Over three years have passed since the Taliban’s takeover, and heart-wrenching scenes of farewell among girls graduating from sixth grade have widely circulated on social media. These children have shared deeply emotional moments during their goodbyes, stirring the emotions of those who believe in education and gender equality. The Taliban’s closure of girls’ schools beyond the sixth grade has had a profound negative impact on the mental and emotional well-being of female students. By closing these schools, the Taliban have deepened grief and despair among girls, women, and their families. This group has not only jeopardized the future of these children but also the collective future of society. Every year, as the academic year ends, thousands of girls leave school in tears, expressing their frustration and disillusionment with this unjust situation in Afghan society. Moreover, after the closure of medical institutes for girls and women, depression and suicidal thoughts have been on the rise. In the most recent case, a girl from the Khair Khana area in Kabul took her own life. As the academic year ends in Afghanistan, the painful scenes of farewell among sixth-grade graduates add to the endless sorrow of the mothers and fathers of these children and others who support women’s education. Instead of celebrating the winter holidays, these children embrace their classmates in tears, as if they are forever deprived of education. Anbarin, a sixth-grade student from Badakhshan province, speaking with the Hasht-e Subh Daily , says she completed six years with excellent grades and had big dreams and plans for her future. Now, she considers those dreams impossible due to the continued closure of educational institutions. With deep regret and sorrow, she says, “I am one of the girls who graduated from sixth grade. I completed six years with excellent grades and had dreams and plans for my future. Now, I see them as impossible to achieve because the doors to knowledge are closed to us, and there is no hope for schools to reopen.” Anbarin continues, “I see my destiny as dark and hopeless, thinking I am a useless being who is of no benefit to my family and society, as change and transformation in society can only happen through education. I do not know what the future holds for me and all my peers. Sometimes, I lose hope, and my family’s efforts to encourage me do not comfort me. May God have mercy on the girls of this land and save us from the pit of ignorance and illiteracy.” Saliha, a student from Baghlan Province, says that when she became a sixth-grade student, she was constantly worried and anxious about the end of the academic year. She adds, “Every day, I went to school with excitement, but when the academic year ended, I thought about what I would do at home if I couldn’t go to school. The thought of it was very hard for me. I always wanted to become a doctor, but now I think I will never become one, and that will remain one of my unfulfilled dreams.” Maryam, a student who says she graduated from sixth grade two years ago, recalls feeling a pain in her heart, fearing she might never return to school. She remembers that her only comfort came from her teachers, who promised they would return to school the following year. This student, deprived of education, says she had just realized the importance of studying and had eagerly learned English and mathematics. She adds, “I was so eager to study that I didn’t realize they would close the schools and make us stay at home. My dream was to finish school and university and help myself and my family. I was deeply disappointed when the schools were closed.” Meanwhile, videos have circulated on social media showing young girls crying as they say goodbye to their classmates. These sixth-grade girls had planned their free time, but now they are confronted with the painful truth that they can no longer return to their class. They cry with their hopes and regrets, saddened by the fact that they can no longer continue their education in the coming academic year. Additionally, a video from a student, shared with the Hasht-e Subh Daily but not made public due to fear of the Taliban, shows the child remembering school and lessons with longing. She fears she may never see her teachers and classmates again. She says, “How sorry I am that I have been deprived of education just because I am a girl. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to go to school. There is so much pain in my heart, and sadly, there is no hope for schools to reopen anytime soon.” At the same time, an audio clip has circulated on social media in which a student, during a farewell moment from her sixth-grade class, cries and says, “Let this be my last farewell with my classmates at this desk and chair. God, what is our crime?” Meanwhile, a source speaking with the Hasht-e Subh Daily says that on Sunday, a 19-year-old midwifery student in the Khair Khana area of Kabul committed suicide due to depression and despair from the closure of educational institutes. The source states, “On Sunday, a 19-year-old girl, a midwifery student, hanged herself in the bathroom of her house in the 500 Family area, District 15 of Kabul. Before her death, she asked her father for 50 Afghanis, which she used to purchase a rope for the act.” In contrast, some girls and their families have secretly tried to continue their education. In certain areas, families have worked to rescue their daughters from educational deprivation through homeschooling and informal classes. As sixth-grade girls cry and mourn their graduation, a report by the Hasht-e Subh Daily reveals that the Taliban have intensified their efforts to recruit girls into religious schools. According to the report, girls and women are being taught a Taliban-centric curriculum, inciting them against human rights values and Western societies, and spreading misinformation. The findings indicate that the Taliban tell girls that men who allow their women to work are “shameless” and that civilization and humanity are tools of the West to oppress Muslims. You can read the Persian version of this daily report here: فراغت از صنف ششم؛ دختران با حسرت و اشک به خانه برمیگردند | روزنامه ۸صبحYankees Social Media Spotlight: Yuletide Edition
Jimmy Carter, 39th US president, Nobel winner, dies at 100
