FG
FG syndrome is a rare X-linked recessive genetic disorder that primarily affects males, characterized by intellectual disability ranging from mild to severe, hypotonia (poor muscle tone), chronic constipation or bowel dysfunction, distinctive facial features such as a wide mouth and prominent forehead, and skeletal abnormalities including broad thumbs and hallux.[1][2] The condition, also known as Opitz-Kaveggia syndrome, derives its name from the initials of the first two families in which it was described in the 1970s, and it results from mutations in the MED12 gene on the X chromosome, which encodes a protein involved in transcriptional regulation and cell signaling pathways critical for development.[1][3] Affected individuals often exhibit friendly and sociable personalities alongside their cognitive and physical challenges, with additional features like seizures, heart defects, and genital anomalies occurring in some cases.[2][4] Diagnosis typically involves clinical evaluation, genetic testing to confirm MED12 variants (most commonly the p.Arg961Trp missense mutation), and exclusion of similar syndromes, while management focuses on symptomatic treatment such as physical therapy for hypotonia, dietary interventions for constipation, and educational support for intellectual impairment, as no cure exists.[3][5] The disorder's X-linked inheritance pattern explains its near-exclusive occurrence in males, with female carriers generally asymptomatic or showing mild manifestations, underscoring the role of hemizygosity in phenotypic expression.[1][2]Sports
Field Goal
In American football, a field goal is a scoring play worth three points, executed by the kicking team propelling the ball via place kick or drop kick through the opponent's goalposts—two vertical uprights extending above a horizontal crossbar at the rear of the end zone.[6] The attempt typically occurs on fourth down when the offense deems a touchdown improbable, positioning the ball on a tee (for place kicks) held by a teammate or snapped for a drop kick from behind the line of scrimmage, or from the spot of a fair catch under specific rules allowing an unopposed try.[6] Successful field goals require precise alignment, as the ball must pass between the uprights and over the crossbar without touching the ground or being blocked, with the defense often rushing to disrupt the holder or kicker.[7] Field goals form a core strategic element, balancing risk against reward; teams attempt them from varying distances based on kicker accuracy, wind conditions, and field position, with indoor stadiums enabling longer ranges due to controlled environments.[8] Historical data show field goal success rates averaging around 80-85% for NFL kickers from 30-39 yards, dropping below 70% beyond 50 yards, though advancements in technique and equipment have extended viable ranges.[9] The longest successful field goal in NFL regular-season history measures 66 yards, achieved by Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker on September 26, 2021, against the Detroit Lions.[10] Earlier benchmarks include Tom Dempsey's 63-yard kick on November 8, 1970, which prompted rule changes on kicking tees due to its barefoot execution from an advantageous setup.[9] In basketball, the term "field goal" denotes any basket scored from open play excluding free throws, valued at two points for shots within the three-point arc or three points beyond it, but this usage differs fundamentally from football's specialized kicking play. Canadian football mirrors NFL rules with minor field dimension variances, scoring three points identically, while rugby variants like rugby league employ similar drop-goal mechanics worth one to four points depending on context.[11]Political Organizations
Fine Gael
Fine Gael is a major political party in the Republic of Ireland, formed in 1933 through the amalgamation of Cumann na nGaedheal—the party that had governed since Irish independence under W. T. Cosgrave—the Centre Party, and the National Guard (formerly known as the Army Comrades Association or Blueshirts).[12] This merger aimed to unify opposition to Fianna Fáil, which had taken power in 1932, and emphasized constitutional methods for national unity and economic stability.[13] The party's name, meaning "Family of the Irish," reflects its origins in the pro-Treaty faction of the Irish Civil War, prioritizing democratic governance and Anglo-Irish Treaty compliance over republican separatism.[14] Ideologically, Fine Gael describes itself as a party of the "progressive centre," focused on pragmatic reforms that prioritize economic growth, individual enterprise, and social inclusion without adherence to rigid dogma.[15] It aligns with centre-right Christian democratic traditions as a member of the European People's Party (EPP), advocating free-market policies, fiscal responsibility, and European integration to enhance Ireland's economic competitiveness.[12] Historically, the party has championed law and order, private property rights, and incremental social liberalization, such as legalizing contraception in the 1970s and establishing the Criminal Assets Bureau in 1996 to combat organized crime through asset seizure.[12] On foreign policy, it supports "unity by consent" for Irish reunification and views EU membership as vital for access to a 450-million-person market, driving diversification beyond traditional agriculture into high-tech sectors.[16] [12] Fine Gael entered government in coalition or minority administrations multiple times, including 1948–1951, 1973–1977, 1981–1982, 1982–1987, and continuously from 2011 onward, often partnering with Labour or Independents.[12] During the 2011–2020 period under Enda Kenny and Leo Varadkar, it led Ireland's recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, reducing unemployment from 15.1% in 2012 to 4.8% by 2020 and achieving the EU's highest GDP growth rates through export-led strategies and austerity measures.[17] In the February 2020 general election, Fine Gael won 35 seats in the 160-seat Dáil Éireann with 20.9% of first-preference votes, down from 50 seats in 2016 amid voter backlash over housing shortages and health waiting lists.[18] [19] The party formed a coalition with Fianna Fáil and the Greens post-2020, navigating Brexit, COVID-19, and energy shocks while maintaining budget surpluses and low corporate tax rates to attract foreign investment.[17] Key policies include bolstering law enforcement with additional gardaí recruitment and fast-track visas for skilled workers in shortage sectors like technology and healthcare, reflecting a controlled approach to immigration that balances labor needs with integration capacity.[20] Economically, it prioritizes infrastructure investment, such as housing delivery targets of 33,000 units annually, and tax incentives for small businesses to sustain post-pandemic growth.[17] Fine Gael's youth wing, Young Fine Gael, develops policies on education and digital economy, while its parliamentary representation includes 34 TDs and 13 Senators as of late 2024.[21] Despite criticisms from left-leaning sources for favoring business interests over welfare expansion, empirical data under its governance show Ireland's employment rate exceeding the EU average at 74.6% in 2023, with public debt falling from 120% of GDP in 2013 to 43% by 2023.[12]Businesses and Finance
F&G Annuities & Life
F&G Annuities & Life, Inc. is an insurance company specializing in retirement and protection products, including fixed indexed annuities, multi-year guaranteed annuities, registered index-linked annuities, and universal life insurance policies.[22][23] Incorporated in 1959 and commencing operations in 1960, the company focuses on individual annuities and life insurance, serving retail customers seeking financial security and institutional clients.[24] Headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, F&G operates as a provider of long-term savings and income solutions, emphasizing products that offer principal protection and growth potential tied to market indices without direct equity risk.[25][26] The company, formerly known as Fidelity & Guaranty Life Insurance Company, rebranded to F&G Annuities & Life in 2019 to reflect its core focus on annuities and life products.[27] It became a publicly traded entity on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker FG following a 2022 distribution of shares by its parent company, Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (FNF), which retains an approximately 85% ownership stake.[28][29] F&G has grown through product innovation and strategic investments from FNF, including a $250 million preferred stock infusion closed in January 2024 to support expansion.[30] As of the first quarter of 2025, F&G reported assets under management of $54.5 billion, reflecting steady growth driven by net sales and investment returns, though adjusted for flow reinsurance transactions that cede portions of assets to reinsurers.[31] The company achieved record annual sales and adjusted net earnings in 2024, with assets under management reaching $65.3 billion before flow reinsurance by year-end, underscoring its position in the annuity market amid rising demand for guaranteed income products.[32][33] Leadership includes CEO Christopher Blunt, who oversees operations and strategy, with recent transitions strengthening the executive team: in February 2025, Conor Murphy succeeded Wendy Young as Chief Financial Officer, and by August 2025, Murphy expanded to President while John Currier transitioned to a senior advisory role.[34][35] In September 2025, Ron Barrett was appointed Chief Distribution Officer to enhance sales channels.[36] F&G maintains strong financial ratings from agencies, reflecting its conservative investment approach and parental support from FNF.[26]Military and Aviation
Fighter Group
A fighter group in military aviation denotes an organizational unit within air forces, most prominently in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II, consisting of three fighter squadrons tasked with air combat operations.[37] Each squadron typically fielded 12 to 25 aircraft, yielding a group strength of approximately 75 fighters at full operational capacity, though actual numbers fluctuated due to combat losses and maintenance.[37][38] Commanded by a lieutenant colonel or colonel, the group integrated administrative, maintenance, and combat elements to sustain independent tactical missions.[39] Fighter groups played a pivotal role in establishing air superiority, escorting heavy bombers to disrupt enemy defenses, and executing close air support or interdiction strikes against ground targets.[37] In the European Theater of Operations, USAAF fighter groups under the Eighth Air Force, such as the 56th Fighter Group, amassed 665.5 confirmed aerial victories while flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts from bases in England starting in 1943.[40] The 4th Fighter Group, transitioning from Supermarine Spitfires to P-51 Mustangs, recorded the highest tally with 1,016 enemy aircraft destroyed, primarily through long-range escorts over Germany from mid-1943 onward.[41] In the Pacific Theater, groups like the 348th Fighter Group employed P-38 Lightnings and P-47s for sweeping operations against Japanese forces, contributing to the attrition of enemy air power by 1945.[42] Organizationally, fighter groups fell under higher echelons such as air divisions or wings, enabling coordinated large-scale operations; for instance, a fighter wing might encompass three to four groups for massed formations.[38] Activation surged in 1942–1943 as the USAAF expanded to over 2.4 million personnel, with groups training at bases like Farmingdale Army Airfield before deploying overseas.[43] Notable segregated units, including the 332nd Fighter Group of Tuskegee Airmen fame, flew P-51s from Italy in 1944, achieving zero bomber losses to enemy fighters across 179 escorts while downing 111 aircraft.[44] Postwar, the term persisted in the independent U.S. Air Force but shifted toward smaller operations groups within wings, reflecting doctrinal evolution toward integrated air-ground teams under joint commands.[45] Historical data from USAAF records underscore the groups' efficacy in causal terms: superior pilot training, radar-directed intercepts, and aircraft range enabled disproportionate kill ratios, with overall Eighth Air Force fighters claiming over 6,000 victories against Luftwaffe losses exceeding 10,000 total aircraft.[37][41]FG 42
The Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 (FG 42), meaning "paratrooper rifle 42," was a gas-operated, selective-fire battle rifle chambered in 7.92×57mm Mauser, designed specifically for the Luftwaffe's Fallschirmjäger airborne infantry.[46] Development began in 1942 following the heavy casualties suffered by German paratroopers during the invasion of Crete, where standard infantry rifles proved inadequate for compact, versatile airborne operations requiring both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire capabilities.[47] The rifle's specifications demanded a lightweight design under 4.2 kilograms, overall length not exceeding 100 centimeters with a folding stock, and the ability to serve as a rifle, submachine gun, and light machine gun in one platform, influencing its innovative but complex construction.[48] The FG 42 employed a long-stroke gas piston system beneath the barrel, actuating a rotating bolt for reliable operation in full-automatic mode at cyclic rates of 900 rounds per minute in early models, reduced to 750 rounds per minute in later variants with a heavier bolt to improve controllability.[49] It featured a stamped metal receiver for mass production, a folding metal stock, and 10- or 20-round detachable box magazines inserted horizontally from the side to minimize height for parachuting.[50] Effective range reached approximately 600 meters in semi-automatic fire, though its full-power cartridge and bipod-equipped for sustained fire limited practical accuracy in automatic mode due to recoil and muzzle climb.[51]| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.92×57mm Mauser[49] |
| Weight (unloaded) | 4.2–4.38 kg (early models); up to 5.05 kg (later)[50][49] |
| Length | 937–945 mm (early); up to 1060 mm extended[49][52] |
| Barrel Length | 508–525 mm[49] |
| Rate of Fire | 750–900 rounds/min[53][49] |
| Feed System | 10/20-round detachable box magazine[50] |