A holiday concert dubbed ‘Clinic Notes’ warmed hearts inside LHSC’s Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre today. The performance is put on by a group of clinicians – among them Dr. Scott Ernst, a Medical oncologist at LHSC. “We've all been doing music all our lives, and so it's been fun to bring our talents together... at this time of the year,” said Dr. Ernst. “And we are just happy to be able to share the joy this season with our colleagues and patients and their families.” The group, which has been putting this concert on for 10 years, consists of seven oncology physicians (Dr. Kylea Potvin, Dr. Muriel Brackstone, Dr. Maria Parent, Dr. David DeVries, Dr. David D’Souza, and Dr. Vivian Tan). Today’s performance began at noon, lasting for 45 minutes inside the atrium of the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, and was put on for patients, their families and staff. Staff and patients gather to listen to music performed inside LHSC’s Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, December 12, 2024. (Reta Ismail/CTV News London) “Music is good for the soul, and it helps to heal too,” said cancer survivor John Medema. Among those in attendance, were some of the physician’s family members, including Dr. Ernst’s daughter Rachael Bohlender. “My dad has always had a love of music, and it was always around our house, and this is something that every year is an annual thing, not only here, but like at our house,” said Bohlender. On the piano was Dr. David D’Souza whose family was in the crowd, beaming with pride. “It's an awesome concert, I come every year,” said Dr. D’Souza’s wife Lisa. “They do such a fabulous job, and to know that they're so talented, both doctors and musicians as well.” Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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B.C. boosts tax incentives to support film and television production The British Columbia government is increasing tax incentives for both local and international film and TV projects in an effort to attract more major productions to the province. Stay Connected
Small, luxury foods are great as stocking stuffers or other gifts. Ideas for under $50 If you have an avid cook or food lover in your life, your gifting opportunities these days are vast and deep. There are authentic ingredients and creative concoctions in brick-and-mortar shops and online. The global pantry beckons. Katie Workman, The Associated Press Dec 12, 2024 1:54 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message If you have an avid cook or food lover in your life, your gifting opportunities these days are vast and deep. There are authentic ingredients and creative concoctions in brick-and-mortar shops and online. The global pantry beckons. Plus, in many cases, the packaging is gorgeous! Many of these affordable luxuries can be tucked into a stocking, but they also make great presents for a co-worker, mail carrier, nephew or teacher. As a slightly compulsive and obsessive gift giver, matching the right edible treat to the recipient is my jam (another great gifting option!). All of these items cost under $50, but make a big splash. Let’s go! Ah, nuts Two Chinese American friends took the flavors of their favorite childhood treats and transformed them into sweet spreads, ready to be slathered on toast, apples or just eaten with a spoon. Rooted Fare sells spreads like Crunchy Black Sesame Butter (inspired by tang yuan, a Lunar New Year dessert ), Pineapple Cake Cashew Butter, and Chinese Almond Cookie Butter. $15 per jar. Il Colle del Gusto makes some sweet and unusual nut-based spreads with an Italian twist: Coarse Hazelnut and Cocoa, Crunchy Peanut, and Sicilian Pistachio, all blended with olive oil. Swirl them into ice cream, slather them onto toast. Each jar under $10. Related: Sesame lovers will be delighted with either an assortment of tahini products such as Chocolate Sesame Sauce, or a tub of flaky, melt-in-your-mouth halva in flavors like cardamom and pistachio from Seed + Mill . Some great gift sets available for under $50. The crunchiest Chile crunch condiments have taken the cooking world by storm, and there are some highly giftable options. Fly By Jing makes a large assortment of Asian-inspired chile crunches, and they have some attractively packaged gift sets for the holidays . The mini sampler set is around $20. The aptly named Chile Crunch sells several varieties of their crunchy condiment, including hot, chipotle, mild and original, all for about $13 per jar. Somos' Salsa Macha Mexican Chili Crisps explode with texture thanks to a whole lot of nuts and seeds. Scoop these spicy-crunchy sauces over everything from avocado toast to tacos — and try the sweeter one on ice cream! The gift set of two comes with a cute spoon for $35. Feeling saucy Chef Patricia Quintana has created a line of salsas, sauces, dressings and condiments that preserves the heritage of traditional Mexican cooking. Treat someone to a jar of Achiote sauce or Pineapple Habanero Salsa (and hope you get invited over for the ensuing meal). $15 to $20 per