A New Brunswick entrepreneur whose family pioneered the baby eel industry in Canada is suing Ottawa again after it told her she would likely lose nearly 90 per cent of her business to First Nations and other people who want to get in on the lucrative fishery. In a filing in the Court of King’s Bench in Fredericton on Dec. 9, Mary Ann Holland accuses the defendants, who include three successive federal fisheries ministers and eight high-ranking officials in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, or DFO, of having “engaged in a carefully calculated plan” over the years to drive her “out of business,” and give it away to First Nations and other fishers. “Such a plan represents patent gross abuse,” that they know will cause her companies, Brunswick Aquaculture and Alder Seafood, great damage, the lawsuit states. She complains that Ottawa did little to enforce the fishing rules on the water, and was, in effect, in cahoots with First Nations leaders who told their people to exert their Aboriginal right to pluck eels out as they wished. Holland declined to be interviewed for this article. But she has stewed about Ottawa’s decisions in recent years to allow more First Nations to catch the elvers and its lack of enforcement on waters in southwestern New Brunswick where she’s a licence holder, a spring fishery that’s been cancelled a few times because of poaching and spasms of violence. Now the trouble has boiled over. Holland’s late husband, Philip Holland, was the first commercial eel licence holder in the Maritimes, setting up the practice and developing overseas markets for the creatures 36 years ago. The Holland family has held a licence continuously since 1988. Mary Ann Holland has argued in other lawsuits against Ottawa and First Nations that they are destroying her business. The Wolastoqey Nation dismisses her claims and says they have a traditional right to fish. In the latest filing, Holland says DFO has invited some of the people who worked for her to become licence holders. A spokeswoman for the department said officials were aware of the allegations in Holland’s lawsuit, which have not been tested in court. “As the department is a named party and this matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for DFO to comment,” said Debra Buott-Matheson in an email to Brunswick News. One of Holland’s colleagues in the baby eel industry in Nova Scotia warned that no one in the fishing industry would be safe from federal confiscation of their licences without any financial compensation. In a two-page letter sent Dec. 5 to nine enterprises in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that have elver, or baby eel, commercial licences, Jennifer Ford, the director of the elver review team in the Maritimes for DFO, outlined the latest proposed changes following consultations. Ford – who is named as a defendant in Holland’s lawsuit – said the federal fisheries minister, Diane Lebouthillier, favoured “broadening the benefits” of the elver fishery to boost First Nations’ participation and give people already working for the commercial elver industry a shot at having their own licenses. She said redistributing existing quotas was the only way of ensuring the species’ long-term survival. A table attached to the letter showed that of the nine licence holders, before 2022, eight of them had a quota of 1,200 kilograms each (a ninth had a quota of 360 kg). The new proposal would see all their quotas – or total allowable catch – significantly reduced by between 60 and nearly 90 per cent. Holland’s company fares the worst, going from 1,200 kg annually down to 123 kg. The letter appears to be the last straw for Holland, whose lawyer filed the legal paperwork only a few days later. Stanley King, whose in-laws have owned Atlantic Elver Fishery near Kejimkujik National Park in southwestern Nova Scotia since the early 1990s, said the department was being unfair to hard-working entrepreneurs who’d developed the business. “The process has been an exercise in futility,” he said of the letters sent from the minister seeking the industry’s input into the changes. “It was a sham consultation. They didn’t listen to one thing we said.” He also described it as a “five-year coup de grâce of DFO mismanagement that’s destroyed an entire industry that took 30 some odd years to create.” King said the industry wasn’t against First Nations having access to the fishery. But the proper process to follow, he said, was the “willing buyer-willing seller” model to ensure there would be no animosity between the fishermen. Such a model has been used in other fisheries, including crab and lobster, since the Supreme Court ruled 25 years ago that Aboriginal people have a right to pursue a moderate income from fisheries, a case that pitted Donald Marshall Jr., an adult eel fisherman, against the province of Nova Scotia. For the most part, those new agreements have reduced tension on the water. According to Holland’s lawsuit, Ottawa also proposed buying out her licence in 2021 but it didn’t go anywhere. DFO eventually decided to reduce the commercial eel quotas unilaterally. It’s not the first time in recent years DFO has made such a move. It reduced the number of traps of crab fishers in Tofino, B.C., by half in 2022, after a court ordered that part of the fishery had to be Indigenous. No compensation was offered. “I want other fishermen to realize this is now the government’s path forward,” King said. “Other fishermen should be very afraid and should pay very close attention, because they will be next.” As prices for the translucent baby eels have risen, people have fought over the spring run in dozens of rivers in the Maritimes. The violence and unauthorized fishing got so bad that the federal fisheries minister suspended the season in the Maritimes this year. The popularity of the American eels in Asian cuisine and the collapse of stocks in Europe has pushed prices up markedly. Buyers who ship the eels to Asia, where they’re grown in tanks to adulthood and then made into sushi or other tasty dishes, have paid as much as $5,000 a kilogram for them, although prices have moderated this year to closer to $4,000 per kg. It is the most lucrative seafood by weight in Canada. Holland’s lawsuit does not specify how much damages she’s seeking. No statement of defence has been filed.
