Pep Guardiola admits he is questioning himself after Manchester City’s latest defeat left them in danger of missing out on the Champions League knockout stages. City slumped to their seventh defeat in 10 games in all competitions as they were beaten 2-0 at Juventus in their latest European outing on Wednesday. Second-half goals from Dusan Vlahovic and Weston McKennie at the Allianz Stadium left Guardiola’s side languishing in 22nd place in the standings. Juventus beat Man City 💪 #UCL pic.twitter.com/H4KL15iCke — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 11, 2024 With just two games of the league phase remaining, a place in the top eight and automatic last-16 qualification looks beyond them and they face a battle just to stay in the top 24 and claim a play-off spot. City manager Guardiola said: “Of course I question myself but I’m stable in good moments and bad moments. “I try to find a way to do it. I’m incredibly honest. If we play good (I say) we played good and today I thought we played good. “Our game will save us. We can do it. We conceded few chances compared to the Nottingham Forest game that we won. We’re making the right tempo. “We missed the last pass, did not arrive in the six-yard box (at the right time) or have the composure at the right moment. “But I love my team. This is life, it happens. Sometimes you have a bad period but I’m going to insist until we’re there.” City now face a crunch trip to Paris St Germain, who are also at risk of failing to qualify, next month. Guardiola accepts the top 24 is now the only aim. He said: “It’s the target. We need one point or three points. We go to Paris to try to do it and the last game at home.” Veteran midfielder Ilkay Gundogan said after the game he felt City were suffering from a loss of confidence but Guardiola dismissed his player’s comments. “I am not agreeing with Ilkay,” he said. “Of course it is tough but, except one or two games in this period, we’ve played good.” City now face a further test of their resolve as they host rivals Manchester United in a derby on Sunday. "We played well" Pep Guardiola trusts in his squad despite 2-0 loss to Juventus... 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/VrmTzcTrEF — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024 Gundogan told TNT Sports: “It (confidence) is a big part of it. That’s a mental issue as well. “You can see that sometimes we miss the ball or lose a duel and you see that we drop immediately and lose the rhythm. They (the opponents) don’t even need to do much but it has such a big effect on us right now. “Even more you have to do the simple things as good as possible and create and fluidity, then it’s work hard again. This is how you get confidence back – do the small and simple things, (but) in crucial moments at the moment we are always doing the wrong things.” Juventus coach Thiago Motta was pleased with the hosts’ performance, which boosted their hopes of making the top eight. “It was a deserved victory,” he said. “We had to defend as a team and be ready to attack with quality. “We have shown we can compete at this level and now we have to do it consistently.”
Watchdog finds FBI missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were presentOntario to restrict electricity exports to U.S. if Trump tariffs appliedIn a significant political move, the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led BJP government in Rajasthan has abolished nine districts and three divisions created by the previous Congress government under Ashok Gehlot during the election year. The decision was made during a state cabinet meeting, immediately followed by a sitting of the entire council of ministers, chaired by Chief Minister Sharma. Advertisement Last year, the Gehlot government, acting on the recommendations of the district reorganization committee, had established 17 new districts and three divisions. Advertisement Among these, the BJP government has now abolished three divisions—Sikar, Pali, and Banswara—and nine districts, namely Dudu, Kekri, Shahpura, Neem-Ka-Thana, Gangapur City, Jaipur-Rural, Jodhpur-Rural, Anoopgarh, and Sanchore. However, eight newly formed districts—Deeg, Balotra, Khairthal-Tizara, Beawar, Kotputli-Behror, Deedwana-Kuchaman, Phalodi, and Salumbar—have been retained. Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Joga Ram Patel stated in a press briefing that the decision was based on recommendations from the Review Committee. Patel criticized the Congress government, claiming it had created the new districts and divisions purely for political gain ahead of the assembly elections. “The move was impractical, lacking proper financial planning, population assessments, and adherence to established norms,” Patel added. The Congress party has strongly condemned the BJP’s decision, labeling it as undemocratic, wrong, and anti-people. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot defended his government’s decision, asserting that it was a well-considered measure aimed at improving governance. State Congress Chief Govind Singh Dotasara and Leader of the Opposition Tikaram Julie, in a joint media briefing, announced plans for widespread protests and the possibility of challenging the BJP government’s decision in court. Advertisement
