Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir has expressed displeasure over recent comments by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria (SCIAN) regarding his decision to create Sayawa Chiefdom with headquarters in Tafawa Balewa town, saying that the council has not been fair to him. The Governor who was visibly angry while responding to the recent statement credited to the SCIAN was speaking when the Christian Community in the State paid him the traditional Christmas homage at the Government House on Thursday. “We have been working hard to make sure that Bauchi remains peaceful and without your cooperation, there won’t be peace. Even the sense of actualization of the siting and creation of the Sayawa Chiefdom you continue to give me the benefit of the doubt, I most sincerely appreciate it.” “Recently, we have made a giant leap towards the actualizing the Chiefdom, we formed so many committees, had community engagement, stakeholders engagement to ensure that some of the thorny issues of the process, selection, headquarters sitting and so on were resolved.” “But still, there are contentious issues based on suspicion and mistrust which are manifestation of the agitation. We will work to ensure that all issues were tackled.” “I will not join issues with the SCIAN because I am a member, but I feel highly disappointed with some of the comments, these are questions that I can be asked to explain, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt and give the necessary explanation but certainly I know that they too they mean well but there are a lot of incitement behind the matter but on behalf of the people of Bauchi State, I will reach out to them.” “In spite of unprovoked insults on me, I will swallow it up, but, I assure you that it will be done, we will get there, we know those people behind it, they are enemies of progress.”he said The Governor assured that wider stakeholding will continue in order to get all divergent views on the issue and see how they will be resolve amicably in favour of peace and unity of the state. He assured that nobody will be left behind in the issue saying “We want a situation whereby there will be no acrimony from any side. We want a Chiefdom where peace and unity will reign.” “If I don’t do it now, who will do it. I am a beneficiary of such coming from the minority, you backed me up to become a Senator and a two term Governor of the State. I have to do it.” The Governor then craved the indulgence of the delegation to rise and observe a minute silence in honor of those who died in the stampede across the country, Christians and Muslims while looking for what to eat at Christmas. According to him, “Mr Chairman, I give God the glory for the gift of life and to be alive today, I share with you, the sympathetic and empathetic situations we share with the state government and with other people in the state as well as the whole country in this Yuletide period,” “I have been monitoring and watching with keen interest, the various statements about suffering and smiling across the country, that we have found ourselves. It is not time for blame or blame game.” “As Christians and religious leaders, I urge you to go back home and pray for the country and for us, political leaders, so that we can have good leaders, leaders with care, not leaders that we love and run after, but leases that know our problems and challenges and God will give them the wisdom and responses, empathy and sympathy to bequeath projects and programs that will benefit us.” In his remarks, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi State, Rev Dr Abraham Damina Dimeus commended the Governor for his all encompassing style of leadership that has taken care of all segments of the state. The CAN Chairman particularly commemded the Governor for his unbiased leadership that has ensured that every religion got its own share of dividends of democracy which he said is what democracy is all about. “If we, Christians in the State will not appreciate what you have done, doing presently and will do for us again, I don’t know what else we want.” “We were not expecting anything for the Christmas considering the economic downturn in the country but you surprised us with bulls, rice, oils, and other items. We are indeed grateful to you.” he said The CAN Chairman reiterated that the Christian Community will continue to be supportive of the administration in whatever capacity stressing that,”Our own is for peace to reign in the state.”
This week, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, a vocal advocate for privacy rights and transparency, joined forces with a bipartisan coalition to demand a thorough investigation into the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) use of facial recognition technology, signaling that the long contentious debate over the increasing use of facial recognition technology at airport security checkpoints isn’t going to cool down anytime soon. The bipartisan group sent a to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari. Their message was clear: TSA’s rollout of biometric systems raises serious concerns about accuracy, necessity, and the potential erosion of passenger privacy. Merkley’s campaign against TSA’s facial recognition efforts has garnered the support of five Democrats, five Republicans, and one Independent from across the political spectrum to push back against what they see to be an overreach of federal power. The coalition reflects a widespread unease in Congress over TSA’s without sufficient oversight or safeguards. Each of the Senators who signed the letter have advocated for a cautious and regulated approach to the government’s use of biometric technologies, emphasizing the protection of privacy and civil liberties. “We ... urge you to conduct thorough oversight of TSA’s use of facial recognition technology for passenger verification from both an authorities and privacy perspective,” the Senators said in their November 20 letter to Cuffari. “This technology will soon be in use at hundreds of major and mid-size airports without an independent evaluation of the technology’s precision or an audit of whether there are sufficient safeguards in place to protect passenger