Latest news with #DougSmith
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DP World Honoured with 2024 Blue Circle Award for Energy Conservation at Two Canadian Ports
Award highlights DP World's continued leadership in enhancing environmental stewardship and sustainable port operations in Vancouver and Fraser Surrey VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DP World, a global leader in supply chain solutions, has been awarded the 2024 Blue Circle Award by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA) for its participation in the Energy Action Program. The award underscores the company's strong commitment to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship at its Vancouver and Fraser Surrey terminals. This is the second consecutive year DP World has earned the Blue Circle Award for Energy Conservation. In 2023, the company was recognized for its sustainability initiatives at the Port of Vancouver. This year's expanded recognition, which includes the Fraser Surrey terminal, reinforces DP World's ongoing investments in responsible, sustainable port operations across Canada. DP World's energy strategy includes a range of measures to improve operational efficiency and reduce emissions and boost productivity. These include achieving LEED certification for energy efficiency improvements and participation in innovative pilot projects, such as testing hydrogen fuel cell-powered rubber-tired gantry cranes at the Port of Vancouver. Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada, said: 'This recognition from the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority affirms DP World's strong commitment to advancing sustainable port operations. Through focused energy management initiatives at our Fraser Surrey and Vancouver terminals, we're helping to reduce environmental impacts while supporting a cleaner, more efficient future for Canada's trade infrastructure.' Peter Xotta, President and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, said: 'We are proud to recognize the leadership of many across our port community in advancing environmentally responsible trade. From terminals and tenants to marine operators, shipping companies, and cruise lines – these vital partners keep Canada's trade flowing through the Port of Vancouver every day, driving jobs and economic growth nationwide. We commend their commitment to ensuring this essential work is carried out sustainably.' The VFPA's Energy Action Program supports port tenants and terminal operators in developing energy management plans and advancing energy management measures. DP World is joined by fellow Energy Action Program award recipients GCT Canada, Neptune Terminals, Seaspan Shipyards, SSA Lynnterm, Viterra Cascadia, Viterra Pacific Elevators, and WWL Annacis Auto Terminal. The Blue Circle Awards were formally presented at a Customer Recognition and Blue Circle Award Reception held on Monday, June 2. DP World Americas Media Contact: Melina Vissat, Head of CommunicationsM: (+1) 704-605-6159E: About DP World Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world's trade flow better, changing what's possible for the customers and communities we serve globally. With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 111,000 employees from 159 nationalities, spanning 77 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that's fit for the future. We're rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses -- Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades. What's more, we're reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we're at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer's door. WE MAKE TRADE FLOWTO CHANGE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR in to access your portfolio
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Raptors mailbag: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander vs. Steve Nash and the case to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Here we go again: Not many submissions, an awful lot of questions. Have fun and maybe Ye Olde Mailbag will grow next week once the Finals are set, the draft's a week closer and the rest of the sports world goes on. I see they're well into the WNBA season and it's got to be more interesting in Toronto given the Tempo debut next year. If fans are watching, what's the Tempo watching and what should fans be paying attention to? ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW -Evelyn W., Mississauga I saw this week that the Tempo added to the front office, poaching Eli Horowitz from the L.A. Sparks to be the team's assistant general manager. So there's stuff going on behind the scenes, for sure. Doug Smith's Sports Blog Opinion Doug Smith: Raptors mailbag: More Jakob Poeltl trade rumours, a Canadian MVP and comparisons to Maple Leafs fans In this week's mailbag, Doug Smith takes questions on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, the NBA playoffs, the Leafs, the NBA draft and more. Doug Smith's Sports Blog Opinion Doug Smith: Raptors mailbag: More Jakob Poeltl trade rumours, a Canadian MVP and comparisons to Maple Leafs fans In this week's mailbag, Doug Smith takes questions on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, the NBA playoffs, the Leafs, the NBA draft and more. But other than that, as I wrote in a story about Monica Wright Rogers before the season, there's not a lot of tangible work to do until there's more guidance on the process of stocking the team comes from the league and a new CBA is in place. One thing I'm watching on the court is how stacked the Liberty is and can they repeat or if the usually-dynastic Lynx can get revenge. Hi Doug, Thanks for the series on potential picks. Looking at past drafts in Wikipedia shows you how hard it is to find rotation players, let alone stars, among a sea of quite often overhyped kids. Finding Pascal siakam, Jakob Poeltl, and undrafted Fred VanVleet was just shy of miraculous work by the Raptors. Some questions: 1) Tyrese Haliburton, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Pascal Siakam. Three players leading their teammates to the conference finals … none drafted in the top 10! Is the real hard part of the draft identifying these less hyped future stars? To be fair, the 2018 draft year features Trae Young, Luka Doncic, SGA, and a second-rounder Jalen Brunson! ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 2) Sticking with the draft, typically the first picks are big forwards, is guard play undervalued? 3) Masai Ujiri mentioned earlier in the year how the Celtics had Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown for several years, each year almost expected to win a championship, but it took several years of finding the right teammates to actually win. Do the Celtics need to do much besides get healthy in the future? 4) When reading about potential draft picks, many writers talk about a player's ceiling or floor. If I understand correctly, a guy with a 'high ceiling' is a player believed to have untapped potential and likely to improve significantly. On the flip side, players with a 'high floor' are ones who are currently good enough as is. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pascal Siakam were drafted as high ceiling guys while Shaquille O'Neal, Rudy Gobert, and Zion Williamson were picked as high floor guys. Do I have it right? So, a high floor guy pretty much means low ceiling? (Not an insult, but comment on current skills. No one expected Shaq to become Steph Curry!) Raptors Insider Raptors NBA draft: Collin Murray-Boyles drawing comparisons to Draymond Green but is a risk for Toronto South Carolina product is a 3-and-D specialist without the '3' right now. Scouts are drawn to his defensive skills and a top-notch competitive nature. Raptors Insider Raptors NBA draft: Collin Murray-Boyles drawing comparisons to Draymond Green but is a risk for Toronto South Carolina product is a 3-and-D specialist without the '3' right now. Scouts are drawn to his defensive skills and a top-notch competitive nature. Bonus qu estions: I remember the gasps on draft night when Scottie Barnes was selected. Were you surprised at the time and how likely are Bobby Webster and Masai Ujiri to shock the world again? -Bernie M. The items on the draft possibilities is as much about educating me as you, to be honest. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW If there's one thing I've come to know it's with the exception of one or two or maybe three players who are set up for greatness every year or two, the entire process is a crapshoot and the results are as much to do with how franchises grow and teach young players than it does the players themselves. And I think it's so hard to master guard play at the NBA level, the tendency is to think of wings and bigs as more immediate contributors. So maybe not undervalued as much as needed more patience. The Celtics are screwed. They have to get younger and bigger and — most important — less expensive and I don't know how they will. I pay zero attention to 'floor' and 'ceiling' because they mean nothing. So I'd suggest reading right past them. The afternoon of that draft, I think I was the only guy suggesting Barnes was their guy and not Jalen Suggs if they couldn't move up to get Evan Mobley because Barnes was exactly the kind of player they love. I'm pretty proud of that. Basketball From Steve Nash to SGA, there's a Canadian secret recipe for NBA greatness It's not a stretch to think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will sound precisely like Steve Nash should a third NBA MVP from Canada ever materialize. Basketball From Steve Nash to SGA, there's a Canadian secret recipe for NBA greatness It's not a stretch to think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will sound precisely like Steve Nash should a third NBA MVP from Canada ever materialize. Has SGA surpassed Steve Nash as the best Canadian NBAer ever? Or does he have more to do? -Kyle, Niagara Falls You're not going to find a bigger Nash fan than I was/am but, at 26 years old, I'm giving the edge to Shai right now. It might revert over the next decade because Nash was utterly brilliant in his 30s but we'll have to see. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The Giannis Antetokounmpo rumours continue in these parts. Given recent history, here, hard to take them seriously. At least there haven't been any reports about private jets on their way from Milwaukee yet. So allegedly, Giannis has let it be known he wants to stay in the East and Toronto would be an acceptable destination. I'm a bit skeptical of this allegation, but let's take the rumour as just that — a rumour. Now we've seen cases in the NBA where a player under contract wants to be traded and kind of/sort of gets serious input into his trade destination. Would Antetokounmpo pretty much get a destination of his choice? Or would it be like Kawhi Leonard — who ended up in Toronto — which was fairly apparently not his first choice? Raptors Raptors big man Jakob Poeltl changed basketball in Austria. But the game never changed him It's hard to quantify how being Austria's only NBA player changed the sport back home. Raptors Raptors big man Jakob Poeltl changed basketball in Austria. But the game never changed him It's hard to quantify how being Austria's only NBA player changed the sport back home. I'm assuming that we'd be not the only team wanting to add Giannis — so it would be a competitive situation. At the same time, similarly to how Kawhi was perceived, back then, Antetokounmpo isn't perceived as quite the value proposition he was a few years ago. Kawhi was coming from a season of injury. Giannis is also considered by some to be a bit broken down and not the player he recently was. Kawhi clearly wanted out of San Antonio. Giannis only maybe wants out of Milwaukee. The biggest difference between then and now is that the Raptors, deeper than they've been the last few years, are still not deep. Whereas the Raptors that won the Kawhi sweepstakes were infinitely deep. Almost all of our second unit are stars now with other teams. I don't see how it makes sense to take on Giannis but lose depth. I would never have traded DeMar DeRozan. But its clear the trade was crucial in winning us a championship. It's clear we 'won' the trade (taking into account Danny Green and Jakob Poeltl too). But I just can't help but feel that it will be nearly impossible to pull off a trade like that again to get Antetokounmpo. I've got to assume to make this happen, we'd have to sacrifice some of the depth the Raptors now have. And depth wins championships almost all the time. This is my roundabout way of saying I don't think its going to happen. Agree? Jeffrey V I don't know if it will happen but I do know there is mutual interest between Antetokounmpo and the Raptors. The wild card is the cost. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW But I also think the Raptors are uniquely placed to make an attractive offer that won't ruin their franchise or roster. I would make the case that a logjam at the wings makes them deep enough that if they had to pay even two out of Gradey Dick, Ochai Agbaji, Ja'Kobe Walter, RJ Barrett, Jonathan Mogbo would still leave enough to fill out a pretty good team with promising young players still developing. Plus, they have all their picks, so giving a first-rounder every year for, say, four years, leaves enough. The question is if you think the remaining players will develop, just as that group of Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby and Jakob Poeltl did. Not to that level — that's a historic young group no one's come close to matching — but if it can come close, that's pretty darn good. Again, the odds of doing a Giannis deal are long but the remnants of paying a steep price isn't too bad. 30 somethings Pizza! Pizza! Some loved the Raptors' promotion. Others hated it. But the chants were undeniably a part of the franchise's lore From merchandise giveaways to jackpots, no Raptors promotion has been more popular — and divisive — than Pizza Pizza's Score a Slice. 30 somethings Pizza! Pizza! Some loved the Raptors' promotion. Others hated it. But the chants were undeniably a part of the franchise's lore From merchandise giveaways to jackpots, no Raptors promotion has been more popular — and divisive — than Pizza Pizza's Score a Slice. Sir: Could Sportsnet have switched away any quicker from Oklahoma City's conference clinching win? I blinked and there was pre-recorded UFC stuff on. Bush league. Do you think the playoffs have changed the perception of the West being a vastly superior conference to the East? A lot of the West teams seemed to display various weaknesses in their squads. -Paul M. I was actually in Our Nation's Capital watching my sister-in-law and brother-in-law inducted into the city's sports Hall of Fame and only glanced at the score on the phone. But I have heard from a handful of friends expressing dismay at the post-game Canadian TV shenanigans and must say I was shocked at how it was handled. Bush league, disrespectful, cheating viewers all come to mind. We can only hope that NBA Finals coverage includes post-game analysis but at least there's a chance the Buffalo ABC affiliate will show some of it. Not sure if there's any change in perception, I am absolutely convinced the West is the most powerful conference by a wide margin because of the number of good teams and it's going to stay that way when the top two draft picks go West next season.
Toronto Star
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Toronto Star
Raptors mailbag: Brandon Ingram's impact, NBA draft predictions and Mavericks conspiracy theories
Man, a whole lot of Irregulars must be on vacation. It's as light here at Ye Olde Mailbag as it's been in a while. But with Sunday given over to the hoops-pucks Game 7 doubleheader starting in the afternoon, it'll be OK to get this out of the way. Enjoy. Hi, Doug. We're getting down to the final four. Let's hope the injuries stop and the play continues to be exciting and compelling. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A few years ago, I'd read the NBA leadership was floating a couple ideas: eliminating the draft, or setting a rotation where draft choices were established, irrespective of teams' records. For example, a team would have the number one selection and the next year it'd have the last pick. Midway between number one selections, that team would have the second pick, and throughout the cycle, which is based on number of franchises (a 30-team league would have a 30-year cycle), every team would be slotted in at all spots. Raptors Opinion Doug Smith: Why Raptors fans should sleep well after pipe dreams of winning the NBA draft lottery For starters, there is special depth to this draft class ... all the way to No. 9 and beyond. Raptors Opinion Doug Smith: Why Raptors fans should sleep well after pipe dreams of winning the NBA draft lottery For starters, there is special depth to this draft class ... all the way to No. 9 and beyond. The rationale was because the NBA has a salary cap, this system allows teams to plan, trade, draft and scout accordingly. Eliminating the draft is also competitively viable with a salary cap. While European sports leagues develop players without drafts, it's the lack of a salary cap that keeps the same teams perennially strong. With a salary cap and no draft, or using the 30-year cycle, wouldn't the onus be on ownership and management to show how good they are? You were an observer in the draft room. Is there any talk about changes? The league needs to keep all teams relevant for every game. Is the allure of the tank and optimistic drug of a lottery-winning pick changing team fortunes too grand to give up for the entertainment and news buzz of the league? My greatest wish to increase competitiveness, entertainment and eliminate tanking is a shortened NBA regular season. While you don't think that's going to happen, what's the tipping point? More injuries? More money? Thank you for your Pacers and Pascal Siakam reflection. Within the greatest leaguewide skill level ever seen, perhaps the Pacers are on to the next revolutionary phase of the NBA game: playing a full-court 48-minute game requiring a 10-player rotation. The Cavaliers were worn down playing the Pacers. Even with medical advances, injuries are accumulating, especially to stars playing heavy minutes. An unwavering ability to focus seems to be climbing the charts as a required skill and necessity for players entering the league. (Is this what Scottie Barnes needs to improve?) The Pacers team fitness and concentration is at such high skill levels. They're leaving the star-centric team model gasping for air. The Oklahoma City Thunder is on the same path, and the Golden State Warriors, who turbocharged the last revolution, tinkered with it. Impressive to watch. Hard to emulate. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW I'd love to see a Pacers-Thunder championship series. Great basketball, no injured stars so far, and we have rooting interests on both teams. Raptors Raptors Insider: Does the NBA need to do more to get the best draft picks to the worst teams? It's hard to get a consensus from the league's general managers. Raptors Raptors Insider: Does the NBA need to do more to get the best draft picks to the worst teams? It's hard to get a consensus from the league's general managers. —Paul from Port As I mentioned in the Insider this past week, there is some chatter about lottery changes, but it's not really loud and I didn't get the sense anyone is really pushing now for major change. And frankly, I don't think there's a need to. History — no worst team has got the No. 1 pick since the odds were flattened four or five years ago — should show teams that blatantly tanking for an entire season doesn't work. Perhaps a slight tweak in the odds between the worst three and the 11 other non-playoff teams might be a consideration, but that's about it. I do think the allure of Cooper Flagg's potential created an outlier this season, too. I'm typing this Saturday and am with you on wanting a Pacers-Thunder final. Fun teams that play an entertaining, team-based style. Of course, 10 or so more games of Nikola Jokic's brilliance wouldn't be too bad, either. I notice you mentioned this week that the Raptors are going to Spain this summer, and I think they did the same thing somewhere in Florida last summer. I also know you weren't there — I don't think any media was — but is it a full-blown training camp with two-a-days and everything? ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW That seems a bit much and I don't think the players association would approve. —Steve in Hamilton No, it's nothing like that. And technically, attendance is completely voluntary and officially arranged by the players rather than by the franchise. Lots of teams — I'd venture to say the vast majority — have sessions like it at some point every summer, although not many get 100 per cent attendance like Toronto did last summer. Tempo The WNBA season tips off with future Toronto targets in the mix. The Tempo already have a few clues 'We can almost kind of predict who'll be available to us come the expansion draft,' says Tempo GM Monica Wright Rogers. Tempo The WNBA season tips off with future Toronto targets in the mix. The Tempo already have a few clues 'We can almost kind of predict who'll be available to us come the expansion draft,' says Tempo GM Monica Wright Rogers. Did the league gamble and wait for Game 7 of this series to announce whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or the Joker are the MVP? Surely they have to take advantage of the moment, even if they couldn't plan for it? —Kyle You'd like to think it was good planning or good fortune, but nope. The awards announcements are the domain of TNT, so I don't expect the MVP to be made public before Game 1 of the East final on Wednesday night at the earliest. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. The drama and excitement of the draft lottery has now passed. Given the Raptors fell to ninth, it is hard to imagine this team being fundamentally better next season. Yes, they will likely have a better win/loss record given the addition of Brandon Ingram (though worst case he spends considerable time on IR, or best case he has a managed workload) and fielding their top players every game and in tight situations. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW What can the Raps do to really take the next real step forward given their cap reality? —Michael McKnight A hill I am willing to die on is that the addition of a nine-year veteran who has averaged more than 20 points a game in the last six seasons, who has shot better than 34 per cent from three-point range for three straight seasons and has an effective field-goal percentage of 50 per cent or more in each of the last seven seasons is an absolutely fundamental improvement. Now, how Brandon Ingram fits with this group is an unknown, but that's all. Every expert in the world can guess that it won't work. I'd rather wait and see if it does. So, they will be fundamentally better. And that's a step, isn't it? They won't be championship favourites or anywhere close to it, but they will be better and that's what you want: incremental growth. Step by step, always with hiccups. But all that is much different than, say, 2015-16 here. The 'cap reality' is not an issue. It's easy to get around it through trades, individual development and working on the edges. It seemed very implausible that the Mavericks would trade Luka Doncic. The explanation they gave for trading Doncic also seemed implausible. That the Mavericks traded Doncic without offering him to other teams to attempt to get greater value also seems a little implausible. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW That the Mavericks would trade Doncic to the Lakers — of all the teams out there — seems very, very implausible. It guaranteed criticism of the trade. That the Mavericks won the NBA draft lottery — this too was statistically very implausible. Raptors It turns out the Raptors came achingly close to moving into top four of NBA draft lottery The four-number combination that landed the Dallas Mavericks the first overall pick was 10-14-11-7. The Raptors were just missing the final number. Raptors It turns out the Raptors came achingly close to moving into top four of NBA draft lottery The four-number combination that landed the Dallas Mavericks the first overall pick was 10-14-11-7. The Raptors were just missing the final number. One aspect of t he league being a players' league is the feeling that the fix is in against your city. We get an article every year about how hard (sob, sob) it is to be in Toronto. We see that the top-notch players either won't sign in Toronto for more money or leave quickly if they are traded here. It's irritating. At the same time, in the NBA too many good players congregate to one of four or five teams. And those teams win a disproportionate amount of the championships. When Doncic was traded, it seemed rather bizarre. It was like the NBA decided LeBron James needed one more chance at a championship. It was like the NBA decided they need a superstar to replace James in L.A. I know you'll say the NBA had no role. I'm talking about the feeling, not the reality. Yet another superstar on the Lakers. People prone to conspiracy theories will see the Mavericks getting the first pick as the explanatory missing piece making sense of the otherwise nonsensical trade. They had a 1.8 per cent chance of getting the first pick. I'm not prone to conspiracy theories. I don't believe the NBA was in on this, and I don't believe this was in any way part of the Doncic trade. I do think it is incredibly bad timing and a strike against the lottery system. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW My only question: How much was bet on the Mavericks winning the lottery by people not including those living in Dallas? (I know, neither of us know the answer to this.) Doug Smith's Sports Blog Opinion Doug Smith: Raptors mailbag: Looking back at old trades (farewell Siakam and Anunoby) and ahead at potential trades (hello Giannis?) In this week's mailbag, Doug Smith takes questions on the NBA playoffs, Tyrese Haliburton, the Blue Jays, the NBA Combine and much more. Doug Smith's Sports Blog Opinion Doug Smith: Raptors mailbag: Looking back at old trades (farewell Siakam and Anunoby) and ahead at potential trades (hello Giannis?) In this week's mailbag, Doug Smith takes questions on the NBA playoffs, Tyrese Haliburton, the Blue Jays, the NBA Combine and much more. My real question: Do we trade up to get a higher draft pick? Or do we trade our pick to get a young decent centre? —Jeff V. First, this: ' At the same time, in the NBA, too many good players congregate to one of four or five teams. And those teams win a disproportionate amount of the championships.' Those days don't exist any more, and there have been six different champions in the last seven seasons (if Boston loses, and I'm answering this Friday afternoon) so the second point is demonstrably wrong. As for the trade, unless they could deal for Cooper Flagg — and no one will be able to — there's no one there any team would feel they must try to trade for. I'd suggest right now there's a tiny chance the Raptors would trade back, but zero chance they'll move up and an overwhelming belief they'll pick at No. 9. Whether that's a centre or not is unknown, but my spidey sense is that it won't be. It'll be a good shooting four to groom, and they'll find a backup five in the G League or summer league.
Epoch Times
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
US State Officials Commemorate World Falun Dafa Day
U.S. state officials nationwide have issued proclamations, citations, and congratulatory letters to recognize World Falun Dafa Day, which is observed annually on May 13. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore 'Falun Gong transcends cultural and racial boundaries and contributes to the universal dream of a peaceful, tolerant, and more compassionate society,' Kotek's proclamation 'Falun Gong practitioners' determination and courage to stand up for the principles of Truthfulness—Compassion—Tolerance in the face of severe persecution has shown the world the value of life and preciousness of human dignity.' A proclamation commemorating World Falun Dafa Day issued by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. Courtesy of The three principles—truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance—are the core moral beliefs behind the teachings of Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice introduced to the Chinese public in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi. The practice's popularity grew exponentially, reaching at least 70 million by 1999, according to official estimates. Perceiving that the group's widespread appeal was undermining its iron grip on Chinese society, the CCP responded with a brutal persecution that same year, and the abuses continue to this day. In 2024, there were Related Stories 5/13/2025 5/5/2025 In New York, some members of the state Legislature issued either a citation or a letter, including Assembly Members Doug Smith, Karl Brabenec, Jodi Giglio, and John Mikulin. 'In recognition of May 13th, 2025, as World Falun Dafa Day in the State of New York, we urge all citizens to join in recognizing the contributions of Falun Dafa practitioners, and to support heir effort to promote peace, health, and harmony across the world, as well as their courage and resilience in the face of persecution by the Chinese Communist Party,' the four assembly members stated in their joint citation dated May 13. A citation commemorating World Falun Dafa Day issued by New York Assembly Members Doug Smith, Karl Brabenec, Jodi Giglio, and John Mikulin. The Epoch Times In a letter dated May 13, New York Sen. April Baskin stated that this 'special day' offers 'renewed hope for a future free from oppression.' 'Falun Dafa practitioners have stood firm in peacefully exposing the truth and warning the world about the destructive nature of the CCP's authoritarian ideology,' the letter reads. To mark the special occasion, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners Some state officials from Pennsylvania Sen. Mary Isaacson highlighted in her A citation commemorating World Falun Dafa Day issued by Pennsylvania Sen. Mary Isaacson. The Epoch Times On May 7, the House of Representatives The legislation now goes to the Senate for consideration. In a 'We will continue to advocate for its swift passage in the Senate and for this vital bill to be signed into law,' the association wrote. Bob Fu, a pastor and founder of U.S.-based Christian nonprofit ChinaAid, urged Congress to pass the legislation in an 'This bipartisan bill combats China's horrific practice of forcibly harvesting organs from prisoners of conscience, including Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghurs,' Fu wrote. 'No more silence. No more complicity. Say NO to Crimes Against Humanity.'
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Illinois teens say they drink nearly twice as much as U.S. average, survey finds
The Brief Teenagers from Illinois reported using alcohol at nearly twice the national rate, according to a new survey. About 13.7% of Illinois teens said they had consumed alcohol in the past 30 days, compared to 6.9% of teens nationwide. The survey was conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Teenagers in Illinois reported drinking at nearly twice the rate of their peers across the U.S., according to a recently released survey. About 13.7% of Illinois teens reported having consumed alcohol during the previous 30 days, compared to just 6.9% of U.S. teens as a whole, according to the 2024 Illinois Youth Survey. The survey was conducted by the Center for Prevention and Development at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. What we know While substance use among teens declined during the COVID-19 pandemic because of lockdowns and other restrictions, about 10% of Illinois eighth graders surveyed reported acquiring liquor through home delivery services, according to Doug Smith, the center's director and professor of social work at the university. "This is a newer trend that started when retailers moved to online delivery during the pandemic," Smith said. "It may be time to think about what regulatory approaches, if any, are needed to prevent kids from ordering alcohol online." By the numbers Among the teens from Illinois, 8% of high school seniors, 4% of sophomores, and 1% of eighth graders reported binge drinking, the report found. Overall, about 21% of eighth graders, 28% of 10th graders and 39% of 12th graders said they drank alcohol, used marijuana, sniffed glue or gases, or smoked e-cigarettes or other vaping products. Much smaller percentages, 1% of eighth and 10th graders and 2% of 12th graders, reported using ecstasy, crack/cocaine, heroin, or hallucinogens/LSD, the survey found. More than 90% of survey respondents said their parents or guardians had talked with them in the past year about their use of alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco, and more than 80% said their families had clear rules about using substances. The survey also found significant differences in the views of young people on daily alcohol use versus daily marijuana use. About 61% of 12th graders, 72% of sophomores, and 69% of eighth graders viewed regular marijuana use as "significantly harmful." Dig deeper The research was funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services' Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
