2 slots left meaning
Strictly Come Dancing fans were left screaming as Miranda Hart made an unexpect appearance on the BBC live show. The actress and comedian, 51, shocked fans last month when she revealed she had been 'bedbound for years' with a chronic illness. Miranda told how she couldn't leave her house for years after undiagnosed Lyme disease developed into chronic fatigue syndrome. The comedian said she eventually “hit rock bottom” when she suffered a total “collapse” after her hit BBC sitcom came to an end in 2015. “I was housebound and bedbound for years,” she said. “I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have a social life. I didn’t have any responsibilities or identities.” The star was spotted sitting in the audience of the BBC show to support Miranda co-star Sarah Hadland during musicals week. Read more Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood's love life from age gap fiance to ex wife Her on-screen mum Patricia Hodge was also with her to show her love for Sarah as she took to the floor with professional dance partner Vito Coppola for a routine based on the musical Wicked. Fans rushed to comment on social media, with one writing on X: "MIRANDA HART IN THE AUDIENCE IM SCREAMING #strictly." "MIRANDA HART AND PATRICIA HODGE IN THE AUDIENCE AHHH," a second echoed. "Miranda Hart is in the audience? Hell yeah, we might get a Miranda reunion again like when she turned up to Sarah and Vito's dance rehearsals!," a third fan shared. A fourth Strictly Come Dancing fan commented: "OMG MIRANDA AND PENNY!!" And a fifth added: "Omg yes. Miranda is in the audience!!! I am gassed #Strictly."By Katheryn Houghton and Arielle Zionts, KFF Health News (TNS) Tescha Hawley learned that hospital bills from her son’s birth had been sent to debt collectors only when she checked her credit score while attending a home-buying class. The new mom’s plans to buy a house stalled. Hawley said she didn’t owe those thousands of dollars in debts. The federal government did. Hawley, a citizen of the Gros Ventre Tribe, lives on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. The Indian Health Service is a federal agency that provides free health care to Native Americans, but its services are limited by a chronic shortage of funding and staff. Hawley’s local Indian Health Service hospital wasn’t equipped to deliver babies. But she said staff there agreed that the agency would pay for her care at a privately owned hospital more than an hour away. That arrangement came through the Purchased/Referred Care program, which pays for services Native Americans can’t get through an agency-funded clinic or hospital. Federal law stresses that patients approved for the program aren’t responsible for any of the costs. But tribal leaders, health officials, and a new federal report say patients are routinely billed anyway as a result of backlogs or mistakes from the Indian Health Service, financial middlemen, hospitals, and clinics. The financial consequences for patients can last years. Those sent to collections can face damaged credit scores, which can prevent them from securing loans or require them to pay higher interest rates. The December report , by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, found these long-standing problems contribute to people in Native American-majority communities being nearly twice as likely to have medical debt in collections compared with the national average. And their amount of medical debt is significantly higher. The report found the program is often late to pay bills. In some cases, hospitals or collection agencies hound tribal citizens for more money after bills are paid. Hawley’s son was born in 2003. She had to wait another year to buy a home, as she struggled to pay off the debt. It took seven years for it to drop from her credit report. “I don’t think a person ever recovers from debt,” Hawley said. Hawley, a cancer survivor, still must navigate the referral program. In 2024 alone, she received two notices from clinics about overdue bills. Frank White Clay, chairman of the Crow Tribe in Montana, testified about the impact of wrongful billing during a U.S. House committee hearing in April. He shared stories of veterans rejected for home loans, elders whose Social Security benefits were reduced, and students denied college loans and federal aid. “Some of the most vulnerable people are being harassed daily by debt collectors,” White Clay said. No one is immune from the risk. A high-ranking Indian Health Service official learned during her job’s background check that her credit report contained referred-care debt, the federal report found. Native Americans face disproportionately high rates of poverty and disease , which researchers link to limited access to health care and the ongoing impact of racist federal policies . White Clay is among many who say problems with the referred-care program are an example of the U.S. government violating treaties that promised to provide for the health and welfare of tribes in return for their land. The chairman’s testimony came during a hearing on the Purchased and Referred Care Improvement Act, which would require the Indian Health Service to create a reimbursement process for patients who were wrongfully billed. Committee members approved the bill in November and sent it for consideration by the full House. A second federal bill, the Protecting Native Americans’ Credit Act , would prevent debt like Hawley’s from affecting patients’ credit scores. The bipartisan bill hadn’t had a hearing by mid-December. The exact number of people wrongfully billed isn’t clear, but the Indian Health Service has acknowledged it has work to do. The agency is developing a dashboard to help workers track referrals and to speed up bill processing, spokesperson Brendan White said. It’s also trying to hire more referred-care staff, to address vacancy rates of more than 30%. Officials say problems with the program also stem from outside health providers that don’t follow the rules. Melanie Egorin, an assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said