privacy.” The Senators said, “this technology poses significant threats to our privacy and civil liberties, and Congress should prohibit TSA’s development and deployment of facial recognition tools until rigorous congressional oversight occurs.” The involvement of Senate Republicans shouldn’t come as a surprise. last week that Senate Republicans have increasingly emphasized the importance of individual privacy rights and informed consent in the context of biometric data collection, especially as the use of biometrics becomes more widespread. While Republicans – who will control the Senate when the new Congress convenes in January – have typically supported the use of biometrics for law enforcement and national security purposes, so long as such use is properly regulated and accountable, they’ve also been leery of how biometric data is and can be used by government agencies, particularly regarding civil liberties and the potential for abuse. TSA’s facial recognition program has been steadily expanding, with plans to introduce next-generation credential authentication technology (CAT) equipped with facial recognition capabilities to over 430 airports nationwide. TSA touts these systems as tools to enhance security, streamline passenger verification, and reduce wait times. Yet, the Senators’ letter highlights a critical issue: TSA has failed to demonstrate that facial recognition is necessary when existing non-biometric systems, such as CAT-1 scanners, can already detect fraudulent identification. Moreover, the technology’s accuracy remains questionable, the Senators said, noting that TSA data reputedly shows a 3 percent false negative rate in identity capture. When applied to the 2.3 million travelers passing through airports daily, this rate could result in nearly 70,000 discrepancies every day. “TSA has not provided Congress with evidence that facial recognition technology is necessary to catch fraudulent documents, decrease wait times at security checkpoints, or stop terrorists from boarding airplanes,” the Senators said, adding that “facial recognition would also fail to stop the hundreds of people who reportedly bypass security checkpoints in a given year.” Merkley and his colleagues say they are concerned about potential privacy issues with the program. Critics warn that these systems could evolve into one of the largest federal surveillance databases, a prospect that Merkley says he finds deeply troubling. “If this becomes mandatory,” Merkley warns, “the TSA’s program could transform overnight into a sweeping surveillance apparatus without the authorization of Congress.” TSA claims that its facial recognition program is optional, but evidence has emerged that suggests otherwise. There are anecdotal reports from travelers who describe intimidating encounters with Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) when attempting to opt out. Travelers have recounted being pressured or misled into compliance, with TSOs sometimes claiming that opting out would lead to significant delays. Meanwhile, signage explaining the opt-out option is often poorly displayed or hidden, leaving passengers unaware of their rights. “While TSA claims facial recognition is optional,” the Senators said in their letter, “it is confusing and intimidating to opt out of TSA’s facial recognition scans, and our offices have received numerous anecdotal reports of TSOs becoming belligerent when a traveler asks to opt out, or simply being unaware of that right.” The Senators further said that “signage directing passengers to follow officer instructions and step in front of the facial recognition camera is prominently displays, while the signage for opting out is often strategically placed in inconspicuous locations, making it challenging to read and locate. TSOs are inconsistently trained on how to respond to passengers who request to pt out and have told passengers they will face delays for opting out.” These tactics have not gone unnoticed by Merkley, who said he personally opted out of the program during a flight from Washington, D.C. to Portland, Oregon, his home state. Merkley said his firsthand experience, combined with numerous constituent complaints, underscores systemic flaws in the program’s implementation. “Privacy cannot be an afterthought,” Merkley said in a statement. “It must be a fundamental consideration, especially when dealing with sensitive biometric data.” “Additionally, despite promising lawmakers and the public that this technology is not mandatory, TSA has stated its intent to expand this technology beyond the security checkpoint and make it mandatory in the future,” Merkley said, noting that “in April 2023, TSA Administrator [David] Pekoske admitted at the South by Southwest Conference that ‘we will get to the point where we will require biometrics across the board.’ If that happens, this program could become one of the largest federal surveillance databases overnight without authorization from Congress.” Such comments have only fueled bipartisan skepticism. Merkley and his colleagues argue that Congress has not authorized such sweeping changes to passenger verification protocols, and they demand a full audit of the program’s implications before it becomes the default at airports nationwide. For Merkley, this fight is far from new. He has consistently championed privacy rights in the face of expanding surveillance technologies. Earlier this year, he led a bipartisan effort to include privacy safeguards in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act which became law in May. He also introduced the which is aimed at restricting TSA’s use of facial recognition at airports and has bipartisan support. The bill has been bottled up in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Merkley’s advocacy resonates with Americans concerned about the growing encroachment of surveillance in public spaces, a fear that many Republicans share. While proponents of facial recognition argue that the technology enhances security, opponents contend that it sets a dangerous precedent. They warn of a future where constant monitoring becomes normalized, eroding the expectation of privacy in everyday life. The senators’ letter calls for a thorough