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Terry Trowman got the red carpet treatment from his mates when he returned to the Pig & Whistle after an overseas jaunt last year. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Terry, who collapsed suddenly inside a Fernhill property, has been memorialised with a statue, ‘Man O’ Words’, which stands outside his favourite local watering hole, Pig & Whistle Pub. He assembled an extraordinary number of friends during his 14 years in town whom he’d greet with repeated handshakes and big hugs — in fact the statue’s been tweaked to incorporate an outstretched right hand. "Once you met Terry, he grew on you like moss," one friend says. Testament to his popularity is about 300 people from near and far attended his memorial celebration at the Pig, including his parents Lesley and Tony and brother Mark, from England — the latter helped organise the service. A statue honouring Terry at the front entrance to his regular watering hole. Red carpet was laid out, balloons were flown and a banner read ‘Happy Wednesday Terry’. Lesley, who along with Tony had been due to fly over to see Terry in January, says despite being a social animal he was also the fittest and healthiest member of their family. A friend says "you were always happy when you saw him, he was just smiling, ready for the handshake and saying ‘Happy Friday’ or whatever day it was". "He’d say ‘you’re a legend’, but really he was the legend." He loved a fancy dress party, but he was also a really hard worker who’d help out any friend who needed a hand. Peter Duerden, another friend, says "upon hearing Terry’s family was heading over to New Zealand on the next available flight, it was a no-brainer to create a GoFundMe that would allow all those who knew and loved Terry a quick and easy way to provide whatever support they could to the Trowman family". "The original goal was $10,000; as it stands, we have raised over $20,000, a figure that if nothing else is testament to how well thought of Terry was and continues to be. "His loss has been felt by a great many people, Queenstowners past and present, but a legacy of handshakes and ‘Terryisms’ will live on always." One ‘Terryism’ was: "We’re only one day away from death, act accordingly." Two friends bought ‘Man O’ Words’ — a corten steel sculpture by Riverton’s Rodger Thompson which Arrowtown’s Birdwoods South had been exhibiting — "because we believe he was a king of men, and every king deserves a statue", they say. "It’s for all of us to remember and for people in town to admire, because if you read it it’s basically everything you should stand for in life, just like ‘our Terry’ — ‘love’, ‘heart’, ‘strength’, ‘family’. Friends are approaching the council to see if it can be installed in a nook by the Ballarat St Bridge, just metres from his favourite place, the Pig.
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WASHINGTON — American Airlines briefly grounded flights nationwide Tuesday because of a technical problem just as the Christmas travel season kicked into overdrive and winter weather threatened more potential problems for those planning to fly or drive. Government regulators cleared American flights to get airborne about an hour after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a national ground stop for the airline. The order, which prevented planes from taking off, was issued at the airline's request. The airline said in an email that the problem was caused by trouble with vendor technology that maintains its flight operating system. An American Airlines employee wearing looks toward quiet check-in counters Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Dennis Tajer, a spokesperson for the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, said the airline told pilots at 7 a.m. Eastern that there was an outage affecting the system known as FOS. It handles different types of airline operations, including dispatch, flight planning, passenger boarding, as well as an airplane's weight and balance data, he said. Some components of FOS have gone down in the past, but a systemwide outage is rare, Tajer said. Flights were delayed across American's major hubs, with only 37% leaving on time, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Out of the 3,901 domestic and international American Airlines flights scheduled for Tuesday, 19 were canceled. Cirium noted that the vast majority of flights departed within two hours of their scheduled departure time. A similar percentage — 36% — arrived at their destinations as scheduled. Meanwhile, the flight-tracking site FlightAware reported that 3,712 flights entering or leaving the U.S., or serving domestic destinations, were delayed Tuesday, with 55 flights canceled. It did not show any flights from American Airlines. Cirium said Dallas-Fort Worth, New York's Kennedy Airport and Charlotte, North Carolina, saw the greatest number of delays. Washington, Chicago and Miami experienced considerably fewer delays. Travelers wait in line for security checks Tuesday at the Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles. Amid the travel problems, significant rain and snow were expected in the Pacific Northwest at least into Christmas Day. Showers and thunderstorms developed in the South. Freezing rain was reported in the Mid-Atlantic region near Baltimore and Washington, and snow fell in New York. Because the holiday travel period lasts weeks, airports and airlines typically have smaller peak days than they do during the rush around Thanksgiving, but the grind of one hectic day followed by another takes a toll on flight crews. Any hiccups — a winter storm or a computer outage — can snowball into massive disruptions. That is how Southwest Airlines stranded 2 million travelers in December 2022, and Delta Air Lines suffered a smaller but significant meltdown after a worldwide technology outage in July caused by a faulty software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations even more disruptive than during slower periods. That is especially true for smaller budget airlines that have fewer flights and fewer options for rebooking passengers. Only the largest airlines, including American, Delta and United, have "interline agreements" that let them put stranded customers on another carrier's flights. An American Airlines employee wearing a Santa Claus hat walks through the American terminal Tuesday at Miami International Airport in Miami. This will be the first holiday season since a Transportation Department rule took effect that requires airlines to give customers an automatic cash refund for a canceled or significantly delayed flight. Most air travelers were already eligible for refunds, but they often had to request them. Passengers still can ask to get rebooked, which is often a better option than a refund during peak travel periods. Finding a last-minute flight on another airline tends to be expensive. An American spokesperson said Tuesday was not a peak travel day for the airline — with about 2,000 fewer flights than the busiest days — so the airline had somewhat of a buffer to manage the delays. The groundings happened as millions of travelers were expected to fly over the next 10 days. The Transportation Security Administration expects to screen 40 million passengers through Jan. 2. Airlines expect to have their busiest days on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. American Airlines employees check in travelers Tuesday in the American terminal at Miami International Airport in Miami. Many flights during the holidays are sold out, which makes cancellations more disruptive than during slower periods. Even with just a brief outage, the cancellations have a cascading effect that can take days to clear up. About 90% of Americans traveling far from home over the holidays will be in cars, according to AAA. "Airline travel is just really high right now, but most people do drive to their destinations, and that is true for every holiday," AAA spokesperson Aixa Diaz said. Gasoline prices are similar to last year. The nationwide average Thursday was $3.04 a gallon, down from $3.13 a year ago, according to AAA. Charging an electric vehicle averages just under 35 cents per per kilowatt hour, but varies by state. Transportation-data firm INRIX says travel times on the nation's highways could be up to 30% longer than normal over the holidays, with Sunday expected to see the heaviest traffic. "It's not the destination, it's the journey," said American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph clearly was not among the travellers on one of more than 350 cancelled or 1,400 delayed flights after a worldwide tech outage caused by an update to Crowdstrike's "Falcon Sensor" software in July of 2023. U.S. airlines carried nearly 863 million travellers in 2023, with Canadian carriers accounting for another 150 million, many of whom experienced lost luggage, flight delays, cancellations, or were bumped off their flights. It's unclear how many of them were compensated for these inconveniences. Suffice it to say, posting a crabby rant on social media might temporarily soothe anger, but it won't put wasted money back in pockets. Money.ca shares what to know in order to be compensated for the three most common air travel headaches. Bags elected to go on a vacay without you? Check off the following: If you expect a large payout, think again. Tariffs (air carrier contracts) limit the compensation amounts for "loss of, damage to, or the delay in delivery of baggage or other personal property." In the case of Air Canada, the maximum payout is $1,500 per passenger in the currency of the country where the baggage was processed. To raise that limit, purchase a Declaration of Higher Value for each leg of the trip. The charge is $0.50 for each $100, in which case the payout limit is $2,500. For Delta Air Lines, passengers are entitled to up to $3,800 in baggage compensation, though how much you'll receive depends on your flight. Delta will pay up to $2,080 for delayed, lost, and damaged baggage for international travellers, almost half of what U.S. domestic passengers can claim. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. Different air carriers and jurisdictions have their own compensation policies when flights are delayed or cancelled. For example, under European Union rules, passengers may receive up to 600 Euros, even when travelling on a non-EU carrier. Similarly, the DOT states that travellers are entitled to a refund "if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel." However, US rules regarding delays are complicated. Some air carriers, such as Air Canada, do not guarantee their flight schedules. They're also not liable for cancellations or changes due to "force majeure" such as weather conditions or labour disruptions. If the delay is overnight, only out-of-town passengers will be offered hotel accommodation. Nevertheless, many airlines do offer some compensation for the inconvenience. If your flight is marked delayed for more than 30 minutes, approach the gate agent and politely request food and hotel vouchers to be used within the airport or nearby. In terms of cash compensation, what you'll get can differ significantly based on things like departure location, time, carrier, and ticket class. The DOT offers a helpful delay and cancellations dashboard designed to keep travellers informed about their compensation rights. The dashboard is particularly helpful because, as the DOT states on its website, "whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors—such as the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances." The Canadian Transportation Agency is proposing air passenger protection regulations that guarantee financial compensation to travellers experiencing flight delays and cancellations, with the level of compensation varying depending on the situation and how much control the air carrier had. The proposed regulations include the following: The airline is obligated to complete the passenger's itinerary. If the new ticket is for a lower class of service, the air carrier would have to refund the cost difference; if the booking is in a higher class of service, passengers cannot be charged extra. If the passenger declines the ticket, the airline must give a full refund, in addition to the prescribed compensation. For overnight delays, the air carrier needs to provide hotel accommodation and transportation free-of-charge. Again, if you are unsatisfied, the Canadian Transportation Agency or Department of Transportation may advocate on your behalf. Passengers get bumped because airlines overbook. When this happens, the air carrier must compensate you. For international flights in the US, the rate is 200% of your one-way fare to your final destination, with a $675 maximum. If the airline does not make travel arrangements for you, the payout is 400% of your one-way fare to a maximum of $1,350. To qualify, you must check-in by the stated deadline, which on international flights can be up to 3 hours ahead. Keep in mind that if you accept the cash, you are no longer entitled to any further compensation, nor are you guaranteed to be rebooked on a direct flight or similar type of seat. Don't be too quick to give up your boarding pass. Negotiate for the best compensation deal that would include cash, food and hotel vouchers, flight upgrade, lounge passes, as well as mileage points. But avoid being too greedy—if the gate attendant is requesting volunteers and you wait too long, you'll miss the offer. According to Air Canada's tariff, if a passenger is involuntarily bumped, they'll receive $200, in cash or bank draft, for up to a two-hour delay; $400 for a 2-6 hours delay; and $800 if the delay is over six hours. (Air Canada was forced to raise its payouts in 2013 due to passenger complaints.) The new rules would raise the payout significantly: $900 for up to six hours; $1,800 for 6-9; and $2,400 for more than nine hours, all to be paid within 48 hours. Statistically speaking, Delta Airlines is the carrier most likely to bump. A few years ago, Delta raised its payout maximum to $9,950, while United Airlines tops out at $10,000. This story was produced by Money.ca and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Ethiopia is committed to maximizing the benefits from its abundant mineral resources, Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie stated at the opening of the 3rd International Mining and Technology Expo (MINTEX 2024). The Ethiopian president cited the country's significant mineral potential and the government's efforts – a new mining policy and macroeconomic reforms – to exploit this potential for national development. Taking place November 23-26 in Addis Ababa, MINTEX 2024 hosts domestic and international mining companies, investors, financial institutions, scholars, and diplomats. Given Ethiopia's abundant mineral resources, mining is a government priority, and the expo aims to attract investment by showcasing the sector's potential and providing domestic companies with international market access.No. 25 Illinois' TD with four seconds left upends Rutgers
