Despite the initial skepticism, Oscar's time in China was undeniably successful from a financial standpoint. Over the course of eight years, he amassed a staggering €16 billion and cemented his status as one of the highest-paid footballers in the world. His performances on the pitch were also commendable, as he helped Shanghai SIPG to win the Chinese Super League title and the Chinese FA Cup during his tenure.As the spring breeze gently swept across the familiar campus, a young graduate who had recently become a police officer returned to visit his former teacher, Mrs. Zhang Guimei. The touching scene that unfolded between them was filled with warmth and emotions that left everyone who witnessed it deeply moved.Civil jury orders Conor McGregor to pay rape claimantCongress readies nearly $900 billion in defense spending
Halo's latest release, "Halo Infinite," has taken the gaming world by storm, captivating fans with its stunning graphics, immersive gameplay, and compelling storyline. To celebrate the launch of this highly anticipated game, Halo has recently unveiled a congratulatory image featuring the iconic Master Chief transforming into the legendary Indiana Jones.Opposition slams APC as ‘hungry’ residents storm Bourdillon for palliatives
Boeing lays off hundreds in Washington and California as part of cuts announced previouslyIn conclusion, Guan Zhiou's ascension to the role of Party Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources is a testament to his achievements and dedication to public service. As a proven leader with a strong track record of success, he is poised to make a significant and lasting impact on the sustainable development of China's natural resources sector, setting new benchmarks for excellence and innovation in governance.As the investigations continue and measures are taken to address the root causes of the incidents, residents and visitors are advised to remain vigilant and prioritize their own well-being when availing services at commercial establishments. Reporting any concerns or incidents promptly to the authorities is essential for maintaining a safe and secure environment for all.
WASHINGTON - Towana Looney donated a kidney to her mother in 1999 only for the remaining one to fail years later due to pregnancy complications. Now, the 53-year-old from Alabama has become the latest recipient of a gene-edited pig kidney -- and is currently the only living person in the world with an animal organ transplant, New York's NYU Langone hospital announced Tuesday. "I'm overjoyed, I'm blessed to have received this gift, this second chance at life," Looney said during a press conference, held three weeks after the procedure. Xenotransplantation, transplanting organs from one species to another, has long been a tantalizing yet elusive scientific goal. Early experiments on primates faltered, but recent advances in gene editing and immune system management have brought the dream closer to reality. Pigs have emerged as the ideal donors: they grow quickly, produce large litters and are already part of the human food supply. Advocates hope this approach can help address the severe organ shortage in the United States, where more than 100,000 people are waiting for transplants, including over 90,000 in need of kidneys. - A last chance - Looney had been living with dialysis since December 2016 -- eight grueling years. High blood pressure caused by preeclampsia had taken its toll, leaving her with chronic kidney disease. Despite receiving priority on transplant waiting lists as a living donor, her search for a compatible kidney was a frustrating dead end. Her unusually high levels of harmful antibodies made rejection almost inevitable, and as her body lost viable blood vessels to support dialysis, her health declined. Out of options, Looney applied to join a clinical trial for pig kidney transplants, and finally underwent the seven-hour surgery on November 25. Asked how she felt afterward, Looney's joy was infectious. "I'm full of energy, I've got an appetite... and of course, I can go to the bathroom. I haven't been going in eight years!" she laughed, adding that she plans to celebrate at Disney World. Jayme Locke, a surgeon on the transplant team, described the results with awe. "The kidney functioned essentially exactly like a kidney from a living donor," she said, adding that Looney's husband saw a rosiness in her cheeks for the first time in years. "That is the miracle of transplantation." - Cautious optimism - Looney's surgery is the third time a gene-edited pig kidney has been transplanted into a human who is not brain dead. Rick Slayman, the first recipient, died in May, two months after his procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital. The second, Lisa Pisano, initially showed signs of recovery following her surgery at NYU Langone, but the organ had to be removed after 47 days, and she passed away in July. Looney, however, was not terminally ill before the transplant, noted Robert Montgomery, who led the surgery. Each case, he emphasized, provides critical lessons for refining the techniques. The kidney was provided by biotech company Revivicor, which breeds genetically modified herds in Virginia. A Massachusetts-based company, eGenesis, provided the kidney for Slayman. Looney's organ has 10 genetic edits to improve compatibility with the human body -- an advance over Revivicor's earlier efforts that used kidneys with a single gene edit and included the pig's thymus gland to help train the host's immune system and prevent rejection. Montgomery, a pioneer in the field who performed the world's first gene-edited pig organ transplant in a brain-dead patient in 2021, said both methods are likely to enter clinical trials "probably by this time next year, or even sooner." "This is a watershed moment for the future of transplantation," said Kevin Longino, CEO of the National Kidney Foundation. The nonprofit's polling shows that patients and families favor faster clinical trial progress, believing the risk of inaction outweighs the uncertainties of xenotransplantation. Looney was discharged December 6 to a nearby New York City apartment. Though her high antibody levels remain a concern, doctors are monitoring her closely using wearable technology and are trying a novel drug regimen to prevent rejection. Periodic hospital visits may still be required, but the team remains optimistic she can return home in three months.However, it is crucial to acknowledge Mbappe's undeniable talent and potential. At just 23 years old, Mbappe has already achieved remarkable success and accolades in his career, including a FIFA World Cup triumph with France in 2018. His explosive speed, agility, and finishing ability make him a formidable threat on the field, capable of turning the tide of a match single-handedly.
To cope with the demanding schedule and mitigate the risk of injuries, rotation of players has become crucial for Real Madrid. Squad depth and the ability to field a strong lineup even when key players are rested or recovering from injuries have become key factors in the team's success. Zinedine Zidane, the team's head coach, faces a delicate balancing act of rotating the squad effectively to maintain performance levels while also ensuring players get the necessary rest and recovery time.The experience of playing as a female character in the Lunar New Year outfit adds a new dimension to the gameplay. As players navigate through the mythical landscapes and encounter epic battles, they can appreciate the strength, grace, and resilience of the female protagonist. This representation not only empowers female gamers but also provides a fresh and engaging perspective on the age-old tale of Wukong.
Michigan aims to cap lost season by beating Ohio StateAnother important feature of the new measures is the requirement for regular inspections and audits of both suppliers and procurement agencies. This will help to ensure compliance with the regulations and prevent any potential misconduct or fraud. Suppliers found to be in violation of the rules may face penalties or even be barred from participating in future procurement activities.
Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?
As the teacher's hand moves fluidly across the board, the classroom falls into a hushed silence. The intricate details of the engine - the pistons, the valves, the cylinders - come to life under the teacher's skilled hand. Students lean in closer, captivated by the teacher's artistic interpretation of a mechanical marvel.Urgent holiday warning issued as five killed including Brit lawyer in 'fake booze poisoning' in backpacker...
AS the international community commemorates the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness 2024 with the theme: ‘Strengthening Global Health Systems for Future Crises,’ government agencies and stakeholders need to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system to nip diseases in the bud. First established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2020, the IDEP has been observed annually to promote global awareness and collaboration in preparing for future epidemics. The day was introduced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which exposed the vulnerabilities of global health systems and underscored the need for coordinated international responses to public health crises. Its primary aim, according to the UN, is to enhance global awareness, promote information sharing, and encourage best practices to prevent future epidemics. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention defines an epidemic as an “occurrence of more cases of disease than expected in a given area or among a specific group of people over a particular period of time.” The WHO has explained that epidemic-prone diseases, including emerging and re-emerging diseases, constitute the greatest threat to public health security and the disruption of social and economic developments in countries. In Nigeria, Lassa fever, mpox, Ebola virus disease, yellow fever, and poliomyelitis have been identified by health experts as the top five emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks the country has battled with since the turn of the century. Meningitis and cholera are other diseases afflicting Nigerians. In Africa’s most populous country, malaria fever is also an epidemic. Nigeria accounted for 27 per cent of the world’s malaria cases and 31 per cent of deaths in 2022. It is the leading cause of death in the country, as about 90 per cent of the population is at risk of malaria infection. The 2023 World Malaria Report said 189,321 Nigerians died from malaria in 2022. Sadly, despite the global advocacy towards effective epidemic response strategies, the Nigerian healthcare industry currently faces challenges associated with outbound medical tourism, deteriorating medical infrastructure, low government budget allocation, poor compensation and mass emigration of skilled healthcare workers. Notably, Nigerian governments have failed to draw lessons from the country’s COVID-19 experience, which resulted in 3,155 deaths and 267,189 confirmed cases. Although Nigeria has a viable local pharmaceutical industry, there is no human vaccine manufacturing chain in the country. Related News Yobe begins yellow fever mass vaccination campaign Yobe unveils 2024 yellow fever vaccination campaign Nigeria’s long road forward Nigeria has an acute shortage of medical personnel. The Nigerian Medical Association puts the doctor-to-patient ratio at between 1:6,000 and 1:10,000. The wealthy take refuge in medical tourism, especially in India and Europe. This sets the economy back $1 billion annually. Tellingly, Nigeria’s investment in research and development at less than 0.2 per cent of the GDP, compared to 2.4 per cent in China and 3.4 per cent in the United States, is notably low for a country committed to strengthening its healthcare system. The