Growing Demand for Biological Product Storage: A Key Driver Transforming the Medical Refrigerators Market 2024United Nations Edducation Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO), in partnership with the Institute for Research Advocacy and Development (IRADA), held here a national consultation to foster dialogue on digital governance and freedom of expression in Pakistan. The discussion centered on implementing UNESCO’s Guidelines for Governance of Digital Platforms, aiming to balance freedom of speech with the challenges of disinformation and harmful online content. Antony Kar Hung Tam, Officer-in-Charge of UNESCO in Pakistan, highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to tackle these issues. “Addressing disinformation and harmful content online, while protecting freedom of expression and access to information, is a shared responsibility,” he said. Government representatives echoed similar concerns. Muhammad Shahzad, Director General at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, emphasized the importance of managing hate speech and disinformation without curbing legitimate discourse. Ahmed Shamim Pirzada, Director General of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), pointed out that digital governance challenges extend beyond Pakistan, requiring global cooperation for solutions. The UNESCO Guidelines outline a framework for digital governance, urging states, platforms, and civil society to ensure human rights are respected in the digital space. These include self-regulation, co-regulation, and statutory mechanisms, along with media literacy, cultural diversity, and robust content moderation practices. At a recent UNESCO Executive Board session in October 2024, Pakistan spearheaded a resolution to counter disinformation while protecting freedom of expression and access to information. The resolution called for collaborative, evidence-based approaches involving governments, media, and digital platforms. The session stressed the importance of digital and media literacy education, fact-checking initiatives, and transparent technological solutions as key tools to combat disinformation in line with international human rights laws. Prior to the national consultation, UNESCO and IRADA conducted four provincial-level discussions to gather recommendations from diverse stakeholders, including academia, civil society, and media professionals. These inputs were refined and presented during the national event. Participants proposed several measures, such as strengthening cooperation among stakeholders. Promoting media and information literacy. Enhancing content moderation and accountability by digital platforms. These proposals were discussed in detail during a panel session, providing a foundation for a national regulatory framework aligned with UNESCO’s guidelines. UNESCO and IRADA aim to establish a multistakeholder advocacy forum to promote the implementation of the consultation’s recommendations. This forum will work on creating evidence-based strategies that integrate global best practices with regional concerns to govern digital platforms effectively. The consultations have also led to a roadmap for implementing the Guidelines for Governance of Digital Platforms. The roadmap focuses on enabling digital rights, protecting fundamental freedoms, and fostering an inclusive and secure online environment for Pakistan’s citizens. Through these initiatives, UNESCO and its partners are setting the stage for a digital governance model that ensures freedom of expression while addressing the pressing challenges of the digital age.Lisa Kudrow dishes on reason why ‘Friends’ is still popular Lisa Kudrow has a theory for why young fans still love ‘Friends’ Lisa Kudrow thinks there is a particular reason why Friends remains one of the most popular shows even among younger generations today. The 61-year-old actress shared that she isn’t surprised to see fans attached to the 90s sitcom in an interview and explained why. “I’m not amazed because it’s good and it’s familiar,” Kudrow, who played the fan-favourite character of Phoebe Buffay told Page Six , on Friday, December 7th. The Come Back star continued to explain that she believes Friends holds a “subconscious nostalgia” for younger fans who grew up with cell phones and social media. “For something they don’t have, which is in-person connections and relations. And that’s always been at the heart of every successful show.” She added, “That’s why people get attached to them and then if it’s funny, there [are] good performances, good jokes, that’s a bonus and Friends had all that.” The Emmy winning artist shared that many people around her questioned if the sitcom would ever succeed and asked her if “a bunch of young people sitting on a couch talking” was even a show. “That’s not my problem,” Kudrow quipped. “I’m just in it, but yes it was a show.” The final episode of fan's beloved show, which aired in May 2004, had over 52 million viewers, making it the fifth most-watched series finale in US history. The Friends alum is set to appear on the screen with her upcoming movie No Good Deed which comes out on December 12th. 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Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims
Bird flu has been detected in a backyard chicken flock in Maricopa County, following a similar outbreak earlier this month, the Arizona Department of Public Health and Arizona Department of Agriculture said in a news release Monday. The infected birds were discovered after the owner reported symptoms through the Sick Bird Hotline, state health officials said. Samples from the affected flock were sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory for analysis, which confirmed the presence of the virus on Nov. 21. State officials have placed the affected area under quarantine and began steps to eliminate the virus, they said. The incident follows a similar outbreak earlier this month in Pinal County, where the virus was detected at a commercial poultry farm on Nov. 11, state health officials said at the time. They emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low; however, those working directly with infected animals face a greater risk of getting sick. Nicole Witt, Assistant Director of Preparedness at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), stated in an email to NTD: “ADHS is collaborating with AZDA and local health departments in the response to avian influenza and will continue to monitor influenza activity in Arizona in collaboration with local health departments. While the risk to the general public remains low, workers and individuals that may be at risk for exposure to avian influenza should follow public health guidance.” The current bird flu outbreak, which began in 2022, has affected over 108 million birds nationwide, according to the CDC. The virus has also been detected in dairy cattle across 15 states since March, with a case in a pig reported last month for the first time. Arizona officials urge chicken owners to report any signs of illness in their flocks immediately. The Sick Bird Hotline (1-866-536-7593) is available for reporting suspected cases. Additionally, owners can contact their local cooperative extension office, veterinarian, or the State Veterinarian for assistance. For cases of illness in wild birds, the Arizona Game and Fish Department should be notified.
