Judge grants dismissal of election subversion case against TrumpUnlike scores of people who for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” 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.
Ukrainian news outlets say Russian troops are closing in on Pokrovsk, an eastern city that is considered a key logistical hub for the Ukrainian military. The Kyiv Post and Kyiv Independent newspapers reported Friday that Russian troops control areas 5 kilometers or less from Pokrovsk, a city of about 60,000 in Ukraine's Donetsk region. On the positive side for Ukraine, the Independent , citing the DeepState monitoring group that tracks the Russia-Ukraine war, reports that Ukrainian forces have resisted Russian assaults on several other Donetsk locales in recent days. Earlier Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had launched one of the largest assaults to date on his nation's energy infrastructure, sending 93 missiles and nearly 200 attack drones against the nation. In a report from his X social media account, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's air defenses managed to shoot down 81 of the missiles, including 11 cruise missiles shot down by Ukraine's F-16 fighter aircraft. The Ukrainian president said there was at least one North Korean missile used in the attack. In his comments, Zelenskyy lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying of the attack, "This is Putin's 'peaceful' plan — to destroy everything. This is how he wants 'negotiations' — terrorizing millions of people." Zelenskyy also called for a strong reaction from world leaders: "a massive strike — a massive reaction. This is the only way to stop terror," he said. Zelensky said if world leaders hesitate to react, "Putin takes it as permission to continue. Patriots are needed to shoot down these missiles and prove that terror will not achieve its goal." He also called for stronger sanctions against Russia to hamper missile production. The Ukrainian president said he discussed the attack later Friday in a telephone call with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. He said Stubb expressed his readiness to help enhance Ukraine's air defenses as well as Finland's strong support for "Ukraine's sovereign right to choose its own future without external interference, including our choice to join the EU and NATO." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters.Former US president Jimmy Carter dies aged 100Mari Petroleum becomes largest company on PSX by market capitalisation KARACHI: Mari Petroleum has emerged as the largest company on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) by market capitalisation, surpassing Oil & Gas Development Company (OGDC) for the first time. According to analyst Mohammad Sohail at Topline Securities, Mari Petroleum’s market value reached Rs984 billion ($3.5 billion), exceeding OGDC’s valuation of Rs963 billion ($3.4 billion). This milestone marks a significant leap for Mari Petroleum, which ranked seventh in market capitalisation during the same period last year, while OGDC held the top spot. Sohail attributed Mari’s rapid ascent to heightened expectations of hydrocarbon discoveries and a major bonus share announcement earlier this year. The company’s annual report for FY24 highlights a 7.0 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in hydrocarbon sales, reaching 39.01 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBOE). This growth is credited to the successful operations and capacity enhancement of the Sachal Gas Processing Complex (SGPC), accelerated production from the newly discovered Ghazij reservoir, and improved management of HRL, SML-SUL reservoirs and satellite fields. Mari Petroleum’s gas market share as an operator rose from 24 per cent in FY23 to 29 per cent in FY24, while its oil market share grew from 2.1 per cent to 2.5 per cent. The company also reported robust financial results for FY24, posting a profit-after-tax (PAT) of Rs77.28 billion, up nearly 38 per cent YoY from Rs56.13 billion in the previous year. In October, the company’s management revealed that the government had approved the renewal of Mari’s Development and Production (D&P) Lease until November 10, 2029. As part of this renewal, Mari Petroleum will contribute an additional 15 per cent of the wellhead value of gas produced to the federal government. Mari Petroleum also launched a subsidiary, Mari Technologies Limited, on September 25, 2024. The new entity will focus on data centres, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and other petroleum and mining-related technologies. Addressing gas production curtailment, the government is working to manage the number of cargoes and gas volumes required by Sui companies to resolve intake issues. Regarding bonus shares, the management noted that many shareholders have made the required bonus tax payments. For those unable to pay, the bonus shares will be sold at market price, with any shortfall compensated by adjusting an additional 10 per cent of the shareholders’ shares held by the company, according to a report by Arif Habib Limited.Uddhav dumped Hindutva, has no standing to criticise PM Modi, says Bawankule
Commissioner Volker Turk reiterated he is ‘deeply concerned’ about the violence following Venezuela’s contested election. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has announced that his office is starting to resume its activities in Venezuela, despite past clashes with the government of President Nicolas Maduro. High Commissioner Volker Turk made the announcement on Friday at a meeting with the UN Human Rights Council, where he reiterated his concerns about conditions in Venezuela, particularly after its most recent presidential race . “My office has begun to resume its operations in the country in recent weeks. My hope is that we will be able to restore our full presence,” Turk said in his opening remarks, pitching his organisation as a “bridge-builder”. The UN human rights office had previously established a presence in the country in 2019. But that changed in February, when Maduro’s administration accused the office of plotting with opposition members to undermine the government — an allegation made without proof. Its local office was ordered to close immediately, and its members were told to leave the country within 72 hours. In a statement at the time, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil Pinto accused the UN human rights office of becoming a “colonialist” and “improper” presence in the country, stirring up unrest. “Far from showing it as an impartial entity”, Gil Pinto said the office’s actions have “led it to become the private law firm of coup plotters and terrorist groups that permanently conspire against the country”. The Maduro government, however, has long faced condemnation for its human rights record , which includes allegations of arbitrary arrests , torture and extrajudicial killings. Shortly before the human rights office in Venezuela was ordered to be closed, UN officials had expressed concern about the sudden detention of human rights lawyer Rocio San Miguel. In a social media post about her arrest, the human rights office wrote that “due process guarantees, including right to defence, must be respected”. The shuttering of the local office also coincided with intensifying scrutiny over the fairness of Venezuela’s latest presidential election. Maduro, at the time, was seeking a third term in office, but public opinion polls in the months leading up to the race heavily favoured the opposition. The government disqualified several popular opposition candidates from running, including opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and her subsequent replacement, Professor Corina Yoris . Ultimately, Edmundo Gonzalez , a former diplomat, was picked to lead the opposition ticket. The election was held on July 28. But in the early hours of July 29, shortly after polling stations closed, Venezuela’s electoral authority announced that Maduro had won — though it did not release the paper voting tallies that traditionally accompany the results. Critics immediately slammed the announcement as fraudulent and called for transparency in the voting results. The contested election led to protests in the streets of the capital Caracas and other cities, as the opposition published voting documents online that it said proved Maduro’s defeat. An estimated 2,000 people were arrested in the government crackdown that followed, with dozens killed and hundreds injured. In his statement at the UN council on Friday, Turk underscored the human toll of the violence. “Looking back over recent months, I remain deeply concerned by the disproportionate use of force and violence during post-electoral protests in July and August, including by armed individuals supporting the government,” Turk said. “I urge a prompt and effective investigation into at least 28 killings that reportedly included demonstrators, bystanders and members of the armed forces.” Still, in a gesture to the country’s authorities, Turk applauded recent waves of prisoner releases that freed protesters and opposition members detained during the post-election protests. An estimated 225 political prisoners were released under “precautionary measures” — including mandatory court appearances — on November 26, and another 103 were set free on Thursday. “This is an important step,” Turk said. But he nevertheless urged Venezuelan officials to review all the cases of those still detained. “I urge the release of all those arbitrarily detained, both before and after the presidential election. This includes human rights defenders such as Rocio San Miguel and Javier Tarazona, as well as humanitarian workers,” he said. “The continued use of counterterrorism legislation against protesters, including adolescents, and reports of enforced disappearances and ill treatment are deeply troubling.” As part of that alleged ill treatment, Turk indicated detainees struggle with “overcrowded cells” and inadequate supplies of food, water and healthcare. He also called on the Venezuelan government to allow each of the prisoners a fair trial, including access to a lawyer and translators if needed, particularly for Indigenous detainees. Looking ahead to Maduro’s inauguration in January and National Assembly elections later in 2025, Turk reflected on his previous visits to Venezuela. He cast his office’s role in the country as one of cooperation. “It was clear to me then, as it is now, that the society needs to heal; overcome divisions and polarisation; and engage in an inclusive dialogue as an absolute priority,” Turk said. “We stand ready to support the people of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela during these difficult times in a spirit of constructive engagement.”You may have missed this 2024 movie. Here’s why you need to watch it right nowEven with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight
[Source: Bollywood Hungama] Manoj Bajpayee plays the role of undercover RAW agent in this Amazon Prime Video original. As Manoj Bajpayee fans excitedly await the premiere of Season 3 of his popular web-series The Family Man, the actor has dropped a major update that will definitely leave them intrigued. Manoj, who was expected to be shooting for a major schedule of the highly awaited Raj and DK web-show, has wrapped up the same and decided to share about it on his social media handle. Much to the excitement of fans, Manoj Bajpayee took to his Instagram page to share a story, announcing the wrap up of The Family Man Season 3. The actor posted a picture of the cake that read, “2024 Shoot Wrap Up” and the actor along with his co-star Sharib Hashmi, were tagged. Apart from that, the actor also penned a message teasing the audience about the wait for the new season as he wrote, “Shooting Wrapped!! For Family Man 3! Aur Thoda Intezar..” and also added a hourglass emoji. It seems that the actor wants the fans to guess the date of the premiere of The Family Man 3. Readers would be aware that The Family Man features Manoj Bajpayee in the role of Srikanth Tiwari and Priyamani playing the role of his wife Suchitra with Ashlesha Thakur and Vedant Sinha playing his kids Dhriti and Atharv respectively. Along with giving glimpses of the family life of the undercover RAW agent Srikanth Tiwari, The Family Man also showcases how he races against time as he tries to protect his nation and family against potential threats showcasing his heroic side. Apart from him, Sharib Hashmi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Dalip Tahil, Sharad Kelkar, among others also play key roles. While the first season saw Sunny Hinduja as the lead antagonist, who also essayed an important character in the second season which featured Samantha Ruth Prabhu, it is yet to be seen if the popular actor will mark his reentry into the third season too. While the show will premiere on Amazon Prime Video, the date for the same remains under wraps.
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* US Treasury yields, strong dollar weigh on emerging Asia FX * South Korean won, shares edge higher after Friday's sharp fall * Indonesian rupiah up 0.5%, Thai baht gains 0.3% By John Biju Dec 30 - Most Asian currencies were subdued on Monday, pressured by high U.S. Treasury yields and a firm dollar, while South Korean markets recovered slightly after last week's parliament vote to impeach acting president Han Duck-soo. Equities in the region edged higher, with stocks in Malaysia and Singapore each gaining 0.3%. The South Korean won rose 0.2% after falling to a more than 15-year low on Friday, following Han's impeachment. Equities climbed 0.4% after Friday's fall of about 1%. "The political uncertainties and faster rate cut pace should keep the won on the back foot in the coming months," said Ken Cheung, chief Asia FX strategist at Mizuho Bank. The won is the worst performing currency in emerging Asia so far this year, having lost some 12% amid political turmoil, weak exports, fears of U.S. tariffs and an unexpected rate cut from the Bank of Korea. The country's factory output fell more sharply than expected in November amid slowing exports and weakening business confidence, data showed on Monday. Most other Asian currencies were largely unchanged amid pressure from high U.S. Treasury yields and with the dollar at a multimonth peak. Yields on 10-year Treasuries are near eight-month highs at 4.631% and ending the year around 75 basis points above where they started it, despite the Fed making 100 basis points of cuts to cash rates. The Federal Reserve's hawkish tilt at its December policy meeting has weighed on Asian currencies, which were already under pressure from fears of U.S. tariffs in 2025. The Indonesian rupiah rose 0.5% on Monday. The Thai baht climbed 0.3% while equities gained 0.4%. Thailand will implement a global minimum corporate tax of 15% on multinational enterprises from the beginning of January, the finance ministry said on Friday. Mizuho's Cheung said the move should be supportive of the baht over the medium term, as it signals a step towards joining the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development . HIGHLIGHTS: ** Japan's factory activity shrinks at slower pace, PMI shows ** China's Nov industrial profits narrow decline but 2024 likely worst year in decades ** Thai advisory council says candidate for cbank chair ineligible due to recent political role Asian currenc ies and stocks as at 0345 GMT COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX INDE STOCK STOCK DAILY YTD X S S YTD % % DAILY % % Japan 0.02 -10. China 6 EC> India 0.03 -2.6 Indones 0.46 -4.7 Malaysi 0.07 2.8 Philipp - -4.5 S.Korea 28 11> Singapo 0.08 -2.8 Taiwan -0.01 -6.0 Thailan 0.32 0.6 This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.Scott Rabalais: 2025 starts now for Brian Kelly, LSU in terms of retention and recruitment
From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha Former National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and an aspirant for the party’s ticket in next year’s governorship election in Anambra, Sir Paul Chukwuma, has stated that Anambra has no laid-down agreement on the rotation of power among the senatorial zones in the state for the governorship seat. Chukwuma, who spoke in his country home, Nneyi Umueri community, Anambra East LGA, yesterday during a media parley with journalists, said the zoning pattern said to be operating in the state at present is entirely the arrangement of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which the party created as it has perpetuated its rule of the state in succession since 2006. Chukwuma, who disclosed that he has never joined APGA and has always been an APC chieftain since joining politics, noted that his own party, the APC, has no such power-sharing formula in place in the state but is currently poised to take over power during the next governorship election. He noted that those pushing the zoning narrative as the election gets underway in the state were only doing so to hoodwink sentimental politicians, stating that candidates from other zones have always contested elections in the state during the governorship elections, irrespective of where APGA may have decided to zone the governorship slot. He bemoaned what he described as the terrible state of affairs in Anambra under Governor Chukwuma Soludo and said he possesses a clear vision of the issues in the Anambra polity and how to steer the state away from its present governance deficits. He lamented that civil servants are presently not smiling in the state, while the security of lives and properties is no longer guaranteed. He said traders and the organised private sector were being overtaxed in an inhuman manner, while there is a dearth of human capital development in Anambra. “I’ve presented myself for the service of the people with a clear-cut blueprint on how to turn around the state in a positive light. My administration will do everything, including the provision of security within the ambit of the law, shunning every element of nepotism and adopting a holistic approach to security issues in the state,” he stated.
Guadiz says public transport modernization sped up in 2024
Century-Long Legacy: Assam's Rice RevolutionRutgers tries to avoid another Ivy loss when Columbia visitsDespite a resounding defeat at the hands of Ronald Reagan in 1980, the Democrat forged a new path promoting causes such as electoral probity abroad, social justice and drives to rid the world of medical conditions. His first foreign visit as president was to the UK where then prime minister James Callaghan, as well as the usual visits in London, took his guest to the North East with a visit to Newcastle, Sunderland and Washington – the village bearing the name of the first ever president. Mr Carter delighted crowds in the North East by saying “Howay the lads” during a speech to the assembled throng. He also received a miner’s lamp from 12-year-old Ian McEree in Washington. The 39th US president also carried out more traditional presidential duties, including meetings with western European leaders during his time in London while the Cold War was still ongoing. The practising Baptist continued his globetrotting ways after leaving power, even without Air Force One as his vehicle. He was also part of the Elders, a group of experienced statesmen and women drawn from all corners of the world.
Spanish Bar Owner Arrested After Google Maps Captures Him 'Stuffing Dead Body Into Car Boot'
FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setupAustralian stock exchange targets 2029 for phase two of trading software overhaul