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The last time the Detroit Lions hosted the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field, Josh Allen led a four-play, 48-yard drive that set up a Tyler Bass game-winning 45-yard field goal, sealing a 28-25 Thanksgiving victory for the Bills in 2022. That loss snapped a three-game winning streak for a Lions team that had clawed its way back from a 1-6 start to the season. It also contributed to Detroit narrowly missing the playoffs, as the team finished with a 9-8 record. When the two teams meet again on Sunday for the first time since that game, NFL analysts are predicting a different outcome. Earlier this week, three major sportsbooks listed the Lions as slight favorites. Experts point to Detroit’s dynamic offense and a Bills defense that has struggled recently as key reasons for the Lions’ edge heading into the Week 15 clash in Motown. The Lions are also returning to a more typical schedule following a grueling stretch of games and are expected to have several key players back in the lineup. Additionally, Buffalo has faced challenges on the road this season, posting a 4-3 away record. Meanwhile, Ford Field has quickly developed a reputation as one of the NFL’s most formidable venues for visiting teams. Here’s what experts are saying ahead of Sunday’s pivotal matchup: MLive Benjamin Raven’s pick: “Lions 31, Bills 23 — I learned my lesson doubting these Lions last week. And I’m not about to do it after a couple of extra days of rest. They should be healthier and ready to roll in this matchup of the NFL’s top two scoring teams.” The Athletic Pick: Bills “This game won’t be as high-scoring as the Bills’ loss to the Rams last week, and one of the reasons is the game won’t be as fast — the Bills aren’t very good at stopping the run and the Lions combo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery is the second-best in the league. The Bills had no answer for Rams receivers Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp either, but we are going to attribute part of that to looking past the Rams to this game. The Lions are going to need to put up at least 30 points because Josh Allen is playing at an MVP level and the Lions defense is still banged up (new guys Za’Darius Smith and Al-Quadin Muhammad are getting pressure, though.) We’re going with the hot QB, especially in the red zone — Allen has thrown for 16 touchdowns and run for eight as the Bills score from inside the 20-yard line 68.6 percent of the time (10 for 11 the last three games).” Sporting News Pick: Lions “Josh Allen has been the best individual player in the NFL carrying his team. Jared Goff has been the best team player in the NFL being lifted by great support. Allen can try to take over another game, but a reeling Buffalo defense will have trouble with Detroit using the rushing attack to set up favorable downfield passing for Goff. Allen might need to operate one-dimensionally again, and that sets up a similar result for the Bills as Week 14 at the Rams.” CBS Sports Pick: Lions “The Bills defense struggled to stop the Ravens and Rams -- two teams that both have loaded offenses -- and I think we’ll see them struggle to stop the Lions. If Josh Allen can deliver another six touchdown game on Sunday, then I think the Bills can win, but there’s no way he’s doing that two weeks in a row. Right? RIGHT?!?” Pro Football Network Pick: Lions “The metrics say that the Detroit Lions are the better team across the board, with the Buffalo Bills lagging behind them by some distance defensively and on special teams. The Lions have also played a slightly tougher schedule. This game has the makings of being a high-scoring one, which makes the line tough to judge. Those exciting back-and-forth type games are often won on the final possession, so any line below seven points is tough to play.” Arizona Republic Pick: Lions “We really wanted to pick the Bills in this game, but the Lions have won 11 games in a row and Buffalo is just 4-3 away from Highmark Stadium this season. Josh Allen will impress again, but the Lions will win in a thriller.” NBC Sports (Pro Football Talk) Pick: Lions “Buffalo’s defense won’t be able to slow down Detroit’s offense.”LOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead," Altman said in a statement. Altman, who is in a legal dispute with rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO's influence in the incoming administration. Trump is putting Musk, the world’s richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy , an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, in charge of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which is an outside advisory committee that will work with people inside the government to reduce spending and regulations. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk recently escalated the lawsuit by asking a federal judge to stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. —— The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives. Sarah Parvini, The Associated PressTAUNSA (APP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, recounting Saudi Arabia’s unconditional financial and diplomatic support to Pakistan, warned that any venom-spitting against such a brotherly country was an unforgivable crime and called for the national unity to counter such anti-state elements. The prime minister, addressing the inauguration of the Restoration of Kachhi Canal damaged by 2022 floods, said whether it was the Kashmir issue, the United Nations or the UN Security Council, Saudi Arabia always acted as Pakistan’s advocate and benefactor, as the Kingdom also bailed out Pakistan recently to seek IMF program. “Despite this, such venom-spitting is an unforgivable crime. I as the prime minister of Pakistan want to announce that the nation will break any hand trying to undermine the Pakistan-Saudi friendship. This is not a joke. The allegation is beyond understanding. The largest national interest is being “slaughtered” to serve the short-term political interest,” he remarked after inaugurating the project that will irrigate over 715,000 acres of land in Balochistan and revive life in the area turned barren after the floods. The prime minister told the ceremony also attended by federal ministers Attaullah Tarar, Ahsan Iqbal, Awais Leghari and Dr Musaddik Malik, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, that during the last 77 years, Saudi Arabia attached no strings or preconditions to its support to Pakistan and the current leadership had also asked its administration to invest in Pakistan as MoUs worth billions of dollars had already been signed. Commenting on a statement by the spouse of PTI founder regarding Saudi Arabia, he said: “There can be no animosity to Pakistan bigger than this” and