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Briana White has sent an emotional message to Final Fantasy 7 fans, and you can watch it in video form above! The Aerith actress was speaking at The Golden Joystick Awards , shortly after picking up the award for Best Supporting Performer. Asked what it meant to have the fans show up and support her in these public-voted awards, White told Radio Times Gaming : “If I think about it too much, I'll cry so much I can't even speak with you. “But it's amazing. I'm so grateful – I mean, truly – that the fans welcomed me into the Final Fantasy community, because they're very passionate about these characters, and I had really big shoes to fill. “And so the fact that they liked my performance and have really accepted me and been so kind, that means a lot, means the world to me.” And what would White say to those fans if they’re watching? “I know they're watching,” White replied. “I know the fans are watching. And so to them, I just want to say, thank you. I could not be here without you. “And also, you've helped my dreams come true. And so I hope I can pass that along to you and say, if you have any dreams, please follow them. Please pursue that, because you deserve that, just like I got that chance.” How nice is that? You can share the message on social media below, if you'd like to spread the word! Moments later, Cody Christian (who plays Cloud) picked up the award for Best Lead Performer, prompting White to jump up and down with glee. We didn't quite catch that moment on camera, so you'll just have to take our word for it! Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth also picked up the gongs for Best Soundtrack and Best Storytelling, making it one of the biggest winners of the night. Helldivers 2 also did well, picking up three awards, while Black Myth: Wukong took home the coveted Ultimate Game of the Year award. Keeping things in the Final Fantasy family, the show was hosted by Ben Starr (Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy 16). We’ve also got an interview with him – you can watch it on the Radio Times Gaming YouTube channel . Stay tuned for more coverage from the red carpet! Sign up for our gaming newsletter to receive the latest insights, reviews and expert recommendations By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy . You can unsubscribe at any time. Check out more of our Gaming coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast .Guatemala Faces Criticism Over Suspended Civil War Trials
(BPT) - Tech gifts are consistently some of the most popular presents to give and receive during the holidays. In fact, according to the annual Consumer Technology Holiday Purchase Patterns report , a record 233 million U.S. adults (89%) will buy tech products during the 2024 holiday season. But with so many devices out there, it can be hard to decide on the perfect option for the loved one on your list. A tablet like the new Fire HD 8 from Amazon offers the versatility of an all-in-one device, with access to streaming, gaming, video chatting, reading or writing all at your fingertips. Fire HD 8 also features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design, for high-quality entertainment on the go. Plus, Fire HD 8 comes with three new AI features that can help you get the most out of your tablet experience. Check them out below and learn how they can help you with daily tasks this holiday season and beyond. 1. Meet your personal writing assistant Do you struggle with writing a heartfelt message or finessing a tricky email? Fear not! Writing Assist is here to help. Writing Assist works as part of your Fire tablet's device keyboard and compatible apps, including email, Word documents and social media. In just a few taps, you can transform your writing from good to great. Try Writing Assist's pre-set styles to turn a simple email into a professionally written note. Or, you can ask Writing Assist for grammar suggestions to make your writing more concise, or elaborate on your ideas. You can even "emojify" your writing to add more fun and personality. 2. Learn more in less time Say goodbye to scrolling through pages of information. The new Webpage Summaries feature allows you to learn pertinent information as quickly as possible. Available on the Silk browser on Fire tablets, Webpage Summaries provides quick insights on web articles. In a matter of seconds, this feature will distill the key points in an article or on a webpage into a clear, concise summary of what you need to know. 3. Get creative with your device wallpaper With Wallpaper Creator, you can easily add a touch of creative flair and customization to your tablet's home screen. You can choose from one of the curated prompts to get started on creating a unique background. Or, if you're ready to let your imagination run wild, type a description of what you'd like to see. For example, you can ask for an image of a tiger swimming underwater or a watercolor-style image of a desert landscape in space. Wallpaper Creator will then turn your vision into a reality, delivering a high-resolution image that you can use as your tablet's wallpaper. Celebrate an AI-powered holiday season Writing Assist, Webpage Summaries, and Wallpaper Creator are now available on Amazon's new Fire HD 8 and other compatible Fire tablet devices, including the latest Fire HD 10 and Fire Max 11 tablets. To learn more, or to order a new Fire tablet this gift-giving season, visit Amazon.com .Are Scorpio and Libra Compatible? Astrology’s Take on Their Bond