jar. Ever heard of Secret Aardvark sauces ? You might be tempted to spread the word. This Caribbean/Tex-Mex line of condiments has a big following for what they call their “flavor that kicks you in the mouth.” There are many choices, including Drunken Jerk Jamaican Marinade, and Aardvark Habanero Hot Sauce. $10 each, with combo packs starting at $20. Something fishy Tinned fish is also having a blockbuster culinary moment (and in many cases the packaging is super fun). Fishwife cans ethically sourced fish, like salmon, anchovies and trout, from around the world, with some attractive gift boxes under $50. La Narval focuses on combinations of fish and sauce, such as their mussels in Spanish sauce. Each tin is about $10. Just a nibble The Drinks Bakery creates savory snacks with flavor profiles meant to match up perfectly with your favorite libations. Munch on a Lancashire Cheese and Spring Onion biscuit with a hoppy IPA or a sauvignon blanc. Serve the Parmesan, Toasted Pine Nut and Basil biscuits with a whiskey highball or champagne. Choose from small or larger boxes. Oil and vinegar I can’t think of a food gift I’m happier to see than a high-quality bottle of oil or vinegar, two of the most-used ingredients in my kitchen. Bona Furtuna's selection of Sicilian olive oils is fresh and fragrant, and their aged balsamic vinegars are thick, sweet and rich. The Invecchiato 7-Year Aged Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, for instance, sells for $44.95; Forte Extra Virgin Olive Oil from $10.95 to $39.95. Metafora olive oil comes in a beautiful bottle and is a nice introduction to Portuguese olive oil. $40. Alvear makes lovely Andalusian sherry vinegars. For the salad makers and Spanish chefs in your life, think about gifting one each of the bottles, a sweet and a dry , about $20 apop. Fancy pants Tartuflanghe makes all sorts of luxury ingredients infused with white and black truffles. Elevate your cooking game with truffle-infused butters with flavors like porcini or anchovy (about $10 each). Pick up a box of decadent, truffle-flavored Tartufissima 19 for $32. Or how about a little jar of black truffle pearls, which look like caviar, and are the most elegant way to finish off a risotto or a deviled egg ($40)? Sweet delicacies ’Tis the season for sweet things, but there's no need to settle for the same old bonbons. Sanders is known for decadent, chocolate-covered caramels, and this holiday season they have some limited-edition flavors. Do you know someone who might like a bag of bourbon, maple or peppermint dark-chocolate sea-salt caramels? I do! $10. Perhaps you’ve seen the elegant Lady M layered crepe cakes? Well this holiday, try their more portable and giftable Holiday Crepe Biscuit Collection . Eight wedge-shaped boxes contain a delicate crepe biscuit with fillings such as vanilla, chocolate hazelnut and green tea. $28. André’s Confiserie Suisse makes handmade chocolate with deep rich flavor, a result of generations of Swiss chocolate-making expertise. Some unusual classics include the Nussbergerli Sticks, a mix of caramel, candied orange peel and nuts, covered in either dark or milk chocolate, as well as a lovely assortment of chocolate-covered almonds. Also check out the festive, almond-stuffed chocolate pinecones, a cute edible ornament. Offerings start at $7. There are chocolate bars and then there are chocolate bars. At Chocopologie , it's hard to decide among the creative confections. Burnt Caramel Hawaiian Sea Salt? A S'Mores Bar that includes organic graham crackers and vegan marshmallows? At $10 each, you might need to buy a few. The bakers you know will love playing around with the Salted Caramel Crumbles from Kitty Keller. These toffee-like crumbles are made from the butter and salted caramel of Brittany, France, and can be used to finish all kinds of sweet treats with a crunchy little panache. $12. I could go on (quite clearly), but suffice it to say that a little special treat can have a big impact. Those stockings aren’t going to stuff themselves! ___ For more AP gift guides and holiday coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/gift-guide and https://apnews.com/hub/holidays . ___ This story was first published on Nov. 20, 2024. It was updated on Dec. 12, 2024 to correct the spelling of Bona Furtuna. Katie Workman, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message More The Mix San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo Dec 12, 2024 4:02 PM Movie Review: ‘Nickel Boys’ is a knockout, one of the most powerful films of the year Dec 12, 2024 3:40 PM Creditors approve proposed $32.5B deal with tobacco giants today: lawyer Dec 12, 2024 3:26 PM Featured FlyerWASHINGTON — A top White House official said Wednesday at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations were impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. FILE - The American and Chinese flags wave at Genting Snow Park ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics, in Zhangjiakou, China, on Feb. 2, 2022. A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File) Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could