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Right-Wing Justices Had to Help Anti-Trans Lawyer During SCOTUS HearingLeBron James and Rui Hachimura were home sick. Anthony Davis was in the back getting his injured ankle treated. D’Angelo Russell and Jaxson Hayes weren’t healthy enough to participate in a full practice. And still, there was optimism. Friday marked the beginning of a stretch when the Lakers can truly unpack and get comfortable, the rigors of the NBA and its travel schedule about to slow down for the longest stretch of their season. Beginning Saturday against Sacramento, 11 of their next 14 games are in Los Angeles. Ten will be at home (one will be the Lakers’ Intuit Dome debut against the Clippers). Heading into Friday’s games around the league, the Lakers have played a conference-high 17 road games, tied with the Jazz for most in the West. Only the Pistons and the Pacers have played more road games so far this year. “We’ve played together, tried to play the right way,” JJ Redick said after practice. “I think our game plan discipline has been really good. So I like where our team is at. I like where our team is trending. “I’m going to really like it when we’re completely healthy.” Hachimura and James are questionable Saturday because of illnesses. Davis will also be listed as questionable with the ankle injury he suffered in the first quarter on Christmas. He told The Times postgame that he expected to be “fine.” Russell, who missed that game against the Warriors, was able to take part in the non-contact portions of Friday’s practice with his sprained thumb and seems on track to return against the Kings And Hayes, who has played just once since Nov. 10 because of consecutive injuries to his right ankle, also participated in some of the non-contact portions of practice. He appears close to returning after Redick termed him “day to day.” Redick said Hayes “moved well” in practice Friday, the Lakers close to adding a dynamic big back to their bench lineups. “I think offensively for us, just the rim running, the pace with which he’s able to get from one action to the next as a big. He’s really good in the half court at screening, rolling, getting back to a second action. And (Russell), with some of the lob stuff, he just, he puts pressure on the rim as a roller,” Redick said of what the Lakers have missed without Hayes. “And then defensively, he had his best stretch for us prior to being injured. He had a four or five game stretch where he was great on both ends and he was also crashing. He was getting offensive rebounds for us. So we’ve missed him.” The Lakers don’t have timetables for Christian Wood and Jared Vanderbilt, who have both yet to play this year. However, Redick said he hoped both would be back during this stretch of home schedule. Asked about potential evaluations of the roster prior to the Feb. 6. trade deadline, Redick said he thinks a complete Lakers roster is good enough to fight. “Rob (Pelinka) and I, we talk all the time, but my focus is on coaching this group and trying to maximize this group,” Redick said. ‘Frankly, I have belief that when this group is healthy, we can compete. If there’s a move to be made, there’s a move to be made, but I’m focused on this group.”SHAREHOLDER ALERT: The M&A Class Action Firm Investigates the Merger of Kineta, Inc. - KANT
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76ers center Joel Embiid sidelined due to swelling in his left knee and will miss two games PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers say center Joel Embiid is managing swelling in his left knee and will miss a second consecutive game Sunday. The Sixers issued a statement on the condition of the 2023 NBA MVP at halftime of Friday’s NBA Cup game against the Brooklyn Nets, saying the decision to sideline Embiid was made along with the team’s medical staff. Embiid was ruled out prior to Friday’s game against the Nets due to what the team described as left knee injury maintenance. The Sixers host the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Austin Hays, Kyle Finnegan, Brendan Rodgers and Jordan Romano among 62 new free agents NEW YORK (AP) — Outfielder Austin Hays, right-hander Kyle Finnegan and second baseman Brendan Rodgers were among 62 players who became free agents when their teams failed to offer 2025 contracts. Right-hander Jordan Romano, left-hander Patrick Sandoval and outfielders Michael Tauchman and Ramón Laureano also were among the players cut loose, many of whom would have been eligible for salary arbitration. Washington cut right-hander Tanner Rainey, its last remaining player from the 2019 World Series champions. Finnegan and Hays are former All-Stars. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Russell puts Mercedes on pole at Las Vegas and Verstappen nips Norris in championship battle LAS VEGAS (AP) — George Russell put Mercedes on the pole for the Las Vegas Grand Prix in an upset over teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton was fastest in the first two practice sessions with Russell fastest in Friday night’s third and final session. But come qualifying, Hamilton made two mistakes in the final group and wound up a distant 10th. Carlos Sainz Jr. and Charles Leclerc seemed to sweep the front row until Russell’s late lap pushed Sainz to second. Pierre Gasly slid into third, and Leclerc wound up fourth. Championship leader Max Verstappen of Red Bull qualified fifth for Saturday night's race. Verstappen needs only to score three points more than challenger Lando Norris to win his fourth straight world championship. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. Chase Elliott named NASCAR's most popular driver for 7th straight season CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chase Elliott has been named NASCAR's most popular driver for the seventh straight year. He was announced Friday at NASCAR's annual season-ending awards ceremony. It's the only major NASCAR award determined solely by the vote of race fans. Elliott beat out Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson and Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney, per results released by the National Motorsports Press Association. Bill Elliott, Chase's father who is nicknamed “Awesome Bill from Dawsonville,” was named NASCAR’s most popular driver a record 16 times before removing his name from the ballot. Either an Elliott or Earnhardt has won NASCAR’s most popular driver award for 34 consecutive years. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials.