CNBC's Jim Cramer previewed next week's important Wall Street action, pointing to a slew of retail earnings, as well as reports from Dell and CrowdStrike. Best Buy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Kohl's, Macy's, Burlington Stores and Dick's Sporting Goods all report Tuesday. The coming week is typically a good one for the market and he advised investors to ring the register on some of their more volatile stocks that have seen significant gains. CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday previewed next week's important Wall Street action, suggesting it's wise to pay attention to a slew of retail earnings as well as reports from Dell and CrowdStrike . He also said that the coming week is typically a good one for the market and advised investors to ring the register on some of their more volatile stocks that have seen significant gains. "If you have huge profits in the month of November, could you do me a favor?" he said. "I would show a little thanks next week and take something off the table in your most risky positions." Monday brings quarterly reports from Bath & Body Works and Zoom . Cramer noted that the soap maker's stock hasn't been popular on Wall Street as of late, but wondered if positive commentary about the holiday season from management would make a difference. He also pointed to the tension between those who are shorting stock of Zoom and those intending to buy and said it seems the company always "has a lot of irons in the fire." Tuesday is a big day for retailers, with reports from Best Buy , Abercrombie & Fitch , Kohl's , Macy's , Burlington Stores and Dick's Sporting Goods . Cramer noted that many of these stocks have run up heading into earnings — so it's "treacherous" to buy now — and wondered which ones will impress Wall Street. He added that some retailers whose earnings weren't great still saw their stocks soar but others got badly dinged , like Target . J.M. Smucker will also post earnings that day. Cramer said some investors weren't pleased with the snack food company's pricey Hostess acquisition , but he suggested the stock could climb if results are in-line. A few major tech names also report Tuesday, including CrowdStrike , Dell , and Workday . Cramer said he's positive on all three, noting that Dell is a major Nvidia partner that is helping implement its newest technology. He said investors might want to buy some Dell stock now and some after earnings if it pulls back. HP will report after close, and Cramer said he wants to know if new artificial intelligence-enabled PCs are seeing success. While stock action tends to slow during the rest of the holiday week, Cramer pointed out that on Wednesday the government will release the latest personal consumption expenditures index. This data is an inflation metric for the Federal Reserve and could indicate whether there will be another interest rate cut before the end of the year. Sign up now for the CNBC Investing Club to follow Jim Cramer's every move in the market. Disclaimer The CNBC Investing Club Charitable Trust holds shares of Best Buy, CrowdStrike and Nvidia. Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? madcap@cnbc.com‘Relentlessly lying’: Elon Musk’s brutal response to Sydney Morning Herald prediction
The Scouser is in the final of the ITV show which will air tonight Coleen Rooney has been flooded with support ahead of the final of the I’m a Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here final tonight. The Scouser is in the final three alongside McFly's Danny Jones and Reverend Richard Coles in a fight to be crowned King or Queen of the Jungle. The episode will be shown tonight on ITV at 9pm. Ahead of this, many Scousers and people across the country have backed Coleen to win the show. In a video posted on Coleen’s social media channels, a series of famous Liverpool names sent messages backing the mum of four who is married to former Everton striker Wayne Rooney. Scouse model Abbey Clancy said: "Good luck tonight Coleen. We're all rooting for you here in the Crouch household. You have been incredible, our winner since day one, and you're just gorgeous. You've been yourself throughout, and yeah, you're amazing. Everyone, please vote for Coleen. Love you lots!” Husband and ex-Liverpool striker Peter Crouch said: “Coleen, keep it going. Everyone in the Crouch Household is voting for you, so good luck, keep it up.” Former boxer Tony Bellew said: “Girl, you've made it to the end. Well done, Coleen. You've done absolutely brilliantly. Everyone's so proud of you in the city. You've done Scousers and our city so, so proud. Guys, get voting for her, she's done amazing. Being away from her kids, being away from her family - it's really tough in there. It's not easy. She's done amazing. Get voting. Call, call, call.” UFC fighter ‘Meatball’ Molly McCann added: “Hey Col, massive congratulations on getting to the final. The whole of the city is with you. Make sure you vote for our Col to be Queen of the Jungle.” Former Liverpool FC defender Jamie Carragher said: “I'm urging everybody to get on those phones and start voting for Coleen Rooney to be Queen of the Jungle. There's no doubt for me that she absolutely deserves it. “What she's done in a few weeks in Oz has shown everybody in this country what everybody in Liverpool has always known - that she's a very down to earth girl, she's got a great sense of humour, she’ll have a go at any of them as we’ve seen with all the trials and she loves her family to bits. Get voting for Coleen, she's absolutely been a superstar in there and I want to see her crown queen of the jungle.” Actress Claire Sweeney, whose on-screen son from Coronation Street Alan Hansall was knocked out earlier in the show, also backed her. She said: “Obviously my loyalty was with my son Alan Hansall. I love you Coleen, but now Alan's gone I can say: vote Coleen for the winner tonight. “You've been so honest and so lovely and seeing you with your kids last night just made me cry. So good luck Coleen. You've done Liverpool proud and I'm glad you got to meet my boy Alan, who's a dream.” Danille Lloyd, a model and close friend of Coleen, added: “Just wanted to say a massive congratulations to Coleen. She has absolutely smashed it in the jungle and Liverpool are so proud of you. Honestly, you have shown everyone how real and genuine you are, and whatever happens tonight, you will always be the Queen of Liverpool.” Many others on X/ Twitter have also said they are backing Coleen. One said: “I’m a Celebrity has been brilliant this year. I absolutely adore Coleen Rooney. A humble working class woman who has remained loyal to her upbringing!” Another said: “I really like Coleen. Honestly what a lovely, kind, humble woman. No airs and graces. Mucks in and doesn’t complain. Wayne Rooney is a fortunate man. She’s a diamond. I think she is my winner.” A third person said: “Coleen Rooney is so humble. So down to earth and just a great woman and mother. Should be a role model to all young women out there.”Illinois Department of Human Services employees have worked excessive overtime — with one worker more than tripling an annual salary of $66,000 — which could have an adverse effect on people in the department’s care, a state audit released earlier this month found. The Dec. 4 report from Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino’s office, which covered fiscal years 2021 through 2023, also found that misconduct allegations within IDHS have increased and that the department’s inspector general’s office has been slower to investigate complaints. The report lays out the latest problems for an agency still dealing with fallout from accusations that a downstate mental health center repeatedly covered up staff misconduct amid allegations of abuse and neglect of residents. The report noted that due to a high number of allegations, it’s likely that many of the same issues documented at Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center in Anna exist at other centers. The overtime issues detailed in the report are eye-opening. In fiscal year 2023, IDHS reported that 70% of the more than 7,200 employees at its state-operated facilities had overtime that accumulated a total of 1,606,962 hours. Of those, 330 employees tallied more than 1,000 hours in OT, the audit found. • A worker at the Ludeman Development Center in Park Forest with an annual pay rate of $66,000 logged 3,331 hours in overtime during the fiscal year and collected $227,800 in gross pay during the calendar year, the audit found. • Another employee who worked at the Elgin Mental Health Center tallied 2,745 of the extra hours and had gross pay of $203,700, well above their calendar year pay rate of $68,400. • At the Alton Mental Health Center, a $57,600-a-year employee was paid for 2,122 hours of overtime, receiving gross pay of $144,600. The auditor general’s office noted that the hours of overtime reported do not necessarily reflect the amount of overtime worked. One reason for that is that there are different rates of overtime pay for holidays. Another is that an employee with seniority can file a grievance after not being offered an overtime shift, and, if successful, collect the extra money without having worked the shift. “However, even when taking these instances into consideration, the amount of overtime being worked by State-operated facility employees appears excessive,” Mautino’s office wrote. The report noted that beyond the fiscal implications, having employees work so many additional hours can have adverse consequences for people in IDHS care. “Multiple academic studies have found that excessive amounts of overtime can have a detrimental effect on the care provided to residents or patients, as well as the health care workers providing the care,” Mautino’s office said. The report also found allegations of wrongdoing within the department, including those involving its mental health and developmental centers and as well as community agencies, have climbed since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and that the department’s inspector general has been taking longer to investigate those claims. The IDHS inspector general’s office received 3,281 allegations during fiscal year 2023 compared with 2,423 in fiscal year 2021, which at that time was the lowest in a decade. But during fiscal year 2023, the watchdog took an average of 205 calendar days to investigate cases, an increase of 25 days during the 2020 fiscal year, according to Mautino’s office. Along with the rise in complaints, there was a slowdown in the time it took the department’s inspector general’s office to complete investigations, the audit found. In fiscal year 2023, only 22% of the IDHS watchdog’s cases were completed within 60 calendar days, an 8% drop from fiscal year 2020 — which covered part of the prior audit of the watchdog — and a 14% decrease when compared with both