at the hearing that the proposed legislation doesn’t include consequences for “bad actors” — health facilities that repeatedly bill patients when they shouldn’t. “The lack of enforcement is definitely a challenge,” she said. But tribal leaders warned that penalties could backfire. Related Articles Health | How America lost control of the bird flu, setting the stage for another pandemic Health | How to kick back, relax and embrace a less-than-perfect holiday Health | Boston to distribute Narcan via vending machines, kiosks to prevent opioid overdoses Health | More teens turning down pot, booze not nicotine pouches Health | New childhood leukemia protocol is ‘tremendous win’ White Clay told lawmakers that some clinics already refuse to see patients if the Indian Health Service hasn’t paid for their previous appointments. He’s worried the threat of penalties would lead to more refusals. If that happens, White Clay said, Crow tribal members who already travel hours to access specialty treatment would have to go even farther. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report found clinics are already refusing to see any referred-care patients due to the program’s payment problems. The bureau and the Indian Health Service also recently published a letter urging health care providers and debt collectors not to hold patients accountable for program-approved care. White, the Indian Health Service spokesperson, said the agency recently updated the referred-care forms sent to outside hospitals and clinics to include billing instructions and to stress that patients aren’t liable for any out-of-pocket costs. And he said the staff can help patients get reimbursed if they have already paid for services that were supposed to be covered. Joe Bryant, an Indian Health Service official who oversees efforts to improve the referral program, said patients can ask credit bureaus to remove debt from their reports if the agency should have covered their bills. Leaders with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in Washington state helped shape the proposed legislation after their citizens were repeatedly harmed by wrongful billing. Tribal Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson said problems began in 2017, when a regional Indian Health Service office took over the referred-care program from local staff. It “created a domino effect of negative outcomes,” Erickson wrote in a letter to Congress. He said some tribal members whose finances were damaged stopped using the Indian Health Service. Others avoided health care altogether. Responsibility for the Colville Reservation program transferred back to local staff in 2022. Staffers found the billing process hadn’t been completed for thousands of cases, worth an estimated $24 million in medical care, Erickson told lawmakers . Workers are making progress on the backlog and they have explained the rules to outside hospitals and clinics, Erickson said. But he said there are still cases of wrongful billing, such as a tribal member who was sent to collections after receiving a $17,000 bill for chemotherapy that the agency was supposed to pay for. Erickson said the tribe is in the process of taking over its health care facilities instead of having the Indian Health Service run them. He and others who work in Native American health said tribally managed units — which are still funded by the federal agency — tend to have fewer problems with their referred-care programs. For example, they have more oversight over staff and flexibility to create their own payment tracking systems. But some Native Americans oppose tribal management because they feel it releases the federal government from its obligations. Beyond wrongful billing, access to the referred-care program is limited because of underfunding from Congress. The $1 billion budget this year is $9 billion short of the need, according to a committee report by tribal health and government leaders. Donald Warne, a physician and member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, called the proposed legislation a “band-aid.” He said the ultimate solution is for Congress to fully fund the Indian Health Service, which would reduce the need for the referred-care program. Back in Montana, Hawley said she braces for a fight each time she gets a bill that the referral program was supposed to cover. “I’ve learned not to trust the process,” Hawley said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Leo Colimerio scores 27 to help Queens University hold off Gardner-Webb 85-83Sunrisers Hyderabad Squad for IPL 2025: Abhinav Manohar Sold to SRH for INR 3.2 Crore at Indian Premier League AuctionSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Willy Adames wasted little time making one thing clear: He wants to play all 162 games for the San Francisco Giants. So when introduced as their new shortstop Thursday, Adames looked to his left and gently put a hand on manager Bob Melvin's right shoulder, smiled and said, “if he lets me.” Melvin might not need much convincing, thrilled to suddenly have stability at a position that lacked continuity this year in his first season as skipper. Adames didn't hesitate to also offer a thought to new boss Buster Posey: He plans to win a few championships with the Giants just like the catcher-turned-executive did here. Surrounded by his parents and other family and friends, Adames was formally introduced and welcomed at Oracle Park after signing a $182 million, seven-year contract — the first big, splashy move made by Posey since he became President of Baseball Operations in late September. “There’s no words to describe my feeling right now to be here in this beautiful city, I’m just so happy to be here,” Adames said. "... This is a dream come true for me. I’m thrilled to be here, I’m so excited. Hopefully we can win a few championships like you did, and that’s one of the main reasons I’m here.” Everyone who has encountered Adames so far can’t wait for him to get to work as an example both on the diamond and in the clubhouse. “He’s a unique connector of people,” Posey shared from Craig Counsell's description of the 29-year-old infielder from the Dominican Republic. “That really struck me because I think to win championships you have to have personalities like Willy that they're able to identify with everybody in the clubhouse, and that's not just players. I heard from multiple people that Willy treats everybody with the utmost respect. He plays with energy, he plays with joy and I know that our fans are just going to be thrilled to watch him compete on a daily basis.” Adames' deal marks the richest contract for San Francisco since Posey reached a $167 million, nine-year pact in 2013. “I didn’t know 'til it was done. I was like ‘wow,’" Adames said. From afar, Adames watched the legacy left by his hero Derek Jeter that went far beyond the baseball diamond. And that's as important to Adames as playing all 162 after he appeared in 161 games last season for Milwaukee. He considers part of his role to help the young players learn “to be a professional" and lead a club that has missed the playoffs the past three years in winning the right way. “For me that comes first, it comes first to be a great human being. I've got to thank my parents for that, they raised me the right way, to try to treat everybody the same, it doesn't matter what you're doing,” Adames said. “I think that's something that I'm really proud of, just to be the same guy every day, to be kind, just to give love back to people because there's a lot of hate out there and I don't really like that.” The Giants know Adames' positive influence could go far. Asked about the instability at shortstop, Melvin noted, “Well, it's not a problem now.” Adames gives the Giants a power bat and reliable defense at his position. This year for the Brewers, he produced his best offensive season in the big leagues, batting .251 with a career-high 32 home runs and 112 RBIs. “Look, every team wants a Willy Adames on their team. I think the thing that strikes me the most is when I'd watch him play a couple times a year on the other side was he never looked like he had a bad day,” Melvin said. “It always looked like every day was opening day to him. That enthusiasm when your best players are like that — Matt Chapman is like that, too — it's easy for everybody to have to fall in and play in that type of style. It's easier said than done but really for me that's the thing that struck me most is how much he loved playing baseball.” Adames is close friends with former Giants third baseman Matt Duffy, who shared his own experiences being part of the San Francisco franchise. It all became real when Adames pulled on his new cream-colored Giants jersey and buttoned it up, saying, “I'm a little nervous about this." A few moments later, the cap went on his head and he felt right at home. “It looks amazing.” AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLBJohnson's 29, Rivera's game-winner lead Fordham past Bryant, 86-84
CALGARY — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says the province is putting $29 million toward creating a new sheriff patrol unit to shore up security at the Canada-United States border. The unit is to be supported by about 50 armed sheriffs, 10 cold weather surveillance drones and four drug detection dogs. It is expected to be operational early next year. "Together with federal law enforcement, we'll ensure that our section of the American border is well protected," Smith said Thursday in Calgary. "We'll deny safe haven to criminals looking to operate in both countries and, if we succeed and maintain proper border security, I expect we will have a very strong relationship with the United States, as we always have." Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said the unit would focus on commercial vehicle inspections along major highways near entry points of the 298-kilometre portion of the border that the province shares with Montana. He said a two-kilometre deep zone along the border will be deemed critical infrastructure, so sheriffs can arrest without a warrant anyone found attempting to cross illegally or trafficking illegal drugs or weapons. Bob Andrews, chief of the Alberta Sheriffs, said collaboration with the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency will be key. "Access to federal and international border intelligence will ensure these teams have an immediate impact on the trafficking of people, drugs and guns between Alberta and the United States," he said. The announcement comes after incoming U.S. president Donald Trump pledged to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports on his first day back in office in January. Trump has said the tariffs would remain in place until the countries put an end to illegal immigration and drug trafficking at their borders. Smith has said Trump is right to be concerned, and she has called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to act accordingly. The federal government is expected to announce its border security plan with the fall economic update on Monday. Ellis said he had already been working on a plan to create a sheriff-led team targeting fentanyl and gun trafficking at the border, and that plan was accelerated. "We were going to do this regardless of what president-elect Trump said," said Ellis. Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested this week that Canada cut off electricity supplies to the U.S., but Smith has consistently dismissed the idea of retaliatory action. "Under no circumstances will Alberta agree to cut off oil and gas exports," said Smith. “I don’t support tariffs on Canadian goods and I don’t support tariffs on U.S. goods. Because all it does is make life more expensive for everyday Canadians and everyday Americans.” She said Alberta is taking a diplomatic approach. She recently returned from a Western Governors’ Association meeting in Las Vegas. Canada has also vowed to beef up border security in the face of Trump's threats, despite a lack of evidence for his claim about illicit fentanyl pouring into the U.S. from Canada. Insp. Angela Kemp of the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams said the majority of fentanyl being seized in the province is manufactured in Western Canada. But the chemicals, or precursors, to form the fentanyl are imported from other countries. "ALERT integrated and specialized enforcement teams have seized over a quarter of a million fentanyl pills. It has seized nearly 90 kilograms of fentanyl powder and has seized a literal ton of fentanyl precursors and buffing agents," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024. The Canadian PressNative American patients are sent to collections for debts the government owes
Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report finds
ASHFIELD — Combining creativity and community, Double Edge Theatre is working to create a sustainable future by providing eco-friendly housing and renovating old buildings into new apartments, while also constructing a Community Design Center. Between a housing crisis, a climate crisis and economic challenges, artistic communities often struggle because there are limited capital resources to support them, said Adam Bright, executive director of Double Edge Theatre. To help combat some of these issues, the theater is working to transform old properties into eco-friendly housing. On its main campus off Route 116, Double Edge Theatre has a farmhouse in addition to a residential site downtown where it houses its residents and guest educators, as well as a few Ashfield locals. “We do a lot of subsidized housing for low-income individuals in the area,” Bright said. Bright said the housing shortage is a major issue facing the community, and investing in housing infrastructure is a big goal for the theater as it crafts its future budgets. The topic is also being discussed with the Energy Committee, Zoning Board of Appeals and other town officials. Finding solutions to these various problems will take a lot of creativity and teamwork between residents, businesses, government and arts organizations, Bright said. “There’s no separation in my mind,” Bright said. “These things have to come together; there’s no rural community that will survive divided.” He added that Double Edge Theatre is lucky to be based in Ashfield, where town officials and residents have been incredibly supportive of the theater’s efforts. Residents work together to find creative solutions to problems, Bright said, and he believes they will continue to do so. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess “Whenever we can invest in the community, we try to do so,” Bright said. The theater’s next investment will involve taking a few old buildings that have plenty of unused space and renovating them, making them habitable and eco-friendly. “An enormous push for us is renewable energy,” Bright said. “We’re working with cutting-edge tech to be as sustainable as we can.” Sustainability is a big part of Double Edge Theatre’s operations. On its main campus, it has a chicken coop, a goat barn, a garden and a small orchard that produces food for its members. Double Edge Theatre is also working to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings by installing solar panels, improving insulation, upgrading its heating and cooling systems, and more. Double Edge Theatre has three buildings that it plans to renovate into apartments, and is working on securing building permits to start construction. Although the theater doesn’t need approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals as an educational nonprofit, the organization has kept town officials apprised of the plans, which were briefly shared at a recent ZBA meeting. In addition to giving some old buildings a new look, the theater will also be constructing a new Community Design Center. The center will be open to the public, offering open workspaces and design rooms for puppet-making, visual arts, textiles, beading, sewing and costuming, as well as Indigenous practices such as traditional woodworking. The venue will also provide a space for workshops and classes on various trades. “That building is being created to offer design spaces,” Bright said. “It’s got a lot of things and a lot of communities we’re working with.” Bright said the new building will be net zero, meaning 100% of its energy demand will be met by on-site renewable energy. The center will be built using the latest technology and construction practices as well as local and sustainable materials, marking a big step toward the theater’s goal of having a sustainable campus. “We don’t want to just buy plywood from who knows where and have it shipped across the country,” Bright said. “We want to use materials that are cleanly sourced.” The Community Design Center is being funded with $1.2 million in grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s Cultural Facilities Fund, the Barr Foundation and The Beveridge Family Foundation, as well as appropriations from the state budget. Construction is slated to begin next spring, with a hopeful completion and opening at the end of 2025. While Double Edge Theatre continues to plan renovations and construction over the next five to 10 years and beyond, Bright hopes community members will share their thoughts and ideas. Bright said community input sessions will be planned in the future as they continue. Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.NEW YORK -- NEW YORK (AP) — Neanderthals and humans likely mixed and mingled during a narrow time frame 45,000 years ago, scientists reported Thursday. Researchers analyzed ancient genes to pinpoint the time period, which is slightly more recent than previous estimates for the mating. Modern humans emerged in Africa hundreds of thousands of years ago and eventually spread to Europe, Asia and beyond. Somewhere along the way, they met and mated with Neanderthals , leaving a lasting fingerprint on our genetic code . Scientists don't know exactly when or how the two groups entangled. But ancient bone fragments and genes are helping scientists figure that out. “Genetic data from these samples really helps us paint a picture in more and more detail,” said study co-author Priya Moorjani at the University of California Berkeley. The research published Thursday in the journals Science and Nature. To pin down the timeline, researchers peeked at some of the oldest human genes from the skull of a woman, called Zlatý kůň or Golden horse for a hill in the Czech Republic where it was found. They also examined bone fragments from an early human population in Ranis, Germany, about 140 miles (230 kilometers) away. They found snippets of Neanderthal DNA that placed the mating at around 45,000 years ago. In a separate study, researchers tracked signs of Neanderthal in our genetic code over 50,000 years. They found Neanderthal genes related to immunity and metabolism that may have helped early humans survive and thrive outside of Africa. We still carry Neanderthals' legacy in our DNA. Modern-day genetic quirks linked to skin color, hair color and even nose shape can be traced back to our extinct former neighbors. And our genetic code also contains echoes from another group of extinct human cousins called Denisovans. Future genetic studies can help scientists detangle exactly what — and who — we're made of, said Rick Potts, director of the Smithsonian’s Human Origins program who was not involved with the new research. “Out of many really compelling areas of scientific investigation, one of them is: well, who are we?” Potts said. —- The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Best New York City Art Shows of 2024
It looks like the latest form of protest, and Lidia Thorpe is its master
World News | Imran Khan Defends Wife After She Said His Problems Began After Saudi Visit, Drawing Flak from Pak Leaders'Unabomber Manifesto' resurfaces in CEO slayingSaudi Arabia Works on Empowering Women, NEOM, Red Sea Resorts, and Training Initiatives for Travel Industry
AP Trending SummaryBrief at 4:32 a.m. ESTNAPLES, Fla. — Sophia Popov woke up at 6 a.m. Thursday fired up to get to the first tee. She wasn’t nervous about the narrow opening shot at Tiburon Golf Club, however, because this time, she didn’t have to hit it. Popov, 32, instead had on a headset as she went to work as an on-course commentator for the first time for ESPN. The 2020 AIG Women’s British Open champion is part of this week's Featured Groups coverage at the LPGA’s season-ending . She has twice commentated in the booth for other networks during the 2015 and 2024 Solheim Cups. : | “I’ve always thought about this as a career and I really want to do it,” said Popov, "and I think this is definitely where I see my future. But at the same time, I feel like my game has actually kind of come together towards the end of the year. I definitely would like to play another year and then kind of see how the year goes, and ease out of playing and more into broadcast and not make it a hard stop.” Popov gave birth to daughter Maya Mae Mehles in June 2023 and returned to the tour in March. Will Haskett and Amanda Blumenherst are in the studio for this week’s Featured Groups coverage while Chantel McCabe joins Popov on the course.
WASHINGTON (AP) — As several of President-elect Donald Trump’s choices for high-level positions in his incoming administration face scrutiny on Capitol Hill , a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that Americans have their own doubts. Relatively few Americans overall approve of Pete Hegseth , Trump’s choice to lead the Department of Defense, or Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for intelligence chief , although a substantial share doesn’t know who those figures are. The other selections who were included in the poll, Robert F. Kennedy Jr . for health secretary and Marco Rubio for secretary of state, are more well-known but not much more popular among Americans overall. Trump and his allies are pushing Republican senators to confirm his picks, who are meeting with lawmakers before Trump returns to the White House next month. Given the Republicans’ slim majority in the Senate, the stakes are high for each Trump pick. An Army veteran and former Fox News commentator, Hegseth has been trying to make his case amid allegations of excessive drinking and the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies. Trump has reiterated his support for Hegseth, who appears to have won over some of the senators who were once critical of his selection. Hegseth is still an unknown quantity for many Americans. About 4 in 10 don’t know enough about him to give an opinion, according to the poll. But his selection is viewed more negatively than positively among Americans who do know who he is. About 2 in 10 U.S. adults approve of Hegseth being picked for Trump’s Cabinet, while 36% disapprove and about 1 in 10 don’t know enough to have an opinion. He has higher support among Republicans, but it’s not overwhelming. Many Republicans do not have an opinion of Hegseth: About 4 in 10 say they don’t know enough about him. About one-third of Republicans approve of him as a pick, and 16% disapprove. Another 1 in 10 Republicans, roughly, are neutral and say they neither approve nor disapprove. Those approval numbers among Republicans are at least slightly lower for Hegseth than any of the other names included in the poll. Gabbard, who represented Hawaii in the House for four terms as a Democrat, sought the 2020 presidential nomination before leaving her party. She was one of Trump’s most sought-after surrogates in the 2024 campaign. Gabbard has faced new questions about her proximity to Syria amid the sudden end of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s long hold on power. Gabbard is as unknown as Hegseth is, but Americans are a little less likely to disapprove of her nomination. About 2 in 10 Americans approve of Trump’s pick of Gabbard, while about 3 in 10 disapprove. The rest either do not know enough to say — about 4 in 10 said this — or have a neutral view. Approval is slightly higher among Republicans than Hegseth’s, though. About 4 in 10 Republicans approve of the choice, while very few disapprove and 16% have a neutral view. Similar to Americans overall, about 4 in 10 Republicans don’t know enough to say. A scion of a