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Stock market today: Wall Street slips as technology stocks drag on the market NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks slipped as Wall Street closes out a holiday-shortened week. The S&P 500 fell 1.4% Friday and the the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 402 points, or 0.9%. The Nasdaq composite is down 2%. Technology stocks were the biggest drag on the market. The major indexes are still on track to close the week with gains, and the S&P 500 remains headed for its second consecutive annual gain of more than 20%. In Asia, Japan’s benchmark index surged as the yen remained weak against the dollar. Stocks in South Korea fell after the main opposition party voted to impeach the country’s acting leader. Most Americans blame insurance profits and denials alongside the killer in UHC CEO death, poll finds WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe health insurance profits and coverage denials share responsibility for the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO — although not as much as the person who pulled the trigger. So says a new poll from NORC at the University of Chicago. It finds that about 8 in 10 Americans say that the person who committed the killing has “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of responsibility for the Dec. 4 shooting of Brian Thompson. Still, some see suspect Luigi Mangione as a heroic figure. About 7 in 10 adults say coverage denials or health insurance profits also bear at least “a moderate amount” of responsibility for Thompson’s death. Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal? Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that's still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion. The prize has evoked headlines across the country, despite the nation's top 10 jackpots already having boasted billion-dollar payouts. Jonathan Cohen is the author of the book “For a Dollar and a Dream: State Lotteries in Modern America.” He says he expects jackpots to continue to grow in size. Larger payouts attract more media attention, increase ticket sales and bring in new players. How the stock market defied expectations again this year, by the numbers NEW YORK (AP) — What a wonderful year 2024 has been for investors. U.S. stocks ripped higher and carried the S&P 500 to records as the economy kept growing and the Federal Reserve began cutting interest rates. The benchmark index posted its first back-to-back annual gains of more than 20% since 1998. The year featured many familiar winners, such as Big Tech, which got even bigger as their stock prices kept growing. But it wasn’t just Apple, Nvidia and the like. Bitcoin and gold surged and “Roaring Kitty” reappeared to briefly reignite the meme stock craze. Richard Parsons, prominent executive who led Time Warner and Citigroup, dies at 76 NEW YORK (AP) — Richard Parsons, one of corporate America’s most prominent Black executives who held top posts at Time Warner and Citigroup, has died. He was 76. Parsons died Thursday at his Manhattan home. He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2015 and cited “unanticipated complications” from the disease for cutting back on work a few years later. Financial services company Lazard confirmed his death. Parsons was a longtime member of the company's board. His friend Ronald Lauder told The New York Times that the cause of death was cancer. Parsons stepped down Dec. 3 from the boards of Lazard and Lauder’s company, Estée Lauder, citing health reasons. He had been on Estée Lauder’s board for 25 years. Israel strikes Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital while the WHO chief says he was meters away JERUSALEM (AP) — A new round of Israeli airstrikes in Yemen has targeted the Houthi rebel-held capital of Sanaa and multiple ports. The World Health Organization’s director-general said Thursday's bombardment took place just “meters away” as he was about to board a flight in Sanaa. He says a crew member was hurt. The strikes followed several days of Houthi attacks and launches setting off sirens in Israel. Israel's military says it attacked infrastructure used by the Houthis at the airport in Sanaa, power stations and ports. The Israeli military later said it wasn’t aware that the WHO chief was at the location in Yemen. At least three people were reported killed and dozens injured in the Sanaa airport strike. Holiday shoppers increased spending by 3.8% despite higher prices New data shows holiday sales rose this year even as Americans wrestled with still high prices in many grocery necessities and other financial worries. According to Mastercard SpendingPulse, holiday sales from the beginning of November through Christmas Eve climbed 3.8%, a faster pace than the 3.1% increase from a year earlier. The measure tracks all kinds of payments including cash and debit cards. This year, retailers were even more under the gun to get shoppers in to buy early and in bulk since there were five fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Mastercard SpendingPulse says the last five days of the season accounted for 10% of the spending. Sales of clothing, electronics and Jewelry rose. Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Finnish police say authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables. It was the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure. Police and border guards boarded the Eagle S and took control as they investigate damage to the Estlink-2 undersea power cable. The cable brings electricity from Finland to Estonia across the Baltic Sea. The cable went down on Wednesday. The incident follows damage to two data cables and the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Both have been termed sabotage. Climate-friendly electricity sees big battery projects soar again for 2024 2024 was another banner year for a source of electricity that is better for people’s lungs, better for climate change and may be reaching your home now when you turn on the lights or turn up the thermostat — large banks of batteries. Storing extra power in batteries effectively extends the hours of solar and wind power in a day. Storage is also important as global electricity demand rises. Last, it is important for increasingly frequent extreme weather events, worsened by climate change. Texas and California are embracing the benefits of batteries, but some other regions are dragging their feet. Russian ship that sank in the Mediterranean was attacked, owner says MOSCOW (AP) — The Russian operator of a cargo ship that sank in the Mediterranean Sea between Spain and Algeria says it has been hit by a series of explosions in an act of sabotage. Oboronlogistica is a state-controlled company that operated the Ursa Major freighter. The company said the vessel was wrecked by three powerful explosions just above the water line in what it described as a “terrorist attack” that caused it to sink on Monday. The company said in a statement carried by Russia’s state RIA Novosti news agency on Thursday that the explosions left a hole in the ship’s starboard and filled the engine room with acrid smoke. That hampered the crew’s attempts to access it.slot game volatility 。

TORONTO — Two Canadian Cabinet ministers met with President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for commerce secretary at Mar-a-Lago on Friday as Canada tries to avoid sweeping tariffs when Trump takes office. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc and Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly met with Howard Lutnick, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary, as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump’s pick to lead the Interior Department. Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States — even though far fewer of each cross into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened. “Minister LeBlanc and Minister Joly had a positive, productive meeting at Mar-a-Lago with Howard Lutnick and Doug Burgum, as a follow-up to the dinner between the Prime Minister and President Trump last month,” said Jean-Sébastien Comeau, a spokesman for LeBlanc. Comeau said both ministers outlined the measures in Canada's billion-dollar plan to increase security at the border and reiterated “the shared commitment to strengthen border security as well as combat the harm caused by fentanyl to save Canadian and American lives.” Get the latest breaking news as it happens. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy . Comeau said Lutnick and Burgum agreed to relay the information to Trump. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Finance, Public Safety and Intergovernmental Affairs, participates in a news conference after a swearing in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Dec. 16, 2024. Credit: AP/Justin Tang Further discussions are expected in the coming weeks. Joly will also have dinner with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham on Friday. Trump has been trolling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on social media in recent weeks by calling him the Governor of the 51st state. Trudeau has not directly responded, but did post a link Thursday to a six-minute video on YouTube from 2010 in which American NBC journalist Tom Brokaw “explains Canada to Americans.” “Some information about Canada for Americans” Trudeau wrote in the post on X. Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick speaks during a news conference with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla. Credit: AP/Evan Vucci The video, which originally aired during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, explains similarities between the two countries, the massive trading relationship and the actions of the Canadian military in World War 2 and Afghanistan. “In our darkest hours Canada has been with us,” Brokaw says in the video. “In the long history of sovereign neighbors there has never been a relationship as close, productive and peaceful as the U.S. and Canada.” Trudeau has told Trump that Americans would also suffer if the president-elect follows through on a plan to impose sweeping tariffs on Canadian products. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada. Alberta alone sends 4.3 million barrel s of oil per day to the U.S which tends to consume about 20 million barrels a day. Trump has also made an issue of the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, erroneously calling it a subsidy. Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, has said the U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year. But she noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. are energy exports and said there is a deficit when oil prices are high. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. Flows of migrants and seizures of drugs are vastly different at the U.S.’s two land borders. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border during the last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time.

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By Vanessa G. Sánchez, KFF Health News (TNS) LOS ANGELES — President-elect Donald Trump’s promise of mass deportations and tougher immigration restrictions is deepening mistrust of the health care system among California’s immigrants and clouding the future for providers serving the state’s most impoverished residents. At the same time, immigrants living illegally in Southern California told KFF Health News they thought the economy would improve and their incomes might increase under Trump, and for some that outweighed concerns about health care. Community health workers say fear of deportation is already affecting participation in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program for low-income residents, which was expanded in phases to all immigrants regardless of residency status over the past several years. That could undercut the state’s progress in reducing the uninsured rate, which reached a record low of 6.4% last year. Immigrants lacking legal residency have long worried that participation in government programs could make them targets, and Trump’s election has compounded those concerns, community advocates say. The incoming Trump administration is also expected to target Medicaid with funding cuts and enrollment restrictions , which activists worry could threaten the Medi-Cal expansion and kneecap efforts to extend health insurance subsidies under Covered California to all immigrants. “The fear alone has so many consequences to the health of our communities,” said Mar Velez , director of policy with the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. “This is, as they say, not their first rodeo. They understand how the system works. I think this machine is going to be, unfortunately, a lot more harmful to our communities.” Alongside such worries, though, is a strain of optimism that Trump might be a boon to the economy, according to interviews with immigrants in Los Angeles whom health care workers were soliciting to sign up for Medi-Cal. Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Clinics and community health workers encourage immigrants to enroll for health coverage through Medi-Cal and Covered California. But workers have noticed that fear of deportation has chilled participation. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Community health workers like Yanet Martinez encourage people to enroll for health benefits. But many California immigrants fear that using subsidized services could hurt their chances of obtaining legal residency. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Since Election Day, community health worker Yanet Martinez said, people are more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” Martinez said. (Vanessa G. Sánchez/KFF Health News/TNS) Selvin, 39, who, like others interviewed for this article, asked to be identified by only his first name because he’s living here without legal permission, said that even though he believes Trump dislikes people like him, he thinks the new administration could help boost his hours at the food processing facility where he works packing noodles. “I do see how he could improve the economy. From that perspective, I think it’s good that he won.” He became eligible for Medi-Cal this year but decided not to enroll, worrying it could jeopardize his chances of changing his immigration status. “I’ve thought about it,” Selvin said, but “I feel like it could end up hurting me. I won’t deny that, obviously, I’d like to benefit — get my teeth fixed, a physical checkup.” But fear holds him back, he said, and he hasn’t seen a doctor in nine years. It’s not Trump’s mass deportation plan in particular that’s scaring him off, though. “If I’m not committing any crimes or getting a DUI, I think I won’t get deported,” Selvin said. Petrona, 55, came from El Salvador seeking asylum and enrolled in Medi-Cal last year. She said that if her health insurance benefits were cut, she wouldn’t be able to afford her visits to the dentist. A street food vendor, she hears often about Trump’s deportation plan, but she said it will be the criminals the new president pushes out. “I’ve heard people say he’s going to get rid of everyone who’s stealing.” Although she’s afraid she could be deported, she’s also hopeful about Trump. “He says he’s going to give a lot of work to Hispanics because Latinos are the ones who work the hardest,” she said. “That’s good, more work for us, the ones who came here to work.” Newly elected Republican Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who flipped a seat long held by Democrats in the Latino-heavy desert region in the southeastern part of the state, said his constituents were anxious to see a new economic direction. “They’re just really kind of fed up with the status quo in California,” Gonzalez said. “People on the ground are saying, ‘I’m hopeful,’ because now we have a different perspective. We have a businessperson who is looking at the very things that we are looking at, which is the price of eggs, the price of gas, the safety.” Gonzalez said he’s not going to comment about potential Medicaid cuts, because Trump has not made any official announcement. Unlike most in his party, Gonzalez said he supports the extension of health care services to all residents regardless of immigration status . Health care providers said they are facing a twin challenge of hesitancy among those they are supposed to serve and the threat of major cuts to Medicaid, the federal program that provides over 60% of the funding for Medi-Cal. Health providers and policy researchers say a loss in federal contributions could lead the state to roll back or downsize some programs, including the expansion to cover those without legal authorization. California and Oregon are the only states that offer comprehensive health insurance to all income-eligible immigrants regardless of status. About 1.5 million people without authorization have enrolled in California, at a cost of over $6 billion a year to state taxpayers. “Everyone wants to put these types of services on the chopping block, which is really unfair,” said state Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat and chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus. “We will do everything we can to ensure that we prioritize this.” Sen. Gonzalez said it will be challenging to expand programs such as Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, for which immigrants lacking permanent legal status are not eligible. A big concern for immigrants and their advocates is that Trump could reinstate changes to the public charge policy, which can deny green cards or visas based on the use of government benefits. “President Trump’s mass deportation plan will end the financial drain posed by illegal immigrants on our healthcare system, and ensure that our country can care for American citizens who rely on Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security,” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to KFF Health News. During his first term, in 2019, Trump broadened the policy to include the use of Medicaid, as well as housing and nutrition subsidies. The Biden administration rescinded the change in 2021. KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News, found immigrants use less health care than people born in the United States. And about 1 in 4 likely undocumented immigrant adults said they have avoided applying for assistance with health care, food, and housing because of immigration-related fears, according to a 2023 survey . Another uncertainty is the fate of the Affordable Care Act, which was opened in November to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are protected by the Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals program. If DACA eligibility for the act’s plans, or even the act itself, were to be reversed under Trump, that would leave roughly 40,000 California DACA recipients, and about 100,000 nationwide , without access to subsidized health insurance. On Dec. 9, a federal court in North Dakota issued an order blocking DACA recipients from accessing Affordable Care Act health plans in 19 states that had challenged the Biden administration’s rule. Clinics and community health workers are encouraging people to continue enrolling in health benefits. But amid the push to spread the message, the chilling effects are already apparent up and down the state. “¿Ya tiene Medi-Cal?” community health worker Yanet Martinez said, asking residents whether they had Medi-Cal as she walked down Pico Boulevard recently in a Los Angeles neighborhood with many Salvadorans. “¡Nosotros podemos ayudarle a solicitar Medi-Cal! ¡Todo gratuito!” she shouted, offering help to sign up, free of charge. “Gracias, pero no,” said one young woman, responding with a no thanks. She shrugged her shoulders and averted her eyes under a cap that covered her from the late-morning sun. Since Election Day, Martinez said, people have been more reluctant to hear her pitch for subsidized health insurance or cancer prevention screenings. “They think I’m going to share their information to deport them,” she said. “They don’t want anything to do with it.” This article was produced by KFF Health News , which publishes California Healthline , an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation . ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The 49ers will do everything they can to finish the 2024 season with a 9-8 record but coach Kyle Shanahan isn’t thinking beyond that. A 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams all but ended their playoff aspirations with games at Miami, at home against Detroit and the regular-season finale in Arizona still to play. For a team that had played in the NFC Championship Game four out of the last five years and played in two Super Bowls, it’s a huge letdown. “I’ll talk about 2025 when we get to 2025,” Shanahan said in a conference call with local media Friday. “But you have hope every year. You put together the best team possible, you go and practice and you go out there and you battle. So that’s what we do every single offseason. “You figure out how to get the best players possible through free agency and the Draft, you try to keep your best players as possible, you go to work and you show up for Week One.” The 49ers are coming to grips with being an also-ran. The reasons for the 49ers’ slide go much further than making a bad choice last offseason to bring in linebacker De’Vondre Campbell as a temporary replacement for Dre Greenlaw, who was rehabbing a torn Achilles. The 49ers are working through the process of removing Campbell from the roster either through suspension or release after he declined to play against the Rams. One thing Shanahan has no intention of doing is questioning his team’s want-to and preparation, even of those qualities have resulted in something foreign for the 49ers in terms of playing clean football. “I thought our guys showed up ready to play,” Shanahan said. “I thought we battled and a few key plays were the difference in the game. But I thought our guys sold out and I expect them to sell out the next three games.” While the 49ers’ commitment wasn’t an issue other than Campbell, their execution and playmaking was a huge problem on offense. The 49ers gained 191 yards of total offense, the second-lowest number since Shanahan arrived in 2017 and took control of the offense. It’s only the second time the 49ers failed to gain 200 yards of offense in 141 games with Shanahan as head coach. The only time they gained fewer yards was a 31-7 loss to Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game played for more than three quarters without a viable quarterback since Brock Purdy (elbow) and Josh Johnson (concussion) were injured and Purdy had to re-enter the game unable to pass. The 49ers were so anemic against the Rams they failed to reach the red zone just one week after going 5-for-6 in a 38-13 win over the Chicago Bears. Asked if he could ever remember that happening as a play-caller, Shanahan said, “I’m not sure. I’ve been doing this a long time.” On the 49ers’ second series, Purdy found tight end George Kittle for a 33-yard gain — the play set up a 53-yard field goal by Jake Moody for a 3-0 lead — and the 49ers didn’t have a snap that gained more than 18 yards the rest of the night. They averaged 3.6 yards per snap and were 3-for-12 on third-down conversions. “I know that we were averaging like three yards a play at halftime. I don’t know what it was after that,” Kittle said. “They came out with some funky looks once in a while, but I just thought as skill positions, whether it was tight end, quarterback, running back, fullback, wide receiver, I just thought we could have stepped up our game and played better and we didn’t. “ Purdy insisted there were plays there for the taking — rain or no rain. “The weather was the weather in the first half, but even with that, I think there were still some ops for us to convert on third down and move the chains,” