BOULDER, Colo. — A 72-year-old lifelong Colorado fan with end-stage kidney failure waited to the side of the field in his wheelchair for Travis Hunter and the rest of the Buffaloes. One by one, players strolled over and signed a football for Riley Rhoades, his face lighting up with each signature. Standing close by and taking in the scene was Jeremy Bloom. He's become a wish facilitator for older adults. Bloom, the former Colorado wide receiver and Olympic freestyle skier, started the Wish of a Lifetime foundation in 2008, which has made thousands of aspirations turn into reality for older adults. The list of granted wishes range from taking veterans back to the beaches of Normandy to helping late-in-life authors publish a book. He's staged concerts for musicians, assisted some in daredevil feats such as jumping out of an airplane and even lined up a meeting between an Olympic medalist and former President Barack Obama. For Rhoades, his wish was simply to return to Folsom Field again, the place where he used to have season tickets but hasn't attended a game since 2004. "Everybody has somebody in their life —a grandparent, friend, neighbor — at that age where you wish you had more resources to help," said Bloom, whose college career was cut short two decades ago when the NCAA denied his reinstatement to play football and still ski professionally after receiving endorsement money to fuel his Olympic dreams. "Nothing can compare to seeing someone else's eyes light up because you helped make their dream come true." The foundation is a tribute to his grandparents. But the concept began to take root when he was a teenager. He was in Japan for a World Cup freestyle skiing competition when a woman tried to hop on a crowded bus. There was no room, but everyone in front rose from their seats to make space. That stuck with him, along with seeing these acts of kindness for older adults all over Europe and Asia as he traveled. An idea formed — bring that same level of appreciation to the United States, with a wish-granting element. Bloom's organization has been a charitable affiliate of AARP since 2020. It was the yearning of Rhoades that brought the two of them to Folsom Field last weekend. Rhoades, who had season tickets at Colorado for 27 years, wanted to see the Buffaloes in person after watching the team's resurgence on television. A few years ago, Rhoades, who was born with spina bifida, was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure. Being among the 54,646 fans Saturday stirred up plenty of emotions for Rhoades, as he watched the 16th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) beat Utah. Colorado remains in the race for not only a conference title but a spot in the College Football Playoff. "It's just great to be back here again," Rhoades said as he pointed out the section where he used to watch games. "It's just ... so cool." For Bloom, the success that coach Deion Sanders has brought to the program means more reunions with teammates as they pass through town. "I've been through many years where nobody comes to visit," Bloom said. "It's fun that Boulder has become the epicenter of college football." Leading the way for Colorado this season have been quarterback Shedeur Sanders and two-way star Hunter, who's the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. But what particularly pleases Bloom is that Sanders, Hunter and the rest of college football players are able to finally profit through name, image and likeness. In his day, Bloom got caught in the NCAA crosshairs for wanting to play both sports and to have sponsors in one (skiing) so he could fund his Olympic aspirations. How time have changed. "I'm just really grateful that this generation of athletes gets to monetize their skills and ability," said Bloom, who finished sixth in moguls at the 2006 Winter Games in Italy. "It's the right thing." He's thrown his passion into fulfilling wishes such as learning ballet, riding in a Formula 1 pace car or taking a flight in a fighter jet. He's also helped reconnect families and friends, including a reunion for a trio of centenarian sisters who hadn't seen each other in more than a decade. This granted wish has stuck with Bloom: A person in Alabama wasn't able to travel after being diagnosed with end-of-life emphysema. So he asked for postcards to be sent, just to learn what made someone's town so special. He received 2,000 postcards from 26 different countries. "There's no end to the things that they've done for us in the world," Bloom said of older adults. "We're one of the organizations that reminds them that their dreams still do matter and that we still appreciate them and we cherish them." Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!New Delhi, Dec 24 : Scientists at the Bose Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have studied archaea — a domain of ancient organisms — to find clues to survival strategies of microorganisms by adapting to harsh conditions with the help of their toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. Archaea, which means “ancient things” in Greek, are one of the oldest forms of life on Earth and belong to a group called the third domain of life. Many archaea live in some of the harshest environments on Earth, which makes them ideal for studying how life can survive in tough conditions. The team, led by Dr Abhrajyoti Ghosh at the Department of Biological Sciences, explored how certain archaea toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems help these organisms cope with high temperatures. In the study, published in the journal mBio, Ghosh and his team studied a specific TA system in a heat-loving archaeon called Sulfolobus acidocaldarius to understand how it helps these organisms. They examined S. acidocaldarius, which lives in environments with hot volcanic pools like Barren Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India and some other volcanic areas in the world, that can get as hot as 90 degrees Celsius. The detailed analysis of the VapBC4 TA system that helps survival in the high-temperature environment, shows its important role during heat stress. They found that the VapC4 toxin carries out several functions, such as stopping protein production, helping the organism form resilient cells, and influencing biofilm creation. When the cell faces heat stress, a stress-activated protease (which hasn’t been identified in archaea yet) may break down the VapB4 protein (which otherwise checks the VapC4 toxin’s activity). Once VapB4 is gone, the VapC4 toxin is released and can stop protein production. This block in protein production is part of a survival strategy that helps cells form “persister cells” during stress. These persister cells go into a resting state, conserving energy and avoiding making damaged proteins. This dormancy helps them survive tough conditions until the environment improves, the scientists said.Bitget Becomes the First Exchange to Support VND Bank Transfer via VietQR
BOGOTA, Colombia — 2024 was a brutal year for the Amazon rainforest, with rampant wildfires and extreme drought ravaging large parts of a biome that’s a critical counterweight to climate change. A warming climate fed drought that in turn fed the worst year for fires since 2005. And those fires contributed to deforestation, with authorities suspecting some fires were set to more easily clear land to run cattle. The Amazon is twice the size of India and sprawls across eight countries and one territory, storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise warm the planet. It has about 20% of the world’s fresh water and astounding biodiversity, including 16,000 known tree species. But governments have historically viewed it as an area to be exploited, with little regard for sustainability or the rights of its Indigenous peoples, and experts say exploitation by individuals and organized crime is rising at alarming rates. “The fires and drought experienced in 2024 across the Amazon rainforest could be ominous indicators that we are reaching the long-feared ecological tipping point,” said Andrew Miller, advocacy director at Amazon Watch, an organization that works to protect the rainforest. “Humanity’s window of opportunity to reverse this trend is shrinking, but still open.” There were some bright spots. The level of Amazonian forest loss fell in both Brazil and Colombia. And nations gathered for the annual United Nations conference on biodiversity agreed to give Indigenous peoples more say in nature conservation decisions. “If the Amazon rainforest is to avoid the tipping point, Indigenous people will have been a determinant factor," Miller said. Forest loss in Brazil’s Amazon — home to the largest swath of this rainforest — dropped 30.6% compared to the previous year, the lowest level of destruction in nine years. The improvement under leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva contrasted with deforestation that hit a 15-year high under Lula's predecessor, far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, who prioritized agribusiness expansion over forest protection and weakened environmental agencies. In July, Colombia reported historic lows in deforestation in 2023, driven by a drop in environmental destruction. The country's environment minister Susana Muhamad warned that 2024's figures may not be as promising as a significant rise in deforestation had already been recorded by July due to dry weather caused by El Nino, a weather phenomenon that warms the central Pacific. Illegal economies continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation. “It’s impossible to overlook the threat posed by organized crime and the economies they control to Amazon conservation,” said Bram Ebus, a consultant for Crisis Group in Latin America. “Illegal gold mining is expanding rapidly, driven by soaring global prices, and the revenues of illicit economies often surpass state budgets allocated to combat them.” In Brazil, large swaths of the rainforest were draped in smoke in August from fires raging across the Amazon, Cerrado savannah, Pantanal wetland and the state of Sao Paulo. Fires are traditionally used for deforestation and for managing pastures, and those man-made blazes were largely responsible for igniting the wildfires. For a second year, the Amazon River fell to desperate lows , leading some countries to declare a state of emergency and distribute food and water to struggling residents. The situation was most critical in Brazil, where one of the Amazon River's main tributaries dropped to its lowest level ever recorded. Cesar Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who lives in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, said he believes people are becoming increasingly aware of the Amazon's fundamental role “for the survival of society as a whole." But, like Miller, he worries about a “point of no return of Amazon destruction.” It was the worst year for Amazon fires since 2005, according to nonprofit Rainforest Foundation US. Between January and October, an area larger than the state of Iowa — 37.42 million acres, or about 15.1 million hectares of Brazil’s Amazon — burned. Bolivia had a record number of fires in the first ten months of the year. “Forest fires have become a constant, especially in the summer months and require particular attention from the authorities who don't how to deal with or respond to them,” Ipenza said. Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Guyana also saw a surge in fires this year. The United Nations conference on biodiversity — this year known as COP16 — was hosted by Colombia. The meetings put the Amazon in the spotlight and a historic agreement was made to give Indigenous groups more of a voice on nature conservation decisions , a development that builds on a growing movement to recognize Indigenous people's role in protecting land and combating climate change. Both Ebus and Miller saw promise in the appointment of Martin von Hildebrand as the new secretary general for the Amazon Treaty Cooperation Organization, announced during COP16. “As an expert on Amazon communities, he will need to align governments for joint conservation efforts. If the political will is there, international backers will step forward to finance new strategies to protect the world’s largest tropical rainforest,” Ebus said. Ebus said Amazon countries need to cooperate more, whether in law enforcement, deploying joint emergency teams to combat forest fires, or providing health care in remote Amazon borderlands. But they need help from the wider world, he said. “The well-being of the Amazon is a shared global responsibility, as consumer demand worldwide fuels the trade in commodities that finance violence and environmental destruction,” he said. Next year marks a critical moment for the Amazon, as Belém do Pará in northern Brazil hosts the first United Nations COP in the region that will focus on climate. “Leaders from Amazon countries have a chance to showcase strategies and demand tangible support," Ebus said.
Revolutionary Single-Layer Film Eliminates Helmet Changes, Enhancing Driver Safety and Performance LAS VEGAS , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Racing Optics®, the global leader in high-performance tearoff visor film technology, proudly unveils its latest innovation: the Twilight Tearoff . This groundbreaking single-layer tearoff is engineered to elevate driver visibility during late-afternoon and early-evening races, providing superior glare reduction and contrast enhancement. The Twilight Tearoff redefines race-day performance by allowing drivers to maintain focus and adapt seamlessly to changing light conditions, eliminating the need for disruptive helmet changes. This innovation represents a significant leap forward in racing vision technology, delivering immediate and measurable benefits to professional drivers and teams alike. "The Twilight Tearoff solves one of racing's most persistent challenges—ensuring optimal visibility as lighting transitions rapidly during twilight races," said Chris Colton , Chief Applications Engineer at Racing Optics . "Our dedication to driver safety and performance drives every innovation, and the Twilight Tearoff is no exception." Transforming Racing at Twilight Racing teams are already embracing the Twilight Tearoff as a game-changing solution for twilight and low-light racing conditions. One racing team manager shared their experience: "In a recent twilight race, the Twilight Tearoff gave our drivers unmatched visual clarity. Transitioning from glaring sunlight to artificial lighting without pausing to change helmets was a decisive advantage that kept us competitive." By streamlining the driver experience, the Twilight Tearoff enhances safety and helps maintain uninterrupted race momentum—a critical edge in the high-stakes world of motorsports. Exclusive Debut at PRI Show 2024 The Twilight Tearoff will make its debut at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show , held December 12–14, 2024, in Indianapolis, Indiana . This highly anticipated event marks Racing Optics' 25th anniversary , celebrating a legacy of trailblazing innovations in motorsports safety and performance. Availability The Twilight Tearoff is now available for purchase at RacingOptics.com and through authorized dealers. Teams and drivers looking to gain a competitive edge are encouraged to explore this latest advancement. About Racing Optics For 25 years, Racing Optics has led the field in racing vision technology, delivering innovative solutions that enhance safety and performance. With a commitment to collaboration and innovation, the company continues to push the boundaries of motorsports protective equipment. For additional information, please visit RacingOptics.com . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/racing-optics-introduces-game-changing-twilight-tearoff-to-enhance-visibility-in-low-light-racing-conditions-302329546.html SOURCE Racing Optics, Inc.Pakistan has taken several measures to modernize its armed forces, especially the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which will soon boast a fleet of the latest 5th generation J-35 stealth fighter jets, acquired from China. Updated: December 29, 2024 1:02 AM IST By : Pakistan is rapidly advancing its military capabilities in its attempt to outgun India in case of another showdown between the two bitter rivals. In recent years, Pakistan has taken several measures to modernize its armed forces, especially the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which will soon boast a fleet of the latest 5th generation J-35 stealth fighter jets, acquired from China. Reports say that the PAF has inked a deal to acquire 40 J-35 fighter jets, which will be delivered within the next two years. The deal was set in motion in January 2024, when PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu had stated that the “foundation for acquiring the J-31 stealth fighter aircraft has already been laid”, and the Chinese-made stealth fighter would join the PAF fleet “in the near future”. Pakistan will have edge over India for over a decade Experts believe Pakistan’s acquisition of the J-35 warplane would give it superiority over the Indian Air Force (IAF) in terms of firepower and aerial supremacy, giving Islamabad a strategic edge over New Delhi over the next decade or more. According to Zia ul Haq Shamsi, a retired PAF officer, the deployment of J-35 fighters can give Pakistan an edge over India for the next 12-14 years. However, some experts consider this period to be limited to around 7-8 years. Let us find out about the capabilities and features of the J-35 stealth fighter jet. Squadron Leader Vijainder K. Thakur (retd), an IAF veteran and military expert, notes that PAF’s acquisition of the J-35 will provide a significant boost to its offensive capabilities, and combined with F-16 and J-10C, the J-35’s land-attack variant would provide Pakistan an edge over India, according to the Eurasian Times. Brendan Mulvaney, the Director at US Air Force’s China Aerospace Studies Institute believes that Pakistan’s move reflects a shift away from Western countries and towards China. However, he asserted that the J-35 effectiveness will also depend on the weapons, sensors and C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) provided by China. India’s push for indigenous 5th gen fighter jets Meanwhile, experts believe that India is at least a decade away from acquiring a 5th-gen stealth combat jet, with its AMCA, unlikely to be inducted in the IAF before 2034. According to the 2024-25 report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, deliveries of India’s indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) fifth-generation fighter jets are expected to start in the next decade. But the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is facing several technical and timeline-related challenges which could push the project timeline further back. Currently, only three nations have operational fifth-generation fighters — US, Russia, and China, so realistically, acquiring the Su-57 Felon or the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet from Russia or United States, are the only two options for India to acquire a 5th-gen aircraft. But, so far, the US has not explicitly stated that it would be open to selling the F-35 to India, because India buys a large amount armaments from Russia, including the S-400 air defense system. How Pakistan is building air superiority despite failing economy? Pakistan is facing a severe financial crisis, heavy debt, and its economy is crumbling, yet the country is rapidly expanding its military prowess, spending frantically on acquiring the latest military technology. According to a World Bank report, Pakistan owes $29 billion to China, and $9.16 billion to Saudi Arabia, with Beijing having a 22% share in Islamabad’s total foreign debt. Experts believe that China, the world’s second largest economy, with a $18.7 trillion GDP, is the reason why Pakistan is able to rapidly build its military power, despite its economy being under severe stress. Beijing and Islamabad share deep military ties, and have often referred to each other as “all-weather allies”, and China is helping to modernize all three wings of Pakistan’s armed forces, especially the Pakistan Air Force. India and Pakistan have been engaged in a race to stay ahead of each other in combat aircraft since the 1950s when the two rival nations started building their air power. J-35 features, capabilities The Shenyang J-35 is a 5th generation, twin-engine stealth multirole combat aircraft manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC), designed for air superiority and surface strike missions. The J-35 comes in two variants, a land-based variant for the Chinese Army, and a carrier-based variant optimized for catapult-assisted takeoff (CATOBAR) for the Navy. The stealth fighter was unveiled during the Zhuhai Air Show in November this year, and is reportedly a more advanced and “production-ready” iteration of the earlier FC-31 model. Experts say that compared to the the FC-31 or J-31, the J-35 is powered by more powerful WS-19 engines, features a more sophisticated radar system, and improved sensor fusion. The aircraft boasts other advanced features, including improved aerodynamics and stealth capabilities, and a wider range of weapons. Notably, China’s 5th-gen combat plane bears striking similarities with the US-made F-35 Lightning II. 