https sg777 live login registration You know those mystery calls from random numbers that we all get? How often do you find yourself dealing with those annoying scam calls? Daily? Every other day? The problem is that scammers have really upped their game over the years, making it hard to spot the real calls from the fakes. Scammers have become so advanced and they deploy all sorts of tricks to reel us in. Scammers can even change the info that shows up on our phones when they call, making it appear as if they are calling from a legitimate phone number. When this happens, it is called "spoofing," and it is how a lot of people end up falling for their scams. But thankfully, many phone providers now label suspected scam calls with a "Scam Likely" tag to give us a heads-up. Spotting a scam call can be tough, but there are ways to protect yourself. By keeping an eye out for shady area codes and knowing some of the commonly used scam numbers, you can avoid becoming their next target. Go Banking Rates has put together a list of 11 phone numbers that are known to be used by scammers. Take a second to look them over and do your best to never answer calls from these numbers because it is just going to be a scammer on the other end looking to unleash havoc in your world. Don't Answer Calls From These Phone Numbers We all get a lot of calls from numbers that we don't recognize. Most simply don't answer. However, if you receive a call or a text from one of these numbers, you definitely don't want to respond. In fact, just block these numbers. Gallery Credit: Travis Sams 7 Ways To Protect Yourself From Becoming The Victim Of A Vacation Rental Property Scam Before you book a vacation rental property, there are seven steps you should take in order to avoid becoming the victim of a vacation rental property scam. Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor

The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”KPP Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ) by 2.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 13,457 shares of the information services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 285 shares during the period. KPP Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Alphabet were worth $2,232,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc increased its position in shares of Alphabet by 75.0% in the second quarter. Christopher J. Hasenberg Inc now owns 140 shares of the information services provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 60 shares during the period. Kings Path Partners LLC bought a new position in Alphabet in the second quarter valued at about $36,000. Denver PWM LLC bought a new position in Alphabet in the second quarter valued at about $41,000. Quarry LP bought a new position in Alphabet in the second quarter valued at about $53,000. Finally, Summit Securities Group LLC bought a new position in Alphabet in the second quarter valued at about $55,000. Institutional investors own 40.03% of the company’s stock. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Sundar Pichai sold 22,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $158.68, for a total transaction of $3,570,300.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 2,137,385 shares in the company, valued at $339,160,251.80. The trade was a 1.04 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, CAO Amie Thuener O’toole sold 682 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.44, for a total value of $109,420.08. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 32,017 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,136,807.48. This trade represents a 2.09 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 206,795 shares of company stock worth $34,673,866 over the last quarter. 11.55% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth View Our Latest Research Report on GOOGL Alphabet Trading Down 0.2 % NASDAQ GOOGL opened at $168.95 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $2.07 trillion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.03. Alphabet Inc. has a 52 week low of $127.90 and a 52 week high of $191.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $168.47 and a 200-day moving average price of $170.33. The company has a quick ratio of 1.95, a current ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The information services provider reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.83 by $0.29. The firm had revenue of $88.27 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $72.85 billion. Alphabet had a return on equity of 31.66% and a net margin of 27.74%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.55 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Alphabet Inc. will post 8.01 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Alphabet Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, December 9th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.47%. Alphabet’s dividend payout ratio is 10.61%. Alphabet Company Profile ( Free Report ) Alphabet Inc offers various products and platforms in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. It operates through Google Services, Google Cloud, and Other Bets segments. The Google Services segment provides products and services, including ads, Android, Chrome, devices, Gmail, Google Drive, Google Maps, Google Photos, Google Play, Search, and YouTube. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GOOGL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ:GOOGL – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Alphabet Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alphabet and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .

NoneCitius Oncology, Inc. Reports Fiscal Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Provides Business Update

While there was high drama in Alexandra Palace on the first day back after the Christmas break, where Damon Heta threw a nine-dart finish, Humphries enjoyed a serene evening. He beat Nick Kenny 4-0 to set up a mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with two-time champion Peter Wright. THE WORLD NUMBER ONE KICKS ON! Luke Humphries comfortably books his spot in the Last 16 with a 4-0 whitewash victory over Nick Kenny, averaging 98.59! 📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/XAADalXD4Q — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 Kenny was unable to produce the form that saw him beat Raymond van Barneveld in the previous round and Humphries did not need to be anywhere near his best. “It was one of those games I didn’t want to take for granted,” he said. “I expected a tough game and I wasn’t firing, I felt there is so much more to give, I felt there was more to come out of me. “I didn’t want to give anyone an inch because they can take a mile. “I’m not going to give up this world title without a fight, I wasn’t at my best but when someone pushes me I know I can come up with the goods.” Earlier in the day Heta set the tournament alight on its resumption with a stunning nine-dart finish before bowing out. The Australian, seeded ninth, achieved darting perfection in the second set of his match with Luke Woodhouse to earn a cool £60,000 payday. However, his joy was short-lived as Woodhouse won a thrilling battle 4-3, having trailed 3-1. HEROIC HETA HITS THE NINE! 🔥 UNBELIEVABLE SCENES! 🤯 Damon Heta lands the second nine-darter of the tournament to raise the roof at Alexandra Palace! #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/DW6rhvFqez — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 Heta was millimetres away from throwing a nine-darter in the previous round when he missed the double 12, but he made no mistake this time in the first match after the Christmas break. Heta’s feat was the second time a nine-darter has been thrown in the 2025 tournament and the 16th of all time at the World Championship, following Christian Kist’s effort before Christmas. As well as landing the Australian a hefty payday, it also saw a lucky fan in Ally Pally win a £60,000, with £60,000 also being donated to Prostate Cancer UK. There were several other titanic battles, none better than Gerwyn Price’s sudden-death leg victory over Joe Cullen. Price looked like he was going to have an easy night when he coasted into a 3-0 lead, but Cullen hit back to send it to a decider, which went all the way. Cullen landed a ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout to send the tie to a sudden-death leg on his throw but Price hit some big numbers to steal victory. “That was tough, I just wanted to get over the winning line,” he said during his on-stage interview. PRICE WINS A THRILLER! That might just be the game of the tournament so far! 