explained that such people were naive to the magnitude of the damage through their “venomous” words. Prime Minister Shehbaz recalled the Kingdom’s support to Pakistan after it carried out the nuclear tests in 1998 in the form of a free-of-charge oil facility as well as financial support. He told the gathering that the feasibility study of the Kachhi Canal Project was started in 1998 during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure and was completed in his second tenure after suffering a lot during Pervez Musharraf time. He appreciated the WAPDA and Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and their respective team for accomplishing the repair project and assured the federal government’s all-out support for the second phase. Prime Minister Shehbaz also appreciated the Balochistan chief minister for reviving the merit-based order and launching the solarisation of tube-wells. Similarly, he also spoke highly for the Punjab Chief Minister for launching the project of a cancer hospital, free tractor scheme for farmers to bring about the agricultural revolution and other initiatives in the education and health sectors. Earlier, in her address, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the canal project would bring about prosperity in Balochistan besides enhancing closeness among the provinces. She said the credit for all mega public welfare projects like motorways, scholarships to youth, modern transport facilities including Orange Line, Metro or Speedo buses and student bikes went to the PML-N governments. She said that having removed the risks of defaults, the PML-N government successfully revived the economy as the stock exchange was breaking records, inflation was down to 7% and remittances were on the rise. Coming to the PTI’s call for the march, the Punjab chief minister said the people were not paying heed to their calls which were flopping one after the other. Criticising the statement by PTI founder’s spouse regarding Saudi Arabia, she said it wasn’t mere terrorism disrupting the progress rather the acts of attacking the other province by KP chief minister were also “very dangerous and beyond understanding.” Balochistan CM Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti said Punjab always welcomed not only the people from Balochistan but all ethnicities for employment or education and those carrying out the targeted killings in his province were the terrorists killing Pakistanis. He told the prime minister that the next 100-kilometer second phase of the canal needed no lined canal as it would require huge funds for construction as well as repair. He said the project could be completed within three to four months if the federal government extended support. Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal said that the federal government was prioritising Balochistan’s uplift through an enhanced allocation of funds and share in the development portfolio. However, those who were disrupting peace in the province were not friends but foes of Balochistan and agents of foreign forces desiring to fight a proxy war like Afghanistan. He said the government was pursuing the agenda to employ youth and provide connectivity with Balochistan. He told the gathering that during the previous government, all projects in Gwadar were put to a halt and were revived by the PML-N government including the completion of port dredging to convert it back to the deep sea port costing Rs4 billion. Ahsan Iqbal said the government had formulated a five-year development program to be unveiled by the prime minister on November 28. Minister for Water Resources Musaddik Malik said the prime minister was pursuing a vision to prioritise employment and reducing inflation. He said the Kachhi Canal was not mere a project to irrigate land but an initiative to revive life in the desert and usher in a new era of prosperity. Lt. Gen. (Retd) Sajjad Ghani said as per the prime minister’s directives, the initial phase of the Kachhi canal had been completed in 45 days to irrigate around 715,000 acres of land in Balochistan. PM directs implementation as IT ministry presents action plan on $25b IT exports: The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication presented a detailed action plan to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif aimed at boosting the country’s IT exports to $25 billion in five years. The prime minister, who had tasked the IT ministry with the said target, chaired a review meeting here and appreciated the action plan, and instructed to ensure its implementation, according to a PM Office press release. The action plan featured measures to bring reforms in different IT-related sectors and address the issues. In his remarks, the prime minister said that there was no dearth of capable manpower and resources. The effective use of resources and skill training of the manpower could take the IT exports even beyond the targeted $25 billion. He asked all the relevant departments for collaborative efforts to address the challenges in the IT sector reforms and informed the participants that he would personally oversee the implementation process. The prime minister instructed the Higher Education Commission to devise an action plan for youth’s education and skill training of international standards. Calling for implementing the proposals to meet the Gulf countries’ demand for IT experts, he asked the IT ministry to define the targets and their timelines to enhance exports. In this regard, he also directed to constitute a committee to ensure the implementation of the reforms and carry out necessary collaboration with different departments. In the briefing, the prime minister was told that his decision to prioritise the IT sector led to a 34% increase in IT exports during the last four months. It was informed that Pakistan’s IT ranking improved from 79 to 40, e-governance ranking by 14 points, and 2500 new IT companies were registered. The participants were informed that for the next five years, a $15 billion target has been set for IT sector exports, $10 billion for digitization, and $1 billion for telecom exports. The meeting was briefed on the Labor Management System aimed at capacity building of the workforce in collaboration with the educational institutions, using the demand data of the industries. As the IT ministry briefed about the proposed project for the facilitation of youth particularly the freelancers in remittances, the prime minister appreciated the measures regarding the international patent gateways and instructed for an immediate implementation. The prime minister expressed satisfaction with the action plan on IT exports and lauded the IT minister and her team. Federal Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja and relevant senior officers attended the meeting.
The Chicago Cubs, in an ongoing effort to strategically reconstruct their offensive lineup, have signaled openness to potentially trading outfielder Seiya Suzuki. Suzuki, respected for being one of the top bats in the league following a top-20 offensive season , finds himself at the center of trade speculation despite his full no-trade clause. Joel Wolfe, Suzuki’s agent, communicated a surprising willingness from his client to consider waiving his no-trade clause under certain scenarios. "Seiya has an open mind," Wolfe disclosed to reporters, shedding light on recent conversations with Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. This openness stems from an understanding that, while a trade is not actively sought, circumstances might align making a move beneficial for all parties involved. This revelation springs from Cody Bellinger’s recent decision to opt into his 2025 player option, creating a repeat scenario where Craig Counsell juggled outfield positions. Despite Suzuki’s disinterest in continuing as a designated hitter—a role he assumed in 59 of his 131 starts last season—his exceptional .365 weighted on-base average and .848 OPS reflect his immense value at the plate. However, his defensive game, marred slightly by routine fly ball misreads, underlines his preference for outfield play. In fact, Bellinger's return likely forces Suzuki into the DH role on a more consistent basis with Pete Crow-Armstrong playing Gold Glove-level defense in center field. It's clear the Cubs are approaching a crucial junction. With Suzuki's contractual commitment standing at two years and $36 million, the organization is balancing the desire to retain his bat and the potential benefits of leveraging his current trade value. The situation complicates further when considering Cody Bellinger, whose defensive prowess makes him another valuable asset for the Cubs to possibly retain or trade. There is no clear answer, but a lot of what-ifs to reach an answer. The strategic calculus for the Cubs involves not only player statistics but also future team composition and the cultivation of new talent like Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara. Trading Suzuki might disrupt the Cubs' efforts to nurture a pipeline of Japanese talent, yet it remains a contemplative direction should the right deal emerge. This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.The Cubs on Friday landed star right fielder Kyle Tucker in a three-for-one deal with the Astros . It's a big splash for Jed Hoyer, an executive who had come under fire in recent years for being too risk-averse. Leaving the Cubs' big-league roster would be third baseman Isaac Paredes and, maybe, right-handed pitcher Hayden Wesneski . I say "maybe" because the roster might not have had room for Wesneski heading into next year, anyway. Highly-touted prospect Cam Smith was also involved in the Cubs' deal. In looking at this only from the Cubs' perspective, the reaction here is that it's an excellent move, but more need to follow. Tucker finished fifth in AL MVP voting in 2023 and was having a career year last season before a freak injury struck. Smith is a big prospect, but the Cubs have lots of those in a deep farm system. Many of those prospects were blocked from the MLB roster in the short term with the team as currently constructed. When there are excess prospects, they should be used as currency to upgrade the MLB roster and Smith has only played five games above the Class-A level (in Double-A last year). Keep in mind this team won exactly 83 games in two straight seasons and hasn't been to the playoffs in a full season since 2018, when they were bounced from the Wild Card. That means they haven't been deep in the playoffs since 2017 and, frankly, that's unacceptable after an extreme rebuild and then World Series title. What's more, they play in a very winnable division and Hoyer is entering a lame duck year. The time is now to finally, in Hoyer's case, get aggressive. He did so with this move. I've been among the chorus calling him too risk-averse, but he went out and traded three players for a guy headed to his free-agency year. That's a strong, win-now move. I said time and again last season -- to the point that I got tired of saying it -- that the Cubs were a roster full of supporting characters in desperate need of a main character. Cody Bellinger was a top guy in the past, while players like Seiya Suzuki and Justin Steele have shown flashes of being main-character types. In the end, though, the leader in WAR for the Cubs in 2024 was Dansby Swanson at 4.0. Among position players, that ranked 36th in the majors. With roughly 10 teams every year not even trying to win, the Cubs trying to contend without a top-35 position player just isn't gonna cut it. Tucker, meanwhile, only played in 78 games due to fouling a ball off his shin. He still posted 4.7 WAR after three straight seasons of at least 5.4. From 2021-23, he averaged 30 homers and 104 RBI per year. Last season in less than half a year, he had 23 home runs. Ian Happ led the Cubs with 25 home runs and 86 RBI last season. From 2021-24, Tucker hit .280/.362/.527 (an .888 OPS) with a 145 OPS+. The Cubs' leader in OPS and OPS+ last season was Suzuki at .848 and 138, respectively. And while he was rumored to be included in trade talks with the Astros on this deal for a bit, he remains with the Cubs. The assumption here is Cody Bellinger now gets traded and we've also heard plenty about Nico Hoerner being on the trading block. That still leaves the Cubs with Tucker, Suzuki, Happ, Swanson, Michael Busch and top prospect Matt Shaw on the position-player side. Let's not gloss over Pete Crow-Armstrong , either. Only 22 last season, he struggled for a while but something clicked in late July. In his last 57 games, Crow-Armstrong -- who has immense upside as a defender and baserunner -- hit .289/.337/.469 with eight doubles, three triples, seven homers, 30 RBI, 35 runs and nine steals in what amounts to just over 1⁄3 of a season. Even if Bellinger is traded, Happ, Crow-Armstrong, Tucker and Suzuki are an outstanding outfield with one player left over to DH (it should be Suzuki, who had a terrible defensive year last season, not to mention two straight years with an oblique injury). There's room for Hoyer to continue maneuvering if Bellinger and/or Hoerner are dealt. Shaw can play either second or third. Busch has experience at third base if the Cubs wanted to go after a first baseman ( Pete Alonso and Christian Walker remain free agents, for example) and swing him over to the hot corner. Alex Bregman is also a free agent if the Cubs want to pursue a third baseman. If the Blue Jays make Vladimir Guerrero Jr. available, the Cubs should be all over that, though it seems unlikely they could pull off deals for Tucker and Guerrero -- both free agents after 2025 -- in the same offseason. The point is the Cubs' organization was in the position to reshape things with so much prospect depth and a roster full of decent or good-but-not-great players. They needed to use some of this depth for top-shelf talent. The reason I mention the dangling of Bellinger and Hoerner in the trade market is because the Cubs' pitching staff could also use upgrades while the front office is being aggressive. The current rotation of Shota Imanaga , Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon , Matthew Boyd and Javier Assad looks like a potentially pretty good rotation. Imanaga and Steele are better suited as mid-rotation guys than aces, though. Corbin Burnes still sits as a free agent, though it appears the Cubs don't care to join the bidding, even if they should. The Mariners are known to be making some of their pitchers available via trade while the Cubs have offensive players to deal. Maybe there's a match there in taking on Luis Castillo 's money or just grabbing someone like Bryan Woo or Bryce Miller ? The bullpen, too, has plenty of live arms, but seems like it could use an alpha-type closer to knock everyone down a role. They have been rumored to be in on Kirby Yates as a closer. Again, that's a main character. The Cubs just pulled off something like this by adding Kyle Tucker. He's the offensive centerpiece now. Maybe they can find a way to add a rotation and bullpen centerpiece moving forward while shuffling MLB pieces around. Bellinger and maybe Hoerner are probably the ones on the move next, should the aggressive mindset remain. The bottom line: Big-time free agents are available. Great players could be had via trade. The NL Central is open for the Cubs' taking. Hoyer just made an aggressive move in order to push past mediocrity. Do the math. The Cubs just made a big splash, but it shouldn't stop there. This could and should be the first domino as they look to get back to postseason relevance.Billionaire Elon Musk called Canada’s prime minister an “insufferable tool” on his social media platform today. Musk’s comments were in response to Justin Trudeau likening Kamala Harris’s defeat in the U.S. presidential election to an attack on women’s rights and progress. This afternoon, Trudeau met with provincial and territorial premiers to discuss Canada’s approach to negotiations with the U.S. Canada is facing a threat of a 25 per cent tariff hike from incoming president Donald Trump, who defeated Harris in the November election. Earlier this week, Trump taunted Trudeau on social media, referring to the prime minister as the governor of what he called the “Great State of Canada.” The post was an apparent reference to a joke Trump cracked at his dinner with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago estate nearly two weeks ago, where the president-elect teased that Canada could join the U.S. as its 51st state. Speaking on Tuesday night at an event hosted by the Equal Voice Foundation — an organization dedicated to improving gender representation in Canadian politics — Trudeau said there are regressive forces fighting against women’s progress. “It shouldn’t be that way. It wasn’t supposed to be that way. We were supposed to be on a steady, if difficult sometimes, march towards progress,” Trudeau said, adding he is a proud feminist and will always be an ally. “And yet, just a few weeks ago, the United States voted for a second time to not elect its first woman president. Everywhere, women’s rights and women’s progress is under attack. Overtly, and subtly.” In a post on X on Wednesday, Musk responded to a clip of Trudeau’s remarks, saying, “He’s such an insufferable tool. Won’t be in power for much longer.”
