US News Today Live Updates: In today’s dynamic landscape, staying updated on the latest developments across the United States is essential. US News delivers the most impactful and current stories from coast to coast, covering a broad spectrum of topics, including politics, economic trends, healthcare, social issues, and cultural shifts. From significant government actions and economic shifts to breakthroughs in technology and the latest social debates, we provide real-time updates and thoughtful analysis to keep you informed. Our goal is to keep you connected to the stories that shape American life, ensuring you’re always in the know on the news that matters. US News Today Live: US to scrap country quota for H-1B visas? Here's how Indian professionals are likely to be affected(NAPSI)—The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but when the average American is spending nearly $1,000 on gifts, food, and decorations, they can also be the most stressful. For many, the pressure to create a picture-perfect holiday can stretch budgets a bit too far. Many of today’s shoppers seek advice from their favorite online influencers, sourcing creative hacks, recipes, DIY projects, and tips to keep the holidays magical without overspending. In fact, 69% of consumers say they value and actively seek out influencer recommendations. Now, questions don’t need to get buried in the comments. This December, TextNow is flipping the script on holiday stress by introducing the Holiday Hotline , a free resource to help you navigate the season, with advice a mere text away. Whether it’s finding affordable gifts, creating a festive dinner on a budget, or even learning how to save on your monthly bills, the Holiday Hotline can make things simpler, cheaper, and—perhaps most importantly—more joyful. TextNow Holiday Hotline: Expert Advice at Your Fingertips From December 5–10, TextNow’s Holiday Hotline connects you with relatable experts (aka some of your favorite influencers including social media creator and podcast host Remi Cruz, Kayla Savings, and Melissa Weiss) who will share their go-to tips for a budget-friendly holiday. Here’s what you can expect: • Holiday Budgeting 101: Learn simple ways to stretch every dollar and avoid those dreaded post-holiday bills. • Affordable Gift-Giving Ideas: Thoughtful, creative gifts that won’t break the bank. • Festive Decorating on a Dime: Transform your home into a holiday wonderland with budget-friendly hacks. • Stress-Free Holiday Cooking: Recipes and meal-planning tips to impress your guests. Need more advice? Just text the hotline at 310-299-3584, and you’ll get personalized, practical tips sent straight to your phone. Win $1,000 for Your Holiday Dinner As if free expert advice wasn’t enough, TextNow is also giving you the chance to win big this holiday season. Enter the $1,000 Dinner Giveaway for a shot at a $1,000 gift card to cover your holiday expenses—whether it’s for food, gifts, travel, or whatever else makes your season special. Entering is simple: 1.Head to TextNow’s Instagram . 2.Like the giveaway post. 3.Share your best holiday tip in the comments (bonus: share the post to your story for an extra entry). 4.The giveaway runs from December 5-12, with winners announced from December 13-16. Save More This Holiday Season TextNow is more than just a phone service—it’s a way to take control of your budget, not just during the holidays but year-round. • Free Phone Service: Unlimited calling and texting on the nation’s largest 5G network free. No gimmicks, no contracts. • Free Essential Data: Get free data for such essential apps as maps, rideshare, and email when you activate your SIM card. • Additional Flexible Data Plans: Add extra data only when you need it, with hourly, daily, or monthly passes. Getting started with TextNow is easy. Download the app to call and text for free over Wi-Fi or unlock free cellular service with a $4.99 SIM card. Learn More For more details, visit www.TextNow.com . Word Count: 491
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Unlike scores of people who scrambled 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 health insurance 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 much-hyped medications 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 typically prescribed 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.Josh Allen, Bills crush Jets, secure No. 2 seed in AFCJames Sowole in Abeokuta Professor of Nutrition and Community Paediatrics at the Ogun State-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Tamramat Runsewe-Abiodun, has advocated community-oriented training for practitioners. With this practice, the professor said medical students, would be more exposed to problems in hands-on training in the communities. The university lecturer made the recommendation, while delivering the 121st Inaugural Lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye held at OGD Lecture Theatre of the University. The Inaugural Lecture was entitled “Nurturing the African Child In The Community: The Paediatrician’s Endless Oddysy?”