Sea Eagles powerbrokers are reportedly set to hand head coach Anthony Seibold a contract extension after he steered the Manly club to a finals appearance in 2024. Watch every ball of Australia v India LIVE & ad-break free during play in 4K on Kayo | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer > That is according to Code Sports , who are reporting the Brookvale-based outfit are set to announce his fresh two-year deal in the coming days. His new contract will see him remain at the helm of the Sea Eagles until the end of the 2027 season, with his current deal expiring at the end of 2025. The 50-year-old’s fresh extension was reportedly announced by chief executive Tony Mestrov as the club’s AGM on Thursday night. Manly were knocked out by the Roosters in the second week of the 2024 finals, with Seibold steering the Sea Eagles to post-season football in his second season at the helm. Seibold’s extension comes after a turbulent season for the former Broncos coach, with contract negotiations breaking down mid-season. Those talks were put on hold after Manly lost three games in-a-row, with their finals chances reducing by the week after sitting in 10th. MORE NRL NEWS ‘BIT ANNOYED’: After Hunt’s release Cook began ‘pestering’ Dragons to sign Ilias CRAWLEY: Why Hunt salary must spark change; Big-name trio on Bennett’s radar ‘FAKE’: Benji defends Tigers recruit over ‘misinterpreted’ interview before Roosters exit However, Seibold’s future is now set to be settled, being given the full support of the club’s board in his second stint in the NRL. Seibold previously won the Dally M coach of the year at the Rabbitohs in 2018, before enduring a turbulent spell in Brisbane and departing for English rugby union.How to protect your communications through encryption
NoneBy DAVID BAUDER Time magazine gave Donald Trump something it has never done for a Person of the Year designee: a lengthy fact-check of claims he made in an accompanying interview. Related Articles National Politics | Trump’s lawyers rebuff DA’s idea for upholding his hush money conviction, calling it ‘absurd’ National Politics | Trump wants to turn the clock on daylight saving time National Politics | Ruling by a conservative Supreme Court could help blue states resist Trump policies National Politics | A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list National Politics | Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg The fact-check accompanies a transcript of what the president-elect told the newsmagazine’s journalists. Described as a “12 minute read,” it calls into question 15 separate statements that Trump made. It was the second time Trump earned the Time accolade; he also won in 2016, the first year he was elected president. Time editors said it wasn’t a particularly hard choice over other finalists Kamala Harris, Elon Musk, Benjamin Netanyahu and Kate Middleton. Time said Friday that no other Person of the Year has been fact-checked in the near-century that the magazine has annually written about the figure that has had the greatest impact on the news. But it has done the same for past interviews with the likes of Joe Biden, Netanyahu and Trump. Such corrections have been a sticking point for Trump and his team in the past, most notably when ABC News did it during his only debate with Democrat Kamala Harris this fall. There was no immediate response to a request for comment on Friday. In the piece, Time called into question statements Trump made about border security, autism and the size of a crowd at one of his rallies. When the president-elect talked about the “massive” mandate he had received from voters, Time pointed out that former President Barack Obama won more electoral votes the two times he had run for president. The magazine also questioned Trump’s claim that he would do interviews with anyone who asked during the campaign, if he had the time. The candidate rejected a request to speak to CBS’ “60 Minutes,” the magazine said. “In the final months of his campaign, Trump prioritized interviews with podcasts over mainstream media,” reporters Simmone Shah and Leslie Dickstein wrote. David Bauder writes about media for the AP. Follow him at http://x.com/dbauder and https://bsky.app/profile/dbauder.bsky.social.PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Honey, they shrunk the catalogs. While retailers hope to go big this holiday season , customers may notice that the printed gift guides arriving in their mailboxes are smaller. Many of the millions of catalogs getting sent to U.S. homes were indeed scaled down to save on postage and paper, resulting in pint-sized editions. Lands’ End, Duluth Trading Company and Hammacher Schlemmer are among gift purveyors using smaller editions. Some retailers are saving even more money with postcards. Lisa Ayoob, a tech-savvy, online shopper in Portland, Maine, was surprised by the size of a recent catalog she received from outdoor apparel company Carbon2Cobalt. “It almost felt like it was a pamphlet compared to a catalog,” she said. Catalogs have undergone a steady recalibration over the years in response to technological changes and consumer behavior. The thick, heavy Sears and J.C. Penney catalogs that brought store displays to American living rooms slimmed down and gave way to targeted mailings once websites could do the same thing. Recent postal rate increases accelerated the latest shift to compact formats. The number of catalogs mailed each year dropped about 40% between 2006 to 2018, when an estimated 11.5 billion were mailed to homes, according to the trade group formerly known as the American Catalog Mailers Association. In a sign of the times, the group based in Washington rebranded itself in May as the American Commerce Marketing Association, reflecting a broadened focus. But don't expect catalogs to go the way of dinosaurs yet. Defying predictions of doom, they have managed to remain relevant in the e-commerce era. Retail companies found that could treat catalogs with fewer pages as a marketing tool and include QR and promo codes to entice customers to browse online and complete a purchase. Despite no longer carrying an extended inventory of goods, catalogs are costly to produce and ship. But they hold their own in value because of growing digital advertising costs, helping retailers cut through the noise for consumers barraged by multi-format advertisements, industry officials say. In an unlikely twist, notable e-commerce companies like Amazon and home goods supplier Wayfair started distributing catalogs in recent years. Amazon began mailing a toy catalog in 2018. That was the same year Sears, which produced an annual Christmas Wish Book Wish starting in 1933, filed for bankruptc y. Fans of printed information may rejoice to hear that apparel retailer J.Crew relaunched its glossy catalog this year. Research shows that the hands-on experience of thumbing through a catalog leaves a greater impression on consumers, said Jonathan Zhang, a professor of marketing at Colorado State University. “The reason why these paper formats are so effective is that our human brains haven’t evolved as fast as technology and computers over the past 10 to 20 years. We retain more information when we read something on paper. That's why paper books remain relevant," Zhang said. “The psychology shows that three-dimensional, tactile experiences are more memorable.” Pint-sized presentations still can work, though, because the purpose of catalogs these days is simply to get customers’ attention, Zhang said. Conserving paper also works better with younger consumers who are worried about the holiday shopping season's impact on the planet, he said. Postal increases are hastening changes. The latest round of postage hikes in July included the category with the 8.5-by-11-inch size that used to be ubiquitous for the catalog industry. Many retailers responded by reducing the size of catalogs, putting them in a lower-cost letter category, said Paul Miller, executive vice president and managing director of the American Commerce Marketing Association. One size, called a “slim jim,” measures 10.5 by 5.5 inches. But there other sizes. Some retailers have further reduced costs by mailing large postcards to consumers. Lands' End, for one, is testing new compact formats to supplement its traditional catalogs. This year, that included folded glossy brochures and postcards, along with other formats, Chief Transformation Officer Angie Rieger said. Maine resident Ayoob said she understands why retailers still use catalogs even though she no longer is a fan of the format. These days, she prefers to browse for products on the internet, not by flipping through paper pages. “Everybody wants eyeballs. There’s so much out there -- so many websites, so many brands,” said Ayoob, who spent 35 years working in department stores and in the wholesale industry. Targeting customers at home is not a new concept. L.L. Bean was a pioneer of the mail-order catalog after its founder promoted his famous “Maine Hunting Shoe” to hunting license holders from out-of-state in 1912. The outdoor clothing and equipment company based in Freeport, Maine, is sticking to mailing out regular-sized catalogs for now. “By showcasing our icons, the catalog became an icon itself,” L.L. Bean spokesperson Amanda Hannah said. "Even as we invest more in our digital and brand marketing channels, the catalog retains a strong association with our brand, and is therefore an important part of our omni-channel strategy, especially for our loyal customers.”
Work to expand Berkeley County’s overcrowded jail
Acoltremon is under clinical development by and currently in Phase III for Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye). According to GlobalData, Phase III drugs for Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye) have a 26% phase transition success rate (PTSR) indication benchmark for progressing into Pre-Registration. GlobalData tracks drug-specific phase transition and likelihood of approval scores, in addition to indication benchmarks based off 18 years of historical drug development data. Attributes of the drug, company and its clinical trials play a fundamental role in drug-specific PTSR and likelihood of approval. Acoltremon overview Acoltremon (AR-15512) is under development for the treatment of dry eye syndrome. It is administered through ophthalmic route as a solution. It acts by targeting TRPM8 receptor. It was also under development for vaginal dryness. Alcon overview is engaged in the development and manufacturing of devices in the field of ophthalmology. The company’s portfolio encompasses contact lenses and surgical products, including implantables, consumables and surgical equipment. The company’s products are indicated for the treatment of various conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. It conducts clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its products for the prevention and cure of blindness and different eye diseases. ’s pipeline products are developed through collaboration with institutions, medical innovators, research advisors and academic thought leaders. The company has operations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and Asia Pacific. is headquartered in Fribourg, Switzerland. For a complete picture of Acoltremon’s drug-specific PTSR and LoA scores, This content was updated on 12 April 2024 From Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors. , the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article. GlobalData’s Likelihood of Approval analytics tool dynamically assesses and predicts how likely a drug will move to the next stage in clinical development (PTSR), as well as how likely the drug will be approved (LoA). This is based on a combination of machine learning and a proprietary algorithm to process data points from various databases found on GlobalData’s .Black plastic kitchen utensil risks were overstated. But you should still toss them, group says
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Saquon Barkley wanted to be a student in team history before he had a chance to make some with the Eagles. The running back who had just signed with Philadelphia for $26 million guaranteed took a deep dive on some of the franchise’s greats out of the backfield.DURHAM, N.C. — Duke's Cooper Flagg knows what's coming from older and stronger defenders. So too does Auburn coach Bruce Pearl when it comes to the pressure facing his frontcourt star, Johni Broome. On Wednesday night, the two preseason Associated Press All-Americans headlined a heavyweight matchup worthy of March, though from very different positions: Flagg as the 17-year-old touted freshman mentioned as a possible No. 1 overall NBA draft pick long before showing up on campus, Broome as the 22-year-old fifth-year senior who started his career at a mid-major. Yet they're each shouldering the burden of top billing on a team with national title aspirations, all on display as the ninth-ranked Blue Devils beat the second-ranked Tigers 84-78 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg finished with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds with four assists, three steals and two blocks. The 6-10 240-pound Broome had 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists before fouling out late. They didn't match up directly, but remained the gravitational force at the center of everything — from offensive plans to collapsing defenses — all the same. For Flagg, it was sign of big-game growth after late stumbles in losses to Kentucky and Kansas, along with handling the physical play of the Tigers. "That's something I'm going to start to see more and more," Flagg said. "It's definitely going to be a game plan for the other team, just to try and be physical with me. I think that's something that I've been dealing with since I was in sixth, seventh grade. People look at me and think they can just out-tough me, be more physical with me, and it would take me out the game. "But I've just got to keep playing through it, keep learning how to use that against them and just keep getting better." He did that against the veteran-laden Tigers, scoring 16 points and drawing seven fouls while getting to the line nine times after halftime. He felt several of those, too, such as Chaney Johnson's off-ball bump that knocked him to the hardwood midway through the second half and left him wincing. "I told him all week: 'They're going at you the whole time,'" junior teammate Tyrese Proctor said. "They had a couple of dirty plays. I just told him to keep his head composed and poised and just trust himself." Flagg pushed through regardless and showed some of his smooth moves, particularly in the second half. A dribble drive into the lane for a fallaway jumper over 6-11 big man Dylan Cardwell; pouncing on a defensive switch to drive and easily score over 6-4 guard Denver Jones; a spinning drop-step score in the paint while being fouled, leaving Pearl staring at officials and pointing to the Tigers' end of the court about an earlier no-call. Flagg also had no turnovers in his 37 minutes, a reversal after losing late turnovers in the losses to the Wildcats and Jayhawks. "To be able to coach him, he never fights you," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. "He just never fights you. In a game, you can get on him. In practice he's always wanting to get better and in every aspect of his game. "I've always felt like Cooper's a one-time guy. He needs to experience something one time to get adjusted." As for Broome, he was coming off a dominating run through the Maui Invitational that made him the AP men's college basketball national player of the week Tuesday. Auburn also jumped two spots in Monday's latest AP Top 25, erasing nearly all of top-ranked Kansas' previous margin on the No. 2-ranked team. And that made the Tigers just the second top-2 nonconference team to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1965 and first since top-ranked Michigan's "Fab Five" lost here December 1992 — exactly 32 years ago Thursday. Broome, who played his first two college seasons at Morehead State, offered matchup concerns with his ability to handle the ball on the perimeter, alter shots and attack the glass. And he was unbothered by the hostility of Duke's famously rambunctious "Cameron Crazies" fans, staring at them through much of pregame warmups with a grin and even laughing multiple times. He didn't shoot well early (2 for 9 in the first half) but started thriving in the pick-and-roll after halftime with Duke's defense stretched by Auburn's 3-point shooters. He nearly had a double-double in the second half (15 points, nine rebounds), including when he finished at the rim through Mason Gillis' foul and knocked Gillis to the ground — then gave him a lengthy stare as he stood over him. Broome led the Tigers until fouling out with 15 seconds left with Blue Devils fans starting to chant "Our house! Our house!" to mark another home win in their famed arena. He never flinched, even in the face of Auburn's first loss. "I think he's handled (the pressure) really well," Pearl said. "One of the reasons our team has played well so far this year is Johni's been a tremendously consistent player. Clearly a (national) player of the year candidate. If our team continues to win, he's our best player. ... He's able to do it on both ends, and he's able to do it inside and out." Get local news delivered to your inbox!Heron Therapeutics Announces Corporate Headquarters Relocation to Cary, North Carolina
It didn’t take much to stir Jack Eichel’s national pride in looking ahead to representing the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament . Appearing on a Team USA Zoom call on Thursday, the Vegas Golden Knights forward jumped right in when reminded how U.S. teams featuring NHL players competing in best-on-best international tournaments haven’t won a gold medal since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey series. “I’ll take it,” Eichel interjected after Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy apologized for not hearing the question. “I think there’s a lot to prove for us as USA Hockey,” Eichel said. “I think for a while it was Canada on a pedestal by themselves. And I think for us, we feel like we’ve closed that gap. And I think this is a great opportunity to prove that.” From the Boston area, Eichel supported his case by referring to the growing pool of American talent that’s entered the NHL though the U.S. national development program over the past decade. And that’s reflected in how a majority of the U.S. team’s 23-player roster is made up of USNDP alumni, Eichel included. “Obviously, we feel very confident in our group and the names on our roster,” Eichel said. “But that’s only half the battle. You’ve got to go out there and do it. And we’re excited for that opportunity.” The 4 Nations Face-Off was unveiled last All-Star Weekend. It splits NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the U.S. into four teams, replacing the All-Star Game format this season. Eichel’s comments came a day after the nations unveiled their entire rosters to compete in the NHL/NHL Players' Association-backed tournament being split between Montreal and Boston and running from Feb. 12-20. Though talented, the Americans have lacked success at the senior international level. The U.S. last medaled at the world championships by winning bronze in 2021, and hasn’t placed better than third since 1960 at Squaw Valley, which also doubled as the Winter Games. The Americans' last Olympic gold came with amateurs competing at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, since dubbed the “Miracle On Ice,” while winning silver medals with NHL players in 2002 and 2010 — both times losing to Canada. And then there was 1996, when goalie Mike Richter earned World Cup MVP honors in helping the Americans beat Canada in a decisive Game 3 of the final series. “I think we check every box there is,” McAvoy said. “I think the confidence amongst us in our group should be sky high.” The U.S. team’s brain trust, headed by Wild GM Bill Guerin and Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience over potential in filling out the 17 remaining roster spots. Forwards Chris Kreider, of the Rangers, and Brock Nelson, of the Islanders, are the oldest players on the team at age 33, and have extensive world championships experience. The youngest player is also the only one with Olympic experience: 22-year-old Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber, who played at the Beijing Games in 2022 when the NHL pulled out because of pandemic-related scheduling issues. They’ll go up against a talent-laden Team Canada that features forwards Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar. The U.S. team is particularly strong down the middle with Eichel, Auston Matthews and Dylan Larkin. Another strength is in net with a trio led by two-time Vezina Trophy-winner Connor Hellebuyck and rounded out by Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman. USA Hockey has enjoyed its most success in winning two of the past four world junior championships and six since 2004. Four Nations teammates McAvoy, Oettinger and defenseman Adam Fox were members of the U.S. team that won the 2017 world junior title. Team Canada officials also went with a veteran-laden group, featuring 14 players who have won at least one Stanley Cup title. “You can’t put a price tag on experience,” Canada and Lightning coach Jon Cooper said Thursday. “I truly believe this is a tournament where you’re basically playing three Game 7s (in the preliminary round). ... There’s no real margin for error," he added. “This is as competitive a group as you will find. Every one of these players will lay in traffic for their country." The Canadian Press contributed to this story. AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Which winter gloves for women should you buy? The skin on your hands can take some harsh punishment during cold weather. Even prolonged exposure to the air during a chilly snap can leave your hands with dry skin or chilblains. If you live in an area where extreme cold is a high probability, spending time outdoors makes gloves an absolute necessity. But to make sure your gloves can withstand the winter season, you need a pair that’s fit for your climate and lifestyle. Types of winter gloves for women Women’s gloves fall into three main categories: Fashion: For the most part, gloves worn for style purposes focus less on comfort and warmth and more on overall look. That’s not to say that they won’t keep your hands warm on a chilly winter day. But they are not likely to be fit for all situations. Work: Work gloves are made with physical activity in mind. They may not always look particularly stylish, but are effective at keeping your hands protected and warm in the winter. A good example of this category would be winter gardening gloves. Recreation: Similarly, many recreational activities require gloves, which can have a dual purpose. They keep your hands warm and let you keep your grip. What to consider before buying winter gloves Size: Bulkier gloves typically come as one-size-fits-all. But for sleeker designs, you may need to select among different sizes so the gloves fit nicely. Fit: Some gloves provide more flexibility than others. Consider how well you’ll be able to use your hands and fingers while wearing them. Mittens, for example, can make it difficult to perform tasks that require finger dexterity. Other gloves come with fingertips that can be pulled back for moments where you need a little more flexibility. Purpose: If you need gloves for day-to-day wear, you don’t need to consider much beyond how they look. But if you need gloves for outdoor activities or sports, you’ll want to make sure they’ll do the job. Material: Gloves made from materials such as leather, wool or cashmere are not super practical in wet weather or snow. However, in dry conditions they’re warm and comfortable. Gloves with surfaces made from polyester or other synthetic materials will keep your hands dry. The gloves’ internal material also makes a big difference. If you need something warm, for example, look for a soft fleece on the inside. Durability: Some pairs of gloves go through a rough time, especially if their primary use is outdoor activities. If that’s the case for you, make sure you choose a pair that are made from strong material and endure regular machine washing. Extra features: There are lots of extra features that can make your gloves more wearable. If you’re in a particularly cold climate, look for heated gloves that use wires to generate warmth throughout the material. If you’re on your phone a lot, some gloves come with special material on the fingertips that lets you use touch screens without removing them. 9 best women’s winter gloves to buy Dimore Winter Gloves for Women These fashionable gloves are soft, comfortable and will help keep your hands warm through the fall and winter. They come with touch-screen technology that lets you use your smartphone while out in the cold without having to take your gloves off. Geyoga Elastic Cuff Winter Warm Fleece Gloves Equipped with an elastic cuff so they can slip under your jacket’s sleeve, these gloves create an insulating effect on your hands and wrist. The warm fleece line keeps your hands warm in winter, and the gloves are machine-washable. Trendoux Winter Gloves These black gloves are made with 50% conductive yarn on the fingertips so you can use your tablet or smartphone without taking off your gloves. They’re thickened to be windproof, have a warm lining and come with triangle silicone non-slip designs on the palms. Fantastic Zone Women’s Winter Touch-screen Gloves These fleece gloves are made with breathable material to keep hands warm without irritating sensitive skin. Although they are hand-wash only, they are made with high-density, ultra-soft chenille fabric and have three touchscreen-friendly fingertips on each hand. Isotoner Women’s Spandex Cold Weather Stretch Gloves This fashionable pair of gloves have vegan leather patches, fleece lining and stretch spandex to give you a comfortable, warm experience through the cold days of winter. The stretch fabric helps the gloves to repel snow and rain, so your hands stay nice and dry. Carhartt Women’s Quilted Insulated Gloves This set of cold weather gloves is made of polyester with a loop and hook closure and microfiber lining with a stretchy fleece cuff. They’re waterproof and quilted to keep hands dry and warm. Bodvera Thermal Insulation Fingerless Texting Wool Gloves These wool and acrylic gloves have a double-layered elastic cuff and are made with comfortable fabric that insulates your hands during cold snaps. They have flip-up fingertips for convenience, flexibility and style. Vislivin Full-Hand Women’s Gloves These lambskin gloves come in a high-end gift box, making them a lovely gift or treat for yourself or a loved one. The full-finger gloves let you operate a touch screen and the lambskin exterior provides grip for activities such as driving or cycling. Alepo Winter PU Leather Gloves for Women The cashmere lining in these gloves will keep hands nice and snug during cold snaps. The elegant design comes from the gloves’ leather outer lining, which is not only high-quality but soft and supple, too. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Doha Forum: A global platform for dialogue, policy-making
President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), Fazal Moqeem Khan has termed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a game-changer for the economic and social development of Pakistan. Emphasizing its importance, he urged the government to allocate all necessary resources for the successful implementation of the project. Fazal Moqeem Khan expressed these views during his visit to the China Window, a Chinese cultural and information center in Peshawar. He was accompanied by the Chamber’s Senior Vice President Abdul Jalil Jan, Vice President Shahryar Khan, and Executive Committee Members Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and Ishtiaq Ahmed. During his visit, Fazal Moqeem Khan toured the various galleries at China Window, recorded his impressions in the guest book, and signed the Friendship Wall. Mr Khan described CPEC as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic growth, offering unprecedented opportunities for trade, infrastructure development, and regional connectivity. He praised the initiative for fostering industrialization, creating employment, and strengthening ties between Pakistan and China. “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is not just a project; it is a gateway to prosperity. It has the potential to turn Pakistan into a hub of economic activity and bring significant benefits to the region,” he said. He stressed the need to expedite work on CPEC, highlighting that trade activities under the project would boost the national economy, generate employment opportunities, and pave the way for Pakistan’s development. He further remarked that the friendship between Pakistan and China is recognized worldwide, and CPEC stands as a remarkable symbol of this bond. He called for efforts to remove obstacles hindering the project’s progress, ensuring its timely completion. Fazal Moqeem Khan also assured that the business community is fully committed to supporting the success of CPEC, expressing confidence that the project will usher in a new era of development and prosperity, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The SCCI delegation lauded China Window as a significant hub of Pak-China friendship in Peshawar. They praised its role in fostering bilateral ties and promoting a positive image of Pakistan-China relations. Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry Peshawar and China Window. Under this agreement, both organizations will collaborate to strengthen Pak-China relations and raise awareness about CPEC through various events and initiatives.
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Protesters at a candlelight vigil to condemn President Yoon Suk Yeol's surprise declaration of the failed martial law and to call for his resignation in Seoul, on Dec 5. Members of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and civic groups during a demonstration in Seoul on Dec 4. A South Korea flag flies above a sign that reads "The prosecution's dictatorship" as protesters take part in a rally at the National Assembly in Seoul on Dec 5. Republic of Korea Marine Corps veterans shave their heads during a demonstration calling for the dismissal and impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Seoul on Dec 5. SEOUL - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol looks set to hang on to office – at least for now – despite a disastrous stab at establishing martial law in the country, with his ruling People Power Party (PPP) rallying around him against the opposition’s efforts to impeach him. That means that the motion to charge him with “violating the Constitution and the law”, to be held on Dec 7, may not get its required majority in the legislature to be passed. Still, a legal guillotine – albeit politically motivated – continues to loom over Mr Yoon’s head, with the police now investigating him for treason over his botched attempt that plunged the nation into chaos for six hours on the night of Dec 3. Mr Yoon has not been seen in public since the early hours of Dec 4, when he repealed the martial law decree, although he had been expected to make a national address on Dec 5 to apologise for the debacle. A presidential official said that Mr Yoon would not be making any public statements for that day, without offering reasons. At any rate, the anticipated apology – while it would have mollified some – was not expected to significantly change the trajectory of his destiny. The police complaints were filed by an opposition party and a group of activists on Dec 5 against Mr Yoon, former defence minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is said to have masterminded the martial law move, and the Army Chief of Staff, General Park An-su, who was briefly military commander during the ill-fated self-coup. The trio are being accused of treason and other related charges for their roles in the short-lived martial rule on Dec 3. If found guilty, Mr Yoon and the others accused of treason may be sentenced to life in prison, or even death, reported local media. Mr Kim had resigned earlier on Dec 5 over his role in the midnight bungle, and has been slapped with a travel ban while investigations are ongoing. It is not clear how long the investigations will take. In the political arena, Mr Yoon’s fate is similarly unclear, though analysts say they believe he could well survive. South Korea’s main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said it might be difficult to garner enough support from the ruling party to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol this week over his declaration of martial law. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG While the opposition has made it clear that it is out for Mr Yoon’s blood, his ruling PPP – despite being blindsided by Mr Yoon’s martial law move – is now rallying around the beleaguered President. PPP chief Han Dong-hoon, who was among the 18 ruling party lawmakers who had rushed to Parliament on Dec 3 to vote for the repeal of martial law, had been quick to denounce Mr Yoon’s action as “unconstitutional”, while calling for those responsible to be held accountable. But a day later, as he chaired his party’s meeting, Mr Han softened his stance, vowing to unite his party in blocking the impeachment motion, to “prevent harm from unprepared chaos to the public and PPP supporters”. Head of the ruling People Power Party Han Dong-hoon (centre) vowed to unite his party in blocking the impeachment motion. PHOTO: EPA-EFE The impeachment motion requires a two-thirds majority to pass the 300-member Parliament. This means that the opposition bloc, with 192 seats, will need at least eight PPP lawmakers to defect and back their Bill for Mr Yoon to be impeached. Adamant about pushing the motion through, the dominant opposition Democratic Party (DP) has urged ruling party lawmakers to “act according to one’s conscience, not political interests”. The six-party opposition coalition is also rallying citizens to join it for a massive protest in central Seoul on Dec 7, before the lawmakers proceed to the National Assembly to vote on the motion that evening at 7pm. The chances of the ruling party lawmakers defecting to the opposition are quite slim, even though they might have been bitterly disappointed with Mr Yoon’s actions, said Kyonggi University’s professor of political science and law Hahm Sung-deuk. “The conservatives are really afraid of losing power, in particular to opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. So, for now, they will still back Mr Yoon,” he told The Straits Times. The conservatives can ill afford to have two presidents from their parties impeached in a row. Conservative President Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party, who was elected in February 2013, was impeached and ousted in March 2017 on charges related to influence-peddling by her top aide Choi Soon-sil. More than half of the lawmakers from her party had voted in favour of the impeachment then. The liberal DP’s Moon Jae-in won the 2017 presidential election, and the conservatives barely managed to wrestle back power in 2022 when Mr Yoon won the presidential race with a very slim margin against the DP’s Mr Lee. Describing the impeachment of Ms Park as a “tragic memory” for the conservatives, Prof Hahm believed they would do all they could to block Mr Yoon’s impeachment this time round, in order to buy time to plan their next moves. If Mr Yoon resigns or is impeached and ousted, a snap presidential election that must take place within 60 days will likely see Mr Lee victorious. PPP chief Han, who is himself eyeing the next presidential race due in 2027, will not want to bear the cross of being a traitor by agreeing to the impeachment, said Prof Hahm. Mr Han, who was Mr Yoon’s colleague when they were both prosecutors, was briefly appointed as justice minister in 2022 by Mr Yoon before stepping down in December 2023 to lead the PPP in the April 2024 general election. The pair fell out in early 2024 over First Lady Kim Keon Hee’s luxury bag scandal. Mr Han, who met Mr Yoon with other party members on the evening of Dec 4 to discuss the next steps, told reporters after the meeting that he had asked Mr Yoon to leave the party. While leaving the party technically does not affect Mr Yoon’s presidency, it will mean his losing the party’s protection for a second round of impeachment, which the opposition will likely gun for if this one fails. With PPP’s protection not likely lasting beyond the first round of impeachment, the best exit option for Mr Yoon is to resign, said Prof Hahm. But as demonstrated by his drastic move to enforce martial rule in a misguided bid to consolidate power after months of hobbling along in a lame duck presidency, Mr Yoon is unlikely to give up easily. Kyung Hee University’s political science professor Ahn Byong-jin suggested that there could still be a chance for Mr Yoon to change his political fate. If the first impeachment is successful, it needs to be approved by the nine-member council of the Korean Constitutional Court. Pointing out that the council is made up of judges appointed by President Yoon, Prof Ahn thought that the possibility of the court rejecting the impeachment could not be ruled out. Mr Yoon could also possibly play the “fatigue” game, banking on a prolonged deadlocked situation for public anger to subside, before leaving on his own terms. “These ideas may sound unthinkable, but whatever happened that night was already unthinkable, so you have to consider the unthinkable!” Prof Ahn told ST. Other analysts were less optimistic. Dr Bong Young-shik of Yonsei University in Seoul thought that Mr Yoon could not avoid stepping down from power, as the opposition would likely ramp up more pressure by going after his wife. He believed Mr Yoon made the call to declare martial rule in an attempt to block the opposition’s impeachment of the state auditor and three top prosecutors over scandals surrounding the First Lady. “The impeachment process will likely unearth dirty, ugly stories that Mr Yoon is trying to block,” said Dr Bong. The motion to impeach the officials was passed by the opposition-led National Assembly on Dec 5. To Dr Lee Seong-Hyon, senior fellow at the US-based George H.W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations, the game is likely over for Mr Yoon. He said: “Mr Yoon’s approval ratings were already languishing at around 20 per cent before the martial law debacle, and they are bound to sink further. “Governing effectively will be impossible, given his shattered credibility at home and abroad.” Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowNoneUlta Beauty Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2024 ResultsA recent study that recommended toxic chemicals in black plastic products be immediately thrown away included a math error that significantly overstated the risks of contamination, but its authors are standing by their conclusions and warn against using such products. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Chemosphere , experts from the nonprofit Toxic-Free Future said they detected flame retardants and other toxic chemicals in 85% of 203 items made of black plastic including kitchen utensils , take-out containers, children's toys and hair accessories. In a blog post, Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada, explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. (Dreamstime/TNS) The study initially said the potential exposure to chemicals found in one of the kitchen utensils approached the minimum levels the Environmental Protection Agency deemed a health risk. People are also reading... But in an update to the study, the authors say they made an error in their calculations and the real levels were "an order of magnitude lower" than the EPA's thresholds. The error was discovered by Joe Schwarcz, director of McGill University's Office for Science and Society in Canada. In a blog post, Schwarcz explained that the Toxin-Free Future scientists miscalculated the lower end of what the EPA considered a health risk through a multiplication error. Instead of humans being potentially exposed to a dose of toxic chemicals in black plastic utensils near the minimum level that the EPA deems a health risk, it's actually about one-tenth of that. Though Schwarcz said the risks outlined in the study aren't enough for him to discard his black plastic kitchen items if he had them, he agreed with the authors that flame retardants shouldn't be in these products in the first place. "The math error does not impact the study's findings, conclusions or recommendations," said Megan Liu, a co-author of the study who is the science and policy manager for Toxic-Free Future . She added that any traces of flame retardants or toxic chemicals in cooking utensils should be concerning for the public. Flame retardants are getting into commonly used items because black-colored products are being made from recycled electronic waste, such as discarded television sets and computers, that frequently contain the additives. When they're heated, the flame retardants and other toxic chemicals can migrate out. If you're wondering whether your old black plastic spoon or other utensils are a part of this group, Liu shared some more guidance. Generally, how do I know a product is harmful? It's nearly impossible to know whether a black plastic product is contaminated. That's because these products that include recycled e-waste don't disclose a detailed list of all ingredients and contaminants in the product. Liu said it's also unclear how many types of flame retardants are in these black plastic products. Some of the products that researchers tested in this recent study "had up to nine different harmful chemicals and harmful flame retardants in them," she said. How can I find out if black plastic food trays are made with recycled contaminated plastic? Anytime you're looking for the type of recycled plastic a product is made of you're going to look for a number within the chasing arrows (that form a triangle) logo. Recycling symbols are numbered 1 to 7 and we commonly associate the numbers with what we can toss in our blue recycling bins. The 1 through 7 numbers stand for, respectively, polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene or Styrofoam, and miscellaneous plastics (including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fiberglass and nylon). The study found higher levels of toxic flame retardants in polystyrene plastic, which is labeled with the number 6, said Liu. Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harming us? When did recycled e-waste begin contaminating black plastic products? There isn't a definitive timeline of when recycled electronic-waste started to be incorporated into black plastic products specifically, but e-waste started to get recycled in the early 2000s, Liu said. The way computers, cellphones, stereos, printers and copiers were being disposed of previously was to simply add them to a landfill without reusing salvageable parts. But as the National Conference of State Legislatures notes, electronics production required a significant amount of resources that could be recovered through recycling. Recovering resources such as metals, plastics and glass through recycling used a fraction of the energy needed to mine new materials. However, the study pointed out that flame retardants and other chemical contaminates have been detected in and near e-waste recycling facilities, in indoor air and dust at formal e-waste recycling facilities in Canada, China, Spain and the U.S. It also noted contamination in soil samples surrounding e-waste recycling sites in China and Vietnam. What are safer alternatives? The safest nontoxic material options for kitchen utensil are wood and stainless steel. Single-use plastics revolutionized the medical industry. Now, they're raising concerns about sustainability. Single-use plastics revolutionized the medical industry. Now, they're raising concerns about sustainability. The 20th century brought airplanes, radio, television, the internet, and plastic. Lots of plastic. That plastic is now showing up on shorelines, forming islands in oceans, and generating mountains of translucent trash on land. Around 700 species of animals in the sea have been found to interact with plastic daily. Companies across every industry face pressure to reduce the amount of plastic they produce. Seventy-two percent of the world's largest have made voluntary commitments to reduce their plastic waste, according to a Duke University analysis. One industry, in particular, has greatly benefited from advancements in single-use plastic technology: the medical industry. Only in recent years have businesses and academics in the field begun to talk about minimizing their impact on our environment like beverage manufacturers and other consumer goods-producing businesses. Medical Technology Schools analyzed academic studies published in the National Library of Medicine , the American Medical Association , and news reports to shed light on the medical community's use of plastics through history, their environmental problems, and proposed solutions to reduce their impact. And the impact can be significant. A single hospital patient generates nearly 34 pounds of waste a day —as much as a quarter of it is plastic. The COVID-19 pandemic only worsened the problem. Plastic medical waste booms during COVID-19 The pandemic pushed hospital capacity to the brink and led to a massive increase in personal protective equipment and medical supply usage. Medical-grade masks and other protective equipment like face shields, made mostly of nonrenewable plastics, were in high demand. In 2020, the World Health Organization estimated that the international need for PPE manufacturing would boost 40% to address the public health crisis. Hospitals needed an estimated 89 million masks, 76 million gloves, and 1.6 million goggles every month of the pandemic. To date, nearly 677 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, each requiring their own plastic syringe, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Global consulting firm Frost & Sullivan estimated that the U.S. would produce a year's worth of medical waste in just two months due to the pandemic. The World Economic Forum warned that the COVID-19 crisis threatened to " stall and even reverse progress " to reduce large plastic waste. It's a challenge researchers acknowledge today as they search for solutions. Convenience gives way to cleanliness Plastics introduced an era of ultraconvenience to the world. It makes our clothes. It's made bike helmets and airbags possible. And it's a cheap material to produce, meaning it's cheap for consumers too. Almost as importantly, it's durable and incredibly easy to make into complex shapes—a trait that helped plastics invented in the mid-20th century quickly replace more expensive metal and wooden goods. That adoption extended to the medical field, where the single-use nature of plastics represented a move toward more hygienic tools for physicians and hospitals. But it wasn't plastic's sanitary qualities that the industry first latched onto. Like so many other technical advancements, convenience and cost were the initial driving factors. That they were more conducive to creating a sterile environment for patients was a benefit that health care began to tout closer to the end of the 20th century. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, replaced glass bottles previously used to hold IV solution and replaced rubber tubing used throughout hospital settings. Plastic has also become the go-to material for making syringes and catheters. Plastic products are generally made from chemicals derived from the oil and natural gas refining process. Chemists use those byproducts to create synthetic materials with malleable and durable chemical structures. The low cost of these materials has helped medical device-makers support better health outcomes for communities across the U.S. since the 1900s. No longer was health care priced at rates only the elite could afford—it was accessible to a much larger swath of the public. In the last decade, the U.S., in particular, has emerged as a massive market for medical plastics. The country generally accounts for nearly half of the global market for medical devices. Plastic's durability is not only a benefit but a detriment to the environment, as the material can take many years to deteriorate when it enters landfills or trashes oceans. Estimates vary widely, but scientists ballpark that depending on the kind of plastic and the environment in which it decomposes, it could take dozens to thousands of years to break down entirely. Waste could pile higher, faster in the coming years COVID-19, which remains a burden for health care systems, isn't the only force raising the stakes for a health care industry pressured to reduce reliance on plastics or find ways to reuse them. Global annual production of plastic has doubled in the last two decades , according to the Environmental Protection Agency. As the U.S. looks toward the future, its aging population is another factor that could exacerbate the rate at which medical plastics end up in landfills. People require more medical care as they age, and aging baby boomers are expected to place increased demand on the medical device industry. At the same time, governments are under pressure to lower health care costs, which have become unaffordable even for those insured . Organizations work to implement environmentally conscious plastic waste management As recently as 2021, researchers lamented a lack of data on efforts to recycle medical plastics. Around 350 hospitals participate in Practice Greenhealth's Environmental Excellence Awards . Practice Greenhealth is an organization working to help hospitals increase their sustainability. It's one of the few sources of hospital sustainability data, and its roster of participating hospitals represents a small fraction of the more than 6,000 hospitals operating in the U.S. To meet the need to reduce plastic waste generation, some hospitals are moving away from using plastic in certain applications. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center replaced health care workers' disposable plastic isolation gowns with reusable cloth gowns at its hospitals in the last decade, saving money and preventing literal tons of medical waste. It also implemented a process for sterilizing and incinerating the boxes that hold used needles, allowing them to be reassembled and reused in a health care setting. Recycling plastic medical waste is complicated by the potential for contamination and the need to separate contaminated and noncontaminated waste; once separated, they can be broken down with heat or treated with chemicals and reprocessed. However, using chemical methods to break down and dispose of plastics has drawbacks. Over 200 nongovernmental organizations signed a letter in 2023 urging the Biden administration to end federal support for methods like these, arguing they generate toxic pollutants. The Vinyl Council of Australia is working with hospitals to recover used materials made of PVC . The materials are broken down into tiny pieces, washed and heated at high temperatures, and remade into things used outside medical settings. In the U.S. and Europe, there's the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council, a coalition of companies working in the health care device space that includes DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, and Medtronic. In 2021, the HPRC, advised by professionals at Kaiser Permanente and other health systems, rolled out a medical waste recycling pilot project with hopes of scaling it across more hospitals. Story editing by Ashleigh Graf. Copy editing by Paris Close. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio. Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week!