Fantasy News: Mason Rudolph Named Titans' QB1 over Will Levis vs. Jaguars in Week 17DT Kenneth Grant to leave Michigan for NFL Draft
Jets wide receiver Davante Adams sits out practice with a hip ailment, Aaron Rodgers a full goLOS ANGELES (AP) — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to make a $1 million personal donation to President-Elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund, joining a number of tech companies and executives who are working to improve their relationships with the incoming administration. A spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed the move on Friday. The announcement comes one day after Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to the same fund. Amazon also said it plans to donate $1 million. “President Trump will lead our country into the age of AI, and I am eager to support his efforts to ensure America stays ahead," Altman said in a statement. Altman, who is in a legal dispute with rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO's influence in the incoming administration. Trump is putting Musk, the world’s richest man, and Vivek Ramaswamy , an entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate, in charge of the new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, which is an outside advisory committee that will work with people inside the government to reduce spending and regulations. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits. Musk recently escalated the lawsuit by asking a federal judge to stop OpenAI’s plans to convert itself into a for-profit business more fully. —— The Associated Press and OpenAI have a licensing and technology agreement allowing OpenAI access to part of the AP’s text archives. Sarah Parvini, The Associated Press
‘Check your ODB port’: Man discovers Toyota dealership’s GPS tracker in his Tacoma. Then he shows how to remove it
Heavy equipment operators from more than 40 countries compete to claim worldwide title in largest challenge to date IRVING, Texas, Dec. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) today launched its third Global Operator Challenge, inviting thousands of machine operators worldwide to put their agility, resilience and versatility to the test on a wide range of construction equipment and technology. "For nearly 100 years, our customers have been pushing the limits with our machines," said Caterpillar Construction Industries Group President Tony Fassino. "This challenge helps showcase and celebrate the exceptional skills of the expert men and women in this important profession as they forge their legacies of being the best operators in the world." More than 140 Cat® dealer competitions were held during the 2022-2023 challenge, which attracted more than 10,000 operators from 32 countries. The 2025-2026 challenge aims to include more events, countries and operators than previous programs. Invitation for Operators Operators are invited to compete in local challenges facilitated by Cat dealers around the globe during the first round, being held from January – September 2025. The competitions will feature at least three different challenges on at least three separate pieces of equipment. Scoring is based on the operator's skills, safety, efficiency and competence in using integrated technology such as payload, grade control and operator ease-of-use features to enhance the machine's performance. Winners from local dealer events will advance to regional semifinal competitions during the fall of 2025. Nine finalists will emerge from the regional semifinals and participate in the final competition in March 2026 at Caterpillar's outdoor Festival Grounds exhibit during CONEXPO-CON/AGG in Las Vegas. The winner receives either a $10,000 cash prize or an equal value trip for two where Caterpillar has a location worldwide. For more information and official rules about the Global Operator Challenge, including how to participate, visit www.cat.com/operatorchallenge . About Caterpillar With 2023 sales and revenues of $67.1 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/caterpillar-invites-worlds-most-skilled-operators-to-forge-their-legacies-through-third-global-operator-challenge-302326150.html SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.
( MENAFN - Baystreet) - Divergent Canadian and US economic outlooks sinking Loonie. - Markets take a breather ahead of next week's FOMC meeting. - US dollar in demand across the board. USDCAD: open1.4221, overnight range,1.4213-1.4244, close 1.4220, WTI $70.83, Gold, $2666.89 The Canadian dollar took it on the chin again yesterday, but it had a lot of company. US weekly jobless claims proved resilient and gave traders another reason to suggest that the Fed may be less aggressive in lowering interest rates than previously thought. A host of US economic reports paints a picture of a slowing but very resilient US economy buoyed by stock market gains and the promise of personal and corporate tax cuts. It is a very different outlook in Canada. The economy is barely above water. The unemployment rate is soaring, and it seems like it is only governments hiring workers. The Bank of Canada slashed its benchmark rate by 50 bps this week, which was the second consecutive 50 bp rate cut. Meanwhile, the Federal government is doing all it can to crush the domestic energy industry. Yesterday, Environment Minister Stephen Guilbeault announced another increase in the carbon emission target to decrease emissions by 45-50% of 2005 levels. Asian equity markets followed Wall Street's lead and closed lower. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index lost 2.09%, Japan's Topix fell 0.95%, and Australia's ASX 200 index was down 0.45%. European bourses bucked the trend, and a 0.23% gain in the German DAX is leading the others higher. S&P 500 futures are up 0.35% while the US 10-year Treasury yield is 4.35%. EURUSD drifted in a 1.0453-1.0496 range overnight. Prices are weighed down by yesterday's ECB 25 bp rate cut and signals for further cuts at the next few meetings. Several ECB officials seem to agree with that view. GBPUSD continued its decline from the previous day, trading in a 1.2619-1.2684 range. Traders reacted negatively to disappointing economic growth data for October, which showed a 0.1% contraction against forecasts for a 0.1% gain. This marked the second consecutive month of a 0.1% decline. Additionally, Manufacturing Production and Industrial Production figures came in below expectations. USDJPY traded in a 152.46-153.66 range due to higher US 10-year Treasury yields and lower odds of a Bank of Japan rate increase next week. AUDUSD was subdued and drifted in a 0.6354-0.6376 band. Gains are capped by ongoing strength in the U.S. dollar and persistent concerns about the Chinese economy MENAFN13122024000212011056ID1108991775 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.HOULTON – Katahdin Bankshares Corp. (OTCQX: KTHN), parent company of Katahdin Trust Company, announced that it has declared a cash dividend of $0.175 per share for the fourth quarter of 2024. The dividend will be payable on December 20, to shareholders of record as of December 13. This dividend represents a 15.1 percent increase over last year’s fourth-quarter dividend. Katahdin Bankshares Corp. is the bank holding company of Katahdin Trust Company. Founded in 1918, Katahdin Trust is a community bank based in Houlton, Maine with 16 locations and more than $1.05 billion in assets. Katahdin Bankshares Corp. common stock is quoted on the OTC Markets (OTCQX) under the symbol KTHN. Learn more about the Company and its subsidiary bank at www.katahdintrust.com and follow Katahdin Trust on social media.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh died on Thursday, hours after being hospitalised at AIIMS, Delhi. Political leaders reflected upon the two-time Prime Minister's legacy and said his contributions to the country will be always be remembered. Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), PM Modi shared photos with Singh and wrote: "India mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished leaders, Dr. Manmohan Singh Ji. Rising from humble origins, he rose to become a respected economist. He served in various government positions as well, including as Finance Minister, leaving a strong imprint on our economic policy over the years. His interventions in Parliament were also insightful. As our Prime Minister, he made extensive efforts to improve people’s lives." Also Read | Manmohan Singh passes away: From scholar to statesman, a lookback at his role shaping modern India BJP chief JP Nadda called Manmohan Singh a 'visionary statesman' and said his 'legacy will continue to inspire generations in their pursuit of nation-building'. Here's what he wrote: Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupender Singh Hooda remembered Manmohan Singh as a "great economist of the world" and said he took India forward through his work. Also Read | Former Prime Minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh passes away at 92 Shiromani Akali Dal also took to social media and said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh, a visionary economist, statesman, and former Prime Minister of India. The former Indian Prime Minister was the first Sikh to hold this office, and also served as the Finance Minister of the country. His contributions to India’s economic progress will always be remembered."
Ex-Intel CEO Who Abruptly Resigned in Shock Announcement Asks People to Join Him in 'Praying and Fasting' for Intel EmployeesThousands of Syrians celebrate in central Damascus during first Friday prayers since Assad's fall DAMASCUS (AP) — Thousands of Syrians have celebrated in Umayyad Square, the largest in Damascus, after the first Muslim Friday prayers following the ouster of President Bashar Assad. The leader of the insurgency that toppled Assad, Ahmad al-Sharaa, appeared in a video message in which he congratulated “the great Syrian people for the victory of the blessed revolution.” Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in the Turkish capital of Ankara that there was “broad agreement” between Turkey and the United States on what they would like to see in Syria. The top U.S. diplomat also called for an “inclusive and non-sectarian" interim government. American released from Syrian prison is flown out of the country, a US official says WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military has transported an American who was imprisoned in Syria for seven months out of the country. That's according to a U.S. official, who says Travis Timmerman was flown out on a U.S. military helicopter. Timmerman, 29, told The Associated Press he had gone to Syria on a Christian pilgrimage and was not ill-treated while in Palestine Branch, a notorious detention facility operated by Syrian intelligence. He said he was freed by “the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer.” Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she 'sustained an injury' from fall on official trip to Luxembourg WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi is 84. She was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, did not describe the nature of her injury or give any additional details, but a person familiar with the incident said that Pelosi tripped and fell while at an event with the other members of Congress. The person requested anonymity to discuss the fall because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen's friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes to seafood, one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy. Some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more complicated picture, as they fear Trump’s pending trade hostilities with major trading partners Canada and China could make an already pricy kind of protein more expensive. Conservationists also fear Trump’s emphasis on deregulation could jeopardize fish stocks already in peril. But many in the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries said they expect Trump to allow fishing in protected areas and crack down on offshore wind expansion. Russia targets Ukrainian infrastructure with a massive attack by cruise missiles and drones KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia fired 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones in Friday's bombardments. He says it is one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. He says Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year. Zelenskyy renewed his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. But uncertainty surrounds how the war might unfold next year. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the war and has thrown into doubt whether vital U.S. military support for Kyiv will continue. Veteran Daniel Penny, acquitted in NYC subway chokehold, will join Trump's suite at football game FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A military veteran who choked an agitated New York subway rider and was acquitted of homicide this week has been invited by Vice President-elect JD Vance to join Donald Trump’s suite at the Army-Navy football game on Saturday. Daniel Penny was cleared of criminally negligent homicide in Jordan Neely’s 2023 death. A more serious manslaughter charge was dismissed last week. Vance served in the Marine Corps and had commented on the acquittal earlier this week. He said that “justice was done in this case” and Penny should never have been prosecuted. New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into the ongoing investigation of mysterious drone sightings being reported in the state and other parts of the region. Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that state and local law enforcement remain “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counteract any nefarious drone activity. Murphy and other officials say there is no evidence that the drones pose a national security or a public safety threat. A state lawmaker says up to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities since Nov. 18. About 3 in 10 are highly confident in Trump on Cabinet, spending or military oversight: AP-NORC poll WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans may have elected Donald Trump to a second term in November, but that doesn’t mean they have high confidence in his ability to choose well-qualified people for his Cabinet or effectively manage government spending, the military and the White House. That's according to a new poll from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half of U.S. adults are “not at all confident” in Trump’s ability to appoint well-qualified people for high-level government positions. Only about 3 in 10 are “extremely” or “very” confident that Trump will pick qualified people to serve in his administration. President Macron names centrist ally Bayrou as France's next prime minister PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. The 73-year-old is a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance and has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority in the National Assembly. Bayrou was recently cleared in a case relating to embezzlement of European Parliament funds. His predecessor resigned last week following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the parliament, leaving France without a functioning government. Macron vowed last week to remain in office until his term ends in 2027. Yankees to get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb Durbin, AP source says NEW YORK (AP) — A person familiar with the trade tells The Associated Press that the New York Yankees have agreed to acquire All-Star closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes, infield prospect Caleb Durbin and cash. A 30-year-old right-hander, Williams is eligible for free agency after the 2025 season. He was diagnosed during spring training with two stress fractures in his back and didn’t make his season debut until July 28.Meet the City fan whose Guinness reviews have made him an unlikely celeb
Athlete of the week: Zionsville’s Maguire Mitchell
Former Boise State coach Chris Petersen still gets asked about the Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma on the first day of 2007. That game had everything. Underdog Boise State took a 28-10 lead over one of college football's blue bloods that was followed by a 25-point Sooners run capped by what could have been a back-breaking interception return for a touchdown with 1:02 left. Then the Broncos used three trick plays that remain sensations to not only force overtime but win 43-42. And then there was the marriage proposal by Boise State running back Ian Johnson — shortly after scoring the winning two-point play — to cheerleader Chrissy Popadics that was accepted on national TV. That game put Broncos football on the national map for most fans, but looking back 18 years later, Petersen sees it differently. People are also reading... "Everybody wants to talk about that Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl game, which is great how it all worked out and all those things," Petersen said. "But we go back to play TCU (three years later) again on the big stage. It's not as flashy a game, but to me, that was an even better win." Going back to the Fiesta Bowl and winning, Petersen reasoned, showed the Broncos weren't a splash soon to fade away, that there was something longer lasting and more substantive happening on the famed blue turf. The winning has continued with few interruptions. No. 8 and third-seeded Boise State is preparing for another trip to the Fiesta Bowl, this time in a playoff quarterfinal against No. 5 and sixth-seeded Penn State on New Year's Eve. That success has continued through a series of coaches, though with a lot more of a common thread than readily apparent. Dirk Koetter was hired from Oregon, where Petersen was the wide receivers coach. Not only did Koetter bring Petersen with him to Oregon, Petersen introduced him to Dan Hawkins, who also was hired for the staff. So the transition from Koetter to Hawkins to Petersen ensured at least some level of consistency. Koetter and Hawkins engineered double-digit victory seasons five times over a six-year span that led to power-conference jobs. Koetter went to Arizona State after three seasons and Hawkins to Colorado after five. Then when Petersen became the coach after the 2005 season, he led Boise State to double-digit wins his first seven seasons and made bowls all eight years. He resisted the temptation to leave for a power-conference program until Washington lured him away toward the end of the 2013 season. Then former Boise State quarterback and offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin took over and posted five double-digit victory seasons over his first six years. After going 5-2 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, he left for Auburn. "They just needed consistency of leadership," said Koetter, who is back as Boise State's offensive coordinator. "This program had always won at the junior-college level, the Division II level, the I-AA (now FCS) level." But Koetter referred to "an unfortunate chain of events" that made Boise State a reclamation project when he took over in 1998. Coach Pokey Allen led Boise State to the Division I-AA national championship game in 1994, but was diagnosed with cancer two days later. He died on Dec. 30, 1996, at 53. Allen coached the final two games that season, Boise State's first in Division I-A (now FBS). Houston Nutt became the coach in 1997, went 4-7 and headed to Arkansas. Then Koetter took over. "One coach dies and the other wasn't the right fit for this program," Koetter said. "Was a really good coach, did a lot of good things, but just wasn't a good fit for here." But because of Boise State's success at the lower levels, Koetter said the program was set up for success. "As Boise State has risen up the conference food chain, they've pretty much always been at the top from a player talent standpoint," Koetter said. "So it was fairly clear if we got things headed in the right direction and did a good job recruiting, we would be able to win within our conference for sure." Success didn't take long. He went 6-5 in 1998 and then won 10 games each of the following two seasons. Hawkins built on that winning and Petersen took it to another level. But there is one season, really one game, no really one half that still bugs Petersen. He thought his best team was in 2010, one that entered that late-November game at Nevada ranked No. 3 and had a legitimate chance to play for the national championship. The Colin Kaepernick-led Wolf Pack won 34-31. "I think the best team that I might've been a part of as the head coach was the team that lost one game to Nevada," Petersen said. "That team, to me, played one poor half of football on offense the entire season. We were winning by a bunch at half (24-7) and we came out and did nothing on offense in the second half and still had a chance to win. "That team would've done some damage." There aren't any what-ifs with this season's Boise State team. The Broncos are in the field of the first 12-team playoff, representing the Group of Five as its highest-ranked conference champion. That got Boise State a bye into the quarterfinals. Spencer Danielson has restored the championship-level play after taking over as the interim coach late last season during a rare downturn that led to Andy Avalos' dismissal. Danielson received the job full time after leading Boise State to the Mountain West championship. Now the Broncos are 12-1 with their only defeat to top-ranked and No. 1 seed Oregon on a last-second field goal. Running back Ashton Jeanty also was the runner-up to the Heisman Trophy. "Boise State has been built on the backs of years and years of success way before I got here," Danielson said. "So even this season is not because of me. It's because the group of young men wanted to leave a legacy, be different. We haven't been to the Fiesta Bowl in a decade. They said in January, 'We're going to get that done.' They went to work." As was the case with Danielson, Petersen and Koetter said attracting top talent is the primary reason Boise State has succeeded all these years. Winning, obviously, is the driving force, and with more entry points to the playoffs, the Broncos could make opportunities to keep returning to the postseason a selling point. But there's also something about the blue carpet. Petersen said he didn't get what it was about when he arrived as an assistant coach, and there was some talk about replacing it with more conventional green grass. A poll in the Idaho Statesman was completely against that idea, and Petersen has come to appreciate what that field means to the program. "It's a cumulative period of time where young kids see big-time games when they're in seventh and eighth and ninth and 10th grade and go, 'Oh, I know that blue turf. I want to go there,'" Petersen said. Get local news delivered to your inbox!KYIV, Ukraine — NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked a central city with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile. escalating the nearly 33-month-old war. The conflict is “entering a decisive phase,” Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday, and “taking on very dramatic dimensions.” Ukraine’s parliament canceled a session as security was tightened following Thursday’s Russian strike on a military facility in the city of Dnipro. In a stark warning to the West, President Vladimir Putin said in a nationally televised speech the attack with the intermediate-range Oreshnik missile was in retaliation for Kyiv’s use of U.S. and British longer-range missiles capable of striking deeper into Russian territory. Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks Friday during a meeting with the leadership of the Russian Ministry of Defense, representatives of the military-industrial complex and developers of missile systems at the Kremlin in Moscow. Putin said Western air defense systems would be powerless to stop the new missile. Ukrainian military officials said the missile that hit Dnipro reached a speed of Mach 11 and carried six nonnuclear warheads, each releasing six submunitions. Speaking Friday to military and weapons industries officials, Putin said Russia will launch production of the Oreshnik. “No one in the world has such weapons,” he said. “Sooner or later, other leading countries will also get them. We are aware that they are under development. “We have this system now,” he added. “And this is important.” Putin said that while it isn’t an intercontinental missile, it’s so powerful that the use of several of them fitted with conventional warheads in one attack could be as devastating as a strike with strategic — or nuclear — weapons. Gen. Sergei Karakayev, head of Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces, said the Oreshnik could reach targets across Europe and be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads, echoing Putin’s claim that even with conventional warheads, “the massive use of the weapon would be comparable in effect to the use of nuclear weapons.” In this photo taken from a video released Friday, a Russian serviceman operates at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov kept up Russia's bellicose tone on Friday, blaming “the reckless decisions and actions of Western countries” in supplying weapons to Ukraine to strike Russia. "The Russian side has clearly demonstrated its capabilities, and the contours of further retaliatory actions in the event that our concerns were not taken into account have also been quite clearly outlined," he said. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, widely seen as having the warmest relations with the Kremlin in the European Union, echoed Moscow’s talking points, suggesting the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Ukraine likely requires direct American involvement. “These are rockets that are fired and then guided to a target via an electronic system, which requires the world’s most advanced technology and satellite communications capability,” Orbán said on state radio. “There is a strong assumption ... that these missiles cannot be guided without the assistance of American personnel.” Orbán cautioned against underestimating Russia’s responses, emphasizing that the country’s recent modifications to its nuclear deployment doctrine should not be dismissed as a “bluff.” “It’s not a trick ... there will be consequences,” he said. Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky speaks to journalists Friday during a joint news conference with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriiy Sybiha in Kyiv, Ukraine. Separately in Kyiv, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský called Thursday’s missile strike an “escalatory step and an attempt of the Russian dictator to scare the population of Ukraine and to scare the population of Europe.” At a news conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Lipavský also expressed his full support for delivering the necessary additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians from the “heinous attacks.” He said the Czech Republic will impose no limits on the use of its weapons and equipment given to Ukraine. Three lawmakers from Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, confirmed that Friday's previously scheduled session was called off due to the ongoing threat of Russian missiles targeting government buildings in central Kyiv. In addition, there also was a recommendation to limit the work of all commercial offices and nongovernmental organizations "in that perimeter, and local residents were warned of the increased threat,” said lawmaker Mykyta Poturaiev, who said it's not the first time such a threat has been received. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said the Oreshnik missile was fired from the Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region and flew 15 minutes before striking Dnipro. Test launches of a similar missile were conducted in October 2023 and June 2024, the directorate said. The Pentagon confirmed the missile was a new, experimental type of intermediate-range missile based on its RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. Thursday's attack struck the Pivdenmash plant that built ICBMs when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. The military facility is located about 4 miles southwest of the center of Dnipro, a city of about 1 million that is Ukraine’s fourth-largest and a key hub for military supplies and humanitarian aid, and is home to one of the country’s largest hospitals for treating wounded soldiers from the front before their transfer to Kyiv or abroad. We're all going to die someday. Still, how it happens—and when—can point to a historical moment defined by the scientific advancements and public health programs available at the time to contain disease and prevent accidents. In the early 1900s, America's efforts to improve sanitation, hygiene, and routine vaccinations were still in their infancy. Maternal and infant mortality rates were high, as were contagious diseases that spread between people and animals. Combined with the devastation of two World Wars—and the Spanish Flu pandemic in between—the leading causes of death changed significantly after this period. So, too, did the way we diagnose and control the spread of disease. Starting with reforms as part of Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, massive-scale, federal interventions in the U.S. eventually helped stave off disease transmission. It took comprehensive government programs and the establishment of state and local health agencies to educate the public on preventing disease transmission. Seemingly simple behavioral shifts, such as handwashing, were critical in thwarting the spread of germs, much like discoveries in medicine, such as vaccines, and increased access to deliver them across geographies. Over the course of the 20th century, life expectancy increased by 56% and is estimated to keep increasing slightly, according to an annual summary of vital statistics published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2000. Death Records examined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to see how the leading causes of death in America have evolved over time and to pinpoint how some major mortality trends have dropped off. According to a report published in the journal Annual Review of Public Health in 2000, pneumonia was the leading cause of death in the early 1900s, accounting for nearly 1 in 4 deaths. By the time World War I ended in 1918, during which people and animals were housed together for long periods, a new virus emerged: the Spanish Flu. Originating in a bird before spreading to humans, the virus killed 10 times as many Americans as the war. Many died of secondary pneumonia after the initial infection. Pneumonia deaths eventually plummeted throughout the century, partly prevented by increased flu vaccine uptake rates in high-risk groups, particularly older people. Per the CDC, tuberculosis was a close second leading cause of death, killing 194 of every 10,000 people in 1900, mainly concentrated in dense urban areas where the infection could more easily spread. Eventually, public health interventions led to drastic declines in mortality from the disease, such as public education, reducing crowded housing, quarantining people with active disease, improving hygiene, and using antibiotics. Once the death rates lagged, so did the public health infrastructure built to control the disease, leading to a resurgence in the mid-1980s. Diarrhea was the third leading cause of death in 1900, surging every summer among children before the impacts of the pathogen died out in 1930. Adopting water filtration, better nutrition, and improved refrigeration were all associated with its decline. In the 1940s and 1950s, polio outbreaks killed or paralyzed upward of half a million people worldwide every year. Even at its peak, polio wasn't a leading cause of death, it was a much-feared one, particularly among parents of young children, some of whom kept them from crowded public places and interacting with other children. By 1955, when Jonah Salk discovered the polio vaccine, the U.S. had ended the "golden age of medicine." During this period, the causes of mortality shifted dramatically as scientists worldwide began to collaborate on infectious disease control, surgical techniques, vaccines, and other drugs. From the 1950s onward, once quick-spreading deadly contagions weren't prematurely killing American residents en masse, scientists also began to understand better how to diagnose and treat these diseases. As a result, Americans were living longer lives and instead succumbing to noncommunicable diseases, or NCDs. The risk of chronic diseases increased with age and, in some cases, was exacerbated by unhealthy lifestyles. Cancer and heart disease shot up across the century, increasing 90-fold from 1900 to 1998, according to CDC data. Following the post-Spanish Flu years, heart disease killed more Americans than any other cause, peaking in the 1960s and contributing to 1 in 3 deaths. Cigarette smoking rates peaked at the same time, a major risk factor for heart disease. Obesity rates also rose, creating another risk factor for heart disease and many types of cancers. This coincides with the introduction of ultra-processed foods into diets, which plays a more significant role in larger waistlines than the increasing predominance of sedentary work and lifestyles. In the early 1970s, deaths from heart disease began to fall as more Americans prevented and managed their risk factors, like quitting smoking or taking blood pressure medicine. However, the disease remains the biggest killer of Americans. Cancer remains the second leading cause of death and rates still indicate an upward trajectory over time. Only a few types of cancer are detected early by screening, and some treatments for aggressive cancers like glioblastoma—the most common type of brain cancer—have also stalled, unable to improve prognosis much over time. In recent years, early-onset cancers, those diagnosed before age 50 or sometimes even earlier, have seen a drastic rise among younger Americans. While highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyles may contribute to rising rates, a spike in cancer rates among otherwise healthy young individuals has baffled some medical professionals. This follows the COVID-19 pandemic that began in 2020. At its peak, high transmission rates made the virus the third leading cause of death in America. It's often compared to the Spanish Flu of 1918, though COVID-19 had a far larger global impact, spurring international collaborations among scientists who developed a vaccine in an unprecedented time. Public policy around issues of safety and access also influences causes of death, particularly—and tragically—among young Americans. Gun control measures in the U.S. are far less stringent than in peer nations; compared to other nations, however, the U.S. leads in gun violence. Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens (around 2 in 3 are homicides, and 1 in 3 are suicides), and deaths from opioids remain a leading cause of death among younger people. Globally, the leading causes of death mirror differences in social and geographic factors. NCDs are primarily associated with socio-economic status and comprise 7 out of 10 leading causes of death, 85% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries, according to the World Health Organization. However, one of the best health measures is life expectancy at birth. People in the U.S. have been living longer lives since 2000, except for a slight dip in longevity due to COVID-19. According to the most recent CDC estimates, Americans' life expectancy is 77.5 years on average and is expected to increase slightly in the coming decades. Story editing by Alizah Salario. Additional editing by Kelly Glass. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Lacy Kerrick. This story originally appeared on Death Records and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Caterpillar Invites World's Most-Skilled Operators to Forge Their Legacies through Third Global Operator ChallengeSyracuse and Georgetown meet for the 100th time Saturday when the Orange host the Hoyas in the latest installment of their classic rivalry. As former Big East Conference rivals, Syracuse and Georgetown have staged many memorable contests over the decades with the Orange holding a 54-45 all-time advantage. The teams still meet annually despite the Orange now playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Syracuse has won five of the last seven meetings, including a 12-point triumph in Washington D.C. last December. "It definitely felt like a Big East game," Hoyas coach Ed Cooley said after last season's contest. This time around, Georgetown (7-2) is coming off a 73-60 loss to West Virginia in which the team shot under 38 percent from the floor and committed 14 turnovers. "When the ball has music, when the ball is singing, unbelievable music happens," Cooley said. "The music is the play. The music is body movement and screening an open shot. We didn't have good music today." Thomas Sorber is the team's leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, although the freshman has failed to reach that average in six of the last seven games. Syracuse (5-4), meanwhile, is coming off a 102-85 win over Albany despite the absence of leading scorer J.J. Starling (19.8 points), who is out indefinitely with a hand injury. In his stead, freshman Donnie Freeman supplied 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting despite playing just 23 minutes due to an illness. "Whatever (illness) he has, he needs to keep that, if he can keep playing like, whatever he was feeling," Orange coach Adrian Autry joked. Syracuse will be looking for more success from 3-point range after hitting 6-of-15 (40 percent) against Albany. In their previous game -- a five-point loss to Notre Dame -- the Orange failed to make a 3-pointer for the first time in more than a decade. No Syracuse player has made more than 11 3-pointers this season -- and even that player (Chris Bell) is only shooting 25 percent from long distance. --Field Level Media
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