Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportCHICAGO (AP) — Mark Scheifele snapped a third-period tie and Kyle Connor had two assists, helping the Winnipeg Jets beat Chicago 4-2 on Saturday in the first game for interim Blackhawks coach Anders Sorensen. Mason Appleton had a goal and an assist as the Jets picked up their second straight win after a four-game losing streak. Nino Niederreiter and Gabriel Vilardi also scored, and Connor Hellebuyck made 12 saves.Pooches in pullovers strut their stuff at London's canine Christmas sweater paradeBusiness leaders across the country are struggling to find the best way to manage rising polarization and political disagreement at work . On Tuesday, December 10, Newsweek is hosting a panel event to discuss this thorny topic from all angles. Opening remarks will be delivered by Jim Link, CHRO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world's largest HR professional association, which will also sponsor the event. The discussion, titled "Better Workplaces: How to Foster Inclusion and Civility," will include insights from legal, medical and social psychology experts, and feature advice for professionals in HR, DEI and communications. The national mood has been tense, and people are unhappy. But we still have work to get done, together, every single day. What's complicating matters is that we increasingly have less respect for those on the other side of the aisle politically. A 2022 Pew Survey found that 72 percent of Republicans and 63 percent of Democrats feel that members of the other party are more immoral, and the number of people saying that members of the other party are dishonest, unintelligent or lazy has spiked since 2016. This strain of conflict is common on the internet and in bars, but it's also making its way to watercoolers, factory floors and even the boardroom. A contentious election cycle surely didn't help, but this is a persistent problem, one that impacts us well past Election Day . Maintaining a year-round focus on respectful culture and setting ground rules for political expression and exchange are key, experts tell Newsweek . Tuesday evening's event will also include a video presentation featuring commentary from the winners of the Newsweek -Stubblefield Civility Awards. In partnership with the Stubblefield Institute, we will be recognizing business executives, members of Congress and other community leaders for their exceptional efforts to promote civility in our public discourse. Panelists include: Stephen Paskoff: Paskoff is a former EEOC attorney and the founder and CEO of ELI, or Employment Learning Innovations, a company he has been running since 1986 that trains business leaders and employees so that their cultural values and behavioral standards ensure a productive and legally compliant work environment. He has written extensively on workplace compliance, including the 2016 book CIVILITY Rules! A New Business Approach to Boosting Results and Cutting Risks . Gabriella Rosen Kellerman, MD: The chief innovation officer at BetterUp, a well-being platform with a focus on manager training and coaching, Kellerman leads an interdisciplinary research lab that has been studying employee sentiment around the election and other times throughout the year. She has worked on global mental health policy and interventions for the World Health Organization and is a longtime executive at, and adviser to, health care, coaching and behavior change technology companies. Michael Franklin: Executive director of Speechwriters of Color and leader of an executive communications firm, Franklin is a dynamic member of Gen Z and his field. He worked with AxiosHQ to produce an Election Readiness Guide for business leaders, and his perspectives can also be found in The New York Times , Washington Post , Financial Times , CNN , Matter of Fact with Soledad O'Brien , Axios and the Los Angeles Times . Kurt Gray, Ph.D.: Author of the upcoming book Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground , Gray is a professor in psychology and neuroscience and an award-winning researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He utilizes interdisciplinary methods to research deeply held beliefs and moral divides. We hope you can join us for this timely and insightful conversation.
TOKYO — Japan’s popular Princess Aiko turned 23 on Sunday, as she takes on more official duties even while her future in the imperial family remains in doubt. Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, graduated from university earlier this year and has since been participating in official duties and palace rituals while working at the Red Cross Society, according to the Imperial Household Agency. But Japanese law requires her to renounce her royal status and leave the family if she marries outside the imperial family. The vast majority of Japan’s public supports changing the law to allow her to remain a royal and become emperor, but conservatives in the governing party insist on keeping male-only succession. Japan’s rapidly dwindling imperial family has only 16 members, including four men. Aiko was to mark her birthday with her parents at the imperial palace in Tokyo. The IHA also released several photos of Aiko, including one of her standing by a persimmon tree at a palace garden. Another showed her holding pieces of traditional hand-crafted washi paper that she made at a workshop during her first solo official trip in October to the National Sports Festival in Japan’s southwestern prefecture of Saga. Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . The 1947 Imperial House Law, which largely preserves conservative prewar family values, allows only males to take the throne and forces female royals who marry outside the family to give up their status. With only one young male member, that puts the survival of the 2,000-year-old monarchy in jeopardy. The youngest male member of the imperial family, Prince Hisahito — Aiko's 18-year-old cousin — is currently the last heir apparent, posing a major problem for the system. The government is looking for a way to keep the succession stable without relying on women, such as allowing the family to adopt new male members from former noble families that lost their status after World War II. Aiko's own views on the topic are unknown. She's only had one full news conference, when she reached adulthood. Last month, the United Nations women’s rights committee in Geneva issued a report that called for the Japanese government to allow a female emperor, among other issues hindering gender equality in the country. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi dismissed the report “regrettable” and “inappropriate.” He said the imperial succession is a matter of fundamental national identity and that it is not covered by constitutional basic rights. Crown Prince Akishino, Aiko's uncle, was asked about the succession debate at a news conference marking his 59th birthday Saturday, and replied that members of the royal family are “living humans” and that the palace officials who support their daily lives should know how it affects them. At her work at the Japanese Red Cross Society, Aiko is assigned to volunteer training program, the IHA said. On weekends, it said, the princess enjoys taking walks with her parents and playing volleyball, tennis and badminton with palace officials.Madonna King is the co-author – with Cindy Wockner – of Bali 9: The Untold Story . I spoke to her on Thursday. Fitz : Madonna, I know you know the story of the Bali Nine backwards. After the 2015 executions of two of their number, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the rest of us have just about forgotten that most of the others remain in prison. Can we begin by you tightly summating the story, before we concentrate on the latest developments? MK : This group of nine young Australians came to infamy in 2005 – less than a year after Schapelle Corby ’s arrest – for trying to smuggle heroin out of Bali and into Australia. And they didn’t actually even all know each other. They were from Brisbane, Illawarra, Newcastle and Sydney. Madonna King co-authored a book about the Bali 9. “Every single one of them ... wanted to find this sense of belonging.” Fitz : So, as a group, these were not hardened career criminals? MK : Definitely not. Most of them just wandered into the whole thing. And these kids – for different reasons, on different promises – decided to get on a plane and go to Bali. After a week of holidaying, they were taken into a dingy hotel room and had packs of heroin plastered to their body, their thighs, their stomach, and five of them then set off for the airport in three different taxis. Two lots of mules were in the first two taxis and Andrew Chan, one of the organisers, without any drugs on him, was in a third taxi. Fitz : Oh, the horror! We know what’s happened to Corby, just for smuggling marijuana, and here we are, with heroin strapped to our bodies, approaching Indonesian customs! MK : Two of them – Renae Lawrence and Martin Stephens – were initially quite cocky. They passed a drug dog on the way in. They would have passed more than one sign warning of the death penalty for drugs. But they kept going, all the time while being monitored, and then – just before they climbed onboard – they were searched. All up they had more than eight kilograms of heroin strapped to their bodies. That’s a lot of heroin. In current terms, it amounts to 80,000 street deals worth $4 million. And suddenly, all of the swagger evaporated. One started crying. They knew they were in all sorts of strife. Fitz : Did I mention the HORROR? And did we ever find out who was the Mr Big, or Mrs Big for that matter, behind the whole thing? MK : There was a woman who police in Bali had their eyes on. They knew her name, they knew she was from Thailand, and they tried to get her, but somehow mysteriously, they never did and she was never charged. There were also several other people in Australia downstream who were later charged – with barely any publicity – most of them from Brisbane. They went to jail for various short periods and have now been out for years and years. Fitz : In the meantime, on the ground, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were identified as the ringleaders? MK : Yes. They were a couple of boys from Homebush High, who kind of knew each other at school, but no more than that. Sukumaran really intrigues me. School references labelled him as “honest, reliable, responsible, punctual, with high standards”. He took part in the national maths and science competitions. He was a gold medal winner in karate. He was in the school’s second grade rugby team. He gave blood in the annual school appeal. He was a volunteer for the Salvation Army Red Shield appeal. This wasn’t a kid who you expected in 2015 to be shot in the dead of the night by an anonymous marksman, just because he fell in with a bad crowd and made a decision that he went to his death ruing. Andrew Chan, right, and, and Myuran Sukumaran, left, pictured in 2006. They were executed by firing squad in 2015. Credit: AP Fitz : I do remember Sukumaran seemed to have, despite the extremity of his circumstances, a certain dignity, a certain courage in his public pronouncements, starting with his expression of deep remorse? MK : Yes. Both of them were incredibly apologetic. Andrew Chan actually turned to religion, and became a pastor. Before his arrest, Chan had got into some teenage trouble, and was a small-time thug in some ways. But they had both got themselves into a situation where they were sucked into a syndicate that was trafficking heroin. In jail though, even the Indonesian authorities said they were both fantastic in mentoring other people. They knew what they’d done was wrong and in their cases, it wasn’t fake. It wasn’t because they were facing a firing squad. They actually had time to sit in squalor and look at what they’d done. Both of them saw their families, perhaps particularly their mothers, absolutely destroyed. Imagine being told your child is going to be lined up in a field at some time without anyone there, and shot? I feel sick even saying those words. All the Bali Nine parents were hardworking. In the case of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, the parents were good people trying to give their child a better life, and they’ve each had to live with the consequences of one absolutely stupid (and criminal) decision by their sons. Fitz : Speaking of stupid decisions, what about the others, like the son of the notably Christian parents, Scott Rush? Somebody must have said to him, “Scott, here’s the