grow. The U.S. believes the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. She added that Biden was briefed on the findings and the White House “made it a priority for the federal government to do everything it can to get to the bottom this.” US officials recommend encrypted messaging apps amid "Salt Typhoon" cyberattack, attributed to China, targeting AT&T, Verizon, and others. The Chinese embassy in Washington rejected the accusations that it was responsible for the hack Tuesday after the U.S. federal authorities issued new guidance. “The U.S. needs to stop its own cyberattacks against other countries and refrain from using cyber security to smear and slander China,” embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said. The embassy did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday. White House officials believe the hacking was regionally targeted and the focus was on very senior government officials. Federal authorities confirmed in October that hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. The number of countries impacted by the hack is currently believed to be in the “low, couple dozen,” according to a senior administration official. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity under rules set by the White House, said they believed the hacks started at least a year or two ago. The suggestions for telecom companies released Tuesday are largely technical in nature, urging encryption, centralization and consistent monitoring to deter cyber intrusions. If implemented, the security precautions could help disrupt the operation, dubbed Salt Typhoon, and make it harder for China or any other nation to mount a similar attack in the future, experts say. Trump's pick to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel was allegedly the target of cyberattack attempt by Iranian-backed hackers. Neuberger pointed to efforts made to beef up cybersecurity in the rail, aviation, energy and other sectors following the May 2021 ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline . “So, to prevent ongoing Salt Typhoon type intrusions by China, we believe we need to apply a similar minimum cybersecurity practice,” Neuberger said. The cyberattack by a gang of criminal hackers on the critical U.S. pipeline, which delivers about 45% of the fuel used along the Eastern Seaboard, sent ripple effects across the economy, highlighting cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the nation’s aging energy infrastructure. Colonial confirmed it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems as it scrambled to get the nation's fuel pipeline back online. Picture this: You're on vacation in a city abroad, exploring museums, tasting the local cuisine, and people-watching at cafés. Everything is going perfectly until you get a series of alerts on your phone. Someone is making fraudulent charges using your credit card, sending you into a panic. How could this have happened? Cyberattacks targeting travelers are nothing new. But as travel has increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so has the volume of hackers and cybercriminals preying upon tourists. Financial fraud is the most common form of cybercrime experienced by travelers, but surveillance via public Wi-Fi networks, social media hacking, and phishing scams are also common, according to a survey by ExpressVPN . Spokeo consulted cybersecurity sources and travel guides to determine some of the best ways to protect your phone while traveling, from using a VPN to managing secure passwords. Online attacks are not the only type of crime impacting travelers—physical theft of phones is also a threat. Phones have become such invaluable travel aids, housing our navigation tools, digital wallets, itineraries, and contacts, that having your phone stolen, lost, or compromised while abroad can be devastating. Meanwhile, traveling can make people uniquely vulnerable to both cyber and physical attacks due to common pitfalls like oversharing on social media and letting your guard down when it comes to taking risks online. Luckily, there are numerous precautions travelers can take to safeguard against cyberattacks and phone theft. Hackers can—and do—target public Wi-Fi networks at cafés and hotels to gain access to your personal information or install malware onto your device, particularly on unsecured networks. Travelers are especially vulnerable to these types of cybersecurity breaches because they are often more reliant on public Wi-Fi than they would be in their home countries where they have more robust phone plans. This reliance on public, unsecured networks means travelers are more likely to use those networks to perform sensitive tasks like financial transfers, meaning hackers can easily gain access to banking information or other passwords. One easy way to safeguard yourself against these breaches is to use a virtual private network, or VPN, while traveling. VPNs are apps that encrypt your data and hide your location, preventing hackers from accessing personal information. An added bonus is that VPNs allow you to access websites that may be blocked or unavailable in the country you are visiting. To use a VPN, simply download a VPN app on your phone or computer, create an account, choose a server, and connect. Pickpockets, scammers, and flagrant, snatch-your-phone-right-out-of-your-hand thieves can be found pretty much everywhere. In London, for instance, a staggering 91,000 phones were reported stolen to police in 2022 , breaking down to an average of 248 per day, according to the BBC. Whether you're visiting a crowded tourist attraction or just want peace of mind, travel experts advise taking precautions to make sure your phone isn't physically stolen or compromised while traveling. There are several antitheft options to choose from. If you want a bag that will protect your phone from theft, experts recommend looking for features like slash-resistant fabric, reinforced shoulder straps, hidden zippers that can be locked, and secure attachment points, like a cross-body strap or a sturdy clip. For tethers, look for those made of tear-resistant material with a reinforced clip or ring. If your phone falls into the wrong hands, there's a good chance you won't be getting it back. Out of those 91,000 phones stolen in London in 2022, only 1,915 (or about 2%) were recovered. The good news is that you can take precautions to make the loss of your phone less devastating by backing up your data before you travel. With backed-up data, you can acquire a new device and still access your photos, contacts, messages, and passwords. Moreover, if you have "Find My Device" or "Find My Phone" enabled, you can remotely wipe your stolen phone's data so the thief cannot access it. It's safest to back up your data to a hard drive and not just the cloud. That way, if you have to wipe your device, you don't accidentally erase the backup, too. Strong passwords for important accounts help protect your information while you travel, but it's just a first step. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends creating long, unique, and complex passwords for every account and combining them with multifactor authentication to create maximum barriers to entry. If you're worried about remembering these passwords, password managers can be a vital tool for both creating and storing strong passwords. Password managers are apps that act as secure vaults for all your passwords. Some even come with a feature that allows you to temporarily delete sensitive passwords before you travel and then easily restore them once you return. Story editing by Mia Nakaji Monnier. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Spokeo and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly.
ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 12, 2024-- Conversion rates on a 3rd and 1 hover near 60-70%. When a pre snap penalty occurs on the O-line, the percentage plummets below 40% for the replayed down. AIQ’s latest peer-reviewed research paper dives deep into the intellectual and athletic performance of offensive linemen and is making waves in the world of football analytics. As the NFL playoff race heats up and fans prepare for the 2025 draft in Green Bay, front-office staff are turning to data to stay ahead in a fast-evolving landscape. Teams need actionable insights to identify hidden gems that could transform their franchise. Decision-makers are looking for tools that cut through the noise and deliver clear answers—especially when it comes to draft choices. AIQ understands what’s at stake, providing needed insight with its latest peer-reviewed research paper, "The Relationships Between Reaction Time Scores and False Start Penalties of Offensive Linemen in the National Football League (NFL)." This peer-reviewed research provides groundbreaking insights into a critical player group: offensive linemen. These athletes form the backbone of every offensive play, ensuring protection and creating opportunities for their teammates. Yet, their contributions and potential often fly under the radar. As AIQ co-founder Jim Bowman, Psy.D. and his fellow researchers explain in the paper, “While offensive linemen may be less well known to fans than other NFL players, they are critical to a team’s success, because they provide offensive players the necessary protection and time to execute winning plays.” The research shows how reaction time scores directly relate to false start penalties, giving teams a clear game plan to spot linemen who thrive under pressure. Teams can use these insights to: To address this, AIQ’s research takes a unique approach by correlating intelligence scores—specifically from the AIQ assessment—with performance metrics like false start penalties. The results reveal actionable strategies for reducing errors and optimizing O-line performance. The offensive line is often the unsung hero of a team’s success. Size, speed, and strength are important—but there’s more to the story. That’s why AIQ digs deeper into the mental game. Skills like reaction time, decision-making, and learning efficiency are what set great linemen apart. Those split-second decisions in the red zone? They can be the difference between a costly penalty that pushes the down and distance back or a play that changes the game. AIQ leveraged decades of scientific study and its proprietary assessment tool, developed over 15 years and validated with data from 12,000+ elite athletes, including everyone from Olympians to NFL players. This tool evaluates intelligence across four critical areas: With a database encompassing over 93% of each year’s NFL Draft class, AIQ offers a statistically robust, peer-reviewed foundation for its insights. AIQ is the only intelligence assessment scientifically proven to impact NFL performance. Its tools work alongside traditional evaluations to give teams a full picture of their players and prospects. According to AIQ co-founder Scott Goldman, Ph.D., it’s all about helping decision-makers build rosters that keep up with the fast-changing game. “AIQ is the only instrument scientifically proven to impact NFL performance,” Goldman says. “We provide more task-specific details designed for today’s NFL game than any other product available.” The company has shared that a fifth peer-reviewed research article, focusing on quarterback performance, will be published and available soon. Visit aiq.team to learn more about this transformative research and how it can help your team secure its next big win. ABOUT AIQ Since 2012, AIQ has been trusted by teams in every major league to provide the cognitive insight necessary to create winning teams. AIQ co-founders Scott Goldman, Ph.D. and Jim Bowman, Psy.D. have collaborated with major league teams for over 25 years. With strategies backed by research and peer-reviewed scientific evidence, AIQ is the first and only global company with a proprietary Athletic Intelligence Quotient assessment that translates real cognitive research into improved performance on and off the field. With AIQ, high-performance teams play more cohesively and win more frequently. For more information, visit aiq.team . View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212333077/en/ Lauren Kwedar Cockerell |lauren@kwedarco.com| 817-405-9878 KEYWORD: MICHIGAN UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: NEUROLOGY GOLF FOOTBALL APPS/APPLICATIONS OTHER TECHNOLOGY BASKETBALL BASEBALL SOFTWARE SPORTS OTHER SCIENCE GENERAL SPORTS RESEARCH MENTAL HEALTH ELECTRONIC DESIGN AUTOMATION DATA MANAGEMENT WEARABLES/MOBILE TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY OTHER SPORTS SCIENCE BIOTECHNOLOGY AUDIO/VIDEO SOCCER HEALTH GENERAL HEALTH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MOTOR SPORTS SOURCE: Athletic Intelligence Quotient Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/12/2024 02:30 PM/DISC: 12/12/2024 02:32 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241212333077/en
PARIS (AP) — Paris Saint-Germain retained a six-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 after a labored 3-0 home win over Toulouse on Friday. The defending champion dominated the first half but it took until the 35th minute to open the scoring. Young Portuguese midfielder João Neves spun to meet a cross from the right and struck a superb half volley from just outside the box. Lucas Beraldo got a second with six minutes remaining when he pounced on loose ball and fired home. Vitinha made it 3-0 in stoppage time when he showed fine footwork inside the box to finish off a quick counterattack. The scoreline was harsh on Toulouse, which came into the game in a more even second half. Only Vitinha’s last-gasp tackle stopped Zakaria Aboukhlal from equalizing after 69 minutes and then Shavy Babicka blazed over from close range a minute later when he should have hit the target. The win was a confidence boost for Luis Enrique’s side ahead of next Tuesday’s Champions League encounter at Bayern Munich. PSG lies in 25th place in the 36-team Champions League table with one win in four matches and outside the playoff spots. The win came immediately after second-placed Monaco beaten Brest 3-2 to briefly close the gap at the top to three points. Brest, which faces Barcelona next week in the Champions League, turned in another inconsistent French league performance and not the sparkling form it has shown in Europe. Brest has struggled in Ligue 1, where it remains 12th, but shone with three wins from four in its first ever Champions League campaign. It was behind after just five minutes on Friday when Maghnes Akliouche scored with a superb airborne volley, and 2-0 down after 24 minutes thanks to Aleksandr Golovin. The Russian striker seized on a poor pass just outside the Brest penalty area and his low shot was perfectly placed to sneak in off the post and give him his first goal in nine league appearances. On-loan Brighton striker Abdallah Sima used his 1.88-meter frame to outjump the Monaco defense four minutes into the second half and cut the deficit but Akliouche restored Monaco’s two-goal cushion when he brilliantly finished a quick counterattack in stoppage time. Ludovic Ajorque got a second for Brest in the sixth minute of added time but it was not enough in a second half most notable for the red card shown to Brest coach Éric Roy. AP soccer:{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-12-10T22:43:53+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-12-10T22:43:53+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-12-10T22:43:52+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22507/sports/football/apr-fcs-attacking-woes-a-source-of-concern-for-darko", "headline": "APR FCs attacking woes: A source of concern for Darko?", "description": "APR FC were arguably among the most active clubs in the June-July 2024 transfer window, spending hundreds of million francs on club’s massive...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22507/sports/football/apr-fcs-attacking-woes-a-source-of-concern-for-darko" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/10/66135.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/12/10/66135.jpg" }, "articleBody": "APR FC were arguably among the most active clubs in the June-July 2024 transfer window, spending hundreds of million francs on club’s massive rebuild. The move saw the club bring in striker Mamadou Sy from Mauritanian outfit Nouakchott Kings as the man to lead their attack. He is now in tough competition for a starting berth upfront with Nigerian striker Victor Mbaoma who finished as the joint top scorer of the 2023/24 Rwanda Premier League season. Mbaoma has, however, virtually been oblivion this season. He has failed to find the back of the net this season and have eventually lost his starting place to Sy is also yet to prove his worth with just two penalty goals scored (vs Vision FC) so far this campaign. ALSO READ: APR share spoils with Police FC in epic encounter APR head coach Darko Novic admits his side has attacking problems. After club’s 1-1 draw against Police FC on December 4, the Serbian tactician admitted that they are still lagging behind in attack. Mamadou is not fully fit, he cannot play full 90 minutes, that is why I always take him out later in the second half, Novic told the press We have an attacking problem. There is no striker on the bench and we have to convert either Arsene Tuyisenge or Johnson Chidiebere into centre forward. Novic's assertion is pretty right. APR have good defenders and midfielders and they create many chances whose majority have gone to waste considering that the likes of Sy continues to struggle in finishing while Mbaoma remains sidelined through injury. The Rwandan champions have not scored more than two goals per game this season while their title rivals Rayon, Police and others have been ruthless in front of goal. Should APR move for a striker in January? It is early days yet but, reference to the current situation, Mamadou Sy will need time to adapt. He has been struggling in front of goal and Mbaoma, on the other hand, is currently looking lost at sea when he gets the chance to play. Having a clinical finisher is not a guarantee that you will win games as every player can score but it helps your team to be intact. Again, a great finisher will bring more bite to the attack of APR and, in big games, he can be the deciding factor. The first transfer window of 2025 opens on January 1 and Novic will have to get a potent striker if he wants to retain the league title. Or else, the title could be getting out of his hands. For now, Rayon have Fall Ngagne, Police have Peter Agblevor and Elijah Ani, AS Kigali have Hussein Shaban and Emmanuel Okwi. These are experienced attackers who can pop up on any day and do magic. APR must beef up their attack if they really want to win a silverware this season.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Edmund Okai Gyimah" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }
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OTTAWA — TikTok is challenging the federal government’s order to shut down its operations in Canada. The company filed documents in Federal Court in Vancouver last Thursday. In November, Ottawa ordered the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform. That means TikTok must “wind down” its operations in Canada, though the app will continue to be available to Canadians. TikTok is asking the court to overturn the government’s order and to put a pause on the order going into effect while the court hears the case. It is claiming the decision was “unreasonable” and “driven by improper purposes.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Darryl Greer and Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian PressRobert Fernandez was a 17-year-old with a sense of wanderlust when he enlisted in the Navy in August 1941. Four months later, he was a cook aboard the USS Curtiss docked at Pearl Harbor the morning of the cataclysmic Japanese surprise attack on Dec. 7. “I just thought I was gonna go dancing all the time, have a good time, see the world,” Fernandez recalled in 2016. “What’d I do? I got caught in the war.” Fernandez, who died Wednesday at age 100 in Lodi, California, was among the hundreds of service members who survived the attack. His death leaves barely more than a dozen surviving Pearl Harbor veterans. Fernandez planned to attend the annual commemoration of the attack in Hawaii last weekend, but a downturn in his health forced him to cancel at the last minute. His death was announced in a post on the social platform X by Pacific Historic Parks. Fernandez was busying himself in the ship’s mess the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, anticipating liberty later in the day. When the ship’s alarms when off, he raced up to the deck of the Curtiss, a seaplane tender. A plane flew so close he felt he could reach out and touch it. “And the pilot didn’t even look at me; he just kept on going,” Fernandez said in 2016 for the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project. “I just run right home to my battle station.” “All I could see was a red ball,” he said, referring to the rising sun emblem on the plane. He was scared. “My knees were knocking,” he said. “I seen a couple guys on the deck just praying and praying and praying.” Fernandez’s battle station was three decks below, where he was sealed up “like they do in a submarine,” he said. His job was to pass ammunition to the gunners. The Curtiss was one of few ships that managed to get underway during the attack. The ship’s crew sighted the periscope of a Japanese midget submarine in the harbor and fired. Shipboard gunners hit a Japanese plane, which crashed into the Curtiss. Minutes later, a Japanese dive bomber struck the ship and damaged several decks. Twenty-one crew members of the Curtiss died that day, with many more wounded. Fernandez served aboard the ship for the rest of the war. It saw service during the battles at Midway, Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands. He was discharged from the Navy in 1947.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are rushing to introduce legislation that reaffirms the state's role as a reproductive rights "haven" as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House and abortion-rights advocates warn of an uncertain future. Abortion remains legal in California, home to the strongest reproductive rights in the nation — unlike in some states, there is no required waiting period or counseling before the procedure, and minors can get abortions without parental involvement. In 2022 , voters solidified abortion access in the state constitution after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right, limiting healthcare for millions of women. But as Trump prepares to take the White House again, California's Democratic leaders are adamant that not enough has been done to secure reproductive access in case of further federal rollbacks. "The truth is, this is an urgent and dangerous situation," California Attorney General Rob Bonta said at a news conference in Sacramento on Monday, pointing to renewed legal challenges to the distribution of abortion pills. "The right-wing extremists continue to wage attack after attack on our bodily autonomy at the expense of the health or life of pregnant persons." Bonta, a Democrat, said new legislative proposals will make reproductive rights in California "ironclad." Gov. Gavin Newsom's earlier focus on abortion rights after Trump's first term — including ad campaigns in red states — have drawn criticism from California Republicans skeptical of his national political motives and praise from advocates who say it is better to be safe than sorry. While he has signed dozens of bills firming up abortion access in recent years, some of his plans have proved to be more flash than substance. A temporary law allowing doctors licensed in Arizona to provide abortions in California, for example, expired without any doctors using it. "He makes the big pronouncements, but he's not a very good executor of those policies," said Assembly Republican leader James Gallagher of Yuba City. "It's kind of become his M.O. to make a big splash, and then nothing really ever comes of it." Democrats, however, see the need to shore up abortion access given the uncertainty of Trump's plans. A bill introduced this week aims to ensure availability of mifepristone and misoprostol — the commonly used two-step medication abortion process — even if the Trump administration attempts to interfere. At issue is how anti-abortion government officials could revive and interpret the Comstock Act , a federal law that once banned the mailing of "obscene" materials related to abortions. While Trump has said he has no plans to ban abortion nationwide, he has repeatedly flip-flopped on the issue and taken credit for appointing conservative Supreme Court justices who reversed the federal right to abortion with their decision in the landmark Dobbs case. Reproductive health advocates are worried that under his second term, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could limit access to abortion medication. To lead the FDA, Trump has tapped Dr. Marty Makary , who has echoed antiabortion messages on Fox News about fetal pain — something disputed by major medical organizations. The California bill by former Planned Parenthood attorney and legislative newcomer Assemblymember Maggy Krell , D-Sacramento, aims to ensure that Californians continue to have access to medication abortion for the foreseeable future and protects "manufacturers, distributors, authorized healthcare providers and individuals" from any legal action for distributing or administering the pills. "There are emerging threats to the availability of mifepristone and misoprostol, and California may not be able to guarantee a continued supply," the bill states. "Previously, Governor Newsom implemented a plan to stockpile doses of misoprostol. While this effort was successful, the Legislature finds that the state needs to renew its stockpile to ensure that Californians can continue to exercise their constitutional rights." Last year, Newsom rushed to stockpile hundreds of thousands of abortion pills after a Texas judge ruled against the authorization of the medication. "We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California," Newsom said then. But, facing expiration dates, the state released the stockpile to the public before the U.S. Supreme Court decision that rejected the Texas court's ruling. In Washington, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee chose to hold onto a similar stockpile in case Trump was reelected. A spokesperson for Newsom said California "remains ready" to procure more pills if needed. In another precautionary move last year, Newsom signed a law that allowed abortion providers in Arizona to temporarily practice in California. The action came after the Arizona Supreme Court reinstated an 1800s law that essentially banned all abortions. No Arizona providers ended up using the program, which expired Dec. 1, according to the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Concerns settled in Arizona after Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that repealed the court decision, and voters last month passed a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a right to abortion . The California legislation "was designed to serve as a swift stop gap measure to preserve continued access to abortion care, if necessary, during this very precarious moment," California Department of Consumer Affairs spokesperson Monica Vargas said in an email when The Times asked for data about the program's use. Newsom also signed a law last year that allowed medical residents from states with "hostile" laws to get abortion training in California. The state does not require the California Medical Board to track whether that program is being used as intended, a spokesperson said. For Republican critics like Gallagher, those programs are instances of "political theater" meant more to draw attention to an issue than provide substantive policy. Newsom this week called a special legislative session in Sacramento to prepare for legal combat with Trump on issues such as abortion and immigration — a move heralded by liberals as smart preparation for an unpredictable president and criticized by conservatives as unnecessary panic. "In California, abortion is constitutionally protected, and you have a president-elect who has said very clearly he will not support any national abortion ban," Gallagher said. "This perceived threat that they're trying to make into a political volley ... it's just Newsom drawing attention to himself." Some abortion advocates said that they'd rather have a nimble governor like Newsom and be cautious even if the emergency plans don't always pan out. "Now more than ever is the time for innovative policy solutions," said Shannon Olivieri Hovis, a spokesperson for Essential Health Access. "And inevitably, it is going to be the case that not all solutions we put forth will be equally effective." Other bills introduced this week seeking to fill California's reproductive health access gaps include a proposal to financially penalize cities and counties that block the building of abortion clinics, as has happened in Beverly Hills and Fontana. Assemblymember Mia Bonta, D-Oakland, introduced a package of bills that ensure hospitals enforce laws that require emergency rooms to provide abortion care; make it easier for Medi-Cal recipients to get birth control; and prevent birthing centers from closing. About 40% of California counties don't have abortion clinics, including rural areas where transportation can be a hurdle. In September, the state sued a Humboldt County Catholic hospital after a patient said she was denied an emergency abortion even as she feared for her life because of miscarriage risks. "We have to be absolutely clear-eyed about the political and social moment we're in right now... when we have a proven misogynist as a president," said Mia Bonta, who is married to the attorney general, referring to Trump's sexual abuse allegations and "your body, my choice" refrains that surged after his election. "I think while California has done an amazing job, we still have a lot of work to do to shore up the infrastructure of support for people who are seeking health care and abortion access and protection of our reproductive and sexual freedoms." ©2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.