ORRVILLE, Ohio , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.M. Smucker Co. (NYSE: SJM ) ("Company") announced today the closing of the transaction to divest the Voortman ® business to Second Nature Brands. The Company previously announced the signing of a definitive agreement for the transaction on October 22, 2024 . The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $305 million , subject to a working capital adjustment, and reflects the Company's continued commitment to optimizing its portfolio and reallocating resources to its core growth brands. The transaction includes all Voortman ® trademarks and the Company's leased manufacturing facility in Burlington, Ontario, Canada . In addition, approximately 300 employees will transition with the business. The Company updated its full-year fiscal 2025 net sales guidance to reflect the impact of the divested business. Net sales is anticipated to increase 7.5 to 8.5 percent compared to the prior year. The updated net sales guidance reflects the removal of approximately $65 million of divested net sales in fiscal 2025, with the estimated net sales impact evenly distributed throughout the remainder of the fiscal year. On a comparable basis, net sales is expected to increase 1.0 to 2.0 percent, which excludes noncomparable sales in the current year from the acquisition of Hostess Brands and noncomparable sales in the prior year related to the divestitures of the Voortman ® , Canada condiment, and Sahale Snacks ® businesses. The Company maintains its fiscal 2025 adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow, capital expenditures, and adjusted effective income tax rate outlook as communicated in its most recent quarterly earnings announcement on November 26, 2024 . The J.M. Smucker Co. Forward Looking Statements This press release ("Release") includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. The forward-looking statements may include statements concerning our current expectations, estimates, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events, conditions, plans and strategies that are not historical fact. Any statement that is not historical in nature is a forward-looking statement and may be identified by the use of words and phrases such as "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "will," "plan," "strive" and similar phrases. Federal securities laws provide a safe harbor for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information. We are providing this cautionary statement in connection with the safe harbor provisions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, when evaluating the information presented in this Release, as such statements are by nature subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements and from our historical results and experience. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new events or circumstances. The risks, uncertainties, important factors, and assumptions listed and discussed in this press release, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, include: the Company's ability to successfully integrate Hostess Brands' operations and employees and to implement plans and achieve financial forecasts with respect to the Hostess Brands' business; disruptions or inefficiencies in the Company's operations or supply chain, including any impact caused by product recalls, political instability, terrorism, geopolitical conflicts (including the ongoing conflicts between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas), extreme weather conditions, natural disasters, pandemics, work stoppages or labor shortages (including potential strikes along the U.S. East and Gulf coast ports and potential impacts related to the duration of a recent strike at the Company's Buffalo, New York manufacturing facility), or other calamities; risks related to the availability of, and cost inflation in, supply chain inputs, including labor, raw materials, commodities, packaging, and transportation; the impact of food security concerns involving either the Company's products or its competitors' products, including changes in consumer preference, consumer litigation, actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other agencies, and product recalls; a disruption, failure, or security breach of the Company or its suppliers' information technology systems, including, but not limited to, ransomware attacks; and risks related to other factors described under "Risk Factors" in other reports