60 jili

Christmas-themed Run to Benefit the Arthritis Foundation Utah“When I saw the free kick, I told Rodri (Rodrigo De Paul) that I felt confident with the shot,” Álvarez said. “And it was a great goal.” Álvarez, Atletico's main signing in the offseason , has not been lacking confidence lately. The Argentina forward curled in the free kick shot in the 15th minute for the first of his two goals in the team’s 6-0 rout of Brest in the Champions League on Tuesday — the team’s biggest ever away win in European competitions. “We'll keep rotating who takes the free kicks,” said Álvarez, who also found the net in the 59th. It was Álvarez’s seventh goal in the last 10 matches, and third in his last three games across all competitions. The 24-year-old had a slow start to his first season with Atletico, scoring twice in 10 matches. “It was a matter of time before we started connecting well with each other,” said Álvarez, who joined Atletico after two seasons at Manchester City. “We have to stay on this path to keep improving.” Ángel Correa also scored two goals for Atletico, with Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann adding one each. “We know that in this format of the competition we need to keep adding the three points and scoring goals," Álvarez said. "It's important to get the points and the goals.” Atletico was sitting in 13th place in the 36-team league standings. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Opinion editor’s note: Strib Voices publishes letters from readers online and in print each day. To contribute, click here . ••• Andy Brehm’s Nov. 25 column, “Here’s one way we can help heal our divided country” seems to argue that we need to work on bridging our differences on policy when engaging with friends or family who support the opposite party. Before I can sit down with someone I need to understand how their inner conscience and faith led them to support a particular candidate. I grew up in a small rural farming community, and in my family and Catholic teachings I learned respect and honesty and developed a holistic faith born from Catholic teachings that valued the truth and welcomed everyone wherever they are on their journey. I wonder how I would start the conversation if a friend voted for a candidate who was a convicted felon, sexually assaulted women, saw disabled people as comical and a financial drain on our medical system, and ridiculed military veterans who risked their lives for our country. Did my friend deny these accusations or did they accept these extreme character flaws? Why or how could I engage on policy differences without an understanding of where his values reside? If his character or faith values were totally opposite mine then I would ask God to help me find a starting point. Brehm, we do not live in a utopian society, so rebuilding our relationship with others cannot proceed without a serious course correction of our social and faith-based values. Mike Menzel, Edina ••• How ironic that Brehm should be instructing us on the ways to bring us back together when the individual he voted for displays the exact opposite attitude and behavior. Of course, this has been evident now for more than nine years so it is no surprise. The president-elect promises to jail journalists who do their job investigating the government. “Draining the swamp,” as they say. He is intolerant of and denigrates and threatens political opponents. He calls them the “enemy within.” He does not accept accountability for any lack of truthfulness. As for acknowledging his own fallibility, he is definitely not a “fellow truth-seeker.” All he wants are “yes” persons under him. His aim is to gain power and wealth. That is all. He does not care about the Constitution or rule of law and his failure to sign routine agreements for the transition is recent proof of that. He does not agree to be ethically held to account. The president-elect is the exact opposite of the type of person one would ask one’s children to emulate. He is the exact opposite of a leader who can “heal our divided country.” Such a person would be more akin to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. As much as we hold dear our “other-thinking” family and friends, how can we expect the country to really come together with such malicious leadership? Gary Fifield, St. Paul ••• To Brehm I would reply, “If only.” If only political discourse could be just about policy differences. Mature adults can be friends despite these kinds of differences and should be able to discuss them around the Thanksgiving table. Brehm is right to encourage us to humanize our public policy adversaries and not to claim our friend is “morally reprehensible.” However, Republicans today are led by a morally reprehensible individual. He is the king of “demonizing the opposition.” A vote for Trump validates and normalizes morally reprehensible political and personal behavior that no policy prescriptions can justify or excuse. Rolf Thompson, St. Louis Park ••• To Brehm, regarding the opening paragraph of your Nov. 25 opinion piece: This progressive is not “perplexed” by the results of the presidential election. I am horrified and deeply worried about the effect of another four years of a Trump presidency on the women, children and vulnerable minority populations of this nation. Mary G. Alberts, Eden Prairie ••• I applaud Brehm for his thoughtful and well-written article. Brehm and I worked at the same large law firm in Minneapolis years ago, and he was known for his keen intelligence and genuinely friendly personality. He was also known for having premium seats to the Twins. Any chance that I can buy your tickets for a game next year? That would truly be a transaction across party lines. Thanks in advance, Andy. George Eck, Mound Pass the HEARTS act; save lives Every day, 1,000 people in the U.S. experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Only 10% survive. A person can be fine one minute and without a heartbeat the next. It’s critical for people nearby to take immediate action by calling 911, starting CPR and using an automated external defibrillator (AED). Doing this can double or even triple the person’s chance of survival. These actions are especially important in rural Minnesota. During almost three decades as a heart surgeon in Duluth, I’ve seen lifesaving technologies improve my patients’ and community’s health. We’ve had remarkable saves and yet still witness tragedies at schools and extracurriculars where people nearby weren’t prepared to respond. Having a plan in place and knowing what to do can be the difference between life and death. I brought this message to Washington, D.C. in May when I met with lawmakers to encourage them to support federal legislation that would improve the chain of survival in schools. Along with the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest survivors and health care providers, I urged Congress to save lives by passing the HEARTS Act. This bill would provide resources for CPR and AED training and development of school response plans. After a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival drops by 10% for every minute without CPR. Now that the U.S. House has passed the HEARTS Act, we must call upon our senators to act now and provide lifesaving AEDs and CPR training throughout our education system. Every minute counts! Mary Boylan, Duluth Funding transparency needed The front page story on Nov. 25 was appalling ( “Who is watching charter schools?” ). Then, as a former admissions counselor, teacher and public TV executive, I got angry. When did it become automatic that people and organizations in the U.S. could secrete how they spend taxpayers’ funds — my money? No one who receives funds from our government should ever conceal or refuse to reveal to the public how those funds, whether federal or state, are spent. If that openness intrudes on the privacy of some individuals, so be it! I knew when I worked for the state of Minnesota, for the federal government and for a private corporation receiving federal and state grants that our financial records must be complete, accurate and open to public scrutiny. I made sure our bookkeeping and accounting people also knew and that we maintained complete and accurate records. Charter schools that refuse to reveal all records where taxpayer money is involved should not hesitate to reveal them. Transparency will resolve lies and misinformation. Carl Brookins, Roseville ••• Charter schools account for only 8% of the state’s student population, yet according to U.S. News and World Report they make up about 20% of the nation’s top 100 high schools. Where is the Minnesota Star Tribune investigation of our public schools? Once again, Minneapolis Public Schools — despite a massive infusion of money from the state — is projected to be $85 million in the hole for the 2025-26 school year and to reach deficits approaching $100 million in the following four years. In addition, two former St. Paul Public Schools employees — Marie Schrul, former chief financial officer, and Curtis Mahanay, former business systems support manager — have filed a lawsuit against the district claiming they were fired in 2022 for raising concerns about how district leaders were handling finances. Where is the Star Tribune coverage of this lawsuit? [Opinion editor’s note: See “Ousted St. Paul schools finance chief sues district,” Nov. 22.] Charter schools are a tiny part of an education system that needs a complete overhaul by the state Legislature. We are investing billions in education in this state. There needs to be accountability. Jim Piga, Mendota Heights

PSX sees record decline, recovers later

Joe Burrow is no longer talking about the playoffs after another loss by the high-scoring Bengals

According to research marketing company Euromonitor International, Thailand's dietary supplement industry in 2023 was valued at 87 billion baht. Thai consumers spent 1,036 baht per person on average each month on a range of products. Additionally, Kantar, a global market research company, reported that the most popular dietary supplement categories in Thailand in 2022 were comprehensive health (29%), skin and beauty (21%), protein (19%), immunity (8%) and weight management (7%). Due to high demand, dietary supplements have become a topic of discussion because many brands in the market do not meet the quality standard or fall short of their advertised claim. To discuss issues and educate people regarding dietary supplements, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science at Chulalongkorn University (CU) recently held a forum titled "Discussion And Reflection Of Dietary Supplements" via the faculty's Facebook account. Asst Prof Suntharee T. Chaisumritchoke, a lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, CU, kicked off the forum by explaining what dietary supplements are. She said dietary supplement in Thai is translated from the same terminology in the US. Dietary supplements are substances taken in addition to a normal diet and are often found in capsule, flake, liquid or powder form. They are not considered foods and consumers expect to gain health benefits from these supplements. The issue that brought dietary supplements into the spotlight involved the iCon Group, a notorious online scam company. Many victims filed complaints against the company for its pyramid scheme and using celebrities to endorse its products such as dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, coffee and cocoa powders. Saree Aongsomwang, secretary-general of the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC), revealed that the most common complaint about dietary supplements is their exaggerated properties or false advertising. Most dietary supplements advertised online, especially on social media often use celebrities, influencers and healthcare professionals as presenters to attract buyers. Saree explained that according to the food advertising specification under the Food Act B.E. 2522 and the Consumer Protection Act B.E. 2522, advertising must be truthful, not misleading and must provide complete information. She also pointed out that although dietary supplement products have the FDA's registration number, advertisements also need approval. "Celebrities and influencers must be aware that when advertising, they must promote products that have a registration number from the FDA. Moreover, even with a FDA registration, approval for advertising is still required and most celebrities are unaware of this," said Saree. Saree explained the key principles of celebrity endorsement in the US. First, celebrities and influencers must make it obvious that it is an advertisement by using the hashtags #sponsor and/or #ad. Second, celebrities and influencers must not make exaggerated or misleading claims about products. "It is against the law for celebrities and influencers to advertise that the dietary supplement can cure a disease. Celebrities and influencers are required to be honest and transparent in their advertising. Additionally, if celebrities/influencers' recommendation does not align with their actual experience, they may face penalties. In some countries, there are regulations that require celebrities/influencers to use a product for at least six months before endorsing it," explained Saree. "This is an opportunity for Thai celebrities to set a higher standard in the industry. Even though no rules govern celebrity endorsement in Thailand, celebrities/influencers should consider this basic ethical standard. When they plan to advertise any product, they should use the product for at least six months and should not make false claims. When it comes to advertising, they should make it clear that the product is sponsored," Saree added. Illustrations: Charungsak P. Praphan When asked how the law in Thailand regulates dietary supplement advertising, Dr Surachoke Tangwiwat, secretary-general of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), replied that advertisements must adhere to properties of the product as registered with the FDA. "Any claims apart from those registered are prohibited. Unfortunately, many cases violate this rule and exaggerate properties of their products," he said. While many companies operate ethically, other companies intentionally add unauthorised substance into their products. "Some companies register an ingredient with the FDA, but use a different ingredient in the actual product. These products can cause serious health risks. The FDA is committed to monitoring products in the market and taking legal action against any violator," said Dr Surachoke. Asst Prof Suntharee provided more information about how the FDA regulates food and drug advertising. "There are at least three principles. First, advertisements must be approved by the FDA which involves verifying the product's registration number. Second, supplement advertisements must not mislead consumers, particularly regarding the benefits. Third, the FDA has the authority to suspend any advertisement that violates the law," she said. To help consumers choose quality products, consumers can verify if a product is registered with the FDA on its website at oryor.com/check-product-serial. The FDA secretary-general said that next year, consumers will be able to verify if a product advertises benefits that match those approved by the FDA. "The FDA has a team with many platforms to monitor and check if there are misleading advertisements. We use AI to detect advertising," said Dr Surachoke. Since there are many cases of consumer fraud involving dietary supplements, Asst Prof Suntharee suggested that consumers should file complaints under the Consumer Case Procedure Act B.E. 2551. Under this law, consumers can file verbal complaints without any written document at consumer court. However, the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) must represent them and make the case a class action. "With this option, they do not have to pay legal fees and can receive compensation whereas in a criminal lawsuit, victims will not receive compensation." As a representative, Saree said throughout three years of operation, TCC has handled 132 cases. However, many cases were dismissed by the court as not being consumer cases. Saree explained: "One of the most disappointing cases involved telecommunication companies overcharging customers. These companies rounded up seconds of call times and charged a whole minute. The court ruled that this is not consumer case. "Some consumers who were overcharged for a small amount like 400 baht did not want to pursue further legal action since the proceedings would cost them more. The TCC hopes to see courts punish companies that violate consumers' rights. We will discuss with the courts to improve the legal system and better protect consumer rights." At the end of the forum, Dr Surachoke concluded that most people do not need dietary supplement. "People should exercise regularly and manage emotion and stress. They also should consume the five main food groups and food with reduced sugar, oil and salt. If everyone does this, 90% of the people will not need dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are not suitable for everyone. Don't believe everything you hear about dietary supplements," Dr Surachoke said.

Hurricanes start slow, then roll to win vs. Wake Forest to keep ACC title hopes going

Drones for commercial and recreational use have grown rapidly in popularity, despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown. No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, certain landmarks including the Statue of Liberty, and sports stadiums during games. Not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports have shut down flights in a few instances. Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks have created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials have called for stricter rules to govern drones. After receiving reports of drone activity last month near Morris County, New Jersey, the Federal Aviation Administration issued temporary bans on drone flights over a golf course in Bedminster , New Jersey, that is owned by President-elect Donald Trump, and over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base . The FAA says the bans are in response to requests from “federal security partners.” The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use , and Congress has written some requirements into law. With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities. New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous. The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including “national special security events” such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people. To get a “remote pilot certificate,” you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam, and not suffer from a ”mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system.” Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations. Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles (4.8 kilometers). Over the past decade, pilots have reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots have had to take evasive action to avoid collisions. Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London’s Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023 . Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone. Advances in drone technology have made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power. Some state and local officials in New Jersey are calling for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried. Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a “chilling effect” on “a growing economic engine for the United States.” “We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations,” he said. AirSight, a company that sells software against “drone threats,” says more than 20 states have enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms. Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey, and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety. “It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people,” Austin said. “We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that.” Associated Press reporter Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C., contributed.