Exxon Mobil unveils plans for energy giant's futureThe United States Postal Service might have found a way to unite a nation bitterly divided after this month's election: It will release a Betty White stamp. The beloved actor known for roles in "The Golden Girls," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Boston Legal" and others will be on a 2025 Forever stamp, USPS announced this past week. White died in late December 2021 , less than three weeks before her 100th birthday. The Postal Service hasn't announced a release date for the stamp. Betty White speaks Sept. 17, 2018, at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. “An icon of American television, Betty White (1922–2021) shared her wit and warmth with viewers for seven decades,” the Postal Service said in announcing the stamp, which depicts a smiling White based on a 2010 photograph by celebrity photographer Kwaku Alston . “The comedic actor, who gained younger generations of fans as she entered her 90s, was also revered as a compassionate advocate for animals.” Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos created the digital illustration from Alston's photo. "I'd love to send a letter back to my 18-year-old self with this stamp on it and tell him that everything is going to be OK," Stephanos posted on Facebook . Regardless of personal politics, self-proclaimed supporters of Republican President-elect Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris reacted with delight on social media. "Betty White was my hero, all of my life! I actually had a doll when I was a little girl I named Betty White," one Trump supporter posted on X , formerly Twitter. “Something to make this awful week a little better: We’re getting a Betty White stamp,” a pro-Harris X account posted. White combined a wholesome image with a flare for bawdy jokes . Her television career began in the early 1950s and exploded as she aged. “The only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party," Seth Meyers posted on Twitter after her death. "A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.” Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White, who love to play games, continue a two year gin rummy battle in which she's ahead by a cumulative 6,000 points in Westchester, N.Y. on April 29, 1965. They do it professionally on TV. He's the master of ceremonies on "Password," and she makes frequent guest appearances on game shows. They play games to relax at home. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Allen Ludden and his wife Betty White admire magnolia blossoms on the lawn of their country home in Westchester, N.Y. on May 14, 1965. (AP Photo/Bob Wands) Actress Betty White in 1965. (AP Photo) Betty White shares a moment backstage at the 28th annual Emmy Awards with Ted Knight after they each won an Emmy for their supporting roles in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." On the series Miss White played Sue Ann Nivens while Knight played newscaster Ted Baxter. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17, 1976: (L-R) "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" co-stars - Ed Asner, Betty White, Mary Tyler Moore and Ted Knight - all won awards at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at the Shubert Theatre on May 17, 1976 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by TVA/PictureGroup/Invision for the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences/AP Images) Actress Betty White with Ted Knight at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sept. 13, 1981. (AP Photo/Randy Rasmussen) Betty White and Anson Williams don't seem to faze Buckeye, a St. Bernard, during an awards ceremony during which Williams was honored by the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as a friend and lover of animals. Ms. White presented a humanitarian plaque to Williams at the event, which was held in Hollywood, California, Friday, May 1, 1982. (AP Photo/Marc Karody) Actress Betty White with actor John Hillerman arriving at Emmy Awards, Sept. 22, 1985 in Pasadena, California. (AP Photo/LIU) Actresses Betty White Ludden, left, and Mary Tyler Moore, right, smile at each other in Los Angeles, Friday, June 22, 1985 during Annual Meeting of Morris Animal Foundation, at which Ludden announced her retirement as President of the animal health group, held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) These four veteran actresses from the television series "The Golden Girls" shown during a break in taping Dec. 25, 1985 in Hollywood. From left are, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur and Betty White. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Actress Betty White poses in Los Angeles, Ca. in June, 1986. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon) Betty White stands backstage at the NBC TV Bob Hope "I Love Lucy" special on Sept. 16, 1989. (AP Photo/Djansezian) Michael J. Fox and Betty White, winners of Emmys for best actor and actress in a comedy series, stand backstage at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California, Sunday, Sept. 21, 1986 after receiving their honors. (AP Photo/Douglas C. Pizac) Comedienne Betty White places her hand on the star that was presented posthumously to her husband, Allen Ludden, during ceremonies inducting him into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Thursday, March 31, 1988. Ludden was honored with the 1,868th star of the famed walkway — between those of White and Tyrone Power. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Estelle Getty, who plays Sophia, poses with her new husband, who plays Max, and the other "Golden Girls" after taping of episode on Friday, night, Nov. 5,1988 in Hollywood. Left to right are Rue McCLanahan (Blanche), Getty, Gilford, Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Betty White. (AP Photo/Ira Mark Gostin) Former cast members of the Mary Tyler Moore Show, sans Mary Tyler Moore, are reunited for the Museum of Television and Radio's 9th annual Television Festival in Los Angeles Saturday, March 21, 1992. From left are Gavin MacLeod, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Ed Asner. (AP Photo/Craig Fujii) Actress Betty White, left, writer/producer David E. Kelley, actress Bridget Fonda, and actor Oliver Platt pose at the premiere of their movie "Lake Placid," Wednesday night, July 14, 1999, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White, from "Golden Girls," and Mr. T, Lawrence Tureaud, from "The A Team," pose for photographers at NBC's 75th Anniversary Party, Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2002, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Actors Betty White, left, Georgia Engel, second left, Gavin MacLeod, center, Valerie Harper, second right, and John Amos pose for photographers during arrivals at CBS's 75th anniversary celebration Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in New York. (AP Photo/Louis Lanzano) Actress Betty White laughs as an African eagle roosts overhead at the Los Angeles Zoo Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, in Los Angeles, where White was honored as Ambassador to the Animals by the city for her decades of dedication to the humane treatment of animals. (AP Photo/Nick Ut) Betty White poses for photographers on the red carpet before Comedy Central's "Roast of William Shatner," Sunday, Aug. 13, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rene Macura) Betty White arrives at the 34th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, on Friday, June 15, 2007. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Beatrice Arthur, left, Betty White, center, and Rue McClanahan, of the Golden Girls, arrive at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actor Henry Winkler, center, is seen Beatrice Arthur, right, and Betty White at the TV Land Awards on Sunday June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) In this Nov. 24, 2009 file photo, actress Betty White poses for a portrait following her appearance on the television talk show "In the House," in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) Actress Betty White poses for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Actress Betty White is seen on stage at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010 in Universal City, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, a cast member in "You Again," poses with fans holding Betty White masks at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Actress Betty White wears a U.S. Forest Ranger hat after being named an Honorary Forest Ranger by the US Forest Service, at the Kennedy Center in Washington Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010. White has stated in numerous interviews that her first ambition as a young girl was "to become a forest ranger, but they didn't allow women to do that back then". (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) Betty White, left, Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson arrive at the MTV Movie Awards in Universal City, Calif., on Sunday, June 6, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Betty White, left, Kristen Bell, center, and Jamie Lee Curtis, cast members in "You Again," pose together at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Betty White, left, accepts the Life Achievement Award from Sandra Bullock at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) From left, actresses Betty White, Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli, and Jane Leeves pose for a portrait on the set of the television show "Hot in Cleveland" in Studio City section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) Alec Baldwin, left, and Betty White are seen on stage at the 17th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Betty White attends a book signing for her book 'If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)' at Barnes & Noble in New York, Friday, May 6, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes) Actress Betty White attends a press conference prior to the taping of "Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl" on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci) Actress Betty White arrives on a white pony as she is honored at a Friars Club Roast sponsored by Godiva, Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel in New York. (AP Photo/Starpix, Marion Curtis) Betty White, at left, attends her wax figure unveiling at Madame Tussauds on Monday, June 4, 2012 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Katy Winn/Invision/AP) From left, Sgt. 1st Class Chuck Shuck, Actress Betty White and The 2012 American Hero Dog Gabe pose during 2012 American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Ryan Miller/Invision/AP) Betty White and Cloris Leachman onstage at the 24th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the JW Marriott on Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP) Ellen DeGeneres, left, presents Betty White with the award for favorite TV icon at the People's Choice Awards at the Nokia Theatre on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Betty White, left, speaks at the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday, Sept. 17, 2018, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Looking on from right are Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly!