💥 Gerwyn Price manages to break the Rockstars throw in the final leg of the game, and beats Joe Cullen 4-3 and books his place in the Last 16! 📺 https://t.co/pIQvhqYxEj #WCDarts pic.twitter.com/VnjnJxP0T0 — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 27, 2024 “He kept coming back, the crowd were way behind him. “I thought I was going to lose, but I kept in there right to the end and got the win. “He played some good darts at the right times. I put myself in that position, I got myself out of it and I’m still in.” Seventh seed Jonny Clayton also battled to victory after squandering a 3-0 lead against Daryl Gurney. Gurney then had six darts to send the decider to a tiebreaker but lost his nerve and Clayton stole a 4-3 win. Stephen Bunting and Peter Wright, who was suffering from a chest infection, enjoyed much more safe passages with routine wins over Madars Razma and Jermaine Wattimena respectively.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) Shares Purchased by Highland Capital Management LLC2024’s top 10 climate disasters cost more than 200 billion dollars, charity says

Jimmy Carter: Many Evolutions For A Centenarian ‘Citizen Of The World’

Inconsistent rainfall across much of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri did not inhibit overall strong soybean production based on the 2024 Farmer’s Independent Research of Seed Technologies trials. For top soybean honors in the three-state area, a Winterset, Iowa, plot hit 85.6 bu./acre, FIRST reports showed. Soybeans emerged well with excellent soil conditions at planting in Winterset, said Randy Meinsma, a FIRST manager who oversees plots in southern and central Iowa. “The plot received some good rains in June, July and August, which helped plants grow to 30 to 43 inches with very tight pod sets, filled well,” Meinsma said. “Plants matured and shelling was easy. This area like others had a quick dry down which made pods dry and caused a slight head shatter. There was no weed pressure, and the plants stood strong with very little lodging.” The Iowa South Region did quite well at nearly 80 bu./acre average, Meinsma said. The area arrived at that bountiful mark with Washington (81.2 bu./acre) and Oakland (81.7 bu./acre) plots close behind Winterset’s top mark and Cambria averaging 61.8 bu./acre, he said. The Iowa South Central Region averaged about 80 bu./acre, a spike from a 66.52 average yield over 21 years, FIRST reported. That came from the 80.6 bu./acre yield in Central City, 72.2 at Hamlin and 78.1 bu./acre in Victor. The Slater plot had issues that caused it to not be included in the regional bushels per acre report. “The plot had a very wet start and ponding was seen in the area which affected emergence. Then the plot was mistakenly sprayed with Enlist and damaged the Xtendflex soybeans,” Meinsma said. The Iowa North Central Region report showed Moorland at 67.8 bu./acre, Laurens hit 62.1 bu./acre, Iowa Falls produced 56 bu./acre, and Waterloo knocked at the door of 50, with a 49.7 bu./acre average. The North Iowa Region had the low-end of soybean yield averages with a 63.5 bu./acre. Area plots showed a 68.1 bu./acre average in LuVerne, 52.8 in New Hampton and 69.8 in Osage, area FIRST manager Corey Rozenboom said. Britt was marked a loss because of excessive rain with poor stands, he said. Frequent rainfall in April and May delayed planting there, then planting done in mid-May was followed by storms that left soil saturated for weeks. More rain in June exacerbated the situation. It was the most water the field had ever sustained, Rozenboom reported. Sioux Center brought top yields of 74 bu./acre average in the Iowa Northwest Region, FIRST area manager Nick Hoffman said. Other plots included Kingsley at 66.2 bu./acre average, Hartley at 52.3 bu./acre and Webb at 65.5 bu./acre. The region averaged 64.5 bu./acre, Hoffman said. The Webb site had good emergence and stronger stands despite heavy early spring rainfall, Hoffman said. The Hartley plot challenges included unprecedented rainfall, saturated soils, thin stands and washed or crushed sections spread out through the fields, he said. Illinois In Illinois, FIRST manager Jason Beyers reported Winnebago as the north central region leader at 78.6 bu./acre. Janesville and Monroe plots were close at 67.3 bu./acre and 70.8 bu./acre, Beyers said. Winnebago was planted with an excellent soil situation on May 16, he said. “Emergence during stand counts looked good considering the little rain this plot received until then. Rainfall picked up in mid-July to early September when it began to taper off,” Beyers said. “During harvest, there was no sign of disease and beans stood tall. The pods were full resulting in a wonderful yield.” Plot farmer Eric Swanson told Beyers it was “the best yield he’s had on that land.” Beyers marked the Lanark plot in the area as a loss because of an herbicide misapplication. Sign up to get our free daily email of the biggest stories! The Illinois South Region featured Belleville at 58.3 bu./acre, Nashville at 77 bu./acre, Flora at 62.4 bu./acre and Effingham at 68.3 bu./acre, just shy of the area 66.5 bu./acre average, FIRST area manager Klint Tucker reported. Tucker said Nashville experienced perfect seedbed conditions with a mid-May planting. “Plant heights were normal to above normal. No lodging was witnessed in the trial, even though some varieties were very tall,” he said. “Yields were excellent. A great location with a great cooperator.” The Illinois South Central Region report showed numbers going up with Forysthe at 82.7 bu./acre, Tuscola at 75 bu./acre, and Williamsville and Virden at 74.8 and 73.2 bu./acre, respectively, area FIRST manager Nathan Roux reported. “The (Forysthe) plot was planted in ideal soil conditions and had almost perfect emergence — nearly every seed planted came up. Good vegetative growth and an excellent reproductive cycle happened here,” Roux said. “An extremely gorgeous plot!” Further north, FIRST Field Manager Nathan Roux noted a mixed result at the Henry plot. Despite an herbicide misapplication, surviving plants performed well and had strong yields, he said. Henry hit an 85.4 bu./acre average, although the spot did not get included in the regional summary because of the herbicide damage, he said. “This location was planted later and had good emergence,” he said. For the north-central Illinois region, the Henry plot was followed by Macomb with 77.6 bu./acre, Gridley’s 75.5 bu./acre and Dwight at 60 bu./acre, Roux said. The Illinois Northern Region showed yield at Dixon with an 82.1 bu./acre average, Seneca at 78 bu./acre, Thomson at 75 bu./acre and Malta averaged 69.5. Missouri Two FIRST plots in the Missouri Northern Region, Greentop and St. Joseph, were rejected from inclusion. A spraying mistake damaged Xtendflex seed soybeans in the Greentop plot, FIRST Regional Field Manager Bill Schelp said. “Plants were short with no lodging at harvest. This trial location and these soil types are not a garden spot — especially when not receiving rainfall,” Schelp said in his report. “Yet it is uniform and representative of many tough Missouri acres being farmed. This specific site rotation has provided tough, real-world Missouri data for years.” The St. Joseph plot was a new field for the FIRST soybean tests. It had a 59.08 bu./acre historical yield in seven previous years. “The plot was planted in a tilled seedbed and had even emergence. ... Height observations did vary from one end of the trial to the other,” Schelp said. “Unfortunately, the hot and dry weather in mid- and late-season exaggerated slight soil differences across the trial area.” Test results were rejected because yield variability led to no significant differences in yield among varieties. The two remaining plots were Cairo and Trenton. Cairo hit a 64.9 bu./acre average and Trenton harvested 71.1 bu./acre average. “It rained when the crop needed it. It was an especially dry fall that dried grain quickly. Great trial,” Schelp said. Elsewhere in Missouri, New Franklin brought in a 73.9 bu./acre average, which contrasted the 55 bu./acre average in the Central East at Concordia, he said. Full results can be found online at first seedtests.com/reports/soybeans .

