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Nike ( NKE -0.23% ) has been through the wringer lately. The world's largest sportswear brand is suffering through one of the most challenging periods in its history. Revenue has now fallen for three quarters in a row and those declines are expected to continue. After a post-pandemic spike in 2022, revenue growth decelerated for seven quarters in a row, bottoming out with a 10% decline this summer. Along the way, Nike stock is down 57% from its peak in 2021, and it's ceded significant market share and mindshare to upstart rivals like On Holding and Deckers ' Hoka brand. Blame for the debacle was placed squarely on the shoulders of former CEO John Donahoe, who was ousted by the board in September. With a pedigree in tech rather than retail or consumer products, Donahoe seemed to lose sight of the company's priorities and made tactical errors like abandoning valuable wholesale partners and directing marketing dollars toward Google searches rather than the kind of brand-building campaigns the company is traditionally known for. Nike brought longtime company veteran Elliott Hill in to right the ship, and Hill hit many of the right notes on his first earnings call, saying he aims to return sport to the center of the company and accelerate innovation, design, product creation, and storytelling. Nike's latest round of results indicate that the business is still headed in the wrong direction with revenue in the fiscal second quarter down 8% to $12.3 billion and net income falling 26% to $1.16 billion. The company's struggles and the sell-off in the stock present investors with a classic dilemma -- whether to buy this blue chip stock on the dip or avoid it while it attempts to revamp its business. After all, not every turnaround turns. Under Armour famously collapsed in the mid-2010s and has never recovered. One investor betting on Nike's recovery is Bill Ackman, the billionaire head of Pershing Square Capital Management. In the third quarter, Ackman bought 13.2 million shares of Nike, bringing his total holdings in the stock to 16.3 million shares, which is worth about $1.25 billion currently. Why Ackman bought Nike Ackman hasn't directly addressed his purchase of Nike stock, but the billionaire is known as a contrarian and has bet big on distressed consumer brands in the past. For instance, Ackman piled into Chipotle stock when the company was dealing with its E. coli crisis. Eventually, with the help of a new CEO, the brand overcame it, and the stock soared in the following years. Ackman seems to be trying to apply the same playbook to Nike. The news that Donahoe would be leaving came late in the third quarter so it's unclear if that triggered Ackman's additional purchases or if he was buying the stock beforehand. According to The New York Post , Ackman supported bringing in Hill as Donahoe's replacement. The turnaround strategy takes shape Nike stock was initially up on the earnings report as its second-quarter numbers topped estimates, but investors were disappointed with the outlook. Hill outlined the key initiatives that the company is undertaking to turn around the business, and some of the moves will impact results over the next few quarters. Noting that the brand has become too promotional, Hill sees recapturing its premium status as key to its recovery and that means charging full price rather than leaning into discounting. Due to that strategy, the company plans to liquidate excess inventory in less profitable channels over the coming quarters and it's scaling back its orders for the summer. This fits with Hill's intention of returning Nike to a "pull market," meaning customer demand drives the business rather than aggressive marketing. Hill also recognizes that Nike's product needs to work for athletes first before it can work for consumers as he diagnosed the earlier challenges, saying: "We lost our obsession with sport. Moving forward, we will lead with sport and put the athlete at the center of every decision." The new Nike chief was able to hit the ground running because he already has relationships with Nike's top retail partners, sports leagues, sponsor athletes, and other key stakeholders, and he seems to be a good choice to restore the company to its historical leadership position in the industry. Is Nike a buy? Management's guidance made it clear that the turnaround is going to take time, and results in the fiscal second half of the year will be weak. For the third quarter, Nike is targeting a revenue decline in the low double-digits and gross margin compression of 300 to 350 basis points, which will lead to a substantial decline in profits, though the company didn't give bottom-line guidance. While that forecast disappointed investors and erased the stock's initial gains on the report, Nike seems to be on the right track here. It needs to reclaim the shelf space it's lost in recent years and the premium branding it's ceded. The stock doesn't look cheap based on current earnings, but profits are well below what they could be, and we could see a return to profit growth within a year. Given the 57% pullback in the stock, there's a lot of upside potential if Nike can execute Hill's strategy. Investors will have to be patient, but at the current beaten-down price, Nike stock has the makings of a double or better over the next few years as the turnaround story plays out.El Salvador's Congress on Monday approved a bill promoted by President Nayib Bukele to roll back a ban on the mining of gold and other metals, dismaying environmentalists. The small Central American nation became the world's first country to outlaw metal mining in 2017, warning of the harmful effects of the chemicals used, like cyanide and mercury. The move by Bukele's predecessor, former left-wing rebel Salvador Sanchez Ceren, reflected a growing rejection of mining by rural communities in the region. But last month, Bukele, who is popular at home for his crackdown on street gangs, signaled that he wanted to change course. The bill to bring back metal mining was approved by 57 deputies out of a total of 60, said Ernesto Castro, head of the legislature -- which is dominated by the ruling party -- as environmental campaigners protested nearby. Critics fear that mining will pollute the Lempa River, which runs through a potential mining zone proposed by Bukele and supplies water to 70 percent of the inhabitants of the capital and surrounding areas. "This wretched mining will punish the people, it will contaminate our waters and rivers and that's an attack on life," activist Vidalina Morales told reporters. Bukele said last month that El Salvador, a country of 6.6 million people, had "potentially" the largest gold deposits per square kilometer in the world. "God placed a gigantic treasure underneath our feet," he wrote on social media, arguing that the mining ban was "absurd." "If we make responsible use of our natural resources, we can change the economy of El Salvador overnight," he said. The new law stipulates that the state will be the only entity authorized to search for, extract and process mined metals. However, the government may do so through companies in which it is a shareholder. The bill prohibits the use of mercury in mining operations, which may not be carried out in protected natural areas or places with important water sources. A survey by Central American University published on Monday revealed that 59 percent of respondents do not consider El Salvador "an appropriate country for metal mining." Since El Salvador dollarized its remittances-reliant economy in 2001, it has registered average annual growth of 2.1 percent. Twenty-seven percent of Salvadorans live in poverty, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and 70 percent of the workforce operates in the informal sector. Elsewhere in the region, Costa Rica and Honduras have banned open-pit mining, and Panama declared a moratorium on new mining concessions last year after mass protests over plans for a huge copper mine. ob/fj/dr/jgcsog777 gaming 。

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At a town hall meeting with the bureau workforce, Mr Wray said he would be stepping down “after weeks of careful thought”. Mr Wray’s intended resignation is not unexpected considering that Mr Trump had picked Mr Patel for the role in his new administration. Mr Wray had previously been named by Mr Trump and began the 10-year term — a length meant to insulate the agency from the political influence of changing administrations — in 2017, after Mr Trump fired then-FBI director James Comey. Mr Trump had demonstrated his anger with Mr Wray on multiple occasions, including after Mr Wray’s congressional testimony in September. “My goal is to keep the focus on our mission — the indispensable work you’re doing on behalf of the American people every day,” Mr Wray told agency employees. “In my view, this is the best way to avoid dragging the bureau deeper into the fray, while reinforcing the values and principles that are so important to how we do our work.” Mr Wray continued: “It should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway — this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people — but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what’s right for the FBI.” Mr Wray received a standing ovation following his remarks before a standing-room-only crowd at FBI headquarters and some in the audience cried, according to an FBI official who was not authorised to discuss the private gathering and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. Mr Trump applauded the news on social media, calling it “a great day for America as it will end the weaponisation of what has become known as the United States Department of Injustice” and saying that Mr Patel’s confirmation will begin “the process of Making the FBI Great Again”. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr Patel would herald a radical leadership transformation at the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. He has advocated shutting down the FBI’s Washington headquarters and called for ridding the federal government of “conspirators”, raising alarm that he might seek to wield the FBI’s significant investigative powers as an instrument of retribution against Mr Trump’s perceived enemies. Mr Patel said in a statement Wednesday that he was looking forward to “a smooth transition. I will be ready to serve the American people on day one”.#MINDANAO As we savor the Christmas food and take a rest during the holidays, we reflect on the importance of two new agreements that will help our agriculture and Micro Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). We reflect on the NEDA’s announcement of the implementation of the Philippines- South Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which is welcome news for many Mindanao exporters of fresh fruit. The FTA was first signed in September 2023. This agreement, among other things, ensures greater market access for many products, especially our agricultural exports. Another is the signing of the joint memorandum between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry to boost exports. In a statement on the DA website, the agreement aims to achieve this through initiatives such as “trade promotion, strategic investments, empowering small and medium enterprises, and resolving issues like market access and tariffs. “Since both the DA and DTI have jointly put together the various commodity roadmaps in the previous administration, I hope that this agreement can harness the spadework of cooperation that the roadmaps developed. Both new institutions are relevant to Mindanao because the island is our food basket and export hub for agricultural products such as coconut, banana and pineapple. Increasingly, new products such as avocado and durian are emerging as new exports that may interest local and foreign buyers. The hope lies in getting higher volumes of exports to more markets. After all, our agri exports constitute between eight and nine percent of Philippine GDP. Strong export performance brings foreign exchange and can create more stable rural jobs. There are, however, challenges. The first is increasing export volumes. One of the oft-repeated concerns is the lack of supply of a given commodity when demand peaks especially abroad. This can be helped by using innovation and technology to produce more per tree or hectare planted. New products for a wider range of markets can be developed. This can help sustain market demand, and opportunity for producers. Other measures include promoting affordable and efficient logistics to bring the products from farm to table or factory. Yet another is removing all bottlenecks that hamper exports. These are enablers that can encourage more exports and bring more export income. A good opportunity, in particular to the DA-DTI memorandum, is to leverage on DTI’s capability to help exporters innovate using technology and the creative industry. In the case of Mindanao, a lot of its creativity is inspired by the crops being grown and other natural endowments that play a large part in local culture. This special capability will enable the creation of new and exotic products to meet changing market preferences. The key for these agreements to achieve their hoped-for outcomes is vigilance by the private sector in ensuring that the advantages and benefits of these institutions for the industry are maximized. Having strong partnerships between the DTI, DA and the private sector can help producers plan production over time to continuously meet demand and help capture opportunity. Industry associations will therefore need to continuously engage in constructive dialogue with government counterparts to promote the benefits of such agreements, particularly in export promotion abroad and the scaling up of local agroprocessing. This ensures that these benefit the broadest range of producers, processors, and exporters. This creates more job opportunities and sustains incomes that help the local economy thrive. As the new year comes, we hope to further examine how these agreements can be harnessed for our economic growth.

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Giants release quarterback Daniel Jones just days after benching him EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Daniel Jones era in New York is over. The Giants quarterback was granted his release by the team just days after the franchise said it was benching him in favor of third-stringer Tommy DeVito. New York president John Mara said Jones approached the team about releasing him and the club obliged. Mara added he was “disappointed” at the quick dissolution of a once-promising relationship between Jones and the team. Giants coach Brian Daboll benched Jones in favor of DeVito following a loss to the Panthers in Germany that dropped New York's record to 2-8. Conor McGregor must pay $250K to woman who says he raped her, civil jury rules LONDON (AP) — A civil jury in Ireland has awarded more than $250,000 to a woman who says she was raped by mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel penthouse after a night of heavy partying. The jury on Friday awarded Nikita Hand in her lawsuit that claimed McGregor “brutally raped and battered” her in 2018. The lawsuit says the assault left her heavily bruised and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. McGregor testified that he never forced her to do anything and that Hand fabricated her allegations after the two had consensual sex. McGregor says he will appeal the verdict. Week 16 game between Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers flexed to Thursday night spot The Los Angeles Chargers have played their way into another prime time appearance. Justin Herbert and company have had their Dec. 22 game against the Denver Broncos flexed to Thursday night, Dec. 19. Friday’s announcement makes this the first time a game has been flexed to the Thursday night spot. The league amended its policy last season where Thursday night games in Weeks 13 through 17 could be flexed with at least 28 days notice prior to the game. The matchup of AFC West division rivals bumps the game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals to Sunday afternoon. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game for the 49ers with a shoulder injury SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers with a sore throwing shoulder. Purdy injured his right shoulder in last Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Purdy underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage but the shoulder didn’t improve during the week and Purdy was ruled out for the game. Coach Kyle Shanahan said star defensive end Nick Bosa also will miss the game with injuries to his left hip and oblique. Left tackle Trent Williams is questionable with an ankle injury and will be a game-time decision. Red Bull brings wrong rear wing to Las Vegas in mistake that could stall Verstappen's title chances LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen is suddenly in jeopardy of being denied a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title Saturday night. Red Bull apparently brought the wrong rear wing to Las Vegas and GPS data showed its two cars to be significantly slower on the straights than both McLaren and Mercedes, which led both practice sessions. Red Bull says it doesn’t have a replacement rear wing in Las Vegas to fix the issue and little chance of getting two flown in from England ahead of the race. Lawyer says ex-Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller met with NCAA for hours amid gambling probe PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A lawyer for former Temple basketball standout Hysier Miller says the 22-year-old sat for a long interview with the NCAA amid an investigation into unusual gambling activity. But neither the lawyer nor federal law enforcement officials on Friday would confirm reports that a federal probe is now under way. Lawyer Jason Bologna says Miller cooperated because he hopes to play again. Miller was released last month after transferring to Virginia Tech. Temple President John Fry says the Philadelphia school has not been asked for any information from federal law enforcement officials. Caitlin Clark to join Cincinnati bid for 16th National Women's Soccer League team WNBA star Caitlin Clark has joined Cincinnati’s bid for an expansion National Women’s Soccer League team. Major League Soccer franchise FC Cincinnati is heading the group vying to bring a women’s pro team to the city. The club issued a statement confirming Clark had joined the bid group. NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman has said the league plans to announce the league’s 16th team by the end of the year. The league's 15th team will begin play in 2026 in Boston. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Aaron Judge won't be bothered if Juan Soto gets bigger contract from Yankees than his $360M deal NEW YORK (AP) — Aaron Judge won’t be bothered if Juan Soto gets a bigger deal from the New York Yankees than the captain’s $360 million, nine-year contract. Speaking a day after he was a unanimous winner of his second MVP, Judge says “It ain’t my money” and adds "that’s never been something on my mind about who gets paid the most.” Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in his first season with the Yankees, then became a free agent at age 26.

Allianz is a global company committed to operating a business that supports sustainability. From the 17 Sustainable Development Goals created by the UN, Allianz emphasises three -- climate action, decent work and economic growth, and partnerships. As a branch of Allianz, Allianz Ayudhya has adopted these three goals to reinforce its environmental policy. Five years ago, Allianz Ayudhya launched a policy to promote waste sorting in the company. Patchara Taveechaiwattana, chief customer officer and chief of sustainability at Allianz Ayudhya, explained that the company aims to encourage its employees to understand waste sorting. "Allianz Ayudhya has 1,200 employees and we believe if we can get people into a habit of sorting waste correctly at the office, they will naturally do the same at home. We aim to cultivate a new habit among our employees by providing an area for waste sorting. Although we cannot force everyone to sort waste, we have consistently provided waste sorting information for five to six years. This includes internal activities such as competitions between different floors and awards to those who cooperate and perform well at waste sorting," said Patchara. "Between 2022 and 2024, Allianz Ayudhya significantly reduced the amount of waste sent to landfills. We are proud of this achievement and grateful for the significant contribution of our housekeeping staff who play a crucial role, since not all employees care to sort waste. Our next goal is to achieve zero waste for landfills. We are proud to say that Allianz Ayudhya does not need garbage collectors from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to collect trash at the company any more." Sureeporn Jantaraprasart of the Soi Phrajen Community. Allianz Ayudhya After the success of the company's internal waste sorting project, Allianz Ayudhya collaborated with Mahamitr (Alliance for Sustainability) Group to create events such as the "Pathumwan Zero Waste" project and "Think Throw... Life" exhibition to promote responsible waste sorting among the public. This year, Allianz Ayudhya extended its cooperation with waste management partners to create a model for reducing and sorting waste at the community level, starting with a pilot project in Soi Phrajen. Located close to Allianz Ayudhya, the Soi Phrajen Community covers over 22 rai of land and consists of around 1,000 residents from over 373 households. The Soi Phrajen Community Waste Sorting Station is part of Mahamitr Group's efforts. It is the result of collaboration of four key organisations, namely Allianz Ayudhya, Wastebuy Delivery (by Wongpanit Suvarnabhumi Recycle Station), Champion Garbage Bags (by Danudet Industry) and Khaya (by Jak Reward Technology). These organisations share a common goal of reducing waste sent to landfills while promoting income generated through waste sorting. While Allianz Ayudhya established a waste sorting station to serve as a hub for storing and collecting sorted waste in the Soi Phrajen Community, Wastebuy Delivery supports income generation from waste purchase; Champion Garbage Bags provide trash bags and equipment for waste sorting; and Wastebuy Delivery and Khaya provide waste sorting education to the community as well as collecting waste sorting data. Itthikon Srichanban of Wongpanit Suvarnabhumi Recycle Station and Wastebuy Delivery. Penggym Within three months, the Soi Phrajen Community Waste Sorting Station reduced the amount of recyclable waste sent to the landfill by more than 6.4 tonnes, which is equivalent to reducing over 12,400kg of carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the community has generated more than 26,000 baht in revenue from selling recyclable waste. Sureeporn Jantaraprasart, chairperson of the Soi Phrajen Community, said that she had been interested in waste sorting for years. Many years ago, an effort to encourage community waste sorting failed due to the absence of a sheltered public space for storing the waste. "We had no covered space to keep the waste out of the rain and sunlight. Moreover, garbage collectors from the district office did not come to the community consistently to collect the waste. This meant residents ran out of places to dispose of waste, which led the community to eventually abandon the project. When employees from Allianz Ayudhya approached me about a waste sorting project, I asked if it would be possible to find a covered area to store the waste," said Sureeporn. An income of 26,000 baht may not seem much for some communities, but Sureeporn is satisfied with the result. "The project helps unemployed people or those unable to work to earn some money. As part of this project, ML Jiratip Devakula, chief operating officer of Jak Reward Technology and founder of Khaya, helps educate children about waste sorting and exploring the environment in the community," she said. Kris Danudejsakul of Champion Bags. Penggym At the Soi Phrajen Community Station, waste is sorted and piled according to its category. This includes clear PET plastic bottles, green or brown plastic bottles, clear or green glass bottles, cardboard boxes, milk cartons, juice cartons and used clothing. The price of each type of waste is listed on a cardboard sign. Sing, a community resident who is informed about waste sorting, explained that crushed plastic bottles and aluminium cans have a higher piece than those not crushed. The reason why crushed plastic bottles have a higher price is because they reduce labour involved in the recycling process. "Residents who separate their waste will earn more money than those who simply dump all their trash together. Milk cartons and juice cartons can either be washed or left unwashed. If they are not washed, simply place them in plastic bags and tie them tightly to prevent air from getting in, so the cartons won't give off bad odours," said Sing. "PET plastic bottles earn 10.50 baht per kilo, but crushed PET plastic bottles fetch 11.50 baht a kilo. Soda cans earn 31.70 baht, but crushed soda cans are 32.70 baht." Besides the Soi Phrajen Community, other people can sort waste and contact Wastebuy Delivery through its application to pick up rubbish at their homes. Itthikon Srichanban, chairman of the executive committee of Wongpanit Suvarnabhumi Recycle Station and Wastebuy Delivery, explained that the company came up with Wastebuy Delivery to help people to rid of their waste. ML Jiratip Devakula, founder of Khaya, educates children about waste sorting. Allianz Ayudhya "Our company, Wongpanit Suvarnabhumi, does not have a pick-up service. At Wongpanit Suvarnabhumi, many customers line up to sell their waste, but we realised that there are other customers who cannot come to the company. Many Bangkokians understand waste sorting, but do not know where to dispose their sorted waste. They find it inconvenient, time-consuming and not worth the effort," explained Itthikon. "Therefore, we came up with Wastebuy Delivery which provides a pick-up service. The Wastebuy Delivery app also provides information about selling prices of waste. In addition to earning money, customers will also get points from selling their waste and can use these points to redeem various items, such as bags and mugs." After three months of the Soi Phrajen Community Waste Sorting Station, 10% of the community participated in the project. Patchara hopes that the project can expand to 20%, 30% and 40% in the future. "We are proud of this first step and grateful to our partners. We hope that the Soi Phrajen Community will be a waste sorting model for other communities. In the future, we may manage wet waste from the community since there are food scraps which cause bad odours and attract diseased animals. At Allianz Ayudhya, we have a 200kg waste composting machine, but we aren't sure how to handle wet waste properly. We have to discuss more about it." Sing at the Soi Phrajen Community Waste Sorting Station. Allianz Ayudhya The Soi Phrajen Community Waste Sorting Station. Allianz AyudhyaConcerns have been raised about the care and support people receive while facing long waits in A&E. A major new survey has found that many emergency care patients felt they were not able to get help with their condition while waiting. And more than a quarter said they were given no pain relief while in the queue to see a medic. The survey results have prompted concerns about patient experience as the NHS heads into winter, which is traditionally a busy time for emergency and urgent care services. The health watchdog, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), published the results of a survey of 45,500 people who used NHS urgent and emergency care services (UEC) in England this year. The CQC said that the "stream of demand" for care is driving lengthy waits for some and causing "difficultly for some patients in accessing information, emotional support and adequate pain relief". The survey found: Among A&E patients, 60% said they felt that doctors or nurses "completely" explained their condition or treatment to them in a way that they could understand, more than a quarter (28%) said this only happened "to some extent" and 11% said it did not happen at all. Of the 27% of survey respondents who arrived at A&E by ambulance, 61% said they were handed over to A&E staff within 15 minutes, but 17% reported waiting more than an hour. Over a quarter (28%) of patients treated at a major A&E centre, who responded to the survey, reported waiting for more than an hour to be assessed by a nurse or doctor after arriving at A&E. Additionally, 47% stated they were unable to receive help with their condition or symptoms while waiting. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of patients revealed they waited more than four hours to be admitted, transferred or discharged at A&E. For those requiring assistance with medications for a pre-existing medical condition while in the department, over a quarter of urgent treatment centre (UTC) respondents (26%) and a similar proportion of A&E respondents (28%) claimed they did not receive that help. Less than half of people attending either an A&E (42%) or an urgent treatment centre (47%) who needed help with pain relief believed that staff "definitely" helped them control their pain. Moreover, over a quarter in both services said they were not given any help with pain relief – 27% in A&E and 26% in an urgent treatment centre. The CQC indicated that the results also demonstrate "scope for improvements in discharge" after a third of patients seen in A&E reported they were not provided information on how to care for their condition at home. One in five (21%) of people discharged from an A&E department claimed that they were not informed who to contact if they were worried about their condition or treatment after leaving A&E. . Nearly a third of A&E patients and almost a quarter of those attending urgent treatment centres (UTCs) reported that hospital staff failed to discuss their ongoing health and social care needs before discharging them. The CQC noted that difficulty in securing a prompt GP appointment and a desire for same-day treatment were key factors driving people to seek urgent and emergency care. Chris Dzikiti, the CQC's interim chief inspector of healthcare, commented: "Urgent and emergency care services nationally continue to be under intense pressure – something reflected in recent national performance data, something we hear first-hand from frontline clinicians and something that is further evident in today’s survey findings. "The results demonstrate how the stream of demand is continuing to drive lengthy waits, and cause difficultly for some patients in accessing information, emotional support and adequate pain relief. "They also show the impact for staff when the number of people seeking urgent and emergency care is so high and resources are stretched. "With pressures on services only likely to increase as we head into winter, ensuring the best possible experience throughout the entirety of the patient journey is a task that needs input from all parts of the health and care system. "Over a third of people surveyed went to A&E before contacting another service and of those that did seek help elsewhere first, many said they were directed to A&E. We must support services in their efforts to collaborate locally, ensure a joined-up approach and help people to access the care they need, when they need it from the service that is best able to deliver. Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, commented on the report's findings, highlighting that "patients are suffering the consequences of a system that is in crisis, while staff continue to shoulder the burden of delivering effective and safe care in these conditions". He added: "Issues within and outside the emergency department are negatively impacting patients’ experiences, as seen in this survey, with a high proportion enduring long wait times due to the lack of in-patient beds and inability to discharge people who are well enough to go home. "No emergency department clinician wants to be treating a patient who is vulnerable and in need of care in a corridor and no patient wants to be put in this position. It’s degrading, demoralising and dangerous." "The pressure in EDs will only continue to mount as we head into winter, when we know the inevitable spike in demand will hit." "Those in power need to read the results of this survey, hear the voices of the patients who have expressed their experiences and concerns, and act on them now." ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our communities. We have a number of communities to join, so you can choose which one you want to be part of and we'll send you the latest news direct to your phone. You could even join them all! To join you need to have WhatsApp on your device. All you need to do is choose which community you want to join, click on the link and press 'join community'. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the ChronicleLive team. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice . 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Believe it or not, Cowboys might have hope yet after chaotic win at WashingtonRuben Amorim has urged Manchester United supporters not to get carried away by warning that “the storm will come” and his side will be found out in some games. face at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in the toughest test yet of Amorim’s short reign, and visit champions Manchester City in the derby clash on December 15 after a home game against Nottingham Forest. A on Sunday, which followed a in the Europa League and in Amorim’s first game in charge extended United’s unbeaten run to seven matches. has introduced a back three and new system since succeeding Erik ten Hag but, with little time to work on those changes on the training pitch given the congested schedule, the Portuguese says there will be problems along the way. “I would like to say different things, but I have to say it again: the storm will come,” said Amorim, who warned after the Ipswich match that United are “going to suffer for a long period”. “I don’t know if you use that expression but we are going to have difficult moments and we will be found out in some games. And I know that because I’m [getting to] know my players and I know football and I follow football. “So I understand the difference between the teams and we are at the point we are putting simple things in the team, without training, and you feel it in this game against Everton. “They changed a little bit the way they were building up – they are a very good team and we were with a lot of problems because we cannot change it by calling one thing to the captain because we don’t have this [time] training.” Amorim added: “I know it’s really hard to be a Manchester United coach and say these things – we want to win all the time, no matter what, and we are going to try to win. “But we know that we are in a different point, if you compare to Arsenal. We will try to win it and we go with confidence to win but we know that we need to play very well to win the next football match.” Amorim admitted he was a huge admirer of the job Mikel Arteta had done at Arsenal, not least in terms of developing younger talent such as Bukayo Saka, William Saliba and Martin Odegaard, and hoped to have a similar impact at Old Trafford. “I think he’s done an amazing job,” Amorim said. “Sometimes the coaches are just judged about the titles, but what he has been doing in Arsenal, I think, is amazing. It transformed the team. “He bought some youngsters that now are the big talents in this country. I hope to have the same mindset that he had in the difficult moments because I followed the Premier League for a long time. I think it’s a very good characteristic in Mikel and I think he did a great job.” Arsenal have invested considerable faith and time in Arteta, but Amorim said the scrutiny is such at United that he may need to deliver more quickly than the Spaniard. “That is also always important for a coach to have that confidence, but we have to acknowledge that Manchester United is a little bit different – all the attention that you guys put in here, all the time,” he said. ”So I know that sometimes it is not possible to have all that time. So we will try to manage that and try to do things a little bit more fast knowing that here is a massive attention and massive judgment every day.” One youngster who has made an immediate impression under Amorim is Amad Diallo, who has impressed at right wing-back. The Ivory Coast international is out of contract at the end of the season, although by 12 months to June 2026 and Amorim admitted his future needed resolving. “I think he wants to stay and we want him to stay, so that is clear and we will find a solution,” he said. Amorim said Amad’s versatility and ability to play in different positions, including as a No 10, was “one of his great advantages”. “He’s very good playing in that position but also playing between the lines, because he has good control and he seems faster with the ball than without the ball,” the head coach said. “He is capable of playing in both positions and he can play in different systems. So in the future, we will play in a different system, maybe. So it’s that kind of player that we need in the team.” Asked why he was playing Amad at wing-back rather than behind the striker, Amorim said: “Because of his left foot, sometimes in that position, the way he receives the ball, if you are right-footed, sometimes you don’t have the space to come inside. “But we have, for example, [Noussair] Mazraoui and [Diogo] Dalot who can go inside because they are fast and strong with the ball. But we chose Amad to have one against one outside. And that is very important to break some pressures, especially high pressures, and he has that ability. And then in that position, you need to have a good physicality. Good physicality is not the size, but he can run and that is a key point in that position. “So you try to choose players that you can put in that position and then the technical characteristics are perfect for him.” Luke Shaw says he is going through the “toughest period” of his career after the defender suffered a fresh injury that is expected to rule him out for several weeks. The England left-back made his first appearance for United since February in the – Ruben Amorim’s first game as head coach – nine days ago. Two more substitute outings followed against Bodo/Glimt and Everton, but Shaw is now set to be sidelined until later this month after sustaining a muscle injury. Sources say it is a new problem and not related to the hamstring injury he suffered in February or the subsequent calf problem that ruled him out for the first few months of this season after a brief cameo for England at the Euros in Germany. But it is a bitter blow for the 29-year-old, who has averaged just 16 Premier League starts per season over more than a decade at Old Trafford since a £28 million move from Southampton in 2014. In a statement on his social media feeds, Shaw said: “Hi guys, it’s hurting a lot having to write this, as I really thought I had got through my recent struggles and was on a positive path going forward, but unfortunately I’ve had a small setback. “I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs but this has definitely been my toughest period. I’m absolutely devastated and it’s extremely tough to come to terms with reality at this moment in time. “I understand there are going to be people frustrated, angry, disappointed, and I understand all that. There is no one feeling that more than me at this moment in time. “But what I can promise is I will do everything I can to come back better soon, to help this club achieve its ambitions this season. “Thank you to everyone for the support. It really doesn’t go unnoticed and I really do appreciate it.”

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Google unveiled its Willow chip this week, marking a milestone in the quantum computing space. One quantum researcher compared Google's advancement to mobile networks jumping from 1G to 2G. While the news represents a breakthrough, real-world applications are likely still years away. Google's new Willow chip may not show up in consumer products in the near future — however, quantum computing researchers say it represents a significant breakthrough in the field. That's because the chip solves a challenge that's existed in quantum computing for nearly 30 years, Google said in its announcement earlier this week. The challenge is reducing the amount of errors quantum computers generate while operating. Quantum computers aren't your standard laptop or desktop computer. Unlike your laptop, which uses bits to process information, quantum computers use something called qubits, short for quantum bits. Bits are binary digits, meaning they can only exist in one state at a time, typically as a 0 or 1. Qubits, on the other hand, can exist in multiple states simultaneously. That's important because it means you can process significantly more information at much faster speeds with qubits. That's the ultimate promise of quantum computers: They can process so much data in such short periods that they'll revolutionize science and medicine, helping us solve problems related to climate change and health, for example, that are far too complex to tackle with today's technology. However, right now, the best quantum computers can perform around a thousand operations before errors overwhelm the processing system, Steve Brierley, quantum computing researcher and CEO of error correction company Riverlane, told Business Insider. "If we want to get to this big potential like transformational technology, we need to get to millions and trillions of free operations," Brierley said. That's where Google's Willow chip has made a significant breakthrough. With the Willow chip, the more qubits Google adds, the fewer errors the system creates. The Willow chip reduces errors exponentially, the company said. The ability to reduce errors while scaling qubits is known in the field as being "below threshold," and it's been an unresolved challenge since 1995. This plays out via processing speed. Google said its researchers used the Random Circuit Sampling benchmark to compare computing speeds across various technologies. The RCS is a standard in the field and the "classically hardest" benchmark to pass, to compare computing speeds across various technologies. Google said its Willow chip can perform the standard benchmark computation in under five minutes, which would take one of the fastest supercomputers 10 septillion years to complete — longer than the known age of the universe. In the field of quantum, error correction is much more difficult and requires more hardware to function properly, which is why Google's advancement is so important, Mark Saffman, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and director at the Wisconsin Quantum Institute, told BI. Brierley compared Google's quantum computing advancement to what mobile networks experienced when they shifted from 1G to 2G networks. When mobile networks shifted from 1G to 2G, "Qualcomm added error correction into the stack and this created a huge uplift in capability," Brierley said. "And this is exactly what's happening right now in quantum computing." The ability to constantly correct errors is a "key part" of building a quantum computer, he said. Once companies are able to scale qubits and advance quantum computing forward, they will be able to reach the point of real-world applications. Related stories Real-world impact is likely years away Google said in a press briefing about the development that it has already partnered with companies in the pharmaceutical, material science, and battery space, among others. However, advancements in those fields may not be right around the corner. Saffman said he would like to see real-world application s in five years, but it's difficult to provide an exact number. Sebastian Weidt, quantum computer professor at the University of Sussex and co-founder and CEO of quantum computing company Universal Quantum, told BI that "we're still a little while away" from quantum computing impacting the general public. Weidt said that while there was initially hope that intermediate-scale computers could offer some value to a general consumer, the science shows that qubits need to be scaled by hundreds of thousands and eventually millions to unlock real-world applications. "There are many major roadblocks on their roadmap that need to be overcome for that technology to get to that scale," Weidt said. Still, Google's advancement moves quantum computing research to the next stage — and while investors may not be able to reap the benefits in the immediate short term, Brierley said announcements like this help attract capital and talent to the space. "There's still very very far to go to make it useful relative to conventional computers," Saffman said. "But it's a great step forward."