Reclusive Matt LeBlanc pictured grocery shopping amid major career changeThe New York Rangers have signed their superstar goaltender Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year extension worth $92 million, and an average annual value (AAV) of $11.5 million. Shesterkin has now become the highest-paid goaltender in NHL history, topping the $10.5 million AAV that Carey Price was signed to. Igor Shesterkin 8 x 11.5M with NYR Shesterkin, who is carrying a record of 8-9-0 record and .908 save percentage (SV%) this season, has been one of the best goaltenders over the past few seasons. Over the past four seasons, Shesterkin’s .919 SV% is the second among all goalies. He also ranks second in wins, trailing just Connor Hellebuyck in both categories and ranks fifth with a 2.45 GAA. The Rangers are having their own trouble this year, and Shesterkin’s stats this season are a significant outlier compared to the rest of his career. Sheshterkin’s true coming-out party was in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded 36 wins, a .935 SV% and 2.07 GAA. That season, Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender, and finished third in Hart Memorial Trophy voting, being the first goaltender to be top-three since Sergei Bobrovsky in 2016-17. While Shesterkin’s regular seasons have been fantastic, his postseason play has been even better. In 44 career playoff games, he has a .928 SV% and 2.41 GAA, which has been good enough to be the backbone of the Rangers’ two trips to the Eastern Conference Final in the past three seasons. The Rangers have a lot of moving pieces in their team over the next few seasons. After the departure of their now-former captain, Jacob Trouba, many trade rumors still surround the team, including names like Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and others. Along with the trade rumors, Artemi Panarin only has one more season left after this one, so there are certainly some major changes that could come to Manhatten. The one sure-fire thing is that they will have a true superstar-caliber goaltender for eight more seasons. With high standards for the team, they will have a constant in Shesterkin and can trust that he will not only be able to dominate in the regular season, but also be a key piece towards their Stanley Cup hopes. This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.
The weekend is here! Check out these fun events happening around the Valley on December 13-15. Friday, December 13 Phoestivus When: Friday - Saturday Where: 720 N 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004 Cost: Free Admission | $5 suggested donation The holiday season in Phoenix would only be complete with Phoestivus, the vibrant outdoor market that brings local flair and festive cheer to downtown. Set against the backdrop of the city’s iconic skyline, Phoestivus is a beloved annual holiday market where over 175 local vendors come together to offer unique gifts, handmade crafts, and delicious treats. With live entertainment, holiday-themed activities, and a strong community spirit, it's the perfect way to celebrate the season while supporting local businesses. Las Noches de Las Luminarias When: Friday - Sunday Where: Desert Botanical Gardens, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $42 The Garden will be aglow this holiday. Join us for glowing luminaria-lit trails, twinkling holiday lights, musical performances, entertainment and festive food and drinks. This year, the Garden is thrilled to offer an even brighter spectacle with LIGHT BLOOM by HYBYCOZO, where nature and light unite in stunning, geometric brilliance. Gather your loved ones and make unforgettable holiday memories at the Garden. Scrooge! When: Friday - Sunday Where: Tempe Center for the Arts Cost: Tickets start at $33 An exclusive new version of the musical ‘Scrooge!’ will highlight our local talent on stage at the Tempe Center for the Arts. Billie Eilish When: 7 p.m. Where: Desert Diamond Arena, Glendale Cost: Tickets prices vary online 9x Grammy Award-winning artist Billie Eilish is returning to Glendale with her Hit Me Hard And Soft: The Tour on Friday, December 13. Dane Cook: Fresh New Flavor When: 8 p.m. Where: Arizona Financial Theatre, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $59 Dane Cook will be performing his ‘Fresh New Flavor’ comedy tour at the Arizona Financial Theatre on Friday night at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 14 Phoenix Festival of the Arts When: Saturday - Sunday Where: Hance Park at 67 W Culver St in Phoenix Cost: Free admission and dog-friendly Phoenix Festival of the Arts is excited to return to Margaret T. Hance Park in Downtown Phoenix to celebrate 13 years of bringing vibrant art, music, & food to downtown Phoenix! This two-day event will bring more than 150 art vendors, local music, food trucks and more. S'edav va'aki Museum Indian Market When: Saturday - Sunday at 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Where: S’edav Va’aki Museum, Phoenix Cost: $10 admission The S'edav va'aki Museum Indian Market is family-friendly featuring the Ki:him (O’odham word for village) where visitors can engage in many hands-on activities for adults and children. Enjoy over 100 artisan booths, traditional Native American performances, ancestral demonstrations, and Native foods. The entire museum and park are open to the public during this event with the price of admission. Taste of Japan When: Saturday - Sunday Where: Heritage Square, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $15 Enjoy various authentic Japanese foods, pop culture, Sumo, cosplay, entertainment, merchandise, fun activities, and much more! 8 Second Saturday Rodeo When: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. Where: Buck-N Rodeo Grounds at Rawhide, Chandler Cost: Tickets start at $12 Welcome to the Buck-N Rodeo Grounds’ 8-Second Saturday Rodeo series! This thrilling showdeo is jam-packed with mutton bustin’, calf riding, steer riding, and bull riding, as well as family-friendly yard games, inflatables, food trucks, bars, giveaways, live music, and so much more! Patti LaBelle: 8065 Tour When: 6:15 p.m. Where: Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start at $129 Patti LaBelle will be taking the stage on Saturday night with special guests Brian Culbertson and Leela James. Smokey Robinson When: 8 p.m. Where: Wild Horse Pass, Chandler Cost: Tickets start at $99 ‘Ooo Baby Baby’ – you don’t want to miss this! Experience the magic of Motown with the man who defined it – Smokey Robinson, live and in full harmony at The Showroom! Smokey’s pure velvet voice glides effortlessly over melodies that are as smooth as they are timeless. Sunday, December 15 New England Patriots vs. Arizona Cardinals When: 2:25 p.m. Where: State Farm Stadium, Glendale Cost: Tickets start at $51 Portland Trailblazers vs. Phoenix Suns When: 6 p.m. Where: Footprint Center, Phoenix Cost: Tickets start around $20 REO Speedwagon When: 7 p.m. Where: Salt River Grand Ballroom at Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale Cost: Ticket prices vary online Things To Do Christmas on Orchid Lane | A Chandler holiday gem for more than 20 years! Things To Do Desert Botanical Garden’s exhibit 'Light Bloom’ combines nature and geometry Local News How to catch the Geminids, one of the strongest meteor showers of the year Latest from ABC15: As public school enrollment declines districts are looking for solutions Elenee Dao Phoenix and MCSO paid $4.8M for jail death but disciplined zero officers Dave Biscobing How I-17 'flex lanes' will use swinging arms, gates to keep cars moving safely abc15.com staff Arizona state lawmaker reintroduces death penalty abolition measure Josh Kristianto
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And single people are more likely to use mobility tools compared to those who are married, according to researchers from University College London (UCL) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). Researchers looked at information from a group of more than 12,000 adults in England aged 50 to 89 who were tracked over a 13-year period. At the start of the study, 8,225 adults had no mobility difficulty and did not use mobility assistive products (MAPs). Some 2,480 were deemed to have “unmet need” and 1,375 were using mobility aids. During the follow-up period, there were 2,313 “transitions” where people went from having no mobility issues to needing some help with getting around. And 1,274 people started to use mobility aids. Compared with men, women were 49% more likely to transition from not needing mobility aids to needing to use them, according to the study which has been published in The Lancet Public Health. But were 21% less likely to go on to use mobility aids when they needed them. The authors said their study showed “barriers to access” for women. For both men and women, with every year that passed during the study period the need for mobility aids increased. People who were older, less educated, less wealthy or reported being disabled were more likely to “transition from no need to unmet need, and from unmet need to use”, the authors said, with this indicating a “higher prevalence of mobility limitations and MAP need overall among these groups”. They added: “Finally, marital or partnership status was not associated with transitioning to unmet need; however, single people were more likely to transition from unmet need to use compared with married or partnered people.” Jamie Danemayer, first author of the study from UCL Computer Science and UCL’s Global Disability Innovation Hub, said: “Our analysis suggests that there is a clear gender gap in access to mobility aids. “Though our data didn’t ascertain the reason why participants weren’t using mobility aids, other research tells us that women are often more likely than men to face obstacles such as cost barriers as a result of well-documented income disparities between genders. “Many mobility aids are designed for men rather than women, which we think may be a factor. “Using mobility aids can also make a disability visible, which can impact the safety and stigma experienced by women, in particular. “There’s a critical need for further research to identify and break down the barriers preventing women from accessing mobility aids that would improve their quality of life.” Professor Cathy Holloway, also from UCL, added: “Not having access to mobility aids when a person needs one can have a big impact on their independence, well-being and quality of life. “Our analysis suggests that women, in particular, regardless of other factors such as education and employment status, are not getting the support that they need.” Professor Shereen Hussein, senior author of the study and lead of the social care group at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said: “The research provides compelling evidence of gender disparities in accessing assistive technology, suggesting that cost, design bias, and social stigma are likely to disproportionally affect women. “This underscores the need for inclusive, gender-sensitive approaches in the design, production and inclusivity of assistive technologies.”Where to buy Oregon Ducks Big Ten victory shirts, more fan gear
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— It's a whole new world in Chapel Hill. Fully embracing the evolving state of college athletics, the University of North Carolina introduced Bill Belichick as its new head football coach on Thursday. The second-winningest head coach in NFL history with 333 victories, Belichick has signed a five-year contract approved by the university's Board of Trustees and Board of Governors. Belichick met the media at an introductory press conference at Kenan Stadium on Thursday afternoon. ESPN and the ACC Network televised the proceedings live, and members of the national media not necessarily accustomed to visiting Chapel Hill were on hand. The glare of the national spotlight has been warm since news broke of Belichick's hiring on Wednesday. "In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, 'The future ain't what it used to be,'" said athletic director Bubba Cunningham. "The future of college athletics is changing, and we want to be at the forefront of that. Coach Belichick has demonstrated his passion for teaching, for coaching and for lifelong learning, and he is an absolute perfect fit for us at this time in the history of the university and the history of college sports." Cunningham and UNC chancellor Lee Roberts presented Belichick a gift of a Carolina hoodie with the sleeves cut off, a reference to the coach's partiality for that style of sideline apparel, before Cunningham jokingly donned a sport coat with the sleeves cut off to match for the remainder of the press conference. Belichick responded with a surprise of his own, unveiling his father's UNC sweatshirt from his time as a Tar Heel assistant coach in the 1950s, an item the younger Belichick had saved for decades. "I always wanted to coach in college football," Belichick said before quipping, "it just never really worked out. I had some pretty good years in the NFL, so that was okay. This is really kind of a dream come true. I grew up in college football with my dad as a coach at Navy for 50 years, so as a kid all I really knew was college football. It's great to come back home to Carolina and back in an environment I really grew up in. "When you're little, you don't remember everything obviously. I was too young to remember a lot of the things from Carolina, but as I grew up you hear the same story over and over and over again. And so, one story I always heard was, 'Billy's first words were beat Duke.'" Prior to accepting the job, Belichick had conversations about the UNC program with legendary Tar Heels Lawrence Taylor, who played for Belichick with the New York Giants, Julius Peppers, who sat in the front row for Thursday's press conference, and Michael Jordan. "He's the greatest of all-time," Peppers said of Belichick. "I'm happy to have him here. I know his presence and his knowledge of the game are going to elevate our program. I'm here today in support of this hire, and I'm excited, looking forward to the future." Belichick guided the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles, most by a head coach in NFL history. He also won two more as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants while serving on the staff of Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells. He is a three-time NFL Coach of the Year who earned a spot as coach on the NFL's All-Decade Teams for the 2000s and 2010s, and he was named to the league's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team in 2019. "I'm here to teach, develop and build a program in the way that I believe in," he said. "I've said many times that we want to be the best public university in the United States, and that means excellence in everything that we do," said Roberts. "We're going to have an excellent college football program, we want to compete with the best and we've hired the best coach." While lacking college coaching experience, Belichick boasts a record of 333-178 (.652) as an NFL head coach, a coaching career that dates to 1975 and includes a record-31 playoff wins. In his 24 seasons as the Patriots' head coach, New England won 17 AFC East championships, advanced to 13 AFC Championship games and made nine Super Bowl trips. So, compared to your typical college coaching candidate, Belichick represents a new day and a new way forward for the Tar Heels. His vision of running a college program through a professional lens reflects the NIL and revenue sharing realities now dominating college athletics, and Carolina has upped its football budget and commitment to woo Belichick and give him the tools to succeed in Chapel Hill. "We'll hire the best coaches we can hire," Belichick said of his future staff. "I want to do everything I can to help this program and make it as strong as possible, so we'll hire the best ones we can get. There will certainly be a strong presence of NFL people on the staff, I think that's a certainty. Not only in the staff but in the training area. At the same time, I'm looking for the best fit for Carolina, and that