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(Note to subs: amends byline error) The world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”
‘Happier than I’ve ever been’: Lisa Millar on Muster Dogs and life after News BreakfastKing and Northeastern knock off Florida International 60-58
Overhauls of 'heritage brands' raise the question: How important are our products to our identities?U.S. stock indexes reached more records after tech companies talked up how much artificial intelligence is boosting their results. The S&P 500 climbed 0.6 percent Wednesday to add to what looks to be one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.7 percent, while the Nasdaq composite added 1.3 percent to its own record. Salesforce pulled the market higher after highlighting its artificial-intelligence offering for customers. Marvell Technology jumped even more after saying it’s seeing strong demand from AI. Treasury yields eased, while bitcoin climbed after President-elect Donald Trump nominated a crypto advocate to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. On Wednesday: The S&P 500 rose 36.61 points, or 0.6 percent, to 6,086.49. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 308.51 points, or 0.7 percent, to 45,014.04. The Nasdaq composite rose 254.21 points, or 1.3 percent, to 19,735.12. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 10.22 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,426.56. For the week: The S&P 500 is up 54.11 points, or 0.9 percent. The Dow is up 103.39 points, or 0.2 percent. The Nasdaq is up 516.95 points, or 2.7 percent. The Russell 2000 is down 8.16 points, or 0.3 percent. For the year: The S&P 500 is up 1,316.66 points, or 27.6 percent. The Dow is up 7,324.50 points, or 19.4 percent. The Nasdaq is up 4,723.76 points, or 31.5 percent. The Russell 2000 is up 399.49 points, or 19.7 percent. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors. They are meant for general informational purposes only and should not be construed or interpreted as a recommendation or solicitation. The Epoch Times does not provide investment, tax, legal, financial planning, estate planning, or any other personal finance advice. The Epoch Times holds no liability for the accuracy or timeliness of the information provided.
Econometer: What are you thankful for about the economy?B.C. mining could find mother lode in trade dispute between China, U.S.Since winning the election, President-elect Donald Trump has been talking about immigration, border security and government efficiency. But in California farm country, his comments about water are also getting top attention. The Golden State grows three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts and more than a third of its vegetables, largely thanks to a complex network of dams and canals that funnel water to the state’s fertile Central Valley. In recent years, farmers have faced more limits on how much water they can access from this network because of environmental concerns, as well as on how much groundwater they can pump after years of overuse and drought. Now, farmers are hoping the second Trump administration will ensure more stable water flows to their fields from the federally managed Central Valley Project and a plan for future water supplies. Trump recently posted on his Truth Social platform a criticism of the “rerouting of MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER A DAY FROM THE NORTH OUT INTO THE PACIFIC OCEAN, rather than using it, free of charge, for the towns, cities, & farms dotted all throughout California.” “It is the number one issue,” said Jason Phillips, chief executive of the Friant Water Authority, which represents more than a dozen irrigation districts serving a large swath of the crop-rich valley. “You only need labor and you only need the products and the equipment and everything else to grow food if you have water.” California relies on water supplies from the Central Valley Project and the state-run State Water Project. The federal project provides 5 million acre-feet of water to farms each year and 600,000 acre-feet to cities, as well as water to maintain water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which provides critical habitat to fish and wildlife. During the prior Trump administration, government officials issued rules to allow for a greater flow of water to California farms. The move was blasted by environmental groups. The Biden administration pushed back on those decisions and has been working on new rules aimed at balancing farming with protections for endangered wildlife such as the delta smelt, a tiny fish that is an indicator of the health of California’s waterways, and Chinook salmon. In recent years, California farmers said federal water allocations have been more limited than they feel is necessary after two years of ample rain boosted the state’s reservoirs. The state previously grappled with a yearslong drought that in 2022 saw the driest January-to-March period in at least a century, with scientists saying weather whiplash will likely become more common as the planet warms. That is a big concern of environmentalists and commercial fishermen, who want to see less water diverted to agriculture and more flowing to the delta. Salmon fishing has been banned off the California coast for the past two years because of dwindling stocks, and critics say Trump’s prior decisions moving water away from salmon-spawning areas are to blame. “They delivered all the cold water behind Shasta Dam. It literally cooked the baby salmon before they were hatched,” said Barry Nelson, policy advisor to the Golden State Salmon Association, a nonprofit focused on restoring California salmon. “Math is a brutal master, and we’ve hit physical limits on the amount of water we can take from the Bay delta, and the sign of that is the collapse of the ecosystem.” Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a long-time Trump critic, recently called on California lawmakers to gear up ahead of another Trump presidency to safeguard the state’s progressive policies. Environmental advocates, however, contend Newsom has not done enough to improve the situation in the delta for fish and wildlife. During Trump’s prior administration, Newsom opposed his rules for water flows, filing a legal challenge, but since then put forth his own rules, which Jon Rosenfield, San Francisco Baykeeper’s science director, said “were never that much different.” Competing demands on California’s water have led to numerous battles over who gets how much. Advocates for fishermen, environmental interests and farmers all say more must be done to shore up future water supplies. But what that looks like depends on who is asked, with proposed solutions spanning from more conservation to expanding water storage to technological upgrades. Aubrey Bettencourt, who oversaw Department of Interior water policy during the prior Trump administration, said she would like to see the system updated to respond to swings in climate rather than setting water releases based on the calendar. One of the issues, she said, is not how much water you get but knowing how much water you will get. “It makes it very hard to plan not just as a farmer but as a city manager,” she said. “I would expect an emphasis on restoring operational certainty.” The incoming Trump administration has discussed a series of economic policies that could also affect agriculture, including tariffs that could wind up affecting some exports and push up input costs for growers, according to a recent Rabobank report. But when it comes to water, many farmers in California are hopeful. Daniel Errotabere, a third-generation farmer and previous Westlands Water District president whose family grows tomatoes, garlic and almonds, is among them. As California ramps up limits on groundwater pumping, it is even more important to ensure a stable flow of surface water to grow the food the country is counting on, he said. Farmers have had to fallow fields and often don’t plant as much as they could because of water uncertainty, he said. “If electricity was delivered this way there’d be a revolt,” Errotabere said. “This is not any way to operate resources.” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who is in a legal dispute Since winning the election, President-elect Donald Trump has been talking One of Venezuela's most popular bands canceled its homecoming tour The outgoing year was a mix of turmoil, innovations and
* Mexico president plans letter to Trump, will seek a call * Bank of Canada sees clear impact on both economies * Tariff threat knocks Mexico peso, Canadian dollar, but stocks hold up Nov 26 - Officials from Mexico, Canada and China warned U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's threat of imposing hefty tariffs on goods from the three largest U.S. trading partners would harm the economies of all involved and would risk aggravating inflation and damaging job markets. In their initial round of responses to Trump's surprise announcement on Monday for a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% levy on Chinese goods until they clamped down on illicit drugs and migrants crossing the border, leaders and other top officials urged dialogue and cooperation. "To one tariff will come another and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk," Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said during a regular press conference. Sheinbaum said she planned to send a letter to Trump and would seek a call with him to discuss the issue. A Bank of Canada official, meanwhile, said it was clear that any move by Trump to deliver on the threat would reverberate on both sides of the U.S. northern border. "What happens in the U.S. has a big impact on us, and something like this would clearly have an impact on both economies," Deputy Governor Rhys Mendes said during an audience question and answer session in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Earlier, a spokesperson for China's embassy in Washington said: "No one will win a trade war or a tariff war." As of September, U.S. Commerce Department data showed the three countries had shipped more than $1 trillion of goods to the United States in the first nine months of the year, with Mexico ranking first, followed by China and then Canada. FOCUS ON FENTANYL Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, had pledged throughout his campaign to levy tariffs of varying degrees on U.S. trading partners, part of his promise to "put America first." Imposing import duties was a major policy plank during his first four-year term and, like now, he has also threatened them for non-economic reasons. In 2019, he threatened 5% tariffs on Mexico to achieve its cooperation in tightening border controls. In the current case, the flow into the U.S. of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, was added to his mix of grievances with the three countries. The number of U.S. deaths from fentanyl overdoses actually declined in 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, although nearly 75,000 people still succumbed to the powerful opioid. Regarding China specifically, Trump in a posting on his social media site said: "Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America." It was not entirely clear what this would mean for China as he has previously pledged to end China's most-favored-nation trading status and slap tariffs on Chinese imports in excess of 60% - much higher than those imposed during his first term. Trump's threatened new tariffs would appear to violate the terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement on trade. The deal, which Trump signed into law, took effect in 2020 and continued the largely duty-free trade between the three countries, although the deal sunsets in 2026. Warren Maruyama, former general counsel for the U.S. Trade Representative under President George H.W. Bush, said Trump's threat could be acted on with relative ease by making a national emergency declaration, which would unlock