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online games in laptop "Even if you spent hours researching your health plan before making a selection, there's always a possibility for the occasional surprise once coverage kicks in, which is why it's important to assess your healthcare coverage and address any gaps before January 1," said Doug Armstrong, Vice President of Health Products and Services at AARP Services, Inc. "AARP members can take advantage of benefits available to them to help find the coverage and savings information they seek." 1. Examine your vision coverage Eye health is important to quality of life, both in terms of moving around safely and appreciating your surroundings. Regular eye exams with an ophthalmologist or optometrist can help make sure your vision is sharp while also monitoring for any issues. However, many health insurance plans don't include vision coverage. If you do see a gap in your coverage, AARP members have access to information on vision insurance options that offer individual and family plans, featuring a large doctor network, savings on frames, lens enhancements, progressives and more. 2. Plan for prescriptions While several health plans offer coverage for prescription drugs, discounts can vary, especially when it comes to different types of medication. AARP ® Prescription Discounts Provided by Optum RX ® can help with savings. This program offers a free prescription discount card that can be used at over 66,000 pharmacies nationwide for savings on FDA-approved medications. Additional benefits for AARP members include home delivery, deeper discounts on medications, coverage for dependents and more. 3. Confirm your primary care With a new health insurance plan, you might find that your primary care physician is no longer in-network or that they no longer accept your insurance. Perhaps you have relocated and are in the market for a new doctor. Whatever the case, there's no time like the present to search for a new primary care physician who meets your needs. If you're on Medicare, Oak Street Health can be a great resource. The only primary care provider to carry the AARP name, Oak Street Health provides primary care for adults on Medicare and focuses on prevention with personalized care to help keep you healthy — physically, mentally and socially. Benefits include same-day/next-day appointments where available, convenient locations, a dedicated care team and a 24/7 patient support line. AARP membership is not required to visit an Oak Street Health location. 4. Protect your smile Optimal dental care includes daily brushing and flossing and a visit to the dentist every six months. During your visit, the dentist can monitor for and treat any issues, such as cavities or gum disease. However, not all plans include dental insurance, which means you might end up paying out of pocket for your cleaning and other procedures. To avoid that, take a look at your coverage. If needed, explore information on dental insurance options that offer individual or family coverage for the most common dental procedures. Dental insurance generally pays for regular check-ups, so many people who purchase protection will benefit from it immediately. 5. Clarify your hearing coverage Hearing loss is a common age-related ailment. According to the National Institute on Aging , one-third of older adults have hearing loss, and the chance of developing hearing loss increases with age. Hearing aids can be an enormous help, improving socialization, boosting confidence and even helping to increase balance. However, many insurance plans do not include coverage for hearing aids. AARP ® Hearing SolutionsTM provided by UnitedHealthcare ® Hearing provides savings on hearing aids and hearing care . Members can save an average of $2,000 per pair on prescription hearing aids and 15% on accessories — no insurance needed. Plus receive a hearing exam and consultation at no cost and personalized support through a large nationwide network of hearing providers. 6. Consider physical therapy Often, the only times that people consider whether their health insurance covers physical therapy is if they already participate in it or after the doctor has prescribed it. As we age, though, physical therapy can be a useful tool in improving balance or recovering from an injury or procedure to help you remain active. Fortunately, the question of coverage or finding an in-network location doesn't have to derail you. AARP ® Physical Therapy At HomeTM by Luna accepts most insurances and Medicare and is available to members and non-members alike. Plus, Luna's experts come to you, so you can receive quality care from the comfort of your home. If you're creating an end-of-year to-do list, consider adding an assessment of your healthcare coverage. After all, the best time to realize you have a gap in coverage is before you need it. To learn more about AARP member benefits, visit aarp.org/benefits . AARP and its affiliates are not insurers, agents, brokers or producers. AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details.