NGX gains from banking recapitalisationInsufficient gas and power supply, increased fuel prices and inflation have escalated production costs in Bangladesh, making doing business here harder, said top business leaders at a discussion yesterday. Though the industrial sector pays the highest utility tariffs, it has been getting less than half of its demand for gas. The energy sector was one of the pillars of criminalisation of the previous government, said Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin at a discussion titled "Ways of Mitigating Energy Crisis in the Industrial Sectors" organised by the Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI). "I had to stand in the rain in front of the residence of the former state minister for power, energy and mineral resources [Nasrul Hamid] to get a gas connection to my industry with my own expenses," said Bashir, the managing director of AkijBashir Group, which has concerns in ceramics, glass, steel and polymers. Besides, Bashir said he had to pay a bribe of Tk 20 crore to the road authorities for digging up the road to lay the 40km gas pipeline. "That will not happen now. It's an opportunity for you [the business leaders]. Come to us with business proposals and solutions and not just problems -- we will sort those out unitedly," he added. In the first nine months of the year, about 200 factories have shut their operations and another 300 factories are on the way to shutting shop within the next year, said BCI President Anwar-Ul-Alam Chowdhury. The industries were established in Bangladesh on the basis of the availability of local gas and fast-learning labour. "Except those, everything else is expensive here -- the land, infrastructure, development, bank financing cost and speed money. But now, we have learned that we don't have gas or the prices are very high as well. An uncertain situation has emerged." Chowdhury went on to blame the foreign currency devaluation, liquidity crisis in the banking sector, lower imports of liquified natural gas, restrictions on the opening of letters of credit and a lack of good governance in the National Board of Revenue for the situation. The industries' demand for gas is about 1,040 million cubic feet a day (mmcfd) while they are getting around 500 mmcfd, said Ijaz Hossain, former dean of engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), in his keynote paper. "It is very alarming that energy consumption has not increased in the last two years." Due to the expansion of the power grid, energy consumption in the domestic sector has increased, which implies the industrial sector has shrunk, he said. Because of high energy prices and supply disruption, the cost of production is getting higher, thus triggering inflation, causing industries to become defaulters and to go out of business, Hossain added. There are power cuts four to five times a day, said Md Shamsuzzaman, vice-president of the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association. "There are huge illegal connections in industrial areas, but the distribution companies failed to monitor those," he said. The government once encouraged building factories but now those are being shut down, said Sk Masadul Alam Masud of the Bangladesh Steel Manufacturers Association. Syed Nasim Manzur, president of the Leather Goods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh, said they have not been able to run a gas generator in the Savar tannery estate. "The system loss in the gas sector is nothing but theft. There should be exemplary punishment for those who are involved in theft," he said. It was a common practice to get the public works department officials to have a relationship with the ministers or to bribe officials, said Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources. "As a result, the money was invested in unnecessary projects. It's a waste of money," he said, adding that that will not happen during the tenure of the interim government. Khan said they have taken measures to reduce the energy cost, which includes onshore-offshore drilling programmes to increase the supply. The gas supply will remain the same until February next year and will increase from March, said Petrobangla Chairman Zanendra Nath Sarker. "It was imposed on me by the previous government's higher-ups to increase gas supply to the power sector instead of industries. But the industrial sector pays the highest price to us. That will not happen in the coming days." He demanded speedy approval of development project proposals for the gas sector from the planning division to increase the gas supply from local gas fields. Gas should be supplied proportionately to all the sectors, said Rezaul Karim, chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board.Kristin Cavallari is kissing and telling about her experience dating Morgan Wallen . The Hills alum shared NSFW details about her past romance with the country star, more than a month after seemingly confirming they had at one point been involved. "He's a great f--k buddy," Kristin said on the Dec. 29 episode of Bunnie XO 's Dumb Blonde podcast . "He was good in bed." Morgan, 31, has not commented on the Very Cavallari star's remarks. Kristin also shared details about her first date with the "Love Somebody" singer, who, she added, is a "good guy" with a "big heart." "The first date that we went on, he was a true gentleman," the 37-year-old told Bunnie, "and he was like, 'I'll pick you up, I'll pick the place,' like, just f--king handled business." Kristin, who shares children Camden , 12, Jaxon , 10, and Saylor , 8 with ex-husband Jay Cutler , said Morgan did indeed pick her up and met her kids before they went out. "My kids were so excited," Kristin said. "It was so cute." She said that Morgan got the two a private room at the venue they visited, without naming it, and that they were accompanied by his bodyguard. The singer later dropped her off, she said. But the date did not end there. "He kissed me in the rain," she said, "and it was the sweetest thing." Kristin did not specify when the date occurred or how long their romance lasted. She also said she has not spoken to him in "probably a year." "But," she added, "I have nothing but good things to say about him." In November, more than a month after confirming her breakup from Montana Boyz TikToker Mark Estes and amid romance rumors about her and Morgan, Kristin seemingly admitted that she had dated the 2025 Grammy nominee . In a video posted on her social media, she and BFF Justin Anderson took part in a viral trend in which people call out truths about one another. In the clip, Kristin is seen jogging as her friend is heard saying, "Suspect let Morgan Wallen hurt her feelings, and she kept going back." She bursts out laughing and covers her mouth in response. On Bunnie's podcast, Kristin offered some context into the claim. "God, I'm so sorry, Morgan. He didn't hurt my feelings," she began. "I'll be honest with you—Morgan was the first guy in my entire f--king like that wasn't just completely enamored with me. And I was like, 'What in the f--k is going on?' It really threw me." The Uncommon James founder added, "I love having the upper hand and I feel like with him, I didn't have the upper hand. The only time in my life. So it really f--ked with me." Look back at surprising celebrity couples over the years... They played doomed lovers twice, in 1990's Too Young to Die? and 1993's Kalifornia , but in real life they had a perfectly lovely relationship . "I still love the woman," Pitt, who was Lewis' date to the 1992 Oscars when she scored a Supporting Actress nomination for Cape Fear , told Vanity Fair in February 1995. "There's some real genius there. I had a great time with her...It was one of the greatest relationships I've ever been in. The problem is, we grow up with this vision that love conquers all, and that's just not so, is it?" It wasn't just a Gen X fever dream, they really closed out the 20th century as a couple after, legend has it, being introduced by Gwyneth Paltrow (who famously dated Damon's best bud Ben Affleck ). They split up in 2000. After the fact, Damon called Ryder a "great woman" in a 2004 Playboy interview , while Ryder told Black Book in 2009, "Matt couldn't be a greater, nicer guy. I'm really lucky that I'm on good terms with him." There was something about their chemistry at the 2003 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, where Diaz presented Timberlake with the award for Best Burp—because they dated for almost four years, seriously enough to issue a statement when their relationship ended in 2007, "mutually and as friends, with continued love and respect for one another." The Scandal star appeared on the cover of InStyle Weddings in 2005 when she was engaged to the Big actor , but they split up in 2007. Madonna never addressed the story that she dated the rapper , who was killed in 1996 when he was only 25, until 2015. When Howard Stern brought up her infamously feisty 1994 chat with David Letterman , she explained, "I was dating Tupac at the time, and the thing is...he got me all riled up on life in general." After her divorce from Ryan Phillippe and before marrying agent Jim Toth , Reese starred with Jake in the 2007 thriller Rendition and they dated for a couple of years. "She is, as I would say about most of the women who I'm close friends with or had relationships in my life," Jake said admiringly of his ex , "one of the smartest, strongest people I've ever met." Before marrying Livia Giuggioli in 1997 (they separated in 2019), Firth had a five-year relationship with Tilly that produced son William Joseph Firth , who was born Sept. 20, 1990. The younger Firth is also an actor who appeared with his father in Bridget Jones's Baby . This was them: The U.S. Open champ courted the A Walk to Remember star between 2003 and 2004, but ultimately it wasn't a love match . "He broke my heart," Moore told Howard Stern in 2018. "I was a kid, he was a kid. I started dating him when I was 18." You oughta know by now that one of the most enduring mysteries in music history is who exactly inspired Morissette's iconic 1995 single—and the Full House star is at the top of the list of maybes! Morissette denied it in the 2021 documentary Jagged , but that's a tough pill to swallow. "Oh yeah, I love her music," Reynolds told People of his then-fiancée in 2005. "It can be awkward when she walks in and I'm listening to it in my underwear dancing." The music stopped for the Canadians in 2007, but their breakup after four years together was very polite . You can't blame the Mad Men star for liking funny guys . Jones and Sudeikis dated for a few months in 2010, five years before she briefly dated Will Forte . The Good Will Hunting stars paired off in real life, too, but they didn't drive off into the sunset together . "Well, I'm single," Damon said on The Oprah Winfrey Show in January 1998. "I was with Minnie for a while, but we're not really romantically involved anymore. We're just really good friends, and I love her dearly....I care about her a lot. We care about each other a lot. It wasn't meant to be, you know? And if it's not meant to be, then it's not meant to be." The pronouncement was a bit too public for Driver's taste. "It's unfortunate that Matt went on Oprah ," she told the LA Times later that year. "It seemed like a good forum for him to announce to the world that we were no longer together, which I found fantastically inappropriate." The stars met on the set of the 1981 movie Excalibur and eventually lived together (Neeson says Mirren gave him his first driving lessons) before they broke up in the mid-'80s. "I should be so lucky and be honored to have spent three or four years with that lady," Neeson told ET Canada in February 2023. "She's really something else." Finding love in Jurassic Park ? Talk about a meat cute. The co-stars began dating after filming the 1993 blockbuster , with Goldblum telling The Chicago Tribune at the time, "I was struck, I'd been a big fan of hers. I think she's an amazing actress, and a spectacular person. I was struck from the beginning. But after the movie we realized we liked each other." They got engaged in 1995 but ultimately split two years later. They reunited on-screen for the first time in 2022's Jurassic World: Dominion , the sixth installment in the franchise. The X-Files alum was in a relationship with The Crown creator between 2016 and 2020. Anderson won an Emmy for her turn as Margaret Thatcher in the Netflix hit in 2020. According to Arquette, the two dated while filming their 1995 Western Wild Bill . The Clueless actor confirmed a little-known rumor during a Reddit AMA chat in November 2015, revealing that he used to date the actress. The two had starred in the 1992 TV movie Desperate Choices: To Save My Child . "She was my first actress girlfriend," he said. "We had a long distance relationship for a long time. I was so into her." E! News exclusively broke the news that the Real Housewives of New York star and Modern Family actor were a pair in 2015. But by the following year, they had split. The Southland alum and the actor, who played Theo Huxtable on The Cosby Show , dated for several years before calling it quits in 2013. The famous bachelor was actually settled in with Preston pre- John Travolta back in 1987. They even lived together and shared a potbellied pig named Max before breaking up in 1989. Why, yes, she does believe in life after love. The Top Gun star and the legendary diva dated back in the '80s following her divorces from Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman . Before he was Heidi Klum 's ex, the "Kiss from a Rose" musician romanced a different supermodel. The duo reportedly started dating after meeting on the set of the 2005 film Brick , but they only stayed together for six months. The Dawson's Creek alum and the Josie and the Pussycats star dated for about a year back in 2002. The NCIS: LA stud and America's sweetheart dated way back in 1993, when 17-year-old Witherspoon first moved to Los Angeles. The man who now rocks the Iron Man suit for Marvel admitted that drugs and alcohol were to blame for the end of his seven-year relationship with the Sex and the City star. "I liked to drink, and I had a drug problem, and that didn't jibe with Sarah Jessica," he admitted in an a 2008 interview with Parade , "because it is the furthest thing from what she is. She tried to help me. She was so miffed when I didn't get my act together." The late Friends alum and The Hangover star supposedly had a fling 2003, but it didn't last long enough to be more than a little blip on the Hollywood hookup radar. The 2 Broke Girls actress dated her Thor costar briefly in 2010, appearing very cozy while attending Comic-Con to promote the Marvel film. But their relationship fizzled by the time the movie premiered the following year. In 1999, way before he wed Blake Lively , Reynolds dated the 3rd Rock From the Sun star. The duo even attended the premiere of The Green Mile together. The child actors turned A-listers briefly dated in 2006 but remained close friends—and co-starred in the intense 2009 drama Brothers . "She's a vegan," Gyllenhaal pointed out when presenting Portman with the Desert Palm Achievement Award in 2011, "which makes it really frustrating when you're picking a place to eat."

Sophie Garbin has had a breakthrough at the Australian netball awards, becoming the first goaler in five years to win the Liz Ellis Diamond as the game's best player. Garbin was crowned in Melbourne following dominant domestic and international seasons with the Melbourne Vixens and the Diamonds. A newcomer to the Vixens this year, Garbin scored 517 goals in the home-and-away season and broke two club Super Netball-era records including the most points in a single game (54 in round eight) and the most offensive rebounds in a season with 54. Garbin was also named International Player of the Year, making her the seventh Diamond in the last decade to take home both awards. The 27-year-old shot 306 goals at 95 per cent accuracy across 11 Test matches in 2024, capping the year with a perfect strike-rate in the Australian team's final game. "I am super honoured to be recognised for both of these awards," Garbin said. "I am so grateful to have watched Liz Ellis and seen what she has done for our sport, so now standing with her in honour of this award is a pinch myself moment." Polling in every round she played in across 2024, except for one due to injury, Adelaide Thunderbirds' Georgie Horjus was named the Super Netball Player of the Year. Alongside back-to-back premierships, Horjus seized impressive numbers in attack across the regular season and finals series with 93 goals, 445 circle feeds and 297 centre pass receives. Horjus and Garbin were both named in the Super Netball Team of the Year while 22-year-old Adelaide goaler Lauren Frew won the rookie award and her title-winning coach Tania Obst, the top coaching gong. Terese Kennedy (Diamonds #57), Natalie von Bertouch (Diamonds #137), Pam Smith and Sue Taylor were inducted into the Netball Australia Hall of Fame in recognition of their contribution to the game. TEAM OF THE YEAR: Goal shooter - Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard (West Coast Fever) , goal attack - Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens) , wing attack - Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds), centre - Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens), wing defence - Latanya Wilson (Adelaide Thunderbirds), goal defence - Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever) , goal keeper - Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (Adelaide Thunderbirds), attack interchange - Sophie Garbin (Melbourne Vixens), midcourt interchange - Liz Watson (Sunshine Coast Lightning), defence interchange - Ashleigh Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning).Morgan Rogers’ fourth goal of the season, an Ollie Watkins penalty and Matty Cash’s finish put Villa 3-0 up after 34 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the second half but the damage had been done as Villa ended their eight-match winless run in all competitions. Emery was relieved to end the unwanted streak but quickly turned his attention to the next fixture against Southampton on Saturday. “We broke a spell of bad results we were having,” the Villa boss said. “We started the first five or 10 minutes not in control of the game but then progressively we controlled. “Today we achieved those three points and it has given us confidence again but even like that it’s not enough. We have to keep going and think about the next match against Southampton on Saturday. “The message was try to focus on each match, try to forget the table. How we can recover confidence and feel comfortable at home. Today was a fantastic match.” Tyrone Mings returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August 2023. Emery admitted it has been a long road back for the 31-year-old and is pleased to have him back. He added: “Mings played in the Champions league but it’s the first time in the league for a year and three months. “I think he played fantastic – he might be tired tomorrow but will be ready for Saturday again. “It was very, very long, the injury he had. His comeback is fantastic for him and everybody, for the doctor and physio and now he’s training everyday.” Brentford fell to a sixth away defeat from seven games and have picked up only a solitary point on the road this season. They have the best home record in the league, with 19 points from seven matches, but they have the joint worst away record. Bees boss Thomas Frank is confident form will improve on the road. He said: “On numbers we can’t argue we are better at home than away, but on numbers it’s a coincidence. I think two of the seven away games have been bad. “The other games we performed well in big spells. I’m confident at the end of the season we will have some wins away from home.” Frank felt Villa should not have been given a penalty when Ethan Pinnock brought Watkins down. He added: “I want to argue the penalty. I don’t think it is (one). I think Ollie kicked back and hit Ethan, yes there is an arm on the shoulder but threshold and all that – but that’s not the reason we lost.”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Right when the Los Angeles Rams' offense has dropped into a disconcerting slump, their defense has held three straight opponents under 10 points for the first time in decades. Although the Rams (10-6) are closing in on an NFC West title and another playoff berth with a five-game winning streak, the way they're doing it makes their postseason prospects quite unpredictable. The methodology has been strange, but the results are not: After holding off Arizona 13-9 on Saturday night, Los Angeles has won nine of 11 and is very close to claiming its fourth division title and sixth playoff berth in coach Sean McVay's eight seasons. “I’m proud of this group and the way they battled back,” Matthew Stafford said. “A lot of people doubted us, and a lot of people wrote us off at 1-4. To be able to sit here with our record what it is right now, I feel proud of this group.” The Rams hadn't held three straight opponents to single-digit scoring since 1975, but rookie coordinator Chris Shula's defense has done it with a strong front and a little luck on the back end, including the last-minute interception by Ahkello Witherspoon on a pass that deflected off star Arizona tight end Trey McBride's head at the goal line. Kyler Murray threw it before McBride was probably ready because Shula had called a zero blitz on first down at the Los Angeles 5. “I want to make more plays to make sure they don’t have to do as much as they did (against Arizona), but I’m proud of them,” Stafford said of the Rams' defense. "It’s awesome to watch where they were in training camp to where they are now. Shula is doing a hell of a job. We all knew he would. Those guys are playing hard for him.” But the Rams have scored more than 21 points just once during their five-game winning streak, their longest since their Super Bowl championship season in 2021. They’ve managed only three touchdowns in their last three games while scoring fewer than 20 points each time out, although that stretch includes games played in the rain (San Francisco) and in subfreezing temperatures (New York Jets). Against the Cardinals in Inglewood's ideal weather, the Rams’ offense still produced one TD, a season-worst 12 first downs and only 257 total yards — 139 fewer than Arizona. The running game struggled again, as it often does when all five starting offensive linemen aren't healthy, while the entire roster aside from Puka Nacua combined for just seven receptions for 60 yards — a surprising number for a McVay offense. “I don’t think there’s one thing I can point to,” McVay said Sunday. “I could go on and on about some of the things, starting with me, but then also about our execution in terms of getting connected in the run game, targeting the right way, making sure that the ball is going where it should go, and guys that I know are capable of playing the way that we’ve seen. If they do that, then I know that it’s not as far as sometimes it can feel like. But ultimately, we’ve got to do it.” What's working The young front four remains the strength of the defense. Jared Verse had a tremendous game on the edge against Murray and Arizona's running game, while fellow rookie Braden Fiske and second-year pros Kobie Turner and Byron Young all recorded sacks. What needs help The Rams again failed to establish the running game despite never trailing Arizona. Kyren Williams got his second-fewest carries of the season (13, with just five in the second half), while rookie Blake Corum was barely involved. Los Angeles' 3.9 yards per rush is the second-lowest mark in the NFL even though Williams began Sunday third in the league with 1,299 yards. Stock up Witherspoon not only made the game-saving interception, but the eight-year veteran who went unsigned until September also has seized the starting cornerback job from Cobie Durant, who didn't play on defense against the Cards despite being healthy again. McVay said Witherspoon's play during Durant's brief injury absence resulted in the change. Stock down Cooper Kupp had one catch against Arizona, and he has just 12 receptions in the past five games, matching the least productive five-game stretch of his eight-year career. Stafford has said the Rams need to get their Super Bowl 56 MVP more involved, and Kupp says he's healthy — yet it isn't happening. Injuries McVay believes the Rams stayed healthy outside of a stinger for rookie safety Kam Kinchens, but they felt the absence of RT Rob Havenstein, who injured his shoulder last week during an unpadded practice. Backup Joe Noteboom committed three holding penalties and got beaten repeatedly. Key number 4 — Stafford's consecutive games without taking a sack. That's the longest streak of his 16-year career, yet he has only one 200-yard passing game in that stretch. Next steps The Rams began Sunday preparing as if they'll play the Seahawks (9-7) next Saturday, although the game could happen a day later. McVay won't show his cards, but if the Rams have clinched, they seem likely to rest several regulars for the playoffs. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL Greg Beacham, The Associated PressWAYNE, PA — Guardian Capital Partners has acquired Team LINX, a Denver-based provider of technology infrastructure services, in partnership with the company’s executive management team, who will continue to lead the business. LINX specializes in designing, integrating, installing, and maintaining network, multimedia, wireless, and security systems for data centers and mission-critical applications. Founded in 2003, the company has delivered over 100,000 projects nationwide across a range of industries, including healthcare, financial services, and education, with a total value exceeding $1 billion. Scott Evans, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Guardian, highlighted the strategic significance of the acquisition. “Our acquisition of LINX represents another compelling opportunity for Guardian to invest in a business that is well positioned to capitalize on the attractive digital infrastructure sector, which we believe continues to benefit from the secular trend of data proliferation and required capacity to fuel core services and advanced computing applications such as artificial intelligence,” Evans said. LINX’s leadership team sees the partnership with Guardian as a key step in accelerating growth and enhancing their offerings. Erik Isernhagen, President and CEO of LINX, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. “We are eager to embark on this next phase of our journey and view Guardian as the ideal partner to support our continued development. Not only does Guardian bring deep sector expertise, but our firms share a collaborative culture and strategic vision primed for delivering continued investment and powerful results for our stakeholders.” Jay Dzialo, COO of LINX, added, “Guardian’s operational playbook enables us to take our well-developed capabilities to the next level as we support our customers and teams at scale.” With Guardian’s investment and operational support, LINX aims to expand its reach within the technology infrastructure sector while meeting the growing demands of data-driven industries. Financing for the transaction was provided by MidCap Financial, with Goodwin Procter LLP and Arnold & Porter LLP serving as legal advisors to Guardian and LINX respectively. Industria Partners acted as strategic advisor to LINX. This acquisition positions LINX to capitalize on the ongoing expansion of digital infrastructure needs and reinforces Guardian’s commitment to investing in high-growth sectors. For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN .

NoneA former engineer at a semiconductor manufacturer pleaded not guilty Friday to U.S. charges that he illegally procured technology for an Iranian firm that made a key component of a drone used in a January attack by Iran-backed militants in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members. Mahdi Sadeghi, who was fired by Analog Devices after his Dec. 16 arrest, pleaded not guilty during a hearing in federal court in Boston to charges that he engaged in a scheme to violate U.S. export control and sanctions laws. He entered the plea nearly two weeks after the U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against the dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and the head of an Iranian navigation systems manufacturer, Mohammad Abedini, who was arrested in Italy. Prosecutors said Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was the primary customer of Abedini's company, San'at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co, which made the navigation system used in its military drone program. Prosecutors say that system was used in an unmanned drone that struck a U.S. outpost in Jordan called Tower 22, near the Syrian border, in an attack that killed three Army Reserve soldiers from Georgia and injured 47 others. The White House has said the attack was facilitated by the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella organization of hardline Iran-backed militant groups. Iran has denied involvement in the attack, and its Foreign Ministry was quoted in Iranian media Saturday saying the arrests of Sadeghi and Abedini, an Iranian citizen, violated international law. Prosecutors said that in 2016, Sadeghi, a resident of Natick, Massachusetts, traveled to Iran to seek funding from a governmental organization for a fitness wearables company that he had co-founded. Through an affiliated Iranian company he established, Sadeghi began helping procure U.S.-origin electronic components on behalf of Abedini, who is also known as Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, prosecutors said. After taking a job at Massachusetts-based Analog Devices in 2019, Sadeghi helped a Switzerland front company for Abedini's Iranian firm enter into a contract with Analog Devices and assisted Abedini in procuring U.S. technology, prosecutors said. The electronic components Abedini obtained included the same type used in the navigation system found in the drone, prosecutors said. Sadeghi has been detained since his arrest. U.S. Magistrate Judge Donald Cabell set a Jan. 2 hearing to potentially grant his release after a defense lawyer reported progress in talks with prosecutors on acceptable bail conditions.

There’s a robust ecosystem of Find My accessories on the market nowadays. All of these accessories would make great holiday gifts this year across all kinds of different form factors. What’s a better gift than giving someone a way to keep track of their most important possessions? That person will thank you for years to come. As a refresher, Find My accessories broadcast a low-energy Bluetooth signal picked up by nearby Apple devices. They do not rely on GPS technology. Instead, that location is transmitted securely and privately to the Find My network. This means that your Find My-enabled item is locatable even if you are miles away, so long as someone with an Apple device happens to be nearby. iOS 18.2, set to be released to the public later this month, with a new system for sharing item locations. AirTag You can’t have a list of the best Find My accessories without including Apple’s AirTags. Packed with a U1 chip for Precision Finding support, a built-in speaker, and more, AirTags are a must-have for attaching to your luggage, backpack, keys, and other accessories. AirTags have also improved significantly since they were first released in April 2021. Apple has added , , and more. AirTags are not without their faults as they only come in one form factor, lack a built-in attachment mechanism, and are nearly four years old. Still, they represent the best way to start with the Find My ecosystem. Chipolo’s Find My ecosystem While Apple’s AirTag is available in a single form factor, Chipolo makes two different trackers that are fully compatible with Apple’s Find My ecosystem. This means you can add them to the Find My app and track them alongside your Apple products. They can also tap into the Find My ecosystem of Apple devices and AirTags to share the most up-to-date location information. SwitchBot Wallet Finder My the SwitchBot Wallet Finder and described it as an “incredibly useful accessory to track your wallet” using your iPhone and the Find My ecosystem. In addition to being shaped like a credit card to slide into your wallet, it all features a built-in keyring holder. This makes it easy to attach to something like a lanyard or backpack. Pebblebee’s Find My Ecosystem Another card-shaped option for the Find My network is the . The key differentiator with this one is that the battery is rechargeable. The aforementioned options from Chipolo and SwitchBot do not feature rechargeable or replaceable batteries. The Pebblebee Tracker Card offers up to 18 months of battery life and can then be recharged with a USB-C cable. In addition to the Tracker Card, Pebblebee also sells two other Find My-enabled accessories. is a small tracker that is similar to the AirTag form factor but with a built-in keyring holder. It features up to 12 months of battery life and can then be recharged using a USB-C cable. Finally, there’s the with Find My integration. This offers an ultra-small form factor with up to 8 months of battery life and a USB-C port for charging. Backpacks with Find My While I generally recommend buying a standalone Find My tracker, there are backpacks on the market that directly integrate Find My. Both Swissdigital and Hyper offer backpacks with Find My integration. More Find My accessories While accessories from Apple, Chipolo, Pebblebee, and SwitchBot are my top picks, there are other Find My-enabled options on the market. More 9to5Mac Gift Guides There’s a robust ecosystem of Find My accessories on the market nowadays. All of these accessories would make great holiday gifts this year across all kinds of different form factors. What’s a better gift than giving someone a way to keep track of their most important possessions? That person will thank you for years to come. As a refresher, Find My accessories broadcast a low-energy Bluetooth signal picked up by nearby Apple devices. They do not rely on GPS technology. Instead, that location is transmitted securely and privately to the Find My network. This means that your Find My-enabled item is locatable even if you are miles away, so long as someone with an Apple device happens to be nearby. iOS 18.2, set to be released to the public later this month, with a new system for sharing item locations. AirTag You can’t have a list of the best Find My accessories without including Apple’s AirTags. Packed with a U1 chip for Precision Finding support, a built-in speaker, and more, AirTags are a must-have for attaching to your luggage, backpack, keys, and other accessories. AirTags have also improved significantly since they were first released in April 2021. Apple has added , , and more. AirTags are not without their faults as they only come in one form factor, lack a built-in attachment mechanism, and are nearly four years old. Still, they represent the best way to start with the Find My ecosystem. Chipolo’s Find My ecosystem While Apple’s AirTag is available in a single form factor, Chipolo makes two different trackers that are fully compatible with Apple’s Find My ecosystem. This means you can add them to the Find My app and track them alongside your Apple products. They can also tap into the Find My ecosystem of Apple devices and AirTags to share the most up-to-date location information. SwitchBot Wallet Finder My the SwitchBot Wallet Finder and described it as an “incredibly useful accessory to track your wallet” using your iPhone and the Find My ecosystem. In addition to being shaped like a credit card to slide into your wallet, it all features a built-in keyring holder. This makes it easy to attach to something like a lanyard or backpack. Pebblebee’s Find My Ecosystem Another card-shaped option for the Find My network is the . The key differentiator with this one is that the battery is rechargeable. The aforementioned options from Chipolo and SwitchBot do not feature rechargeable or replaceable batteries. The Pebblebee Tracker Card offers up to 18 months of battery life and can then be recharged with a USB-C cable. In addition to the Tracker Card, Pebblebee also sells two other Find My-enabled accessories. is a small tracker that is similar to the AirTag form factor but with a built-in keyring holder. It features up to 12 months of battery life and can then be recharged using a USB-C cable. Finally, there’s the with Find My integration. This offers an ultra-small form factor with up to 8 months of battery life and a USB-C port for charging. Backpacks with Find My While I generally recommend buying a standalone Find My tracker, there are backpacks on the market that directly integrate Find My. Both Swissdigital and Hyper offer backpacks with Find My integration. More Find My accessories While accessories from Apple, Chipolo, Pebblebee, and SwitchBot are my top picks, there are other Find My-enabled options on the market. More 9to5Mac Gift Guides

Every car discontinued in Australia in 2024

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The Bank of Scotland’s business barometer poll showed 73% of Scottish businesses expect to see turnover increase in 2025, up from 60% polled in 2023. Almost a quarter (23%) of businesses expect to see their revenue rise by between six and 10% over the next 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) expecting it to grow by even more. The poll found that 70% of businesses were confident they would become more profitable in 2025, a two per cent increase when compared with the previous year. Revenue and profitability growth was firms’ top priority at 52%, though 40% said they will be targeting improved productivity, and the same proportion said they will be aiming to enhance their technology – such as automation or AI – or upskill their staff (both 29%). More than one in five (22%) want to improve their environmental sustainability. Other areas businesses are hoping to build upon AI-assisted technology (19%), and 24% will be investing in expanding into new UK markets and 23% plan to invest in staff training. The business barometer has surveyed 1,200 businesses every month since 2002, providing early signals about UK economic trends. Martyn Kendrick, Scotland director at Bank of Scotland commercial banking, said: “Scottish businesses are looking ahead to 2025 with stronger growth expectations, and setting out clear plans to drive this expansion through investments in new technology, new markets and their own teams. “As we enter the new year, we’ll continue to by their side to help them pursue their ambitions and seize all opportunities that lie ahead.”None

Jimmy Carter, 100, the peanut farmer who became the commander in chief, whose ceaseless humanitarian work around the globe superseded his one tumultuous term as 39th president of the United States, died Sunday, Dec. 29, in hospice care at his longtime home in Plains, Ga., according to his nonprofit organization. Born Oct. 1, 1924, Carter died a little more than a year after his beloved wife, Rosalynn, who died on Nov. 19, 2023, at 96. He lived longer than any other U.S. president, surpassing George H.W. Bush, who died in 2018 at 94. He endured melanoma skin cancer that spread to his liver and brain in 2015, underwent brain surgery in 2019 after a fall, and had returned to his ranch house in Plains in February 2023 after a series of short hospital stays. Still, up until 2015, Carter continued to teach Sunday school classes, work on Habitat for Humanity building projects, lecture at Emory University in Atlanta, and flash those bright blue eyes at ribbon cuttings, book signings, and other public events. "I'm perfectly at ease with whatever comes," he said in 2015 when his health began to decline. "I've had a wonderful life. I've had thousands of friends. I've had an exciting, adventurous, gratifying existence." When news of Carter's move to hospice care first circulated on Feb. 18, 2023, admirers flocked to his boyhood home in Plains and the Carter Center in Atlanta, and tributes poured in from world leaders, American politicians, social activists, journalists, and everyday citizens across the globe. Former President Bill Clinton tweeted an old photo showing him and Carter sitting together, smiling and chatting. U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. of New Jersey tweeted: "Jimmy Carter is the model of kindness, generosity, and decency that is the finest part of America." Word of his death late Sunday afternoon brought swift and heartfelt reactions from elected officials. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden called Carter "an extraordinary leader, statesman and humanitarian. ... What's extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well." In a statement on Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trump said Carter, as president, "did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." On X, formerly Twitter, former President Barack Obama said Carter "taught all of us what it means to live a life of grace, dignity, justice and service." In a joint statement, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton praised Carter for having "worked tirelessly for a better, fairer world. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags at half-staff throughout the commonwealth, and remembered Carter on X as "a humble, generous, and admirable public servant — both as our President and in his years after as a citizen in service." "We pray that, in rest, President Carter will be reunited with his beloved wife Rosalynn," New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement on X. Calling Carter "one of the foremost advocates of affordable housing in this country," Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker took to X to recall a visit by him to North Philadelphia to help build homes with Habitat for Humanity "that are still in use today." Carter, a Democrat, served a single, turbulent term in the White House from 1977 to 1981, and it is largely for his efforts after leaving office that he will be remembered. He constructed homes for Habitat for Humanity, wrote dozens of books sharing his own life details, shared advice on health and diet, and guided the Carter Center toward at least one remarkable public health breakthrough in Asia and Africa. A man of profound faith and optimism, Carter remained sanguine about the future despite constant conflict among religious groups. "I am convinced that Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and others can embrace each other in a common effort to alleviate suffering and to espouse peace," Carter said in Oslo, Norway, on Dec. 10, 2002, as he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. Carter surprised political pundits when he emerged from small-town Georgia to win the White House in 1976. He was the only Democratic president during a 24-year period in which Republican chief executives were the rule. A relative unknown before attaining the presidency, he was considered an outsider, even in his own party. The singular achievement of his years in power was his role in negotiating a milestone peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, longtime rivals in the Middle East. But to millions of Americans, Carter, who once vowed to make government "as good and as decent as the American people," seemed overwhelmed by the job. He had the misfortune to serve in stormy times and, in the eyes of his critics, came to embody ineptitude at home and weakness abroad. His four years in office are remembered most for the traumas that played out in his last year. Fifty-two Americans spent 444 days, from Nov. 4, 1979, to Jan. 20, 1981, held hostage in Iran while the U.S. economy faltered under the highest inflation and interest rates in a generation. The year culminated when voters went to the polls in November and gave Carter one of the most resounding votes of no-confidence ever dealt an incumbent president. And the Iranians delivered the final insult, refusing to end the hostages' imprisonment until a half hour after he left office and Ronald Reagan was sworn in. "That was the image that I left behind in the White House," Carter recalled later, "that I was not strong enough or not macho enough to take military action to bring these hostages home." Asked in 2015 if he wished he had done anything differently, Carter did not grandstand. He drew laughs by saying he wished he had sent "one more helicopter" on the botched attempt in 1980 to rescue the hostages. "We would have rescued them, and I would have been reelected," said Carter, flashing his famous toothy grin. For all of his troubles in office, he earned renewed respect in his post-White House years for his intelligence, integrity, and commitment to peace and human rights. He was frequently said to be a model ex-president. Unlike some other former chief executives, he did not spend his time playing golf or selling his services as a public speaker or a private consultant. Instead, he took tools in hand and built homes for the needy in the United States and villages in Africa and Latin America. And through the work of the Carter Center, he devoted himself to resolving conflicts, promoting democracy, and combating health problems throughout the world. He was proud of the Carter Center's success in helping to eradicate the debilitating illness known as Guinea worm. In 1986, when the Carter Center began its efforts against the disease, its officials said there were an estimated 3.5 million cases occurring annually in Africa and Asia. The center said the incidence of Guinea worm fell to 28 cases in 2018. "I'd like for the last Guinea worm to die before I do," Mr. Carter said in 2015. A humble start James Earl Carter Jr. was born in the town of Plains, Ga., population 550. His ties to the barren landscape of southwest Georgia were deep and lasting. He spent most of his adult life in his birthplace, living in Plains from 1953 until his death, except for the years he spent in executive mansions in Atlanta and Washington. Actually, Carter grew up three miles west of Plains, in the unincorporated hamlet of Archery, in a clapboard farmhouse alongside a dirt road. But it was in Plains that he attended school and church and sold boiled peanuts on the street. His father, James Earl Carter, known as Mr. Earl, was a stocky, conservative authority figure. His mother, Lillian Gordy Carter, known as Miss Lillian, was something of a rebel, a liberal with a curious mind and training as a registered nurse. As he came of age, Carter's goal was to attend the U.S. Naval Academy. He got there in 1943, graduating 59th in a class of 820, and going on to work with the unit that developed the first nuclear submarine. But, after the death of his father, he left the Navy and brought his wife, the former Rosalynn Smith, and their three sons, Jack, Chip, and Jeff, home to Plains to run the peanut-growing and farm-supply business. In 1962, at 37, Carter entered politics, winning a seat in the Georgia State Senate. Four years later, he ran for governor and lost in the Democratic primary. The defeat sent him into a deep funk, causing him to question the entire direction of his life. He resolved his self-doubts by becoming born-again, spending much of the next year working as a lay missionary. The experience left him with a renewed commitment to become governor. In 1970, he won the job and, upon being inaugurated, declared: "The time for racial discrimination is over." He ordered that a portrait of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. be hung in the state Capitol, a move that won him the undying affection and political support of Dr. King's widow and father. His public statements and symbolic acts won him considerable publicity, and he was seen as one of a new breed of politicians from the New South. Perhaps the most important thing that happened to Carter as governor was that he invited politicians from around the country to stay at the governor's mansion when they were in Atlanta. They did not impress him. He figured he was as talented as any of them. If some of them could run for president, he asked, why couldn't he? So, in 1976, he did. And, as the election year approached, events broke his way. The Watergate scandal forced Richard M. Nixon to resign the presidency in disgrace in 1974, leaving the office to the unelected Gerald R. Ford. All that did severe damage to the Republican Party and federal establishment, setting the stage for someone like Carter, a Democrat who came from the outside talking about decency and morality. He was the first real long shot to prevail in the age of media politics, the first man to demonstrate how to get elected by running full-time for two years. Speaking softly but with a missionary's zeal, Carter promised voters that he would "never tell a lie." He was liberal on civil rights, conservative on economics, and hard to categorize on almost everything else. When he accepted the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at its convention in New York, he had a lead of more than 30 points in the polls over President Gerald Ford. In the end, he won narrowly, getting 51% of the vote to Ford's 48%, 297 electoral votes to Ford's 241. On Inauguration Day 1977, Carter reinforced his image as the humble outsider in an unforgettable way. After being sworn in on the Capitol steps, Carter, his wife, and young daughter, Amy, got into a limousine for the traditional ride down the parade route to the White House. Then, despite the bitter cold, the three of them climbed out and walked the rest of the way. The idea, he said, was to show that the "imperial presidency" of the Nixon era was dead and gone. "It was," he wrote later, "one of those few perfect moments in life when everything seems absolutely right." Tough times There were few more moments like that in the Carter administration. Even though the Democrats held overwhelming majorities in both houses, he found it hard to get things done. His proposals for welfare, tax reform, and a national health program all disappeared without a trace. His attempt to get the government to adopt a national energy policy — an effort he described as "the moral equivalent of war" — did not fare much better. Inflation crippled the economy, and frayed relations between the White House and Congress crippled the government. So he turned his attention to foreign affairs. First came Panama. For several years before Carter took office, the United States had been negotiating about the future of the U.S.-built Panama Canal, the vital waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Carter completed the negotiations. Under the final agreement, the canal would be turned over to Panama in 1999, although the U.S. retained the right to use force to keep the canal open. After a bruising, yearlong battle, the Senate ratified the treaty. Then came the Middle East. No other foreign policy area so absorbed him. Indeed, few presidents in the 20th century were so consumed with trying to bring peace to the Holy Land. Almost immediately after taking office, Carter began meeting frequently with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. Progress seemed possible when Sadat, on Nov. 19, 1977, took the risky and unexpected step of traveling to Jerusalem, the Israeli capital, to address the Israeli parliament. But the inability of Egypt and Israel to convert the opening into a peace agreement left Carter ever more frustrated. "There was only one thing to do, as dismal and unpleasant as the prospect seemed," he later recalled. "I would try to bring Sadat and Begin together for an extensive negotiating session with me." On Sept. 5, 1978, Mr. Carter, Sadat, Begin, and their staffs gathered at Camp David, the presidential retreat in the Maryland mountains, and shut themselves off from the world. For Carter, as host and mediator, the stay at Camp David would prove to be the highlight of his presidency. On Sept. 17, an agreement was reached on a framework for peace. Egypt would recognize Israel's right to exist. In return, Israel would withdraw from the Egyptian territory in the Sinai it had occupied since the Six Day War of 1967. That night, in the East Room of the White House, the three world leaders signed that framework. Six months later, the framework blossomed into a full-fledged peace treaty. While the Camp David process resulted in peace between Israel and Egypt, it did not produce significant progress toward peace throughout the region. That became a source of increasing disappointment to Carter after he left office. Nor did Carter achieve any major breakthroughs in U.S.-Soviet relations. The two nations negotiated a second Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, SALT II, which Carter and Soviet President Leonid Brezhnev signed on June 18, 1979, at a summit meeting in Vienna. But the pact did not call for cuts in nuclear arsenals, only ceilings. Opposition to the treaty sprang up in the Senate almost immediately. Whatever chance it had of ratification expired at the end of that year, when Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan. Carter reacted to the Soviet invasion by imposing an embargo on American grain sales to the Soviet Union and by having the United States boycott the 1980 Summer Olympic Games, which were set for Moscow. By then, his presidency was in deep political trouble. These were unsettling times in America. Gasoline prices were high, and lines at fuel pumps were long. Inflation and unemployment were rising. So, too, was national pessimism. Awareness of that pessimism had caused Carter to retreat to Camp David in July 1979 for an extended, loosely structured domestic summit. When it was over, he delivered a nationally televised speech on what ailed the nation and then fired three members of his cabinet. The episode came to be known as the "malaise speech." Carter seemed, in the view of his critics, to be trying to shift the blame for the nation's problems away from his administration and onto the American people. He seemed to be confessing his impotence. Within days, there was a large and growing body of thought in the liberal wing of the Democratic Party that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts should challenge Carter in the 1980 presidential primaries. Kennedy did run. But by the time he announced his candidacy, the political landscape had been transformed. On Nov. 4, 1979, in the Iranian capital of Tehran, about 3,000 militants loyal to Iran's new revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, overran the U.S. Embassy. They denounced America as "the Great Satan." And they took hostages. The number of hostages would vary in the long days ahead. Ultimately it would settle at 52. Thus began, Carter recalled later, "the most difficult period of my life." It was not just 52 individuals who were held captive. It was an entire nation. The episode crystallized the general sense that U.S. power and prestige had deteriorated. At first, the crisis worked to Carter's political benefit. Americans rallied around their president, and the prospects of his two main challengers within the Democratic Party, Kennedy and California Gov. Jerry Brown, seemed to flag. But, as months passed and the hostages remained in captivity, the nation's patience with Carter grew thin, as did his own patience with Iran. After months of intensive and fruitless negotiations behind the scenes, the president decided to try to rescue the hostages. On April 24, 1980, the mission was launched. Success depended largely on eight helicopters, which were to ferry the rescuers from a makeshift base in the Iranian desert to Tehran itself. But two of the helicopters malfunctioned, and one of them crashed into a transport plane in the desert, killing eight servicemen. The failure of the mission undercut what was left of the nation's confidence in Carter. He carried on and was renominated by a deeply divided Democratic Party. The atmosphere on the final night of the convention in New York was so bitter that Kennedy refused to raise Carter's hand in the traditional display of party unity. In the general election campaign, the Republican nominee, former California Gov. Ronald Reagan, sealed Carter's defeat by posing to the nation: "Are you better off now than you were four years ago?" Many Americans — thinking of the hostages, double-digit inflation, and soaring interest rates — couldn't help but answer "No." In the end, Carter got only 41% of the vote, to Reagan's 51% and 7% for independent John Anderson. But there was a landslide in the Electoral College — 489 for Reagan and only 49 for Mr. Carter. He devoted what remained of his term to getting the hostages out. They were released on Jan. 20, 1981, Inauguration Day. Never slowing down After leaving the White House, Carter went home to Plains. There, he wrote his memoirs and raised the money to build his presidential library in Atlanta. He devoted much of his time and effort to open the Carter Center in 1982. In the mid-1980s, Carter staged well-publicized sessions on the Middle East and arms control, both of which were cochaired by Gerald Ford. Carter described the friendship between the old rivals as "a surprise to both of us." As the years passed, Carter kept pursuing his causes, traveling throughout the Middle East and Latin America to foster democracy and human rights. He became almost universally recognized as an "honest broker" whose word was accepted by one and all. "It's possible under some circumstances that I could be more meaningful as a human being this way than if I'd had a second term in the White House," he said in 1985. In 1989, he arranged for peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the Eritrean rebels. In 1990, he monitored the elections in Nicaragua. In 1994, he mediated the end of a military coup in Haiti, went to North Korea, and brokered a truce in Bosnia. His accumulated efforts won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, the citation praising him for standing by the principles that "conflicts must as far as possible be resolved through mediation and international cooperation based on international law." "My father was a hero, not only to me but to everyone who believes in peace, human rights, and unselfish love," son Chip posted on the Carter Center's website. "My brothers, sister, and I shared him with the rest of the world through these common beliefs. The world is our family because of the way he brought people together, and we thank you for honoring his memory by continuing to live these shared beliefs." In addition to his three sons and daughter, Carter is survived by 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and other relatives. Two sisters, a brother, and a grandson died earlier. Services are pending. Biden said Sunday he will be ordering an official state funeral to be held in Washington. Staff writers Julia Terruso, Michelle Myers and Diane Mastrull contributed to this article. ©2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Visit at inquirer.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Morgan Rogers’ fourth goal of the season, an Ollie Watkins penalty and Matty Cash’s finish put Villa 3-0 up after 34 minutes. Mikkel Damsgaard pulled one back for Brentford in the second half but the damage had been done as Villa ended their eight-match winless run in all competitions. Emery was relieved to end the unwanted streak but quickly turned his attention to the next fixture against Southampton on Saturday. “We broke a spell of bad results we were having,” the Villa boss said. “We started the first five or 10 minutes not in control of the game but then progressively we controlled. “Today we achieved those three points and it has given us confidence again but even like that it’s not enough. We have to keep going and think about the next match against Southampton on Saturday. “The message was try to focus on each match, try to forget the table. How we can recover confidence and feel comfortable at home. Today was a fantastic match.” Tyrone Mings returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since August 2023. Emery admitted it has been a long road back for the 31-year-old and is pleased to have him back. He added: “Mings played in the Champions league but it’s the first time in the league for a year and three months. “I think he played fantastic – he might be tired tomorrow but will be ready for Saturday again. “It was very, very long, the injury he had. His comeback is fantastic for him and everybody, for the doctor and physio and now he’s training everyday.” Brentford fell to a sixth away defeat from seven games and have picked up only a solitary point on the road this season. They have the best home record in the league, with 19 points from seven matches, but they have the joint worst away record. Bees boss Thomas Frank is confident form will improve on the road. He said: “On numbers we can’t argue we are better at home than away, but on numbers it’s a coincidence. I think two of the seven away games have been bad. “The other games we performed well in big spells. I’m confident at the end of the season we will have some wins away from home.” Frank felt Villa should not have been given a penalty when Ethan Pinnock brought Watkins down. He added: “I want to argue the penalty. I don’t think it is (one). I think Ollie kicked back and hit Ethan, yes there is an arm on the shoulder but threshold and all that – but that’s not the reason we lost.”