famous Democratic dynasty, Kennedy made a name in his own right as an environmental attorney who successfully took on large corporations. In recent decades, he has increasingly devoted his energy to promoting claims about vaccines that contradict the overwhelming consensus of scientists. Trump has said he would give Kennedy free rein over health policy — from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid. Only 14% of Americans say they don’t know enough to have an opinion about Trump’s move to name Kennedy, but that greater name recognition doesn’t translate into warmer feelings. About 4 in 10 Americans disapprove of Trump’s selection of Kennedy, while about 3 in 10 approve and 14% are neutral. Once a contender for the Democratic presidential primary, Kennedy has become something of a GOP darling, with a strong majority of Republicans approving of him joining the Trump administration. About 6 in 10 Republicans approve, and only about 1 in 10 disapprove. About 2 in 10 are neutral, and about 1 in 10 don’t know enough about him to say. In his third Senate term from Florida, Rubio has gone from a Trump rival for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination to one of his staunchest congressional allies. Rubio is seen as having the incoming president’s ear on foreign policy issues, particularly related to Latin America . Americans are divided about Rubio being elevated to a key Cabinet role: About 3 in 10 approve, and a similar share disapprove, while about 2 in 10 don’t know enough to say and 15% neither approve nor disapprove. Most Republicans, nearly 6 in 10, approve, making his selection nearly as popular with this group as Kennedy’s. Only about 1 in 10 Republicans disapprove, while 14% are neutral and about 2 in 10 don’t know enough to say. Rubio, who is Cuban American, earns higher approval among Hispanic adults than some of Trump’s other high-profile choices, but more still disapprove than approve.
Global stocks mostly rose Thursday following strong earnings from artificial intelligence leader Nvidia as bitcoin prices zoomed near $100,000 and oil prices rose. Nvidia itself had a volatile day, finishing modestly higher after several reversals. The chip company reported a whopping $19 billion in profits, although investors wondered if its current rate of stupendous growth is sustainable. All three major US indices rose, led by the Dow, which won more than one percent. The pickup on US markets also helped European bourses shake off early weakness. O'Hare called Thursday's rally a "broad-based move," noting nine of 11 US sectors rose and adding that investors are hopeful about a year-end rally. But worsening tensions between Russia and Ukraine also loom as a risk. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the conflict in Ukraine had characteristics of a "global" war and did not rule out strikes on Western countries. Putin spoke out after a day of frayed nerves, with Russia test-firing a new generation intermediate-range missile at Ukraine. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky branded the strike a major ramping up of the "scale and brutality" of the war by a "crazy neighbor", while Kyiv's main backer the United States said that Russia was to blame for escalating the conflict "at every turn". The tension helped push oil prices up around two percent and played a role in lifting natural gas prices to their highest level in a year. The dollar also continued to push higher, boosted by the falling odds of further Federal Reserve interest rate cuts, as well as the greenback's status as a haven currency. But the day's most impressive action may have been bitcoin, which soared above $99,000. The cryptocurrency has been lifted by expectations that Donald Trump, spurred by cryptocurrency cheerleader Elon Musk, will bring it further into everyday use upon re-entering the White House in January. "Will Americans be able to use crypto to pay their taxes in the future? There is a bigger possibility of this happening now than before the election," said Kathleen Brooks, research director at XTB. In Asia, shares in Indian conglomerate Adani Group tanked after US prosecutors charged its owner Gautam Adani with handing out more than $250 million in bribes for key contracts. Flagship operation Adani Enterprises dived almost 20 percent, while several of its subsidiaries -- from coal to media businesses -- lost 10 to 20 percent. Among other companies, Google parent Alphabet tumbled 4.6 percent after the Justice Department asked a federal court to order Google to sell its widely used Chrome browser in a major antitrust crackdown. DOJ also asked the court to ban deals for Google to be the default search engine on smartphones and prevent it from exploiting its Android mobile operating system. - Key figures around 2130 GMT - New York - Dow: UP 1.1 percent at 43,870.35 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.5 percent at 5,948.71 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP less than 0.1 percent at 18,972.42 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.8 percent at 8,149.27 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.2 percent at 7,213.32 (close) Frankfurt - DAX: UP 0.7 percent at 19,146.17 (close) Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.9 percent at 38,026.17 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.5 percent at 19,601.11 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.1 percent at 3,370.40 (close) Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0476 from $1.0544 on Wednesday Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2587 from $1.2652 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.54 yen from 155.44 yen Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.20 pence from 83.33 pence Brent North Sea Crude: UP 2.0 percent at $74.23 per barrel West Texas Intermediate: UP 2.0 percent at $70.10 per barrel bur-jmb/md
Working in close synergy with army to prevent infiltration along LoC: IG BSF Kashmir Frontier
Why the return of Weekender to Warrington is such a boostShare Tweet Share Share Email As student numbers rise and educational needs evolve, schools across the UK face mounting pressure to expand their facilities. Traditional construction methods can be slow, costly, and disruptive, but modular school buildings offer a modern alternative. Modular buildings provide a faster, more cost-effective solution while delivering high-quality, adaptable spaces. These buildings help schools plan for future growth with unrivalled flexibility, making them an excellent choice for educational institutions nationwide. Flexible and Adaptable Modular Classroom Solutions One of the greatest advantages of modular classrooms is their flexibility. Constructed off-site in sections, they can be customised to suit your school’s specific requirements. Whether you need additional classrooms, administrative offices, or specialist spaces like science labs, modular buildings can provide a tailored solution. Modular classrooms are designed to grow alongside your school. As student numbers fluctuate or curriculum demands shift, these structures can be expanded, reconfigured, or even relocated with minimal effort. Modular buildings are ideal for both temporary and permanent solutions. For example, if your school anticipates a temporary increase in student numbers, modular classrooms can be installed quickly and removed or relocated when no longer needed. Alternatively, if your school is focused on long-term growth, modular buildings are designed to last and can adapt to future changes. Faster Construction with Minimal Disruption Traditional building projects often bring delays, noise, and disruption, which can negatively impact the learning environment. Modular buildings minimise these issues, ensuring students and staff can continue their activities without interruptions. Because modular buildings are constructed off-site in a controlled factory environment, project timelines are significantly shorter than traditional construction. Once the modules are completed, they can be installed on school grounds in just a few weeks—often during school holidays—avoiding disruption to term-time activities. The factory-based approach also reduces noise, dust, and on-site traffic, creating a more seamless and less intrusive construction experience. Cost-Effective Expansion Expanding school facilities on a tight budget can be challenging, but modular classrooms offer an affordable solution. The factory-based construction process is highly efficient, reducing material waste and labour costs. Standardised designs and processes make modular buildings more economical than custom-built traditional structures, and shorter construction times further reduce costs. With less equipment hire and fewer disruptions, schools can stretch their budgets further. Modern modular buildings are also incredibly energy-efficient, featuring advanced insulation, energy-saving windows, and other sustainability measures. These features not only reduce a school’s environmental impact but also lower operating costs, freeing up funds for other priorities. Contrary to common misconceptions, modular classrooms are not just a temporary fix. When properly designed and installed, these buildings can last for decades, providing durable, high-quality spaces for future generations. High-Quality Modular School Buildings Some may believe modular buildings are inferior to traditional structures, but this is far from true. Modular school buildings are crafted using high-quality materials and must meet the same building regulations and standards as conventional construction. Factory-controlled environments ensure stricter quality control, resulting in exceptional precision and consistency. Every component is inspected and tested before being delivered to the school, guaranteeing a high standard of workmanship. These buildings are durable enough to withstand the daily wear and tear of a busy school environment. Plus, their adaptability ensures they can evolve with your school’s needs—whether that means adding new sections, upgrading facilities, or incorporating more energy-efficient features. Sustainable Construction for Modern Schools Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for schools, both as a way to reduce costs and as a means of setting a positive example for students. Modular buildings are an environmentally friendly option, as their construction produces less waste and requires fewer raw materials. Off-site construction is particularly sustainable, with materials precisely measured and cut in controlled conditions to minimise waste. The entire modular building process generates fewer carbon emissions than traditional methods, making it a greener choice for schools. Customised Learning Environments Modular buildings offer schools exceptional versatility, allowing for bespoke designs to suit any need. Whether you require classrooms, IT labs, creative spaces, or quiet areas for SEND students, modular buildings can be tailored to your requirements. Schools can work closely with manufacturers to incorporate specific features, such as natural lighting, soundproofing, ventilation systems, or specialised technology setups. These enhancements promote student engagement and create environments conducive to learning. Additionally, schools can select finishes, layouts, and configurations that either complement existing architecture or establish an entirely new aesthetic. Customisation allows schools to create inspiring spaces that empower both students and teachers to achieve their best. Paragon Space Modular Buildings Help Growing Schools Modular school buildings provide flexible, cost-effective solutions for educational institutions needing more space. With over 15 years of experience, Paragon Space specialises in manufacturing and installing durable, high-quality modular buildings designed to stand the test of time. If your school is addressing a growing or fluctuating student population, we can help you find the perfect solution. Whether you need additional classrooms, staff facilities, or specialised spaces, modular buildings can be customised to meet your unique requirements. For more information about how modular buildings can support your growing school, contact our friendly team today . Related Items: FUTURE FOR EXPANDING , MODULAR SCHOOL BUILDINGS Share Tweet Share Share Email Comments
YouTube TV is hiking its monthly price, again. Here's what to know NEW YORK (AP) — Are you a YouTube TV subscriber? Your monthly bills are about to get more expensive again. YouTube has announced that it’s upping the price of its streaming service’s base plan by $10 — citing rising content costs and other investments. The new $82.99 per month price tag will go into effect starting Jan. 13 for existing subscribers, and immediately for new customers who sign up going forward. YouTube TV has rolled out a series of price hikes over the years. When launched back in 2017, the going price of its streaming package was $35 a month. By 2019, that fee rose to $50 — and has climbed higher and higher since. Country star Morgan Wallen sentenced in chair-throwing case NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country music star Morgan Wallen has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment. He had been charged for throwing a chair from the rooftop of a six-story bar in Nashville and nearly hitting two police officers with it. Wallen appeared in court alongside his attorney on Thursday. He was sentenced to spend seven days in a DUI education center and will be under supervised probation for two years. According to the arrest affidavit, Wallen was accused of throwing a chair off the roof of Chief’s bar on April 7. The chair landed about a yard from the officers. Witnesses told police they saw Wallen pick up a chair, throw it off the roof and laugh about it. The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own death moves to end their marriage MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The wife of a Wisconsin kayaker who faked his own drowning so he could abscond to Europe has filed a court action to end the couple's marriage. Online court records indicate Emily Borgwardt filed a petition in Dodge County Circuit Court on Thursday seeking to annul her marriage to Ryan Borgwardt. A hearing has been set for April. According to court documents, Ryan Borgwardt staged his own drowning by leaving his overturned kayak floating on Green Lake. He flew to Eastern Europe, where he spent several days in a hotel with a woman before taking up residence in the country of Georgia. He is charged with misdemeanor obstruction in Green Lake County. San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A block in downtown San Francisco has been renamed for acclaimed photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic photo of U.S. Marines raising the flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during WWII. The longtime staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, who died in 2006 at age 94, is also remembered for the 35 years he spent documenting the city's famous and not so famous for the daily newspaper. He photographed a young Willie Mays getting his hat fitted as a San Francisco Giant in 1957. He also photographed joyous children making a mad dash for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. Nearly half of US teens are online 'constantly,' Pew report finds Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly,” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health. That's according to a new report published Thursday by the Pew Research Center. As in past years, YouTube was the single most popular platform teenagers used — 90% said they watched videos on the site, down slightly from 95% in 2022. There was a slight downward trend in several popular apps teens used. For instance, 63% of teens said they used TikTok, down from 67% and Snapchat slipped to 55% from 59%. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others THOMASTON, Maine (AP) — Kaja Veilleux has been hunting New England attic treasures for more than 50 years. He once found a copy of the Declaration of Independence sitting on a trash heap, and he made headlines this year when he stumbled upon a million-dollar portrait that may have been painted by the Dutch master Rembrandt. Many people dream of cashing in on some dusty old heirloom. Veilleux helps people sort the gems from the junk when he appraises furniture, antiques and art by using his knowledge of what similar items have sold for in the past. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Selena Gomez reveals engagement to Benny Blanco Selena Gomez is having quite a year, and it’s being capped with an engagement to music producer and songwriter Benny Blanco. The Grammy- and Emmy-nominated performer announced she was off the market in an Instagram post Wednesday of her ring, with the caption “Forever begins now.” Celebrity fans sent their congratulations, with rapper Lil Nas X writing “So happy for you both” and Taylor Swift saying “Yes I will be the flower girl.” Gomez became a Golden Globe double nominee Monday for her roles in “Emilia Pérez” and “Only Murders in the Building.” Fewer US grandparents are taking care of grandchildren, according to new data Fewer grandparents were taking care of grandchildren, there was a decline in the number of preschoolers and more people were staying put in their homes in the first part of the 2020s compared with the last part of the 2010s. That's according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday, reflecting some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest figures from the most comprehensive survey of American life compares the periods of 2014-2018 and 2019-2023. Those timeframes were before the pandemic and during the years of the virus’ spread. Some of the changes are COVID-19 related, while others are the result of other occurrences like the opioid crisis.RNU Akashvani Srinagar felicitates staff members to encourage professionalism
Canada's Trudeau returns home after Trump meeting without assurances that tariffs are off the table
Telangana: BRS leader Errolla Srinivas granted bailNative American patients are sent to collections for debts the government owes