During an interview aired on Friday’s broadcast of “The Issue Is,” San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan responded to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) calling a special session in the wake of President-Elect Donald Trump’s victory to help Trump-proof the state by stating that “the best resistance, if you want to call it that, is to make California work,” and said that “the Democratic Party in our state needs to get back to basics, listen to ordinary people about the issues that affect their daily lives, be honest that the policies and programs we have in place are not always delivering the outcomes we need.” Host Elex Michaelson asked, “[T]he first reaction to Trump’s victory from the Governor of the state, Gov. Newsom, was to call a special session. They talked about it as a Trump-proofing of California. You think that’s a wise use of time?” Mahan answered, “Well, I think that the best resistance, if you want to call it that, is to make California work, prove that what we’re doing here is a model for the country going forward. That’s where we’ve been. For the last 50 years, we were the state that led the way, we innovated, we solved problems, we were the trendsetter. And now we’re reacting. And I don’t — sure, there will be things we can work with the Trump administration on. There may be places we have to push back and there may be some legal battles, but the emphasis should be making our state the most economically vibrant and competitive, having the best public schools, getting everybody housed, controlling cost of living for working families. If we do that, I don’t think we have to worry too much about what Trump does, and I think we will continue to lead the nation forward. But, unfortunately, people aren’t looking to us for leadership anymore, and that’s a problem.” Later, Mahan added, “I think that the Democratic Party in our state needs to get back to basics, listen to ordinary people about the issues that affect their daily lives, be honest that the policies and programs we have in place are not always delivering the outcomes we need. It’s why I was an early backer of Prop 36.” Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
A MECHANIC bought a £13,000 Bentley — then learned it was once owned by Bullseye’s Jim Bowen. Joe Hewes, 31, had no idea of the burgundy R Turbo's link to the legendary TV host. He spotted the 1997 motor for sale on eBay and was so taken by it he offered the full asking price without even seeing it. The rare motor was top of the range for its time and came complete with walnut dinner trays, sheepskin carpets and heated seats. Joe, who buys and restores tanks, told The Sun: "I wanted something different to drive around in and have always loved Bentleys. "They're a beautiful car with a classic shape and not so expensive these days. READ MORE ON JIM BOWEN "I went onto eBay and saw this one and just had to have it. "I offered the full asking price on the condition that the owner drive it to the farm. "If he agreed, I could be fairly confident that the car was still in good working order - and he was good to his word. "He drove it all the way here and then told me it came with an added bonus - that it was owned by Jim." Most read in Motors YouTuber Joe, of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, now uses it for trips out with pals and his pet dog. He added: "The guy who sold it handed me the keys and then left with his BFH (Bus Fare Home)." Bowen , whose other catchphrases included "Super, smashing, great", hosted Bullseye from 1981 to 1995. In its heyday it was watched by up to 20 million viewers. The show is being revived this Christmas - with Andrew Flintoff taking over the presenting role made famous by Bowen . The telly special will even feature darts sensation Luke Littler as a guest star. Joe said: "I was too young to remember Bullseye but I've watched a few old episodes with my mum and dad. "They loved it back in the day and can't believe I've now got Jim's car. "I always wanted a Bentley and now I've got one that belonged to a TV legend."
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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Defense Department, Pete Hegseth, is in peril as Senate Republicans grow increasingly concerned over alleg ations of drinking and reports about his treatment of women . As many as six Senate Republicans, perhaps more, are currently not comfortable supporting Hegseth's bid to lead the Pentagon as new revelations about his past continue to be made public, three Republican sources with direct knowledge of his nomination process said. Given Republicans' slim Senate majority in the next Congress, Hegseth, a former Fox News host, can afford to lose only three GOP votes, assuming all Democrats vote against him. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who is on the Armed Services Committee, would not commit to support Hegseth's nomination and said she planned to grill him about news accounts of allegations of alcohol abuse, mistreatment of woman and financial mismanagement. “We’re just going to have a really frank and thorough conversation,” Ernst said. Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in California in 2017, according to a police report made public after Trump announced he would nominate him for defense secretary. Hegseth, who was not charged, denied the woman's allegations, saying the encounter was consensual, although he did pay an undisclosed amount as part of a settlement with her. Separately, NBC News reported Tuesday that Hegseth's drinking concerned his colleagues at Fox News, according to 10 current and former Fox employees. Two of them said Hegseth smelled of alcohol before he went on air on more than a dozen occasions. Hegseth did not respond when he was asked for comment on those allegations Tuesday evening at the Capitol. The initial allegations last month did not appear to put Hegseth’s planned nomination in danger. After his first round of meetings on Capitol Hill last month, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the chair of the Armed Services Committee, said he expected Hegseth to be confirmed. On Tuesday, after a series of other reports about Hegseth’s past but before NBC News reported on allegations concerning drinking at Fox News, Wicker sounded more cautious. “I think there are questions that some members have, and we’re going to be looking for an answer,” Wicker said. The New Yorker published a story Sunday about a previously undisclosed 2015 whistleblower’s report from a veterans’ organization Hegseth ran, which claimed he was repeatedly intoxicated on the job. NBC News has not seen the report, which was shared with the nonprofit group’s leadership, and Hegseth's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment on the article Monday. In a statement the lawyer provided to The New Yorker, an unidentified Hegseth adviser called the claims “outlandish” and said they came from a “petty and jealous disgruntled former associate.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he is still open to supporting Hegseth and believes he deserves a fair vetting, but he said Tuesday that Hegseth must explain media reports about his past conduct in a way that would make senators comfortable voting to confirm him. “We got a process where he can be asked questions. The articles I’ve read, yeah, some of them are concerning,” Graham said. “I don’t know if it's true or not, but he’ll go through the process. He’ll be asked about it. We’ll see what happens.” Hegseth was on Capitol Hill on Tuesday meeting with multiple senators. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Another Trump pick to fill out his Cabinet dropped out of contention last month amid opposition from Senate Republicans. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., had been Trump's choice for attorney general, but at least five Senate Republicans were prepared to vote against him, five people with direct knowledge told NBC News at the time, because of allegations of sexual misconduct with a minor (which Gaetz has denied and was not charged with). Several Republican senators have continued to downplay the allegations , saying they support Trump’s prerogative to pick his own Cabinet. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., called the allegations a “side issue” on Monday, saying Hegseth "has earned a great deal of credibility." "Are soldiers sometimes wild childs? Yeah, that can happen,” Lummis said when she was asked whether the allegations concern her. “But it is very clear that this guy is the guy who, at a time when Americans are losing confidence in their own military, in our ability to project strength around the world, that Pete Hegseth is the answer to that concern.” Asked Tuesday to respond to the allegations of womanizing and alcohol abuse, Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, responded: “That would not be novel in Washington, D.C."
President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration could try to remove fluoride from drinking water, according to Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy, who was tapped last week by Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, called fluoride an “industrial waste” and linked it to cancer and other diseases and disorders while campaigning for Trump. “On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” Kennedy wrote Nov. 2 on X. Kennedy linked to a video from an attorney who recently successfully sued the Environmental Protection Agency to take additional measures to regulate fluoride in drinking water. Kennedy, who has long advocated ending water fluoridation, persisted with his pledge following Trump’s election win. When asked before the election whether his administration would remove fluoride from drinking water, Trump said, “Well, I haven’t talked to him about it yet, but it sounds OK to me. You know it’s possible.” Kennedy is an influential vaccine skeptic whose campaign of conspiracy theories earned PolitiFact’s 2023 “Lie of the Year.” Longtime research has found that adding fluoride to U.S. drinking water is a safe way to boost children’s oral health. Since 2015, the recommended level in the U.S. has been 0.7 milligrams per liter. Public health organizations, including the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, support the practice. Recent studies, however, have shown possible links between fluoride and bone problems and children’s IQs, particularly when fluoride is above the U.S. recommended levels. “There is evidence that fluoride exposure has been associated with the diseases [and] disorders that RFK listed, but with caveats,” said Ashley Malin, who is an assistant professor in the University of Florida’s Epidemiology Department and has studied fluoride’s effects in pregnant women. Malin referred to studies showing that higher fluoride exposure, particularly during pregnancy, is associated with reduced child IQ, and that prenatal exposure also is linked to decreased intellectual functioning and executive function. For high exposure in pregnancy, the studies showed symptoms associated with other neurobehavioral issues, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. However, many of these studies took place in countries other than the U.S. and looked at fluoride in drinking water at sometimes twice the United States’ recommended level. Also, some of the other ailments that Kennedy listed, such as an association with bone cancer, have less robust evidence and need more study. “Aside from fluoride’s impacts on neurodevelopment, I think that there is more that we don’t know about health effects of low-level fluoride exposure than what we do know, particularly for adult health outcomes,” Malin said. David Bellinger, a Harvard Medical School neurology professor and professor in Harvard School of Public Health’s Environmental Health Department, said the risk-benefit calculation of added fluoride differs depending on whether typical fluoride exposure levels cause health problems, or if problems occur only when recommended levels are exceeded. “In toxicology, ‘the dose makes the poison’ is a long-standing principle,” he said. “So a general statement that fluoride is associated with diseases X, Y, and Z is not very helpful unless the dose that might be responsible is specified.” PolitiFact contacted Kennedy through his Children’s Health Defense organization but received no reply. The organization sued PolitiFact and Meta related to a 2020 fact check. That lawsuit was dismissed by a federal court. The dismissal was upheld on appeal, and the case is pending a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. What is fluoride and what are its benefits? Fluoride is a mineral naturally occurring in soil, water and some foods that helps prevent tooth decay and cavities. It strengthens tooth enamel that acid from bacteria, plaque and sugar can wear away. Water fluoridation has been happening in the U.S. since 1945. The federal Public Health Service first recommended fluoridation of tap water in 1962, but the decision still lies with states and municipalities. Around 72 percent of the U.S. population, or about 209 million people, had access to fluoridated water in 2022, the CDC reported. Fluoride also has been added to oral care products such as toothpaste and mouth rinse. In 2015, U.S. health officials lowered the recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7 milligrams per liter, saying a higher level was less necessary given other sources of fluoride, and that the lowered amount would still help protect teeth without staining them. Pediatric dentists note that applying fluoride with toothpaste and rinses is beneficial, but small amounts circulating in the body via water consumption helps younger children who still have their baby teeth, because it can benefit the developing permanent teeth. The American Dental Association says studies have shown that fluoride in community water systems prevents at least 25 percent of tooth decay in children and adults and that “for more than 75 years, the best scientific evidence has consistently shown that fluoridation is safe and effective.” The association says on its website: “It’s similar to fortifying other foods and beverages — for example, fortifying salt with iodine, milk with vitamin D, orange juice with calcium, and bread with folic acid.” According to the CDC, health experts and scientists from the U.S. and other countries have so far “not found convincing scientific evidence linking community water fluoridation with any potential adverse health effect or systemic disorder such as an increased risk for cancer, Down syndrome, heart disease, osteoporosis and bone fracture, immune disorders, low intelligence, renal disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, or allergic reactions.” The agency says risks of water fluoridation are limited to dental fluorosis, which can alter dental enamel and cause white flecks, spots, lines, or brown stains on the teeth when too much fluoride is consumed. Do studies show fluoride posing any other risks? Some studies have said that excess fluoride exposure, often at higher levels than the recommended U.S. limit, can harm infants’ and young children’s developing brains and that higher levels of fluoride exposure during pregnancy were associated with declines in children’s IQs. A study published in May that Malin led with University of Southern California and Indiana University researchers suggested that fluoride exposure during pregnancy was linked to an increased risk of childhood neurobehavioral problems and said more studies were “urgently needed to understand and mitigate the impacts in the entire U.S. population.” Experts noted prenatal fluoride exposure is most strongly linked to children’s IQ loss, and said timing of fluoride consumption might need to be considered when making recommendations. A federal review of dozens of studies published in August by the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program concluded that higher levels of fluoride exposure were linked to lower IQs in children. But the report was based primarily on studies in countries such as Canada, China, India, Iran, Mexico, and Pakistan and involved fluoride levels at or above 1.5 milligrams per liter, twice the recommended U.S. limit. The authors said more research is needed to understand whether lower exposure has any adverse effects. In the report, researchers said they found no evidence that fluoride exposure adversely affected adult cognition. Bellinger, of Harvard, pointed to the review as an example of how the amount of fluoride matters. He noted how researchers concluded that a very small percentage of people in the U.S. are exposed to levels that correlate with IQ loss. “Second, the fact that there are now multiple pathways of exposure to fluoride besides fluoridated water (toothpaste and other dental products, etc.) makes it really difficult to attribute a particular adverse effect to the fluoride added to the water,” he wrote via email. “It is the cumulative exposure from all sources that contribute to any adverse health effects.” In September, a federal judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because of the potential risk that higher levels could affect children’s intellectual development. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen wrote that the court’s finding didn’t “conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health,” saying it’s unclear whether the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing children’s IQs to drop. But he wrote that there was enough risk to warrant investigation and that the EPA must act to further regulate it. The ruling did not specify what actions the agency should take, and the EPA is reviewing the decision. After the ruling, the American Association of Pediatrics issued a statement that fluoride in drinking water is safe for children and said the policy is based on a robust foundation of evidence. Besides dental fluorosis, experts say that fluoride exposure over many years above the U.S. recommended amount can cause skeletal fluorosis, a rare condition that causes weaker bones, stiffness and joint pain. Although the Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter for community water systems, the EPA, under the Safe Drinking Water Act, sets enforceable standards for drinking-water quality. Currently, to prevent skeletal fluorosis, the EPA requires that water systems not exceed 4 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. Malin said she and her research team are investigating a potential link between fluoride and bone fractures. She said that although several studies have found high fluoride exposure associated with increased risk of bone fractures, and some have linked fluoride with thyroid disease, rigorous, U.S.-based studies haven’t been done. The CDC concluded that recent research found no link between cancer risk and high levels of fluoride in drinking water. The American Cancer Society reviewed a possible link between water fluoridation and cancer risk. An organization spokesperson pointed PolitiFact to its review and said it has no data showing a definitive answer. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.Food Bites: Nioka Steakhouse fires up just in time for summerThe move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania’s 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL), the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. It caps a month-long period of turmoil in which far-right nationalists made significant gains in a parliamentary election on December 1 a week after a first-round presidential race saw the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerge as the front-runner. “It will not be an easy mandate for the future government,” Mr Ciolacu, whose PSD party topped the polls in the parliamentary election, said in a statement. “We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis,” he said. “It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people.” Romania’s 16 ministerial positions will be shared among the parties, which will hold a slim majority in the legislature. It is widely seen as a tactical partnership to shut out far-right nationalists whose voices found fertile ground amid high living costs and a sluggish economy. Mr Ciolacu, who came third in the first-round presidential ballot despite polls indicating he would win the most votes, has served as prime minister since June 2023. After parliament’s approval, President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government and warned the new Cabinet that it is entering a “difficult new period” in which “for many Romanians, there are major concerns”. Romania was plunged into turmoil after Mr Georgescu’s surprise success in the presidential race, after allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged. Days before the December 8 run-off, the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the presidential race. “We go through complicated times, but I think we all learned from mistakes of the past,” Mr Ciolacu said. “I hope that together with my colleagues in the coalition, we’ll find the best solutions to get past the challenges we have in front of us.” Mr Ciolacu said that the new government would aim to quickly organise the rerun of the presidential election in which the new coalition has agreed to put forward an agreed common pro-European candidate. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said that the new government made up of the same political parties will likely embrace “soft populist” rhetoric such as economic patriotism, anti-austerity, and a peace solution in neighbouring Ukraine to counter the rise of far-right populism. “This will be a way to answer the concerns of many Romanians who voted for populists... but will not solve the fundamental problem of trust,” he said. “The only decisive factor now will be who and how convincing the pro-European candidates will be against this popular revolt.” George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which came second in the parliamentary election, said that all politicians from his party on Monday would vote against the Ciolacu government. In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute.
Family Guy Is Going to Have More Episodes on TV Than Ever Before