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John Elway: remorse over bypassing Josh Allen in draft mitigated by watching Broncos rookie Bo NixDecember 23, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Tokyo Metropolitan University Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that around 15 days of dry weather can trigger the flowering of durian. Observations of 110 durian plants revealed that flowering occurred around 50 days after an approximately 15-day dry spell, independent of whether the plant was grafted or grown from a seed. The team's work, which is published in the International Journal of Biometeorology , might not only impact the production of a valuable agricultural asset but deepen our understanding of tropical ecosystems. Known in many countries as the "king of fruits," the durian is known for its distinctive strong odor, large size, and thorny rind. Though its odor splits opinions, its widespread culinary use in Asia makes it an exceptionally valuable crop, accounting for the largest share of fruit in Malaysia by production, area planted, and quantity produced. Yet, there is much that is unknown about its cultivation, including how its flowering is triggered. To uncover the secrets of durian flowering, a team of researchers led by Professor Shinya Numata and Aoi Eguchi from Tokyo Metropolitan University undertook an extensive survey of durian, observing 110 plants in the orchard of the University of Technology Malaysia with local collaborators. Their study covered both seed-grown and grafted plants, focusing on the timing at which individual plants flowered, measured against an extensive survey of weather conditions. The team found that durian plants flowered approximately 50 days after a prolonged period of dry weather. These dry spells needed to be long enough to show up in moving average traces, specifically periods where rainfall averaged over 15-day windows was less than 1 millimeter. Previous work had hinted at some correlation between either dryness or low temperature. This is the first time that the exact conditions had been pinned down with such accuracy, though they found no correlation with maximum or minimum temperature. Their work was found to apply to durian plants irrespective of their varieties, as flowering seemed to occur at the same time for both. The same was also found for both seed-grown and grafted plant types. Flowering events of both grafted and seed-grown durian. Both types of durian flowered at the same time. (a) shows survey dates, (b) and (c) the flowering events. (d) and (e) show daily rainfall and minimum temperature respectively. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University Flowering events follow prolonged droughts. The appearance of durian flowers peaked around 50 days after an extended dry spell. Credit: Tokyo Metropolitan University The team had proposed that there was some relationship between the flowering of durian and the more general burst of flowering seen in the tropics following long dry spells. However, such general flowering events require a longer dry spell of around 30 days to occur. This explains why durian tend to flower multiple times a year, while synchronized flowering across species occurs once every few years. Given its commercial value, insights like these will inform effective agricultural practices to predict flowering and manage harvests. The team hope that their findings will also deepen our understanding of the southeast Asian tropical ecosystem. More information: Aoi Eguchi et al, Dry spells trigger durian flowering in aseasonal tropics, International Journal of Biometeorology (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s00484-024-02819-x Journal information: International Journal of Biometeorology Provided by Tokyo Metropolitan University
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BOSTON — The Red Sox aren’t done adding to their starting rotation. According to multiple reports, the Red Sox are signing former Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler. The deal is reportedly for one year, $21.05 million and will allow the two-time World Series champion an opportunity to rebuild his market value in his first full season recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. Buehler represents a fascinating buy low option for the Red Sox, who have already fortified their rotation by acquiring left-handers Garrett Crochet and Patrick Sandoval this winter. The 30-year-old was for a stretch one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, earning two All-Star nods while posting a 3.03 ERA with 408 strikeouts over 356 1/3 innings in four seasons between 2018-21. He underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery in August of 2022, cutting that season short after only 12 starts, and he went on to miss all of 2023 as well. Upon his return in 2024, Buehler was not the same guy. In 16 starts for the eventual World Series champions he posted a 5.38 ERA over 75 1/3 innings, but with the Dodgers rotation decimated by injury he wound up making four appearances in the playoffs. Buehler wound up closing out the decisive Game 5 of the World Series too, earning the save with a scoreless ninth to lock down Los Angeles’ second World Series title in five years. By signing a one-year deal, it likely closes off any more additions to the starting rotation, which now features Crochet, Buehler, Sandoval, Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito and Kutter Crawford plus depth options like Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, Quinn Priester and Hunter Dobbins.New Delhi: Data from the first assembly elections after the Supreme Court allowed candidates to inspect EVM burnt memory for suspected 'tampering or modification' shows growing political interest in the mechanism. According to data collated as of December 4, 2024, by the Maharashtra wing of the Election Commission of India , a record 104 Checking & Verification (C&V) applications have been filed in the state across 95 constituencies requiring the checking of 755 EVMs--a figure that may fluctuate based on overlaps with Election petitions. Six EVM-VVPAT C&V applications were submitted in Haryana following the assembly elections, and one in Jammu and Kashmir for the Chenani assembly constituency, ET has learnt. According to preliminary analysis of C&V statistics, NCP (Sharad Pawar) candidates seem to have filed the most verification applications. The Pawar stronghold of Baramati, won by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar , is also subject to a C&V application. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Leadership Business Storytelling Masterclass By - Ameen Haque, Founder of Storywallahs View Program Web Development JavaScript Essentials: Unlock AI-Driven Insights with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Finance: Finance Beginner Course By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship From Idea to Product: A Startup Development Guide By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship Marketing & Sales Strategies for Startups: From Concept to Conversion By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Entrepreneurship Crafting a Powerful Startup Value Proposition By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrow's Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Entrepreneurship Startup Fundraising: Essential Tactics for Securing Capital By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Entrepreneurship Building Your Winning Startup Team: Key Strategies for Success By - Dr. Anu Khanchandani, Startup Coach with more than 25 years of experience View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Future of Marketing & Branding Masterclass By - Dr. David Aaker, Professor Emeritus at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley, Author | Speaker | Thought Leader | Branding Consultant View Program Web Development Intermediate Java Mastery: Method, Collections, and Beyond By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance AI and Generative AI for Finance By - Hariom Tatsat, Vice President- Quantitative Analytics at Barclays View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Office Productivity Advanced Excel Course - Financial Calculations & Excel Made Easy By - Anirudh Saraf, Founder- Saraf A & Associates, Chartered Accountant View Program Office Productivity Microsoft Word Mastery: From Beginner to Expert By - CA Raj K Agrawal, Chartered Accountant View Program Eknath Shinde, the second Deputy CM, is also facing a C&V application in his constituency of Kopri Pachpakhadi in Thane district, where he defeated the Shiv Sena (Uddhav) faction candidate. The Indian National Congress is not far behind, with at least a score of C&V applications filed by its candidates, according to reports. Several Independents are also believed to have requested EVM C&V in several constituencies. Interestingly, a C&V is being sought in Karjat Jamkhed, where the BJP candidate, Ram Shankar Shinde, lost to Rohit Pawar, Sharad Pawar's grandson. The majority of applications came from Thane, Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Mumbai South-Urban constituencies. According to ECI data, 137 EVMs are to be verified in the Pune district, 75 in Thane, and 74 in Ahilyanagar. The state's C&V process will commence on January 7, 2025, once the EP filing period (45 days following results) is completed, officials told ET. The increase in C&V applications in Maharashtra coincides with a fresh campaign against EVMs by opposition parties. Sharad Pawar has blamed his party's failure in the state elections on reported EVM anomalies, and he has also called for a united INDIA bloc movement on the issue. The possibility of filing a petition in the Supreme Court is also being discussed. In addition, the Congress party claimed that there were widespread EVM discrepancies in the Haryana polls and filed a complaint with the ECI. The poll panel has categorically denied any such allegations. The Supreme Court opened the way for C&V in its April 26 ruling, which directed ECI to allow for verification of approximately 5% of EVMs in each assembly constituency/assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency within seven days of counting day. As a result, for the first time, the Lok Sabha 2024 elections allowed two runners-up in a seat to seek verification of the EVM/VVPAT microcontroller for alleged 'tampering or modification'. According to the ECI, just eight C&V petitions were filed for Lok Sabha seats, and no discrepancies were found in any of them. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
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ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter, the peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100 years old. The longest-lived American president died on Sunday, roughly 22 months after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. “Our founder, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, passed away this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the center said on the social media platform X. It added in a statement that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family. As reaction poured in from around the world, President Joe Biden mourned Carter’s death, saying the world lost an “extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian” and he lost a dear friend. Biden cited Carter’s work to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil and human rights, promote free and fair elections and house the homeless as an example for others. “To all of the young people in this nation and for anyone in search of what it means to live a life of purpose and meaning – the good life – study Jimmy Carter, a man of principle, faith, and humility,” Biden said in a statement. Biden spoke later Sunday evening about Carter, calling it a “sad day” but one that “brings back an incredible amount of good memories.” “I’ve been hanging out with Jimmy Carter for over 50 years,” Biden said in his remarks. He recalled the former president being a comfort to him and his wife Jill when their son Beau died in 2015 of cancer. The president remarked how cancer was a common bond between their families, with Carter himself having cancer later in his life. “Jimmy knew the ravages of the disease too well,” said Biden, who was ordering a state funeral for Carter in Washington. Businessman, Navy officer, evangelist, politician, negotiator, author, woodworker, citizen of the world — Carter forged a path that still challenges political assumptions and stands out among the 45 men who reached the nation’s highest office. The 39th president leveraged his ambition with a keen intellect, deep religious faith and prodigious work ethic, conducting diplomatic missions into his 80s and building