and statements filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. About The J.M. Smucker Co. At The J.M. Smucker Co., it is our privilege to make food people and pets love by offering a diverse family of brands available across North America . We are proud to lead in the coffee, peanut butter, fruit spreads, frozen handheld, sweet baked goods, dog snacks, and cat food categories by offering brands consumers trust for themselves and their families each day, including Folgers ® , Dunkin ' ® , Café Bustelo ® , Jif ® , Uncrustables ® , Smucker's ® , Hostess ® , Milk-Bone ® , and Meow Mix ® . Through our unwavering commitment to producing quality products, operating responsibly and ethically, and delivering on our Purpose, we will continue to grow our business while making a positive impact on society. For more information, please visit jmsmucker.com . The J.M. Smucker Co. is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein, except for Dunkin ' ® , which is a trademark of DD IP Holder LLC. The Dunkin ' ® brand is licensed to The J.M. Smucker Co. for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, e-commerce and drug stores, and in certain away from home channels. This information does not pertain to products for sale in Dunkin ' ® restaurants. SOURCE The J.M. Smucker Co.Maeda saves point for Celtic against Club Brugge after Carter-Vickers error
Oscar Fairs from Benfleet, Essex, was diagnosed with a rare 7cm ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023 and underwent seven surgeries, one round of chemotherapy and one round of radiotherapy to be told palliative care was the only option. A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family raise £100,000 towards a treatment trial in France. It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United confirm the tragic passing of our U15s Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, following his brave battle with cancer. Rest in peace, brave Oscar. — West Ham United (@WestHam) December 13, 2024 West Ham footballers donated £27,000, chairman David Sullivan donated £10,000 and Arsenal footballer and former West Ham star Declan Rice gave £5,000, according to Ms Fairs. On Friday, West Ham announced that the 15-year-old had died. Sporting director Mark Noble said: “Oscar was adored by everyone at the Academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. “I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – (my son) Lenny and his teammates all loved him. “He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age. “The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the Club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.” All scheduled Academy fixtures over the weekend have been postponed as a mark of respect.Israeli PM seeks additional delay of testimony in court for criminal trialSVB to pay nearly 40 million florins in pensions
Maryland (4-7, 1-7 Big Ten) at No. 4 Penn State (10-1, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 4 CFP), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (BTN) BetMGM College Football Odds: Penn State by 24 1/2. Series record: Penn State 43-3-1. WHAT’S AT STAKE? The Nittany Lions will try for their first 11-win regular season in James Franklin’s 10-year tenure and hang onto their chance to host a playoff game. The Nittany Lions could still get to the Big Ten championship game, but would need Michigan to beat No. 2 Ohio State in Columbus earlier in the day. The Terrapins have lost four in a row and are trying to avoid their longest skid since losing seven straight to end the 2019 season. KEY MATCHUP Maryland’s front seven vs. Penn State’s running game. The Nittany Lions lost starting right tackle Anthony Donkoh to a long-term injury last week but were still able to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark against a tough Minnesota defense. Maryland has allowed 176 rushing yards per game over its last four. The Terps will need to do better against a Nittany Lion ground game fueled by running backs Nicholas Singleton, Kaytron Allen, tight end Tyler Warren and quarterback Beau Pribula. PLAYERS TO WATCH Maryland: WR Tai Felton. Only one FBS player has more catches than Felton. The sure-handed senior leads the Big Ten with 92 catches for 1,097 yards. He’s scored nine touchdowns and should be a focal point for Penn State’s secondary. Penn State: Singleton. The explosive back has recovered from the unspecified injury that slowed him earlier in the season. He had a season-high 19 touches last week versus Maryland including a career-most six catches. FACTS & FIGURES Maryland is 2-3 in Happy Valley since joining the Big Ten with wins in 2014 and 2020. ... Felton has 183 more receiving yards than the next closest Big Ten WR (Illinois’ Pat Bryant) and is 143 yards away from Marcus Badgett’s single-season record set in 1992. ... Penn State has won seven of the last eight against Maryland. ... The Nittany Lions secured their 27th 10-win season last week. ... Warren became Penn State’s all-time leader in reception yards for a tight end (1,516) with 102 yards against Minnesota. ... DT Zane Durant leads the Big Ten and is fourth among Power Four tackles with 8 1/2 tackles for loss this season. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: andAston Villa had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 0-0 with Juventus in the Champions League. Morgan Rogers looked to have given Unai Emery’s side another famous win when he slammed a loose ball home at the death, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano ruled Diego Carlos to have fouled Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the goal was chalked off. It was a disappointment for Villa, who remain unbeaten at home in their debut Champions League campaign and are still in contention to qualify automatically for the last 16. A very controversial finish at Villa Park 😲 Morgan Rogers' late goal is ruled out for a foul on Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio and the match ends 0-0 ❌ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MyYL5Vdy3r — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Emiliano Martinez had earlier displayed why he was named the best goalkeeper in the world as his wonder save kept his side level in the second half. The Argentina international paraded his two Yashin Trophies on the pitch before kick-off at Villa Park and then showed why he won back-to-back FIFA awards when he denied Francisco Conceicao. Before Rogers’ moment of drama in the fourth minute of added time, the closest Villa came to scoring was in the first half when Lucas Digne’s free-kick hit the crossbar. But a draw was a fair result which leaves Villa out of the top eight on goal difference and Juventus down in 19th. Before the game Emery called Juventus one of the “best teams in the world, historically and now”, but this was an Italian side down to the bare bones. Only 14 outfield players made the trip from Turin, with striker Dusan Vlahovic among those who stayed behind. The opening 30 minutes were forgettable before the game opened up. Ollie Watkins, still chasing his first Champions League goal, had Villa’s first presentable chance as he lashed an effort straight at Di Gregorio. Matty Cash then had a vicious effort from the resulting corner which was blocked by Federico Gatti and started a counter-attack which ended in Juventus striker Timothy Weah. Villa came closest to breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half when Digne’s 20-yard free-kick clipped the top of the crossbar and went over. Martinez then produced his brilliant save just after the hour. A corner made its way through to the far post where Conceicao was primed to head in at the far post, but Martinez sprawled himself across goal to scoop the ball away. How has he kept that one out?! 🤯 Emi Martinez with an INCREDIBLE save to keep it goalless at Villa Park ⛔️ 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/OkcWHB7YIk — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 27, 2024 Replays showed most of the ball went over the line, but the Argentinian got there with millimetres to spare. At the other end another fine goal-line block denied John McGinn as Manuel Locatelli got his foot in the way with Di Gregorio beaten. The game looked to be petering out until a last-gasp free-kick saw Rogers slam home, but whistle-happy official Gil Manzano halted the celebrations by ruling the goal out.
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Trump’s tax-cut plans could be slowed by a wary bond market WASHINGTON: Donald Trump’s Republicans are promising to hit the gas next year when they assume full control of the US Congress, with little to stop them from executing the president-elect’s promises to slash taxes and reorder the global trade landscape. But the $28 trillion Treasury debt market is flashing a red warning light against adding excessively to a debt load already expanding at a pace of $2 trillion a year.What is yet to be seen is whether these concerns will be enough to slow Republican lawmakers’ ambitions or push them to find offsetting savings on a tax break agenda estimated to cost nearly $8 trillion over 10 years. Markets are betting that Trump’s tax cuts and tariffs will fuel inflation as investors demand stronger returns on longer-term Treasuries. Yields on the benchmark 10-year US Treasury note have risen to 4.3 per cent, up about 70 basis points since ‘Trump trades’ began dominating Wall Street in September. Trump’s choice of hedge fund manager Scott Bessent as Treasury secretary prompted Treasuries to rally on Monday, erasing some of the recent increase in yields, as market analysts viewed him as a more traditional policymaker who is likely to try to control deficits. Still, the trend is driving higher interest rates for mortgages, car loans and credit card debt, counteracting Federal Reserve rate cuts and potentially putting US growth at risk.It is also raising the cost of financing US deficits and eating up the federal budget. Interest on the public debt topped $1 trillion for the first time during the fiscal year ended Sept 30, making it the second-largest single expenditure after the Social Security retirement programme. “In a weird way, the bond market is now on the verge of running this country,” said Republican Representative David Schweikert, who sits on the House of Representatives’ tax- and trade-focused Ways and Means Committee. The market signals mean there are no “blank checks” for Congress and the tax cuts will need to be paired with spending cuts, he said in an interview. “It is a hurdle in the financing of the US government.” Managing that hurdle will fall to Bessent, who has argued that Trump’s agenda will unleash stronger economic growth that will in turn drive up revenue and boost market confidence. His appointment could also reduce the chance of severe tariffs. The budget math is daunting. Trump has promised to extend the tax cuts passed in 2017, during his first term in the White House, for individuals and small businesses that are due to expire next year, which tax experts say will add $4 trillion to the current $36 trillion in total US debt over 10 years. That’s on top of debt already forecast by the Congressional Budget Office to grow by $22 trillion over the same period, based on current laws. Trump also promised voters generous new tax breaks, including ending taxes on Social Security, overtime and tip income and restoring deductions for car loan interest. The tab is likely to reach $7.75 trillion above the CBO baseline over 10 years, according to the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a non-partisan fiscal watchdog group. GROWTH REVENUE Concern over the bond market’s influence on Trump’s agenda is more the exception than the rule among congressional Republicans interviewed some two weeks after he won the Nov 5 presidential election and his party took control of Congress. Some fell back on the party’s long-held view that tax cuts can pay for themselves with stronger growth - a line that was used to sell Trump’s original 2017 tax cuts. Budget forecasters including the Joint Committee on Taxation have estimated that those cuts added more than $1 trillion to deficits over 10 years. An analysis of economic feedback on extending the tax cuts by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget found that increased growth would only offset 1.0 per cent to 14 per cent of the revenues lost directly by the cuts, leaving the bulk to be financed through borrowing. Still, Republican Senator Mike Rounds said he believed the stability and growth that will come from extending Trump’s 2017 tax cuts will allay some market concerns. “What we have to do is show them that we’re going to build an economy so that the ratio between the size of the economy and the debt changes positively in our favor,” Rounds said. MUSK’S CUTS Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington said accelerating economic growth to more than 3.0 per cent annually -- it’s already on that pace for the third quarter -- would increase revenues by $3 trillion over a decade, but that additional spending cuts would be needed. Rising bond market yields were “a motivating factor to rein in deficit spending”, he said. Arrington and fellow Republican Representative Joe Wilson said they were hopeful the non-government panel led by billionaire Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy would be able to find ways to cut the budget, including on “mandatory spending” programmes other than Social Security and the Medicare health insurance program for the elderly, which Trump has vowed to preserve. “With Elon Musk I think we have a real opportunity to actually identify waste and cut things that can be cut,” Wilson said. A key target is rescinding Democratic President Joe Biden’s clean energy subsidies, estimated by the CBO to cost nearly $800 billion over 10 years, and some $60 billion in funds to modernise the Internal Revenue Service, although that would expand deficits in the long run by curbing audits. AGENDA UNCLEAR Republicans in the new year will likely rely on budget procedures that bypass Senate rules requiring 60 of the 100 members in the chamber to agree on most legislation to pass Trump’s tax agenda with a simple majority. Republican Senator Mike Crapo, the incoming chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said it was too early to determine which tax policies would be included in initial legislation, adding that there was market “misinterpretation of what Trump is doing or going to do”. “A lot of people are saying, well, which tax policies are you going to do?” Crapo said. “And the answer to that is, the ones that we figure out are the right ones.” BOND VIGILANTES Former President Bill Clinton’s political strategist James Carville famously said in 1993 that he wanted to be reincarnated as the bond market, because “you can intimidate everybody”. If Congress’ moves signal too big of a deficit hike, some market analysts are concerned that excess debt issuance will cause market indigestion that drives up yields sharply. “One can’t exclude the risk that trust in US economic policymaking might be lost, the bond vigilantes could come out in full force and pressure rates significantly higher, and the US and global economies could be badly shaken,” said Mark Sobel, a former US Treasury official who is now the US chairman at the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, a think tank.RBI's war against inflation is not yet over, says governor Shaktikanta DasTechnology stocks pulled Wall Street to another record amid mixed trading. The S & P 500 rose 0.2% Monday after closing November at an all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.3%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 1%. Super Micro Computer, a stock that’s been on an AI-driven roller coaster, soared after saying an investigation found no evidence of misconduct by its management or the company’s board. Retailers were mixed coming off Black Friday and heading into what’s expected to be the best Cyber Monday on record. Treasury yields held relatively steady in the bond market. On Monday: The S & P 500 rose 14.77 points, or 0.2%, to 6,047.15. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 128.65 points, or 0.3%, to 44,782. The Nasdaq composite rose 185.78 points, or 1%, to 19,403.95. The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies fell 0.59 points, or less than 0.1%, to 2,434.14. For the year: The S & P 500 is up 1,277.32 points, or 26.8%. The Dow is up 7,092.46 points, or 18.8%. The Nasdaq is up 4,392.60 points, or 29.3%. The Russell 2000 is up 407.06 points, or 20.1%.SNP has left the NHS 'fighting for its life', damning report warns Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport By KATE FOSTER, HEALTH EDITOR FOR THE SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL Published: 17:15 EST, 2 December 2024 | Updated: 18:19 EST, 2 December 2024 e-mail View comments Scotland's NHS is fighting for its life after an official report found ‘fundamental change’ is needed and some services may have to be cut. In what opposition politicians have claimed is a ‘damning indictment of the SNP ’s appalling mismanagement’ of the health service, Audit Scotland said the Scottish Government needs to show ‘greater leadership’. With rising staffing costs and growing demand, the public spending watchdog also warns the NHS faces ‘difficult decisions’ about potentially stopping some services. Critics hit out after the latest report from Audit Scotland made clear that without improvements, ‘the NHS is unlikely to be able to meet growing demand’. John Swinney claims NHS is making progress in aftermath of Covid Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: ‘The SNP has left the NHS fighting for its life. This report is a damning indictment of the SNP’s appalling mismanagement of Scotland’s NHS. ‘Successive health secretaries have been asleep at the wheel as the service has ended up in permanent crisis on their watch. ‘Delayed discharge has reached record levels, hundreds of thousands of Scots are on NHS waiting lists and cancer waiting times have not been met for over a decade. It is clear the SNP are out of ideas.’ Health spending accounts for about 40 per cent of the Scottish budget, but recent funding increases have been used largely to cover pay rises and inflation. And despite more money being spent, the NHS in Scotland is still seeing fewer patients than before the pandemic. Auditor General for Scotland Stephen Boyle said: ‘To safeguard the NHS, a fundamental change in how services are provided remains urgent. ‘The government needs to set out clearly how it will deliver reform, including how progress will be measured and monitored. ‘Difficult decisions are needed about making services more efficient or, potentially, withdrawing services with more limited clinical value to allow funding to be redirected. ‘Taking those steps will require greater leadership from Scottish Government and NHS leaders than we’ve seen to date.’ Audit Scotland also says there needs to be increased and ongoing focus on improving the health of the nation. It warned: ‘Without this change, the NHS is unlikely to be able to meet growing demand.’ Problems facing the NHS include waiting lists, delayed discharge, staff shortages and pandemic recovery. Planned treatment centres for elective surgery have been paused and there are pressures in social care. Work to reduce the NHS funding of some medicines and procedures ‘of limited clinical value’ is already ongoing. That includes ending prescriptions for cold remedies and vitamins which patients can buy in pharmacies as well as operations such as varicose vein treatment. But Audit Scotland suggested this should now go further. It said: ‘Difficult decisions will need to be made about transforming services and, potentially, what the NHS stops doing. ‘To address current financial pressures, fundamental change in how NHS services are provided is now urgently needed.’ Scottish Labour health spokesman Jackie Baillie said: ‘After 17 years of the SNP, our health service is broken. ‘The report shows clearly the price hard-working NHS staff and patients are paying for the lack of leadership from the SNP.’ Colin Poolman, director of the Royal College of Nursing in Scotland, said: ‘This is yet another damning report from Audit Scotland about the Scottish G overnment’s stewardship of the NHS. ‘The report also echoes our concerns about the workforce crisis. ‘Without a sustainable, long-term solution to what is now a chronic shortage of nursing staff the government will struggle to achieve the reform required.’ Professor Andrew Elder, President of The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said: ‘If the government is serious about creating a more efficient system then delayed discharges must be dramatically reduced. ‘The ageing of our population is a triumph and the lack of effective social care in Scotland risks turning that triumph into a disaster.’ First Minister John Swinney said: ‘We are making progress after Covid. More procedures are being undertaken which is an indication that we are making inroads. ‘The government has a clear plan for reducing delayed discharge, tackling waiting times and making sure we have investments in people and infrastructure that will secure the future of the NHS.’ Health Secretary Neil Gray added: ‘We know people are waiting too long for treatment but remain determined to reduce waiting times. Significant activity is under way through our £30million investment to target pandemic backlogs.’ SNP NHS Share or comment on this article: SNP has left the NHS 'fighting for its life', damning report warns e-mail Add comment
Pat Gelsinger Exits As Intel CEO, Paranoia Key To Reviving Leadership
Reigning champion Kansas City edged Carolina and Detroit ripped Indianapolis on Sunday to reach an NFL-best 10-1 while Dallas shocked arch-rival Washington to snap a five-game losing streak. Patrick Mahomes threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns and Spencer Shrader kicked a 31-yard field goal on the final play to lift Kansas City over the host Panthers 30-27. Chuba Hubbard's 1-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion run had put Carolina level with 1:46 remaining, setting the stage for the Chiefs' seven-play, 57-yard march to set up the winning kick. Joining the Chiefs with a 10th triumph to keep a conference lead was Detroit, with Jahmyr Gibbs rushing for 90 yards and two touchdowns and David Montgomery running for another score in the Lions' 24-6 triumph at Indianapolis. A wild finish with 38 points in the last 5:16 marked the Dallas Cowboys' 34-26 victory at Washington, where the Commanders appeared to have lost, then made an amazing comeback only to fall in the end. Cooper Rush's second touchdown pass, a 22-yarder to Luke Schoonmaker with 5:16 remaining, gave Dallas a 20-9 edge, but Jayden Daniels threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz and ran for a 2-point conversion to pull Washington within 20-17. KaVontae Turpin answered with a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown on the ensuing play, but again the Commanders responded as Austin Seibert kicked a 51-yard field goal and Daniels connected with Terry McLaurin on an 86-yard touchdown pass with 21 seconds remaining. Seibert, however, shockingly missed the conversion kick to keep Dallas ahead 27-26 and the Cowboys added a Juanyeh Thomas 43-yard kickoff return touchdown on the next play to seal victory. At Miami, Tua Tagovailoa threw for 317 yards and four touchdowns to spark the Miami Dolphins over New England 34-15. At Chicago, Minnesota's John Parker Romo kicked a 29-yard field goal with 2:10 remaining in overtime to lift the Vikings over the host Bears 30-27. Sam Darnold threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns as the Vikings improved to 9-2. At Houston, Chig Okonkwo caught a 70-yard go-ahead touchdown pass from Will Levis in the fourth quarter as Tennessee upset the host Texans 32-27. Levis threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns and Tony Pollard ran for 119 yards and a touchdown as the Titans reached 3-8 and Houston fell to 7-5. Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield threw for 294 yards to spark the Buccaneers over the host New York Giants 30-7. js/sevGM to Sell Its Stake in Michigan EV Battery Plant to LG Energy
The closer a Prince Rupert woman looked at the deer in her yard, the stranger things became for her. “It was the first time I’ve seen anything like that; it was pretty bizarre,” said Joan Dudoward. Dudoward is a senior residing on 11th Avenue East in Prince Rupert. A flash of movement caught her eye as she scrubbed her breakfast plates on a typical Wednesday morning. Peeking out the window above her sink, she gasped— a majestic buck with massive antlers stood gracefully in her yard. “As soon as I noticed the huge buck, I ran and grabbed my camera to photograph it. I’ve been taking photos since I was a teenager...I photograph everything,” she said. She says he cozied up to lie on the grass and stayed for about half an hour. “He was wiggling his ears so I zoomed in and noticed a tag clipped on him,” she said. “I thought, why is this dear clipped? I got very concerned.” Dudoward, driven by her curiosity, noted that one side of the clip was labelled “BC WILDLIFE 06-529,” while the other read “CALL RAP: 877-952-7227.” It was suspicious because the number displayed is very similar but different from the official number of B.C.’s Conservation Officer Service, which is 1-877-952-7277. Also, the legitimate acronym for their hotline, Report All Poachers and Polluters, is “RAPP,” not “RAP,” as indicated on the tag. She called the number on the neon green tag to inquire about the buck, but reached a woman who spoke to her very hurriedly, she said. The woman, who identified herself as Jessica, wanted to send Dudoward a “free medical alert device” that she could wear around her neck. “We’re very excited to tell you about a special promotion for select callers,” Dudoward recalls the woman saying. She was then asked questions such as her age to check eligibility. Jessica then explained that as a senior, the device would help her in emergencies, such as falls, by alerting her immediate contacts. To proceed with delivery, she said she needed some personal information from Dudoward, such as her address. Then, Dudoward was abruptly transferred to another agent who continued the call. But when she tried to ask her about the buck and why the agency had clipped its number on his ear, they wouldn’t respond but instead continued to promote their products “That’s just cruelty to animals. They are targeting seniors for sure, and hurting the deer in the process,” said Dudoward. She wondered how they must have handled the wild animal to dart him. She questioned, “Did they sedate him? What exactly happened there?” She was absolutely shocked. Dudoward couldn’t comprehend why B.C. Wildlife, a legitimate organization, would have put this company’s number on the buck's ear. The incident reminded her of this continued pattern of companies attempting to target elderly and vulnerable individuals. “I also have my mother’s old number, and it gets scam calls all the time,” she said. “How can they do that? Especially to seniors. They are trying to decide if they should pay the rent or get medication,” said Dudoward in frustration. She proceeded to contact the legitimate conservation officer’s number, who, like the local RCMP, didn’t pay much heed to her situation, she said. The next day, Dudoward called the agency’s number on the tag again, and the conversation took a completely different turn. Now, the agent asked if she was 18 and was promoting products aimed at youth. They informed her that she needed to pay $3 through a call paywall to proceed to the next step, during which she would be directed to the free products for which she was eligible. “The message keeps changing; this is so strange,” said Dudoward. investigated the call and found that it was an intricately designed AI automated voice call. The system guides the caller through different phases by detecting both their spoken responses and the number keys they press. Contrary to Dudoward’s initial belief, it wasn’t a live human speaking to her, but a pre-recorded one. In fact, similar cases of fraud involving medical alert devices have happened in the U.S. before, prompting the and the to issue cautionary alerts for consumers regarding these “robocalls.” The authorities advised seniors to immediately hang up, not press any keys when prompted, and avoid sharing personal information. “Fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians. Though people of all ages can be victims of fraud, older people get targeted more than others,” states the Canadian Government on its The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) says that there have been 40,623 reports of fraud this year up to Oct. 31, resulting in a loss of $503 million. Vishing is a social engineering technique that uses voice communication technology. It involves fraudulent phone calls to trick the victim into revealing personal data. The CAFC advises caution during phone calls. They urge people not to hesitate to say no if something feels off and not to feel pressured by urgency or time limits. They also encourage taking enough time to research before sharing personal information. contacted the B.C. Wildlife Federation for a comment regarding the tag on the buck. “The Conservation Officer Service darted this deer Nov. 5 to remove wires wrapped around its antlers. The tag is legitimate, but unfortunately has the wrong number on it for RAPP. The new versions of the tag have the correct number and COS will stop using these older tags,” said Jesse Zeman, executive director at B.C. Wildlife Federation. Although the exact cause of this mistake is unclear, anyone who suspects fraud should contact CAFC at 1-888-495-8501 or their local police.
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