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Jimmy Carter, Former 39th US President, Dies At 100

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 30, 2024

Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, passed away at the age of 100, confirmed The Carter Center.

The former peanut farmer and Georgia governor had the longest life span of any US president, celebrating his centennial birthday in October. The Carter Center, which he founded to promote democracy and human rights globally, announced that he died on Sunday afternoon at his home in Plains, Georgia.

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Carter served as president from 1977 to 1981, a tenure marked by economic challenges and diplomatic crises. After leaving office with low approval ratings, his reputation grew through extensive humanitarian work, culminating in a Nobel Peace Prize.

“My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love,” said his son, Chip Carter, in a statement. “The world is our family because of the way he brought people together.”

Carter is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. His wife, Rosalynn, who was married to him for 77 years, passed away in November 2023.

Carter, who became the oldest living former US president after George H.W. Bush died in 2018, ceased medical treatment for an undisclosed illness last year and entered hospice care at home.

President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden praised Carter as an extraordinary leader and humanitarian, highlighting his principles, faith, and humility. “He showed that we are a great nation because we are a good people – decent, honorable, courageous, compassionate, humble, and strong,” they said.

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the US, also reflected on Carter’s presidency, acknowledging his dedication to improving American lives and expressing gratitude for his service.

Carter’s presidency was marked by challenges like the Iran hostage crisis, but also by a diplomatic triumph with the Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel in 1978. Despite his achievements, Carter faced a resounding defeat in the 1980 election to Ronald Reagan, with just six states and Washington D.C. supporting his re-election bid.

Over time, Carter’s post-presidency humanitarian efforts and simple lifestyle reshaped his legacy. Rejecting the lucrative opportunities offered to former presidents, he focused on global issues of inequality and disease, co-founding The Elders with Nelson Mandela to promote peace and human rights.

In 2002, Carter became the third US president to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, stressing the widening gap between the rich and poor as a pressing global concern.

Carter’s commitment to service was echoed by former presidents, including Bill and Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush, who praised his humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.

President Biden announced that a state funeral will be held in Washington, D.C., to honor Carter’s life and legacy.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.