Teams of doctors say they’re exhausted and emotional after spending the week volunteering their time at two pop-up overdose prevention sites near Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Volunteers with Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, an independent group of physicians from across Vancouver Island who work with people who use substances, advocating for compassionate, inclusive and evidence-based care for all, opened the sites from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting Monday. The Victoria site was only planned to run until Wednesday. The group intends to keep the Nanaimo site open until the end of day Friday. The unsanctioned overdose prevention sites have been staffed with physicians and volunteers trained in overdose prevention, and supported by harm reduction organizations including Moms Stop the Harm, the Nanaimo Area Network of Drug Users and the Harm Reduction Nurses Association. The sites have provided harm reduction supplies, such as sterile needles and alcohol swabs, connected patients with referrals to treatment and detox, and allowed people to consume drugs while supervised by someone who can intervene if overdose occurs. The sites did not provide drugs. As of Wednesday the Nanaimo site had witnessed 14 drug consumptions (13 hospital patients and one community member), distributed 11 harm reduction kits, connected one person with housing and community supports and helped one woman start her application for treatment, said Dr. Jess Wilder, a family and addictions medicine doctor in Nanaimo. The Victoria site had a slightly lower turnout but was very warmly received by community members in the area, said Dr. Ryan Herriot, a family and addictions medicine doctor in Victoria. Patient dies of overdose in Nanaimo hospital Speaking with The Tyee Wednesday, Wilder was emotional as she explained how the team wasn’t able to help a patient who died in a Nanaimo hospital bathroom after using drugs unsupervised at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning. The BC Coroners Service confirmed it is investigating this overdose death. The man who died had previously been a patient of Wilder’s and had even used the pop-up overdose prevention site Monday afternoon while waiting to be admitted to hospital. “He was declared dead in the very building he went to for care,” she said. “It’s stories like this that fuel the drive to keep doing this work. He already showed us Monday when a safe spot was available he used it, and when he didn’t have one he did something unsafe, which caused him to die unnecessarily.” Herriot similarly had to pause his interview with The Tyee and take a moment to gather his emotions when he spoke about support the community had given the Victoria overdose prevention site. “Of course I have a lot of grief, just like many people,” Herriot said. “We must be approaching the saturation point where just about every adult — or every person — in B.C. knows someone who has died from overdose.” More than 16,721 unregulated toxic drug deaths have been recorded between January 2016 to September 2024 in the province, with annual deaths steadily climbing since 2016. Numbers for October have not yet been released. “When it comes to people with real decision-making power I’ve run out of tolerance for kind words,” Herriot continued. “We’re heading into our ninth year of this emergency and I fear when people read about that they will think it is because the problem is unsolvable. Like it must be so difficult to solve, otherwise we would have solved it.” That’s not true, Herriot said. “We know the solutions. Government knows the solution. We just have to do it,” he said. Herriot says solutions could include widespread overdose prevention sites, access to a regulated supply of substances of known purity and potency, more access to treatment like opioid agonist therapy and trauma therapy, and working to tackle poverty, for example by increasing social assistance and disability rates and making sure they keep up with inflation. Herriot says he got to speak with an eight-year-old while she was walking home from school with her parents, passing by the unsanctioned OPS, and “she gets it” and supports the site. “I was speaking with my own eight-year-old yesterday, and she asked me what happens when I leave, will people die?” Herriot said. “I said yes, but at some point you have to let someone else do the work.” The overdose prevention sites were temporary because they were funded and run by volunteers who were also taking time off work, Herriot said. Wilder and Herriot both told The Tyee they hoped the pop-up sites would raise awareness for the need for accessible government-run overdose prevention sites at all major hospitals across the province. Speaking with The Tyee for a piece published earlier this week, Wilder estimated there are between 25 to 50 patients at every major B.C. hospital right now who use unregulated drugs and who would benefit from being able to access an overdose prevention site. When patients who use drugs need hospital care they are put in extremely uncomfortable and dangerous positions, she said. A patient may be cut off from their regular dealer and harm reduction strategies and have to use in a bathroom or off hospital grounds, which increases their risk an overdose going unnoticed. In an emailed statement Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health Chief Medical Health Officer, said major hospitals have Addiction Medicine Consult Service teams who work with patients to create individualized care plans, “that meet the needs of patients, protect the safety of staff and other patients and align with provincial policies and regulations.” These teams help manage withdrawal symptoms and have the goal of reducing the need to use substances in hospital and supporting patient comfort, she added. However, the toxicity of the current unregulated drug supply means addictions medicine teams might not be able to prescribe a patient what their body needs to avoid withdrawal, Wilder said. Herriot said the fentanyl that people use from the unregulated supply is more powerful than what a doctor can prescribe in hospital, and Wilder added that many people are addicted to benzodiazepines, which can cause withdrawal seizures if doctors aren’t able to find the right dosage to give a patient. These seizures can cause injury due to a lack of oxygen to the brain or other medical complications, she added. Benzodiazepines are a drug class that were involved in 43 per cent of all unregulated drug deaths in 2023, according to the BC Coroners Service. Not welcome on hospital grounds On Monday Wilder said Nanaimo RCMP and hospital security guards met the volunteers and told them they were not allowed to set up on hospital grounds. When The Tyee asked why the health authority did not support these overdose prevention sites, Gustafson said the sites were not supported because it had to “ensure that all services provided on Island Health property adhere to regulatory, safety and clinical standards.” The team instead set up across the road, within sight of the emergency room entrance. Wilder says the team is set up on private property but no one has approached them to ask them to move. If asked Wilder says she would respect the request, but would also take the time to explain what the volunteers are doing and why the service is important. In Victoria the team of volunteers was similarly told they could not set up on hospital grounds and had to set up a couple blocks away. Herriot said they are still across the street from the hospital, but no longer within sight of the ER. On Tuesday he said a Victoria Police officer told the team to take down a tent because it facilitated drug use. Herriot says they complied and took down the tent, but after speaking with their lawyer put it back up Wednesday. On Wednesday the officer once again told them to take it down. In a recording of police and volunteer interactions shared with The Tyee, an officer is heard explaining that possessing controlled substances is illegal under federal law, and having a tent that facilitates drug use makes the volunteers party to possession. This is similar to why you are not allowed to let someone use drugs in your car, the officer explained. The officer is then heard saying he would not arrest the person currently using drugs and being supervised by the volunteers. “Let him finish whatever he is doing and then when he is done just deconstruct the canopy,” the officer says. In an emailed statement to The Tyee, Victoria Police spokesperson Griffen Hohl said the VicPD did not ask or tell people to leave the site or remove signage and respected their right to protest peacefully. But the independent group of volunteers do not have the right to set up an “unsanctioned safe injection site to supervise persons who wish to possess or consume drugs,” Hohl said. Wilder and Herriot told The Tyee they would be opening and operating supervised consumption sites under the 2016 Order of the Minister of Health, which calls for overdose prevention sites to be set up “for the purpose of monitoring persons who are at risk of overdose, and providing rapid intervention as and when necessary... in any place there is a need for these services.” Hohl said the 2016 order only applies to B.C. emergency health services and regional health boards. As the group of volunteers has identified themselves as independent, the order doesn’t apply to them, he said. The Nanaimo RCMP told The Tyee they would not be issuing a comment. Herriot says he is not arguing with the law, he added he is frustrated that the police did not use more discretion in this case. “B.C. has a strong history of these things being allowed to operate whether government sanctioned them or not because everyone understands the crisis we’re in,” he said. “It’s surprising and disappointing.”www vipph life 。

Dolphins Deep Dive: Stuck with Skylar? No other options at backup QB? | VIDEO

NoneEAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The game had suddenly gone sideways for the Minnesota Vikings , their 11-point lead on the Chicago Bears having evaporated in the closing seconds. They straightened it out in overtime, no sweat, because Sam Darnold simply hasn't been fazed. Save for his occasional rash of turnovers, in games the Vikings still managed to win, Darnold proved again on Sunday in defeating the Bears that he's directing a passing attack with the potential to be one of the NFL 's most potent. “I think he’s a mentally tough guy. I think he’s a physically tough guy. I think he’s confident in the guys around him, and I think he’s confident in our system,” coach Kevin O'Connell said after the 30-27 victory. “I think when he just continues to play quarterback at a high level, I think we’re a tough team.” After the defense forced the Bears to punt on the opening possession of overtime, Darnold led the Vikings on a 68-yard drive to set up the game-ending field goal while overcoming a 7-yard sack on the first play and two subsequent setbacks with a false start and a holding penalty. On third-and-10 from the 21, he hit Jordan Addison near the sideline for 13 yards. On first-and-15 from the 29, Darnold threaded a throw to Justin Jefferson for 20 yards after he'd muscled his way through Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson on a post route for the clutch catch after he'd been all but silenced all afternoon by a defense determined to constantly bracket him with double coverage. On second-and-11 from the 48, Darnold connected with a wide-open T.J. Hockenson underneath for 12 yards. Then two plays later off a second-and-8 play-action fake, he found Hockenson again on a deep corner route for 29 yards to put Parker Romo in prime position for the walk-off winner. “Just execute. It’s as simple as that. Just one play at a time," said Darnold, who went 22 for 34 for 330 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. “I think I tell the guys that every single time in the huddle, but that’s my mindset every single time I’m out there on the field, especially in that situation.” Even when Jefferson continues to draw an extraordinary amount of coverage , the Vikings with Addison, Hockenson, Aaron Jones and the rest of their crew running O'Connell's system have proven they have an offense that can go win a game when it's required. That wouldn't be possible without Darnold, whose career rebirth has helped spark the Vikings (9-2) become one of the league's biggest surprises in what's now its most difficult division. “He’s cool, calm, collected,” Hockenson said. "That’s what you want as the leader of the huddle.” What's working The Vikings' defense ranks ninth in the league on third downs, allowing a conversion rate of 34.5% after limiting the Bears to a 6-for-17 performance. The Vikings are tied for first on fourth downs with an allowance of 36.4% after the Bears went 2 for 3. Both conversions came in the fourth quarter during touchdown drives. The Vikings also rank fourth in the NFL in opponent points per drive (1.52). What needs help The Vikings had seven possessions that crossed the 20-yard line in Chicago, but only three of them yielded touchdowns. Their lone turnover was the type of game-altering giveaways they've struggled to eliminate this month, a fumble by Aaron Jones at the 1-yard line that ruined a promising first drive. The Vikings are tied for 20th in the league in red zone touchdown rate (53.9%) and are 17th in goal-to-go touchdowns (72%). Stock up Addison had eight catches for 162 yards, both career highs, and a touchdown on nine throws from Darnold. The second-year wide receiver has had a quieter season than his rookie year, but he stepped up in a significant way on an afternoon when Jefferson was as smothered by the opposing secondary as ever. Stock down TE Johnny Mundt had the onside kick glance off his shin as he charged toward the coverage, and the first kicking team recovery in the NFL this season helped the Bears extend the game. Mundt also had the false start on the overtime drive. His lone catch was a 7-yard gain when he was stopped short of the goal line, one play before the lost fumble. Mundt played 33 of 71 snaps and Hockenson took 48 snaps with Oliver out. Injuries The Vikings lost LT Cam Robinson (foot) and LB Ivan Pace (hamstring) to injuries in the first quarter against the Bears, and O'Connell said on Monday those players were still in "evaluation mode." Oliver (ankle) will have an opportunity to return after being sidelined last week. Key number 101.7 — Darnold's passer rating, which ranks ninth in the NFL. Darnold has posted a 100-plus passer rating in nine of 11 games this season. He had only 12 such performances in 56 career starts before joining the Vikings. Up next The Vikings have four of their next five games at home, starting with Arizona (6-5) this week, Atlanta (6-5) on Dec. 8 and a rematch with Chicago (4-7) in a Monday night game on Dec. 16. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Dave Campbell, The Associated Press

Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun on Friday fulfilled a promise he made after spending $6.2 million on an artwork featuring a banana duct-taped to a wall - by eating the fruit. At one of Hong Kong’s priciest hotels, Sun chomped down on a banana in front of dozens of journalists and influencers after giving a speech hailing the work as “iconic” and drew parallels between conceptual art and cryptocurrency. “It’s much better than other bananas,” Sun said after getting his first taste. “It’s really quite good.” Titled “Comedian”, the conceptual work created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York last week, with Sun among seven bidders. Sun said he felt “disbelief” in the first 10 seconds after he won the bid, before realizing “this could become something big”. In the 10 seconds after that, he decided he would eat the banana. “Eating it at a press conference can also become a part of the artwork’s history,” he said Friday. The debut of the edible creation at the 2019 Art Basel show in Miami Beach sparked controversy and raised questions about whether it should be considered art - Cattelan’s stated aim. And Sun on Friday compared conceptual art like “Comedian” to NFT art and decentralized blockchain technology. “Most of its objects and ideas exist as (intellectual property) and on the internet, as opposed to something physical,” he said. ‘Apolitical’ investment Sun this week also became an advisor to World Liberty Financial, a crypto initiative backed by US president-elect Donald Trump, following a $30 million investment. He earlier wrote on social media platform X that he was “excited to help make crypto great again in the US” with Trump’s leadership. On Friday Sun denied that the investment - which made him the largest investor in the project - was an attempt to influence Trump or American politics. “We are apolitical,” Sun told AFP in an interview. “Me (serving) as advisor also contribute a lot of value... I can be a great bridge for traditional financial and the (decentralized finance) industry.” The 34-year-old crypto businessman was last year charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission with fraud and securities law violation in relation to his crypto project Tron. Sun has rejected the allegations and the case is ongoing. At a function room at the Peninsula hotel in Hong Kong, two men dressed as auction house staff stood in front of a featureless wall with the yellow banana offering the only splash of color. Sun said he only recently decided to bid for the artwork, adding he had “dumb questions” such as whether the banana had decayed and how to value the work. The artwork owner is given a certificate of authenticity that the work was created by Cattelan as well as instructions about how to replace the fruit when it goes bad. Sun told AFP that his artwork may well benefit from the same kind of speculative craze usually associated with crypto. “I think (the price) probably is going to go up even more in the future, just like Bitcoin,” he said. — AFPLAS VEGAS (AP) — on Monday at last said it will expand its grid in 2026 to make room for an American team that is partnered with General Motors. “As the pinnacle of motorsports, F1 demands boundary-pushing innovation and excellence. It’s an honor for General Motors and Cadillac to join the world’s premier racing series, and we’re committed to competing with passion and integrity to elevate the sport for race fans around the world," GM President Mark Reuss said. "This is a global stage for us to demonstrate GM’s engineering expertise and technology leadership at an entirely new level.” The approval ends years of wrangling that into why Colorado-based Liberty Media, the commercial rights holder of F1, would not initially started by Michael Andretti. Andretti stepped aside from leading his namesake organization, so and be run by new Andretti Global majority owners Dan Towriss and Mark Walter. The team will use Ferrari engines its first two years until GM has a Cadillac engine built for competition in time for the 2028 season. Towriss is the the CEO and president of Group 1001 and entered motorsports via Andretti's IndyCar team when he signed on financial savings platform Gainbridge as a sponsor. Towriss is now a major part of the motorsports scene with ownership stakes in both Spire Motorsports' NASCAR team and Wayne Taylor Racing's sports car team. Walter is the chief executive of financial services firm Guggenheim Partners and the controlling owner of both the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. “We’re excited to partner with General Motors in bringing a dynamic presence to Formula 1," Towriss said. “Together, we’re assembling a world-class team that will embody American innovation and deliver unforgettable moments to race fans around the world.” Mario Andretti, the 1978 F1 world champion, will have an ambassador role with Cadillac F1. But his son, Michael, will have no official position with the organization now that he has scaled back his involvement with Andretti Global. “The Cadillac F1 Team is made up of a strong group of people that have worked tirelessly to build an American works team,” “I’m very proud of the hard work they have put in and congratulate all involved on this momentous next step. I will be cheering for you!” The approval has been in works for weeks but was held until after last weekend's Las Vegas Grand Prix to not overshadow the showcase event of the Liberty Media portfolio. Max Verstappen won his fourth consecutive championship in Saturday night's race, the third and final stop in the United States for the top motorsports series in the world. Grid expansion in F1 is both infrequent and often unsuccessful. Four teams were granted entries in 2010 that should have pushed the grid to 13 teams and 26 cars for the first time since 1995. One team never made it to the grid and the other three had vanished by 2017. There is only one American team on the current F1 grid — owned by California businessman Gene Haas — but it is not particularly competitive and does not field American drivers. Andretti’s dream was to field a truly American team with American drivers. The fight to add this team has been going on for three-plus years and F1 initially despite . The existing 10 teams, who have no voice in the matter, also largely opposed expansion because of the dilution in prize money and the billions of dollars they’ve already invested in the series. Andretti in 2020 to buy the existing Sauber team. From there, he applied for grid expansion and partnered with GM, the top-selling manufacturer in the United States. The inclusion of GM was championed by the FIA and president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who said Michael Andretti’s application was the only one of seven applicants to to expand F1’s current grid. “General Motors is a huge global brand and powerhouse in the OEM world and is working with impressive partners," Ben Sulayem said Monday. "I am fully supportive of the efforts made by the FIA, Formula 1, GM and the team to maintain dialogue and work towards this outcome of an agreement in principle to progress this application." Despite the FIA's acceptance of Andretti and General Motors from the start, F1 wasn't interested in Andretti — but did want GM. At one point, F1 asked GM to find another team to partner with besides Andretti. and F1 said it would revisit the Andretti application if and when Cadillac had an engine ready to compete. “Formula 1 has maintained a dialogue with General Motors, and its partners at TWG Global, regarding the viability of an entry following the commercial assessment and decision made by Formula 1 in January 2024,” F1 said in a statement. “Over the course of this year, they have achieved operational milestones and made clear their commitment to brand the 11th team GM/Cadillac, and that GM will enter as an engine supplier at a later time. Formula 1 is therefore pleased to move forward with this application process." Yet another major shift in the debate over grid expansion occurred earlier this month with the who was largely believed to be one of the biggest opponents of the Andretti entry. “With Formula 1’s continued growth plans in the US, we have always believed that welcoming an impressive US brand like GM/Cadillac to the grid and GM as a future power unit supplier could bring additional value and interest to the sport," Maffei said. "We credit the leadership of General Motors and their partners with significant progress in their readiness to enter Formula 1." ___ AP auto racing:Vikings staying on track and in control behind Sam Darnold's composure and confidence

Man City blow three-goal lead in Champions League, Bayern beat PSG

Emotions were high following the Michigan Wolverines' 13-10 upset of No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday. The defeat put the Buckeyes in a precarious spot to make the Big Ten Championship Game, as Penn State and Indiana were given another opportunity to play Oregon on Dec. 7 depending on the outcome of their respective Week 14 games. Following the upset, some Wolverines players brought a flag onto the field at Ohio Stadium, which would cause a post game brawl Per CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello, Ohio State defensive end Jack Sawyer took away the Michigan flag. Police would use pepper spray on at least two Michigan players. "Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer rips away the Michigan flag and throws it amid the insanity after the game," Marcello wrote. "Cops. Pepper spray was even used. Two Michigan players were on the ground rubbing their faces. A photographer as well. Police later lined up at 50 to build a human wall." Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer rips away the Michigan flag and throws it amid the insanity after the game. Cops. Pepper spray was even used. Two Michigan players were on the ground rubbing their faces. A photographer as well. Police later lined up at 50 to build a human wall. pic.twitter.com/xANs878xe7 Video of the incident appears to show police used pepper spray on players who were trying to break up the scuffle. Fans on social media voiced their opinion on the matter, with many saying the police went too far. "They sprayed people who were trying to break up the fight too," wrote a fan. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images "Is it just me or did they use pepper spray on the ppl trying to calm the situation down," posted another. "They should lose their jobs," suggested a fan. "If this is true, then people need to be fired and prosecuted. Uncalled for in sports," posted one fan. "If true, they need to find the officers who did that and fire them, immediately," advocated a poster. "Well, that definitely seems like uncalled for abuse of power," wrote another. "I really hope they investigate the security officials who assaulted college football players with pepper spray. That’s horrible. Whoever did that should, at minimum, not be working a college football game." Related: Police Appear to Use Pepper Spray on Michigan, Ohio State Players During Brawl

A celebration of resilienceTeams of doctors say they’re exhausted and emotional after spending the week volunteering their time at two pop-up overdose prevention sites near Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria. Volunteers with Doctors for Safer Drug Policy, an independent group of physicians from across Vancouver Island who work with people who use substances, advocating for compassionate, inclusive and evidence-based care for all, opened the sites from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting Monday. The Victoria site was only planned to run until Wednesday. The group intends to keep the Nanaimo site open until the end of day Friday. The unsanctioned overdose prevention sites have been staffed with physicians and volunteers trained in overdose prevention, and supported by harm reduction organizations including Moms Stop the Harm, the Nanaimo Area Network of Drug Users and the Harm Reduction Nurses Association. The sites have provided harm reduction supplies, such as sterile needles and alcohol swabs, connected patients with referrals to treatment and detox, and allowed people to consume drugs while supervised by someone who can intervene if overdose occurs. The sites did not provide drugs. As of Wednesday the Nanaimo site had witnessed 14 drug consumptions (13 hospital patients and one community member), distributed 11 harm reduction kits, connected one person with housing and community supports and helped one woman start her application for treatment, said Dr. Jess Wilder, a family and addictions medicine doctor in Nanaimo. The Victoria site had a slightly lower turnout but was very warmly received by community members in the area, said Dr. Ryan Herriot, a family and addictions medicine doctor in Victoria. Patient dies of overdose in Nanaimo hospital Speaking with The Tyee Wednesday, Wilder was emotional as she explained how the team wasn’t able to help a patient who died in a Nanaimo hospital bathroom after using drugs unsupervised at 4 a.m. Tuesday morning. The BC Coroners Service confirmed it is investigating this overdose death. The man who died had previously been a patient of Wilder’s and had even used the pop-up overdose prevention site Monday afternoon while waiting to be admitted to hospital. “He was declared dead in the very building he went to for care,” she said. “It’s stories like this that fuel the drive to keep doing this work. He already showed us Monday when a safe spot was available he used it, and when he didn’t have one he did something unsafe, which caused him to die unnecessarily.” Herriot similarly had to pause his interview with The Tyee and take a moment to gather his emotions when he spoke about support the community had given the Victoria overdose prevention site. “Of course I have a lot of grief, just like many people,” Herriot said. “We must be approaching the saturation point where just about every adult — or every person — in B.C. knows someone who has died from overdose.” More than 16,721 unregulated toxic drug deaths have been recorded between January 2016 to September 2024 in the province, with annual deaths steadily climbing since 2016. Numbers for October have not yet been released. “When it comes to people with real decision-making power I’ve run out of tolerance for kind words,” Herriot continued. “We’re heading into our ninth year of this emergency and I fear when people read about that they will think it is because the problem is unsolvable. Like it must be so difficult to solve, otherwise we would have solved it.” That’s not true, Herriot said. “We know the solutions. Government knows the solution. We just have to do it,” he said. Herriot says solutions could include widespread overdose prevention sites, access to a regulated supply of substances of known purity and potency, more access to treatment like opioid agonist therapy and trauma therapy, and working to tackle poverty, for example by increasing social assistance and disability rates and making sure they keep up with inflation. Herriot says he got to speak with an eight-year-old while she was walking home from school with her parents, passing by the unsanctioned OPS, and “she gets it” and supports the site. “I was speaking with my own eight-year-old yesterday, and she asked me what happens when I leave, will people die?” Herriot said. “I said yes, but at some point you have to let someone else do the work.” The overdose prevention sites were temporary because they were funded and run by volunteers who were also taking time off work, Herriot said. Wilder and Herriot both told The Tyee they hoped the pop-up sites would raise awareness for the need for accessible government-run overdose prevention sites at all major hospitals across the province. Speaking with The Tyee for a piece published earlier this week, Wilder estimated there are between 25 to 50 patients at every major B.C. hospital right now who use unregulated drugs and who would benefit from being able to access an overdose prevention site. When patients who use drugs need hospital care they are put in extremely uncomfortable and dangerous positions, she said. A patient may be cut off from their regular dealer and harm reduction strategies and have to use in a bathroom or off hospital grounds, which increases their risk an overdose going unnoticed. In an emailed statement Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health Chief Medical Health Officer, said major hospitals have Addiction Medicine Consult Service teams who work with patients to create individualized care plans, “that meet the needs of patients, protect the safety of staff and other patients and align with provincial policies and regulations.” These teams help manage withdrawal symptoms and have the goal of reducing the need to use substances in hospital and supporting patient comfort, she added. However, the toxicity of the current unregulated drug supply means addictions medicine teams might not be able to prescribe a patient what their body needs to avoid withdrawal, Wilder said. Herriot said the fentanyl that people use from the unregulated supply is more powerful than what a doctor can prescribe in hospital, and Wilder added that many people are addicted to benzodiazepines, which can cause withdrawal seizures if doctors aren’t able to find the right dosage to give a patient. These seizures can cause injury due to a lack of oxygen to the brain or other medical complications, she added. Benzodiazepines are a drug class that were involved in 43 per cent of all unregulated drug deaths in 2023, according to the BC Coroners Service. Not welcome on hospital grounds On Monday Wilder said Nanaimo RCMP and hospital security guards met the volunteers and told them they were not allowed to set up on hospital grounds. When The Tyee asked why the health authority did not support these overdose prevention sites, Gustafson said the sites were not supported because it had to “ensure that all services provided on Island Health property adhere to regulatory, safety and clinical standards.” The team instead set up across the road, within sight of the emergency room entrance. Wilder says the team is set up on private property but no one has approached them to ask them to move. If asked Wilder says she would respect the request, but would also take the time to explain what the volunteers are doing and why the service is important. In Victoria the team of volunteers was similarly told they could not set up on hospital grounds and had to set up a couple blocks away. Herriot said they are still across the street from the hospital, but no longer within sight of the ER. On Tuesday he said a Victoria Police officer told the team to take down a tent because it facilitated drug use. Herriot says they complied and took down the tent, but after speaking with their lawyer put it back up Wednesday. On Wednesday the officer once again told them to take it down. In a recording of police and volunteer interactions shared with The Tyee, an officer is heard explaining that possessing controlled substances is illegal under federal law, and having a tent that facilitates drug use makes the volunteers party to possession. This is similar to why you are not allowed to let someone use drugs in your car, the officer explained. The officer is then heard saying he would not arrest the person currently using drugs and being supervised by the volunteers. “Let him finish whatever he is doing and then when he is done just deconstruct the canopy,” the officer says. In an emailed statement to The Tyee, Victoria Police spokesperson Griffen Hohl said the VicPD did not ask or tell people to leave the site or remove signage and respected their right to protest peacefully. But the independent group of volunteers do not have the right to set up an “unsanctioned safe injection site to supervise persons who wish to possess or consume drugs,” Hohl said. Wilder and Herriot told The Tyee they would be opening and operating supervised consumption sites under the 2016 Order of the Minister of Health, which calls for overdose prevention sites to be set up “for the purpose of monitoring persons who are at risk of overdose, and providing rapid intervention as and when necessary... in any place there is a need for these services.” Hohl said the 2016 order only applies to B.C. emergency health services and regional health boards. As the group of volunteers has identified themselves as independent, the order doesn’t apply to them, he said. The Nanaimo RCMP told The Tyee they would not be issuing a comment. Herriot says he is not arguing with the law, he added he is frustrated that the police did not use more discretion in this case. “B.C. has a strong history of these things being allowed to operate whether government sanctioned them or not because everyone understands the crisis we’re in,” he said. “It’s surprising and disappointing.”

Published 23:59 IST, November 30th 2024 Criticising disruption of proceedings in Rajya Sabha, VP Dhankhar said that this "kind of spectacle" could not be afforded in the "mother of democracy". New Delhi: Criticising the disruption of proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said that this "kind of spectacle" could not be afforded in the "mother of democracy". Dhankhar, the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, made the statement while addressing a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh assembly. "I express my deep pain, entering into the fourth quarter of the adoption of the Indian Constitution, we could not work for a single moment in Rajya Sabha, my head is in shame. We cannot afford this kind of spectacle in a country that is the mother of democracy, the largest democracy. How can we go against the spirit of the Constitution? How can we afford to walk out of our obligations?" he said. "I'm happy to know your assembly is otherwise. It's a shining example, a beacon of hope," he added. Dhankhar said political parties have to understand that ultimately the interest of all converges in the prosperity of a nation. "We cannot, under any situation, keep any interest above our national interest," he said. Like the previous three sittings of the ongoing Winter Session, the Rajya Sabha could not take up scheduled business on Friday and the proceedings were adjourned within minutes of the assembly amid protests by opposition MPs, demanding discussions on corruption allegations against the Adani Group, violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal, and the situation in Manipur. The vice president said the country's growth rate makes him proud "because no country comes close to India". "It's fine that India is the fifth largest global economy. It's an accomplishment. We are the third largest purchasing power. But our objective is to be a developed nation and to be a developed nation, we have challenges and those challenges are the income of our people has to rise eightfold. That eightfold increase will take place when there is a massive contribution by one and all," he said. Dhankhar said Northeast captured the imagination of the country when the government formulated the Look East Policy, and the Narendra Modi administration took it to the next level by formulating the Act East Policy. "Now, with 17 airports, 20 waterways, and deep digital penetration... the region is developing with pace. The region's organic and natural farming offers a model for other states," he said. "These are areas that offer enormous market opportunities. It is here I am reminded of what the Honourable PM said, be vocal for local, one district, one product," he said. Governor KT Parnaik thanked Dhankhar for participating in the special session. He said Dhankhar embodies the highest ideals of democracy, representing a beacon of impartiality and fairness in the parliamentary system. Parnaik said Arunachal Pradesh symbolises the nation's commitment to democracy even in remote regions. "The state reflects India's democratic strength, thriving despite geographical remoteness, cultural diversity, and unique challenges. While progress has been made, challenges like connectivity, education, healthcare, and civic participation persist," he said (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.) Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 23:59 IST, November 30th 2024

The ( ) share price was sold off on Thursday. The fund manager's shares ended the session 19% lower at $2.13. The catalyst for this was that Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been charged with fraud in the United States. The chair of Indian conglomerate Adani Group has been indicted in New York over his role in an alleged multibillion-dollar bribery and fraud scheme. This is bad news for GQG as it has made significant investments in the Adani Group in recent years. But is a 19% share price decline an overreaction? Let's find out. Is the GQG share price selloff a buying opportunity? Goldman Sachs has been looking at the news and appears to believe that the fund manager's share price decline has created a buying opportunity. This is due to the limited impact that its investments in the Adani Group could have on is profits. Commenting on the news, Goldman said: GQG shares fell 19% following news that US prosecutors have charged senior Adani executives, including the chairman, in connection with an alleged bribery scheme. GQG, which holds stakes in Adani entities through its funds, said they are monitoring the situation and assessing if any actions will be taken on their portfolios. GQG noted that in aggregate in excess of 90% of client assets are invested in issuers unrelated to Adani Group, implying at most ~10% of FUM is exposed to Adani. The broker estimates that the impact could reduce its profits by as little as 1.3%. It explains: [...] we present a sensitivity analysis for illustration purposes only on possible impact on GQG NPAT from potential changes in the value of the Adani assets held, where a 10-50% drop in the value of Adani assets would lead to a -1.3% to -6.6% impact on FY25E NPAT. Such moves would imply the sell-off has been overdone with the stock now trading at ~8.5x FY25 consensus earnings (albeit on unchanged earnings) v historical average of ~11x. In light of this, the broker has held firm with its buy rating and $3.00 price target on GQG shares. Based on its current share price, this implies potential upside of approximately 41% for investors over the next 12 months. In addition, Goldman is forecasting a sizeable 7.5% dividend yield in FY 2025. If we add this into the equation, a total return of greater than 48% could be possible for investors between now and this time next year.BOZEMAN — The shelves in Waded Cruzado’s office in Montana Hall are cluttered with memories. Among the books, awards and a preserved newspaper clipping (headline only: "Outlook grim for grizzlies in region") are a collection of Montana State athletics keepsakes, including signed footballs from past teams and a child’s crude drawing of a football player clad in blue and gold. The university’s president takes great care when picking out another item from the display: a framed photo of her and the 2019-20 women’s basketball team in a joking “power pose” in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She had joined the team on the trip to her home country for a pair of December games. Montana State University President Waded Cruzado holds up a photo of herself with the 2019-20 women's basketball team on a trip to Puerto Rico during an interview in her office in August. Cruzado needs no reminder of the fact the Bobcats of that year went on to have the best season in school history. “I’m not going to say that it was because of that tournament, because of course it’s the chemistry, it’s the talent,” Cruzado said, “but there was something magical that happened beyond the games, and I think it was the time that they spent together.” She remembers giving the team a tour of Old San Juan and explaining the history of the country and fielding “intelligent questions” from players. Once back at the hotel, Cruzado was included in the team’s reflection period. They chose "courage" as the word of the day and shared anecdotes of when they had witnessed or used courage. “That conversation brought us so close, and I was able to see firsthand how much (head coach Tricia Binford) opens herself to those students,” Cruzado said. “She’s the coach, but she’s also the mother, she’s the friend, she’s the confidant, and I would love to think that it was because of that that we had that amazing year.” Five years later, the 2024-25 Bobcats are off to a 7-2 start, and they’re looking forward to a Puerto Rico trip of their own. After playing at Florida Gulf Coast on Monday in Fort Myers, Florida, the Bobcats will face Presbyterian College Dec. 19 and the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Dec. 20 in San Juan to wrap up nonconference play. Montana State President Waded Cruzado talks about head women's basketball coach Tricia Binford’s impact on the program during her 20-year tenure on Aug. 13. And like five years ago, Cruzado will be along for the trip. She received her undergraduate degree from Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, a land grant university similar to MSU. “It’s going to be a lot of fun and a great moment of pride for me,” Cruzado said. This year’s trip takes on special meaning for all involved because Cruzado . “It’s definitely fitting that we get one more opportunity to do that with her before she retires,” Binford said. MSU’s players are glad to have Cruzado along for the trip. “Waded is like family to us, and she is such a big fan, big supporter of our program,” junior forward Marah Dykstra said. “Having her on that trip, going back to her roots, is just going to be really exciting.” Graduate student Katelynn Martin — who is a quarter Puerto Rican — remembers Cruzado sending her flowers and a heartfelt note last season after an injury against Montana required a short hospital stay. “She is always so encouraging and supportive,” Martin said. “Her energy, the positive things she always talks about, it’s just going to be so nice to have her on the trip.” Montana State President Waded Cruzado and Athletics Director Leon Costello cheer for the MSU women's basketball team in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship game against Northern Arizona on March 11, 2022, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho. After the Bobcats of five years ago returned from Puerto Rico, where they lost to Wichita State and No. 11-ranked Texas A&M, they won 21 of their final 22 games to finish 25-6 overall and 19-1 in Big Sky Conference play. The Bobcats qualified for the conference championship game against Idaho — the only team to beat them (by one point) after Puerto Rico — only to see the season get stopped early because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024-25 Bobcats have a long way to go to reach their predecessor’s heights, but the upcoming road trip could help build some momentum before reaching conference play. FGCU is also 7-2 and currently ranked 106th (of 362 teams) in the NET Rankings, so a win there would be impactful as MSU tries to build its postseason resumé. Presbyterian is currently 1-8 and ranked 359th in the NET Rankings. Wins against the Blue Hose and non-NCAA Puerto Rico-Mayaguez wouldn’t boost MSU’s own ranking (a Big Sky-leading 57th) much. But the Bobcats could ensure a modest winning streak before facing Idaho (Jan. 2) and Eastern Washington (Jan. 4) at home and conference threats Northern Colorado (Jan. 9) and Northern Arizona (Jan. 11) on the road to start league play. Montana State’s Marah Dykstra drives to the basket against UC Davis on Nov. 17 at Worthington Arena in Bozeman. The Bobcats also want to enjoy their short reprieve from Montana’s winter, as they did last year with games in Cancún, Mexico, and the year before in Hawaii. “We want to win those games first of all, that’s going to make the whole trip fun,” redshirt sophomore guard Dylan Philip said. “It’s a long road trip too, but it’s a good one to spend together over the Christmas break.” Like her teammates, Philip is happy to have the extended time with Cruzado before she retires. “Ever since I was being recruited here, I think she has just been a role model for this school,” Philip said. “She has such a close relationship with our coaching staff and us, like having us for dinner before the season and everything. It’s super cool to have someone that’s so supportive of us.” Cruzado is hopeful the players use the Puerto Rico trip to “stretch intellectually” and “challenge their assumptions” about other places. From a basketball perspective, she’s looking forward to the bonds they create on the court. “That sense of, ‘We are a team, we play together. All of us will shine when one of us shines,’” Cruzado said. “I hope that we’re able to develop that in this wonderful group of young women that we have this year.” Parker Cotton can be reached at . Follow him on X/Twitter @ByParkerCotton. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

An ad put out this month by Apple for its AirPods headphones is sparking a wave of shocked praise because it shows an American family acting normal and leading a normal, loving, and healthy life instead of one kowtowing to the woke agenda. The ad for Apple’s AirPods Pro 2, entitled “Heartstrings,” features an iPhone app that, when paired with the AirPods, allows them to be used in the same manner as a set of hearing aids. The ad starts with a father watching his little girl open presents on Christmas and the heartwarming sight causes him to begin remembering the child growing up. But all the sound is a bit muffled. Soon, the man’s wife reminds him that he can use his AirPods and iPhone to better hear what is going on and the experience is enhanced for the father as his reverie about his daughter growing up intensifies and the sounds come in loud and clear. It ends with the loving father tearing up as he recalls his love for his daughter. WATCH: The ad quickly garnered a lot of discussion and praise online because it depicted a normal family acting in a normal way. Instead of being drowned in woke nonsense, we have a loving father who is not portrayed as a dunce or fool, a loving wife helping her husband without ridiculing him as she does it, a father then watching his daughter open Christmas presents while he remembers how much he loves her, and a flashback sequence showing the daughter growing up and doing normal, non-woke activities. This ad stands in stark contrast to the travesty luxury carmaker Jaguar recently disgorged on the world with a strange ad that delivered a cacophony of weirdos and transgenders in effeminate garb and which — oddly for a car company — didn’t even feature a car in it! Jaguar’s absurd ad was so badly flamed on social media that the CEO of the woke car company lashed out and accused the ad’s detractors of perpetrating a “blaze of intolerance” against the LGBTQ community. Apple’s ad got the opposite reception. In fact, the idea that famously woke Apple would put out an ad featuring a normal American family surprised social media users, many of whom expressed their amazement at how “pro-family” Apple’s ad was. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Facebook at: facebook.com/Warner.Todd.Huston , or Truth Social @WarnerToddHustonHere’s what to know about funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks

Portland City Council has all of its 12 members for 2025Man City blow three-goal lead in Champions League, Bayern beat PSGLANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game with 21 seconds left after Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin connected on an 86-yard touchdown, Juanyeh Thomas returned the ensuing onside kick attempt for a touchdown and the Dallas Cowboys pulled out a 34-26 victory Sunday that extended the Washington Commanders’ skid to three games. Seibert, who missed the previous two games with a right hip injury, was wide left on the point-after attempt following a low snap. Thomas then took the kick back 43 yards as the Cowboys (4-7) ended their losing streak at five in improbable fashion. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs. But high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent, 62, is founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He previously had worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought, 48, to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term. And Trump chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary. Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America. Officials here are terrified that a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Justin Trudeau could simply expel their country from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid its has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. And its legislators are consciously tweaking the wording of major laws to try to make them compatible with the trade pact's language. Mexico hopes the rules of the trade pact would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away. Australia withdraws a misinformation bill after critics compare it to censorship CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Sunday that the government was unable to drum up the support needed to pass the legislation. The opposition spokesman, David Coleman, said the bill “betrayed our democracy” and amounted to “censorship laws in Australia.” The bill would have granted the Australian Communications and Media Authority power over digital platforms by approving an enforceable code of conduct or standards for social media companies if self-regulation fell short. He'll be the last meatpacker in the Meatpacking District. Here's how NYC's gritty 'hood got chic NEW YORK (AP) — The last meatpackers in New York's Meatpacking District have agreed to end their leases early and make way for development on their city-owned lot. A third-generation meatpacker says he is ready to retire and he'll be proud to be there when the building closes. The closure date has not been set, but will mark the end of over a century of industrial life in the Meatpacking District. Starting in the 1970s, a new nightlife scene emerged as bars and nightclubs moved in. Today it's a hub for shopping, tourism, and recreation and only echoes of that grit remain. US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. What to know about Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen money manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction and deregulation, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent is a past supporter of Democrats who has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He’s an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term. He has said tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China.BC-150-actives-f

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania conceded his reelection bid to Republican David McCormick on Thursday, as a statewide recount showed no signs of closing the gap and his campaign suffered repeated blows in court in its effort to get potentially favorable ballots counted. Casey’s concession comes more than two weeks after Election Day, as a grindingly slow ballot-counting process became a spectacle of hours-long election board meetings, social media outrage, lawsuits and accusations that some county officials were openly flouting the law. Republicans had been claiming that Democrats were trying to steal McCormick’s seat by counting “illegal votes.” Casey’s campaign had accused of Republicans of trying to block enough votes to prevent him from pulling ahead and winning. In a statement, Casey said he had just called McCormick to congratulate him. “As the first count of ballots is completed, Pennsylvanians can move forward with the knowledge that their voices were heard, whether their vote was the first to be counted or the last," Casey said. The Associated Press called the race for McCormick on Nov. 7, concluding that not enough ballots remained to be counted in areas Casey was winning for him to take the lead. As of Thursday, McCormick led by about 16,000 votes out of almost 7 million ballots counted. That was well within the 0.5% margin threshold to trigger an automatic statewide recount under Pennsylvania law. But no election official expected a recount to change more than a couple hundred votes or so, and Pennsylvania's highest court dealt him a blow when it refused entreaties to allow counties to count mail-in ballots that lacked a correct handwritten date on the return envelope. Republicans will have a 53-47 majority next year in the U.S. Senate. Follow Marc Levy at twitter.com/timelywriter