Texans WR Tank Dell to undergo multiple surgeriesWASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time before settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his treasury secretary nominee. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. “Scott will support my Policies that will drive U.S. Competitiveness, and stop unfair Trade imbalances, work to create an Economy that places Growth at the forefront, especially through our coming World Energy Dominance,” Trump said in a statement. But for all the confidence, Trump was cautious in picking the 62-year-old, a sign that he understood the stakes after winning a presidential election largely shaped by inflation hitting a four-decade peak in 2022. He felt comfortable making faster decisions on Fox News host Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary. His choice of Bessent went against the opinion of billionaire Elon Musk, who is co-leading Trump’s advisory panel known as the “Department of Government Efficiency” initiative. The head of Tesla and SpaceX posted on his social media site X before Trump’s selection that Bessent would be “a business-as-usual choice.” The pick also showed the internal tensions of a candidate who won by appealing to blue-collar voters but who depends on an administration staffed by those, who like Trump, enjoy a life of extreme wealth. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., was unimpressed by Bessent. “Donald Trump pretends to be an economic populist, but it wouldn’t be a Trump Treasury Department without a rich political donor running the show,” Wyden said in a statement rushed out immediately after the announcement Friday evening. “When it comes to the economy, the government under Trump is of, by, and for the ultra-wealthy.” Bessent caught Trump’s attention during the campaign with his ideas for 3% growth, a reduced budget deficit equal to 3% of gross domestic product and 3 million additional barrels a day of oil production. Larry Kudlow, the TV host and a director of the White House National Economic Council during Trump’s initial term, supported him. But critics in Trump’s orbit said Bessent was weak on tariffs. Another onetime contender, Howard Lutnick, the billionaire CEO of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, was more pro-tariffs but less reassuring to some business leaders. Trump picked him to head the Commerce Department and take the lead on trade issues. Trump also looked at other candidates, including former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh, Marc Rowan, the chief executive of Apollo Global Management, and Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. Trump’s decision on his treasury chief is tied in part to most Republican voters’ biggest motivation for returning him to the White House: the state of the U.S. economy and the pressure from high prices. According to AP VoteCast, an early November survey of about 120,000 voters nationwide, about 3 in 10 voters said they wanted total upheaval in how the country is run. Bessent has been deeply critical of President Joe Biden’s economic policies, saying in remarks at the conservative Manhattan Institute that he was “alarmed” by the size of government spending and deficits and that Biden had embraced a “central planning” mindset that he thought belonged on “the scrap heap of history.” Biden, for his part, chose Janet Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chair, to be his treasury secretary, relying on her credibility as an economist as his administration successfully pushed for $1.9 trillion in pandemic aid in 2021. But inflation jumped as the United States recovered from pandemic shutdowns, driven by supply chain challenges, global conflict and — according to Biden administration critics — an excessive amount of pandemic aid. !function(e,n,i,s){var d="InfogramEmbeds";var o=e.getElementsByTagName(n)[0];if(window[d]&&window[d].initialized)window[d].process&&window[d].process();else if(!e.getElementById(i)){var r=e.createElement(n);r.async=1,r.id=i,r.src=s,o.parentNode.insertBefore(r,o)}}(document,"script","infogram-async","https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js"); Government officials and economists are uncertain about what Trump would prioritize. The Republican campaigned on jacking up tariffs against China and other trade partners. But people in his economic orbit privately insist that what he cares about are fair terms in which other countries such as China don’t disadvantage the United States by subsidizing industries, manipulating currencies and suppressing their own workers’ wages. The president-elect wants to extend and expand his 2017 tax cuts, many of which are set to expire after 2025. He’s also proposed an array of tax cuts, such as no taxes on tips or overtime pay or Social Security benefits, that would create possible deficit increases. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, an independent fiscal watchdog, estimated that Trump could possibly add between $1.7 trillion to $15.6 trillion to projected deficits over 10 years, a sign of the uncertainty regarding his economic plans. The economist Olivier Blanchard, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, this week laid out the contradictions of “Trumponomics.” Deficit-funded tax cuts and tariff hikes could be inflationary, yet Trump won November’s election in large part because of voter frustration with inflation. There’s also his promise of deportations of unauthorized immigrants that could lower employment, though it’s not clear what Trump will do once in office. “The U.S. should be thinking about reducing the deficit, quite apart from Trump,” Blanchard said in a webcast. “Trump is probably going to make it worse.” Trump’s treasury secretary might ultimately face the additional responsibility of trying to pressure Fed Chair Jerome Powell to do as Trump wants, since the inflationary pressures outlined by Blanchard likely mean the Fed would try to slow growth to keep inflation from overheating, likely upsetting Trump. “The risk of a conflict between the Trump administration and the Fed is very high,” Blanchard said in a webcast.
Florida State storms past Charleston SouthernNoneHeat pumps are much more efficient than oil furnaces or gas boilers. They produce double or triple the heat per unit of energy. They cost more to purchase and install, but the savings allow them to pay for themselves after a few years. Most residential heat pumps are air source units, which means their performance is dependent on the temperature of the air outside. That means they must be optimized for the environment they operate in. There are heat pumps on the market today that provide heat just fine in sub-zero weather, but they may not be quite as good at making cold air in the summer when it is hot outside. By the same token, some heat pumps do a great job of cooling in the summer but struggle to make heat in the winter. Geothermal heat pumps solve that dilemma. The temperature of the Earth 50 to 200 feet below the surface remains quite constant all year long. That means a heat pump designed to operate at that temperature can work as efficiently as possible in all seasons. Call it Heat Pump 2.0 . As efficient as air source heat pumps are, ground source heat pumps are even more so. There is one problem. Getting a company to come to your house to drill a few holes in the Earth so you can send water down one pipe to be warmed or cooled by the Earth and then pipe it back to the surface is expensive. Google tried this with its Dandelion spinoff but the high cost made it a tough sell in the residential market. The added efficiency was a good thing, but the upfront investment was too much for most homeowners. But what if instead of drilling hundreds of holes for hundreds of homes, you drilled just a few and distributed the constant-temperature water to residences and commercial buildings just like the gas company in many cities distributes its gas? Better yet, what if the gas company, instead of fighting the idea, decided to install the pipes to distribute the water from those geothermal wells, thereby having a new product to offer its existing customers? That’s exactly what has happened in the Metro West city of Framingham, Massachusetts. In June, Eversource, the local gas and electric utility company, completed a geothermal system in Framingham that provides heating and cooling for an entire neighborhood, including public housing residents, by tapping low temperature thermal heat from underground wells. It is the first geothermal system ever built by a gas utility, but more than that, it serves as a demonstration project that could chart a new course for methane (natural gas) distribution companies to transitioning away from gas while preserving jobs. The job of installing and