on the same page,” the coach said. Last week, Ulbrich said he and his staff would take “a deep dive” into what the team could do better after losing seven of its past eight and being on the verge of missing the postseason for the 14th consecutive year. Ulbrich opted not to make any changes to the coaching responsibilities of his staff and he will continue to run the defense as the coordinator. He also said there would not be any personnel changes coming out of the bye, barring injuries. “But definitely, we created a really clear vision of where we need to improve and found some things,” Ulbrich said. “Obviously, you find the things that you’re not doing well, you need to improve upon them, but then also found some some things that I think we can really build upon. So I was excited in both ways.” Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas last Tuesday, six weeks after he also dismissed coach Robert Saleh. On Monday, the team announced it would be assisted by The 33rd Team, a football media, analytics and consulting group founded by former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, in its searches for a general manager and coach. Ulbrich insisted that isn’t creating an awkward situation for him, in particular, as he and his staff focus on the present while the organization begins planning for the future. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. “In all honesty, it’s not at all,” Ulbrich said. “My singular focus is just finishing the season off the right way, playing a brand of football we’re all proud of, myself included. And that starts with Seattle.” Injuries LB C.J. Mosley said he’s “progressing” in his return from a herniated disk in his neck, but is still uncertain about his availability for Sunday. Mosley said Monday was the first time he put on a helmet since the injury occurred during pregame warmups against New England on Oct. 27. ... Ulbrich said the team is still evaluating LT Tyron Smith, who missed the game against Indianapolis with a neck ailment. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Advertisement Advertisement
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says Leicester City's Jamie Vardy is England's best striker in his generation - better even than Harry Kane or Wayne Rooney. The Italian is preparing for a reunion with the 37-year-old forward and his former club at the King Power Stadium on Saturday. When asked about Vardy, who has started all 10 of Leicester's Premier League matches this season, scoring four times, Maresca said: "Vardy is fantastic and people don't realise how good he is. "I know that England has been quite lucky with strikers, like Kane, Rooney and many others, but if you ask me he has been the best one. "He can do many things, like run in behind and finish, but the best thing for me is his open mind. "Last year he changed the way he was playing by dropping in, linking the play and he still wants to learn. But of course he still has the one thing that is most difficult to find, which is to score goals. "He can be out for one week, without training, and play on the Saturday or Sunday and he's the one who scores." When asked whether his Chelsea forwards are as easy to manage, Maresca added: "It is easy to coach Nico [Jackson] and Christo [Nkunku] also. "But the biggest difference between Nico, Christo and Jamie is that, with age, you know exactly what you need every day, because of the experience. When you are young, you don't know exactly what you need day by day to arrive at the game 100 per cent. That was the big difference between them." Vardy launched his career in non-league after getting released by boyhood heroes Sheffield Wednesday, going through spells at Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town before joining Leicester in the Championship in 2012. Within four seasons, he famously grabbed the goals as the Foxes top scorer to help the Foxes win the Premier League in unlikely circumstances, scoring in 11 consecutive matches to break a record set by Ruud van Nistelrooy, winning Premier League and the Football Writers' Association's player of the year awards. Vardy subsequently won the FA Cup in 2021, but his limited international career underwhelmed, scoring seven times in 26 games. He is the oldest player to win the Premier League's golden boot and has scored the most goals in the division, aged over 30 (106). By comparison, Kane has outscored both Vardy and Rooney, becoming the second-top scorer in Premier League history behind Alan Shearer with 213 goals. He joined Bayern Munich at the start of last season and broke the Bundesliga scoring record in a single campaign, netting 36 goals - and 44 in all competitions. Kane also keeps adding to his record 69 goals for England, surpassing Rooney's tally of 53 in March 2023. But Rooney's club career stands him out from the other deadly duo, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups and a Champions League, FA Cup, Europa League and Fifa Club World Cup. He also holds Manchester United's all-time scoring record with 253 goals in all competitions. Current Plymouth manager Rooney also played as more of a number 10 throughout much of his career, having featured at number nine, on the wing and in central midfield. Kane, 31, has mostly been a classic number nine up front, but has dropped into a number 10 position in the build-up to attacks. At his peak, Vardy was a composed finisher who caused problems with his pace, running in behind defences and forcing mistakes with his pressing. Despite his age, he continues to be the first-choice striking option at Leicester under Steve Cooper. There may be some unease in the stadium on Saturday