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NoneQatar's prime minister said on Saturday that momentum had returned to talks aimed at securing a truce and hostage exchange deal in Gaza following Donald Trump's election as US president. The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release. But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed "willingness and seriousness". "We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told the Doha Forum for political dialogue. He spoke as a source close to the Hamas delegation in the talks told AFP that a new round of negotiations will "most likely" begin in the coming week. Sheikh Mohammed said that while there were "some differences" in the approach to an agreement by the outgoing and incoming US administrations, "we didn't see or recognise any disagreement on the goal itself to end the war". He said there had been "a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office", adding this had affected Qatar's decision to get talks "back on track". "We hope to get things done as soon as possible. We hope that the willingness of the parties to engage in a good faith continues," he said. The source close to the Hamas delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP: "Based on contacts with the mediators, we expect a new round of negotiations to begin in Cairo, most likely this week, to discuss ideas and proposals regarding a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange." The source added that Turkey, as well as Egypt and Qatar, had been "making commendable efforts to stop the war". In a statement later on Saturday, the group said Turkish spy chief Ibrahim Kalin met with a Hamas delegation in Doha to discuss the war in Gaza. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. During the attack, militants kidnapped 251 people, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli military. Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 44,664 people, a majority civilians, according to figures from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry which the UN considers reliable. The US president-elect this week warned on social media of unspecified massive repercussions if the hostages were not released by the time he takes office next month. Trump has vowed staunch support for Israel and to dispense with outgoing President Joe Biden's occasional criticism, but has also spoken of his desire to secure deals on the world stage. On Saturday, Qatar's premier dismissed the prospect of his country facing greater pressure over the status of the Hamas political bureau, which the Gulf state has hosted since 2012 with Washington's blessing. Sheikh Mohammed called the Hamas office a "platform to convene between the different parties". Qatar was not "expected to enforce solutions" on the Palestinian militants, he added. csp/srm/dcp/it
No. 16 Iowa State falls short in Big 12 title game again, this time with CFP at stake
A mum who weighed just six stone was given "staggered overdoses" of paracetamol by hospital staff - and died from sepsis and multi-organ failure days later. Mum-of-two Laura Higginson, from Widnes, Cheshire, was admitted to Whiston Hospital with suspected pneumonia on April 5 2017, and was given the staggered overdoses of paracetamol across a number of days before medics realised their mistake. A month-long inquest heard how the 30-year-old, who was 5ft1 inches tall and weighed 6st, was given doses too high for a woman of her size. The evidence was unable to determine that the overdoses contributed to Laura's death from sepsis on April 19, Coroner Simon Holder said. Handing down a narrative conclusion, he said: "On the evidence I have heard, from April 5 to April 7 Laura Higginson was administered excess staggered doses of paracetamol while a patient at Whiston Hospital. It has not been proven, on the balance of probabilities, that this contributed to her death days later." Laura arrived at the hospital on April 5 and she given three 1g doses of paracetamol through an intravenous tube. The same doses were adminstered on April 6, and on April 7 she was given a final 500mg dose before medics realised they had made a mistake and administered an antidote, the Echo reports . On April 7, Laura's condition rapidly deteriorated and she was rushed into ICU, where she was placed in an induced coma the following day. Her condition continued to worsen, and on April 18 her husband Anthony and children Steven, nine, and Evelyn, seven, were called to the hospital to say their goodbyes. She died the following day on April 19 2017, with her cause of death being multi-organ failure with sepsis, cirrhosis and pancreatitis. The hospital had admitted administering Laura too much paracetamol but said they immediately gave her an antidote and that it had not caused her death. Mr Holder rejected both the hospital trust's request for a conclusion of death by natural causes as well as the family's for neglect. He said: "I have heard the (Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS ) Trust's submission that a conclusion of natural causes would be appropriate. That is rejected. "I also cannot accept the family's submission that neglect be recorded as a finding. I must explain... that neglect in coronial law is quite different. The definition of neglect in this context means a gross failure to provide adequate nourishment or liquid, or provide or procure basic medical attention or shelter or warmth for someone in a dependent position. "I cannot find that the failures by the Trust amounted to a gross failure to provide the basics in medical care. The failures of care do have to be gross, and I don't find that the failures here - that mistake of administering the paracetamol - amounts to a gross failure." He did not write a regulation 28 report for the prevention of future deaths, as the court heard a number of safeguarding measures were put in place at the hospital since Laura's death. But he said he would write a letter to the CQC, the independent regulator of health and social care in England, as Laura's family were not aware of the paracetamol overdose until three months after she had died.
RIDGEWOOD, New Jersey (WABC) -- A New Jersey high school basketball star is doing everything to dominate cancer just as he's continued to do on the hardwood. Johnny Jackson, a senior at Ridgewood High School, is battling stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which first came about last year. "Obviously I still don't feel the greatest, I'm still in the midst of a battle on my hands," said Jackson. "I mean it's just amazing I'm back on the court at this moment." Jackson was battling fatigue after every game and kept going to doctors searching for answers. He was diagnosed with mono. It seemed to linger after numerous visits to the doctor. "Within 10 minutes of talking to the allergist, he said you have to go see an oncologist," said Joe Jackson, Johnny's father. "Every parents worst nightmare to hear that." The 18-year-old's family was shaken by the diagnosis, but his will and determination hasn't been deterred. "You can't help him in this, added Lynsey Jackson, Johnny's mother. "And that's the hardest thing as a mom. But, Johnny has been great the whole time and he's fighting. He told us we need to be strong for him." Jackson is hoping to reach the milestone mark of 2,000 points this season, and on the right track after three games. He is also hoping to lead Ridgewood to a Sectional Championship. "He is inspiring," said Paige Jackson, Johnny's sister. "No one can ever understand. I think this is the hardest thing will ever have to go through as a family." Jackson was honored before a Coaches vs Cancer game on Monday, an event that's gone on for the past 15 years in Ridgewood. ---------- * Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More New Jersey news * Send us a news tip * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Follow us on YouTube
A rapidly advancing opposition offensive has shaken Syria to its core, with fighters reaching the outskirts of the capital, Damascus, and key government-held cities falling to insurgents. In a reversal, President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country as his forces abandon territory with little resistance, marking a pivotal shift in the 13-year civil war. For the first time since 2018, opposition groups have breached the defenses of Damascus, signaling the growing strength of rebel factions determined to overthrow the Assad regime . The question now looms: Who are these fighters, and what comes next if they succeed in toppling Assad’s government? The Opposition’s surge The offensive, which began on November 27, is led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Syria’s most powerful insurgent group, alongside the Syrian National Army (SNA), an umbrella group of Turkish-backed militias. HTS, which originated as a faction of al-Qaeda, has spent recent years distancing itself from terrorist ties, seeking to position itself as a force for civilian governance as well as military action in opposition-controlled territories. HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani spoke to CNN, confirming the group's aim: "We are here to overthrow the Assad government," a clear declaration of intent for the offensive that has already seen the capture of key cities like Aleppo, Syria's largest, and Hama, the fourth largest. 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The SNA has its own regional objectives, including establishing a buffer zone along the Turkish border to counter Kurdish militants—a major concern for Turkey, which has supported the opposition but now advocates for a reconciliation process. "It’s unclear whether these groups will unite in the aftermath of Assad's fall or turn on each other," said an analyst familiar with the region’s dynamics. Although the northern regions have seen the brunt of the fighting, opposition groups have also made significant inroads in southern Syria. The Druze-majority region of Sweida and the flashpoint city of Daraa, a key site of the 2011 uprising, have both fallen into the hands of opposition forces. Daraa, which had been under a fragile ceasefire brokered by Russia, saw renewed clashes after rebels seized control of several districts. Meanwhile, in the east, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by the United States, continue to hold significant territory, adding another layer of complexity to the already fractured battlefield. With Assad’s forces now in control of only three provincial capitals—Damascus, Latakia, and Tartus—his grip on the country is rapidly shrinking. The road to Damascus The insurgents are now in what they call the "final stage" of their offensive, with opposition forces reportedly encircling Damascus. According to a commander with the insurgents, "We are in the final phase of liberating Damascus." On Saturday, Syrian government troops also withdrew from the central city of Homs, a strategic location that has long served as a vital link between Damascus and the coastal region where Assad retains loyal support. If Homs falls to the opposition, it would sever the connection between the capital and the coastal strongholds, potentially signaling the collapse of the Assad regime. Anas Joudeh, a Damascus resident, warned, "If Homs falls and the link to the coast is broken, it will be the end of Syria as we once knew it." As the situation grows more dire for Assad, his international allies, Russia and Iran, are distracted by other regional conflicts. Hezbollah, once a steadfast supporter of Assad, has been weakened by its ongoing involvement in the Israel-Hezbollah war, now under a fragile ceasefire. The international community is bracing for the potential fallout. The United Nations’ special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has called for urgent talks to ensure an "orderly political transition" as the situation continues to evolve rapidly. Pedersen met with diplomats from eight key nations, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, and Iran, on the sidelines of the recent Doha Summit. Pedersen stressed that the situation is "changing by the minute," and that swift diplomatic action is necessary to prevent further escalation and ensure stability in the region. (With inputs from the Associated Press) (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Luigi Mangione, 26, was shackled and seated in a Manhattan court when he leaned over to a microphone to enter his plea. The Manhattan district attorney charged him last week with multiple counts of murder, including murder as an act of terrorism . Mangione's initial appearance in New York’s state trial court was preempted by federal prosecutors bringing their own charges over the shooting. The federal charges could carry the possibility of the death penalty, while the maximum sentence for the state charges is life in prison without parole. Prosecutors have said the two cases will proceed on parallel tracks , with the state charges expected to go to trial first. One of Mangione’s attorneys told a judge that government officials, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, have turned Mangione into a political pawn, robbing him of his rights as a defendant and tainting the jury pool. “I am very concerned about my client’s right to a fair trial,” said Karen Friedman Agnifilo. Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stood among a throng of heavily armed officers last Thursday when Mangione was flown to a Manhattan heliport and escorted up a pier after being extradited from Pennsylvania. Friedman Agnifilo said police turned Mangione’s return to New York into a choreographed spectacle. “He was on display for everyone to see in the biggest stage perp walk I’ve ever seen in my career. It was absolutely unnecessary,” she said. In a statement, Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus said: “Critics can say all they want, but showing up to support our law enforcement and sending the message to New Yorkers that violence and vitriol have no place in our city is who Mayor Eric Adams is to his core.” “The cold-blooded assassination of Brian Thompson — a father of two — and the terror it infused on the streets of New York City for days has since been sickeningly glorified, shining a spotlight on the darkest corners of the internet,” Mamelak Altus said. Friedman Agnifilo also accused federal and state prosecutors of advancing conflicting legal theories, calling their approach confusing and highly unusual. “He is being treated like a human pingpong ball between warring jurisdictions here,” she said Monday. State trial court Judge Gregory Carro said he has little control over what happens outside the courtroom, but can guarantee Mangione will receive a fair trial. Authorities say Mangione gunned down Thompson as he was walking to an investor conference in midtown Manhattan on the morning of Dec 4. Mangione was arrested in a Pennsylvania McDonald’s after a five-day search, carrying a gun that matched the one used in the shooting and a fake ID, police said. He also was carrying a notebook expressing hostility toward the health insurance industry and especially wealthy executives, according to federal prosecutors. At a news conference last week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the application of the terrorism law reflected the severity of a “frightening, well-planned, targeted murder that was intended to cause shock and attention and intimidation.” “In its most basic terms, this was a killing that was intended to evoke terror,” he added. Mangione is being held in a Brooklyn federal jail alongside several other high-profile defendants, including Sean “Diddy” Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried. During his court appearance Monday, he smiled at times when talking with his attorneys and stretched his right hand after an officer removed his cuffs. Outside the courthouse, a few dozen supporters chanted, “Free Luigi,” over the blare of a trumpet. Natalie Monarrez, a 55-year-old Staten Island resident, said she joined the demonstration because she lost both her mother and her life savings as a result of denied insurance claims. “As extreme as it was, it jolted the conversation that we need to deal with this issue,” she said of the shooting. “Enough is enough, people are fed up.” An Ivy-league graduate from a prominent Maryland family, Mangione appeared to have cut himself off from family and friends in recent months. He posted frequently in online forums about his struggles with back pain. He was never a UnitedHealthcare client , according to the insurer. Thompson, a married father of two high-schoolers, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group for 20 years and became CEO of its insurance arm in 2021. The killing has prompted some to voice their resentment at U.S. health insurers, with Mangione serving as a stand-in for frustrations over coverage denials and hefty medical bills. It also has sent shockwaves through the corporate world , rattling executives who say they have received a spike in threats.Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii could be available to play against Ireland on Saturday after the Wallabies’ medical staff ruled out any structural damage to his wrist after the Test rookie appeared to injure it in Sunday’s 14-point defeat against Scotland. Suaalii hurt his right wrist after tackling Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu with only 30 minutes gone in the game. The centre immediately left the field after losing function in his arm and experiencing severe pain but is recovering well enough to take part in training this week in Dublin ahead of the Wallabies’ final Test of the year. Suaalii was only starting his second game for the Wallabies, after his impressive debut against England and an 18-minute appearance off the bench against Wales. The early loss of Suaalii made life even more difficult for the Wallabies, with three tries conceded in his absence. Second-rower Jeremy Williams is also available for selection for the Wallabies against Ireland after illness ruled him out of the matchday squad just before kick-off against Scotland. Williams’ return is timely given Will Skelton has returned to his club La Rochelle in France, due to the Ireland Test falling outside World Rugby’s designated international window. The Wallabies are the chosen opponents for the Irish Rugby Football Union’s 150th-anniversary celebrations and will hope for an improved performance after being so clinically dispatched in Edinburgh. Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa revealed the team’s bitter disappointment after the game in Edinburgh at losing the opportunity of playing for a Grand Slam on Saturday. “The feeling in there was tough, like no one said a word, you could see the body language of the boys straight after the game,” Alaalatoa said. “Because there was real belief, that we could win the Grand Slam and that came through the way that we prepared throughout the whole year and the way that the whole squad has contributed. “So that’s footy I guess, and it wasn’t our night ... so we push on to the next goal, which is to beat Ireland in Dublin.” Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on the ground after getting injured. Credit: Getty Images The Wallabies conceded 14 penalties in Edinburgh, their second-highest total under coach Joe Schmidt, only bettered by 15 against South Africa in their first game of the Rugby Championship in July. Alaalatoa experienced not only the frustration of the team’s disciplinary errors, but also the failure of their defensive system, after the team missed 34 tackles. “Especially around that first half, it was probably just the quality of our tackle, just finishing off those tackles ... our discipline, which are things that we can control,” Alaalatoa said. “So that’s the message for us as leaders, and through the coaches as well, that the momentum we gave them was through things that we can control.” Like the Wallabies, Ireland have two victories and one defeat in November, winning against Fiji and Argentina and losing to New Zealand. Alaalatoa is aware of the scale of the challenge in Dublin, but is motivated by upsetting the form book. “(It’s) very important, Ireland obviously have been number one in the world for a while now, or number one and number two, and they’ve been a quality side for years, so we know how important this is, but I think more so for ourselves as well,” Alaalatoa said. “To come away three (wins) and one (defeat) will be awesome for our group. So, yeah, the boys are well aware of the challenge ahead, off the back of a short turn around. I’m sure the boys will prepare really well for it.” News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter .
Whether governments and local authorities should add fluoride to tap water has always been a politically charged topic. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first city in the world to take this step, in an effort to promote dental health. "From epidemiological data, it was discovered that there was less decay in children's teeth in some areas versus others," Lucy O'Malley , an applied health scientist at the University of Manchester in the U.K., told Live Science. "They found this was because some areas had water supplies that had natural fluoride levels at around 1 ppm [part per million] and that was beneficial for protecting against caries," better known as cavities. In the decades since, health authorities across the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries have introduced similar levels of fluoride to tap water. But what is the science behind how fluoride actually prevents cavities? It helps to first understand the anatomy of teeth , which are made up of an extremely specialized body tissue, Dr. Alexander Morris , a professor of dental public health at the University of Birmingham in the U.K., told Live Science in an email. Related: How does plaque cause cavities? Teeth have four components: enamel (the hard, shiny outer covering), dentine (the bulk of the tooth), pulp (the inner soft tissue), and cementum (a thin covering of the root to anchor it to the jaw), he explained. The enamel acts as the first line of defense against tooth decay. Composed of a mineral called hydroxyapatite — a tough solid containing charged molecules of calcium, phosphate and hydroxide — enamel is the hardest substance in the human body. The bulky phosphate particles are packed closely together , with the smaller calcium and hydroxide ions sitting in the small spaces between. Strong attraction between the positive and negative particles holds this structure together, creating a continuous and extremely tough mineral. This shield protects the softer and more vulnerable dentine and pulp underneath it from damage and wear. Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox. However, frequent consumption of refined sugars — such as those in sugary snacks and drinks — can degrade this protective surface. "When you eat sugars, they get broken down by bacteria in your mouth," O'Malley said. "As the bacteria feed off the sugars, they excrete acid, and that acid contributes to the demineralization of enamel." On a chemical level, the acid leaches the negative phosphate and hydroxide ions out of the enamel, weakening the overall structure. As holes in this enamel surface wear through to the dentine, bacteria can invade that inner tooth tissue and accelerate decay. "If the area of tooth affected gets big enough, the tooth structure collapses, forming a cavity," Morris said. Fluoride addresses this problem by facilitating two key protective mechanisms that help safeguard the enamel. "Incorporation [of fluoride] into the tooth enamel makes it more resistant to the acids produced by bacteria, helping prevent tooth decay in the first place," Morris said. "The presence of fluoride can also help repair early decay by creating more resistant enamel during the repair process." Known as remineralization, the tiny fluoride ions replace a portion of the hydroxide within the enamel's structure. Fluoride is much smaller than hydroxide, so these particles fit better in the gaps between the phosphate ions. This creates a stronger and more compact crystal structure, called fluorapatite. The greater attraction between the different ions in this fluorinated mineral means the negative particles are much less likely to leach out of the enamel. This thereby provides greater protection against acid damage and wear. — Should you floss before or after you brush your teeth? — Which teeth fall out? — Are cavities 'contagious'? Tooth-decay yeast can pass from moms to babies The benefit of fluoride for dental health is well established — in fact, the ion has been included as an additive in toothpaste since the 1970s . "It's become more widespread in usage," O'Malley said, "and from about that time, we've seen a really dramatic decline in the rates of caries." Whether through water, toothpaste or dental treatments, "adequate exposure to fluoride in whatever form reduces the risk of tooth decay," Morris concluded. Some jurisdictions, rather than fluoridating their water, provide children fluoride in milk, salt, or mouth rinses that they're given at school. This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice. Ever wonder why some people build muscle more easily than others or why freckles come out in the sun ? Send us your questions about how the human body works to community@livescience.com with the subject line "Health Desk Q," and you may see your question answered on the website!Qatar's prime minister said on Saturday that momentum had returned to talks aimed at securing a truce and hostage exchange deal in Gaza following Donald Trump's election as US president. The Gulf emirate, along with the United States and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release. But in November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed "willingness and seriousness". "We have sensed, after the election, that the momentum is coming back," Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani told the Doha Forum for political dialogue. He spoke as a source close to the Hamas delegation in the talks told AFP that a new round of negotiations will "most likely" begin in the coming week. Sheikh Mohammed said that while there were "some differences" in the approach to an agreement by the outgoing and incoming US administrations, "we didn't see or recognise any disagreement on the goal itself to end the war". - 'Encouragement' - He said there had been "a lot of encouragement from the incoming administration in order to achieve a deal, even before the president comes to the office", adding this had affected Qatar's decision to get talks "back on track". "We hope to get things done as soon as possible. We hope that the willingness of the parties to engage in a good faith continues," he said. The source close to the Hamas delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP: "Based on contacts with the mediators, we expect a new round of negotiations to begin in Cairo, most likely this week, to discuss ideas and proposals regarding a ceasefire and a prisoner exchange." The source added that Turkey, as well as Egypt and Qatar, had been "making commendable efforts to stop the war". In a statement later on Saturday, the group said Turkish spy chief Ibrahim Kalin met with a Hamas delegation in Doha to discuss the war in Gaza. The war in Gaza was sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,208 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. During the attack, militants kidnapped 251 people, 96 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli military. Israel's retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 44,664 people, a majority civilians, according to figures from the territory's Hamas-run health ministry which the UN considers reliable. The US president-elect this week warned on social media of unspecified massive repercussions if the hostages were not released by the time he takes office next month. Trump has vowed staunch support for Israel and to dispense with outgoing President Joe Biden's occasional criticism, but has also spoken of his desire to secure deals on the world stage. On Saturday, Qatar's premier dismissed the prospect of his country facing greater pressure over the status of the Hamas political bureau, which the Gulf state has hosted since 2012 with Washington's blessing. Sheikh Mohammed called the Hamas office a "platform to convene between the different parties". Qatar was not "expected to enforce solutions" on the Palestinian militants, he added. csp/srm/dcp/it
By KAITLYN HUAMANI The commencement of the holiday season often means the lengthening of to-do lists. There are lights to hang, cards to mail , cookies to bake and, of course, gifts to buy . Gift exchanges, whether they’re among friends, family or co-workers, can be a fun way to get in the holiday spirit. But can also be another stressor during a busy time of year. Secret Santa exchanges — where participants are assigned a gift recipient and tasked with finding them a perfect present within a price limit — sometimes mean that those in friend groups are paired with “frenemies,” someone inevitably draws themselves, or colleagues who are virtually strangers are matched up. Those possible pitfalls inspired Peter Imburg to create Elfster , a free online Secret Santa organizer, after he saw the time and effort it took to coordinate the logistics of a gift exchange with his family over 20 years ago. More top-down organization, he says, helps things run more smoothly. Elfster, for instance, creates pairings, asks for wish lists, offers gift suggestions at different price points and sends reminders, among other features meant to make the organizational hurdles of a gift exchange less daunting. “The organizer is like the hero. They make it all happen,” Imburg said, adding that his site aims “to make it a lot easier for the organizer to do that with a minimal amount of effort.” Cameron Rogers, a New Jersey-based social media content creator and podcast host on wellness and motherhood, understands the stress that gift exchanges can bring up. “Having to give generic gifts to people I’m not necessarily close with is extremely difficult,” Rogers said. “I can pick a good gift for my husband or my kids or my mom, but for people who I don’t know the ins and outs of their lives, I think it’s hard to pick something that you know they’re actually going to enjoy.” Related Articles Health | Researchers launch “moonshot” to cure blindness through eye transplants Health | Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend Health | Nursing homes fell behind on vaccinating patients for COVID Health | A twice-yearly shot could help end AIDS. But will it get to everyone who needs it? Health | States poised to end coverage for millions if Trump cuts Medicaid funding She recently shared a guide to Secret Santa gifts under $50 on her social media channels, emphasizing how challenging it can be to find something within a set price range that will be well-received. Gifts with a specific purpose — kitchen gadgets, home items or winter gear — and gifts that have a personalized aspect like a monogram are good go-to options for anyone feeling lost after receiving their Secret Santa assignment, she said. Imburg said the “gift gurus” at Elfster also have suggestions, especially for recipients who aren’t offering any clues as to what they’d like. In a similar vein as Rogers, the Elfster team offered ideas for some practical gifts, like water bottles, blankets and massage guns. Other no-nonsense home and kitchen items, like food storage containers, charging stations and more are featured on the site’s “Top Trending Gift Ideas for 2024” list. Gift cards, although they are not particularly glamorous, are an essentially foolproof option, Rogers said, and they won’t leave your recipient wondering where they’ll find room on their shelf for another mug or book. “I don’t want to give someone something solely to check a box,” Rogers said. “I want them to enjoy it, instead of being like, ‘What do I do with this now?’” Some gift-givers find that Secret Santa (and its many counterparts like White Elephant and Yankee Swap) actually cuts down on stress and spending, as it’s often done in place of giving individual presents to each member of a group. Nicole Troiano of Cranston, Rhode Island, finds them to be a fun way to handle holidays with large groups — even if co-workers may need to ask around to get specifics on their assigned person. “It’s fun to do it that way and think about something that would be good for that person,” she said. “And then, when they open it, they’re like, ‘Oh my God!’” By the weekend after Thanksgiving, Troiano had already purchased and wrapped her gift for the exchange she’s taking part in this year. After her swap, a lucky participant will be the new owner of a cutting board, two bottles of wine wearing bottle-size ugly sweaters, and gourmet chocolates.