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M.S. Swaminathan, who helped India’s farming to grow at industrial scale, dies at 98

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — Mankombu Sambasivan Swaminathan, a renowned agricultural scientist who revolutionized India’s farming and was a key architect of the country’s “Green Revolution” died Thursday. He was 98.Swaminathan died at his home in southern Chennai city after an age-related illness, news agency Press Trust of India reported.In the late 1960s and 1970s, the agriculturalist was instrumental in bringing industrial farming to India, making the country self-sufficient in food and reducing widespread hunger. India’s “Green Revolution,” as it was known, turned the northern states of Punjab and Haryana into breadbaskets for wheat and rice production, helping low-income farmers.The initiative, now dubbed as a transformational era in Indian agriculture, introduced high-yielding cereal varieties and expanded use of irrigation and fertilizers. Grain production increased exponentially, at a time when India was beset with widespread starvation. For his work, Swaminathan was named one of...

Haley to Ramaswamy: 'Every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber'

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

(The Hill) - Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley bashed fellow contender Vivek Ramaswamy on Wednesday night for his stance on TikTok, sparring onstage at the second GOP debate. “This is infuriating, because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have. And … honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say,” Haley said, taking a swipe at the 38-year-old entrepreneur.  Asked about his move to join the video-sharing app TikTok, despite it being banned on government-issued devices due to concerns about its parent company's ties to the Chinese government, Ramaswamy said, "Part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where we are." Kids under 16 shouldn't be on "addictive social media," Ramaswamy said, but "we're only going to ever get to declaring independence from China, which I favor, if we actually win." A former United Nations ambassador, Haley's first TV campaign advertise...

Powerball jackpot climbs again, hits $925 million after another drawing without a winner

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

DES MOINES, Iowa (NEXSTAR) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $925 million after no players hit it big Wednesday night, continuing a stretch of lottery futility that has lasted for more than two months.The winning numbers were: 1, 7, 46, 47, 63 and red Powerball 7. There were $1 million winners in California, Kansas, Maryland and New York.The jackpot has grown so large because there have now been 30 consecutive drawings without a big winner, dating back to July 19. Powerball’s terrible odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes becoming ever larger as they repeatedly roll over when no one wins.Despite its growth, the jackpot still comes in behind a $2.04 billion jackpot hit last November in California; a $1.586 billion jackpot split by three tickets (California, Florida, Tennessee) in 2016; and a $1.08 billion jackpot won by a California ticket in July.The jackpot is the ninth-largest ever, and would need to surpass $1 b...

Warmth to continue into October, but rain is coming

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Today the warmth continues with temperatures in the low 70s giving way to mid 90s again for the afternoon. We'll average about 8-10º warmer than normal into early next week.A slim (10%) rain chance returns this afternoon and early evening for today and this weekend, but most of us miss out on these very isolated showers.Today's forecastYour Friday looks dry and mostly sunny as we stay in the mid 90s again.Both days of the weekend see the return for a spotty shower or storm, but rain chances aren't high enough to rearrange your plans over. Weekend forecastAs we head toward the middle of next week we're seeing better rain chances popping up as early as Wednesday. Eventual rain may come with a cold front that could knock highs out of the 90s into the 80s by the end of the next week.7 Day Rainfall ForecastWetter weather possible next weekWe are expecting a large trough of low pressure, a stormy weather pattern, to move onto the West Coast early next week. While it won't...

'24-hours is not the limit': Austin-area aerospace company breaks record

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

CEDAR PARK, Texas (KXAN) -- Firefly Aerospace, an end-to-end space transportation company based in Cedar Park, announced this month that they broke the record for rocket launch speed. They prepped the payload for a rocket, named Victus Nox, in 57 hours and launched that rocket in just 27 hours. The previous record, according to Firefly Aerospace, was 21 days."We had a mission that we signed up for, we accomplished that," said Bill Weber, CEO of Firefly Aerospace.The company was tasked by the U.S. Space Force to prep a rocket's payload in 60-hours and complete the launch in 24-hours. The company wouldn't know when the mission would take place or what the payload would be. Firefly Aerospace completed the launch on September 14th."It has long been the desire, particularly for reasons of national security and defense and intelligence applications, to be able to responsively get to space as quickly as we possibly can," Weber said.Hurdles of speedy space flightWeber said that updating dec...