fit, I think, is a little different than an NFL team would have." When asked about his external impressions of the Tar Heel program as an NFL coach, Belichick explained one of his overriding goals as he enters the college ranks with Carolina. "Great place to go to school, great program, but It's been awhile," he said. "[The] 1980 [season], that was the heyday, and we got [Lawrence] Taylor right after that to the Giants. He talked so much about the Tar Heels and their great program. It kind of hasn't been to that point since. There's a lot of pride in this program, and I want to do everything I can here to help take it to the highest level." The hire has already made a strong impression on Tar Heel football alumni. "Bill has the experience to elevate every aspect of our football program," says former tight end Alge Crumper (UNC, 1996-2000), who also served as a team captain with the Patriots under Belichick in 2010. "This bold hire leaves no doubt that football is a priority in Chapel Hill." The first addition to Belichick's staff is former NFL executive Michael Lombardi as general manager. Belichick also indicated Freddie Kitchens , who was UNC's run game coordinator and tight ends coach under Mack Brown and has served as interim head coach since Brown's departure, would be his first coaching hire. "Michael and I have worked together going back over 30 years," said Belichick. "He has a great knowledge of the general manager role, if you will, in this type of position, in terms of scouting two types of players (high school players and college portal players), as well as dealing with some sort of salary cap, which is now a part of college football." To close the press conference, a reporter asked Belichick to explain why he chose UNC for his initial foray into the college coaching ranks. He replied, "All the things the University of North Carolina stands for...the academics, the culture, the research...everything it stands for...on the field, off the field and the destination that Carolina is for so many student-athletes. There's so much opportunity here. I'm honored to have an opportunity and thrilled to be a part of it."WASHINGTON , Nov. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Defense, a defense-technology company, has made a strategic investment in Federated IT, a trusted provider of mission-critical services to the U.S. government. Founded in 2002, Federated IT has built a reputation as a trusted partner to the U.S. Intelligence Community and the Department of Defense. With expertise optimizing cloud computing, data center operations and migration, enterprise architecture, scientific research and analyses, and cybersecurity solutions, Federated IT consistently delivers technically excellent, secure, and reliable solutions that empower national security clients to achieve their objectives. "This investment represents a pivotal step in Bridge Defense's mission to create the next-generation systems integrator," said Jack Kilcoyne , co-founder of Bridge Defense. "We will combine the critical services Federated IT provides with in-house software development capabilities to build a hybrid organization capable of delivering exceptional services and developing innovative solutions that address our customers' most pressing challenges." Kyle von Bucholz , CEO of Federated IT, added: "For over 20 years, Federated IT has focused on solving our clients' most complex challenges with integrity and technical excellence. Partnering with Bridge Defense will enable us to take that commitment to the next level by leveraging cutting-edge development capabilities and delivering an even greater impact for the federal agencies we serve." About Bridge Defense Bridge Defense is focused on delivering mission-critical services and innovative software solutions to national security customers. A hybrid systems integrator, Bridge Defense combines excellence in technical services with native development capabilities to deliver comprehensive and transformative solutions to address the rapidly evolving needs of national security customers. Bridge Defense is led by a team of Special Operations veterans with deep expertise in technology and government services. The company is headquartered in the Northeast, with a growing presence in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit Bridge-Defense.com . About Federated IT Federated IT is a leading provider of mission-critical IT and cybersecurity services to the U.S. government. Federated IT enables defense, national security, and federal law enforcement clients to expand, improve, and strengthen critical IT infrastructure and mission system capabilities within the Tier Ill - IV Enterprise IT Operations and Cyber Security domains. Federated IT's project portfolio includes the customization and delivery of optimized cloud computing, data center operations and migration, enterprise architecture, scientific research and analyses, and cybersecurity solutions. Federated IT is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit FederatedIT.com . View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bridge-defense-announces-strategic-investment-in-federated-it-302314581.html SOURCE Bridge Defense
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At the ISPOR Europe 2024 Conference, CapeStart, Inc. debuted MadeAi—a generative AI-based platform that dramatically streamlines the synthesis of clinical information—with its first solution, MadeAi-LR. Supporting literature review, MadeAi-LR unlocks efficiency for systematic literature reviews (SLRs), clinical evidence reports (CERs), meta research, targeted literature reviews (TLRs), and other clinical literature assessments. For decades, the traditional approach to literature review has involved onerous, manual, time-consuming research tasks that divert professionals from higher-value tasks. When optimized by CapeStart’s AI experts, MadeAi-LR cuts literature review time nearly in half—with 90% accuracy for title and abstract screening, and more than 80% accuracy for data extraction, and single- and multiple-article summarizations. Offering centralization and process transparency for users, MadeAi-LR was built in partnership with top 20 pharmaceutical manufacturers where it is freeing up their teams to focus on more complex work, while enabling increased productivity, more rigorously prepared regulatory submissions, better-informed internal strategies, and more thorough research for publications. With a single literature review requiring hundreds of hours to complete, MadeAi-LR is helping leading pharma, biotech, and medical device companies to save time, optimize in-demand resources, and scale research to drive innovation. “PhD researchers and highly credentialed life science experts should spend their time on achieving breakthroughs in health, not consumed by mundane tasks that can be offloaded at high accuracy to the right GenAI technology,” said Gaugarin Oliver, founder and CEO of CapeStart. “Users of MadeAi-LR are performing more literature reviews in less time, removing the roadblocks to rapid growth and scalability and obtaining an immediate return-on-investment in time and resources. CapeStart remains hyper-focused on continually improving the MadeAi platform and bringing more value to life science innovation.” MadeAi, the underlying GenAI-enabled platform for MadeAi-LR, provides the foundation for CapeStart’s AI services and customer solutions. Additional MadeAi offerings will include support for pharmacovigilance, clinical content generation, and global value dossier development, among others. Harnessing nearly a decade of developed AI knowledge and expertise, clinical understanding, and life science experience from custom consulting work, MadeAi-LR’s framework ensures compliance with FDA and EMA requirements for SLR submissions. Additionally, the platform provides a central repository that gives stakeholders visibility and access to each workflow step, along with transparency on considerations for included and excluded material. Supported by a human-in-the-loop (HITL) approach that enhances AI innovation coupled with expert validation, MadeAi-LR turns a burdensome task into a streamlined, highly accurate source of added productivity. A rich feature set in MadeAi-LR allows teams to focus less time on literature review work and more time on higher-order thinking: · Centralized collaboration platform—streamlining end-to-end literature review with visibility for appropriate oversight throughout the process. · Smart search—integrating multiple databases into a single platform (e.g., PubMed, etc.), providing researchers with a centralized and comprehensive search experience. · GenAI-aided screening, summarizing (including single-article summary and multiple-articles summary), and authoring—using a research-oriented framework, helping researchers quickly identify, analyze, and process relevant information. · Extraction—semi-automated extraction assists reviewers in extracting relevant data from included studies and highlights the exact location from where the information was extracted. · Confidence scoring—for each prediction of an article to be included or excluded, a score is provided along with a detailed, article-specific explanation that helps professionals understand and review reasons for the recommendation, while ensuring expert verification and validation throughout. · Full-text purchase and management—directly within the platform through an integration with RightFind, eliminating the need for reviewers to access multiple external sources. · Compliance checking—built-in templates for generating PRISMA charts, ensuring compliance and enhancing the credibility and trustworthiness of findings. · Living Literature Review—keeping completed literature reviews up to date by automatically monitoring for articles matching keyword strings associated with reviews. · AI Services expertise—supporting client experts in ensuring optimal use of the MadeAi-LR platform for the best literature review results. · Subject matter expert and medical writing support—optional services to overcome internal shortage of resources. MadeAi-LR is the recent winner of a Stevie award in the 21st Annual International Business Awards program, where it was recognized as an innovative Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Solution in Healthcare within the Business Technology category. CapeStart helps organizations compete and win in the AI economy. Its AI solutions, including a GenAI-enabled life science platform, bring the efficiency of AI to life science firms, while maintaining essential human oversight. CapeStart’s skilled data experts and software developers provide complex data annotation, ML and AI model development, and software development services to healthcare, finance, and retail companies, among others.