after Maresca opted to leave Leicester in the summer after winning the Championship title in his only season at the club. But he was full of respect and positive about the Foxes, although unsure how the supporters will react when they see him in the opposition ranks. "I have no idea how they are going to receive me, but I know how I am going to be with them," added Maresca. "I will be thankful to the club, the players and the fans, because it was a fantastic season. But I cannot control how they are going to receive me." He spoke of his surprise - and delight - when the players arrived at his home to celebrate after clinching top-flight promotion, describing it as "probably the best present I got last season". "When I was a player I was lucky to win things but I never thought to go to the manager’s house," said the 44-year-old, whose career included spells at West Brom, Juventus, Sevilla and Palermo. "I feel very lucky and it shows the connection between the players and the staff. "It showed how the team was close - the connection with the players. That they could go for parties to a different place yet they all arrived at my home. "It was a fantastic connection and I will always be thankful to them. It was hard to leave for sure because there was a good connection in terms of human beings."North Korea's Kim vows toughest anti-U.S. policy before Trump takes officeNone
The question of who uses which bathroom on Capitol Hill has become a heated topic ahead of the 119th U.S. Congress convening next year. This debate was sparked by the historic election of Sarah McBride , a transgender woman, to represent Delaware in Congress. In response, Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a resolution aiming to require transgender individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex assigned at birth. Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the first transgender woman in Montana's state legislature, understands what it feels like to be singled out. She joined Scripps News on Friday to weigh in on the controversy unfolding in D.C. "It's important to acknowledge that while these attacks on transgender people are always brought one bill at a time, they do not focus on specific issues," Zephyr said. "The hate of trans people is boundless. We saw that when Nancy Mace went on far-right media earlier this week and claimed that it was 'offensive' that Congresswoman McBride views herself as an equal to Nancy Mace." "When we see policies targeting trans women just trying to live their lives in the restroom, trying to play sports with their friends — that is not where the hate stops from the right," Zephyr said. "That hate is on display at every moment, which is why it's important for us to resist these efforts to target our community." In 2023, Republican lawmakers in Montana voted to ban Zephyr from the House floor and from participating in debates after she spoke out against a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors. The incident led to legal challenges over Zephyr's censure and to political activism from supporters of transgender rights. "The attacks we see on trans people will escalate. This will not be the last attack on Congresswoman McBride," Zephyr said. "In my perspective, it is important that we make sure as trans people in this country that we do not cede ground to someone who wants to erase us — regardless of whether they want to erase us in the Capitol, or if they want to erase us as we go through our daily lives in public. We have to stand strong." In an interview with Scripps News this week, Mace said her resolution was specifically targeted at Rep.-elect McBride, who stated she will "follow the rules as outlined" even if she disagrees with them. "I'm not here to fight about bathrooms," McBride said . "I'm here to fight for Delawareans to bring down the costs facing families." Despite McBride's statement, Mace said her effort to ban transgender individuals from certain bathrooms extends beyond Washington. She is advocating for legislation requiring transgender people to use restrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth on any property receiving public funds. "I have PTSD from the sexual abuse I have suffered at the hands of a man. We have to as women draw a line in the sand, a big fat red line, about our rights," Mace said. "And the basic question today is, do women have rights or do we not? And I will tell you just the idea of a man in a locker room watching me change clothes after a workout is a huge trigger and it's not OK to make and force women to be vulnerable in private spaces." RELATED STORY | As House GOP targets McBride, she says 'I'm not here to fight about bathrooms'The folks behind the Super League . A22 Sports, the company attempting to organise an alternative competition to the UEFA tournaments (Champions League, Europa League and Conference League) that it had petitioned UEFA to recognize its new cross-border tournament, the "Unify League." This comes nearly a year after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that UEFA held a dominant position and to comply with competition law, they could not oppose the creation of other cross-border tournaments provided they met certain criteria. Among them are the stipulations that any such tournament must have a qualification process that's inclusive and meritocratic, and that complies with the FIFA match calendar. So that's it? We now have a rival to the Champions League? Not exactly, as there are a ton of hoops to jump through first. Technically speaking, the ECJ judgement found that the UEFA's regulations gave them too much power to block rival cross-border competitions, so