maintaining pipes is what utility companies do. They have the right equipment and the knowledge to do it well. Why not put that expertise to work to help communities lower their emissions while keeping the current workforce fully employed? On December 3, 2024, Massachusetts governor Maura Healey signed legislation allowing gas utilities to move beyond pilot projects by granting them permission to provide geothermal heating and cooling as an alternative to gas throughout their service areas. Seven other states have recently passed similar legislation, and countries across central Asia could soon build similar projects, according to Inside Climate News . “It’s taking root across the country, across the world,” Zayneb Magavi, 51, the executive director of HEET , a Boston nonprofit working to develop neighborhood-scale geothermal heating and cooling systems, said recently. “We have a once in many lifetimes opportunity to transform an industry, to build a better energy system and a more sustainable world. We just need to be brave enough to listen to the other side.” In 2016, Magavi, who is a physicist, and other activists attended a meeting with people from Eversource, including Bill Akley, who was president of gas operations for the company at that time. He assumed he was in for an earful. “My expectations were, it’s going to be a list of demands and a lot of poking at all the things we’re doing wrong,” he said recently. Prior to the meeting, the activists had “categorically attacked” the entire gas industry by calling out locations of hundreds of gas leaks across the city of Cambridge. The odds of the meeting being successful were slight. Magavi was focused primarily on how to address climate change by getting people to stop burning fossil fuels entirely. A climate law Massachusetts passed in 2021 effectively required as much by 2050. However, no one knew how to get homes off gas without laying off an entire industry of workers or leaving low-income ratepayers on the hook for maintaining a dwindling system of underground pipes. At the meeting in 2016, she said, “‘I have three children and I am worried about their future. I want to do something to help protect their future, because I feel it’s unethical for us not to act.” She told ICN there was a moment of uncomfortable silence before Akley looked at her and said, “Well, I have three kids too.” That, as it turns out, became the common ground the group needed to forge an alliance. Eversource ended up working with the groups who came to that meeting to find and plug the biggest gas leaks in Cambridge. In the summer of 2017, Magavi frequently worked alongside gas company work crews. Seeing them go down into trenches to address leaks from pipes, some of which dated back as far as the 1800s, made an impression. “I grew to have a lot of respect for them and a lot of appreciation for the risk they take to keep us safe,” she said. At one point, HEET and the utility company jointly developed a plan to address the biggest leaks and were preparing to make their case to state regulators for approval. To get it across the finish line with the Department of Public Utilities, the two groups intended to present the plan together. “There were these repeated moments where generosity was met with reciprocity and it built trust,” Magavi said. She is now a guest lecturer for Harvard University’s sustainability leadership program and Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. When HEET decided to propose the idea of building a geothermal system in Framingham, that trust became an essential factor. When it was proposed to Akley and other gas company executives in late 2017, there were lots of questions but few blank stares. At the time, HEET and other advocacy groups were also meeting with state policymakers to redefine what it means to be a gas utility in Massachusetts. They were seeking a change in rules that would give gas utilities, which were only allowed to offer gas service, permission to offer thermal heat as an alternative. “The three of them were so smart, so impressive ... you kind of got sucked into their enthusiasm,” state Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem said of her first meeting with Magavi, Marilyn Ray Smith from the climate advocacy group Gas Leaks Allies (now Gas Transition Allies), and Audrey Schulman, the co-founder of HEET. “Even though it was like, ‘What are they talking about?’” She quickly got up to speed on networked geothermal heating and cooling and filed a bill in 2019 that would allow gas utilities to offer this service. When it didn’t pass, she kept trying. That’s the bill that Governor Healey signed to put the geothermal measures into law at a ceremony earlier this month. Utilities mark their infrastructure where it passes beneath city streets with color-coded spray paint — red for electric lines, blue for water mains, yellow for gas pipes. For networked geothermal, the color is purple. It’s a selection Magavi advocated for because the water that runs through these single-pipe systems is neither red hot nor ice cold, but somewhere in between. Magavi also liked it because it suggests an energy system that is nonpartisan. More than 20 geothermal pilot projects are currently being proposed nationwide, including two underway in Massachusetts by National Grid. Nikki Bruno, vice president for clean technologies at Eversource Energy, said the company is still assessing costs both for its initial project in Framingham and for the potential buildout of future systems. One of the biggest costs for the initial project was retrofitting and weatherizing the older buildings that already had other types of heating systems and poor insulation. She said the company plans to file requests with state regulators to build additional geothermal systems but will likely focus on new construction to avoid those extra costs. One exception will be an expansion of the Framingham geothermal system, pending state approval, thanks to a $7.8 million construction grant from the U.S. Department of Energy awarded to HEET, Eversource, and the city of Framingham on December 11, 2024. “It’s a beautiful development of the relationship over the years, and this feels like a continued upward path,” Bruno said of HEET’s leading role in the grant application. “We started talking about methane leaks on our gas distribution system, and now here we are together on a grant application to build what will be the first-in-the-nation utility expansion on a geothermal network.” For Magavi, there is no slowing down. Next month she plans to fly to Pakistan where she will meet with gas utility executives interested in building networked geothermal heating and cooling systems in that country. The trip is part of an initiative organized by the International Finance Corp, a member of the World Bank Group that lends to private companies. The IFC seeks to help finance the construction of such systems on a massive scale—enough to heat and cool the equivalent of tens of thousands of homes—in each of seven countries across the Middle East and Central Asia. The IFC project stemmed in part from the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent interest in developing energy alternatives to gas. Magavi is an adviser on the project. “It is clean, it is renewable, so it is a friend to the environment, but also it is a friend to the wallet of the consumer,” Hela Cheikhrouhou, the IFC’s regional vice president for the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey, Afghanistan and Pakistan, said, referring to the low operating costs of geothermal systems once they are built. Cheikhrouhou also pointed out that building geothermal networks is labor intensive. “That creates a lot of jobs in geographies where economic demographics are growing,” she said. “So if you want people to have good jobs, this is also a good solution.” CleanTechnica's Comment Policy LinkedIn WhatsApp Facebook Bluesky Email Reddit
Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Ancient meets modern as a new subway in Greece showcases archaeological treasures THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Thessaloniki, Greece’s second-largest city, is opening a new subway system, blending ancient archaeological treasures with modern transit technology like driverless trains and platform screen doors. The project, which began in 2003, uncovered over 300,000 artifacts, including a Roman-era thoroughfare and Byzantine relics, many of which are now displayed in its 13 stations. Despite delays caused by preserving these findings, the inaugural line has been completed, with a second line set to open next year. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. At least 19 people are sick in Minnesota from ground beef tied to E. coli recall U.S. health officials say at least 19 people in Minnesota have been sickened by E. coli poisoning tied to a national recall of more than 167,000 pounds of potentially tainted ground beef. Detroit-based Wolverine Packing Co. recalled the meat sent to restaurants nationwide. Minnesota state agriculture officials reported multiple illnesses and found that a sample of the product tested positive for E. coli, which can cause life-threatening infections. No illnesses have been reported outside of Minnesota. Symptoms of E. coli poisoning include fever, vomiting, diarrhea and signs of dehydration. Actor Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend drops assault and defamation lawsuit against once-rising star NEW YORK (AP) — Jonathan Majors’ ex-girlfriend has dropped her assault and defamation lawsuit against the once-rising Hollywood star after reaching a settlement. Lawyers for Majors and Grace Jabbari agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice Thursday. Jabbari is a British dancer who had accused Majors of subjecting her to escalating incidents of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship. Representatives for Majors didn’t respond to emails seeking comment Friday. Jabbari’s lawyer said the suit was “favorably settled” and her client is moving on with “her head held high.” Majors was convicted of misdemeanor assault and harassment last December and sentenced to a yearlong counseling program. Hyundai, Kia recall over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix problem that can cause loss of power DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling over 208,000 electric vehicles to fix a pesky problem that can cause loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. The recalls cover more than 145,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles including the 2022 through 2024 Ioniq 5, the 2023 through 2025 Ioniq 6, GV60 and GV70, and the 2023 and 2024 G80. Also included are nearly 63,000 Kia EV 6 vehicles from 2022 through 2024. The affiliated Korean automakers say in government documents that a transistor in a charging control unit can be damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery. Dealers will inspect and replace the control unit and a fuse if needed. They also will update software. Christmas TV movies are in their Taylor Swift era, with two Swift-inspired films airing this year Two of the new holiday movies coming to TV this season have a Taylor Swift connection that her fans would have no problem decoding. “Christmas in the Spotlight” debuts Saturday on Lifetime. It stars Jessica Lord as the world’s biggest pop star and Laith Wallschleger, playing a pro football player, who meet and fall in love, not unlike Swift and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. On Nov. 30, Hallmark will air “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.” Instead of a nod to Swift, it’s an ode to family traditions and bonding, like rooting for a sports team. Hallmark’s headquarters is also in Kansas City. Top football recruit Bryce Underwood changes commitment to Michigan instead of LSU, AP source says ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Top football recruit Bryce Underwood has flipped to Michigan after pledging to play at LSU. That's according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share the recruit’s plans to join the Wolverines. Underwood pinned a post on his Instagram account, showing a post in which On3.com reported that he has committed to Michigan. The 6-foot-3 quarterback played at Belleville High School about 15 miles east of Michigan's campus, and told LSU nearly a year ago he intended to enroll there. Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach. The adult male was found on Nov. 1 on sand dunes in temperate southwest Australia about 2,200 miles north of the Antarctic coast. He was released Wednesday from a boat that traveled several hours from Western Australia state's most southerly city of Albany. His caregiver Carol Biddulph wasn't sure at first if the penguin would live. She said a mirror was important to his rehabilitation because they provide a sense of company. Biddulph said: “They’re social birds and he stands next to the mirror most of the time.”
Women will for the first time make up a majority of state legislators in Colorado and New Mexico next year, but at least 13 states saw losses in female representation after the November election, according to a count released Thursday by the Rutgers Center for American Women and Politics. While women will fill a record number of state legislative seats in 2025, the overall uptick will be slight, filling just over third of legislative seats. Races in some states are still being called. "We certainly would like to see a faster rate of change and more significant increases in each election cycle to get us to a place where parity in state legislatures is less novel and more normal," said Kelly Dittmar, director of research at the CAWP, which is a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. As of Wednesday, at least 2,450 women will serve in state legislatures, representing 33.2% of the seats nationwide. The previous record was set in 2024 with 2,431 women, according to the CAWP. The number of Republican women, at least 851, will break the previous record of 815 state lawmakers set in 2024. "But still, Republican women are very underrepresented compared to Democratic women," Debbie Walsh, director of the CAWP, said. From left, House Maj. Whip Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, Rep. D. Wonda Johnson, D-Church Rock and Rep. Cristina Parajon, D-Albuquerque, talk July 18 before the start of a special session, in Santa Fe, N.M. By the most recent count, 19 states will have increased the number of women in their state legislatures, according to the CAWP. The most notable increases were in New Mexico and Colorado, where women will for the first time make up a majority of lawmakers. In New Mexico, voters sent an 11 additional women to the chambers. Colorado previously attained gender parity in 2023 and is set to tip over to a slight female majority in the upcoming year. The states follow Nevada, which was the first in the country to see a female majority in the legislature following elections in 2018. Next year, women will make up almost 62% of state lawmakers in Nevada, far exceeding parity. Women in California's Senate will make up the chamber's majority for the first time in 2025 as well. Women also made notable gains in South Dakota, increasing its number by at least nine. Four of South Carolina's Sister Senators, from left, Sen. Margie Bright Matthews, D-Walterboro, Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, and Sen. Penry Gustafson, R-Camden, stand in front of the Senate on June 26 with their John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage award in Columbia, S.C. At least thirteen states emerged from the election with fewer female lawmakers than before, with the most significant loss occurring in South Carolina. This year, the only three Republican women in the South Carolina Senate lost their primaries after they stopped a total abortion ban from passing. Next year, only two