state of the public healthcare centres in Nigeria is shocking, as only about 20 per cent of the over 30,000 primary healthcare facilities across Nigeria are fully functional, according to an estimate given by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency. To boost preparation against the surge of epidemics, Nigerian hospitals, laboratories, and primary healthcare centres need to be better equipped and fully functional. Disease source tracking and detection should be prioritised. The government and stakeholders should fund local vaccine production as well as research and development initiatives to combat the spread of diseases. Public awareness of the health benefits of hand washing, sanitation and hygiene should be stepped up. Citizens should be sensitised to understand that abandoning these health and safety protocols could be deleterious to their physical health.After a thrilling start to the season, Guangsha has showcased a formidable combination of skill, strategy, and teamwork on the court. Led by their star players and guided by their experienced coach, the team has demonstrated a winning formula that has left their opponents struggling to keep up.
NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America's most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, died Thursday. He was 76. Parsons, who died at his Manhattan home, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. The financial services company Lazard, where Parsons was a longtime board member, confirmed his death. The NBA, where Parsons was interim CEO of the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014, was among organizations offering condolences. “Dick Parsons was a brilliant and transformational leader and a giant of the media industry who led with integrity and never shied away from a challenge,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. Parsons’ friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder's company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Parsons, a Brooklyn native who started college at 16, was named chairman of Citigroup in 2009, one month after leaving Time Warner Inc., where he helped restore the company’s stature following its much-maligned acquisition by internet provider America Online Inc. He steered Citigroup back to profit after financial turmoil from the subprime mortgage crisis, which upended the economy in 2007 and 2008. Parsons was named to the board of CBS in September 2018 but resigned a month later because of illness. Parsons said in a statement at the time that he was already dealing with multiple myeloma when he joined the board, but “unanticipated complications have created additional new challenges.” He said his doctors advised him to cut back on his commitments to ensure recovery. “Dick’s storied career embodied the finest traditions of American business leadership,” Lazard said in a statement. The company, where Parsons was a board member from 2012 until this month, praised his “unmistakable intelligence and his irresistible warmth.” “Dick was more than an iconic leader in Lazard’s history — he was a testament to how wisdom, warmth, and unwavering judgment could shape not just companies, but people’s lives,” the company said. “His legacy lives on in the countless leaders he counseled, the institutions he renewed, and the doors he opened for others.” Parsons was known as a skilled negotiator, a diplomat and a crisis manager. Although he was with Time Warner through its difficulties with AOL, he earned respect for the company and rebuilt its relations with Wall Street. He streamlined Time Warner’s structure, pared debt and sold Warner Music Group and a book publishing division. He also fended off a challenge from activist investor Carl Icahn in 2006 to break up the company and helped Time Warner reach settlements with investors and regulators over questionable accounting practices at AOL. Parsons joined Time Warner as president in 1995 after serving as chairman and chief executive of Dime Bancorp Inc., one of the largest U.S. thrift institutions. In 2001, after AOL used its fortunes as the leading provider of Internet access in the U.S. to buy Time Warner for $106 billion in stock, Parsons became co-chief operating officer with AOL executive Robert Pittman. In that role, he was in charge of the company’s content businesses, including movie studios and recorded music. He became CEO in 2002 with the retirement of Gerald Levin, one of the key architects of that merger. Parsons was named Time Warner chairman the following year, replacing AOL founder Steve Case, who had also championed the combination. The newly formed company’s Internet division quickly became a drag on Time Warner. The promised synergies between traditional and new media never materialized. AOL began seeing a reduction in subscribers in 2002 as Americans replaced dial-up connections with broadband from cable TV and phone companies. Parsons stepped down as CEO in 2007 and as chairman in 2008. A year later AOL split from Time Warner and began trading as a separate company, following years of struggles to reinvent itself as a business focused on advertising and content. Time Warner is now owned by AT&T Inc. A board member of Citigroup and its predecessor, Citibank, since 1996, Parsons was named chairman in 2009 at a time of turmoil for the financial institution. Citigroup had suffered five straight quarters of losses and received $45 billion in government aid. Its board had been criticized for allowing the bank to invest so heavily in the risky housing market. Citigroup returned to profit under Parsons, starting in 2010, and would not have a quarterly loss again until the fourth quarter of 2017. Parsons retired from that job in 2012. In 2014 he stepped in as interim CEO of the Clippers until Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer took over later that year. Parsons, a Republican, previously worked as a lawyer for Nelson Rockefeller, a former Republican governor of New York, and in Gerald Ford’s White House. Those early stints gave him grounding in politics and negotiations. He also was an economic adviser on President Barack Obama’s transition team. Parsons, who loved jazz and co-owned a Harlem jazz club, also served as Chairman of the Apollo Theater and the Jazz Foundation of America. And he held positions on the boards of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Parsons played basketball at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. He is survived by his wife, Laura, and their family. ___ This obituary was primarily written by the late Associated Press reporter Anick Jesdanun, who died in 2020 .
India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, architect of economic reforms, dies at 92KVKs did 1.32 lakh assessment trials of technologies at farmers’ fields in last 3 yrs: CentreThai cyber police locate call centre gang in CambodiaBENTON, La. -- The 48th edition of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is two days away. While its original matchup had to be changed, Louisiana Tech filling in for Marshall is a great backup plan. The Bulldogs made it to Shreveport Christmas Day and for a program that's already experienced altered postseason plans, changing practice venues Thursday is no big deal. LA Tech was forced to move indoors to the 3:16 Field House at Cypress Baptist in Benton because of weather. Selected almost two weeks ago to replace the Thundering Herd, wide receiver Tru Edwards said the news came as a shock. "At first I didn't believe it because my head coach (Sonny Cumbie) called me and he was like, Tru, you might want to go turn around. I was passing Independence Stadium that we're going to play in, and I just didn't believe him at first. So I actually kept driving and I ended up driving all the way back to Texas. And he told me again, he was like, we seriously have a bowl game. I was like, man, alright and then packed my bags and went back to my apartment in Ruston," Edwards added with a smile. Shreveport native Ja'Marion Kennedy, said, "I was laying down in bed, you know resting my body and I got a call from my coach. He was like hey get up, it was like 2:00 (in the afternoon) and you know, I got up and he was like, Man, I got some news for you, You going back home and playing a bowl game. I was like, 'What, no way.' He was like, it's true, so we here." Army's been handling Indy Bowl prep since they were chosen December 8. The Black Knights had to scrap whatever plans they had against Marshall and shift to Louisiana Tech, but other that than, everything's been on schedule for the West Point cadets. After practice on Christmas, quarterback Bryson Daily said they're looking forward to facing the Bulldogs and head coach Jeff Monken is keeping them on task. "Yeah, 100%. You know, we have the opportunity to get a bad taste out of our mouth with an extra game here at the bowl game. So, I mean, that's our goal right now. Just to fight our tails off and get a last win with this brotherhood. "Bowl weeks, you know, are very interesting compared to other weeks of practice. You get to kind of savor the season, all you've accomplished and just get to hang out and have fun with the guys. But when we step on that practice field, it's football like normal. So he's (Coach Monken) done a good job of keeping us focused in that area." Game time between the Black Knights and Bulldogs is set for 8:15 p.m. December 28.
Trump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?In response to the mounting complaints, we reached out to the relevant authorities to inquire about the plans for road repair and maintenance. It was revealed that the local government had acknowledged the issue and assured that repairs would be carried out before the upcoming Spring Festival. However, the villagers remained skeptical, expressing doubts about the timeliness and effectiveness of the proposed measures.In the end, the touching reunion between the graduate and Mrs. Zhang served as a beautiful testament to the power of education, mentorship, and the lifelong impact that a teacher can have on a student's life. It was a moment of warmth, gratitude, and mutual respect that left everyone who witnessed it deeply moved and inspired.