the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. "If precedent is any indication, it's a serious uphill fight," to challenge actions taken under that umbrella. Trump's broadside late on Monday sent the Mexican and Canadian currencies tumbling, although U.S. stock markets largely took the development in stride, with many investors seeing it as the opening bid to a nomination than as a certainty. Shares of some companies seen particularly vulnerable, such as automakers Ford and General Motors, fell sharply. "Given the post makes an explicit reference to the flow of people and drugs across the southern and northern borders, it suggests this specific tariff threat is more of a negotiating tool than a revenue raiser," said Thomas Ryan, North America Economist at Capital Economics. "It leaves the door open to Canada and Mexico coming up with a credible plan over the next two months to try and avoid those tariffs." This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
TikTok ordered to divest U.S. operations to continue serving 170 million American users A U.S. federal appeals court on Friday upheld a law requiring ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, to divest its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025, or face a nationwide ban. The decision moves TikTok, which has 170 million American users, closer to being banned unless the divestment is completed in time. The Chinese Embassy in Washington criticized the law, describing it as “commercial robbery” and cautioning the U.S. to handle the issue carefully to avoid damaging bilateral relations. The embassy stated that the law undermines mutual trust between the countries and could impact future cooperation. The U.S. Justice Department, however, defends the law as necessary to counter national security risks it associates with ByteDance’s ownership. TikTok has announced plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The law prevents app stores and hosting services from supporting TikTok if the divestment deadline is not met. Attorney General Merrick Garland called the ruling an important measure for addressing potential threats linked to Chinese influence on data and content accessed by Americans. Free speech groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have raised concerns over the ruling, stating that a TikTok ban would infringe upon the First Amendment rights of millions of Americans. In its analysis, the court highlighted that TikTok’s reach gives China influence over public discourse, which it said conflicts with the principles of free speech. The decision adds to heightened trade tensions between the United States and China. Recent actions include U.S. restrictions on China’s chip industry and China’s bans on critical mineral exports to the U.S. The Chinese government has warned that such measures could escalate tensions further. ByteDance, valued at $268 billion in late 2023, must navigate the complex divestment process while facing domestic restrictions from Beijing. If banned, TikTok’s absence may benefit platforms like Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube, as indicated by their stock price increases following the ruling. The law also gives the U.S. government greater authority to restrict other foreign-owned apps seen as security risks. Chinese officials have described this broader effort as discriminatory and aimed at undermining Chinese companies’ global competitiveness. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );There must be a billion photographs about Israel from the birth of photography to the present. I wondered how I could capture the sense of the place and cultures within it. How could I find a different and intriguing approach? I looked back to ethnographic research in Cali, Colombia and in projects in the U.S.-Mexico border region. I could buy a more expensive camera. I could also create my own art. Here is what I learned to see over nearly forty years. When I first traveled to Israel in 1985, I was a tourist. Many of my wife’s relatives lived there, having escaped or been forced to leave Iraq in the early 1950s. That was when I snapped photographs. I had yet to become a proficient digital artist. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that I would be able to repurpose my earlier photographs. An adventure in visual art and my relation to Israel began to emerge. I began to impose meaning on my travels to Israel. It was not just being there, but being there in multiple ways with the changing technology of photography and the digital darkroom. My photographs are often edited as digital art. In one photo from 1985, I deleted a view of the Kidron valley below the way up to the Temple Mount. There was a line of rabbis overlooking a low wall. I saw the valley as a distraction. I added clouds from my home in Poway. I now found a sense of awe in the image. I don’t know whether the rabbis had experienced what I imagined. But my image pictured it that way. Years later, I was surprised to see my image resonating with Exodus 24:10 — and they saw the God of Israel — under whose feet was the likeness of a pavement of sapphire. Perhaps I was now seeing what others had imagined in biblical times. In one way it became my just-so story. Places of Significance When I revisited Israel in 2007, I became intrigued with digital infrared photography, The structure of the photographic image remains the same, but the color and lighting sensibility changes. Israel became infrared. This was about using photography, and editing it, to pay attention — a way of mindfulness. Henry Miller captures what I was finding in Israel in blades of grass, about this sense of paying attention: “The moment one gives close attention to any thing, even a blade of grass it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” So, too, I was finding the places and cultures in Israel. In the moment of taking photographs and inquiring into them with image editing. Israel in a Smartphone I was among those trading in their cameras for smartphones. Perhaps the loss in high resolution was not a loss at all. The photos could retain their structure while sacrificing a bit of sharp lines, texture and color. For most photos, the loss was barely noticeable and whatever was lost could be mostly regained with digital editing. Perfection continued to give way to good enough. But the technology was not static, it improved. It was now 2023 and I decided to rely on my smartphone camera. The important question for me was weighted toward the art and less the measures of technical accuracy. Could AI Model What My Camera Saw? Once more I went to Israel. COVID had delayed my travels. It was now 2023. I began to experiment with generative AI to create images. The most accessible platform was DALLE2 (an OpenAI technology). My plan was to take photos with my smartphone; then I would type words that described what I was seeing into the generative AI platform. My plan was to see if my words could capture what I saw. These two images — the actual photo and the AI replicant — would frame a conversation for me. How do these two realities gibe with each other? One seen and the other energized by my words and filtered through the layers, loops and algorithms that had a database of millions of images on which it had been trained. This was an experiment in “seeing” or understanding what it is that we tell ourselves what it is we are seeing. Often, I would have to change my wording to reach a more accurate approximation of what I was seeing. I admit this was a strange experiment. But it was an intellectual exercise that challenged how my words reflected what I perceived. What I was rewarded with was not what my photograph pictured so much as a surprise. Even when I found that the generative AI image was wrongheaded, it was a way to ask myself, What is Israel? The way these generative AI models crafted its versions of my text prompts was biased and puzzling, then and even now. I found myself in one moment having a coffee and pastry at a local café. As my wife and friends chatted, a woman got up. She was juggling her coffee, phone and cigarette. I tried to capture that moment with this text prompt: photorealistic image, middle aged woman, just finished her coffee outside outdoor cafe, cigarette in one hand, cell phone and coffee in her other hand. We have launched our year-end campaign. Our goal: Raise $50,000 by Dec. 31. Help us get there. Times of San Diego is devoted to producing timely, comprehensive news about San Diego County. Your donation helps keep our work free-to-read, funds reporters who cover local issues and allows us to write stories that hold public officials accountable. Join the growing list of donors investing in our community's long-term future. The original photo on the left is an example of street photography. The woman, outside a Tel Aviv café, is struggling to balance her coffee and cell phone (and possible her purse as well) while smoking a cigarette. The images to the right are examples of using a description of the woman as a prompt in two different generative AI models. The DALLE2 image lacks the near perfect rendition found in Epic Realism. Neither, though, capture the entire detail provided in the text prompt. As I tweaked the test, the generative AI models continued to improve. But an important question remained. In using AI, there is no human authorship unless one considers the text prompt sufficient to qualify as the human element. Still, there is potential benefit. If one could not access an unfolding reality, perhaps the AI platform could help imagine it. Picasso had imagined the horror of Guernica . Could AI do as well for the unfolding horror of Oct. 7? That was what wondered as we waited in our Tel Aviv apartment. Our thoughts tried to catch up to the unfolding horror. Imagining Oct. 7 I tried to imagine what was happening in our building. We were shown the stairs outside our apartment. There were already other residents sitting there. My text prompt to DALLE2 described an odd staircase with individuals oddly grabbing each other. The generative AI images often fail to picture the reality we can see; it may refuse to honor our words because of its algorithmic biases, company policies and guidelines; it may be unable to translate our words into what we perceive. In this sense, AI images fail to supplant our own creativity. I was determined to capture what I experienced on Oct. 7. Since coming back from Israel, I started working with other generative AI platforms including Stable Diffusion. This allowed me to keep the same structure of the image while adding a multitude of novel and unexpected elements. I returned to one of the photos I took on Oct. 7. We were shown our building’s bomb shelter by one of the other tenants. It was a basement room that appeared never to have been used. The photograph pictured a drab stairwell leading down to the building’s safe room. I wanted to bring that stairwell into the aesthetic that drove Picasso’s Guernica to Dali’s Premonition of Civil War to Goya’s The Third of May 1808. This stairwell was not the horror of the south of Israel ; it was a different fear — a tourist in Tel Aviv. I would be naïve to think that picturing reality would be better with a camera, AI or digital image editing. Or a paintbrush. Or with any tools an artist might choose. Our eyes center reality, but even then we are deceived. Still, we try to understand the reality in which we exist. Joe Nalven is a San Diego-based digital artist. He is the author of Going Digital: The Practice and Vision of Digital Artists (Thompson, 2005). He will be giving a public lecture at the Coronado Public Library on Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. The lecture is free and sponsored by the Center for Jewish Culture. For more information: Tel. 858-362-1150 or www.lfjcc.org . Get Our Free Daily Email Newsletter Get the latest local and California news from Times of San Diego delivered to your inbox at 8 a.m. daily. Sign up for our free email newsletter and be fully informed of the most important developments.
Five fun gift-exchange ideasNoneCombining their passion for cooking and the Bears, these Chicago chefs take tailgating to a new level
No David Montgomery, no problem. The Lions continued their prolific ways offensively on Sunday, scoring 34 points and amassing 475 yards of total offense in a winning effort against the Chicago Bears. Related Articles Detroit Lions | ‘We know who we are’: Lions top Bears for franchise-record 13th win Detroit Lions | Takeaways from 34-17 win, as Lions’ offensive stars shine in win over Bears Detroit Lions | Photo gallery from the Lions’ 34-17 road win over the Bears Detroit Lions | Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu active for Lions against Bears Detroit Lions | Lions’ Brandon Joseph was in police custody Saturday, released It marked Detroit’s 13th game in 2024 with 345-or-more total yards, plus the team’s eighth game this season with at least 31 points. The Lions also have now scored 493 total points, the most points ever scored by the franchise in a single season. Along with all that, the Week 16 matchup featured a variety of commonalities for Ben Johnson’s offense. For starters, Jared Goff was “the straw that stirred the drink,” completing 72 percent of his passes and leading the Lions on four touchdown drives (three of which ended with touchdown throws). The veteran quarterback has now thrown a career-best 33 touchdowns. Johnson’s unit also produced its customary series of explosive plays. And on Sunday, it was courtesy of running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wide receiver Jameson Williams. Gibbs more than shouldered the workload out of the backfield in the place of Montgomery. He eluded defenders all game long, en route to accumulating 109 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Plus, he added another 45 yards as a pass-catcher. In totality, the second-year back amassed 154 all-purpose yards, marking his ninth game this season with north of 100 yards from scrimmage. It’s a feat that was last accomplished by a Lions back in 1997, when Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders did so on the way to earning MVP honors. Meanwhile, Williams was the very definition of electric on Sunday. Most notably, he displayed his game-changing speed on his 82-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter, easily running past Chicago cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and safety Jonathan Owens on his way to the end zone. “It looked good in practice. That was better than practice,” Lions head man Dan Campbell said of Goff’s deep strike to Williams. “It was a hell of a throw, excellent protection, and man, just a great job on his landmark, hitting it with speed, trusting it, great catch. It was big time.” With the touchdown, the third-year wideout now has totaled four TD receptions of 50-plus yards this season. He is one of only three players in Lions franchise history to achieve the feat in a single season. The others: Detroit legend Calvin Johnson in 2011 and Cloyce Box in 1950. Williams finished the NFC North divisional tilt with five catches and a game-high 143 yards and a score. Unsurprisingly, Amon-Ra St. Brown also played an integral role in the Lions’ triumph over the Bears. Termed the team’s “binky” on offense by Campbell, St. Brown was once again his ultra reliable self. The fourth-year receiver caught six of his eight targets from Goff, including a screen pass late in the second quarter on which he impressively slipped past several Bears defenders into the end zone. He finished the Week 16 contest with six catches for 70 yards and the one score. With the output, St. Brown now holds the distinction of being the only player in Lions franchise history to amass 100 receptions and 10 receiving touchdowns in back-to-back seasons. Plus, on Sunday, he became just the second player in NFL history to record multiple seasons with 100-plus catches, 1,000-plus yards and 10-or-more touchdowns in one’s first four seasons. The other player to accomplish the feat: former longtime Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Lions, equipped with difference-making pass-catchers like St. Brown and Williams and an explosive back like Gibbs, are able to attack opposing defenses in a multitude of ways. Goff can beat the opposition both short and deep with those weapons – along with tight end Sam LaPorta – at his disposal. And Gibbs, with his immense talent, has the ability to break off a big run at any point in a game. As if that weren’t already enough for Detroit’s opponents to handle, Johnson’s offense also has mastered the ability to throw off defenses through the element of surprise. Whether a fake punt or a goal-line pass drawn up for an eligible offensive lineman (e.g. Dan Skipper), you never quite know what Johnson has up his sleeve. And on Sunday, the play-caller went into his bag of tricks once again, and pulled out his most creative play design of the season thus far. It came on the opening possession of the second half. After starting off on their own 21-yard line, Goff & Co. had driven all the way to the Bears’ 21-yard line in a mere four plays. It set up arguably the fake of the season not only for the Lions but also for the entire NFL. On the play, Goff, with Detroit lined up in the singleback formation, appeared to stumble upon taking the snap while Gibbs fell to the Soldier Field grass. All the while, you could hear members of Detroit’s offense yelling, “Ball, ball, ball, ball” and “fumble, fumble.” It all proved to be intentional, however, and a fine display of acting from Johnson’s unit. Goff never lost possession of the football, and remained on his feet as he found a wide-open LaPorta for a 21-yard TD pass. It was a stroke of genius from Johnson, and executed to perfection by the Lions’ veteran signal-caller and the offense. “I think that part where Gibbs, where he dives, really sells the play,” Goff said in the postgame. “I’m only doing half of it. It worked like a charm, and it was nice to score there.” No ifs, ands, or buts about it, the Lions delivered a masterful offensive performance Sunday. And it couldn’t have come at a better time for Detroit’s fanbase, which needed a huge pick-me-up after the team’s loss to the Bills a week ago. Sure, this offensive output came against the lowly Bears, and doesn’t guarantee success for Campbell’s injury-ravaged squad the rest of the season (and in the playoffs). However, in the spirit of the Christmas season, it’s time to drop the negativity (at least temporarily), and to celebrate the one thing that has remained constant for the team in 2024: its offensive productivity. Lions fans absolutely should cherish the “gift” that is Detroit’s high-powered offense this Christmas. This article was produced by the staff at Detroit Lions On SI. For more, visit si.com/nfl/lions
In no ‘rush’ to hire Tony White replacement, Matt Rhule wants to keep 3-3-5 defensive schemePhase 3 Study Results Demonstrated Three Year, Disease-Free Survival of 96% THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , Dec. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced new data demonstrating that adding BLINCYTO ® (blinatumomab) to chemotherapy significantly improves disease-free survival (DFS) in newly diagnosed pediatric patients with National Cancer Institute (NCI) standard risk (SR) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) of average or higher risk of relapse. The data are from a Phase 3 study (AALL1731) conducted by the Children's Oncology Group. The results were simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine and will be presented during the plenary session on Sunday, Dec. 8 , at 2 p.m. PT at the 66 th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego . "Over the last decade, BLINCYTO has reshaped the treatment landscape for B-ALL, offering a critical lifeline for thousands of adult and pediatric patients," said Jay Bradner , M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development and chief scientific officer at Amgen. "These powerful new data leave us little doubt about the profound impact of this medicine for a large number of children affected by this disease. We are grateful to the Children's Oncology Group, along with the patients, families and clinical teams, for their dedication and partnership in advancing this critical study to improve the lives of children with cancer." Based on the results of the first pre-specified interim analysis for efficacy, the study met its primary endpoint of DFS and study randomization was terminated early based on the recommendation from the data and safety monitoring committee due to the benefit observed in the BLINCYTO arm compared to the chemotherapy-only arm. Overall, the 3-year DFS was 96.0% for patients treated with chemotherapy plus BLINCYTO compared to 87.9% for those treated with only chemotherapy. The hazard ratio (HR) was 0.39 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24-0.64], indicating a 61% reduction in the risk of disease relapse, secondary malignant neoplasm or remission death with BLINCYTO. At 3 years, more patients remained alive and cancer free when treated with BLINCYTO plus chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone. "The AALL1731 study results are truly practice-changing, further solidifying blinatumomab's role as the standard of care for a large number of children with B-ALL," said Sumit Gupta , M.D., Ph.D., FRCPC, co-chair of the Children's Oncology Group AALL1731 study and oncologist and clinician investigator, Division of Haematology/Oncology at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto . "These breakthrough data showing a significant improvement in disease-free survival are poised to bring substantial clinical value to children with newly diagnosed B-ALL." The addition of BLINCYTO to chemotherapy in standard risk patients resulted in outcomes similar to those previously achieved in only the most favorable pediatric risk subsets. Among SR-Average patients, 3-year DFS was 97.5% for patients treated with BLINCYTO compared to 90.2% for those treated with only chemotherapy (HR 0.33, CI 0.15-0.69). For SR-High patients, 3-year DFS was 94.1% for those treated with BLINCYTO compared to 84.8% for those treated with only chemotherapy (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.24-0.85). "Relapsed ALL remains a major cause of pediatric cancer mortality, with nearly half of the relapses occurring in children with standard-risk B-ALL," said Rachel E. Rau , M.D., co-chair of the Children's Oncology Group AALL1731 study, pediatric hematologist-oncologist at Seattle Children's Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington . "These findings underscore the progress made with blinatumomab in preventing relapse and support its role as a critical addition to current therapeutic strategies." Safety results are consistent with the known safety profile of BLINCYTO. BLINCYTO has demonstrated a positive balance of benefits and risks, with only 0.3% of first courses associated with Grade 3+ cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and 0.7% with seizures. A higher risk of infections was observed in the BLINCYTO arm. These results provide the first evidence supporting BLINCYTO for use in the consolidation phase in newly diagnosed pediatric Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) B-ALL patients. This groundbreaking first-in-class Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE ® ) therapy is now backed by additional evidence reinforcing its role in redefining a standard of care for both adult and pediatric patients, starting from one month old, regardless of measurable residual disease (MRD) status. The findings further establish BLINCYTO as a versatile first-line consolidation therapy across all ages and treatment backbones. The NCI's Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP), which sponsored the study will share data with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as part of their ongoing communications relating to the trial. About The Children's Oncology Group The Children's Oncology Group (childrensoncologygroup.org), a member of the NCI National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN), is the world's largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The Children's Oncology Group unites over 10,000 experts in childhood cancer at more than 200 leading children's hospitals, universities and cancer centers across North America , Australia , New Zealand and Saudi Arabia in the fight against childhood cancer. Today, more than 80% of the 15,000 children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer each year in the United States are cared for at Children's Oncology Group member institutions. Research performed by Children's Oncology Group institutions over the past 50 years has transformed childhood cancer from a virtually incurable disease to one with a combined 5-year survival rate of 86%. The Children's Oncology Group's mission is to improve the cure rate and outcomes for all children with cancer. About AALL1731 (NCT03914625) The AALL1731 study was a Phase 3 randomized trial to determine if two non-sequential cycles of BLINCYTO added to chemotherapy improved disease-free survival (DFS) in children with newly diagnosed pediatric National Cancer Institute (NCI) standard risk (SR) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The study enrolled 4,264 newly diagnosed NCI SR B-ALL patients, of whom 2,334 were risk stratified at the end of induction therapy as either SR-Average or SR-High. At the first planned interim efficacy analysis (data cutoff June 30, 2024 ), 1,440 of the eligible and evaluable patients had been randomized. The AALL1731 study was designed and conducted independently from industry. The Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) of the NCI sponsored the trial and provided funding to the Children's Oncology Group to conduct the study. NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In addition, Amgen provided BLINCYTO and support through an NCI Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. About Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) ALL, also known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is a fast-growing type of blood cancer that develops in the bone marrow and can sometimes spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen and central nervous system. ALL is a rare disease, with an estimated 6,550 new cases, affecting both children and adults, diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024. 1 B-ALL begins in immature cells that would normally develop into B-cell lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that grow in bone marrow. 2,3 B-ALL is the most common type of ALL, constituting approximately 75% of cases in adults and approximately 88% in children, the most common cancer in children. 4,5 About BLINCYTO ® (blinatumomab) BLINCYTO is the first globally approved Bispecific T-cell Engager (BiTE ® ) immuno-oncology therapy that targets CD19 surface antigens on B cells. BiTE ® molecules fight cancer by helping the body's immune system detect and target malignant cells by engaging T cells (a type of white blood cell capable of killing other cells perceived as threats) to cancer cells. By bringing T cells near cancer cells, the T cells can inject toxins and trigger cancer cell death (apoptosis). BiTE ® immuno-oncology therapies are currently being investigated for their potential to treat a wide variety of cancers. BLINCYTO was granted Breakthrough Therapy and Priority Review designations by the U.S. FDA and is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of: In the European Union (EU), BLINCYTO is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of: BLINCYTO ® IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME and NEUROLOGICAL TOXICITIES including IMMUNE EFFECTOR CELL-ASSOCIATED NEUROTOXICITY SYNDROME Contraindications BLINCYTO ® is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to blinatumomab or to any component of the product formulation. Warnings and Precautions Adverse Reactions Dosage and Administration Guidelines INDICATIONS BLINCYTO ® (blinatumomab) is indicated for the treatment of CD19-positive B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adult and pediatric patients one month and older with: Please see BLINCYTO ® full Prescribing Information , including BOXED WARNINGS. About Bispecific T-Cell Engager (BiTE ® ) Technology BiTE technology is a targeted immuno-oncology platform that is designed to engage a patient's own T cells to any tumor-specific antigen, activating the cytotoxic potential of T cells to eliminate detectable cancer. The BiTE immuno-oncology platform has the potential to treat different cancer types through tumor-specific antigens. The BiTE platform has a goal of leading to off-the-shelf solutions, which have the potential to make innovative T-cell treatment available to all providers when their patients need it. For more than a decade, Amgen has been advancing this innovative technology, which has demonstrated strong efficacy in hematological malignancies and now a solid tumor with the approval of IMDELLTRA. Amgen remains committed to progressing multiple BiTE molecules across a broad range of hematologic and solid tumor malignancies, paving the way for additional applications in more tumor types. Amgen is further investigating BiTE technology with the goal of enhancing patient experience and therapeutic potential. To learn more about BiTE technology, visit BiTE ® Technology 101 . About Amgen Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative medicines to help millions of patients in their fight against some of the world's toughest diseases. More than 40 years ago, Amgen helped to establish the biotechnology industry and remains on the cutting-edge of innovation, using technology and human genetic data to push beyond what's known today. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline that builds on its existing portfolio of medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, inflammatory diseases and rare diseases. In 2024, Amgen was named one of the "World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company and one of "America's Best Large Employers" by Forbes, among other external recognitions . Amgen is one of the 30 companies that comprise the Dow Jones Industrial Average ® , and it is also part of the Nasdaq-100 Index ® , which includes the largest and most innovative non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market based on market capitalization. For more information, visit Amgen.com and follow Amgen on X , LinkedIn , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube and Threads . Amgen Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. 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Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including its most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those Amgen projects. 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In addition, sales of Amgen's products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, Amgen's research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. Amgen's business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, Amgen's business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If Amgen fails to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between Amgen and the U.S. government, Amgen could become subject to significant sanctions. 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An outbreak of disease or similar public health threat, such as COVID-19, and the public and governmental effort to mitigate against the spread of such disease, could have a significant adverse effect on the supply of materials for Amgen's manufacturing activities, the distribution of Amgen's products, the commercialization of Amgen's product candidates, and Amgen's clinical trial operations, and any such events may have a material adverse effect on Amgen's product development, product sales, business and results of operations. Amgen relies on collaborations with third parties for the development of some of its product candidates and for the commercialization and sales of some of its commercial products. In addition, Amgen competes with other companies with respect to many of its marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. 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Amgen may not be able to successfully integrate Horizon, and such integration may take longer, be more difficult or cost more than expected. A breakdown, cyberattack or information security breach of Amgen's information technology systems could compromise the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Amgen's systems and Amgen's data. Amgen's stock price may be volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Amgen's business and operations may be negatively affected by the failure, or perceived failure, of achieving its environmental, social and governance objectives. The effects of global climate change and related natural disasters could negatively affect Amgen's business and operations. Global economic conditions may magnify certain risks that affect Amgen's business. Amgen's business performance could affect or limit the ability of the Amgen Board of Directors to declare a dividend or its ability to pay a dividend or repurchase its common stock. Amgen may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to it, or at all. Any scientific information discussed in this news release relating to new indications for Amgen's products is preliminary and investigative and is not part of the labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the products. The products are not approved for the investigational use(s) discussed in this news release, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the products for these uses. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks Elissa Snook , 609-251-1407 (media) Justin Claeys , 805-313-9775 (investors) References View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blincyto-blinatumomab-added-to-chemotherapy-significantly-improves-survival-in-newly-diagnosed-pediatric-patients-with-b-cell-precursor-acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia-b-all-302325381.html SOURCE Amgen
Amazon is selling a $130 portable space heater for just $49, and shoppers say it 'works great'Global stock markets mostly retreated Tuesday as traders eyed looming US inflation data and a key European interest rate call amid global political upheaval. After winning numerous records in the weeks since the November 5 US presidential election, US stocks fell for the second straight day as analysts pointed to profit-taking. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
How Dana Holgorsen adjusted Nebraska football's playbook to deliver instant resultsUNIUYO admission portal: All about the admission requirements and fees for 2024/2025Two of the best programs in college basketball history collide in Las Vegas Tuesday night, as the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks battle the No. 11 Duke Blue Devils . The game is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET ( with TV coverage on ESPN and streaming on-demand . How to watch: Live streams of the Kansas vs. Duke game are available with offers from FuboTV (free trial) , SlingTV (low intro rate) and DirecTV Stream (free trial) . For a limited time, FuboTV is offering $30 off the first month after the free trial period. With $30 offer, plans start at $49.99. #1 Kansas Jayhawks (5-0) vs. #11 Duke Blue Devils (4-1) Vegas Showdown matchup at a glance When: Tuesday, Nov. 26 at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT) Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nev. TV channel: ESPN Live streams: FuboTV (free trial) | SlingTV (low intro rate) | DirecTV Stream (free trial) Kansas already has significant wins over then-No. 9 North Carolina (92-89) and Michigan State (92-89), along with three more victories all by double-digit points. Last time out, the Jayhawks rode a balanced offense and a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double from Hunter Dickinson to an 84-66 win over UNC-Wilmington last Tuesday night. Duke comes off its best win of the season over then-No. 17 Arizona last Friday night. That victory was another meaningful step between the Blue Devils and their lone loss to then-No. 19 Kentucky (77-72) earlier this month. Freshman guard Cooper Flagg has backed up the considerable hype by leading Duke in scoring (17.8), rebounding (8.8 rpg), assists (3.8 apg), blocks (1.8 bpg) and steals (1.8 spg). RECOMMENDED • pennlive .com How to watch #12 Duke vs. #17 Arizona basketball: Time, TV channel, FREE live stream Nov. 22, 2024, 6:30 p.m. How to watch #16 Colorado Buffaloes vs. Kansas football: Time, TV channel, FREE live streams Nov. 23, 2024, 12:02 p.m. Kansas Jayhawks vs. Duke Blue Devils: Know your live streaming options FuboTV (free trial) - excellent viewer experience with huge library of live sports content; free trial lengths vary; monthly rate after free trial starts at $49.99 after current $30 discount offer. SlingTV (low intro rate) - discounted first month is best if you’ve run out of free trials or you’re in the market for 1+ month of TV DirecTV Stream (free trial) - not the same level of viewer experience as FuboTV, but the standard 7-day free trial is still the longest in streaming. The Jayhawks and Blue Devils are set for a 9 p.m. ET start on ESPN. Live streams are available from FuboTV (free trial) , DirecTV Stream (free trial) and SlingTV (low intro rate) .