women, who are Democrats, will be in the 46-member Senate. No other state in the country will have fewer women in its upper chamber, according to the CAWP. Women make up 55% of the state's registered voters. Half the members in the GOP dominated state were elected in 2012 or before, so it will likely be the 2040s before any Republican woman elected in the future can rise to leadership or a committee chairmanship in the chamber, which doles out leadership positions based on seniority. A net loss of five women in the legislature means they will make up only about 13% of South Carolina's lawmakers, making the state the second lowest in the country for female representation. Only West Virginia has a smaller proportion of women in the legislature. West Virginia stands to lose one more women from its legislative ranks, furthering its representation problem in the legislature where women will make up just 11% of lawmakers. Many women, lawmakers and experts say that women's voices are needed in discussions on policy, especially at a time when state government is at its most powerful in decades. Walsh, director of the CAWP, said the new changes expected from the Trump administration will turn even more policy and regulation to the states. The experiences and perspectives women offer will be increasingly needed, she said, especially on topics related to reproductive rights, healthcare, education and childcare. "The states may have to pick up where the federal government may, in fact, be walking away," Walsh said. "And so who serves in those institutions is more important now than ever." November 7, 2024: Trump Victory Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
NoneCLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chase Artopoeus threw two touchdown passes and ran for a score to lead Chattanooga to a 24-17 victory over Austin Peay in a nonconference regular-season finale on Saturday. Chattanooga (7-5) jumped out to a 10-0 first-quarter lead on Jude Kelley's 28-yard field goal and Artopoeus' 9-yard touchdown toss to Javin Whatley with 42 seconds left. The score came five plays after Alex Mitchell intercepted a pass from Austin Smith, giving the Mocs the ball at the Governors' 26-yard line. Austin Peay answered in the second quarter with help from a Chattanooga turnover. Ellis Ellis Jr. picked off Artopoeus and the Governors took over at the Mocs' 30. Smith completed three straight passes — the last one covering 4 yards to Jaden Barnes to get Austin Peay within three points. Carson Smith followed with a 35-yard field goal to tie it at 10. Chattanooga regained the lead with 4:01 left in the third quarter when Artopoeus capped a nine-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Smith had a 23-yard touchdown run to get Austin Peay within seven with 8:08 left in the game. The Governors drove to the Mocs' 30, but Smith's fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 41 seconds to go. Artopoeus completed 15 of 21 passes for 161 yards for Chattanooga. He had a 7-yard scoring toss to John McIntyre to put the Mocs up 24-10 early in the final quarter. Smith finished with 192 yards on 21-for-36 passing for Austin Peay, which finishes its first season under head coach Jeff Faris with a 4-8 record. Rusty Wright became the first Chattanooga coach to finish .500 or better in each of his first six seasons. Chattanooga snapped Austin Peay's nine-game win streak with a 24-21 victory on the road to close out the regular season last year. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballPhiladelphia (8-2) at Los Angeles Rams (5-5) Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EST, NBC/Peacock BetMGM NFL odds: Eagles by 3. Against the spread: Eagles 6-4; Rams 4-6. Series record: Eagles lead 23-20-1. Last meeting: Eagles beat Rams 23-14 in Inglewood, Calif. on Oct. 8, 2023. Last week: Eagles beat Washington 26-18; Rams beat New England 28-22. Eagles offense: overall (5), rush (1), pass (22), scoring (7). Eagles defense: overall (1), rush (7), pass (2), scoring (6). Rams offense: overall (17), rush (26), pass (T-7), scoring (21). Rams defense: overall (23), rush (18), pass (22), scoring (22). Turnover differential: Eagles plus-2; Rams plus-4. RB Saquon Barkley. Barkley combined for 198 scrimmage yards and two scores, rushing 26 times for 146 yards (5.6 average) while adding two receptions for 52 yards against Washington. With 1,137 rushing yards through 10 games, Barkley only trails Baltimore’s Derrick Henry for the NFL lead. He had his sixth 100-plus yard rushing game this season, which is the most in the NFL. S Kam Kinchens. The rookie third-round pick from Miami had eight tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception and a forced fumble against the Patriots as he continues to come on strong. Kinchens has three picks in the past three games. Eagles QB Jalen Hurts vs. Rams’ defensive line. Hurts shredded Los Angeles for 303 yards passing and 72 yards rushing last season despite the presence of superstar DT Aaron Donald. After Donald retired, the Rams turned to a committee approach to get after the passer, and it has worked with rookie OLB Jared Verse and DT Braden Fiske fitting in well next to second-year OLB Byron Young and DT Kobie Turner. But they can only unleash their excellent pass rush skills by limiting Philadelphia on early downs. Hurts has been at his dual-threat best over the past five games, accounting for 15 total touchdowns (six passing, nine rushing) against two turnovers. Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff had surgery on his left wrist on Thursday, a move that could allow him to return toward the end of the season. ... WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring) and DT Milton Williams (foot) each missed practice this week. ... Rams RT Rob Havenstein (ankle) looks to be trending toward a return this week. Havenstein sat out the previous two games because of the ailment. The Eagles have won all three games in Los Angeles since the Rams moved back in 2016. ... Overall, Philadelphia has won seven of the past eight. The only setback came in Week 2 of the 2020 pandemic season. Barkley has passed 100-plus scrimmage yards in eight of 10 games. That is tied with LeSean McCoy (2011) and Brian Westbrook (2007) for the most by an Eagle through 10 games. His 198 yards were his second most as an Eagle (199 in Week 9). ... The Eagles have allowed two passing touchdowns during their winning streak. Only one opponent has topped 200 passing yards against them in this stretch, with Cincinnati throwing for 222 in Week 8. ... Hurts leads all NFL quarterbacks with 11 touchdown runs and is second only to Henry's 13 scores for the Ravens. ... WR A.J. Brown leads the league in receptions of 30 yards or longer. He is averaging 18.7 yards per catch, the best mark of any player with at least 30 grabs. ... Even before he hurt his wrist, Huff struggled in his first season in Philadelphia with just 2 1/2 sacks and four quarterback hits. His snap count has dipped since he was injured ahead of a game earlier this month against Jacksonville. Huff had 17 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Jets before he signed a three-year, $51 million free-agent deal with the Eagles. ... Philadelphia has run for at least 150 yards and two touchdowns in five straight games, something it hadn't accomplished since 1949. ... Rams WR Puka Nacua caught his first touchdown of the season in New England. He has at least seven receptions and 98 yards in three of his past four games, with only a second-quarter ejection in Seattle having limited Nacua since he returned from a knee injury. ... WR Cooper Kupp has 614 receptions through his first 98 games, which is fourth most in NFL history through 100 games. Julio Jones (619) is third. ... RB Kyren Williams averaged a season-high 5.7 yards per carry, finishing with 86 yards on 15 attempts versus the Patriots. ... Verse has 11 tackles for loss and 4 1/2 sacks through his first 10 games. Verse is pressuring the quarterback on 20.2% of pass rush snaps, which ranks second in the league overall. ... The Rams were 2 of 8 (25%) on third down against New England, their third straight game converting 25% or worse. ... QB Matthew Stafford has not been sacked in each of Los Angeles’ past three wins. Don’t be discouraged using Stafford, Kupp and Nacua against Philadelphia's pass defense. All three put up solid fantasy numbers in last season’s meeting, even as the Eagles sat on the ball for nearly 38 minutes. Stafford had 222 yards and two scores, finding Kupp eight times for 118 yards and Nacua seven times for 71 yards and a touchdown, so they'll find ways to produce. AP NFL:
