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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. 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. 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. 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. 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!
Gretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Beans are kind of like the your best friend from high school — nearly forgotten but always ready to step back into the limelight and help out an old pal when needed. As gorgeously (and tantalizingly) demonstrated in Rancho Gordo’s new cookbook, “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” (Ten Speed, $35), beans are indeed a magical fruit, though not in the way you heard as a kid. Classified as both a vegetable and a plant-based protein in the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, beans and other legumes can be the ingredient you build an entire vegetarian or veggie-forward meal around. Or, they can help an economical cook stretch a dish twice as far with nutritious calories. A healthful and shelf-staple plant food — they last for years when dried — beans have been among a home cook’s most reliable pantry items for a very long time. (Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) are thought to have been grown in Mexico more than 7,000 years ago.) That’s why, for some, they’re often something of an afterthought, especially if the only time you ate them as a kid was when your mom tossed kidney beans into a pot of beef chili or made baked beans (with brown sugar and bacon, please!) for a family cookout. Related Articles Restaurants Food and Drink | Do not wash your turkey and other Thanksgiving tips to keep your food safe Restaurants Food and Drink | Frying a turkey this Thanksgiving? Here are some tips to stay safe Restaurants Food and Drink | 5 budget-friendly Thanksgiving dinner ideas Restaurants Food and Drink | The future of Thanksgiving is takeout and hosts couldn’t be happier Restaurants Food and Drink | A starry Thanksgiving: Recipes beloved by Donna Kelce, Eric Stonestreet, Taylor Swift Vegetarians have always appreciated their versatility and nutritional punch, and because they’re cheap, they also were quite popular during the Great Depression and World War II as C rations. Sales also peaked during the coronavirus pandemic, when shoppers stockpiled long-lasting pantry essentials. It wasn’t until Rancho Gordo, a California-based bean company, trotted out its branded packages of colorful heirloom beans that the plant began to take on cult status among some shoppers. Unlike the bean varieties commonly found in even the smallest grocery stores, heirloom beans are mostly forgotten varieties that were developed on a small scale for certain characteristics, with seeds from the best crops passed down through the generations. The result is beans that are fresher and more colorful than mass-produced beans, and come in different shapes and sizes. They also have a more complex and intense flavor, fans say. “The Bean Book” dishes up dozens of different ways to cook Rancho Gordo’s 50 heirloom bean varieties, which include red-streaked cranberry beans, mint-green flageolets, black and classic garbanzos and (my favorite) vaquero — which wear the same black-and-white spots as a Holstein cow. Other gotta-try varieties (if just for the name) include eye of the goat, European Soldier, Jacob’s Cattle and Good Mother Stallard, a purple bean with cream-colored flecks. “The very good news is that you have to work extra hard to mess up a pot of beans, and it’s not difficult to make an excellent pot,” Steve Sando writes in the book’s foreword. “The even better news is that you become a better cook with each pot you make.” Not convinced? Here are five reasons to jump on the bean bandwagon: They’re easy to find Even the smallest grocery store will have a selection of dried and canned beans. Common varieties include black, cannellini (white kidney), Great Northern, pinto, navy, kidney, Lima and garbanzo (chickpea) beans. They’re affordable Even when they’re not on sale, beans are a bargain at the supermarket. Many varieties cost less than $1 a can, and dried beans are an economical way to build a menu. I paid $1.25 for a one-pound bag of cranberry beans, a smooth and velvety bean with a slightly nutty flavor, at my local grocery store. Rancho Gordo’s heirloom beans cost substantially more. (They run $6.25-$7.50 for a one-pound bag, with free shipping on orders over $50.) But they are sold within a year of harvest, which makes them more flavorful and tender. A bag also comes with cooking instructions and recipe suggestions, and the quality is outstanding. Plus, after cooking their beans with aromatics, “you are left with essentially free soup,” Sando writes in the cookbook. “If you drain properly cooked and seasoned beans, the liquid you are left with is delicious.” They’re nutritious Beans are a great source of plant-based protein and both soluble and insoluble fiber, and they include essential minerals like iron, magnesium and potassium. If you’re watching your weight or following a particular diet, beans are naturally free of fat, sodium and cholesterol and are rich in complex carbohydrates. They also contain antioxidants and folate. And if you’re vegan or vegetarian, most types of dry beans are rich sources of iron. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends eating 1-3 cups of legumes, including beans, per week They’re a cinch to cook Dry beans have to be soaked overnight, but cooking them is easy. They can be cooked on the stovetop, in a slow cooker, in the pressure cooker and in the oven. Canned beans are even easier — just rinse and drain, and they’re ready to go. They’re versatile Beans can be used in so many different dishes. They can be made into soup, salad or dips, top nachos, add some heft to a casserole or be mashed into the makings of a veggie burger. You also can add them to brownies and other baked goods, toss them with pasta, add them to chili or a rice bowl or stuff them into a taco or burrito. Check out these four recipes: White Bean Soup with Shiitake Bacon PG tested This light and creamy vegetarian soup benefits from a surprising garnish, roasted shiitake mushrooms, which taste exactly like bacon. For soup 1/4 cup olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped 1 medium carrot, scrubbed and chopped 6 garlic cloves, finely grated or pressed 2 sprigs fresh thyme, plus more for garnish 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 4 cups vegetable broth 2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed For bacon 8 ounces shiitake mushrooms, caps cut into 1/8 -inch slices 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt To finish Plant-based milk Chili oil, for drizzling Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make soup: In large pot, heat oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add onion, celery, carrot, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are fragrant and tender, 8-10 minutes. Add vegetable stock and beans, increase heat to high and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until thickened, 12-14 minutes. Meanwhile, make the bacon: Spread shiitake mushrooms into a single layer on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and toss to combine. Bake until browned and crispy, 18-20 minutes, rotating pan front to back and tossing mushrooms with a spatula halfway through. Let cool in pan; mushrooms will continue to crisp as they cool. To finish, add some milk to the soup and use an immersion blender to puree it in the pot, or puree in a blender. (Cover lid with a clean kitchen towel.) Taste and season with more salt and pepper if needed. Divide soup among bowls and top with shiitake bacon. Garnish with thyme sprigs and a drizzle of chili oil. Serves 4-6. — “Mastering the Art of Plant-Based Cooking” by Joe Yonan Polenta with Cranberry Beans and Tomato Sauce PG tested Velvety cranberry beans simmered with tomato and the punch of red wine vinegar are a perfect match for a soft bed of cheesy polenta. This is a filling, stick-to-your-ribs dish perfect for fall. 1/4 cup olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups canned chopped tomatoes, juice reserved 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth 4 fresh sage leaves Salt and pepper 4 cups cooked Lamon or cranberry beans 2 cups uncooked polenta 6 ounces pancetta, diced Chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving In large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until onion begins to soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and red wine vinegar. In a small bowl, dissolve tomato paste in the broth and add to pan. Stir in sage and season with salt and pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened, 15-20 minutes. Add beans to tomato sauce. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare polenta according to package instructions. Place pancetta in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the pancetta is brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer pancetta to a paper towel to drain. To serve, spoon polenta into serving dishes. Ladle the beans over the polenta and top with the pancetta. Garnish with fresh basil and serve with grated Parmesan. Serves 6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans” by Steve Sando White Beans with Clams and Chorizo PG tested Beans and seafood might seen like an unusual pairing, but in this recipe, mild white beans take on a lot of flavor from clams. Spanish chorizo adds a nice contrast. 4 cups cooked white beans, bean broth reserved 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 white onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, chopped 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste 1/2 cup finely chopped Spanish-style cured chorizo 2 plum tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 pounds small clams, scrubbed well Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish Country-style bread and butter, for serving In large pot, heat beans in their broth over medium-low heat. In large lidded saucepan, warm olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onion, garlic and salt and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add chorizo and cook gently until some of the fat has rendered, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and wine and cook to allow the flavors to mingle, 5-6 minutes. Increase heat to medium and add clams. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally. Uncover the pan and cook until all of the clams open, another few minutes. Remove pan from heat, then remove and discard any clams that failed to open. Add clam mixture to the bean pot and stir very gently until well mixed. Simmer for a few minutes to allow the flavors to mingle but not get mushy. Ladle into large, shallow bowls and sprinkle with parsley. Set out a large bowl for discarded shells and encourage guests to eat with their fingers. Pass plenty of good bread and creamy butter at the table Serves 4-6. — “The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans, from the Rancho Gordo Kitchen” by Steve Sando with Julia Newberry White Bean Dip PG tested So easy to pull together for your next party! 1 1/2 cups cooked cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 small garlic clove, minced Generous pinch of salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 or 3 tablespoons water, if needed 2 fresh basil leaves, chopped, optional 1 sprig fresh rosemary, leaves chopped, optional In a food processor, pulse cannellini beans, olive oil, lemon juice and zest, garlic, salt and several grinds of pepper until combined. If it’s too thick, slowly add the water with the food processor running until it is smooth and creamy. Blend in the basil and/or rosemary, if using Serve with veggies, pita or bruschetta. Makes 1 1/2 cups — Gretchen McKay, Post-Gazette ©2024 PG Publishing Co. 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ORLANDO, Fla. — Tyler Herro hit a 19-foot jumper with 0.5 seconds left Thursday night to give the Miami Heat an 89-88 win over the Orlando Magic. Jalen Suggs, who scored 29 points for the Magic, missed a long jumper at the buzzer. Herro finished with 20 points to help the Heat come back from an early 17-point deficit and avenge a loss to the Magic last Friday in which they squandered a 22-point fourth-quarter lead. Alec Burks scored 11 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter for Miami, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 15 points. Tristan da Silva had 18 points and six rebounds for the Magic. Takeaways Heat: Playing a third straight game without Jimmy Butler, and five days after squandering a 25-point lead in Orlando, the Heat shot 15 for 30 on 3-pointers and made six in the fourth quarter. Magic: In the third of five straight home games, the Magic managed only 88 points after scoring 31 in the first quarter. They shot 5 for 29 from 3-point range, staying at the bottom of the NBA in that category. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra reacts to his team playing the Orlando Magic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday Dec. 26, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. Credit: AP/Kevin Kolczynski Key moment A tip-in by Goga Bitadze regained a one-point lead for the Magic with 4.9 seconds left, but they left just enough time for Herro to dribble to an open spot and hit the game-winning shot. Key stat The Heat fell behind 14-0 by committing five turnovers and missing their first five shots. But the Magic finished the game with 23 turnovers, including nine in the fourth quarter, to Miami's 21. Up Next Heat visit Atlanta on Saturday, and Magic host New York on Friday.
INVESTIGATION ALERT: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Announces Investigation e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. (NYSE: ELF) and Encourages Investors with Substantial Losses or Witnesses with Relevant Information to Contact the FirmNEW YORK (AP) — Millions displaced by global conflicts . Communities reeling from unseasonably strong natural disasters . Lives upended due to healthcare inequalities. In the middle of these crises are established nonprofits, everyday individuals and mutual aid groups — all seeking your dollars to make a difference. But with no shortage of worthy causes and the rise of new giving technologies, how should you donate? The choices can be immobilizing for those looking to open up their wallets. Many value conventional charities. But others — Gen Z and millennials, as well as the unmarried and less religious, according to 2021 research by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — like to crowdfund by pooling donations online for folks in dire circumstances. The approaches reflect differing assessments of impact and trustworthiness. But they aren't necessarily opposed. “It’s really: what is the right type of support that either an organization or a community or an individual needs?” said Bloomerang Chief Customer Officer Todd Baylis, who previously co-founded the platform Qgiv to help nonprofits fundraise online. "And being able to tailor that to the individual giver.” Here are some questions worth considering as you determine which assistance best suits your objectives: It might come down to whether you want to make a big difference for one person or help seed large-scale change. Tiltify is a technology platform that helps nonprofits and individual crowdfunders alike raise money. If donors want to ensure that food gets to communities recovering from disasters, Tiltify CEO Michael Wasserman