investigation into TSA’s use of facial recognition technology, urging Inspector General Cuffari to examine its accuracy, necessity, and compliance with privacy standards. They also stress the need for transparency in how the TSA plans to handle the vast amounts of biometric data it collects. Will this data be stored securely? Who will have access to it? And what safeguards are in place to prevent misuse? As the holiday travel season reaches its peak, the debate over TSA’s facial recognition program takes on new urgency. Millions of Americans will pass through security checkpoints, many of them unknowingly subject to biometric scans. For lawmakers like Merkley, this moment represents a critical juncture, and a chance to shape the policies governing biometric technology before its widespread adoption becomes irreversible. At its core, the fight against TSA’s facial recognition program is about accountability. Merkley and his bipartisan allies are calling on the federal government to pause, evaluate, and justify its actions. They argue that any program with such far-reaching implications must be subject to rigorous scrutiny, not only to protect privacy, but also to uphold public trust. “Security and privacy are not mutually exclusive. We can protect our skies without compromising the rights of those who travel beneath them,” Merkley said. “Whether the TSA will heed this call for restraint and transparency remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the debate over facial recognition technology is far from over. Meanwhile, Pekoske has indicated he wants to stay on as TSA Administrator under President Donald Trump, at least until his term as administrator ends in 2027. It was Trump who nominated Pekoske to head TSA during Trump’s first term as president. “It’s important for continuity in TSA to run the second term to its conclusion,” Pekoske said. | | | | |It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history — one that experts say could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success: keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia's new law, approved by its Parliament last week, is an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. And like efforts of the past to protect kids from things that parents believe they're not ready for, the nation's move is both ambitious and not exactly simple, particularly in a world where young people are often shaped, defined and judged by the online company they keep. The ban won't go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That's not clear, nor will it be easy. TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram have become so ingrained in young people's lives that going cold turkey will be difficult. Other questions loom. Does the ban limit kids' free expression and — especially for those in vulnerable groups — isolate them and curtail their opportunity to connect with members of their community? And how will social sites verify people's ages, anyway? Can't kids just get around such technicalities, as they so often do? This is, after all, the 21st century — an era when social media is the primary communications tool for most of those born in the past 25 years who, in a fragmented world, seek the common cultures of trends, music and memes. What happens when big swaths of that fall away? Is Australia's initiative a good, long-time-coming development that will protect the vulnerable, or could it become a well-meaning experiment with unintended consequences? The law will make platforms including TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and Instagram liable for fines of up to A$50 million ($33 million) for systemic failures to prevent children younger than 16 from holding accounts. “It’s clear that social media companies have to be held accountable, which is what Australia is trying to do,” said Jim Steyer, president and CEO of the nonprofit Common Sense Media. Other countries watching Australia Leaders and parents in countries around the world are watching Australia’s policy closely as many seek to protect young kids from the internet's dangerous corners — and, not incidentally, from each other. Most nations have taken different routes, from parental consent requirements to minimum age limits. Many child safety experts, parents and even teens who have waited to get on social media consider Australia's move a positive step. They say there’s ample reason to ensure that children wait. “What’s most important for kids, just like adults, is real human connection. Less time alone on the screen means more time to connect, not less," said Julie Scelfo, the founder of Mothers Against Media Addiction, or MAMA, a grassroots group of parents aimed at combatting the harms of social media to children. “I’m confident we can support our kids in interacting in any number of ways aside from sharing the latest meme.” The harms to children from social media have been well documented in the two decades since Facebook’s launch ushered in a new era in how the world communicates. Kids who spend more time on social media, especially when they are tweens or young teenagers, are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, according to multiple studies — though it is not yet clear if there is a causal relationship. What's more, many are exposed to content that is not appropriate for their age, including pornography and violence, as well as social pressures about body image and makeup. They also face bullying, sexual harassment and unwanted advances from their peers as well as adult strangers. Because their brains are not fully developed, teenagers, especially younger ones the law is focused on, are also more affected by social comparisons than adults, so even happy posts from friends can send them into a negative spiral. Many major initiatives, particularly those aimed at social engineering, can produce side effects — often unintended. Could that happen here? What, if anything, do kids stand to lose by separating kids and the networks in which they participate? Paul Taske, associate director of litigation at the tech lobbying group NetChoice, says he considers the ban “one of the most extreme violations of free speech on the world stage today" even as he expressed relief that the First Amendment prevents such law in the United States "These restrictions would create a massive cultural shift,” Taske said. “Not only is the Australian government preventing young people from engaging with issues they’re passionate about, but they’re also doing so even if their parents are OK with them using digital services," he said. "Parents know their children and their needs the best, and they should be making these decisions for their families — not big government. That kind of forcible control over families inevitably will have downstream cultural impacts.” David Inserra, a fellow for Free Expression and Technology, Cato Institute, called the bill “about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike” in a recent blog post. While Australia's law doesn't require “hard verification” such as an uploaded ID, he said, it calls for effective “age-assurance” that includes an array of ways companies can estimate someone's age. He said no verification system can ensure accuracy while also protecting privacy and not impacting adults in the process. Privacy advocates have also raised concerns about the law's effect on online anonymity, a cornerstone of online communications — and something that can protect teens on social platforms. “Whether it be religious minorities and dissidents, LGBTQ youth, those in abusive situations, whistleblowers, or countless other speakers in tricky situations, anonymous speech is a critical tool to safely challenge authority and express controversial opinions,” Inserra said. “But if every user of online platforms must first identify themselves, then their anonymity is at risk.” Parents in Britain and across Europe earlier this year organized on platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram to promise not to buy smartphones for children younger than 12 or 13. This approach costs almost no money and requires no government enforcement. In the United States, some parents are keeping kids off social media either informally or as part of an organized campaign such as Wait Until 8th, a group that helps parents delay kids' access to social media and phones. This fall, Norway announced plans to ban kids under 15 from using social media, while France is testing a smartphone ban for kids under 15 in a limited number of schools — a policy that could be rolled out nationwide if successful. U.S. lawmakers have held multiple congressional hearings — most recently in January — on child online safety. Still, the last federal law aimed at protecting children online was enacted in 1998, six years before Facebook’s founding. In July, the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable. But the Kids Online Safety Act has since stalled in the House. While several states have passed laws requiring age verification, those are stuck in court. Utah became the first state to pass laws regulating children’s social media use in 2023. In September, a judge issued the preliminary injunction against the law, which would have required social media companies to verify the ages of users, apply privacy settings and limit some features. NetChoice has also obtained injunctions temporarily halting similar laws in several other states. And last May, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said there is insufficient evidence to show social media is safe for kids. He urged policymakers to address the harms of social media the same way they regulate things like car seats, baby formula, medication and other products children use. Said Scelfo: “Why should social media products be any different? Kids may try to get around the restrictions — just like they do for alcohol, tobacco or drugs — but nobody is saying that because they try, we should give them unfettered access to them. Parents cannot possibly bear the entire responsibility of keeping children safe online, because the problems are baked into the design of the products. And so we need policies that hold Big Tech accountable for ensuring their products are safe.” Associated Press Writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this story.
SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is “alert” and conscious after being taken off the field on a stretcher during the team's 1-0 win at Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday, manager Julen Lopetegui said. The game was delayed for around eight minutes as Fabianski received treatment on the field at St Mary's Stadium. The 39-year-old Polish goalkeeper was hurt in a collision from a corner and was replaced by Alphonse Areola in the 36th minute. Southampton 'keeper Aaron Ramsdale had run the length of the field to check on Fabianski amid worrying scenes. Fabianski was then greeted by applause as he was taken off with an oxygen mask on, but did not need to go to the hospital. “He had one big knock around the head, around the neck and he was not very sure about his actions. Fortunately the news is he is talking, he is alert, he is conscious,” Lopetegui said. “I talk with him. The doctors say that he feels better and well. I am positive with him. He showed he more or less recovered his sense. I am not afraid. We feared but now he is better and it is a positive feeling because we were very worried.” West Ham, which also saw defender Max Kilman go off in the first half, scored through Jarrod Bowen in the 59th. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer The Associated Press
Expedition 71 Astronauts to Discuss Mission in NASA Welcome Home EventOG Anunoby has emerged as a emerged as a scorer for the New York Knicks this season, regularly putting up big point totals for the NBA's No. 1 offense. His biggest problem? He can't stop stealing the microphone. "Stop grabbing the mic!" KAT yelled at OG for grabbing the mic this time pic.twitter.com/9wC3h4xhoT Anunoby scored 25 points in the Knicks 125-101 win over the Charlotte Hornets, which earned him a postgame interview. And as has become his habit, Anunoby took the microphone out of sideline reporter Alan Hahn's hands before giving his answer. Karl-Anthony Towns had seen this too many times. He crashed the interview, yelling, "Stop grabbing the mic!" to his teammate, having seen him snatch the microphone away from unwary reporters far too many times in the past. Ten days after the trade that sent Anunoby to New York from the Toronto Raptors, the newest Knick scored 23 points and his team beat the Portland Trail Blazers. Anunoby got the star interview and proceeded to snatch the microphone away from reporter Rebecca Haarlow. OG Anunoby on the @nyknicks team chemistry coming together on offense and defense in this 5 game winning streak. #NewYorkForever | @RebeccaHaarlow pic.twitter.com/35dAVp85Hp On Nov. 17, Anunoby scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds and played "a whole lot of defense" in a win over the Brooklyn Nets. After the game, he snatched the mic away again, from Hahn, Haarlow's replacement. Full OG Anunoby postgame interview with MSG and he cant help but to grab the mic again pic.twitter.com/tVow4YA3pF Perhaps it's second nature. Anunoby is leading the Knicks with 1.5 steals this season. He led the entire NBA in swipes in the 2022-23 season with 1.9 steals per game. He might be so focused on defense that he can't help but go for the steal when a reporter doesn't protect the microphone. Or he's unused to being the star. Anunoby is one of the NBA's best defenders, but only this season has he really started pouring in the points. He scored a career-high 40 points on Nov. 25, part of a career-high scoring average of 17.7 points. The Knicks have a 120 offensive rating when Anunoby is on the court. But even though he's made the All-Defensive team, it's not usually the ace defenders who get the postgame press. That's changed this season. The Knicks would love it if Anunoby kept up his star-level performances. But the broadcast media and Towns would prefer he stop stealing their equipment.
NEW YORK (AP) — Technology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid a mixed Monday of trading. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% from its all-time high set on Friday to post a record for the 54th time this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared 28.7% to lead the market. Following allegations of misconduct and the resignation of its public auditor , the maker of servers used in artificial-intelligence technology said an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or by the company’s board. It also said that it doesn’t expect to restate its past financials and that it will find a new chief financial officer, appoint a general counsel and make other moves to strengthen its governance. Big Tech stocks also helped prop up the market. Gains of 1.8% for Microsoft and 3.2% for Meta Platforms were the two strongest forces pushing upward on the S&P 500. Intel was another propellant during the morning, but it lost an early gain to fall 0.5% after the chip company said CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired and stepped down from the board. Intel is looking for Gelsinger’s replacement, and its chair said it’s “committed to restoring investor confidence.” Intel recently lost its spot in the Dow Jones Industrial Average to Nvidia, which has skyrocketed in Wall Street’s frenzy around AI. Stellantis, meanwhile, skidded following the announcement of its CEO’s departure . Carlos Tavares steps down after nearly four years in the top spot of the automaker, which owns car brands like Jeep, Citroën and Ram, amid an ongoing struggle with slumping sales and an inventory backlog at dealerships. The world’s fourth-largest automaker’s stock fell 6.3% in Milan. The majority of stocks in the S&P 500 likewise fell, including California utility PG&E. It dropped 5% after saying it would sell $2.4 billion of stock and preferred shares to raise cash. Retailers were mixed amid what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record and coming off Black Friday . Target, which recently gave a forecast for the holiday season that left investors discouraged , fell 1.2%. Walmart , which gave a more optimistic forecast, rose 0.2%. Amazon, which looks to benefit from online sales from Cyber Monday, climbed 1.4%. All told, the S&P 500 added 14.77 points to 6,047.15. The Dow fell 128.65 to 44,782.00, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 185.78 to 19,403.95. The stock market largely took Donald Trump’s latest threat on tariffs in stride. The president-elect on Saturday threatened 100% tariffs against a group of developing economies if they act to undermine the U.S. dollar. Trump said he wants the group, headlined by Brazil, Russia, India and China, to promise it won’t create a new currency or otherwise try to undercut the U.S. dollar. The dollar has long been the currency of choice for global trade. Speculation has also been around a long time that other currencies could knock it off its mantle, but no contender has come close. The U.S. dollar’s value rose Monday against several other currencies, but one of its strongest moves likely had less to do with the tariff threats. The euro fell amid a political battle in Paris over the French government’s budget . The euro sank 0.7% against the U.S. dollar and broke below $1.05. In the bond market, Treasury yields gave up early gains to hold relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed above 4.23% during the morning before falling back to 4.19%. That was just above its level of 4.18% late Friday. A report in the morning showed the U.S. manufacturing sector contracted again last month, but not by as much as economists expected. This upcoming week will bring several big updates on the job market, including the October job openings report, weekly unemployment benefits data and the all-important November jobs report. They could steer the next moves for Federal Reserve, which recently began pulling interest rates lower to give support to the economy. Economists expect Friday’s headliner report to show U.S. employers accelerated their hiring in November, coming off October’s lackluster growth that was hampered by damaging hurricanes and strikes. “We now find ourselves in the middle of this Goldilocks zone, where economic health supports earnings growth while remaining weak enough to justify potential Fed rate cuts,” according to Mark Hackett, chief of investment research at Nationwide. In financial markets abroad, Chinese stocks led gains worldwide as monthly surveys showed improving conditions for manufacturing, partly driven by a surge in orders ahead of Trump’s inauguration next month. Both official and private sector surveys of factory managers showed strong new orders and export orders, possibly partly linked to efforts by importers in the U.S. to beat potential tariff hikes by Trump once he takes office. Indexes rose 0.7% in Hong Kong and 1.1% in Shanghai. AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.Las Vegas (3-12) at New Orleans (5-10) Sunday, 1 p.m. EST, Fox BetMGM NFL odds: Raiders by 1 Against the spread: Raiders 6-9; Saints 6-9 Series record: Tied 7-7-1 Last meeting: Saints beat Raiders 24-0 on Oct. 30, 2023, at New Orleans. Last week: Raiders beat Jaguars 19-14 ; Saints lost to Packers 34-0 . Raiders offense: overall (28), rush (32), pass (14), scoring (29) Raiders defense: overall (12), rush (13), pass (9), scoring (27) Saints offense: overall (19), rush (13), pass (23), scoring (22) Saints defense: overall (30), rush (30), pass (28), scoring (T17) Turnover differential: Raiders minus-17; Saints minus-1 After his 11 catches for 99 yards last week, rookie tight end Brock Bowers has a team-leading 101 catches for a team-high 1,067 yards and four TDs. As one of few healthy skill players left on New Orleans' offense, tight end Juwan Johnson has become more prominent in the game plan. The former Penn State and Oregon receiver, who was converted to a tight end during his third NFL season (2022), now ranks second on the club in catches this season with 38 and yards receiving with 402, while his three TD catches are tied for third on the team. Bowers will test New Orleans' coverage scheme. Those Saints responsible for containing Bowers could include linebackers Demario Davis and Peter Werner, as well as safeties Will Harris and Tyrann Mathieu. Raiders guard Jordan Meredith (ankle), linebacker Kana'I Mauga (calf) and guard Jackson Powers-Jordan (quadriceps/ankle) were all listed on Las Vegas' injury report this week. The Saints listed nine players on their injury report this week, including QB Derek Carr (left hand), running back Alvin Kamara (groin), center Erik McCoy (elbow) and guard Lucas Patrick (knee), who all missed practice time. Those limited at practice this week included defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd (eye), defensive end Payton Turner (ankle), receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest) and Johnson ( foot). The Raiders have won two of the past three, while the Saints have won four of the past six. The teams have met eight times previously in New Orleans, with the Saints winning four and the Raiders winning three. The clubs' first ever meeting was a 21-all tie in New Orleans in 1971 at the old Tulane Stadium. Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell completed 24 of 38 passes (63.2 percent) for 257 yards without an interception last week. He has not thrown an interception in three of his past four games. ... Bowers last week became the second rookie in NFL history (joining Odell Beckham Jr.) and the third TE ever (joining Zach Ertz and Evan Engram) with 10 or more catches in four games in a season. Bowers’ 1,067 yards receiving leads all NFL tight ends this season and he needs just 10 more yards to surpass Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,076 in 1961) for the most by rookie TE. ... Veteran RB Ameer Abdullah had season-high 85 scrimmage yards (47 receiving, 38 rushing) and a TD rushing last week, giving him a TD in two straight games. He needs 75 scrimmage yards for his third season with 500 (along with 2015 and 2017). ... RB Alexander Mattison had 56 scrimmage yards and a TD rushing in Week 16. He caught a TD pass in his only career game in New Orleans, when he was with Minnesota in 2022. ... DT Adam Butler has a tackle for loss in five of his past six games and at least half a sack in three of his past four. ... DE K’lavon Chaisson had a sack last week, giving him a tackle for loss in four straight games. ... S Isaiah Pola-Mao had nine tackles and the first two forced fumbles of his career last week. ... Saints rookie QB Spencer Rattler passed for 153 yards and rushed for 28 yards in Week 16, but also was intercepted and lost a fumble. He is 0-4 as an NFL starter. ... Versatile veteran RB Alvin Kamara, who hopes to return from a groin injury before this season ends, needs 7 scrimmage yards for his fourth 1,500-yard season and needs 50 yards rushing for his first 1,000-yard rushing season. ... WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a TD catch in three of his past four home games. TE Foster Moreau had 91 catches, 1,107 yards receiving and 12 TD catches in 61 games with the Raiders from 2019 to 2022. Moreau has 25 catches for 335 yards and four TDs this season. ... DE Cameron Jordan has a tackle for loss in each of his past two games. ... DE Carl Granderson has sack in two of his past three home games. ... DT Khalen Saunders had career-high two passes defensed and a tackle for loss last week. ... DT Bryan Bresee, a 2023 first-round draft choice out of Clemson, has a career-best 7 1/2 sacks in 2024. ... DE Chase Young has at least half a sack and a tackle for loss in three of his past four home games. ... LB Demario Davis has 114 tackles in 2024 and is one of three players (along with Eric Kendricks and Bobby Wagner) with 100 or more tackles in each of the past eight seasons. ... S Tyrann Mathieu has 99 passes defensed. He's intercepted a pass in each of his past two games against the Raiders. Bowers is a good bet to have another big game against a defense that ranks 28th in the NFL against the pass. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies aged 92Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Liberal frontbencher James Paterson has refused to deny he was gagged by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton from speaking on behalf of an ill Labor MP at the burnt-out Melbourne synagogue, in an escalation of the political scrapping over rising antisemitism. Mr Dutton on Monday accused Labor’s Josh Burns, who is Jewish and who holds the marginal seat of Macnamara where the Ripponlea synagogue is located, of failing to stand up on behalf of Jewish Australians. Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Latest In Middle East Fetching latest articles Most Viewed In World
A Story of Humanity, Heroism and Forgotten History Opens at Laemmle Monica Center Nov 22-28 to Qualify LOS ANGELES , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sinking of The Lisbon Maru , directed by Fang Li, had its North American Premiere at the Asian World Film Festival on November 18, 2024 , where it screened to a packed theatre and received an enthusiastic response from the audience. The feature documentary " The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" begins its Oscar® qualifying run at the Laemmle Monica Film Center in Santa Monica on Friday, Nov 22 – 28. While filming on Dongji Island, Director Fang Li heard a story of the sinking of the Japanese freighter the Lisbon Maru. Wondering why this story was unknown he set out to find the ship's final resting place. This was a second world war story that had been swept under the carpet, the men who perished mostly forgotten. Fang could not shake the thought that the young men who drowned could have been his children. He knew he had to bring their story and memory to life. "As I learned more about the Lisbon Maru , I realized it was more than a forgotten tragedy—it is a story about courage and how strong we can be even when facing the unimaginable. Bringing this story to life is my way of honoring the young men who died and making sure that their bravery and that of the Chinese fishermen will not be forgotten," Director Fang Li stated. SYNOPSIS : On Oct 2, 1942 , the Japanese freighter Lisbon Maru , carrying 1,816 British POWs, was spotted off the coast of China by a U.S. submarine. Normally avoiding civilian freighters, the submarine crew saw armed Japanese troops on deck and fired a torpedo, unaware of the prisoners locked in the ship's three holds. As the ship began to sink, Japanese troops covered the holds with planks and canvas, trapping the POWs. Some prisoners managed to break free and jumped overboard, but many drowned or were shot by Japanese soldiers. Shortly afterwards, a Japanese Navy vessel arrived and evacuated the soldiers, leaving the remaining POWs as the freighter sunk. Braving gunfire, fishermen from Zhoushan Island launched their boats and rescued 384 survivors, while 828 perished. Later, the Japanese military arrived in Zhoushan to retrieve the POWs and transport them to Japanese camps. ABOUT FANG LI . PRODUCER / DIRECTOR Fang Li, producer/director of The Sinking of Lisbon Mary, has the right background and tools to bring this story to the screen. Fascinated by what goes on beneath the waves and over them, he has worked in geophysical exploration, marine survey and has been in the underwater intervention equipment for more than 30 years. Since 2010 he has been a designer of autonomous surface vehicles and remotely operated vehicles. This is his first film as a director. However, as an independent producer and writer in China he has made 15 films since 2000. He holds a BS degree in applied geophysics from East China University of Technology and an MBA from Wake Forest University . Press Contact: Rick Markovitz Weissman/Markovitz Communications 818-760-8995 [email protected] SOURCE Fang LiNone
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Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, representatives of the military-industrial complex and developers of missile systems at the Kremlin in Moscow. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. People are also reading... Margaret Atwood OSU event altered over threats The real reason Corvallis' Pastega Lights moved to Linn County Bomb cyclone, flood risk in Benton County this week OSU women's basketball: An early look at this edition of the Beavers Albany's Joel Dahl pleads guilty to sex crime involving minor Tree farm fiasco has Corvallis homelessness under microscope Strike over: Benton County, union reach tentative deal OSU football: Beavers' season hits a new low in loss at Air Force What's available from Benton County services as strike nears Week 2 Sweet Home man sentenced for crash that injured his daughter In trying to flee, suspect accused of driving over Albany police officer American flag thrown by driver fleeing Benton County deputies OSU football: It's time to look ahead to next year Albany dog badly hurt, possibly shot, during brief escape Tensions rise, as Albany strike enters second week Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” In this photo taken from a video released Friday, a Russian serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speaks to journalists Friday during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. From tuberculosis to heart disease: How the leading causes of death in America have changed From tuberculosis to heart disease: How the leading causes of death in America have changed We're all going to die someday. Still, how it happens—and when—can point to a historical moment defined by the scientific advancements and public health programs available at the time to contain disease and prevent accidents. In the early 1900s, America's efforts to improve sanitation, hygiene, and routine vaccinations were still in their infancy. Maternal and infant mortality rates were high, as were contagious diseases that spread between people and animals. Combined with the devastation of two World Wars—and the Spanish Flu pandemic in between—the leading causes of death changed significantly after this period. So, too, did the way we diagnose and control the spread of disease. Starting with reforms as part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, massive-scale, federal interventions in the U.S. eventually helped stave off disease transmission. It took comprehensive government programs and the establishment of state and local health agencies to educate the public on preventing disease transmission. Seemingly simple behavioral shifts, such as handwashing, were critical in thwarting the spread of germs, much like discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines, and increased access to deliver them across geographies. Over the course of the 20th century, life expectancy increased by 56% and is estimated to keep increasing slightly, according to an annual summary of vital statistics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000. Death Records examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see how the leading causes of death in America have evolved over time and to pinpoint how some major mortality trends have dropped off. Infectious diseases lead causes of death in America According to a report published in the journal Annual Review of Public Health in 2000, pneumonia was the leading cause of death in the early 1900s, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 deaths. By the time World War I ended in 1918, during which people and animals were housed together for long periods, a new virus emerged: the Spanish Flu. Originating in a bird before spreading to humans, the virus killed 10 times as many Americans as the war. Many died of secondary pneumonia after the initial infection. Pneumonia deaths eventually plummeted throughout the century, partly prevented by increased flu vaccine uptake rates in high-risk groups, particularly older people. Per the CDC, tuberculosis was a close second leading cause of death, killing 194 of every 10,000 people in 1900, mainly concentrated in dense urban areas where the infection could more easily spread. Eventually, public health interventions led to drastic declines in mortality from the disease, such as public education, reducing crowded housing, quarantining people with active disease, improving hygiene, and using antibiotics. Once the death rates lagged, so did the public health infrastructure built to control the disease, leading to a resurgence in the mid-1980s. Diarrhea was the third leading cause of death in 1900, surging every summer among children before the impacts of the pathogen died out in 1930. Adopting water filtration, better nutrition, and improved refrigeration were all associated with its decline. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks killed or paralyzed upward of half a million people worldwide every year. Even at its peak, polio wasn't a leading cause of death, it was a much-feared one, particularly among parents of young children, some of whom kept them from crowded public places and interacting with other children. By 1955, when Jonah Salk discovered the polio vaccine, the U.S. had ended the "golden age of medicine." During this period, the causes of mortality shifted dramatically as scientists worldwide began to collaborate on infectious disease control, surgical techniques, vaccines, and other drugs. Leading causes of death tip toward lifestyle-related disease From the 1950s onward, once quick-spreading deadly contagions weren't prematurely killing American residents en masse, scientists also began to understand better how to diagnose and treat these diseases. As a result, Americans were living longer lives and instead succumbing to noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The risk of chronic diseases increased with age and, in some cases, was exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Cancer and heart disease shot up across the century, increasing 90-fold from 1900 to 1998, according to CDC data. Following the post-Spanish Flu years, heart disease killed more Americans than any other cause, peaking in the 1960s and contributing to 1 in 3 deaths. Cigarette smoking rates peaked at the same time, a major risk factor for heart disease. Obesity rates also rose, creating another risk factor for heart disease and many types of cancers. This coincides with the introduction of ultra-processed foods into diets, which plays a more significant role in larger waistlines than the increasing predominance of sedentary work and lifestyles. In the early 1970s, deaths from heart disease began to fall as more Americans prevented and managed their risk factors, like quitting smoking or taking blood pressure medicine. However, the disease remains the biggest killer of Americans. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death and rates still indicate an upward trajectory over time. Only a few types of cancer are detected early by screening, and some treatments for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma—the most common type of brain cancer—have also stalled, unable to improve prognosis much over time. In recent years, early-onset cancers, those diagnosed before age 50 or sometimes even earlier, have seen a drastic rise among younger Americans. While highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyles may contribute to rising rates, a spike in cancer rates among otherwise healthy young individuals has baffled some medical professionals. This follows the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. At its peak, high transmission rates made the virus the third leading cause of death in America. It's often compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, though COVID-19 had a far larger global impact, spurring international collaborations among scientists who developed a vaccine in an unprecedented time. Public policy around issues of safety and access also influences causes of death, particularly—and tragically—among young Americans. Gun control measures in the U.S. are far less stringent than in peer nations; compared to other nations, however, the U.S. leads in gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (around 2 in 3 are homicides, and 1 in 3 are suicides), and deaths from opioids remain a leading cause of death among younger people. Globally, the leading causes of death mirror differences in social and geographic factors. NCDs are primarily associated with socio-economic status and comprise 7 out of 10 leading causes of death, 85% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, one of the best health measures is life expectancy at birth. People in the U.S. have been living longer lives since 2000, except for a slight dip in longevity due to COVID-19. According to the most recent CDC estimates, Americans' life expectancy is 77.5 years on average and is expected to increase slightly in the coming decades. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Death Records and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!