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El fundador de Xsolla, Shurick Agapitov presenta Once Upon Tomorrow Fortnite Island: Una experiencia innovadora e inmersiva que le da vida al universo de la novelaSlowly, almost imperceptibly at first, a smile spreads across the little girl’s face. Blinking behind her glasses, she inches her wheelchair forward and gently reaches out to stroke the tiny gray horse. Soon, 9-year-old Josifina Topa Mazuch is beaming as she leads Ivi, a specially trained miniature horse that stands no taller than her pink wheelchair, through the school hallway. “I really want them to come again,” Josifina said of Ivi and a second miniature horse, Calypso, after a November morning visit to her primary school for children with special needs in Athens, Greece. “They made me feel really happy.” Ivi and Calypso are two of nine tiny equines from Gentle Carousel Greece, a Greek offshoot of Florida-based charity Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses that offers visits to hospitals, rehabilitation centers and care homes. Trained for more than two years to work comfortably in confined environments and with vulnerable children and adults, the horses, which are about 30 inches tall at the shoulders, provide a form of pet therapy that caregivers say offers valuable interactions and learning experiences, particularly for people confined to hospitals or care homes. However, the charity they are part of is struggling to make ends meet — run by one woman who funds the entire operation herself, with one assistant and no support team. How it all began Started in 2014 by Mina Karagianni, an interior architect and designer, the Athens operation is the only one affiliated with the Florida-based charity outside the United States. Karagianni came across Gentle Carousel while scouring the internet for information on caring for an abandoned Shetland pony she had rescued. When she saw photos of the charity’s work in pediatric oncology wards, “I was touched and I was moved, and I said: ‘OK, we have to bring this to Greece,’” she said. It took months to track down and persuade the U.S. charity to work with her, and even longer to obtain the requisite permits and arrange transport to bring the horses over. But after incessant efforts, six trained miniature horses stepped off a flight from Florida via Frankfurt in November 2013. Entirely self-funded through her day job, Karagianni now has a total of nine equines — the six American miniature horses, one that was later born in Greece, and two rescued ponies: Billy the Shetland pony and Giselle, who was rescued from the island of Santorini. Karagianni transformed her family land in Rafina, a seaside area east of Athens, into Magic Garden, complete with stables, a paddock for the horses to run free every day, a small café and an area to host children’s parties and baptisms. At the time, she was open for visits every weekend, charging a small entrance fee to help cover operational costs — specialized food for the horses, wood shavings for their bedding, grooming material, veterinarian visits and transportation to and from hospitals and care homes. She also began visiting schools and setting up an education program. From 2014 when Gentle Carousel Greece first opened until the first COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, Karagianni said her little equine team saw roughly 12,000 children. Hard time s The lockdowns took their toll. Karagianni had to shut down the café and hasn’t been able to reopen it. With the small income from the café drying up, and Karagianni herself facing a health issue that took her out for 11⁄2 years, “we fell apart,” she said. Unable to pay utility bills, electricity and water companies cut off her supply, leaving her relying on neighbors for water for the horses. “I’m just starting to get myself back together again now,” she said. “With a lot of financial difficulties. But what can I do? I’m trying.” She’s got the utilities running again, but still owes thousands of euros. Approaches to companies and institutions for funding have been unsuccessful so far. “Maybe I just don’t know how to ask properly,” Karagianni said. Running Gentle Carousel single- handedly is taking its toll. “I’m making super-human efforts,” said Karagianni, who at 68 wonders how long she can continue and is searching for someone to ensure the program’s future. “I’m doing what I can. But I can’t do it alone,” she said. “I can’t do it without a team.” The joy they bring to children Despite her struggles, Karagianni said seeing the horses’ effect, particularly on children, makes her determined to continue for as long as she can. During a visit to the Athens special needs primary school, staff lined up children in wheelchairs so each could spend a few moments with the horses. Some reached out to stroke them; others bent their heads forward over the miniature horses for a kiss. “It’s incredible, the reactions. It’s like something awakens their senses,” special needs teacher Eleni Volikaki said. The state-run school, which shares facilities with a private charity for disabled children, ELEPAP, caters to those ages 6-14 with cognitive or mobility problems, or both. Anything that encourages the children to make even small hand gestures, such as reaching out to stroke a horse, “is very important for us. Especially when it’s spontaneous and comes directly from the child and isn’t instigated by us,” Volikaki said. “We saw things we didn’t expect. We saw children with autism, or children who are generally afraid of animals, coming very close, letting the (horses) get close to them,” Volikaki said. “And we saw ... spontaneous contact that under other circumstances we wouldn’t see.” The equines also help adults The tiny horses don’t just enchant children. In the seaside area of Nea Makri northeast of Athens, residents of an adult psychiatric care home gather to greet Omiros – Homer in Greek – a 12-year-old miniature gray and white stallion with a flowing mane and blue eyes. Some show their excitement at the long-anticipated visit. Others are more shy at first, but nearly all eventually approach Omiros, leading him around the home’s recreation room or simply whispering to him. The interaction is invaluable, said social worker Alex Krokidas, who heads the staff at the Iasis home. “It offers, even if only briefly, the chance to create a bond that isn’t threatening, that has tenderness, quietness,” Krokidas said. “Let’s not forget, these people have faced many difficulties in their lives.” Meeting Omiros and having a few moments each with him “gives them the opportunity to be a bit calmer, to not feel threatened, to stroke the animal,” Krokidas said. “All of that is very therapeutic, it is deeply therapeutic.” Giorgos, one of the residents, initially kept his distance before letting Omiros come close. He leaned his head near the flowing mane. “He gave me a beautiful feeling when he was here,” he said after Omiros headed back into the recreation room. “Now that it’s gone, I feel an absence.” Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
ISLAMABAD - A high-level parliamentary roundtable has urged the government to take urgent measures for protecting public health through robust regulation of Industrially Produced Trans-Fatty Acids (iTFAs) and a legislative ban on the production and distribution of Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHOs). The roundtable was held at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services (PIPS) here on Friday which was attended by parliamentarians, health experts, civil society representatives, and regulatory authorities. The event, organized collaboratively by Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI), and PIPS under the TRANSFORM Pakistan campaign. In her opening remarks, PYCA Executive Director Areebah Shahid highlighted the alarming health risks associated with industrial trans fats and the critical need for regulatory and legislative action. “While PSQCA has made some progress in the past to regulate a few food categories, it is important to ensure that all foods are covered under a mandatory governmental iTFA regulation and legislators take the lead in banning the primary raw material for the production of iTFAs and PHOs,” she noted. Pakistani court summons Norway right-wing tabloid reporter, editor During the first session of the roundtable, Dr. Tausif Janjua from the Federal Health Ministry said, “58 per cent of all deaths in Pakistan annually are attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and iTFAs are a leading contributor to NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer’s, obesity and various cancers.” He underlined the pressing need for comprehensive regulatory measures to reduce the burden of NCDs caused by iTFAs. Munawar Hussain, In-Country Coordinator for the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) said, 63 countries have already adopted the best practice policy to curb iTFAs in food supply through regulatory or legislative measures. Pakistan remains in WHO’s less restrictive list, which means some progress has been made but still need to ensure significant measures to eliminate iTFAs from all foods. Pakistani policy makers should limit iTFAs in all foods and enact a complete ban on production and distribution of PHOs for optimum health outcomes.” Roundtable terms Pak-US ties crucial for future discourse MNA Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro acknowledged the issue and pledged to play her role for food safety across Pakistan. In the second session, civil society leaders, including Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director of the Center for Peace and Development Initiatives, highlighted the need for strategic partnerships. They also called for constitution of a health caucus comprising doctors within the legislature and other public health advocates to streamline efforts under the health and nutrition paradigm. Dr. Saba Amjad, CEO of Heartfile, pointed out the disparities in industrial practices. “Many industries already have the technology to produce trans fat-free foods and they are producing them for export. However, the items they sell inside Pakistan are laden with industrial trans fats,” she stated. Dr. Noor Hassan Kakar, Director Technical at the Balochistan Food Authority, informed that 90% of the ghee samples tested by Balochistan Food Authority were found to be non-compliant with iTFA standards. Chinese drone tech to transform agriculture in Pakistan Echoing the concern, Ashraf Palari, Director, PSQCA, highlighted the challenges faced by his organization. “While under-staffing is a significant issue, PSQCA remains committed to setting appropriate standards to ensure safe food for all Pakistanis,” he said. Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Science and Technology Dr. Nikhat Shakeel Khan and MNA Dr. Zulfiqar Bhatti emphasized the need for awareness alongside legislation. Tags: stakeholders mps seek
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