Major online platforms report on first six months under the new Code of Practice on Disinformation

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

The major online platforms which are signatories of the new Code of Practice  on Disinformation of 2022 (Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok) published new reports on how they turned their commitments to reduce the spread of disinformation into practice. Available to download on the Transparency Centre, the documents show further efforts by signatories to enhance transparency and provide relevant data. Having committed to report every six months, this is the first set of reporting that covers a full half-year period.Values and Transparency Vice President Věra Jourová said: “Disinformation is still one of the greatest risks to the European democratic information space, including that related to Russia's war in Ukraine and elections. As Europeans will prepare to head to polling stations in 2024, all actors must do their part in fighting online disinformation and foreign interference to protect our online debate. The Code proves to be a useful exercise, but we all have to do more. I call f...

Horoscopes Sept. 28, 2023: Hilary Duff, approach life and love with passion

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Hilary Duff, 36; Ranbir Kapoor, 41; Mira Sorvino, 56; Janeane Garofalo, 59.Happy Birthday: Size up your situation and devise a plan that utilizes what you know and do best. Changing your financial situation is possible but requires monitoring for safety due to temptation and scams. When in doubt, refer to an expert, but don’t give anyone control. Pay attention to health, fitness and proper nutrition, and approach life and love with passion and a positive attitude. Your numbers are 5, 12, 19, 27, 38, 42, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Hone your skills and reinforce what you want to achieve. A clear mind and set goal will encourage you to put your strengths to work for you and to pursue what makes you feel passionate. Don’t clutter your plans with someone else’s demands. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Use your imagination to discover how to entice your peers to accept your ideas and plans. Don’t hesitate to spotlight the intricaci...

Word Game: Sept. 28, 2023

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — FLOTSAM (FLOTSAM: FLOT-sum: Floating wreckage of a ship or its cargo; floating debris.)Average mark 24 wordsTime limit 30 minutesCan you find 29 or more words in FLOTSAM? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — PANCAKES pace pack paean pancake pane peak pecan peck acne apace apnea apse askance aspen nape neap neck cake canape cane cape case cask sack sake sane sank scan scape snack snake snap sneak space span spank speak spec speckTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are ...

Bridge: Sept. 28, 2023

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

I used to read a bridge column written by someone who had pet phrases he worked overtime. (“The play at 3NT left something to be desired: namely, nine tricks.”) A favorite was “Darkness descended on declarer.”At today’s four spades, South won the first heart, drew trumps and exited with a heart. East took the king and led a low club, and the defenders were able to take three clubs.When did darkness descend on declarer?FIRST TRICKThe lights went out at Trick One. South must duck West’s queen of hearts. He wins the next heart (no West would shift to the king of clubs), leads a diamond to dummy, ruffs the last heart high, leads a diamond to dummy and ruffs a diamond high.South then draws trumps with the A-10 and leads a club. West can take the jack and king, but then he must lead a red card for a fatal ruff-sluff.An end play is South’s best chance. East has the king of hearts, and if he had the A-K of clubs and maybe a diamond honor, he might h...

Ask Amy: I’m not a morning person, and she won’t respect my boundaries

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:57:17 GMT

Dear Amy: I am the only “not-morning” person in my family.Talking in the morning, or any noise, smell or stimulation really, isn’t just annoying but actually more akin to painful. It’s like nails on a chalkboard, or being pinched – it elicits an involuntary reaction of cringe and a desire to retreat.My mother takes this really personally.First thing in the morning she wants to tell me things or, worse, ask me things. At best, I can muster a “good morning” and a grunt, but I don’t think she’s ever understood just how much restraint is required for anything other than a snarl.She’s repeatedly accused me of being rude or mad at her, and the simple truth is that it’s not her – I just don’t want to talk in the morning, at all, to anybody.I have been explaining this for years, and to be honest I actually feel she’s being rude for not respecting this simple boundary.It starts both our days off wrong, to the extent that I just stay in my room until she...