plan.” But what on earth was in it for him and the others to go through customs with heroin strapped to their bodies? MK : About $5000 each. The Australian government is negotiating with Indonesia for the repatriation of the five remaining members of the Bali Nine (from left) Martin Stephens, Si-Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman and Scott Rush. Credit: Composite: Nathan Perri Fitz : That’s it? They’re risking the death sentence, on a million-dollar consignment, in return for just $5K? MK : That’s all. And in one case, Michael Czugaj – this kid from Brisbane who’d never been overseas, who was one of I think nine siblings – he met one of the others at a nightclub in Brisbane, went home, got his passport without his parents knowing where he was, and left for Bali. A few days later his parents get a phone call, turn on the news and find out their son’s been arrested for drug trafficking! He and Scott Rush knew each other at school, through sport, but not particularly well, and both of them had been in a little bit of trouble here and there, but they were young kids. And Scott Rush comes from a strong, united family. Fitz : Again, an extraordinary fate, for young men with such grounded backgrounds. MK : Exactly. But that’s the point. It wasn’t necessarily what kind of family they came from that put them there. I had young children myself at the time, and when I was doing the book with Cindy Wockner I became obsessed with trying to get to the bottom of “why these nine? What’s to stop my own children, or anyone’s children one day going down the same path?” In some cases, their parents loved each other so much that they still held hands while their children were sitting on death row or in court in Bali. In other cases, their parents despised each other so much that despite their kids being in this much trouble, they never even picked up the phone to each other. That broke my heart. So you can’t say they’re from a good family or a bad family, or a divorced family or a together family. This was more about the kids themselves. Fitz : And did you find the unifying thread? MK : Two things ... Firstly, every single one of them wanted to belong, whether it was in a tiny street gang, or working with others, or on a holiday to Bali that someone promised at a nightclub in Brisbane – they wanted to find this sense of belonging. And the other thread was an absolute lack of confidence. They had no confidence in themselves. I remember talking to one parent, and there was a picture of their child on the wall, and I said, “Oh, they look like they were a bit sporty when they were young”. And that parent’s response was, “But they would have never made it really, look at their knobbly knees”. I was quite taken back. Then they handed me a photo album of their child, and I’m going through it. I said, “Oh my God, that smile could light up a room”. The response from the parent was,“yeah, but look at the crooked teeth.” Fitz : That would break your heart! Loading MK : It did, but they weren’t being mean. This parent loved their child. But I got on the plane and I cried all the way back to Brisbane, thinking,“How do you actually bring your child up so they know right from wrong?” You can’t compliment them all the time, but I think kids lean into what they learn. And I think what Briony Scott said in that fabulous interview you did with her last week is so true. They’ve got to be confident, and they’ve got to be able to make decisions without wanting to fit in at any cost. And if we thought it was bad 20 years ago, social media has made that demand for girls to fit in at any cost, a thousand times worse. Fitz : So on the night in question, is it fair to say that because the Australian Federal Police tipped off the Indonesian authorities, their cards were always marked and, as we say in rugby, “shits was trumps on the blind”? MK : I don’t understand rugby, but this group – almost every one of them – was known to the AFP. They didn’t have all the evidence, but they were tracking them. They knew where they bought their tickets, where they were headed, and why. Fitz : So here’s my key question. Why not arrest them on landing in Australia? They’re Australians, so let them face Australian justice. Beyond not spending 20 years in a hell-hole, there would have been every chance that the two men executed could have come back here, paid their dues, and gone on to live fruitful lives. Wouldn’t that have been the decent thing to do? MK : I think Australians are very split on that, and I can really see both sides. But one thing many have pointed out is that we have agreements with various countries – not only about drugs, but terrorism, too – and we have to be careful about breaching those agreements for our own ends. Because the boot can be on the other foot at other times, and could we be expecting them to not share information with us about illegal activities in our country planned by Indonesian nationals? Loading Fitz : As a matter of interest, do you personally accept the sheer absurdity of the whole so-called “war on drugs”? For every massive drug bust like this, the only result is that it drives up the price on the streets to make even more fabulous profits for the puppeteers and the whole thing will go on until such times as sanity prevails and drugs are treated as a health problem, not a criminal problem. All the war on drugs does is drive the whole thing underground, where it is truly dangerous. MK : No, I don’t. For the six or seven years after the Bali 9 were arrested, we talked to our children every second night over the dinner table about the importance of the law, about the influence of friendships, about getting in the wrong crowd, about making a decision that they might regret for the rest of their life. We all used these kids to teach our own kids about the perils of drugs. But I can also see how, after having paid such a long and heavy price, it’s time to bring them home, because the lesson in their arrest has been lost. Teenagers now have never heard of them. Fitz : And what do we know of their likely fate once back in our brown and pleasant land? MK : Not much. I do think the Opposition is right to ask questions about the deal. We deserve transparency and accountability. Will they serve more time? Under what circumstances are they being transferred back here? Does this change the agreements we currently have with Indonesia? Have we offered anything in return? Personally, I would love them to be visiting schools and explaining the mistake that they made. But I think before they arrive on a plane, Australians deserve to know what the deal involves and what is their future. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter . Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. License this article Five Minutes with Fitz Opinion Bali Nine For subscribers Peter FitzSimons is a journalist and columnist with The Sydney Morning Herald. Connect via Twitter . Most Viewed in National Loading
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Tahj Brooks ran for a season-high 188 yards and three touchdowns in the final home game for Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher, and the Red Raiders rolled to a 52-15 victory over West Virginia on Saturday. Texas Tech (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) kept alive faint hopes for a bid in the Big 12 championship game by winning at least eight games in the regular season for the first time since 2009 under the late Mike Leach. Garrett Greene threw an interception and lost a fumble on Terrell Tilmon's strip sack in the final three minutes of the first half as the Mountaineers (6-6, 5-4) raised more questions about the future of coach Neal Brown by falling behind 35-3 before the break. Behren Morton threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, including a 31-yarder to Caleb Douglas to put Texas Tech in front 42-3 early in the second half. Josh Kelly had 150 yards receiving. Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire, who will have his third winning record in three seasons, called timeout with 5:57 remaining and his team leading 45-15 to take Brooks out of the game. Brooks was mobbed by teammates as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Brooks ran for at least 100 yards in all 11 regular-season games he played, breaking the single-season school record of 10 he shared with Byron Hanspard and Bam Morris. Brooks pushed his career total to 4,557 yards in his first home game since breaking Hanspard's 1996 school record of 4,219 yards two weeks ago at Jones AT&T Stadium. Two of Brooks' TDs came on 2-yard runs from direct snaps, and the other was a 37-yarder when he stumbled on a cut but stayed on his feet and bounced off defensive back Ty French. Brooks has 17 TDs rushing this season and 45 for his career. Brooks set up one of his short TDs with a 30-yard catch. Jahiem White ran for 124 yards with a spinning 21-yard touchdown for West Virginia, and Greene had a 15-yard scoring toss to Rodney Gallagher III. Greene threw two picks. West Virginia: A perfect season on the road in the Big 12 ended with a thud. The Mountaineers were 3-0 away from home in conference before allowing 29 second-quarter points followed by another TD just 2:12 into the third. Texas Tech: Tight end Jalin Conyers, one of Brooks' fellow seniors playing his final home game, made up a for a dropped pass in the end zone with a juggling, diving catch for 18 yards to set up Morton's 1-yard scoring toss to Mason Tharp. Conyers, an Arizona State transfer, also had a 2-point conversion run on a swinging gate play from the PAT unit. Both teams are eligible for bowl games. At game's end, Texas Tech's fate for a spot in the Big 12 title game was still up in the air. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballThe Washington Commanders released 2023 first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, cutting ties with another high draft pick from the previous regime. All of previous coach Ron Rivera's first-rounders — including edge rusher Chase Young in 2020, linebacker Jamin Davis in ‘21 and wide receiver Jahan Dotson in '22 — are now gone. Forbes never showed progress to the new staff led by coach Dan Quinn and was a healthy scratch twice this season and did not play in two other games during which the 23-year-old was in uniform. It's unclear if Forbes' release means anything about the status of cornerback Marshon Lattimore , the Commanders' trade deadline pickup in early November who still has not played for them because of a hamstring injury. Lattimore was listed as doubtful for Washington's home game Sunday against Tennessee. The Commanders (7-5) also put running back Austin Ekeler on injured reserve because of a concussion . They elevated kicker Zane Gonzalez and defensive tackle Carl Davis from the practice squad in preparation for facing the Titans (3-8). Washington has lost three in a row to fall from first place in the NFC East to the conference’s final wild-card spot. The most recent loss, last weekend against division rival Dallas, came when Austin Seibert missed his second extra point of the game, which would have tied it with 21 seconds left. Seibert went on IR earlier in the week with a groin injury that Quinn said the kicker reported Monday. While injuries have piled up as the Commanders await their late bye week, the choice of Forbes has been second-guessed since the moment Rivera's front office chose the 166-pound Mississippi State defensive back with the 16th pick over Christian Gonzalez and others. Gonzalez was selected next, by New England, and has started 16 games for the Patriots. Forbes was benched last season by Rivera, who was in charge when Washington selected Davis ahead of offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw in '21 and traded down to take Dotson the following year instead of safety Kyle Hamilton or receiver Chris Olave. Forbes has two interceptions and 12 passes defensed in 20 games. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflFederal DEI spending explodes under Biden-Harris administration
Washington Commanders release 2023 first-round pick Emmanuel ForbesBuggs' 15 lead East Tennessee State over Austin Peay 79-57After institutions for people with disabilities close, graves are at risk of being forgotten
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After institutions for people with disabilities close, graves are at risk of being forgotten"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Millions of Americans with obesity would be eligible to have popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy or Zepbound covered by Medicare or Medicaid under a new rule the Biden administration proposed Tuesday morning. The costly proposal from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services immediately sets the stage for a showdown between the powerful pharmaceutical industry and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken opponent of the weight-loss drugs who, as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the agency, could block the measure. While the rule would give millions of people access to weekly injectables that have helped people shed pounds so quickly that some have labeled them miracle drugs, it would cost taxpayers as much as $35 billion over the next decade. “It’s a good day for anyone who suffers from obesity,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra told The Associated Press in an interview. “It’s a game changer for Americans who can’t afford these drugs otherwise.” The rule would not be finalized until January, days after Trump takes office. A bipartisan coalition of congressional members has lobbied for the drugs to be covered by Medicare, saying it could save the government from spending billions of dollars on treating chronic ailments that stem from obesity. While it’s unclear where Trump himself stands on coverage of the weight-loss drugs, his allies and Cabinet picks who have vowed to cut government spending could balk at the upfront price tag. Under the proposal, only those who are considered obese — someone who has a body mass index of 30 or higher — would qualify for coverage. Some people may already get coverage of the drugs through Medicare or Medicaid, if they have diabetes or are at risk for stroke or heart disease. Becerra estimated that an additional 3.5 million people on Medicare and 4 million on Medicaid could qualify for coverage of the drugs. But research suggests far more people might qualify, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimating roughly 28 million people on Medicaid are considered obese. Medicare has been barred from offering the drugs under a decades-old law that prohibits the government-backed insurance program from covering weight-loss products. The rule proposed by the Biden administration, however, would recognize obesity as a disease that can be treated with the help of the drugs. The anti-obesity drug market has expanded significantly in recent years, with the Food and Drug Administration approving a new class of weekly injectables like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound to treat obesity. People can lose as much as 15% to 25% of their body weight on the drugs, which imitate the hormones that regulate appetites by communicating fullness between the gut and brain when people eat. The cost of the drugs has largely limited them to the wealthy, including celebrities who boast of their benefits. A monthly supply of Wegovy rings up at $1,300 and Zepbound will put you out $1,000. Shortages of the drugs have also limited the supplies. Kennedy, who as Trump’s nominee for HHS secretary is subject to Senate confirmation, has railed against the drugs’ popularity. In speeches and on social media, he’s said the U.S. should not cover the drugs through Medicaid or Medicare. Instead, he supports a broad expansion of coverage for healthier foods and gym memberships. “For half the price of Ozempic, we could purchase regeneratively raised, organic food for every American, three meals a day and a gym membership, for every obese American,” Kennedy said to a group of federal lawmakers during a roundtable earlier this year. Ozempic is a diabetes drug that can stimulate weight loss.
Maharashtra: New CM to be from BJP, Mahayuti allies Shiv Sena and NCP to get deputy CM posts, says Ajit PawarNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to records Friday after data suggested the job market remains solid enough to keep the economy going, but not so strong that it raises immediate worries about inflation . The S&P 500 climbed 0.2%, just enough top the all-time high set on Wednesday, as it closed a third straight winning week in what looks to be one of its best years since the 2000 dot-com bust. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 123.19 points, or 0.3%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.8% to set its own record. The quiet trading came after the latest jobs report came in mixed enough to strengthen traders’ expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again at its next meeting in two weeks. The report showed U.S. employers hired more workers than expected last month, but it also said the unemployment rate unexpectedly ticked up to 4.2% from 4.1%. “This print doesn’t kill the holiday spirit and the Fed remains on track to deliver a cut in December,” according to Lindsay Rosner, head of multi-sector investing within Goldman Sachs Asset Management. The Fed has been easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high since September to offer more help for the slowing job market, after bringing inflation nearly all the way down to its 2% target. Lower interest rates can ease the brakes off the economy, but they can also offer more fuel for inflation. Expectations for a series of cuts from the Fed have been a major reason the S&P 500 has set an all-time high 57 times so far this year. And the Fed is part of a global surge: 62 central banks have lowered rates in the past three months, the most since 2020, according to Michael Hartnett and other strategists at Bank of America. Still, the jobs report may have included some notes of caution for Fed officials underneath the surface. Scott Wren, senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, pointed to average wages for workers last month, which were a touch stronger than economists expected. While that’s good news for workers who would always like to make more, it could keep upward pressure on inflation. “This report tells the Fed that they still need to be careful as sticky housing/shelter/wage data shows that it won’t be easy to engineer meaningfully lower inflation from here in the nearer term,” Wren said. So, while traders are betting on an 85% probability the Fed will ease its main rate in two weeks, they’re much less certain about how many more cuts it will deliver next year, according to data from CME Group. For now, the hope is that the job market can help U.S. shoppers continue to spend and keep the U.S. economy out of a recession that had earlier seemed inevitable after the Fed began hiking interest rates swiftly to crush inflation. Several retailers offered encouragement after delivering better-than-expected results for the latest quarter. Ulta Beauty rallied 9% after topping expectations for both profit and revenue. The opening of new stores helped boost its revenue, and it raised the bottom end of its forecasted range for sales over this full year. Lululemon stretched 15.9% higher following its own profit report. It said stronger sales outside the United States helped it in particular, and its earnings topped analysts’ expectations. Retailers overall have been offering mixed signals on how resilient U.S. shoppers can remain amid the slowing job market and still-high prices. Target gave a dour forecast for the holiday shopping season, for example, while Walmart gave a much more encouraging outlook. A report on Friday suggested sentiment among U.S. consumers may be improving more than economists expected. The preliminary reading from the University of Michigan’s survey hit its highest level in seven months. The survey found a surge in buying for some products as consumers tried to get ahead of possible increases in price due to higher tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has threatened. In tech, Hewlett Packard Enterprise jumped 10.6% for one of the S&P 500’s larger gains after reporting stronger profit and revenue than expected. Tech stocks were some of the market’s strongest this week, as Salesforce and other big companies talked up how much of a boost they’re getting from the artificial-intelligence boom. All told, the S&P 500 rose 15.16 points to 6,090.27. The Dow dipped 123.19 to 44,642.52, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 159.05 to 19,859.77. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury yield slipped to 4.15% from 4.18% late Thursday. In stock markets abroad, France’s CAC 40 rose 1.3% after French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to stay in office until the end of his term and to name a new prime minister within days. Earlier this week, far-right and left-wing lawmakers approved a no-confidence motion due to budget disputes, forcing Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet to resign. In Asia, stock indexes were mixed. They rallied 1.6% in Hong Kong and 1% in Shanghai ahead of an annual economic policy meeting scheduled for next week. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 0.6% as South Korea’s ruling party chief showed support for suspending the constitutional powers of President Yoon Suk Yeol after he declared martial law and then revoked that earlier this week. Yoon is facing calls to resign and may be impeached. Bitcoin was sitting near $101,500 after briefly bursting above $103,000 to a record the day before. AP Writers Matt Ott and Zimo Zhong contributed.
1. A hanging garbage bag holder that'll make you say, "Well, why didn't I think of that?" Just sweep any food scraps right in as you're cooking, and it won't crowd your counter space. Promising review: "I love the convenience of this product. It fits perfectly over my kitchen counter drawer and holds my vegetable waste. I was moving my large trash can over to my prep area each time I cooked. Now I just put this trash holder up and a recycle bag. So easy, so clean. I just bought a second one for a friend! " — Kindle Customer Get it from Amazon for $6.99 . 2. A splatter guard aptly named "Frywall" to keep the grease contained when you're grilling a burger or piece of salmon. It's got you covered — literally. It's made of BPA-free silicone that's heat-resistant up to 450 degrees. You can throw it in the dishwasher for cleaning and roll it up for compact storage. This size is designed to fit any 10-inch pan, but it also comes in a larger size and a smaller size . Promising review: "I bought the 10-inch to use with my cast iron skillet. It fit perfectly, was easy to wash and dry, and folded flat for easy storage in the rack with my pot lids. What a dream not to have to clean up those splatters, especially on the cooking grates which are, in my case, heavy and awkward to wash. No more avoiding recipes that call for a sear because I don’t want to deal with a mess. I bought one for my sister...we both don’t like having extra gadgets in the kitchen, but this is worth having. Also great for placing in the salad bowl before tossing...again, no mess. For me, the cooking screens are not worth it because as soon as you lift them to turn your food you get splattering. Getting some for X-mas stocking stuffers." — R. Feinberg Get it from Amazon for $21.95 (available in four colors). 3. A handy gadget for slicing a bunch of cherry tomatoes (or grapes or olives) at once. No more painstakingly slicing them one by one! Promising review: "Great product, I love cherry tomatoes in salad but it always takes time to cut them. Now it’s solved and I liked the slicer so much that I bought five for all my friends and relatives! Thanks to the people who designed it! So simple but so thoughtful." — alena Get it from Amazon for $15.95 . 4. A spill stopper so starchy foods (like pasta and potatoes — the best foods) don't boil over and create a giant mess you have to clean up after dinner...or the next day. This 11-inch spill stopper is made of silicone that's heat-resistant up to 400 degrees. It's also microwave- and dishwasher-safe. Promising review: "This little gadget is amazing — it really works! I've used it with boiling potatoes and pasta. It's so much nicer to be able to just wash this off instead of scraping the burned-on, starchy residue off the top of the stove. After I used it a few times, I bought a few more as gifts for family members, and they're all delighted with them, too. " — Busy Crafter Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available in three colors). 5. A clip-on strainer to prevent your food from falling into the sink — and without needing to haul out the full-size colander. This is especially handy if you're cooking for just one or two people. It's made of flexible silicone and designed to fit most pots and pans. Promising review: "Finally, a product that does what it's actually advertised to do. We were skeptical, but the first time out, it easily fit on the pot we were using. The clips are sturdy and we didn't lose one potato when we drained the pot. In fact, it worked so well, I bought four more and gave them to friends! " — Charla P. Get it from Amazon for $16.50 + (available in four colors). 6. A cutting board with a bottom tray for catching chopped veggies, run-off juices, or scraps. Bonus for BBQ season: you can also use the tray to marinate meats. It's also dishwasher-safe. Promising review: "I have had mine for eight years now and it still is in excellent shape. It is like an extra pair of hands when cooking. I just ordered five more for Christmas gifts. This thing will not disappoint, so buy with confidence!!" — Jason C. Get it from Amazon for $21.99 . 7. A set of stackable refrigerator storage bins so you can actually see all your snacks and ingredients at a glance. It's satisfying, space-saving, and waste-reducing (because you'll end up reaching for more of the food when it's not hidden). Promising review: "I have recently bought a fridge over freezer refrigerator and received the fridge bins as a Christmas gift. After organizing the new appliance with the bins, everything is in 'standup' eyesight. Best of all, it stays organized! I have since bought a set to gift to someone else. I promise it has brought delight to my life!" — M. Malpass Get a set of six from Amazon for $34.99 . 8. A collapsible multipurpose stand that's primarily a bottle drying rack — but can also serve as a plastic bag holder. It's made of solid steel so it's actually very sturdy and stable. Read our review of this multipurpose rack (#1 on the list). Promising review: "This is my second one for myself. I bought a total of four — two I gave as gifts. I have several water bottles and most times I wash more than one at a time. I also reuse silicone bags and sometimes plastic bags and dry those on this item. I dry drinking glasses, too. I have no complaints about this bottle dryer and highly recommend it. I read some reviews on Amazon that said theirs were not sturdy. This one is very sturdy. If you place your heavier bottles or glassware properly and opposite from each other, there should be no problem. I keep it on the counter near my kitchen sink, ready to use." — baby game Get it from Amazon for $16.97+ (available in two colors). 9. A set of stove counter gap covers to keep crumbs (and liquids) from falling into the unreachable abyss. These are heat-resistant up to 446 degrees so you don't have to worry about them melting while you cook. They're easy to wipe clean but you can also toss them into the dishwasher. Promising review: "Ugh, I hated cleaning in between the oven and counters. Crumbs everywhere! I saw my friend had these nifty covers, and I had to have them! Mine are four years strong and still look great. I've ordered a few more for friends and family and they love them! " — H.Kim21 Get a set of two from Amazon for $24.95 (available in two lengths and colors). 10. A brush and squeegee combo for swiping spills and scraps from the counter into the sink. And it'll easily rinse clean after, unlike a rag or paper towel. Full disclosure: I own this nifty gadget and love it. Promising review: "We have had several people ask us where we got this! We have gifted it several times as well. It’s perfect for the gunk in your sink and is easy to use!" — Brynn Leavitt Get it from Amazon for $11.02 . 11. A cold brew maker so you can make delicious, cafe-quality iced joe at home instead of spending $$$ at a coffee shop. Plus, this will actually look cute sitting in your fridge. Promising review: "I have several, both large and small sizes. I always have two in the fridge, one for iced tea and one for cold brew coffee. I have given them as gifts, and everyone loves them. They are super durable, easy to clean and so useful. Worth every penny." — cdunn Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in four colors and two sizes). 12. A slotted fish turner that's definitely not just for fish — reviewers say it'll effortlessly slide under anything like burger patties, warm cookies, fried eggs, and more. It's flippin' awesome. Promising review: " This was a gift for our daughter-in-law because she came here and was envious of ours. If you want to flip anything, get this." — Beth L. Get it from Amazon for $15.95 . 13. A microwave pasta cooker for making dinner in minutes, because some days you're so hungry that the regular way just takes too darn long and requires too many pots and pans. Promising review: " I love my Fasta Pasta so much that I bought a bunch more to gift to family and friends. Making pasta meals with this microwave product is a breeze... much easier and more convenient that the traditional way of cooking spaghetti, penne, macaroni, etc. and the pasta is perfect every time!" — Laura Burnham Get it from Amazon for $16.99 . 14. A perforated washing bowl so rinsing rice and produce won't be a draining process. This colander bowl is made of BPA-free, food-grade plastic and is top-rack dishwasher–safe. It comes in two sizes — both have drainage holes on the side, but the smaller bowl has a solid bottom whereas the larger bowl has a perforated bottom. Promising review: "Love this item. I purchased one over 10 years ago at a store and haven’t been able to find it again until now. Got three because my mom wanted one and another for a family member." — JO Get it from Amazon for $8.15+ (available in two sizes). 15. A two-stage knife sharpener that'll restore dull blades to a razor sharp state. And when you're done, it'll fit nicely in the drawers. Read our full review of the KitchenIQ knife sharpener ! Promising review: "I never thought I'd be writing a review on a knife sharpener, but I love this damn thing. I'm woefully terrible at sharpening my blades with a traditional knife sharpener. I'm better off just buying a new knife set. I had a set of dull KitchenAid knives, and I used this on all of them, and it's completely renewed my set. I can finally chop and slice cleanly. It's such a simple gadget, but it really improved my knives and it is EASY. I gave one to my mom as a gift because I liked it so much. " — Victoria O. Get it from Amazon for $8.45+ (available in three colors). 16. A silicone freezing tray to get perfect individual portions of homemade broth, chili, smoothies, or pasta sauce. It's simply ideal for your weekly meal prep. It comes with a lid to help maintain freshness and keep out odors. It's made of food-safe silicone that's BPA-free and dishwasher-safe. Promising review: "Obsessed with these. As a soup lover, this is the perfect way to freeze some soup for a 'rainy day.' They are very sturdy and can be stacked in the freezer to save space. Easy to pop out frozen soup cubes. Loved them so much, I’ve bought more to give to fellow soup lovers for gifts. " — Hood Family Farms Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in four colors). 17. A manual food chopper for breaking up ground meats, mashing potatoes, or cutting up hard-boiled eggs. This food chopper is made of food-safe nylon and has no sharp edges. It's safe to use with nonstick cookware. Promising review: "I purchased this and liked it so much I purchased and gave away as Christmas gifts. Breaking up meat with a spatula or spoon is SO much harder than using the ChopStir. With ChopStir, you don't get wrist fatigue, and the meat is broken up into consistent sizes throughout the pan. I had a party guest ask me how I managed to break up the sausage in my stuffed mushrooms so well, and I showed her the ChopStir. She was one of the people I got this for for Christmas, and she's been loving it ever since!" — Sarah Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in three colors). 18. A space-saving under-cabinet jar opener reviewers say actually works — on bottles and jars of all sizes — and isn't gimmicky. Promising review: " I got this as a gift and have since gifted to several others. It's easy to install and is completely out of sight. It makes any lid simple to unscrew, even the tiny ones on nail polish! Seemed like one of those useless as-sold-on-TV gadgets, but it's not. I've had the same one for years, and it's never let me down." — S. Spiry Get it from Amazon for $15.99 . 19. A pack of scrubby dishcloths that won't get soggy and stinky or fall apart like sponges. Reviewers say these are durable and last for a long time. They stay odor-free without washing or microwaving and are safe to use on non-stick cookware. Promising review: " I love these so much, I keep gifting them. I had to buy more in fear of missing getting more. Note...my first has not needed replacement. I have one at home and one in my camp gear. I use them very, very, very often. Used on cast iron, blackened with soot, and soap rinsed to clean again. Cannot be better. Caution, it does snag, but who cares?" — Nora Allen Get a four-pack from Amazon for $8+ (available in three colors). 20. A 4-in-1 chopper to make slicing, dicing, and spiralizing 👏 so 👏 much 👏 easier. Reviewers say it's game-changing for prep and has even encouraged them to eat more veggies. Promising review: "I don't usually write reviews but this is awesome! I never knew I needed this in my life so bad!! My hands start to hurt pretty bad after a few minutes of chopping veggies, not to mention it's time-consuming. This dicer has fixed all that!!!!! I love it and have sent one to a couple of family members. Highly recommend if you do any cooking that involves chopping!!" — Leah Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ . 21. A silicone spoon rest for catching dripping sauce while also keeping your utensils separate and secure. It'll be one less thing to worry about in a chaotic kitchen. You know, like the time you offered to make a three-course meal for your in-laws. Promising review: "I like this drip pad (spoon rest) very much. I bought several as gifts for family and friends. I am always using more than one utensil when I cook, so this size is just great." — Caliartist Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and 24 colors). 22. A set of magnetic stainless-steel measuring spoons (with a leveler!) so you never again have to deal with that annoying ring holder. These come apart as easily as they can be stored together in your drawers — without individual spoons getting lost. The narrow side is designed to reach into smaller spice jars. Promising review: "I love these measuring spoons! They are magnetic so I'm not digging through my drawer for the size I want. Love having the two sizes also. Several people in our family got these for Christmas. Now some are getting them for birthdays. " — Tina Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 23 colors). 23. A handheld milk frother that probably attended barista school because it'll help you whip up a cappuccino that looks and tastes incredibly ~profesh.~ Because it's small and battery-powered, you can use it for camping as well. It comes with a stainless steel stand so you don't have to worry about setting it down on the counter. Promising review: "Love it! It works a long time before the battery needs to be replaced. I use it every day, and it lasts 2+ months. Froths and mixes really well. Is portable and cleans easily! ( I always give them as gifts now — people don't know what they're missing. )" — Patricia Get it from Amazon for $7.58+ (available in 22 colors). 24. An adjustable baggy rack to hold storage bags open while you scoop food into them (which means less spillage on the counter and the floor). It folds down flat so it can fit into any kitchen gadget drawer. Promising review: "This kitchen 'tool' is the BEST thing ever! I have a large family and we use a lot of baggies for meal prep and leftovers. These bag racks have changed the game for me in the kitchen! I buy them now to use as gifts for showers and Mother's Day , etc... EVERYONE needs one of these in their kitchen drawer." — A. Roland Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.99 . 25. A 5-in-1 unitool you can use as a slotted spoon, a solid spoon, a spatula, a turner, and a cutting tool. It's truly doing the most. This tool is made from nylon and heat-resistant up to 480 degrees. It's also dishwasher-safe. Promising review: "I love this kitchen tool so much that I have bought it for all my friends and neighbors. It is truly an all-in-one tool. I also love how little space it requires." — Pete Whiley Get it from Amazon for $10 . When the person you gifted your fave kitchen gadget to loves it as much as you do: The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.Rams in search of offensive consistency in New Orleans