Car owners could be missing out. When they pick up a new or used vehicle, the dealership or the private seller often fails to mention many of its neatest features. Perhaps the salesperson was in a rush because another customer was waiting, or maybe a private seller didn't even know about these features. While many of them can be found in the owner's manual, you'll probably only look in the manual if you already know the features exist. The RAV4 is no exception to this trend. In fact, given Toyota's long-time leadership in incorporating the latest technology into their vehicles, the brand's cars, trucks, and SUVs may have more hidden features than most manufacturers. Whether it's Toyota's advanced driver assist features , the new engines Toyota will release soon , or just thoughtful conveniences that the engineers slipped into each new car, RAV4 owners could spend hours studying their owner's manuals. This article will provide a shortcut by revealing some of the RAV4's secrets. The RAV4 is already a great option for a versatile SUV , but knowing these tricks can help to get the most out of driving it. Where possible, the model years for each feature will be specified. Your RAV4 may not have every option described below, so be sure to check your owner's manual to find out if your RAV4 includes any given option and to find out how to operate it, since equipment and procedures may vary slightly from year to year. Toyota's website has how-to videos describing how some systems work, and Toyota USA's YouTube channel has collected many RAV4 how-to videos into a playlist. Owners expect their SUVs to provide extra utility beyond a sedan or hatchback. The RAV4 takes that to the next level with a trick cargo floor that can be set to two different heights or flipped over for carrying messy loads on the plastic side. This feature can be found on RAV4s beginning with the 2019 model. When the cargo floor is set to the upper level, it makes a flat loading surface with the rear seats folded forward. At the lower level, it provides more than two extra inches of vertical space within the cargo area. For dirty loads and wet paws, flip the carpeted cargo floor over and expose the hard plastic underside. Some owners have reported that the cargo floor sags under heavy loads, especially when set to the upper level where there is a gap between the floor and the spare tire underneath it. They've shared solutions like foam blocks or a full-size spare tire to reinforce the floor, although a larger tire would eliminate the option to use the lower floor level. Prying eyes can see into an SUV's cargo area and spy on what you're carrying. To prevent this the RAV4 comes with a retractable rear cargo area cover. However, to make room for bulkier cargo, this cover is removable. Many SUVs offer removable versions of their cargo covers, but most of them don't provide an on-board location to stow them, forcing owners to stash them in the garage when they're not in use. In the RAV4, there's a storage area for the cover. To use it, first, retract the cover and pop it out of its brackets. Next, open the cargo area floor. On either side of the spare tire well are two small panels. Remove those and insert the cargo area cover across the tire area, resting the ends in the spaces revealed by removing the small panels. Pop the small panels back into place, and then put the cargo area floor back in place. If you fold the rear seat forward, you have unobstructed access to the full volume of the RAV4's cargo capacity. Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) debuted in 2015, making Toyota one of the first automakers to offer a comprehensive suite of high-tech driver assistance features. You don't need to know all the details of how Toyota Safety Sense works to benefit from it, but it doesn't hurt to understand the broad outlines of its operation and how to keep it functioning well. TSS uses radar and a forward-looking camera to enable features like the Pre-Collision System, Lane Tracing Assist, and more. The camera is located on the inside of the windshield at the top center, in the area of the rearview mirror. The radar sensor is located inside the grille behind the badge. The radar sensor is more likely to get dirty and thus prevent features like the Dynamic Radar Cruise Control from functioning. Wiping the sensor cover (which may also cover the badge) or the sensor itself with a soft cloth will remove road grime, snow, and other obstructions. Since the camera is inside the windshield glass, keeping the windshield clean will keep it functioning. If grime gets inside the glass and obscures the camera, your Toyota dealer will need to clean it for you; do not try to disassemble the camera to clean it. Also, do not put stickers, graphics, or custom accessories over the camera. This last piece of advice applies to the radar sensor cover, too. Owners may not know that many of Toyota Safety Sense's settings are adjustable. In recent models, most of them can be adjusted via the Settings menu on the multi-information display located at the center of the instrument panel. Switches on the steering wheel enable drivers to scroll through the options on the display and choose the settings they want to adjust. For example, it's possible to adjust the Pre-Collision System (PCS) with Pedestrian Detection for a longer or shorter warning time. Use the directional arrows on the steering wheel switches to pick the Settings menu on the multi-information display, which has an icon that looks like a gear. Press the OK button and use the arrows to move to the PCS icon, which may look like a tiny diagram of two cars colliding. Click OK again. Arrow down to the Warning Timing setting. Clicking OK will cycle through the three available warning times. Pick the one you want, then click on the left-pointing arrow to exit this menu. This menu also lets you turn the PCS system off. Other features can also be customized from the Settings menu. For example, the Lane Departure Assist system's alert time can be adjusted, or the system can be turned off. The Road Sign Assist feature can be turned on or off from this menu. In vehicles with Proactive Driving Assist, the sensitivity can be adjusted. Alerts for the Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert systems can be changed in the Settings menu, too. What seems like a simple key fob is a hidden wonder. Features may vary depending on the model year of each RAV4, but most fobs include a hidden mechanical key, adjustable lock settings, and an easy way to pop open the fob to change the battery yourself. Toyota calls its key the Smart Key, which it introduced in 2004 on the Prius, from which it spread over the next few years to most Toyota models. The key fob has a button on the side that releases the mechanical key, which then slides out of the bottom of the fob. Insert the mechanical key into the driver's side door lock and turn it to the right once to unlock the driver's door and twice to unlock all doors. Turn it to the left to lock all doors. This comes in handy if the key fob's battery dies. If that happens, there's no need to bring the fob to the dealer to replace the battery. When the mechanical key is in its slot on the key fob, its base covers an additional slot. Remove the mechanical key from the fob, insert it