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On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted that her government is implementing a range of “actions” and making various law changes in favor of gender equality and the protection and strengthening of women’s rights. Speaking at her Monday morning press conference, Sheinbaum also said that her administration is committed to “eradicating” violence against women. The two main tenets of the government’s strategy are “prevention” of violence against women and “zero impunity” for crimes committed, she said. “In the face of any femicide: zero impunity. In the face of sexual violence against women: zero impunity,” Sheinbaum said. Sheinbaum told her morning presser that the government’s women’s rights pamphlet is currently being drawn up and will be unveiled soon. “The pamphlet has to do with the rights enshrined in the constitution, in laws,” she said, adding that it will explain “what equality means” and expose societal prejudices that have an adverse impact on equality. Sheinbaum spoke about some prejudices that remain prevalent in Mexico, such as that women and girls should clear the table at meal times and do the dishes. “Contributing to household chores is a task for everyone,” she said. Sheinbaum also said there is no reason why girls can’t play with cars and marbles and boys can’t play with dolls. “Something as simple” as telling a girl she can’t play with cars can have an impact on her future life, the president said. “Saying ‘you can’t play with this’ or ‘you can’t play with marbles’ ... limits the dreams a girl can have,” she said. Sheinbaum said last month that the government’s women’s rights pamphlet should be distributed to men as well as women because everyone needs to know about women’s rights. One reporter asked Sheinbaum about the impact her ascension to Mexico’s top political position has had on the country. At the conclusion of her question, the journalist noted that a young girl in Chiapas impersonated Mexico’s first female president, or presidenta , at a Revolution Day parade last week. (A video of the girl’s performance went viral on social media.) “Las niñas incorporan a su discurso la nueva visión de la importancia de las mujeres en la vida pública”, resaltó la presidenta @Claudiashein sobre video grabado durante un desfile de la Revolución mexicana en Chiapas. pic.twitter.com/eVe1FMxzyO — Gobierno de México (@GobiernoMX) November 22, 2024 A female president “is a symbol that transforms mindsets,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s not enough [just] with the symbol, we have to develop policy, change the constitution , change legislation and develop actions for the protection and promotion of women’s rights,” she said. “But ... [a female president] is a symbol, when a girl sees a presidenta obviously she can imagine that she too can be a presidenta ,” Sheinbaum said. “... And that represents a change in mindset, and not just in girls, in boys as well, in men as well, it’s a cultural transformation,” she said. Sheinbaum noted that she will attend Rocío Nahle’s inauguration as governor of Veracruz this Sunday. Nahle, federal energy minister during most of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term, is “a woman of character with many convictions, who loves Veracruz, who loves its people,” the president said. “And I know that she will do a great job. And we’ll be there supporting her with everything she needs,” Sheinbaum said. She also highlighted that the incoming governor, while energy minister “was able to build a refinery” — the new Pemex facility on the Gulf coast of Tabasco . Nahle, a native of the state of Zacatecas, was the ruling Morena party’s candidate in the June 2 gubernatorial election in Veracruz, and won the contest easily with close to 60% of the vote . By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ( [email protected] )
Bird Flu Found in RFK Jr.‘s Beloved Raw Milk
‘Qatar one of the leading countries in addressing climate change challenges’Pearl Diver Credit Company Inc. Announces Offering of Series A Preferred StockHAIL: Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, the governor of Hail, inaugurated the Excellence Center for Salmon Production on Saturday, the largest facility of its kind in the Middle East. A collaboration between the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and King Abdulaziz University, the center aims to produce 100,000 tons of salmon annually, bolstering Saudi Arabia’s food security and aquaculture sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The 10,000-square-meter facility features the latest marine technology, including recirculating aquaculture systems and aquaponics units, which integrate fish and vegetable production. It is designed to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on salmon imports, currently at 23,000 tons per year. Prince Abdulaziz hailed the project as a cornerstone of Vision 2030, promoting sustainable development and economic diversification, while attending officials highlighted its potential to enhance innovation, create jobs, and serve as a model for sustainable aquaculture in the region, SPA added.
Investigation closed on Jason Kelce's phone incident at Penn State
MONTREAL - A childhood friend of the Quebec man killed in a Florida boat explosion earlier this week says one of the victim’s sisters was among the other six passengers injured in the blast. Thi Cam Nhung Lê says she grew up with Sebastien Gauthier in Quebec City and considered him her best friend. Lê says Gauthier’s older sister was also on the boat in Florida’s Broward County when it exploded and she was taken to a hospital. She says Gauthier’s family was in Florida to celebrate the holidays and that his sudden death feels “unimaginable.” Video posted on social media Monday shows the vessel engulfed in flames following the explosion, with a thick column of black smoke billowing into the sky. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has confirmed that Gauthier died of his injuries, saying a preliminary investigation shows the 37-foot vessel exploded after its engines were started. Lê remembers Gauthier as someone who was always smiling and says she is waiting for answers about what led to her friend’s death. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2024.