says a nonprofit contribution is probably best, as established organizations already have distribution pipelines and built-up expertise. But if you want to ensure a particular person can take care of themselves, he said, a direct donation to a crowdfunding campaign might make more sense than sending money “through a charitable funnel.” “It really depends on what your goal is as a donor: if you’re trying to help out somebody specifically or if you’re trying to help out people in plural,” Wasserman said. You could do both at once, according to one nonprofit that delivers cash transfers. GiveDirectly reports sending more than $860 million to 1.6 million people across three continents. Senior Program Manager Richard Nkurunziza says the idea was initially met with fears of misuse. But GiveDirectly finds that cash donations are a dignified way to empower poor people to invest in their unique needs. In Rwandan villages, he said, recipients have spent donations on household renovations, new businesses and youth education — all of which ultimately benefit their entire community. “There’s a bit of agency,” said Nkurunziza. “It gives an opportunity for the recipient to make a decision on how they use the funds for themselves.” Crowdfunding could be considered “more democratic,” according to Claire van Teunenbroek, a University of Twente professor specializing in online giving behavior. That's because donors have more control over their gifts' usage when they choose exactly who benefits. The disadvantage, she said, is that people with the greatest needs aren't always the ones with the most success. Humans are prone to supporting “easily sellable” projects with highly emotional appeals. Studies have also shown racial disparities in crowdfunding. The most popular reason donors told Bloomerang they stopped giving was because they did not trust contributions were being used wisely, according to the company’s Generational Giving Report. The second most common response was that donors no longer felt connected to the nonprofit they’d previously supported. The answers underscore the need for recipients to actively prove their trustworthiness. Tax-exempt nonprofits must submit annual financial disclosures to the Internal Revenue Service that include publicly available information, including executives' salaries. Watchdogs, such as Charity Navigator, compile lists of verified nonprofits and assess their work. Crowdfunding, while convenient, is much more susceptible to fraud. The online sites are relatively unregulated, leaving the responsibility for protection up to donors and the platforms themselves. In GoFundMe's case, donations can be refunded up to one year after they are made. The company also advises that organizers identify themselves and their beneficiaries, and specify their plans for spending contributions. Online users mistakenly associate high donation numbers with credibility, according to van Teunenbroek. She said risk is better mitigated by making sure the project's description is detailed. “For a donor, if you prefer more certainty, then traditional nonprofits are probably better because they have an established reputation,” she said. ALSAC CEO Rick Shadyac said his charity works hard to make donors feel confident that their money is supporting the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: improving pediatric cancer survival rates worldwide by covering the costs of care and researching treatments. Shadyac encouraged people to give regardless of the medium and to always look for reputable causes. Bonafide charities, he said, bring “greater degrees of confidence” while crowdfunding requires more “due diligence.” But he sees room for both. “They should actually complement each other," he said. “Some of this is more in the realm of micro-philanthropy where they may be wanting to help a specific individual because they found themselves in difficult circumstances,” he added. "But if you want to help kids with cancer, you want to help cure heart disease, there are charities that are keenly focused on that.” ALSAC gets nearly one quarter of its annual revenue during the last two months of the calendar, Shadyac said, around the time of year designated as “Giving Season.” The uptick could stem from the spirit of generosity around the holidays, he added. Sure enough, a 2023 study found that people in good moods are more likely to make a charitable donation. They might also be making their year-end tax plans. “Not-for-profits give them the opportunity to address some things that are important to them while also getting a tax deduction,” Shadyac said. Crowdfunding donations to individual campaigns, however, cannot be written off on your taxes. But crowdfunding can make it easier to identify with the ultimate beneficiaries of one's gift, van Teunenbroek said. Mutual aid refers to reciprocal support networks of neighbors who promptly meet each other's most pressing needs when existing systems fail to make them whole. Because of those reciprocal ties, participants often describe the act as “solidarity, not charity.” In the internet age, these groups often solicit cash contributions through online payment processors like Venmo, Cash App, PayPal or Zelle. Anyone can scan