houses for the poor well into his 90s. “My faith demands — this is not optional — my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try to make a difference,” Carter once said. A president from Plains A moderate Democrat, Carter entered the 1976 presidential race as a little-known Georgia governor with a broad smile, outspoken Baptist mores and technocratic plans reflecting his education as an engineer. His no-frills campaign depended on public financing, and his promise not to deceive the American people resonated after Richard Nixon’s disgrace and U.S. defeat in southeast Asia. “If I ever lie to you, if I ever make a misleading statement, don’t vote for me. I would not deserve to be your president,” Carter repeated before narrowly beating Republican incumbent Gerald Ford, who had lost popularity pardoning Nixon. Carter governed amid Cold War pressures, turbulent oil markets and social upheaval over racism, women’s rights and America’s global role. His most acclaimed achievement in office was a Mideast peace deal that he brokered by keeping Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin at the bargaining table for 13 days in 1978. That Camp David experience inspired the post-presidential center where Carter would establish so much of his legacy. Yet Carter’s electoral coalition splintered under double-digit inflation, gasoline lines and the 444-day hostage crisis in Iran. His bleakest hour came when eight Americans died in a failed hostage rescue in April 1980, helping to ensure his landslide defeat to Republican Ronald Reagan. Carter acknowledged in his 2020 “White House Diary” that he could be “micromanaging” and “excessively autocratic,” complicating dealings with Congress and the federal bureaucracy. He also turned a cold shoulder to Washington’s news media and lobbyists, not fully appreciating their influence on his political fortunes. “It didn’t take us long to realize that the underestimation existed, but by that time we were not able to repair the mistake,” Carter told historians in 1982, suggesting that he had “an inherent incompatibility” with Washington insiders. Carter insisted his overall approach was sound and that he achieved his primary objectives — to “protect our nation’s security and interests peacefully” and “enhance human rights here and abroad” — even if he fell spectacularly short of a second term. And then, the world Ignominious defeat, though, allowed for renewal. The Carters founded The Carter Center in 1982 as a first-of-its-kind base of operations, asserting themselves as international peacemakers and champions of democracy, public health and human rights. “I was not interested in just building a museum or storing my White House records and memorabilia,” Carter wrote in a memoir published after his 90th birthday. “I wanted a place where we could work.” That work included easing nuclear tensions in North and South Korea, helping to avert a U.S. invasion of Haiti and negotiating cease-fires in Bosnia and Sudan. By 2022, The Carter Center had declared at least 113 elections in Latin America, Asia and Africa to be free or fraudulent. Recently, the center began monitoring U.S. elections as well. Carter’s stubborn self-assuredness and even self-righteousness proved effective once he was unencumbered by the Washington order, sometimes to the point of frustrating his successors. He went “where others are not treading,” he said, to places like Ethiopia, Liberia and North Korea, where he secured the release of an American who had wandered across the border in 2010. “I can say what I like. I can meet whom I want. I can take on projects that please me and reject the ones that don’t,” Carter said. He announced an arms-reduction-for-aid deal with North Korea without clearing the details with Bill Clinton’s White House. He openly criticized President George W. Bush for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He also criticized America’s approach to Israel with his 2006 book “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.” And he repeatedly countered U.S. administrations by insisting North Korea should be included in international affairs, a position that most aligned Carter with Republican President Donald Trump. Among the center’s many public health initiatives, Carter vowed to eradicate the guinea worm parasite during his lifetime, and nearly achieved it: Cases dropped from millions in the 1980s to nearly a handful. With hardhats and hammers, the Carters also built homes with Habitat for Humanity. The Nobel committee’s 2002 Peace Prize cites his “untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts, to advance democracy and human rights, and to promote economic and social development.” Carter should have won it alongside Sadat and Begin in 1978, the chairman added. Carter accepted the recognition saying there was more work to be done. “The world is now, in many ways, a more dangerous place,” he said. “The greater ease of travel and communication has not been matched by equal understanding and mutual respect.” ‘An epic American life’ Carter’s globetrotting took him to remote villages where he met little “Jimmy Carters,” so named by admiring parents. But he spent most of his days in the same one-story Plains house — expanded and guarded by Secret Service agents — where they lived before he became governor. He regularly taught Sunday School lessons at Maranatha Baptist Church until his mobility declined and the coronavirus pandemic raged. Those sessions drew visitors from around the world to the small sanctuary where Carter will receive his final send-off after a state funeral at Washington’s National Cathedral. The common assessment that he was a better ex-president than president rankled Carter and his allies. His prolific post-presidency gave him a brand above politics, particularly for Americans too young to witness him in office. But Carter also lived long enough to see biographers and historians reassess his White House years more generously. His record includes the deregulation of key industries, reduction of U.S. dependence on foreign oil, cautious management of the national debt and notable legislation on the environment, education and mental health. He focused on human rights in foreign policy, pressuring dictators to release thousands of political prisoners. He acknowledged America’s historical imperialism, pardoned Vietnam War draft evaders and relinquished control of the Panama Canal. He normalized relations with China. “I am not nominating Jimmy Carter for a place on Mount Rushmore,” Stuart Eizenstat, Carter’s domestic policy director, wrote in a 2018 book. “He was not a great president” but also not the “hapless and weak” caricature voters rejected in 1980, Eizenstat said. Rather, Carter was “good and productive” and “delivered results, many of which were realized only after he left office.” Madeleine Albright, a national security staffer for Carter and Clinton’s secretary of state, wrote in Eizenstat’s forward that Carter was “consequential and successful” and expressed hope that “perceptions will continue to evolve” about his presidency. “Our country was lucky to have him as our leader,” said Albright, who died in 2022. Jonathan Alter, who penned a comprehensive Carter biography published in 2020, said in an interview that Carter should be remembered for “an epic American life” spanning from a humble start in a home with no electricity or indoor plumbing through decades on the world stage across two centuries. “He will likely go down as one of the most misunderstood and underestimated figures in American history,” Alter told The Associated Press. A small-town start James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains and spent his early years in nearby Archery. His family was a minority in the mostly Black community, decades before the civil rights movement played out at the dawn of Carter’s political career. Carter, who campaigned as a moderate on race relations but governed more progressively, talked often of the influence of his Black caregivers and playmates but also noted his advantages: His land-owning father sat atop Archery’s tenant-farming system and owned a main street grocery. His mother, Lillian, would become a staple of his political campaigns. Seeking to broaden his world beyond Plains and its population of fewer than 1,000 — then and now — Carter won an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1946. That same year he married Rosalynn Smith, another Plains native, a decision he considered more important than any he made as head of state. She shared his desire to see the world, sacrificing college to support his Navy career. Carter climbed in rank to lieutenant, but then his father was diagnosed with cancer, so the submarine officer set aside his ambitions of admiralty and moved the family back to Plains. His decision angered Rosalynn, even as she dived into the peanut business alongside her husband. Carter again failed to talk with his wife before his first run for office — he later called it “inconceivable” not to have consulted her on such major life decisions — but this time, she was on board. “My wife is much more political,” Carter told the AP in 2021. He won a state Senate seat in 1962 but wasn’t long for the General Assembly and its back-slapping, deal-cutting ways. He ran for governor in 1966 — losing to arch-segregationist Lester Maddox — and then immediately focused on the next campaign. Carter had spoken out against church segregation as a Baptist deacon and opposed racist “Dixiecrats” as a state senator. Yet as a local school board leader in the 1950s he had not pushed to end school segregation even after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, despite his private support for integration. And in 1970, Carter ran for governor again as the more conservative Democrat against Carl Sanders, a wealthy businessman Carter mocked as “Cufflinks Carl.” Sanders never forgave him for anonymous, race-baiting flyers, which Carter disavowed. Ultimately, Carter won his races by attracting both Black voters and culturally conservative whites. Once in office, he was more direct. “I say to you quite frankly that the time for racial discrimination is over,” he declared in his 1971 inaugural address, setting a new standard for Southern governors that landed him on the cover of Time magazine. ‘Jimmy Who?’ His statehouse initiatives included environmental protection, boosting rural education and overhauling antiquated executive branch structures. He proclaimed Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the slain civil rights leader’s home state. And he decided, as he received presidential candidates in 1972, that they were no more talented than he was. In 1974, he ran Democrats’ national campaign arm. Then he declared his own candidacy for 1976. An Atlanta newspaper responded with the headline: “Jimmy Who?” The Carters and a “Peanut Brigade” of family members and Georgia supporters camped out in Iowa and New Hampshire, establishing both states as presidential proving grounds. His first Senate endorsement: a young first-termer from Delaware named Joe Biden. Yet it was Carter’s ability to navigate America’s complex racial and rural politics that cemented the nomination. He swept the Deep South that November, the last Democrat to do so, as many white Southerners shifted to Republicans in response to civil rights initiatives. A self-declared “born-again Christian,” Carter drew snickers by referring to Scripture in a Playboy magazine interview, saying he “had looked on many women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times.” The remarks gave Ford a new foothold and television comedians pounced — including NBC’s new “Saturday Night Live” show. But voters weary of cynicism in politics found it endearing. Carter chose Minnesota Sen. Walter “Fritz” Mondale as his running mate on a “Grits and Fritz” ticket. In office, he elevated the vice presidency and the first lady’s office. Mondale’s governing partnership was a model for influential successors Al Gore, Dick Cheney and Biden. Rosalynn Carter was one of the most involved presidential spouses in history, welcomed into Cabinet meetings and huddles with lawmakers and top aides. The Carters presided with uncommon informality: He used his nickname “Jimmy” even when taking the oath of office, carried his own luggage and tried to silence the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” They bought their clothes off the rack. Carter wore a cardigan for a White House address, urging Americans to conserve energy by turning down their thermostats. Amy, the youngest of four children, attended District of Columbia public school. Washington’s social and media elite scorned their style. But the larger concern was that “he hated politics,” according to Eizenstat, leaving him nowhere to turn politically once economic turmoil and foreign policy challenges took their toll. Accomplishments, and ‘malaise’ Carter partially deregulated the airline, railroad and trucking industries and established the departments of Education and Energy, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He designated millions of acres of Alaska as national parks or wildlife refuges. He appointed a then-record number of women and nonwhite people to federal posts. He never had a Supreme Court nomination, but he elevated civil rights attorney Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the nation’s second highest court, positioning her for a promotion in 1993. He appointed Paul Volker, the Federal Reserve chairman whose policies would help the economy boom in the 1980s — after Carter left office. He built on Nixon’s opening with China, and though he tolerated autocrats in Asia, pushed Latin America from dictatorships to democracy. But he couldn’t immediately tame inflation or the related energy crisis. And then came Iran. After he admitted the exiled Shah of Iran to the U.S. for medical treatment, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun in 1979 by followers of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Negotiations to free the hostages broke down repeatedly ahead of the failed rescue attempt. The same year, Carter signed SALT II, the new strategic arms treaty with Leonid Brezhnev of the Soviet Union, only to pull it back, impose trade sanctions and order a U.S. boycott of the Moscow Olympics after the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. Hoping to instill optimism, he delivered what the media dubbed his “malaise” speech, although he didn’t use that word. He declared the nation was suffering “a crisis of confidence.” By then, many Americans had lost confidence in the president, not themselves. Carter campaigned sparingly for reelection because of the hostage crisis, instead sending Rosalynn as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy challenged him for the Democratic nomination. Carter famously said he’d “kick his ass,” but was hobbled by Kennedy as Reagan rallied a broad coalition with “make America great again” appeals and asking voters whether they were “better off than you were four years ago.” Reagan further capitalized on Carter’s lecturing tone, eviscerating him in their lone fall debate with the quip: “There you go again.” Carter lost all but six states and Republicans rolled to a new Senate majority. Carter successfully negotiated the hostages’ freedom after the election, but in one final, bitter turn of events, Tehran waited until hours after Carter left office to let them walk free. At 56, Carter returned to Georgia with “no idea what I would do with the rest of my life.” Four decades after launching The Carter Center, he still talked of unfinished business. “I thought when we got into politics we would have resolved everything,” Carter told the AP in 2021. “But it’s turned out to be much more long-lasting and insidious than I had thought it was. I think in general, the world itself is much more divided than in previous years.” Still, he affirmed what he said when he underwent treatment for a cancer diagnosis in his 10th decade of life. “I’m perfectly at ease with whatever comes,” he said in 2015. “I’ve had a wonderful life. I’ve had thousands of friends, I’ve had an exciting, adventurous and gratifying existence.”STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Zaire Williams scored 24 points and made five 3-pointers, Zavier Fitch added 21 points and Wagner beat Penn State-Scranton 120-30 on Monday. Williams added five rebounds, seven assists, and four steals for the Seahawks (8-5). Fitch had six rebounds, four assists and five steals. Di'Andre Howell-South shot 7 of 10 from the field, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line to finish with 20 points. Jaiden Wiggins scored 16 points for Penn State-Scranton, which turned it over 29 times. 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CHRISTMAS is full of joy and family fun, right? Until grandma is snoring on the sofa, your uncle is complaining of heartburn and your dad has had one too many tipples. While relatively normal during the festive season, these can all be signs of serious health conditions . It comes after the NHS yesterday told families to look out for dementia symptoms in relatives this Christmas , encouraging anyone with health concerns to come forward as soon as possible. Dr Jeremy Isaacs, NHS England National Clinical Director for Dementia said: “Dementia often develops slowly and might not be apparent during a brief interaction, but with family and friends gathering at Christmas perhaps for the first time in months, there is a chance to spot the signs of this condition.” Here, Vanessa Chalmers and Lucy Gornall reveal the red flags for dementia and five other big killers you can act on now for a healthier 2025. Read More on Health 1. DEMENTIA SIGNS IN YOUR LOVED ONE IT’S very common for family members to spot red flags of undiagnosed dementia before the person themselves. According to Katie Puckering, information services manager for Alzheimer’s Research UK, early signs of the condition “might be getting family members’ names mixed up or getting disorientated around someone else’s home, for example, not being able to find the main living room after using the bathroom.” Changes in the daily routine can also be confusing. Katie explains: “Sitting down for a big family meal at 3pm can be disorientating in the early stages of dementia.” Early dementia causes a person to repeat themselves or struggle to follow the conversation topic. Most read in Health It can also cause withdrawal and anxiety. There is also a way to pick up on changes in the Christmas cards you receive from family members. “You might notice their handwriting is shaky or the words are jumbled,” says Katie. “If anyone is concerned about someone, the best thing to do is to speak with them honestly and openly about what they’re noticing.” SIGNS IN YOURSELF MEMORY blips here and there are a normal part of ageing which might become more apparent from one year to the next. Fran Vandelli, a dementia expert at Bupa Care Services, says: “If you can remember what you are trying to recall but it just takes a little longer, it is not usually anything to worry about. “However, if you are struggling to remember recent events, conversations or where you have put things, you might be worried. “It is important to look out for other signs too, like getting lost in familiar places, struggling to follow conversations, having difficulties speaking and understanding and getting easily confused over everyday tasks like cooking, housework or driving the car.” 2. DIABETES SIGNS IN YOUR LOVED ONE DIABETES is when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, or the insulin that is produced does not work properly, to regulate blood sugars. A change in levels of activity and indulging more may set blood sugar levels on a rollercoaster at Christmas. Natasha Marsland, a senior clinical advisor at Diabetes UK, says: “There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and 2. There are four key symptoms for type 1 diabetes to look out for that we call the 4Ts – toilet, thirsty, tired, thinner.” Is your partner going to the toilet unusually frequently, waking you up at night to do so? Perhaps they have lost weight and are looking thinner than usual, despite the time of year, or napping during the day. Type 2 diabetes causes these symptoms, too, plus a fruity or sweet-smelling breath. But many of the symptoms may be more noticeable to yourself. SIGNS IN YOURSELF THERE are many high-salt foods at Christmas but, if you cannot shift your thirst and are peeing more often, it could also be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes. The last thing you need when cooped up for three days is genital itching. But this, alongside wounds that won’t heal and blurry vision, are warning signs of type 2. Natasha says: “Type 2 diabetes can be easier to miss than type 1 diabetes because the symptoms may not be so obvious. Ask your GP for a blood test because the longer type 2 diabetes remains undiagnosed, the greater the risk of long-term complications.” Skin changes can also happen if blood sugars have not been controlled for a long time. Dr Tony Fincham, a GP at Benenden Hospital, says: “In women, a skin breakout may be related to the menstrual cycle. However, if this is a new symptom, there is a chance it could be a sign of type 1 diabetes.” 3. PARKINSON’S DISEASE SIGNS IN YOUR LOVED ONE HAVE you noticed a change in your love life? Duncan Reid, of Pharmacy2U, says: “Parkinson’s disease can affect many aspects of a person’s life, including their sex life. “Reduced libido or sexual desire can be linked to changes in dopamine levels, involved in motor control and feelings of pleasure. “Men with Parkinson’s might face erectile dysfunction, while women can experience vaginal dryness, and both may have difficulty achieving orgasm. Other symptoms include muscle stiffness or reduced mobility, which may make intimacy physically challenging.” A change in mood, such as new anxiety or depression , may also be signs of Parkinson’s . But the most obvious sign is shaking, especially when using your hands. It is typical for older relatives to be a bit “doddery”, but have you noticed they are particularly off balance, or had a fall recently? This, along with drooling or excessive sweating, are signs of Parkinson’s. SIGNS IN YOURSELF STRUGGLING with writing, buttoning a shirt or pressing phone buttons may also become apparent with a tremor. And if you realise that you are not picking up on all the lovely festive smells, it might be time to get checked, too. Duncan says: “One early sign of Parkinson’s is a loss or reduction in your sense of smell, which might make it harder to notice the aroma of Christmas cooking or mulled wine. “Called hyposmia, it is often overlooked but can appear years before other Parkinson’s symptoms. “Another sign is difficulty swallowing, which might make enjoying festive meals challenging. “This can manifest as coughing or choking while eating, or a sensation that food is stuck in your throat.” 4. BOWEL CANCER SIGNS IN YOUR LOVED ONE SURPRISED at how little your dad, mum or grandparent has eaten at Christmas lunch? A loss of appetite could be a sign of cancer , including bowel cancer . Kiran Jones, a clinical pharmacist at Oxford Online Pharmacy, says: “A constant feeling of fullness can occur if there’s a blockage or tumour in the bowel. “Sharp or ongoing abdominal pain is something to take seriously.” If the pain feels localised to one area and doesn’t ease off after food has digested, it is a concern – and Kiran warns “don’t delay” until the new year to address it. “Bowel cancer can cause anaemia, as blood loss in the bowel reduces the number of red blood cells in your body, leading to exhaustion,” he adds. Difficulty staying awake or getting involved with Christmas activities, therefore, could be signs, along with shortness of breath and headaches. SIGNS IN YOURSELF ONLY you will see what is in the toilet bowl and it is important to check. Signs of bowel cancer include blood in stools – including on toilet paper – and changes in stools such as diarrhoea or constipation. Bowel habits commonly change at Christmas, given the indulgences. But Kiran says: “If these symptoms continue well after the festive feast, it might be time to seek medical advice.” Continuous bloating, especially if it gets progressively worse, is also a sign of bowel cancer, as well as stomach or ovarian cancers. Kiran says: “Bloating shouldn’t last for longer than a few hours after you’ve finished your Christmas dinner and, if it lasts longer than a few days, it can indicate gut health issues, or worse, bowel cancer, and should be checked out.” 5. ADDICTION SIGNS IN YOUR LOVED ONE DO you have a family member who is suddenly much more argumentative this Christmas? Frequent rows and fights or neglecting hygiene could be a sign of alcoholism . Lester Morse, Rehabs UK founder and director says: “The behavioural changes that result from addiction are often the first signs of a problem that loved ones notice. The individual will seek out and use drugs or alcohol even when the substance use negatively impacts health, relationships, and daily functioning.” The normalisation of heavy drinking makes it harder to spot signs of alcoholism . Besides, people with a problem often drink in secret. Lester says: “Loved ones may notice that their family member is less social or secretive about how time is spent. “New friends may appear in their life, with little explanation as to how they met.” Avoid confronting the issue when your relative is drunk, when they are more likely to deny or justify their use. Lester adds: “Talk about the effect their drinking has on whatever the person cares about most, such as career or children. They may not be concerned about their own situation.” SIGNS IN YOURSELF IF you are wondering whether your own drinking has crossed the line, Lester says: “Consider whether alcohol is costing you more than money. “Your drinking may have started to edge out activities that you used to enjoy. “Similarly, it may be preventing you from keeping up with responsibilities at home, work or school.” If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, contact your GP or speak to Rehabs UK treatment advisors. 6. HEART PROBLEMS SIGNS IN YOUR LOVED ONE HEART attacks are more common at Christmas time, studies suggest. Emily McGrath, a senior cardiac nurse at British Heart Foundation, explains: “Never ignore chest pain and assume it’s caused by indigestion, especially if it continues over an extended period. “Angina feels like pressure, tightness or squeezing in your chest and the pain may feel sharp or like a dull ache. You might also feel it in your shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach. Heart attack symptoms vary for each person.” They include sudden pain or discomfort in your chest that doesn’t go away. It can spread to your left or right arm, or to your neck, jaw, back or tummy. Emily says: “For some, the pain or tightness is severe, while for others it’s uncomfortable. “It may feel like heaviness or a pain similar to indigestion.” Feeling sick, sweaty, light-headed, anxious or short of breath are also signs to call 999. Swollen feet or ankles can be a sign of coronary heart disease – the leading cause of heart attacks and most commonly diagnosed type of heart disease in the UK. Other symptoms you may spot include sweating or pale, ashen skin. SIGNS IN YOURSELF FEELING short of breath on the dog walk? Emily says: “If you feel short of breath doing every day activities and haven’t experienced this before, it is important to get this checked out. “It may be expected if you are suffering with a respiratory problem such as a cold, but it could also be a sign of something more serious.” Dr Fincham adds: “In older people, feeling dizzy when standing is often a symptom of their medication. If it’s a recent symptom, excluding any new medications, and progresses, then seek medical help.” READ MORE SUN STORIES Emily says: “Dizziness, light headedness and palpitations can be signs of an irregular heart rhythm and should not be ignored. “Please do not hesitate to contact 111 or 999.”THINGS you don’t expect to see of a Friday morning in Wales: Rob Brydon “raw-dogging” a red pepper, James Corden being serenaded by a trumpet and Ruth Jones sipping a warm, fake white wine. But, on Barry Island, anything goes. 6 Clemmie Moodie on set with James Corden and Ruth Jones Credit: Supplied 6 The Gavin and Stacey cast line up for the show's last instalment Credit: BBC 6 Nessa, Smithy and Gavin in a scene from the final show Credit: BBC Ahead of its hugely anticipated Christmas Day return, I have been invited down for an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at Gavin & Stacey. Millions of viewers are expected to tune in to the last show of the cult BBC One comedy drama, a series that made household names of its ridiculously talented writers, James and Ruth. “We’ve thrown absolutely everything at this to try to make it be as satisfactory as it can be for a big audience,” James says. “We started writing 20 years ago and it’s nuts, inconceivable, that it means more to people now than it did 20 years ago. READ MORE ON GAVIN AND STACEY TURN THE PAGE Gavin and Stacey's Joanna Page reveals new role worlds away from BBC comedy WHAT'S OCCURING? Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page lands new TV gig days before final episode “I still feel pressure — there’s pressure all the time because you don’t want to let anybody down. “I think it’s the closest you could get to being called up to the England team in terms of something meaning a lot to a lot of people. “You are representing your country right now in a sense, you know? “And so, it’s a lot . . . but we’ve really tried our absolute best.” Most read in News TV A GOOD SPORT BBC star QUITS show after seven years - admitting morning alarms ‘are brutal’ SCREEN TIME STV reveals Hogmanay lineup including Lorraine Kelly and Still Game OFF THE AIR 'Gutted to hear this', fans cry as BBC Scotland series axed after 19 years BRAVE STAR Hollyoaks’ Ali Bastian issues health update to fans amid breast cancer battle Thrillingly though, I have been cast as an extra. But, alas, a stringent NDA code-named “Toffee” means I am not allowed to give away any spoilers or, should I stumble upon a major plot twist, reveal it. I take my role very seriously: Sitting in a beer garden, nursing a zero per cent wine opposite Ruth. I’m in the background (very background) of “scene 32”. Hotel changes name to 'What's Occur-Inn' for last Gavin and Stacey episode Coquettishly, I keep flicking my hair, smiling and laughing unnecessarily, and generally trying to steal the scene. This could be my big break. “I wouldn’t over-think it,” a cameraman later tells me. “We’ll be lucky if we get your shoulder in.” Oh. Still, I am sort of, if you squint, part of Gavin & Stacey folklore now and soon get “papped” by the 100 or so watching fans monitoring uber-Stan account Barrybados — an Instagram fanzine tracking the cast and crew’s every moment. Earlier in the week, 500 of them had gathered on Barry’s Trinity Street, chanting “Oggy, Oggy, Oggy!” on their last day of filming there. Barry Island has done more for Welsh tourism than any PR agency ever could. Genuine chemistry There is also a Premier League football twist to this episode, with one club such a fan of the show, they gifted the cast first team replica shirts (“Toffee” forbids me from saying anything else). For the 0.2 per cent of the population who haven’t seen the show, let’s recap. Gavin & Stacey, centred around the lives of two families: One in Billericay, Essex, the other in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, with Mat Horne and Joanna Page playing the title characters. James, 46, and Ruth, 58, star as Smithy and Nessa, the pair’s best friends, who have a love/hate relationship. Alison Steadman and Larry Lamb star as Gavin’s parents, Pam and Mick, Melanie Walters plays Stacey’s mother Gwen, and Rob Brydon plays Stacey’s uncle Bryn. Imbued with warmth, gentle humour and characters with genuine chemistry, what started life as a BBC Three show quickly garnered a word-of-mouth following, eventually reaching BBC One primetime. 6 Smithy, Pam and Bryn enjoy one last dance Credit: BBC 6 Joanna Page plays Stacey, one of the title characters Credit: BBC The last episode, on December 25, 2019, was the most viewed non-sporting event of the decade, and was left on a cliff-hanger when Nessa proposed to Smithy in the street. Of course, on screen, Ruth is loud-mouthed, larger-than-life and heavily tattooed. Frankly, she is not someone you’d want to bump into on a cold, dark night in winter. Off it, she is softly spoken, incredibly warm and down to earth. Although she is not filming on the day I’m there, she is busy behind the camera, directing proceedings between takes. Her average day sees her arrive on set at 6.30am and spend an hour and a half in make-up, which largely consists of getting her giant Welsh dragon tattoo inked on. Between takes, a team of make-up artists, watching from a small marquee, rush on to set to touch up hair and make-up. Nessa is a chain smoker — so Ruth, a non-smoker, is given honey and rose petal herbal cigarettes to puff away on. Filming finishes around 7pm, and includes an hour’s break for lunch in trailers on an industrial estate nearby. These are long days. I’m blessed with the fact that Nessa is a very static character Ruth Jones Says Ruth, sipping from her pretend drink: “I’m quite old now and I’m quite tired, and the days are pretty full-on. In series one, Nessa was wearing boots, like I am now. But they had a heel, quite a high heel on them, and quite a narrow stiletto heel. “I look at them and think, ‘How the hell did I ever wear these?’. “And now, 17 years later, I’m just having to get my orthotics, so I’ve got a much lower heel. “But also I’m blessed with the fact that Nessa is a very static character. There’s a sort-of bovine elegance to her, I feel, and she moves with great authority, but she doesn’t move fast. “So that’s quite good for me.” You see? Ruth: Very, very funny on and off screen. It is also her birthday, and mid-afternoon the cast interrupt an indoor pub scene for James to present her with a giant cake. Rob gives her some flowers and everyone sings a raucous version of Happy Birthday. Ruth gives a brilliant speech, thanking everyone for being “so wonderful”, and ending it: “Right, let’s all go out tonight and have an orgy later!” “God,” quips Rob, nodding pointedly at me. Fiercely loyal “That’s just what the BBC needs — to be embroiled in yet another sex scandal.” At this point, Rob casually picks up a red pepper and starts loudly and methodically munching on it, stalk and all. “You’ll doubtless be fascinated to hear I also like celery,” he adds, looking at my notebook. It’s clear the cast are good pals. After chatting to James over a canteen aubergine gratin (he has to wash his fork and give it to me when I drop mine down the back of his sofa) the cast gather round as someone plays a mini trumpet. Ruth and James met 25 years ago on the set of ITV drama Fat Friends and have remained, well, real friends ever since. Like any nice baby, Gavin & Stacey was conceived in the Crowne Plaza in Leeds, James reveals (Blue Plaque incoming). They wrote their first episode in a London hotel near Selfridges, on the morning of a This Morning appearance to promote Fat Friends. Ruth, awarded an MBE for services to entertainment in 2014, has enjoyed roles on stage and TV, including Stella, ever since. She has also become a Sunday Times best-selling author and is about to publish her fourth novel. She remains modest, though, insisting she is rarely recognised in real life. “There’s usually places that are more Nessa receptive than others: Marks and Spencer Culverhouse Cross is quite a specific one,” she says. Because I’m not on social media at all, I can’t contact people the normal way really Ruth Jones Her best mate, meanwhile, has gone on to have a meteoric rise to fame, culminating in award-winning roles in Broadway and on the West End, as well as his own smash-hit chat show Stateside, where he attracted the great and good of Hollywood. And Prince Harry. Indeed, the finale is getting the Hollywood treatment. It is made by production company Fulwell 73, the firm behind James’ chat show and some of the world’s starriest movies, music videos and documentaries, and Tidy, Ruth’s own company. Despite rumours that James and co-star Mat don’t get on — the pair were once best friends — it is clear there is no animosity whatsoever. They laugh between takes and are staying in the same five-star Cardiff hotel during my time in Wales . Certainly, Ruth and James’ friendship is stronger than ever. Ruth, being brilliant, is fiercely loyal to her best mate and she has even been known to contact people who have been unkind. She explains: “Honestly, because I’m not on social media at all, I can’t contact people the normal way really. But I have written to people — one a Guardian writer — who was mean about James. I won’t have it.” 'Didn't sit right' We all need a Ruth in our corner. After Gavin & Stacey’s return was mooted earlier this year, there was talk of it being snapped up by Netflix. So how close was the Corporation to losing arguably the greatest jewel in its crown? James says: “Yeah, I think it felt like that probably was something that could have been there. This show is a very special thing, an extraordinary thing, and I’m just really excited for people to see it James Corden “But I also think it would be very harsh on the place that gave us its first chance, you know? “We did think for a moment, though not for very long, about possibly doing a film. “And then we just thought, I don’t know if these are characters you want to see on a big screen. “I think they are people that belong in the corner of your living room on Christmas Day. Read more on the Scottish Sun WARMING UP Scots set for 21C swing as temperature rise to bring an end to sub zero freeze HOT BUY Shoppers race to Primark for fleecy £14 hoodie will keep you cosy on frosty days “So, all that other stuff, the idea of taking it anywhere else, the idea of doing anything else, it didn’t sit right. “This show is a very special thing, an extraordinary thing, and I’m just really excited for people to see it.” 6 The Sun's Clemmie Moodie behind the scenes during filming Credit: Supplied
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