. She said that Nigeria has the second highest under-five mortality rate of 107 per 1000 live births following closely behind Niger Republic with 117 per 1000 births. The professor said that achieving child health Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 in Nigeria remains a mirage unless some urgent is done to address causes. According to the don, mass exodus of Nigeria’s health workers to Europe in search of greener pasture has continued to worsen the crisis in the health sector leaving four doctors to attend to 10,000 Nigerians as against World Health Organisation standard of one doctor to 600 people. The professor said that the child related SDGs aimed to end preventable death of newborns and under-five by 2030 with specific targets of reducing newborn mortality to as low as 12 per 1000 live births and under-five death to 25 per 1000 live births in every country of the world. She revealed that in 2022 alone, the world lost about 5m under-five and 57% of these deaths occurred in Africa. Runsewe-Abiodun listed challenges to survival of children of less than five years in Africa to include poverty, late prevention of cases for medical care, lack of political will, teenage pregnancy, conflict among others. She added that another major obstacle to stemming the ugly tide of growing under-five mortality is the grossly inadequate medical personnel currently plaguing the country due to mass exodus of its health workers in search of greener pasture. Runsewe-Abiodun explained that “In 2023 alone, a report from the Federal Ministry of Health revealed that 3122 doctors exited the system with 2,134 of them relocating to Europe “A recent report by the World Health Organisation revealed that for every 10,000 Nigerians, there are four doctors to treat them whereas the WHO recommendation is one doctor to 600 people”, she said The Professor of Nutrition and Community Paediatrics emphasised that: “Globally, unless urgent action is taken to end preventable newborn and child deaths, Nigeria, like many low-income and lower-middle-income will not meet the SDGs targets. “About 35 million children under age five will die before 2030. The majority of them coming from families in Sub-Sharan Africa and Southern Asia among other low-income countries”. Runsewe-Abiodun has therefore urged government at all levels to prioritise efforts to ensure that every newborn and child survive. She said that government must take decisive action to arrest the mass exodus of health workers to ensure availability of adequate manpower to provide for the medical of its citizens. The professor also urged government at all levels to improve on its funding for the health sector and ensure universal health coverage for its citizens to cut down on the growing under-five mortality rate.
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But after the girl replied asking Gary Bisset if he was the man who served her in the store, he continued to send her messages on Facebook in the coming months. Newcastle Crown Court heard that they were considered to be generally of no concern. But, shortly before Christmas the tone of the messaging changed and, in the words of the girl, they became, “creepy”. Nicoleta Alastari, prosecuting, said Bisset suggested she should visit his shop more often. (Image: Child Online Safety Team (COST)) Ms Alastari said the girl told her father who was concerned due to the age difference, and he told her to block the defendant online. But Bisset set up different accounts and continued to message the girl. Advised by her father, she made her age clear to Bisset and told him she was still at school. But, in January 2023, she asked Bisset if he fancied her and he replied that he did. Miss Alastari said the girl made it clear which year group she was in at school and asked if he was bothered. Bisset told he she was “pretty” and suggested they should “hug”. Two days later she asked him when they should meet and it was suggested they should go to the cinema. Miss Alastari said after this Bisset turned the conversation to sexual matters and also asked her to send him a picture of her lying in bed. After she sent him a message asking to meet he said he would like to do so and to kiss her. When the girl’s father became aware of the nature of the messaging he alerted the Child Online Safety Team (COST) and gave them details of his daughter’s account. A member of the paedophile-hunting group made inquiries into Bisset and located his address, while on February 1, last year, another COST member and the girl’s father attended his property and confronted him. The police were then informed and the defendant was arrested, making no comment when interviewed. In her victim statement, the girl said it has had a significant impact on her since the defendant’s arrest. She said she did not like to be alone at home when her parents are out, while she is conscious using public transport, and she has serious trust issues. The episode has also left her doubting whether she should use social media, and worried about going to shopping centres as she feels the outcome could have been more serious. Her father said his daughter is worried about going to the shopping centre where she first encountered the defendant as she is worried about seeing him. The court heard the victim has an adhd diagnosis and since events involving Bisset she has increased her medication. The 43-year-old defendant of Daffodil Close, Winlaton, Gateshead, who is of previous good character, admitted a single count of sexual communication with a child. (Image: Child Online Safety Team (COST)) Chris Baker, in mitigation, said a psychologist’s report prepared for the court indicates that the defendant, who he described as, “clearly a very a basic man”, suffers with a borderline learning difficulty. Mr Baker said the Probation Service believes it can work with the defendant to address his issues. “Society would be probably better protected in the long run if Mr Bisset’s issues are dealt with rather than subject him to punishment. “He would be very vulnerable if sent to prison. “He also has long-term medical issues which require a significant amount of medication.” Judge Penny Moreland said over the space of about a month the defendant communicated in a sexual manner with the girl. “There had been sporadic contact for some time and from December 2022 the communication became what the girl described as ‘creepy’. “You admit it was sexual communication for sexual gratification. “She blocked you, but you set up the new Facebook and Snapchat accounts and kept on contacting her in a persistent way. “You were asked if you were bothered that she was 15 and you said: “No”.” It was only when matters were brought to her father’s attention and he sought assistance from the Child Online Safety Team that it brought Bisset’s activities to an end. Judge Moreland said it has affected the victim’s college attendance, made her mistrustful of men, while she has had to increase her medication for adhd and sought help for anxiety. “This was sustained and persistent communication involving use of different online profiles.” Judge Moreland said she accepted that the defendant may not have been aware of the girl’s vulnerabilities. “You have reached 43, been married a number of years and held down a number of jobs, but I accept you have a low IQ which has an impact on your capabilities and you have health issues. “Most importantly, the Probation Service takes the view there’s the prospect of rehabilitation and, so, it’s just possible to suspend the sentence.” (Image: The Northern Echo) She imposed a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, during which the defendant must attend 50 rehabilitation activity days working with the Probation Service. See more court stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here Consett sex offender breached court order within weeks Peterlee sex offender jailed for series of court order breaches County Durham man breached Sexual Harm Risk Order by messaging girl Get more from The Northern Echo with a digital subscription. Click here. He was made subject of restrictions under a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification as a sex offender, both for ten years. A restraining order also forbids any contact or approaches with the victim, also for ten years. Judge Moreland warned Bisset that any breaches of the court orders would bring him back before her, with the risk of custody of up to 12 months as a starting point.
China has approved construction of a mega dam in Tibet that could generate three times more power than the Three Gorges Dam , the world's largest capacity hydropower plant, but may reduce flow of water in the Brahmaputra river to a certain extent. ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping The dam is approved to be built on Yarlung Tsangpo river, which becomes Brahmaputra when it enters India. Located near Arunachal Pradesh, the project raises geopolitical, environmental, and seismic concerns. The building of the dam presents unprecedented engineering challenges as the area is seismologically vulnerable. Total investment in the dam could exceed 1 trillion yuan, or $137 billion, according to a report in Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP). The project may not adversely impact Brahmaputra in a big way but may reduce flow of water in the river, according to experts who have studied China for decades. India had earlier expressed concerns about the project, which could affect millions in downstream population centres in India and Bangladesh. The plan was initiated in the 14th Five Year Plan of China and President Xi Jinping referred to construction of a mega dam during his Tibet visit in 2021. "The project is expected to generate nearly 300 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. By contrast, the Three Gorges Dam, which now has the world's largest installed capacity, was designed to produce 88.2 billion kWh," according to SCMP. 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Through extensive geological explorations and technical advancements, a solid foundation has been laid for science-based, secure and high-quality development of the project, it said. The dam will also drive the development of nearby solar and wind energy resources, adding to the region's clean energy base, Xinhua reported. "This represents a major move in China's green and low-carbon energy transition," it said. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )