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SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is “alert” and conscious after being taken off the field on a stretcher during the team's 1-0 win at Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday, manager Julen Lopetegui said. The game was delayed for around eight minutes as Fabianski received treatment on the field at St Mary's Stadium. The 39-year-old Polish goalkeeper was hurt in a collision from a corner and was replaced by Alphonse Areola in the 36th minute. Southampton 'keeper Aaron Ramsdale had run the length of the field to check on Fabianski amid worrying scenes. Fabianski was then greeted by applause as he was taken off with an oxygen mask on, but did not need to go to the hospital. “He had one big knock around the head, around the neck and he was not very sure about his actions. Fortunately the news is he is talking, he is alert, he is conscious,” Lopetegui said. “I talk with him. The doctors say that he feels better and well. I am positive with him. He showed he more or less recovered his sense. I am not afraid. We feared but now he is better and it is a positive feeling because we were very worried.” West Ham, which also saw defender Max Kilman go off in the first half, scored through Jarrod Bowen in the 59th. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerKYIV, 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!
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Big News!! Best Sac Homes Group Partners with LPT RealtyThe rule of law lies at the heart of any functioning democracy, serving as a cornerstone for justice, equality, and the very fabric of society itself. As the United States prepares to enter a new administration under President Trump, the role of lawyers becomes increasingly pivotal in ensuring that this fundamental principle is upheld. Lawyers wield significant influence, serving as guardians of the Constitution and advocates for justice. During times of political transition and uncertainty, they must embody the ethical mandate that guides the legal profession—upholding integrity, fostering respect for the law, and protecting the rights bestowed upon citizens by the Constitution. To understand the gravity of the situation, one can reflect on the words of famed civil rights attorney, Bryan Stevenson, who once stated, “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” This assertion emphasizes the transformative power of the law and the necessity for a legal framework that fosters redemption, fairness, and opportunity. Stevenson’s vision underlines the lawyer’s responsibility to ensure that justice is accessible to all individuals, especially marginalized communities that may become more vulnerable in times when political rhetoric turns divisive. The incoming administration presents unique challenges that could test the resilience of the rule of law. The potential for executive overreach, as seen through the lens of recent historical precedents, raises alarms about the balance of power—a key ideal enshrined in the Constitution. Lawyers must remain vigilant, steadfast in their commitment to advocacy and litigation that holds the government accountable. Each case, each argument, and each legal battle contributes to the gradual yet essential evolution of justice and a respect for the law. One of the essential roles that lawyers play is as advocates for the Constitution. They possess the unique ability to interpret, argue, and apply constitutional principles, keeping in mind the underlying intent of the framers. In a democracy, dissent is a vital component of progress. Lawyers should ensure a robust system of checks and balances to protect against potential abuses of power by the government. As noted by New York Times columnist and lawyer Thomas Friedman, “In a democracy, the most important thing is the rule of law.” This underscores the notion that rule-bound governance creates stability, enabling the country to navigate through contentious political waters. In maintaining the integrity of the profession, lawyers not only serve their clients but also uphold ethical standards that reinforce public trust in the legal system. The American Bar Association (ABA) outlines a comprehensive set of ethical rules that emphasize a lawyer’s duty to maintain competence, confidentiality, and the loyalty owed to clients. Furthermore, ethical practice mandates that lawyers avoid complicity in unjust actions and encourage fairness and equality in their representation of all citizens. It is a lawyer’s sworn duty. As lawyers navigate through the new political landscape, they must remember that they are not merely servants of their clients but also champions of justice. Lawyers are entrusted with the task of interpreting this document, ensuring that it is honored and that citizens understand their rights and protections under the law. Educating the public about their constitutional rights is an invaluable aspect of a lawyer’s role, especially in an era when misinformation can easily proliferate. Moreover, the duty of lawyers extends beyond individual cases; their collective action can foster systemic change. Lawyer-led initiatives can address issues such as inequality, access to justice, and the protection of civil liberties. In the words of the legendary attorney Clarence Darrow, “The main purpose of the law is to make sure that we can live together.” By harnessing the power of the legal profession as a voice for the voiceless, lawyers can challenge injustice and advocate for necessary reforms, thereby reinforcing the principles of fairness and equity that the legal system is supposed to encapsulate. Ultimately, the responsibility to uphold the rule of law and maintain the integrity of the profession transcends individual ambition. The legal profession has a sacred duty, one that requires unity, collaboration, and vigilance. Only through a resolute commitment to legal principles and ethical standards can lawyers ensure that the United States continues to fortify its democratic foundations against the encroachment of potential tyranny. As the nation embarks on this new political chapter, lawyers must stand firm in their dedication to justice. Only through the unwavering resolve of legal professionals can America navigate its path forward, grounded in the rule of law, constitutional integrity, and unwavering respect for all human rights. The burden falls upon them, as the guardians of justice, to forge a society that honors its foundational principles and strives for equity and truth. UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied in Six Days' War On November 22, 1967, the UN Security Council called for Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied during the Six Days' War, and for respect of the right of all States in the area to "live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries."Read , which remains a cornerstone of efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East. President Kennedy assassinated, VP Lyndon Johnson sworn inin On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. Later that day, Vice-President Lyndon Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. Earl Warren, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was later tasked with leading a commission to investigate the assassination. President Johnson received the final report of the Warren Commission on September 24, 1964. the Warren Commission Report.
