Latest news with #Packer
Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Epoch Times
Woman Cleared in Abortion Trial as MPs Push for Law Reform
The recent acquittal of Nicola Packer, a 45-year-old woman prosecuted for inducing an abortion beyond the legal limit, comes as MPs push to reform UK abortion laws. Packer, who took abortion pills during the COVID-19 lockdown believing she was within the permitted gestational period, was found not guilty by a jury at Isleworth Crown Court on May 8. The legal limit for taking medication at home to terminate a pregnancy is 10 weeks, while the outer limit for abortions in England, Scotland, and Wales is 24 weeks, apart from in certain circumstances. Packer maintained she was unaware of her true gestation, which was approximately 26 weeks. The trial heard she took prescribed abortion medicine at home in November 2020 and later brought the foetus to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in a backpack. The telemedicine abortion, also known as the It allows women in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy to receive abortion medication at home after a remote consultation. Related Stories 9/18/2024 11/27/2023 Supporters Critics, including the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC), The pro-life organisation has argued the policy enables abusers to coerce women into abortions and allows women to misrepresent their gestation timelines over the phone. Proposed Changes Abortion complications become more likely as pregnancy progresses, no matter the method used. A Right to Life UK campaigners have warned that changes to the abortion law could put more women at risk. Commenting on the The amendment seeks to remove women from criminal law related to abortion. It means that women acting in relation to their own pregnancies would no longer face arrest, prosecution, or imprisonment, regardless of gestation. 'The proposed change to the law would also lead to an increased number of viable babies' lives being ended well beyond the 24-week abortion time limit and beyond the point at which they would be able to survive outside the womb,' said Right to Life UK. It noted that the amendment does not outline circumstances in which it would continue to be an offence for a woman to perform her own abortion, highlighting the case of In 2020, Foster aborted her child at 34 weeks with illegally-obtained abortion pills. She was jailed in 2023 after the court found she lied to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service—a leading abortion provider—about how far along in her pregnancy she was. Foster was sentenced to jail, though she was later suspended on appeal. Despite the criticism, Antoniazzi Representatives from the whole pro-life movement and their supporters gather to demonstrate in Parliament Square in London on May 15, 2024.'Full Decriminalisation' A separate It would extend legal safeguards to medical professionals who assist women with consent, provided the pregnancy is under 24 weeks. It also introduces an additional layer of protection by requiring that any prosecution—whether of a woman or a doctor—must first be personally approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Criticising the proposals, SPUC 'This would in effect mean full decriminalisation of abortion, up to birth, for any reason … including the sex of the baby,' it said. The government has said any changes to abortion laws are 'a matter of conscience for parliamentarians.' 'All women have access to safe and legal abortions on the NHS,' a government spokesperson said, adding that decisions to prosecute are for the Crown Prosecution Service and are 'incredibly rare.' Abortion Law Abortion is still technically a criminal offence under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929. But under the Abortion Act 1967, there are exceptions that legalise it under specific circumstances, including sign-off by two doctors. This framework applies in England, Scotland, and Wales, but not in Northern Ireland, where abortion is legal in the early stages of pregnancy (up to 12 weeks) without needing to give a reason. A change to the law is being supported by professional bodies including the British Medical Association, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), the Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing, and the Royal College of General Practitioners. In a The groups called for women to no longer be prosecuted under the 1861 and 1929 acts for ending their own pregnancies, bringing the law in England and Wales in line with Northern Ireland. Public Opinion Public opinion polling by Overall, 74 percent support enshrining abortion rights in law, though opinion is evenly split on keeping the pills-by-post policy. Support is much lower for further loosening abortion rules, such as allowing abortion pills to be sold over the counter without a prescription. Just 33 percent of people back the idea, while 53 percent are opposed. Opposition is consistent among both men and women across all age groups. PA Media contributed to this report.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Josh Jacobs' 2024 season was spectacular: Is there still room for improvement in 2025?
Josh Jacobs' 2024 season was spectacular: Is there still room for improvement in 2025? Packers running back Josh Jacobs enjoyed an excellent first season in Green Bay, rediscovering his form after a subdued final year in Las Vegas. He went over 1,400 yards for just the second time in his career and had a career high 17 total touchdowns. By looking under the hood at some more advanced statistics, the level of play Jacobs hit in 2024 can be better understood in the context of his wider career, and the strengths and weaknesses of his overall game can be established. Strengths The core of Jacobs' success in his first year as a Packer was his ability to create yards after contact, both as a runner and a receiver. Among qualified running backs, Jacobs ranked in the 86th percentile for yards after contact per attempt (YCO/A), the 84th percentile in PFF's elusiveness rating (ELU) and the 76th percentile for missed tackles forced per attempt (MTF/A). His YCO/A was a career high 3.49 on the season, and his MTF/A of 0.25 was right behind his career best mark of 0.26. Add in his ability in the passing game, and Jacobs ranked in the 86th percentile for missed tackles forced per touch, as well as leading the league in missed tackles forced after the catch. He did a fantastic job all season of getting more than was blocked for him and added real value. Jacobs' impressive elusiveness in 2024 marked a significant improvement on his career average. His 99.4 rating was the highest since his rookie year and exceeded his average career rating of 70 considerably. He has always had a knack of finding the end zone as a runner, arriving in Green Bay with 46 of them in five years, and this continued with the Packers. Jacobs ranked in the 88th percentile for touchdowns per attempt in 2024, scoring on a career high 5.02% of his carries. The biggest area of improvement for Jacobs after joining the Packers was his contribution in the passing game. Utilizing him more as a receiver is something both he and the team mentioned wanting to do more of, and they backed it up. He was one of the NFL's better receiving threats out of the backfield, ranking in the 86th percentile for yards per reception among qualified backs, the 95th for yards after the catch per reception and the 81st for yards per route run, with career high marks in all three categories. Jacobs did not drop a pass in 2024, having dropped at least three in all of his previous seasons, and finally notched his first receiving touchdown as a pro. Weaknesses There are not many weaknesses to Jacobs' game, but of the few, some are fixable and some are not. Stylistically, Jacobs is simply not an explosive runner or a home run hitter, and he never has been. He ran a 4.64 40-yard dash coming out of Alabama, and using the Relative Athletic Score (RAS) system, had just an "okay" overall speed score and a "poor" explosion score. In 2024 he ranked in the 48th percentile for runs of 10+ yards, or "explosive runs" and the 38th for breakaway percentage (BAY%). These are not terrible marks by any means but highlight the fact he is not an electrifying runner. His BAY% of 22.2% is right in line with his previous career average of 22.18%, and his explosive run rate of 10.66% was actually better than his career average of 9.79%. Speaking to the Green Bay media last week, Jacobs expressed a desire to improve on his ability to break off bigger runs. He said: 'I felt like I left a lot on the table', before explaining 'I had some one on ones, where if I made a person miss or broke a tackle, it was the difference between a 20-yard gain and a 60-yard gain. That's what makes people elite." Whether this is something a runner of Jacob's type and athletic profile can truly improve on going into his seventh year remains to be seen, and seems relatively unlikely, but it is clearly a focus for Jacobs. An aspect he can continue to work on though is protecting the football. Jacobs had a career high five fumbles in 2024, ranking in the 28th percentile in fumbles per attempt. His PFF fumble grade has been just 61.4 over the last two years compared to 74.5 in his first four seasons. Fumbles are similar to drops for receivers in that they are somewhat overrated as a means of analyzing a player's overall performance. Jacobs fumbled on just 1.57% of his carries in 2024. It is still an alarming trend though, and something he needs to hone-in on. Pass protection is not a true weakness for Jacobs by any means; he was more than satisfactory in 2024, but it is an area he can still improve. He ranked in the 44th percentile among qualified backs in pressure rate allowed on snaps with an opportunity to allow a pressure, and allowed more QB hits than any other back with four, although he was above average in pass block efficiency, ranking in the 55th percentile. Again these are not disastrous statistics or anything to worry about, and both of them were worse than his prior career averages, which should give some encouragement that Jacobs can become a stronger blocker in 2025. Overall, Jacobs was one of the best all-around backs in the league last year, and the Packers will want him to mostly just keep up what he has been doing, while continuing to work on taking care of the ball better and being consistent in pass protection. His career numbers suggest he is not likely to become more explosive, but if he gets fewer carries in 2025, with second-year back MarShawn Lloyd working into the mix to give Jacobs a breather, he could become an even more efficient runner. Jacobs worked around his blocking at times in 2024, with the group having a 60.25 run block grade on the year, which is just a tick above average. In that sense, Jacobs has absolutely been worth the money so far for Green Bay. Getting more than what is blocked is technically what teams pay a back to do, and he has done exactly that. According to PFF, of the backs with 4.4 yards per carry (YPC) or better, only two ran behind worse run blocking units than than Jacobs: Tank Bigsby in Jacksonville and De'Von Achane in Miami, and they only had 168 and 203 attempts respectively compared to 319 for Jacobs. The Packers placed an emphasis on bolstering the offensive line this offseason, which is important given the type of runner Jacobs is. Expecting Jacobs to make something out of nothing at the rate he did a year ago might be unrealistic, and he needs to be given something to work with, because the explosive runs are not going to be there to pad his numbers. If Green Bay had settled for a mediocre run blocking unit, they could have set him up for a less effective year like his final one in Vegas, when a poor O-line sold him short all year. A YPC of 4.4 is still good, ranking in the 60th percentile last year, but with more rest and better blocking, it could be even better in 2025, with Jacobs firmly in the prime of his career.
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Prostitution-linked crimes on Scotland's streets rise for first time in a decade
The Sunday Mail took the streets of Glasgow's east end to gather accounts from current women still selling sex on the streets. Crimes related to prostitution on Scotland's streets have increased for the first time in a decade. Near Glasgow's Barras Market, Barrowlands Ballroom and the quiet streets behind Tennent's Brewery, women stand alone looking for punters who will pay cash for sex. These are the same streets where Emma Caldwell would stand 20 years ago and also previously the areas frequented by her killer Iain Packer. Punters in cars pull up and give the nod before cash exchanges hands and a sex act is carried out nearby for as little as £20. However, despite crimes associated with prostitution having fallen steadily by 81 per cent since 2014, the period of 2023-24 saw a 16 per cent increase, with 72 crimes recorded up from 62 crimes in 2022-23. The Glasgow City area also saw the highest recorded crimes with 44 per cent in 2023-24 according to the latest Scottish government figures. It comes as Packer was finally brought to justice last year – 19 years after killing Emma. The Sunday Mail took the streets of Glasgow's east end to gather accounts from current women still selling sex on the streets. We spoke to one mum, now 42, who began selling sex at just 15, and has worked as a sex worker in the city for 25 years. She said: 'I knew Emma, I was around Duke Street where she was working back then. 'I've been out here since about 1998 when I first tried heroin at 15. 'I don't want to be here but I have to be as I'm addicted to crack and cocaine. There are still guys out looking every night of the week but they want you for as little as £20. 'Emma's name still brings me to tears 20 years later. She didn't deserve what happened to her, she deserved so much better. 'She was a beautiful soul and in some way, we are all like Emma. We are out here because we have to be, not because we want to be. I remember Packer. "I will have been with him at some point as he was always about then. " Packer is where he should be but all these years on, the girls are still here, the streets are still not safe but there is money to be made. "When I was on heroin I would have sold my soul for a tenner. 'The only thing that could save me is jail. 'I'd rather be in prison than here.' A second woman, who says she knew Emma from the early 2000s, said: 'We all remember Emma. But we are still here doing this because we need to. There's still business or we wouldn't be here.' A third woman said she had only recently begun selling sex on the streets. She added: 'I'm just new to this, but I'm here because I need the money.' A Scottish Government spokesperson said:'There is no place for the commercial sexual exploitation of any individual in Scotland. 'We are taking action to support women to sustainably exit from prostitution. This includes our joint work with Police Scotland to implement their new national approach to prostitution, Operation Begonia, where officers signpost women to local support and at the same time, challenge and deter men's demand for prostitution.' Detective Superintendent Steven Bertram, lead on Prostitution, Police Scotland, said: ' Prostitution brings a significant threat of risk and harm to people and communities. 'People involved in prostitution, most of whom are women, are particularly vulnerable to violence. ' Drug or alcohol related issues, or poverty, can drive people into prostitution, particularly on street. 'Our approach, as demonstrated in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Dundee, focuses on safety and welfare, engaging with people and signposting them to support available from our partners, and hopefully reducing the risk of violence. 'This is about building trust and confidence in policing. It's about safer communities and supported victims. And it's about tackling violence against women and girls in all its forms.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Could Aaron Rodgers retire as a Packer? NFL legend opens up about signing one-day deal with Green Bay
Aaron Rodgers hints at final Packers reunion before retirement, leaves door open for one-day contract return (Getty Images) As June unfolds and NFL teams finalize their 2025 rosters, one name remains glaringly absent from any lineup — Aaron Rodgers. The 41-year-old quarterback, once the face of the Green Bay Packers, is still undecided about his next move. And while he hasn't ruled out returning to the field, he's just as focused on the possibility of calling it a career. Aaron Rodgers leaves fans buzzing after teasing potential one-day return to Green Bay Packers In a recent appearance on the 'YNK Podcast,' Aaron Rodgers was asked whether he'd consider retiring as a Packer by signing a symbolic one-day contract — a tradition many teams honor for franchise legends. The quarterback's response was contemplative. "I've thought about that, but I don't understand what the reason for that is," Rodgers admitted. "At the same time, I grew up a [49ers] fan and most of my favorite players retired as a Niner. Jerry Rice, who went to three other teams, came back and retired as a Niner, so I understand the cool thing about it, but if I didn't do it, would that make a difference in how I'm viewed in the Packers' eyes?" Mia's Brothers On The Hot Seat: Mike & Aaron Rodgers (Live in Austin, TX) Rodgers' comments reflected a mixture of reverence and realism. His Green Bay departure in 2023 was far from smooth. He had publicly criticized the front office for prioritizing long-term plans over immediate Super Bowl pushes, particularly regarding how they treated his veteran teammates. That tension ultimately led to a trade to the New York Jets. Still, despite those frustrations, Rodgers hasn't closed the book on Green Bay completely. "There's a lot of love for me and how I feel about the team," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "If I do or I don't [retire as a Packer], I don't think it should make a difference. I'm not sure yet. If they approached me about it, I probably would." Rodgers' impact on the Packers is undeniable. Drafted 24th overall in 2005, he went on to play 18 seasons with the franchise, racking up over 59,000 passing yards, 475 touchdowns, and four MVP awards. He led the team to a Super Bowl XLV victory and carved his name alongside Packers legends like Brett Favre and Bart Starr. Yet after his Achilles injury in the Jets' 2023 season opener and an underwhelming 2024 campaign, Rodgers was released. His current free-agent status leaves the football world speculating. Though rumors of a potential stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers have circulated, Rodgers' lack of urgency suggests that retirement is just as likely. Adding to the uncertainty is a recent revelation from Rodgers — someone close to him is battling cancer. That personal battle, coupled with his age and the physical demands of the sport, may further influence his future. Despite the ambiguity, one thing remains clear: Rodgers' legacy in Green Bay is secure. Whether or not he signs a ceremonial one-day deal, his contributions to the Packers are etched in NFL history. For fans, seeing him don the green and gold one last time would be a poetic ending to a storied career — but for Rodgers, that chapter will only close on his own terms. Also Read: Is Stefon Diggs just Cardi B's plus-one? Fans question if NFL star is riding the rapper's financial coattails Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Powys County Times
27-05-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Woman cleared of illegal abortion planning complaint over her treatment
A woman cleared of having an illegal abortion is planning to file a complaint with the police, prosecutors and the NHS over how she was treated. Nicola Packer told the BBC her situation 'could have been handled much more compassionately' and that what she had been through makes her 'feel sick'. The 45-year-old was cleared by a jury last month of 'unlawfully administering to herself a poison or other noxious thing' with the 'intent to procure a miscarriage'. She had taken prescribed abortion medicine when she was around 26 weeks pregnant, beyond the legal limit of 10 weeks for taking such medication at home and beyond the legal abortion limit of 24 weeks. She told jurors she did not realise she had been pregnant for more than 10 weeks. Audio has since been shared with the BBC of a senior Metropolitan Police officer speaking at a meeting in the days after Ms Packer's arrest, in which he shares 'concerns' about 'how the investigation has developed'. The officer can be heard saying there are 'definitely valid discussions, I think, to be had around whether that arrest, in the circumstances, was best for Nicola'. He adds that criminalisation of abortions is 'an uncomfortable area for police to be operating in' and is not 'something that sits well with us, or that we have really much experience in at all'. In an interview with the broadcaster Ms Packer said those involved in her case 'need to be held accountable'. She added: 'It's really making me feel sick – the way everything was handled. I did not need to go straight from the hospital to the police station. I could have gone home and recuperated for a couple of days. 'It just could have been handled much more compassionately, causing less trauma than they did.' Ms Packer's trial heard she took abortion medicine at home in November 2020 and later brought the foetus to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in a backpack. She spent the night in hospital and was arrested the next day. Consultant gynaecologist Jonathan Lord, who has cared for Ms Packer and now acts as her advocate, confirmed she plans to file a complaint with the Met Police, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the NHS over her treatment. He was at the 2020 meeting and described it as 'utterly shocking'. Speaking about the BBC File on 4 Investigates programme, he said: 'One of the many things that is so deeply unsettling about this documentary is the way the organisations (NHS, police, CPS) aren't accepting any accountability for the harm they are causing, but are hiding behind the law to defend that they 'did the right thing'. 'All of us make mistakes and errors of judgement, that's forgivable. But failing to learn from them, and worse still trying to defend utterly contemptible actions that have caused such suffering, is suggestive of a toxic culture at the heart of these institutions. 'That's why the law has to change as it is both driving this behaviour and acting as a shield to protect those who should know better.' The case prompted calls for reform of the law, including from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Rcog) which claimed the trial showed 'just how outdated and harmful' current abortion law is. The college has issued recommendations stating that healthcare professionals do not call the police or external agencies if a woman states or they suspect she might have sought to end her own pregnancy 'unless she has given explicit consent to do so, or you consider it justified in her best interests'. An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill on decriminalisation in England and Wales is said to have the support of more than 60 cross-party MPs and backers hope for a vote on it as early as June. Those backing the amendment, which states that 'no offence is committed by a woman acting in relation to her own pregnancy', insist it would not change any law regarding the provision of abortion services within a healthcare setting, including the time limit, the grounds for abortion or the requirement for the approval of two doctors. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said they are 'mindful this case would have been incredibly difficult for Ms Packer' but that they had acted 'impartially and without favour'. The CPS had initially found there was insufficient evidence to proceed with a case against Ms Packer but police detectives requested a review of that decision, something the Met said 'is not unusual and is standard practice to ensure all critical evidence is considered'. The case went to trial following that review. The Met spokesperson added: 'We recognise the profound impact this investigation has had and we remain committed to carrying out our duties in a way that is fair and thorough. A CPS spokesperson said prosecutors 'recognise the profound strength of feeling these cases evoke but have a duty to apply laws passed by Parliament fairly and impartially'. They added: 'The role of the Crown Prosecution Service in this case was not to decide whether Nicola Packer's actions were right or wrong; but to make a factual judgement about whether she knew she was beyond the legal limit when she procured an abortion. 'Prosecutors considered there was enough evidence to bring this case for a court to decide, and we respect the jury's decision.' Ms Packer also told the BBC she felt angry at midwives 'for calling the police when they really didn't have to'. A Chelsea and Westminster Hospital spokesperson said: 'At the time, our staff acted in line with the processes and guidance available to them. Their first priority, as in all cases, was to support and provide care to the patient. 'We remain committed to providing safe, respectful and person-centred care at all times, and will continue to reflect on points of learning from this case.'