into the other slot (which is now exposed), and turn it to pop open the fob. The battery is located behind the circuit board; remove the board and use the tip of the key to remove the battery. Replace it with a new CR2032 lithium battery , reset the circuit board, and snap the fob back together. Newer Toyotas may offer a digital car key, which lets you unlock and start your vehicle with a cell phone. This is more secure than key fobs, although some argue that there are potential risks from digital car keys , too. Many RAV4s from 2020 onward come equipped with Toyota's Wi-Fi Connect, a suite of features offering a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot and integrated streaming of Apple Music and Amazon Music, along with other services. Note that these are optional add-ons and come with subscription fees, although new RAV4s may offer free introductory subscription periods. Wi-Fi Connect uses AT&T's 4G LTE network to turn the RAV4 into a rolling hotspot. Once connected, Integrated Streaming enables your existing Apple Music or Amazon Music subscriptions to play through the RAV4's stereo system. Apple Music offers over 100 million songs and thousands of playlists, while Amazon Music offers 90 million songs and new releases. Wi-Fi Connect also enables other services designed to make RAV4 ownership more convenient. Remote Connect lets your cell phone lock and unlock the RAV4's doors, remotely start the engine, and activate headlights, hazard lights, and climate controls. Drive Connect delivers cloud navigation, Destination Assist, and a voice-activated onboard assistant for finding locations, sending messages, and more. Service Connect also provides vehicle health reports, maintenance reminders, and maintenance alerts which are sent to you and your Toyota dealer. Many newer RAV4 models offer Safety Connect features to increase your peace of mind. These come to your rescue if the worst should happen. Please note that these are subscription-based services that require a monthly fee. The first Safety Connect system is the Emergency Assist Button, which connects you with a live dispatcher available 24 hours a day who can send emergency services to your location. If you are in an accident and can't operate the Emergency Assist Button yourself, then Toyota's Automatic Collision Notification will sense that the vehicle has been in a crash and autonomously notify the dispatch center. There, an agent will send emergency services to the RAV4's location via GPS and will also attempt to speak with the occupants by phone. The Stolen Vehicle Locator service activates after you file a police report stating that your RAV4 has been stolen. Toyota will use GPS to help authorities to locate it. This information will only be shared with police for purposes of recovering the vehicle. As the driver, you know the dashboard and center console like the back of your hand. However, when a passenger asks where to plug in a phone or when you need to connect a vacuum or other accessory to onboard power, you may discover that you don't know the interior layout as well as you thought. Your RAV4 offers multiple USB ports and 120V outlets to make life easier for your passengers and you. The following list of ports and outlets is for a 2021 RAV4, and other models may not offer the same configuration. Consult the owner's manual for different model years. First, there are four USB charging ports in the center console, with two on the front of the console and two in the back, facing rear seat passengers. There are two 12V 120W auxiliary power outlets, one in the front storage tray and one in the rear cargo area. Additionally, higher trim levels offer an optional 12V 1500W AC power outlet in the rear cargo area. Premium trim levels also come standard with a Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charger. SUVs are workhorses and can be expected to pull trailers ranging from campers to transports for RVs, jet skis, and more. Trailer sway is one of the biggest hazards of trailering, resulting in the trailer fishtailing from side to side in greater and greater arcs, usually at higher speeds. It can be caused by unbalanced loads, high winds, or turbulence from passing trucks. Anti-trailer-sway systems are among essentials for towing trailers or campers , but the RAV4 features its own anti-sway system. Trailer Sway Control (TSC) has been available on some RAV4 models since 2017 and more recently expanded across most trim levels. It uses the RAV4's Vehicle Stability Control system to apply the brakes individually to each wheel to bring the vehicle and its trailer back under control. This eliminates one of the most frightening experiences a driver can experience while towing a trailer and greatly enhances safety. Traction and fuel economy are both critical to a compact SUV. Dynamic Torque Vectoring and Rear Driveline Disconnect help to improve both of these areas in the RAV4, making it one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in its class while still giving it genuine off-road capability. Both systems are standard on certain trim levels of all-wheel-drive RAV4s in recent model years. Dynamic Torque Vectoring is used to distribute traction between the rear wheels. Using special couplings, it delivers torque to whichever wheel is in contact with the surface in situations where one wheel is off the ground. This can happen on a trail where rocks, ruts, or tree roots have temporarily hung one rear wheel up in the air, in which case power is rerouted to the other rear wheel. By contrast, when an AWD RAV4 is driving on-road with good traction, the AWD system isn't needed. The Rear Driveline Disconnect uses a special clutch to disengage the rear wheels, stop the driveshaft from rotating, and send all power to the front wheels. This reduces friction and the amount of energy needed, improving fuel efficiency. Many drivers may find that this is one of the most exciting hidden features since it has the biggest benefit for day-to-day driving. In normal reflective mode, the mirror shows only what can be seen through the rear windshield, framed by the inside of the cabin. If there are rear-seat passengers or items piled up in the cargo area, the view is even further obscured. By contrast, when the digital rearview mirror is engaged, it uses a camera on the rear of the vehicle to transmit a view directly to a display built into the mirror. It shows a broad and clear vista of what's behind the RAV4 with no obstructions. If your RAV4 has this system, you'll find a camera at the top of the inside of the rear windshield, just below the center high-mounted stop light. To switch the rearview mirror from the traditional reflective view to the camera view, pull forward on the switch that looks like what you would usually use to engage the night mirror setting on a regular mirror. If the digital rearview mirror is present, instead of switching to a night mirror, the display will activate and show the camera view. Cameras also give access to two more of the RAV4's hidden features. The Panoramic View Monitor with Perimeter Scan, also called the Bird's-eye View Monitor in some earlier models, uses four cameras to stitch together an overhead view of the RAV4 and its surroundings. The cameras are located in the front, the rear, and under each side view mirror. This can be invaluable when navigating through tight spaces. To activate this feature, the parking assist must be turned on, and the driver must touch an icon above the center console display. When this system is in drive instead of reverse and the vehicle is traveling under six miles per hour, the system lets you choose a front wide-angle view or dual side views. These can be useful in tight parking spaces, on narrow roads without much room to pass parked vehicles, or on trails where you want a better look at potential obstacles.Princely Umanmielen’s return to the Swamp ends with a loss and a police escort
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