UEFA wrote new ones immediately after the verdict -- ones they say comply with the ECJ ruling. Some of those UEFA regulations lay out criteria in terms of open and meritocratic qualification -- things the Unify League appears to meet -- while others, according to A22, do comply with the ECJ ruling. A22 say there are too many to mention, but they do cite one that prohibits any new club competition from "adversely affect the good functioning" of UEFA tournaments. (Which is kinda the point of competition: disrupt your rivals and grow your market share.) But A22 argues that UEFA's rules, as written, basically force teams who qualify for UEFA competitions to play in them. We haven't heard from UEFA yet, but you assume they think their rules are compliant with ECJ rulings. So I think we can expect more arguing between lawyers and possibly letters to the European Court to clarify this, but that's really just the first hurdle... What's the next one? Well, even if they clear that hurdle and they get their way -- which, as A22 write, means "clubs are free to decide which tournament they want" -- they then need to persuade them it's in their interest to do so. And that's not going to be easy, because while clubs are interested in prestige, history, having a say in their competitions and engaging with fans -- all that good stuff -- let's face it, money is a prime motivator. It's not clear how the Unify League's business model is going to generate more revenue in terms of commercial and media rights. (The UEFA Champions League has certainly cornered the market when it comes to being an event, arguably the Super Bowl of the sport.) What A22's model anyway? There isn't too much detail, but presumably they'll have sponsors just like UEFA does. The big difference, though, is in media rights. Instead of selling rights to broadcasters and streamers, they're going to have , the Unify Platform. All games will be shown for free, albeit with advertising. And for those who don't enjoy commercial breaks, there will be the opportunity to purchase "affordable premium subscriptions" that will offer more technological bells and whistles than standard TV. Is it possible to make more money this way? The question raises a bunch of pretty obvious questions. If all you have to do to make more money than they do in the existing competitions is show games for free with commercial breaks, why haven't existing broadcasters thought of this? And if the secret to more revenue is having "affordable premium subscriptions" -- rather than the current expensive ones -- why haven't they done that? Sure, there's some merit in questioning the current pricing model -- free to air delivers a bigger audience and more exposure for sponsors, which can mean higher ad rates, while lower subscription fees might make it a volume play, where you get more subscribers and end up with more money -- but it takes a real leap of faith to think these guys can make it work where everybody else has failed. That said, they're convinced their format will be more exciting and generate bigger audiences... How so? , but in a nutshell there will be four leagues, with the top two -- the Star League and Gold League (don't ask) -- comprised of 16 clubs each. Each league is split into two groups of eight and they play everybody home and away for a total of 14 games. The top four in each group qualify for the quarterfinals, which will also be home and away fixtures, and the semifinals and final will be single-leg affairs. I make that a total of 246 games -- marginally more than the total in the existing "Swiss Model" Champions League (237 games), but, of course, that has 36 clubs vs. the 32 in the combined Star and Gold Leagues, so I guess they can divide their pie in fewer slices and have a slightly bigger pie. As to whether it's more exciting, I'm not sure. You're going to get a lot of the same teams playing each other in a group game, year after year and, I imagine, you'll get a fair few meaningless games because, with four of eight qualifying, you could get teams knowing whether they're in or out with three or four games to go, making the final match days rather irrelevant. (Of course, this concept has been seen at tournaments before, and we're still not sure whether the first-ever Champions League matchday 8, with all 36 teams playing at the same time, will have high stakes hanging in the balance.) There's also the fact that the ECJ ruling forces them to be "merit-based" and "open to all," as that could boomerang against them. What do you mean? Well, the old/aborted European Super League had 12 guaranteed mega-clubs in it -- 15 in the original proposal, before Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain said no. Based on A22's regulations, if the competition had kicked off this season, clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, Aston Villa, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid -- all of whom are in the Champions League -- would not be guaranteed a place in the competition, but would need to battle their way through multiple qualifying rounds for one of the playoff spots. And guess what? Clubs like sure things and hate uncertainty, especially when it comes to revenues. But won't they end up in the next league down? You mean the "Gold League," right? Actually Atletico and Borussia Dortmund wouldn't even be guaranteed a place in either; they'd need to get there via the playoffs. But yes, the next league down will presumably generate substantially less revenue than the top league, just as the Europa League makes less money than the Champions League. That's the rub. It's a really tough sell and they'll have a difficult time convincing the clubs this is more lucrative. Unless... Unless what? Unless there's somebody out there willing to offer clubs a big, fat downside guarantee, somebody who says "I'll guarantee you more than what you're making now." And that's tough because right now, around €4.4 billion ($4.6bn) from their three competitions. Just over a billion of that goes on administrative costs (€387m), payments to clubs that don't qualify (€440m), subsidies for the Women's and Youth competitions (€25m) and in UEFA's coffers (€230m) to be redistributed to member associations. Now, A22 obviously might be able to run a leaner tournament so their administrative costs will be lower, and maybe they won't want to subsidize the women's competition. (They say they'll have one too, though it remains to be seen how the numbers work out there.) They might not pay as much to clubs who don't qualify or to member associations, though they say they'll have some solidarity mechanism. But they'll still need to get well north of that €4.4bn figure to make it worthwhile. And, remember, since they'll be running the games on their own platform, they'll also have marketing, technology and production costs that are currently absorbed by broadcasters. So yeah, I'd imagine it would take somebody willing to say "I'll chuck in €6bn a year in to cover the downside for the next couple of years to get this thing off the ground and guarantee that you clubs are better off with the Unify League than anywhere else." Frankly, that's a of money and, of course, there's the risk of a nightmare scenario for both UEFA and the Unify League. What's the "nightmare scenario" exactly? Imagine they end up competing directly with each other and A22 convinces some clubs, but not others. (Or, because there's also a whole hornets' nest of domestic legislation in various countries that prevents clubs from joining a league like this, and which may or may not be compliant with the ECJ ruling, some clubs simply can't.) What then? Let's say the Unify League has Real Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern and Inter. The Champions League has Barcelona, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus (presumably PSG too, unless Nasser Al Khelaifi jumps ship). Both competitions are markedly weaker and no, it's not a linear decline because the success of the Champions League is founded on having the best clubs all in one place. Take half of them away and the interest isn't halved, it goes down by a lot more than that. Mutually assured destruction might be an exaggeration, but it certainly would make life a whole heck of a lot tougher for everyone. So what happens next? I expect a lot of back and forth between lawyers, and maybe some ECJ clarification, but ultimately this feels like a power move, where A22 want to get UEFA to the table somehow. Except it's hard to see how A22 have any leverage at all because, let's face it: their business model seems goofy and nobody of note, other than Real Madrid, has gone to bat for them. Unless of course there's somebody in the shadows with several billions willing to bankroll the whole shebang.By MARY CLARE JALONICK, STEPHEN GROVES and KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump ’s allies on Capitol Hill rallied around Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, on Thursday even as new details surfaced about allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. The GOP embrace of Hegseth came as another controversial Trump nominee, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration for attorney general. Gaetz said it was clear he had become a “distraction” amid pressure on the House to release an ethics report about allegations of his own sexual misconduct. An attorney for two women has said that his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. Fresh questions over the two nominees’ pasts, and their treatment of women, arose with Republicans under pressure from Trump and his allies to quickly confirm his Cabinet. At the same time, his transition has so far balked at the vetting and background checks that have traditionally been required. While few Republican senators have publicly criticized any of Trump’s nominees, it became clear after Gaetz’s withdrawal that many had been harboring private concerns about him. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, said it was a “positive move.” Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker said it was a “positive development.” Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” After meeting with Hegseth, though, Republicans rallied around him. “I think he’s going to be in pretty good shape,” said Wicker, who is expected to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee in the next Congress. Republican senators’ careful words, and their early reluctance to publicly question Trump’s picks, illustrated not only their fear of retribution from the incoming president but also some of their hopes that the confirmation process can proceed normally, with proper vetting and background checks that could potentially disqualify problematic nominees earlier. Gaetz withdrew after meeting with senators on Wednesday. Sen. Thom Tillis said Gaetz was “in a pressure cooker” when he decided to withdraw, but suggested that it would have little bearing on Trump’s other nominees. “Transactions — one at a time,” he said. As the Hegseth nomination proceeds, Republicans also appear to be betting that they won’t face much backlash for publicly setting aside the allegations of sexual misconduct — especially after Trump won election after being found liable for sexual abuse last year. Hegseth held a round of private meetings