In chapter 11, referred to by many preachers as ‘The Hall of Faith’, the writer lists an impressive wall of names who are forever remembered for their faith. I have read this chapter many times over the years, but something stood out for me this week that I had not seen before, it was; We may not be too surprised to see Abraham and Sarah’s name, or Noah and Enoch and Moses and King David. But Barak is on this list – he’s the one who wouldn’t go out to war unless Deborah the prophetess went with him, and by faith Israel had the victory! Then there’s Rahab, her profession would leave some families somewhat embarrassed, however, her faith saved her family and she is included in the genealogy of Jesus! Then there’s Jephthah. He made a thoughtless vow which led to him sacrificing his only daughter and yet by faith he too won the victory for Israel and is forever mentioned in this Hall of Faith and in The Bible! Looking at this list, there were two names I thought should have made it into this Hall of Faith, I mean, if Barak, Rahab and Jephthah made it, then where were these two? I presumed that King Saul would have made the list, given he was the first King of Israel, but he is omitted from this list. And of all the Kings who reigned over Israel, surely King Solomon, the wisest man of all, who took Israel to her peak, should have been on this list, but he was not either. It left me wondering why, both these notarise men were intentionally not included. So I re-looked at how Saul and Solomon’s story ended, which may have been the reason for their exclusion. It’s not how you start, but how you finish! King Saul was God’s chosen man. He started well and with much fervour serving the LORD, He was anointed and empowered by God and led Israel well in the beginning, but he could not overcome his insecurities. He took matters into his own hands and did not follow the ‘Rhema Word of the LORD’ through Samuel. Eventually his insecurities produced an intense jealousy of the very guy who was adding to his victory count (David), and by the end of his reign he consults a witch to find counsel from Samuel, until tragically he took his own life! Very tragic indeed. Saul’s biggest problem was insecurity, which led to disobedience of God’s Rhema Word and sadly to his demise. Insecurity is simply putting your trust or security in the wrong place, instead of in Jesus! If you put your trust in man, or yourself, you will certainly face disappointment. Look at what the Prophet Jeremiah had to say about this; “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5 The Psalmist points us back to the true source of security; “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7 You see, there is a reason Jesus is called, The Cornerstone, The Rock of our Salvation, and The Rock of Ages! There is a reason why Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” Matthew 24: 24 & 25 Building on the rock is to obey Jesus commands! Unfortunately for Saul, it was on this matter that he failed, bringing great tragedy for himself and his entire family. King Solomon was always referred to as the wisest man who ever lived, yet his finish was worse than King Saul’s! He finished his reign by building high places to the gods of his wives (which he had lots of them!) eventually joining them in the worshipping of idols in his later years. Not only was Solomon considered the wisest, but The LORD visited him twice! Yet with all his wisdom, he did not apply his own writings, or the writings of others, to his life. The key to Solomon’s demise lies with his number of wives (700) and his concubines (300). It’s not difficult to see that some, if not most of these marriages were politically motivated. Marrying into all these royal families strengthen the king’s position, power and wealth, and as for the concubines, well they came with the wives from the other monarchies. As any man alive would know, a happy wife is key to a successful marriage. Solomon had 1000 to keep happy, and I’m not talking about sex! Eventually their constant demand led him to simply join them in their pagan worship. Surely, no amount of wealth and power is worthy of an eternity separated from God? Solomon’s wealth grew exponentially due to these marriages, and the gifts that came from the agreements made to these monarchies. This was not the case with his father David, who grew his wealth from battles he fought and won. Now the LORD had already given instruction regarding the kings of Israel, we read in Deuteronomy 17:16-17: “The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the LORD. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.” Again, we see from this verse a failure, on Solomon’s part, to heed the written (Logos) Word of the LORD. With both these men we see an alarming warning for us today. If someone like Solomon, who was much wiser and with more anointing than most of us put together, was able to fall, then we ought to take heed lest we think we are immune to the subtly, slippery slope of sin. I’ve now been in full-time ministry for over 30 years and the number of people who once confessed Christ as Lord, but now deny Him, is more than I care to think of. However, in both these cases there is one obvious fault, which lead to their downfall. Both had unique qualities in their circumstances, but both faulted in this one area: They did not follow The WORD of The LORD, both Logos and Rhema. As we near the end of another year, drawing closer to Christmas, let me encourage you as we prepare ourselves for a new year, to be steadfast in your obedience to the Word of The LORD – both Rhema and Logos, remembering the words of Jesus, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 14:23 7 24 Have a blessed Christmas.

NEW YORK (AP) — If anybody knows Deion Sanders' mind, it might be Travis Hunter. And the two-way Colorado star says Coach Prime is indeed staying put with the Buffaloes. “I got a lot of insight. He ain’t going nowhere. He’s going to be right where he's at right now,” Hunter said Friday in Manhattan, where he's a heavy favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night. In his second season at the school, Sanders coached No. 20 Colorado to a 9-3 record this year and its first bowl bid since 2020. Hunter, Sanders and the Buffaloes will face No. 17 BYU (10-2) in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28. Sanders' success and popularity in Boulder has led to speculation the flashy and outspoken former NFL star might seek or accept a coaching job elsewhere this offseason. Sanders, however, has dismissed such talk himself. Hunter followed Sanders from Jackson State, an HBCU that plays in the lower level FCS, to the Rocky Mountains and has already racked up a staggering string of individual accolades this week, including The Associated Press player of the year. The junior wide receiver and cornerback plans to enter the 2025 NFL draft and is expected to be a top-five pick — perhaps even No. 1 overall. But he backed up assertions from Sanders and his son, star Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, that both will play in the Alamo Bowl rather than skip the game to prepare for the draft and prevent any possible injury. “It's definitely important because, you know, I started this thing with Coach Prime and Shedeur and most of the coaches on the coaching staff, so I want to finish it off right,” Hunter said. "I didn't give them a full season my first year (because of injury), so I'm going to go ahead and end this thing off right. It's going to be our last game together, so I'm going to go out there and dominate and show the loyalty that I have for him. “Definitely looking forward to it. I'm just excited to go out there and play football one more time before the offseason.” 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-footballNone

Colorado star Travis Hunter says Coach Prime `ain’t going nowhere'

TORONTO — Canada's main stock index fell more than 100 points Friday, led by losses in base metal and telecom stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed ahead of next week's interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve. This week, the Bank of Canada announced another outsized interest rate cut of half a percentage point while also signalling it plans to slow the pace of cuts going forward. Allan Small, senior investment adviser at iA Private Wealth, said the central bank is juggling a lot of balls heading into the new year, including a faltering economy, a housing market that’s poised to heat up, and a U.S. Fed likely to cut much slower next year. “If (the Bank of Canada) continues to cut when the U.S. doesn’t, where does that leave our dollar?” asked Small. “They’re flying by the seat of their pants.” The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 136.41 points at 25,274.30. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 86.06 points at 43,828.06. The S&P 500 index was down 0.16 points at 6,051.09, while the Nasdaq composite was up 23.88 points at 19,926.72. The Fed has done a better job of tamping down inflation while not harming the economy too much, said Small. The Fed is expected to cut by a quarter-percentage point next week, and its path is clearer than the Bank of Canada’s, said Small. “I don’t think they have much room to cut more,” he said, noting this week saw U.S. inflation data tick up from the month before. “Most people think they’ll go 25 (basis points) and pause for a little while,” said Small. “Would I be surprised to see them not cut at all? No, but I think the market would take that negatively.” Heading into the last few weeks of the year, Small said if there’s a so-called Santa Claus rally, it may be more muted than usual. “It's quite possible we've taken some gains that we normally would have had in December, brought them forward into November, and now December might not be as strong as we normally see,” he said. On Wall St., the Nasdaq did a little better than its U.S. peers as semiconductor company Broadcom saw its stock gain more than 24 per cent after reporting earnings. “I think the commentary on the conference call really caused the stock to shoot up," said Small. The company gave a bright forecast for investors on the back of expected growth in artificial intelligence. This week, Broadcom and Apple also announced a deal to develop a chip for AI. The Canadian dollar traded for 70.27 cents US compared with 70.48 cents US on Thursday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.27 at US$71.29 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down 18 cents at US$3.28 per mmBTU. The February gold contract was down US$33.60 at US$2,675.80 an ounce and the March copper contract was down five cents at US$4.15 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian PressSyrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fellLevine Brothers Look to Continue Family’s Storied Legacy

THIS WEEK’S DOSE Senate Special Committee on Aging Holds Hearing on People with Disabilities. The hearing reviewed the current state of federal disability policy and outgoing Chair Casey’s (D-PA) contributions. House Votes on FY 2025 NDAA. The House passed the fiscal year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a key “must pass” bill for the 118th Congress that includes a few healthcare policies. Congress Negotiates Health Extenders. Negotiations continue as lawmakers work to include a broader health package in the pending continuing resolution (CR). Health-Related House Committee Leaders Chosen. Rep. Guthrie (R-KY) will serve as House Energy & Commerce Committee Chair, and other key committee leaders will stay in their roles. ASTP/ONC Releases Slimmed-Down HTI-2 Final Rule. The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) final rule focuses on provisions related to TEFCA and does not include all of the policies originally proposed. CONGRESS Senate Special Committee on Aging Holds Hearing on People with Disabilities. Senators and witnesses acknowledged the significant barriers that exist for Americans with disabilities and discussed current and proposed federal disability policies. During the hearing , Chair Casey, who lost reelection and will not return to the Senate, released a series of issue briefs detailing his record chairing the committee. The briefs focused on government technology accessibility, home care, nursing homes, prescription drug costs, and economic security for older adults, and can be accessed here . House Votes on FY 2025 NDAA. In a vote of 281 – 140, the House approved the FY 2025 NDAA, moving forward a key “must pass” bill for the 118th Congress that includes a few healthcare policies. Although the final bill text removed amendments related to the Pentagon’s abortion travel policy and medical treatment for transgender troops, many Democrats remained opposed to the bill’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors on TRICARE. Also of note, the NDAA did not include the BIOSECURE Act , which would have prohibited federal agencies from procuring, purchasing, or obtaining biotechnology equipment or services from “companies of concern” in adversarial countries, such as China. Congress Negotiates Health Extenders. As Congress moves to enact a CR prior to the December 20, 2024, government funding deadline, lawmakers have continued bipartisan, bicameral negotiations on inclusion of a health package that would go beyond a simple short-term extension of key expiring health provisions, such as community health center funding, funds for safety net hospitals, and Medicare telehealth flexibilities. If negotiations are successful, we will see this package in the coming days. Health-Related House Committee Leaders Chosen. Previous House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Chair Rep. Guthrie (R-KY) will chair the full committee in the 119th Congress. Rep. Smith (R-MO) will remain the House Ways & Means Committee chair. Reps. Pallone (D-NJ) and Neal (D-MA) will also remain ranking members of the House Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means Committees, respectively. ADMINISTRATION ASTP/ONC Releases Slimmed Down HTI-2 Final Rule. The Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) (HTI-2) final rule includes policies related to the TEFCA Manner Exception and implements provisions aimed at supporting reliability, privacy, security, and trust within the national exchange network. The rule also includes corrections and updates to current regulatory provisions of the ONC Health IT Certification Program. The final rule omits many of the policies that were included in the July 2024 HTI-2 proposed rule . Those proposals remain under further review and development. The final rule was posted for public inspection in the Federal Register and is scheduled to be published on December 16, 2024. ASTP/ONC’s timeline for review, development, and potential finalization of the policies that were proposed but ultimately omitted from the HTI-2 final rule remains unclear. The incoming Trump Administration will likely be averse to greater regulation of technological innovation. Another final rule addressing the Protecting Care Access proposals is currently awaiting review by the Office of Management and Budget. QUICK HITS CMS Innovation Center Releases Report to Congress. This is the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center’s seventh report to Congress and includes information about strategic accomplishments, outreach initiatives, evaluation, model tests, and supporting activities. CMS Holds Webinar on HCBS Grievance Systems. The grievance system for home- and community-based services (HCBS) provided in fee-for-service Medicare must be implemented by July 9, 2026. CMS’s webinar discussed how the system is being used for beneficiaries to share their complaints. The webinar recording, slides, and transcript will be posted here . MedPAC Holds December Public Meeting. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) meeting sessions assessed payment adequacy and discussed updating payments for physicians, hospital inpatient and outpatient services, rural emergency hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, home health services, hospice services, and outpatient dialysis services. MACPAC Holds December Public Meeting. The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) agenda included sessions about oversight of Medicaid managed care organizations, HCBS, the Medicare Advantage calendar year 2026 proposed rule, and transitions of care for children and youth with special healthcare needs. FTC Sends Warning Letters to Companies Advertising ACA Marketplace Plans. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent 21 warning letters to companies that market or generate sales leads for Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare plans. The letters provide guidance and put the companies on notice about deceptive or unfair claims. GAO Issues Recommendations for VHA Oversight. The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) report recommended that the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) take steps to increase the capacity of their oversight and audit offices. CBO Releases Report on Impact of Expanded Premium Tax Credit Expiration. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report found that if the premium tax credits expire, the number of uninsured individuals will rise by an average of 3.8 million per year over the 2026 – 2034 period. 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Releases Scientific Report. The report contains the committee’s independent findings and advice to the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and US Department of Agriculture. OIG Issues Special Fraud Alert. The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) alert warns Medicare Advantage organizations (MAOs), providers, agents, and brokers about fraud and abuse risks associated with arrangements between MAOs and providers. NEXT WEEK’S DIAGNOSIS Congress will be in session next week, in what is expected to be the final week of the 118th Congress. As the clock ticks down to the December 20, 2024, government funding deadline, we await the outcome of negotiations on the health extenders and potential additional healthcare policies that may be included in the stop-gap CR that is expected to run through March 2025. Several public health research and program authorization bills have also been placed on the House suspension calendar , and more could be added. Inclusion on this list does not guarantee the House will consider a bill, but it is a positive indicator.