Unions attack 2.8% Government pay rise proposal for NHS workers and teachers
Sportlogiq’s Mike Kelly joined the Hockey Central panel to discuss why the Edmonton Oilers Connor McDavid is considered the best hockey player in the world and why advanced analytics confirm it. From zone entries to rush chances, Kelly and the panel unpacked the numbers that make McDavid a generational talent. Here’s a breakdown of their conversation and what it means for hockey. McDavid’s Unmatched Statistical Dominance One of the most staggering insights shared by Kelly is McDavid’s sheer statistical superiority since his rookie season. First, he has a staggering lead in controlled zone entries. McDavid has 900 more controlled zone entries than Nathan MacKinnon , the next closest player in this category. Second, he leads the NHL in rush chances. He has generated over 100 more rush chances than anyone else in the NHL. Third, his playmaking in high-danger areas is second to none. McDavid leads in contested slot passes with 216 more successful attempts than any other player. These stats highlight McDavid’s ability to create plays, maintain possession, and consistently threaten opposing defenses. As Kelly notes, McDavid isn’t just good at these aspects—he’s redefining what elite looks like. As a result, the panel emphasized that McDavid’s level of play places him firmly in the “generational talent” category. The Oilers are lucky to have him. McDavid’s average average of 1.52 points per game for the Oilers dwarfs even elite players like Mitch Marner , who trails by nearly half a point. Over a season, this gap equates to about 40 points—a massive difference. His level of consistency is outstanding. Whether he’s creating opportunities off the rush or dominating in high-danger areas, McDavid’s game has elite qualities that no other player can replicate. McDavid Is Excited for International Play Another fascinating takeaway is McDavid’s enthusiasm for representing Canada in the upcoming Four Nations Face-Off. During the interview about representing Canada, McDavid shared a rare display of excitement when he expressed his eagerness to play alongside stars like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. His passion for best-on-best hockey is evident. Despite a grueling Oilers regular season and playoff runs, McDavid is energized by the opportunity to compete at the highest level internationally. This excitement contrasts with McDavid’s reserved demeanor, giving fans a glimpse into his passion for hockey. What McDavid Means for the Game of Hockey McDavid’s dominance isn’t just about his stats; it’s about pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in hockey. His skillset forces opponents to adapt, reshaping defensive strategies across the league. Moreover, his willingness to embrace international play suggests he values legacy and the sport’s growth on a global stage. With McDavid leading the charge, hockey fans witness his era-defining talent. McDavid isn’t just statistically the best player in the world—he’s redefining how hockey is played and watched. From his dominance in advanced metrics to his enthusiasm for international competition, McDavid sets a standard that may not be matched for decades. As Kelly and the panel highlighted, fans should appreciate this generational talent because players like McDavid don’t come along often. Could McDavid’s international play further cement his status as the best in the world? All signs point to yes. Fans should expect even more brilliance as he sets new benchmarks for excellence. This article first appeared on NHL Trade Talk and was syndicated with permission.Country singer Caleb Kennedy, who competed in American Idol Season 19, has been sentenced to eight years in prison following his involvement in a 2022 car crash that killed a man in Pacolet, South Carolina. Kennedy pled guilty last week to the felony charge of driving under the influence resulting in death, according to the Greenville News . He was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison and a $25,100 fine, but he had that sentence and fine reduced to eight years and $15,100, with three of those years served in home detention. He also received credit for the nearly three years he has already served. Additionally, the singer will serve five years of probation, and he is required to attend mental health and substance abuse counseling. The legal update comes nearly three years after Kennedy, then 17, struck and killed 54-year-old Larry Duane Parris while driving his Ford F-150 on February 8, 2022. Warrants alleged that Kennedy was under the influence of marijuana at the time, and he was arrested on the DUI charge on the day of the crash. Ryan Beasley, Kennedy’s attorney, told the News that the sentencing was fair. “He’s got no record, and he was a minor when this happened,” Beasley said. “This wasn’t such an egregious act that you see most of the time, where people were drinking and driving then they hit somebody at night or going the wrong way down the road. This was a weird reaction from his prescription medicine and possibly THC.” Beasley also said that Kennedy is “very remorseful” and that the sentencing “starts the healing process for everybody involved in this situation.” (The News notes that Parris’ family wanted the maximum 25-year sentence.) Kennedy made it to the Top 7 of American Idol Season 19 but withdrew from the competition after a video of him standing next to a person wearing a Ku Klux Klan-style hood resurfaced. “I was younger and did not think about the actions, but that’s not an excuse,” Kennedy said, in part, on social media at the time. “I wanna say I’m sorry to all my fans and everyone who I have let down.” More Headlines:
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‘American Idol’ Alum Caleb Kennedy Pleads Guilty, Gets 8 Years in Prison After Fatal DUI CrashInflation is predicted to average 2.5% this year and 2.6% next year, according to forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility. The British Medical Association said the Government showed a “poor grasp” of unresolved issues from two years of industrial action, and the Royal College of Nursing called the pay recommendation “deeply offensive”. The National Education Union’s chief said teachers were “putting the Government on notice” that the proposed increase “won’t do”. The pay recommendations came after Chancellor Rachel Reeves called for every Government department to cut costs by 5%, as she started work on a sweeping multi-year spending review to be published in 2025. Independent pay review bodies will consider the proposals for pay rises for teachers, NHS workers and senior civil servants. The Department of Health said it viewed 2.8% as a “reasonable amount” to set aside, in its recommendations to the NHS Pay Review Body and the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration Board remit groups. A 2.8% pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would “maintain the competitiveness of teachers’ pay despite the challenging financial backdrop the Government is facing”, the Department for Education said. The Cabinet Office also suggested pay increases for senior civil servants should be kept to no more than 2.8%. Paul Johnson, director of the influential economics think tank the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said it was “not a bad ballpark figure” and feels “just about affordable” given the Government’s public spending plans. The downside, he said, is that public sector workers have lost out since 2010 and unions will be upset that this is not making up the gap, he told Sky News’ Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge. “But given the constraints facing the Chancellor I think it’s pretty hard to argue for more for public sector pay when public sector services ... are under real strain,” he said. Unions expressed their disappointment in the recommendations, with some hinting they could be willing to launch industrial action. The Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive called for “open direct talks now” to avoid “further escalation to disputes and ballots”. Professor Nicola Ranger said: “The Government has today told nursing staff they are worth as little as £2 extra a day, less than the price of a coffee. “Nursing is in crisis – there are fewer joining and too many experienced professionals leaving. This is deeply offensive to nursing staff, detrimental to their patients and contradictory to hopes of rebuilding the NHS. “The public understands the value of nursing and they know that meaningful reform of the NHS requires addressing the crisis in nursing. “We pulled out of the Pay Review Body process, alongside other unions, because it is not the route to address the current crisis. “That has been demonstrated today. “Fair pay must be matched by structural reform. Let’s open direct talks now and avoid further escalation to disputes and ballots – I have said that directly to government today.” Professor Philip Banfield, chairman of the British Medical Association’s council, urged the sector’s pay review body to “show it is now truly independent”. “For this Government to give evidence to the doctors’ and dentists’ pay review body (DDRB) believing a 2.8% pay rise is enough, indicates a poor grasp of the unresolved issues from two years of industrial action,” he said. He said the proposal is far below the current rate of inflation and that the Government was “under no illusion” when doctors accepted pay offers in the summer that there was a “very real risk of further industrial action” if “pay erosion” was not addressed in future pay rounds. “This sub-inflationary suggestion from the current Government serves as a test to the DDRB. “The BMA expects it to take this opportunity to show it is now truly independent, to take an objective view of the evidence it receives from all parties, not just the Government, and to make an offer that reflects the value of doctors’ skills and expertise in a global market, and that moves them visibly further along the path to full pay restoration.” The NEU’s general secretary, Daniel Kebede, said teachers’ pay had been cut by more than one-fifth in real terms since 2010. “Along with sky-high workload, the pay cuts have resulted in a devastating recruitment and retention crisis. Teacher shortages across the school system hit pupils and parents too. “A 2.8% increase is likely to be below inflation and behind wage increases in the wider economy. This will only deepen the crisis in education.” In a hint that there could be a return to industrial action he added: “NEU members fought to win the pay increases of 2023 and 2024. “We are putting the Government on notice. Our members care deeply about education and feel the depth of the crisis. This won’t do.” The offer for teachers is the “exact opposite of fixing the foundations” and will result in bigger class sizes and more cuts to the curriculum, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “The inadequacy of the proposed pay award is compounded by the Government’s intention that schools should foot the bill out of their existing allocations. “Given that per-pupil funding will increase on average by less than 1% next year, and the Government’s proposal is for an unfunded 2.8% pay award, it is obvious that this is in fact an announcement of further school cuts.” Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders’ union NAHT, said: This recommendation falls far short of what is needed to restore the competitiveness of the teaching profession, to enable it to retain experienced professionals and attract new talent. Unison head of health Helga Pile said: “The Government has inherited a financial mess from its predecessors, but this is not what NHS workers wanted to hear. “Staff are crucial in turning around the fortunes of the NHS. Improving performance is a key Government pledge, but the pay rise proposed is barely above the cost of living.”Big News!! Best Sac Homes Group Partners with LPT Realty
A Thirroul GP who specialises in treating women during midlife and menopause has opened a new clinic in Wollongong's southern suburbs. Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading With demand surging for services relating to the skincare, weight and weight loss medication and hormonal and mental health issues that surround perimenopause and menopause, Dr Jemima Grant has set up Sanctuary by Thrive, in Unanderra. "Think about like a 40 year old's dream, somewhere where you can go and have, get advice about nice skin, get your skin treated, talk about weight loss, talk about hormone management, get evidence-based advice," she said. "I feel like a lot of women in their 40s - and men - just find it hard to lose weight, for instance, and as a system we're not offering them good care." "But as with many things in medicine and health and wellness, there is starting to be a huge commodification of menopause. "But that means having evidence-based guidelines, or having a doctor talk to you about it is, really important, because not everything is menopause , but also menopause is really a holistic subject." "Not everything can be fixed with a tablet or a pill or a patch, you also need to make changes in your life and adapt and you need help and support to do that." "Teaching you to look after yourself is a huge part of surviving menopause because you actually have to change and start nurturing and not giving out all the time, because you just run out of energy, and that obviously applies to all humans, but we're not machines. She is operating from a site on Tannery Street that fit her purpose of helping people with their "wellness, rather than sickness". "I also wanted to have a really safe environment for people to come that wasn't a traditional medical environment with sick people, because a lot of what we're doing is health prevention," she said. "I called it The Sanctuary because I wanted people to see it as a place they could come to speak to, qualified, educated people about their concerns - or maybe things that they might feel a bit shy or embarrassed about." Dr Grant works with other health practitioners, like a dietitian, diabetes educators and personal trainers. "I feel like this type of thing where we're seeing really multi-disciplinary teams working in wellness rather than sickness will be happening more and more," she said. While she has focused on women's health, Dr Grant said she had started seeing more men in recent months. "I'm seeing young men and middle-aged men who were so responsive to coming to like a discreet place to talk about their concerns, so I have tried to keep it a bit gender neutral," she said. "And I think you'll find in a year or two that that actually men will be coming to these sort of places more often to to look after themselves." Using her own experience Dr Grant became an advocate for women experiencing menopause symptoms after being blindsided when she started experiencing perimenopause, even though she was a GP with years of experience. She remembers being told 'it's nothing, it's in your head, have an anti-anxiety tablet' and has since hosted events to help educate women about perimenopause. She publicly shared he experience of having symptoms in her 40s, which ended in her quitting her job because she didn't get the right help to treat the condition. "With my third baby I started to get sweats while I was breastfeeding, which I thought was because I was really stressed," she said. "I had some postnatal depression, and over the next few years I had a lot of emotional symptoms and weight changes that were, when I look back on it, worse the two weeks before my period." "I was sitting there sweating, dripping on my patients, getting super-stressed and having panic attacks on the way to work, not sleeping well." "I went to my doctor, who put me on an anti-anxiety tablet - which I tried and got side-effects - and I ended up just quitting my job." Now years later, she incorporates clinical medicine focusing on perimenopause into her Thirroul skin clinic, encouraging people to try yoga, herbs, exercise or hormone treatments to treat their symptoms. Could you have perimenopause? While perimenopause is slowly becoming much better understood and widely talked about, Dr Grant said too many women were not being diagnosed and treated. "As a doctor, my biggest message is, if you're getting a lot of symptoms of perimenopause, it can herald that you're at risk of cardiovascular disease in your future life," she said. "Perimenopause is kind of like the canary in the coal mine for women - if you're getting a lot of sweating, hot flushes it's a warning sign that we need to treat it and not just ignore it." "Women have been told there's nothing we can do about it, it's just something you have to go through, or that it's too dangerous to treat - but that's actually not true." She said women should be on the lookout for symptoms of perimenopause from their mid-to-late 30s, with a new onset of anxiety or insomnia usually the earliest signs she sees as a clinician. "This can be from low progesterone - which happens way before your estrogen starts to drop - and is a very calming hormone," she said. "So in the two weeks before our period you might feel anxious, have insomnia, not sleep well, to panic, have rage and low mood. And you can actually correct that with a bioidentical progesterone, or you can start with herbs." She said women may also see a change in their weight as their estrogen starts to drop, because of the link between estrogen and insulin. "When you're low in estrogen, you tend to put weight on your abdomen, which is the area that has high metabolic risk and is very hard to lose, and increases your risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure," she said. "I want women to know that there is a way of living your life where you have to become a bit more accountable, and this will help these symptoms. "Women need to know that this is a time that they have to look after themselves, and that there is so much you can do now to prevent and help with symptoms, and also prevent chronic disease down the track." For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit. For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit. More from Latest News Newsletters & Alerts DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. 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A t the end of the year, newsrooms are generally half-empty. Many journalists happily go away on holiday, leaving news editors patrolling deserted aisles and staring at empty news lists and blank pages, wondering how to fill them. The panicked editors sometimes terrorise the few unfortunate reporters left behind, who then furiously start working the lines. It is especially at this difficult hour that people with capacious minds and precise memories come to our rescue. They have no billowing capes, no colourful spandex costumes, no shields, and no swords, but they are our saviours. In a reporter’s lexicon, they are ‘dial a quote’ sources — subject experts who can weigh in on any problem and provide context for stories. Two days ago, I went around the newsroom speaking to reporters. My colleagues said they swear by a student leader-turned-activist-turned-politician, who is now an academic, for quotes on anything from the travails of the homeless in Delhi’s bitter cold winters, to trade union protests, to trouble at universities. For the security beat reporters, former officers of the Army, Air Force, and Navy are the go-to guides. They explain the topography of a border area where a conflict has broken out or the torturous process of buying weapons than may span over decades. Their on-the-record comments add gravitas to the story. Then there are historians. Every time a road is renamed or a heritage structure comes crumbling down, they take us through the dusty bylanes of a bygone era. Without them, our stories would have no roots and simply become dull ‘he said, she said’ exchanges. While writing about rural development, I lean on activists who spend months in the field and are in touch with the workers every day. They trawl through the gigabytes of data on government websites to spot trends. Often, I feel guilty for sponging off their hard work, but we reporters draw solace from the fact that as the medium, we have successfully managed to put the message across. Political commentators are always ready to talk. Generally, the more they are sidelined within their party, the more enthusiastic they are to be quoted. ‘Dial a quote’ is not a new fad; it is as old as newsrooms. The scientist, J.B.S. Haldane, was a darling of journalists and would be ready to comment on anything under the sun, from weather to submarines. In Haldane’s biography, A Dominant Character , Samanth Subramanian quotes an apocryphal story about him. A journalist, probably on a slow news day, called Haldane to ask him what his studies about nature had taught him about the Creator. Haldane replied, “He has an inordinate fondness for beetles.” If dial-a-quoters are witty, it is an added bonus. Editors, of course, hate some of these stock names that appear often in stories. Once, a harried news editor, tired of seeing the same names crop up in copies on cost of living, gave a standing instruction: the names of the people who supply tea and snacks should never find their way to print. Also, the views of these sources can sometimes be jaded and out of date. So, we keep searching for new ‘dial a quote’ sources who offer newer and different perspectives. The most invaluable sources are those whose names never appear in print, but who provide background information; the scaffolding that supports our stories. During elections, they provide tutorials on caste equations, political rivalries, and the shifting loyalties of local leaders in various constituencies. There are also those who we may not call for months, but still go the extra mile to arrange interviews. The dial-a-quote sources may come from different fields but they have some things in common. They are passionate about their area of expertise, kind enough to pick our call at any time, and answer basic queries with patience. They are also brave enough to be quoted on record. As we take stock of the year gone by, we would like to pay our gratitude to all our ‘dial a quote’ sources — thank you. sobhanak.nair@thehindu.co.in Published - December 27, 2024 03:12 am IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit news mediaThe S&P 500 fell less than 0.1% after spending the day wavering between small gains and losses. The tiny loss ended the benchmark index’s three-day winning streak. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.1%. Trading volume was lighter than usual as US markets reopened following the Christmas holiday. Semiconductor giant Nvidia, whose enormous valuation gives it an outsize influence on indexes, slipped 0.2%. Meta Platforms fell 0.7%, and Amazon and Netflix each fell 0.9%. Tesla was among the biggest decliners in the S&P 500, finishing 1.8% lower. Some tech companies fared better. Chip company Broadcom rose 2.4%, Micron Technology added 0.6% and Adobe gained 0.5%. Health care stocks were a bright spot. CVS Health rose 1.5% and Walgreens Boots Alliance added 5.3% for the biggest gain among S&P 500 stocks. Several retailers also gained ground. Target rose 3%, Ross Stores added 2.3%, Best Buy rose 2.9% and Dollar Tree gained 3.8%. Traders are watching to see whether retailers have a strong holiday season. The day after Christmas traditionally ranks among the top 10 biggest shopping days of the year, as consumers go online or rush to stores to cash in gift cards and raid bargain bins. US-listed shares in Honda and Nissan rose 4.1% and 16.4% respectively. The Japanese car makers announced earlier this week that the two companies are in talks to combine. All told, the S&P 500 fell 2.45 points to 6,037.59. The Dow added 28.77 points to 43,325.80. The Nasdaq fell 10.77 points to close at 20,020.36. Wall Street also got a labour market update. US applications for unemployment benefits held steady last week, though continuing claims rose to the highest level in three years, the Labour Department reported. Treasury yields mostly fell in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped to 4.58% from 4.59% late on Tuesday. Major European markets were closed, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. Trading was expected to be subdued this week with a thin slate of economic data on the calendar.When Quebec Premier François Legault publicly vowed to put a stop to praying in public places, he said he could once again turn to a rare legal tool to put the measure into law. It's called the notwithstanding clause, and it can be used to shield laws from legal challenges over violations of fundamental rights. Legal experts say the increasing tendency of provincial premiers to use it, however, is a worrying trend that disregards the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "The notwithstanding clause has to be used only in the case of an emergency with very, you know, important issues. You cannot use that just like that, just for fun, just to score some political points, right? And this is what we're seeing right now," said Frédéric Bérard, a constitutional lawyer and partner at GBM Lawyers, in an interview on Monday. Legault made the surprising comments about prayer last Friday on the last day of the fall legislative session, after reacting to a La Presse report that a high school north of Montreal was allowing praying in classrooms and hallways, as well as the disruption of a play on sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention. "There are teachers who are bringing Islamist religious concepts into Quebec schools," he told reporters in Quebec City. "I will definitely not tolerate that. We don't want that in Quebec." The premier went a step further, saying he is promising to also ban prayers in public spaces, such as parks and streets, and that his government is "looking at all possibilities, including the use of the notwithstanding clause." The premier will have no choice but to invoke the notwithstanding clause because outright banning prayer in parks would be "a clear violation of freedom of religion," and would be struck down by the courts, Bérard said. Threatening to use section 33 of the Constitution to make it a crime flies in the face of the rule of law, according to Bérard, who is concerned about "politicians that are playing around with [it] like it has no consequences." "It has to be a serious case. We need to have, like, an emergency. We need to have something real, something pretty, pretty grave. And we don't see that here. And frankly, it's a shame," said Bérard, also a lecturer at the Université de Montréal's Faculty of Law. CCLA launches 'Save the Charter' campaign The Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) cited Quebec's uses of the notwithstanding clause as an example of "horrendous violations" of people's fundamental rights in a new campaign launched on Tuesday called "Save the Charter." It aims to raise awareness about the dangers of the provinces' continued use of the special legal measure. "If our rights and freedoms can easily be overridden, our Charter is meaningless," reads a description of the campaign. Anaïs Bussières McNicoll, director of the CCLA's Fundamental Freedoms Program, told a news conference in Ottawa Tuesday that Legault's threat to use the Charter override to ban public prayer came days after an advisory committee appointed by the Quebec government recommended the province adopt its own constitution and take steps to secure its autonomy. "I mean this is a very, very dangerous trend to be following and this would be, if [Legault] goes forward with this initiative, this would be a direct violation of the freedom of religion and freedom of expression as well," Bussières McNicoll said. "And we have to keep in mind the fact that this would be the start of shrinking our civic space, because parks and streets are places where people should be able to gather peacefully — and not by blocking circulation, of course — but gather peacefully to express their opinions, but also their faith, to exercise their Charter protected rights." Ontario, Saskatchewan invoking the clause The Legault government has already invoked the notwithstanding clause preemptively twice since taking power — in 2019 to pass Quebec's secularism law that bans certain civil servants from wearing religious symbols in the workplace and again in 2021 when the provincial government tabled Bill 96 to limit the use of English in certain situations. Earlier this month, the premier said his government might invoke it to pass another law — one that would force new doctors to practise in the public system for five years. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has used it twice — in 2021 to impose limitations on third-party political expression for a year prior to an election, and again the following year to ban education workers from striking. Last week, he threatened to use it again to target homeless encampments . In 2023, Saskatchewan used it to ban transgender students from using their chosen names and pronouns in schools without formal permission from their parents. The CCLA said it was "never meant to circumvent normal court process or to be used regularly by any government to override the rule of law" when it was added during the 1981 constitutional settlement negotiations. In February, Quebec’s Court of Appeal upheld the province’s secularism law, Bill 21. Bérard and the CCLA are among the stakeholders involved in challenging the law at the Supreme Court, which has not yet decided whether it will hear the case. Legault has said Bill 21 was a reasonable approach to ensure Quebec remains secular. But Bérard said his actions prove otherwise. "Yeah, of course. Where did he spend the weekend again? OK, yeah, that's probably for secularism," he asked rhetorically, in reference to Legault's recent trip to Paris to watch the reopening of the Notre-Dame Catholic Cathedral. "[The prayer ban] is so 'deux poids, deux mesures' as we say in French (a double standard), and it's just a matter of how can I score electoral gains?" He's not the only one raising concerns about Legault's repeated use — or threat to use — the notwithstanding clause. In an op-ed in the Montreal Gazette on Tuesday to mark Human Rights Day, The Ligue des droits et libertés wrote that Legault's recent intention to use the notwithstanding clause to ban prayer in public places "demonstrates this dangerous trend toward weakening human rights protections." "The current rhetoric on 'Quebec values' is particularly problematic, as the values of a majority, as defined by a government sensitive to the vagaries of public opinion, can pose a direct threat to rights and contribute to the exclusion or marginalization of certain minorities," the LDL wrote. "The LDL insists on the need to ensure the protection of human rights, notably through Charters, and reiterates that these rights must never be subservient to the values of the majority."
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CNBC carried an interview with oil market analyst Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights. Video is here . In summary: Limited Influence of U.S. Leadership: Despite former President Trump's pro-drilling rhetoric, U.S. oil producers prioritize technological advancements over expanding drilling activities. U.S. Production Trends: U.S. oil production grew by approximately 300,000 barrels per day in 2024, a significant slowdown from the nearly 1 million barrels per day increase the previous year. Modest growth is expected to continue into 2025, driven by price sensitivity, with production likely to remain steady if WTI crude stays above $65–$70 per barrel . Global Production Growth: Increased oil output is expected from Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Guyana, and Norway , with more consistent and predictable production trends. OPEC+ Strategy: OPEC+ has delayed easing 2.2 million barrels per day of production cuts, showcasing a united and patient strategy for gradual supply increases. The group aims to maintain Brent crude prices above $70 per barrel , which is likely the maximum price support they can offer without overextending its influence. “I think that is where the market attention is focused because that’s the variable. With OPEC+, we’ve seen three postponements of the unwinding of the 2.2 million barrels per day. What that tells me is that OPEC+ despite all the talks in the market speculation is managing to remain cohesive”