fiscal years 2021 and 2022, Mautino’s office found. The auditor general also found the IDHS inspector general’s office was slow to fill open positions. From fiscal years 2021 through 2023, the watchdog requested to hire for 38 positions, but as of mid-August 2023, 17 had been filled and 21 were vacant. “(IDHS watchdog) officials stated that multiple bureaus have lost headcount; if there is a lack of investigators, then timeliness worsens and caseloads increase,” Mautino’s office wrote. “According to (IDHS watchdog officials), they are unable to hire investigators fast enough to maintain their headcount.” The audit also addressed the IDHS inspector general’s office’s Quality Care Board, which is supposed to monitor the watchdog to ensure investigations of abuse and neglect are handled properly. The board is supposed to have seven members, appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate, with two of them being a person with a disability or a parent of someone disabled. According to Mautino’s office, the board did not have the required seven members during the audit period and two members were serving on expired terms. “The Board cannot fully function as directed by statute to ‘monitor and oversee the operations, policies, and procedures of the Inspector General with vacancies and neglected membership requirements,” Mautino’s office wrote. Mautino’s office noted an IDHS watchdog directive requiring that office to interview a “complainant and/or required reporter and the victim and/or guardian” within 15 working days of case assignment. But in five of 39 investigations sampled by the auditor that included a victim who was verbal, it took anywhere from 24 to 536 working days to complete the interview. “Conducting interviews quickly is essential in conducting effective investigations. As time passes, victims who have a developmental disability or mental illness may be more likely to forget what happened or be unable to recount what happened accurately,” Mautino’s office wrote. The audit recommended that IDHS ensure all employees at state-operated facilities receive training in prevention and “reporting of abuse, neglect and exploitation” as required by policies and state law. IDHS and its watchdog should work together to identify and resolve bottlenecks in the hiring process and address pay structure imbalances for management positions, Mautino’s office also said. The office also said IDHS should conduct a staffing analysis to determine if staffing levels at the state-run facilities are appropriate. “The staffing analysis should take into consideration the need to reduce excessive amounts of employee overtime, especially for direct care employees,” according to Mautino’s office. In a response to the findings that was included in the audit, IDHS said it’s in the process of reviewing staffing levels at its facilities and noted it has worked to implement changes to the collective bargaining agreements to expedite hiring for certain positions. The agency acknowledged being challenged by retirement and retention issues. The IDHS watchdog, meanwhile, said it has worked closely with IDHS to increase headcount and is in the process of “substantial additional hiring.” “However, it will take time for the new hires to make a noticeable impact on timeliness, as training takes time and significant effort from supervisory staff,” IDHS said, according to Mautino’s office. “(The IDHS watchdog) continuously reviews processes for timeliness improvements and training opportunities.” IDHS also pointed to how its bureau of hotline and intake has seen “a severe shortage” in intake investigators and bureau management due to retirements and significant delays in the hiring process. The agency also acknowledged how staff shortages result in growing backlogs that further affect the ability of the IDHS watchdog to investigate complaints quickly. “Unfortunately, the ongoing staff shortage has persisted as overall calls, including reportable and non-reportable calls, have increased,” IDHS said, according to Mautino’s report. “As of October 2024, (the IDHS watchdog) has six intake investigators, and five unfilled intake investigator positions that are in various stages of the hiring process.” The IDHS watchdog expects an upcoming change in technology will help the inspector general’s office provide better oversight. Next year, for instance, the watchdog will have a new case management system designed to better track and document when an investigator is unable to reach a victim or complainant within the required timeframes. In a statement, IDHS and its inspector general’s office said it accepted the audit’s findings and is “working to implement changes, including the hiring of staff to ensure appropriate staffing levels across all of our programs and offices.” Separately, IDHS last week said it experienced a privacy breach in April when an outside entity, through a phishing campaign, gained access to files that included the Social Security numbers of more than 4,700 customers and three employees. In addition, public assistance account information was accessed for more than a million customers, though that information did not include Social Security numbers. “Upon learning of the phishing incident, IDHS worked in partnership with (the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology) to investigate the extent of the breach and to determine which individuals were included,” IDHS said in a statement.
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (AP) — Nyle Ralph-Beyer's 20 points helped Sacred Heart defeat Division III-member Manhattanville 100-60 on Sunday. Ralph-Beyer also had five rebounds for the Pioneers (5-8, 1-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference). Anquan Hill scored 18 points and added seven rebounds. Griffin Barrouk had 16 points and went 5 of 8 from the field (4 for 7 from 3-point range). Andrew Saint-Louis led the Valiants in scoring, finishing with 26 points. John Ranaghan added 10 points for Manhattanville. Don Mays Jr. also had eight points. Sacred Heart hosts Canisius in its next matchup on Sunday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Meslier has been with Leeds since joining from Lorient in 2019 and has made 198 appearances for the club so far — keeping 64 clean sheets and conceding 271 goals. The Frenchman has been growing in stature this season and has conceded just three goals in his last seven appearances, keeping four clean sheets during that time to bring his total for the campaign to 13. Meslier’s name has come up recently as a , potentially replacing Altay Bayindir as No.2 behind Andre Onana. Meanwhile, former Leeds star David Norris urged the club to move on from their ‘inconsistent’ goalkeeper. “I think Meslier had started to look okay in recent games, but the people I’ve spoken to who follow Leeds more closely aren’t convinced any longer,” . “Farke is likely to be considering other options now. He’s been too inconsistent and has cost the club points this season. It just doesn’t look as if they have the confidence in Meslier they once did.” The plot appears to have thickened with regards to Meslier, who is now drawing attention from Italian side Fiorentina. That’s according to TEAMtalk (via ), who claim the Viola are looking for a younger option between the sticks. Fiorentina only signed Man Utd legend David de Gea on a free transfer in the summer, with the Spaniard conceding just 14 goals in 15 gams across all competitions so far, keeping six clean sheets. However, at 34 years old, De Gea’s best days are definitely behind him, and Leeds may now swoop for Meslier in January in order to future-proof their goalkeeper position.Plans Required to Cover Treatment for SOD1-ALS ARLINGTON, Va. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced a first-of-its-kind directive requiring Medicare Advantage plans to approve coverage for Qalsody, a treatment for people living with genetic SOD1-ALS. This decision reflects the ALS Association's commitment to ensuring that people living with ALS have access to promising ALS treatments without delay. "This is a victory for the entire ALS community," said Calaneet Balas, president and CEO of the ALS Association. "It's critical that FDA-approved treatments are made accessible rather than being labeled as 'experimental.' We are grateful to everyone in our community who helped make this day happen." Balas added: "We hope this sends a message to the entire rare disease community and pharmaceutical industry that new treatments can be developed and made accessible to those who will benefit from them. We need to ensure more ALS treatments are developed and approved that will help everyone living with ALS." The ALS Association played a key role in the historic CMS directive by participating and advocating for the research, approval, and accessibility of Qalsody for people living with ALS. In 2004, the ALS Association was the first to fund research into ALS-specific antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technology, investing over $1.3 million in groundbreaking studies that laid the foundation for the development of Qalsody. This early commitment supported preclinical studies, safety trials, and the first-in-human phase 1 trial, which established SOD1 as a viable therapeutic target. In 2023, Qalsody became the first gene-based therapy approved for ALS , thanks in part to the ALS Association's efforts, including a united push from the ALS community for FDA accelerated approval. This new CMS directive provides precedent for state regulators to issue similar actions for other private insurers. According to the Valor study published in 2022 , Qalsody, which was developed specifically to target the RNA produced by mutated SOD1 genes, has demonstrated significant promise in clinical trials and real-world studies. In the phase 3 VALOR trial, Qalsody reduced levels of mutated SOD1 proteins in cerebral spinal fluid by 35% within eight weeks and decreased bloodstream levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL)—a key biomarker of neurodegeneration—by 50% within 12-16 weeks. These biological changes translated into measurable clinical benefits, including slower disease progression, improved respiratory function, and enhanced quality of life after 52 weeks of treatment. Real-world data has since validated these findings, with some patients stabilizing or even experiencing improvements in motor function and quality of life. When insurance companies began denying access to Qalsody, labeling it as "experimental," the ALS Association took decisive action, working directly with CMS to launch an investigation into these unjust denials. By presenting evidence of widespread insurance rejections and demonstrating the critical need for immediate intervention. In addition to working with CMS, the ALS Association actively engaged policymakers, held strategic meetings with state and federal legislators, and served as a staunch advocate for patients, ensuring their voices were heard and their rights to life-changing treatment were upheld. The ALS Association urges anyone previously denied Qalsody by their Medicare Advantage plan to contact their ALS specialist immediately to begin the process of securing access to this critical treatment. For more information on the CMS directive visit als.org About the ALS Association The ALS Association is the largest ALS organization in the world. The ALS Association funds global research collaborations, assists people with ALS and their families through its nationwide network of care and certified clinical care centers, and advocates for better public policies for people with ALS. The ALS Association is working to make ALS a livable disease while urgently searching for new treatments and a cure. For more information about the ALS Association, visit our website at www.als.org . About ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Over the course of the disease, people lose the ability to move, to speak, and eventually, to breathe. The disease is always fatal, usually within five years of diagnosis. Few treatment options exist, resulting in a high unmet need for new therapies to address functional deficits and disease progression. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/groundbreaking-directive-ensures-als-patients-on-medicare-advantage-gain-access-to-qalsody-302329525.html SOURCE The ALS Association
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): At least 12 shops were gutted in a major fire at a local market in Amarkantak of Anuppur district on Tuesday, said police. Angry shop owners vandalized the firefighting vehicle for arriving late at the incident site. As per preliminary reports, short circuitled to blaze in a shop and it soon spread to adjoining outlets. No casualty was reported in the incident, police said. The fire broke out in a shop and quickly spread to other eateries in the queue. Shop owners, workers and locals tried to control the blaze by pouring water. After being alerted, the fire department rushed firefighters to the spot to put out the blaze. However, the owners of the gutted shops created a ruckus alleging that the firefighting team reached the spot late. The shop owners allegedly misbehaved with the firefighting team who ran out for their safety. A video of the incident surfaced on social media, showing the vandalised firefighting vehicle. The local police reached the spot and initiated action against the miscreants. Police said the preliminary investigation suggested that the fire occurred due to a short circuit in a shop, however, more details would be known after the investigation. No casualty was reported in the fire incident, police said.New Delhi, December 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 'Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024' in Jaipur on Monday, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The event is being organized at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC). As per his schedule, the Prime Minister will arrive at Jaipur airport on monday morning and reach the JECC. Upon arrival, he will inaugurate the summit and take a brief tour of the exposition in Hall B. PM Narendra Modi To Inaugurate ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit on December 9. The Prime Minister will then move to the Inaugural Hall (Hall-A), where he will be presented with a souvenir by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. A children's choir will then welcome the PM. Following the welcome, the Chief Minister will address the audience, followed by the screening of the Rising Rajasthan film. As per officials, 'industry captains', including Mukesh Ambani, Anil Agarwal, Anand Mahindra, Kumar Mangalam, and Karan Adani, will address the gathering. This will be followed by Prime Minister Modi's special address. ‘Rising Rajasthan’ Global Investment Summit 2024: Rajasthan To Hold First Roadshow for Investment Summit in Mumbai on August 30. Following the Jaipur event, PM Modi will then travel to Panipat in Haryana, where he will launch the Bima Sakhi Yojana by the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), a scheme aimed at empowering women. The initiative will provide training to women aged 18-70 years, who have passed Class X, to become LIC agents. They will receive a stipend for the first three years to promote financial literacy and awareness. After completing their training, these women will have the opportunity to qualify for positions as LIC Development Officers. In Panipat, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone for the main campus of Maharana Pratap Horticultural University in Karnal. The campus, covering 495 acres, will cost over Rs 700 crore and will focus on crop diversification and research in horticultural technologies. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
HUNDREDS of trans hospital patients have been admitted as women despite having conditions only suffered by men. Analysis by The Sun suggests at least 482 were admitted as female in a year despite having prostate, testicle or penis issues. They included 263 who suffered hyperplasia in the prostate — a non-cancerous enlargement of the gland that cannot occur in biological women as they do not have prostates. Another 85 had prostate cancer and 48 had “disorders of male genitals”. Figures cover the year to March at hospitals in England and Wales. NHS rules allow trans patients to have their gender changed on databases but kept off patient records. One GP insisted: “There’s pressure on staff not to offend patients. “But the fact they are recorded as women in the statistics is ridiculous.” Tory MP Sir John Hayes said: “You cannot change biology. “It is an immutable fact that these conditions only appear in biological men.” He added: “The fact the NHS is pandering to this is nonsense.” The NHS said: “These statistics report the gender registered by patients and therefore include trans women, with further patient details included in their health records.”Boise State's legacy includes winning coaches and championship moments
B.C. artist backs Victoria Hand Project clinic in UkraineUS President Joe Biden on Sunday said deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad should be "held accountable" but called the nation's political upheaval a "historic opportunity" for Syrians to rebuild their country. In the first full US reaction to Assad's overthrow by an Islamist-led coalition of rebel factions, Biden also warned that Washington will "remain vigilant" against the emergence of terrorist groups, announcing that US forces had just conducted fresh strikes against militants from the Islamic State organization. "The fall of the regime is a fundamental act of justice," Biden said, speaking from the White House. "It's a moment of historic opportunity for the long-suffering people of Syria." Asked by reporters what should happen to the deposed president, who reportedly has fled to Moscow, Biden said that "Assad should be held accountable." Biden -- set to step down in January and make way for Republican Donald Trump's return to power -- said Washington will assist Syrians in rebuilding. "We will engage with all Syrian groups, including within the process led by the United Nations, to establish a transition away from the Assad regime toward independent, sovereign" Syria "with a new constitution," he said. However, Biden cautioned that hardline Islamist groups within the victorious rebel alliance will be under scrutiny. "Some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human right abuses," Biden said. The United States had "taken note" of recent statements by rebels suggesting they had since moderated, he said, but cautioned: "We will assess not just their words, but their actions." Biden said Washington is "clear eyed" that the Islamic State extremist group, often known as ISIS, "will try to take advantage of any vacuum to reestablish" itself in Syria. "We will not let that happen," he said, adding that on Sunday alone, US forces had conducted strikes against ISIS inside Syria. The US military said the strikes were conducted by warplanes against Islamic State operatives and camps. Strikes were carried out against "over 75 targets using multiple US Air Force assets, including B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s," the US Central Command said on social media. Earlier, Biden met with his national security team at the White House to discuss the crisis. - Missing US journalist - Assad's reported departure comes less than two weeks after the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group challenged more than five decades of Assad family rule with a lightning rebel offensive that broke long-frozen frontlines in Syria's civil war. They announced Sunday they had taken the capital Damascus and that Assad had fled, prompting celebrations nationwide and a ransacking of Assad's luxurious home. A Kremlin source told Russian news agencies that the deposed leader was now in Moscow, along with his family. The US military has around 900 troops in Syria and 2,500 in Iraq as part of the international coalition established in 2014 to help combat the Islamic State jihadist group. It has regularly struck targets in the country including those linked to Iranian-backed militias. Tehran was a major backer of Assad's government. Biden also confirmed US authorities believe the American journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, still lives. "We believe he's alive," Biden said, but the US has yet "to identify where he is." bur-sms/mlmAstraZeneca (AZN) Reels from China Investigation and Investor Suit – Hagens Berman
To improve your local-language experience, sometimes we employ an auto-translation plugin. Please note auto-translation may not be accurate, so read article for precise information. In Brief OpenAI announced that its Board of Directors is evaluating its corporate structure to better align with its mission of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. Artificial intelligence research organization announced that its Board of Directors is currently assessing its corporate structure to better align with its mission of ensuring that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. OpenAI currently operates with both a non-profit and a for-profit entity. Moving forward, the plan is to maintain both structures, with the for-profit entity’s success helping to fund and sustain the non-profit, positioning it more effectively to support the broader mission. OpenAI views this mission as a critical challenge, one that requires balancing the advancement of AI’s capabilities, safety, and positive global impact. As OpenAI looks ahead to 2025, the organization recognizes the need to evolve beyond a research lab and startup, aiming to become a more enduring company. The Board of Directors, with guidance from external legal and financial advisors, is focused on determining the best structural approach to advance OpenAI’s mission. The primary goals include selecting a non-profit/for-profit model that supports long-term success. The plan is to convert the existing for-profit entity into a Delaware Public Benefit Corporation (PBC), a structure commonly used by other companies which balances shareholder interests with public benefit considerations. This move will help OpenAI raise capital while maintaining its mission-driven focus. Another objective is to make the non-profit sustainable. The proposed structure would ensure that the non-profit becomes one of the best-resourced in history. This would involve the non-profit holding shares in the PBC, with the value of those shares determined by independent financial advisors. This approach would increase the resources available, multiplying the impact of donor contributions. A key aim is to better equip each part of the organization to fulfill its role. OpenAI’s current structure limits the ‘ ability to consider the interests of those funding the mission and restricts the non-profit’s ability to do more than control the for-profit entity. Under the new model, the PBC would manage OpenAI’s business operations, while the non-profit would focus on charitable initiatives in fields like healthcare, education, and science, supported by its own leadership and staff. The organization highlights that with the world transitioning to a new economic infrastructure, including energy, land use, chips, data centers, data, AI models, and systems, it aims to evolve alongside these developments. OpenAI is dedicated to advancing research and development in , which is a form of AI designed to understand, learn, and apply knowledge across a variety of tasks in a manner similar to human intelligence. It has gained attention for its generative models, particularly the popular chatbot technology, ChatGPT. Recently, OpenAI improvements to its O1 model and introduced ChatGPT Pro, a new subscription plan that offers users enhanced access to OpenAI’s premium models and tools. In line with the , please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance. Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.Prolonged violence, internet shutdown, curfew affecting students in Manipur: Academics