alongside incoming Vice President JD Vance on Thursday in an attempt to shore up support and told reporters afterward: “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared, and that’s where I’m gonna leave it.” A 22-page police report report made public late Wednesday offered the first detailed account of the allegations against him. A woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. The report cited police interviews with the alleged victim, a nurse who treated her, a hotel staffer, another woman at the event and Hegseth. Hegseth’s lawyer, Timothy Palatore, said the incident was “fully investigated and police found the allegations to be false.” Hegseth paid the woman in 2023 as part of a confidential settlement to head off the threat of what he described as a baseless lawsuit, Palatore has said. Wicker played down the allegations against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, saying that “since no charges were brought from the authorities, we only have press reports.” Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., said after his meeting with Hegseth that he “shared with him the fact that I was saddened by the attacks that are coming his way.” Hagerty dismissed the allegations as “a he-said, she-said thing” and called it a “shame” that they were being raised at all. The senator said attention should instead be focused on the Defense Department that Hegseth would head. It’s one of the most complex parts of the federal government with more than 3 million employees, including military service members and civilians. Sexual assault has been a persistent problem in the military, though Pentagon officials have been cautiously optimistic they are seeing a decline in reported sexual assaults among active-duty service members and the military academies. Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who will be the No. 2 Republican in the Senate next year, said after his meeting with Hegseth that the nominee is a strong candidate who “pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power – not the current administration’s woke political agenda.” Senate Republicans are under pressure to hold hearings once they take office in January and confirm nominees as soon as Trump is inaugurated, despite questions about whether Trump’s choices will be properly screened or if some, like Hegseth, have enough experience for the job. Senate Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed, who will be the top Democrat on the panel next year, said the reports on Hegseth “emphasized the need for a thorough investigation by the FBI on the background of all the nominees.” It takes a simple majority to approve Cabinet nominations, meaning that if Democrats all opposed a nominee, four Republican senators would also have to defect for any Trump choice to be defeated. Trump has made clear he’s willing to put maximum pressure on Senate Republicans to give him the nominees he wants – even suggesting at one point that they allow him to just appoint his nominees with no Senate votes. But senators insist, for now, that they are not giving up their constitutional power to have a say. “The president has the right to make the nominations that he sees fit, but the Senate also has a responsibility for advice and consent,” said Republican Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota. In the case of Gaetz, he said, “I think there was advice offered rather than consent.” Boston.com Today Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning. Be civil. Be kind.Kobe Sanders tied a season high with 27 points as Nevada claimed fifth place in the Charleston Classic with a 90-78 victory over Oklahoma State Sunday afternoon in South Carolina. Sanders helped the Wolfpack (6-1) earn a second win following one-possession games against Vanderbilt and VCU. After hitting the decisive 3-pointer with five seconds left in Friday's 64-61 win over VCU, Sanders made 7 of 10 shots, hit three 3s and sank 10 of 13 free throws Sunday. Nick Davidson added 223 points as Nevada led by as many as 19 and shot 58.9 percent. Brandon Love contributed 11 on 5-of-5 shooting as the Wolfpack scored 46 points in the paint and scored at least 85 for the fourth time this season. Marchelus Avery led the Cowboys (4-2) with 15 points and Arturo Dean added 13. Robert Jennings and Abou Ousmane added 11 apiece but leading scorer Bryce Thompson was held to seven points on 1-of-9 shooting as Oklahoma State shot 42 percent and 73.2 percent (30-of-41) at the line. After Avery's 3 forged a 12-12 tie with 13:41 remaining, Nevada gradually gained separation. The Wolfpack took a 24-15 lead on Chuck Bailey's jumper in the paint with 8:28 left but the Cowboys inched back, getting within 33-31 on a dunk by Avery with 4:11 left. Another Bailey jumper staked Nevada to a 40-33 lead by halftime. Nevada began pulling away early in the second half as it scored eight in a row for a 52-40 lead on a basket by Love with 16:44 left. A 3 by Sanders opened a 62-43 lead with 14:06 remaining before Oklahoma State charged back. After Nevada made eight straight shots, the Cowboys countered with 11 straight points and trailed 62-54 with 11:19 left on a 3-pointer by Avery. Thompson made his first basket by sinking a jumper with 10:37 left to get Oklahoma State within 64-56 left, and Keller's triple cut the margin to 70-64 nearly three minutes later. The Cowboys were within 78-72 on a basket by Avery with 3:56 remaining, but he fouled out about a minute later and the Wolfpack outscored Oklahoma State 12-6 the rest of the way as Sanders sank five free throws. --Field Level Media
Neal Maupay: Whenever I’m having a bad day I check Everton score and smile