QR codes, which are usually reposted across social media accounts, to donate. The money goes straight to those impacted or helps purchase supplies for shared resources like community fridges. Transparency might come in the form of a screenshotted receipt shared by organizers on their profile. Tamara Kneese joined several mutual aid efforts during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic to take care of her neighbors in Oakland. Kneese, a director at the nonprofit research institute Data & Society, said these groups tend to start as immediate responses to crises that are acutely hurting disadvantaged communities. The idea, she added, is that “state abandonment cannot be addressed by charitable giving alone.” Kneese said the challenges of such bottom-up, grassroots groups are that resources dwindle and people burn out. Only so many requests can be fulfilled. Organizers' politics clash. The benefits, she found, are that support comes from within the community and members have direct interactions with those using it. “It is not just a sense of charity, like you make a donation and you're done," she said. "There is more of a relationship involved and it is not just transactional.” Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy .
‘This Is Insane’: Musk Blasts California For Possibly Icing Tesla From EV Credit Program
As science continues its evolution, discoveries and technologies can act like a master key that open doors leading to novel advancements. Artificial intelligence is one such key, making innovations possible by solving complex problems, automating tasks and enabling research that would have been impossible, or very time-consuming, without it. But do we want to do research on all topics, and shall we try the AI master key on every door? To explore this question, let’s consider the use of AI by genomics experts as an example. In recent years, genomics experts have added unbelievable depth to what we know about the world and ourselves. For example, genetics researchers have revealed facts about when certain animals and plants were domesticated. In another example, researchers used DNA from 30,000-year-old permafrost to create fertile samples of a plant called narrow-leafed campion. Importantly, genetic engineering has facilitated extraordinary advances in the treatment of complicated conditions, such as sickle-cell anemia. Thanks to AI, we are witnessing a dramatic increase in the pace and scalability of genomic exploration. But given the risks and possible consequences of AI use in science, should we rush headlong into using AI in all kinds of projects? One relevant example is research on Neanderthals, our closest relatives, who lived about 40,000 years ago. Neanderthals have been studied for several years now through genetic investigation of their fossils and their DNA. Genetic engineering can potentially use ancient DNA and genome editing methods to re-create a Neanderthal or aspects of a Neanderthal’s genetics and physiology. To do this, scientists could start by figuring out the DNA sequence of a Neanderthal by comparing it with the DNA of modern humans, because they are closely related. Then, scientists could use the gene-editing tool known as CRISPR to swap out parts of human DNA with Neanderthal DNA. This process would require a lot of trial and error and might not succeed soon. But based on what we know about genetics, if something is possible, AI can help make it happen faster, cheaper and with less effort. Scientists are excited about these developments because they could facilitate new discoveries and open up many research opportunities in genetic research. With or without AI, research on Neanderthals will proceed. But the extraordinary power of AI could give the final push to these discoveries and facilitate this kind of resurrection. At that point, the scientific community must develop norms and guidelines about how to treat these resurrected beings with dispositions very similar to humans. We would need to carefully consider their rights and well-being almost in the same way as when humans are involved and not as research subjects or artifacts of scientific curiosity. These ethical issues are discussed in more detail in a new paper published in the journal Nature Machine Intelligence. A more holistic question to consider is: Should we prioritize the use of resource-intensive AI, researchers’ time and public funds to resurrect extinct beings? Or should we invest these resources into conserving species that are critically endangered today to prevent biodiversity from more degradation?PGA Tour star makes LIV Golf approach as interest in joining breakaway league growsNasir Mansoor Qureshi, President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Friday called for the national dialogue to address the economic challenges ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Nov, 2024) Mansoor Qureshi, President of the of and (ICCI) on Friday called for the national dialogue to address the economic challenges. He emphasized that political stability was the cornerstone of economic and national prosperity. He urged parties to set aside their differences and engage in a constructive national dialogue to formulate comprehensive, long-term economic policies that serve the nation’s interests and uplift its people, said a press release issued here Friday. Highlighting the critical link between political harmony and economic recovery, Qureshi asserted that ’s mounting financial challenges, including industrial closures, soaring power tariffs, excessive taxation, and escalating unemployment, can only be addressed through a stable and collaborative political framework. He stressed that the worsening political polarization aggravates these issues, deterring entrepreneurial activity, and stifling economic growth. Qureshi painted a stark picture of the current crisis, citing deteriorating , pervasive , nepotism and a volatile political climate as key barriers to attracting foreign direct investment. These factors, he noted, have severely undermined ’s economic potential, leaving industries and businesses on the brink of collapse. For to emerge this dilemma, Qureshi underscored the need for robust governance, institutional integrity, and unwavering commitment to policy continuity. He called upon political leaders to prioritize the nation’s economic stability over partisan interests, emphasizing that good governance and cohesive policymaking are imperative for fostering sustainable development, reducing poverty, and improving the livelihoods of citizens. “The time for divisive is over,” Qureshi declared. “The nation demands leadership that transcends political rivalries, prioritizes the public good, and sets a foundation for enduring economic resilience and growth.” This call for comes at a pivotal moment. grapples with unprecedented challenges that require a unified vision and decisive action political factions to secure the nation’s future.
Emma Roberts cuts a casual figure with fiancé Cody John at Front Row Card Show in Los Angeles Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By AMY LAMARE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 18:23 EST, 25 November 2024 | Updated: 18:29 EST, 25 November 2024 e-mail View comments Emma Roberts and her fiancé Cody John were seen indulging their nerdy sides in Los Angeles over the weekend. The actors hit up the Front Row Card Show, a convention for sports cards, trading card games, comic books and collectibles in Pasadena. The 33-year-old niece of Julia Roberts kept her look casual in black sweatpants and a white t-shirt with a black and white striped cardigan and black ball cap. Cody wore a red and white striped t-shirt, khakis and a grey hoodie with a blue ball cap. Emma and Cody, 35, got engaged in July after meeting two years ago through mutual friends. The Nancy Drew actress shared a photo with her arm around Cody as she showed off her new ring. Emma Roberts and her fiancé Cody John were seen indulging their nerdy sides in Los Angeles over the weekend at the Front Row Card Show 'Putting this here before my mom tells everyone,' Emma wrote. The diamond ring looks to be around five carats with an estimated cost of $100,000, a rep for The Diamond Bank in Los Angeles told DailyMail.com Read More Emma Roberts shares her heartfelt reaction to Britney Spears biopic casting rumors The couple went public with their relationship in August 2022 after being spotted kissing in New York City. Cody shared a photo of the two of them on Instagram at the time and captioned it, 'sweet sweet.' At the time, a source close to the couple told ET that New York native had 'been very content with Cody, and they're enjoying their relationship and time together. 'Their friends and family are happy for the both of them and think they make a great couple,' the insider revealed. Emma was previously in a relationship with musician Garrett Hedlund. They share son Rhodes, who will be four on December 27. The sighting comes as Emma's father, actor Eric Roberts , 68, has released his memoir in which he laments his lack of a relationship with his daughter and his sister, Julia. Roberts called losing custody of a young Emma the biggest consequence of his drug use and something he feels acutely now that Emma has a son. Cody carried a hard silver case filled with his trading cards cross body while exploring the convention while both of them were weight down with tote bags full of swag and purchases The engaged actors hit up the Front Row Card Show, a convention for sports cards, trading card games, comic books and collectibles in Pasadena. In July Emma announced her engagement to Cody Emma was previously in a relationship with actor and musician Garrett Hedlund. They share son Rhodes, who will be four on December 27 - pictured in 2020 He also offered an apology to his Academy Award-winning sister for saying, 'If it wasn't for me, there would be no Julia Roberts.' He wrote: 'I hope Julia will accept this public apology. It was an asinine thing to have said.' Los Angeles Julia Roberts Emma Roberts Share or comment on this article: Emma Roberts cuts a casual figure with fiancé Cody John at Front Row Card Show in Los Angeles e-mail Add comment
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The IPL mega auction has wrapped up in Saudi Arabia with some astronomical figures put up by franchises to secure the biggest names in white-ball cricket. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. The two-day extravaganza yielded mixed results for Australia’s T20 stars. Some secured massive pay days, others took a sizeable pay cut, while plenty missed out all together and will be putting their feet up for two months during next March, April and May. Here are the winners and losers as 15 of the 37 Australians who went under the hammer were snapped up by the various franchises. WINNERS Josh Hazlewood Australia’s big three will all play in the same IPL season for the first time with Hazlewood cashing in upon his return to the competition after sitting out last season due to the birth of his first child. The 33-year-old was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru on the opening night for $2.29 million to return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium after playing there alongside Virat Kohli in 2022 and 2023. The right-arm seamer received the biggest pay day of any Australian in the auction as he was bought for more than double his base price. It was the lowest top price for an Australian since the auction for the 2019 IPL where many players opted out due to the ODI World Cup, but Hazlewood’s services were in high demand as he is an IPL champion with Chennai Super Kings in 2021, and his relentless accuracy has built him an impressive T20 resume with a career economy rate of 7.51 and a strike rate of 17.8. Hazlewood will not be the highest paid Australian next year however as his Test skipper Pat Cummins was retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad for $3.7 million. Mitchell Starc The left-arm quick took a massive pay cut with his $2.15 million purchase price by the Delhi Capitals less than half of what champions Kolkota Knight Riders paid for his services last season, but he is still a winner. He was second only to Hazlewood in the price among the Australian bought as Starc underwhelmed for much of the tournament but delivered when it mattered most as he was breathtaking in the final with figures of 2/14 from three overs. The dip in his price may be a result of his economy rate of 10.61 for the season as he took 17 wickets in 14 games, but the fact he is a proven match-winner meant he was still highly desirable. The Capitals will be the third franchise he has played for after previously suiting up for Royal Challengers Bengaluru as well as Kolkota. Marcus Stoinis The big-hitting all-rounder was the top Australian on Ricky Ponting’s shopping list as he was purchased by the Punjab Kings for $2 million. Ponting added five Australians to his squad - Glenn Maxwell ($770k), Josh Inglis ($475k), Aaron Hardie ($228k), Xavier Bartlett ($146k) and Stoinis who is the highest paid overseas player on the new-look Kings. Punjab only retained two players before the mega auction - teams had the right to retain up to six players - as they undertook a cleanout and Stoinis will be a key cog after an impressive 2024 IPL campaign for the Lucknow Super Giants. He smashed a century with 124 not out of 63 balls to chase down the Chennai Super Kings’ score of 210 as well as two other half centuries as he posted 388 runs in 15 games at an average of 32.22 at a strike rate of 147.52. Stoinis’ bowling is always a handy weapon with him having the ability to swing the new ball and shoulder the responsibility at the death, and Ponting has clearly sought after all-rounders. Jake Fraser-McGurk The Rooster exploded onto the IPL scene as a replacement player for Delhi Capitals earlier this year and now he has received a $1.65 million pay day from the franchise that gave him a start in the lucrative league. Fraser-McGurk was electric against the new ball in the powerplay with 330 runs in nine matches at an average of 36.66 and a whopping strike rate of 234.04. He scored four half centuries under the tutelage of former Delhi coach Ponting who unlocked Fraser-McGurk’s potential by encouraging him to swing at 80% because that’s all he needs to clear the rope. The right-hander has struggled in Australian colours and in franchise leagues around the world since his breakout IPL campaign, but the memories of him slapping the likes of Jasprit Bumrah to all parts clearly stuck in the mind of the Delhi hierarchy. Josh Inglis Australia’s most recent white-ball captain is off to the IPL for the first time with Ponting’s Punjab King snapping him up for $475,000. The wicket-keeper batter’s reputation has flourished in the last twelve months with two T20I centuries including the fastest ever hit by an Australian from just 43 balls against Scotland in Edinburgh in September. The knock that will stick in the mind of Indian fans however is his hundred in the first T20I of the infamous series that immediately followed Australia’s triumph in the ODI World Cup last year when most of the Australian side were exhausted and keen to go home. Inglis has also starred in the Big Bash for the Perth Scorchers as well as The Hundred for the London Spirit. Adam Zampa Many feared that Zampa may not return to the IPL after causing a stir by pulling out of last season, like he did in Covid times. New rules were brought in that bars players who do the same for two years going forward, but Australia’s dominant white ball spinner was still a sought after commodity. He has been overlooked at times in the IPL with franchises choosing to use their international spots on fast bowlers and batters rather than a spinner when there are an abundance of local options, but Zampa still found himself at the Sunrisers Hyderabad for $440,000 alongside retained Australian teammates Pat Cummins and Travis Head. The runners-up from last season will be the fourth franchise Zampa has played for after previously representing the Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rising Pune Supergiants. LOSERS Spencer Johnson It is hard to put someone who got bought as a loser, but Johnson copped a massive pay cut as he was sold to the Kolkota Knight Riders for $510,000 after pocketing $1.78 million from the Gujurat Titans last season. The left arm speedster is a heavily discounted replacement for Mitchell Starc for the champions, but his drop in price comes as little surprise after an underwhelming debut campaign. Johnson took only four wickets in five games as he went at an economy rate of 9.44. His stocks are rising in Australian cricket however with a five-wicket haul in the recent T20I series against Pakistan and calls from greats like Mark Waugh that he could be elevated into the Test team. Steve Smith Australia’s best batter of the modern era’s absence from the IPL will extend to a fourth straight year as Smith went unsold in the mega auction. It comes as little shock after he was pushed out of Australia’s T20 team earlier this year - he was not selected in the squad for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and United States. Smith showed in the Big Bash two summers ago that he can still be destructive in short form cricket with two centuries for the Sydney Sixers, and he boasts an impressive IPL record with 2485 runs from 103 matches at average of 34.51 with a strike rate of 128.09. He also captained Washington Freedom to the title in America’s Major League Cricket with 88 in the final, but Smith’s day in the IPL look done. Alex Carey Australia’s Test keeper went unsold as he continues to miss out on white ball opportunities. Carey was famously punted from Australia’s ODI team after the first game of last year’s World Cup, and has been on the outer of the national T20 team for some time with Inglis and the recently retired Matthew Wade preferred with the gloves. The South Australian was in stellar form with the bat during the ODIs in England in September but will not be heading to the IPL for a second season. His only campaign in the tournament to date was three games for Delhi Capitals in 2020. Matt Short Short has dominated the Big Bash in recent seasons for the Adelaide Strikers and has played handy innings this year at the top of the order in white ball cricket for Australia, but will not be returning to the IPL. The destructive right-hander was with the Punjab Kings in 2023 but went unsold for a second consecutive year from a base price of $136,500. The Victorian struggled in the series against Pakistan which may have proved costly. Jhye Richardson The West Australian quick was bought by the Punjab Kings for an astonishing $2.48 million in 2021 but this year went unsold. Richardson has battled injury woes in recent years and even sent a scare through the Australian cricket hierarchy earlier this week when it appeared he had injured his shoulder celebrating a wicket in the Sheffield Shield, but thankfully resumed bowling. He was bought by the Mumbai Indians and the Delhi Capitals - who played one game for last season - respectively in the past two years but injuries derailed those campaigns. The right-armer has only managed four IPL games throughout his career for three wickets at an economy rate of 10.47. Riley Meredith Another Australian speedster who once fetched a large sum going unsold. In the same 2021 auction as Richardson, Meredith was also bought by Punjab for $1.42 million. He played three years in a row with 19 wickets in 18 games for the Kings as well as the Mumbai Indians, but like Richardson, has been hampered by injuries. Meredith returned to the Australian white ball set-up during September tour of the United Kingdom, but he seems to have faded into obscurity when it comes to the IPL. AUSTRALIANS AT THE 2025 IPL Chennai Super Kings: Nathan Ellis ($365k) Delhi Capitals: Mitch Starc ($2.15m), Jake Fraser-McGurk ($1.65m) Kolkata Knight Riders: Spencer Johnson ($510k) Lucknow Super Giants: Justin Langer (coach), Mitch Marsh ($623k) Punjab Kings: Ricky Ponting (coach), Marcus Stoinis ($2m), Glenn Maxwell ($770k), Josh Inglis ($475k), Aaron Hardie ($228k), Xavier Bartlett ($146k) Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Josh Hazlewood ($2.29m), Tim David ($547k) Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins ($3.7m), Travis Head ($1.2m), Adam Zampa ($440k) Unsold: Sean Abbott, Ollie Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Ben McDermott, Michael Neser, Alex Carey, Riley Meredith, Josh Brown, Matt Short, Will Sutherland, Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Cooper Connolly, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Ashton Turner, Jason Behrendorff, Daniel Sams, Andrew Tye, David WarnerRodriguez girls basketball finishes as tournament runner-up at home