Major stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market's other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.

Cox Communications has found a new executive to serve its San Diego market. The company announced Dec. 12 that Chantelle Hawken will assume the position of Market Vice President for Cox in San Diego, succeeding Ingo Hentschel, who announced his retirement in November. “Chanelle brings decades of experience in the public and private sectors to this role and she’s built strong ties in the community,” said Sam Attisha, Cox senior vice president and regional manager. “We’re grateful to Ingo for all he’s done for our customers and community in his 30-plus year career at Cox, and we’re excited to have Chanelle serve as the new market vice president.” Hawken previously served as Cox’s West Region vice president of government and public affairs. She previously served as vice president of government and public affairs for California for seven years, and as director of government and regulatory affairs. Before joining Cox in 2015, Hawken held the role of vice president of public policy for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. She also worked in government and media relations with the San Diego Regional Airport Authority and served on the staff of Rep. Scott Peters. “Having proudly called San Diego home for more than 20 years, I’m excited to take on this new role and work with elected officials and our partners in the business, education and nonprofit communities to bring connectivity to residential and business customers throughout our region,” Hawken said. Hawken has 20 years of experience serving on civic and nonprofit boards across the county. She is on the board of directors of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, serving as immediate past chair. She is also a past board member of LEAD San Diego and the Building Industry Association of San Diego and sits on the executive board of CalBroadband. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science from UC San Diego and a law degree from the University of San Diego. She is a member of the California State Bar and completed an executive education program through Harvard Business School in 2022.AP Business SummaryBrief at 2:15 p.m. ESTFairfield 72, Wake Forest 65The Strictly Come Dancing 2024 final will air this Saturday (December 14) Vito Coppola and Sarah Hadland have expressed their affection for each other ahead of the Strictly Come Dancing final. The grand finale of the 2024 series is set to take place on Saturday, December 14. It's been confirmed that the couple will perform their Show Dance to Cabaret by Metropole Orkest, their American Smooth to Proud by Heather Small, and their Cha Cha to Like A Prayer by Madonna, all in a bid to win the coveted Glitterball trophy. Sarah, best known for her role as Stevie Sutton in the BBC sitcom Miranda, has shared her surprise at making it to the end of Strictly's 20th-anniversary series. At a press conference, the 53 year-old was asked if it had sunk in yet, to which she responded: "Not really, no. Because I was convinced we were going to be in that (semi-final) dance-off. I said to you (Vito), where do we go? Because we've never been in a dance-off. And I was like, where do we go? Where will we warm up? I was so convinced." Vito admitted that when co-host Tess Daly announced they had been saved, they "did not expect it at all". However, one person who has been rooting for Sarah, also known as Hadders, is her Miranda co-star and close friend Miranda Hart, reports the Manchester Evening News . The comedian and actress, who watched Sarah live in the ballroom a few weeks ago, has been sharing videos on social media directed at Vito and Sarah, acting as their unofficial 'choreographer'. This week, fans noticed the lack of a new video from Miranda, which she explained in a recent Instagram clip: "Hello, lots of people asking why I didn't do choreography Tuesday for Hadders and Vito for the final. Well, I'll tell you why. Guys, I've taught you all you need to know. I'm an empty husk of choreography and I've got you this far. I got you to the final and now it's over to you... Joking apart, laughter aside, thank you for bringing such joy to us all this autumn and just so much love and luck for Saturday. I can't wait. "To bring it back to me again, it happens to be my birthday and it's the best birthday gift that you're in the final. Love you both so much! " Sarah was quick to join the conversation with her reply: "I mean really could we have got this far without the choreography captain ? ? ? ? I think not caller. Love oooooo." Similarly, Vito expressed his gratitude: "Mirandaaaaaaa Thank you so so much for all the ideas, notes, choreography tips during the entire season. It's actually a trouple us 3. You have been with us since day one until the final and we will give our best also for you. We will celebrate your birthday keeping dancing. The biggest massive THANK YOU. We Love you so very much."

... The Borno State government has established a dedicated desk officer for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), to ensure a seamless loan application process for tertiary education students in the state. Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, made the disclosure when the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr visited the state to engage with students, educators, and government officials, highlighting the benefits of the NELFUND initiative. Wakilbe who reiterated the Borno state government’s commitment to facilitating student access to the loan, explained that the desk officer for NELFUND in the state would work in collaboration with the Special Adviser to Governor Babagana Zulum on Higher Education and other educators. According.to him, the initiative would guide students throughout the application process and ensure they fully understand the benefits of the loan, which he described as a low-risk grant and encouraged all eligible students to take advantage of the programme. The Managing Director NELFUND Akintunde Sawyerr, emphasized on President Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing education in the country, stating that the loan programme is designed to also reduce unproductivity and unhappiness amongst Nigerians students, which often lead to broader societal issues. Sawyerr while explaining the loan’s modalities, which include creating an online profile as a prerequisite for application, clarifyed that the loan was interest-free and does not require a fixed repayment period, thus making it accessible and flexible for students. . According to him, NELFUND, an initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aims to provide all higher institution students with access to financial resources, enabling them to pursue their educational goals and aspirations at ease. During the session, questions were raised seeking further clarification, where the Managing Director provided detailed responses, shedding more light on the programme and its benefitsMatt Gaetz talks before President-elect Donald Trump speaks during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) I have three Filipino American daughters. So I’m curious at how our leaders acted in these nomination hearings when rape becomes an issue. To me, the lesson for Matt Gaetz and even Pete Hegseth – the Trump bro nominees with sex on their resume – is simple. Rape is a serious matter and ultimately is disqualifying for anything in public life. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . But was Gaetz watching Thursday Night Football on Amazon last night? The Cleveland Browns, one of the worst teams this season, upset the favored Pittsburgh Steelers in a messy game in the snow. Emerging from it all was the Browns quarterback, Jameis Winston, good enough to put the Browns on his back and will them to victory. Charissa Thompson, who made the news last year for admitting she made things up as a sideline reporter, fawned over Winston in the post-game. “You’re the best,” she proclaimed again and again. She even had Winston doing snow angels on the field. And all I could think of was this is the formerly disgraced Jameis Winston who was accused of rape while a star player at Florida State in 2012, and the subject of a NY Times investigation on how the local police and the school never took the case seriously. Winston, of course, denied any rape charges but settled with the victim, Erica Kinsman, a former student at Florida state for an undisclosed amount. Kinsman sued Florida state and it settled the matter for nearly a million dollars. Kinsman has been outspoken on the matter and is in the documentary, “The Hunting Ground.” And now more than a decade after the initial indiscretion, Winston gives hope to Gaetz, and maybe even Hegseth. They are the people who believe there is life after rape in America. But maybe there shouldn’t be. These days, Winston is no pariah. The former Heisman winner will always be a sports hero. He got to win a meaningless football game on Amazon and get praised to death by an admitted liar. So the chances are good even Gaetz will be back. This is why it’s essential that the Ethics committee report from women who testified under oath that they witnessed Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old must be released to the public. It’s also important that the Senate fully investigate the Hegseth matter. The details of the Monterey, Calif. police report are out. Hegseth claims it was consensual sex with a married GOP operative. The report said the woman said, “No,” multiple times. What did she mean? The woman has been silenced because Hegseth had her sign a non-disclosure agreement. Right out of the Trump playbook. Rape is meaningless to men to whom “No” does not mean no. This is the Trump bro world. They’re just following the leader. Trump was found liable for sexual assault in the E.Jean Carroll case. FILE PHOTO (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) Trump bros say, “How bad is it when Trump’s now the president of everything?!” Women who voted for the man who took away your federal right to reproductive freedom should consider what he thinks about guys like Gaetz, who didn’t admit to any wrongdoing. He merely admitted to being “a distraction.” And Trump would say on social media in response: “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do.” That’s what you have to be scared about. He’s only going away temporarily. He has a “wonderful future.” If he watched fellow Floridian Jameis Winston praised in victory on Thursday night, Gaetz knows, it’s not just the Trump bros, but most of America, that doesn’t take rape very seriously. And they should. But Trump isn’t mourning the loss of Gaetz. Acting swiftly and politically, he put up a woman to replace Gaetz, fellow Floridian Pam Bondi . She was an ardent 2020 election denier. Is she a rape denier? She was the Florida attorney general during the Jameis Winston case. Now she’s Trump’s pick. Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He writes a column for the Inquirer’s USA Channel. Next year, he’ll be bringing his one-man show to Winnipeg and Edmonton. Stay tuned. See his Emil Amok’s Takeout on www.patreon.com/emilamok Want stories like this delivered straight to your inbox?Stay informed. Stay ahead. Subscribe to InqMORNING

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya , a Stanford physician and economist known for his critiques of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to serve as director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) . Bhattacharya gained prominence as a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, a controversial 2020 manifesto that opposed widespread lockdowns, advocating instead for "focused protection" of vulnerable populations while allowing the virus to spread among lower-risk groups to achieve herd immunity. Also Read: Donald Trump’s Second Term Could Reshape US Healthcare System, With Major Impacts on Affordable Care Act And Medicare The declaration, widely criticized by mainstream scientists and public health officials, framed Bhattacharya as a divisive figure in public health debates. If confirmed by the Senate, Bhattacharya will oversee the NIH's $48 billion budget and 27 institutes, which fund critical research on diseases like cancer and diabetes, the New York Times writes . He has called for significant reforms to the NIH, arguing that the agency suffers from "groupthink" and overreach by entrenched civil servants, an NPR report adds. "Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America's biggest health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. However, critics worry his leadership could undermine public trust in science, given his past positions on COVID-19 policies. Dr. Francis Collins , former NIH director, previously dismissed Bhattacharya's views as "fringe." However, he has acknowledged that pandemic strategies may have over-prioritized public health goals at the expense of economic and social considerations . Bhattacharya's partnership with Robert F. Kennedy Jr ., Trump's pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has further fueled concerns. Kennedy's history of promoting unscientific theories about vaccines and other health measures raises questions about how NIH research priorities might shift under their leadership. Read Next: Trump’s Win, Economic Challenges Lead to Tougher Outlook for Renewable Energy Stocks: Morgan Stanley Photo: Shutterstock This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.President Bola Tinubu, accompanied by wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, arrived in Paris on Wednesday evening for a three-day State Visit to fortify Nigeria-France relations. With the presidential aircraft, Nigeria Air Force 1, touching down at Orly Airport in Paris at about 5:10 p.m, the President was welcomed with full military honours by the French Republican Guard, marking a ceremonial start to his visit. The official engagements, according to a release by Adviser to the President on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, will begin on Thursday at the historic Les Invalides, where French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron will warmly receive President Tinubu. The visit will continue with a distinguished reception at the Palais de l’Élysée, honouring the Nigerian leader. The visit aims to enhance bilateral ties, focusing on key areas such as agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement, innovation, and energy transition. It promises substantial benefits for Nigeria. In collaboration with President Macron, President Tinubu will address initiatives to boost youth exchange programs and enhance skills in automation, entrepreneurship, and leadership. The visit includes strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values concerning finance, solid minerals, trade and investment, and communication. Additionally, both leaders will attend a session hosted by the France-Nigeria Business Council, coordinating private sector involvement in economic development. Brigitte Macron and Nigeria’s First Lady will discuss empowering women, children, and vulnerable populations through Nigeria’s First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative. President Tinubu and his wife will attend a state dinner hosted by the French President before their departure. Deji Elumoye Follow us on: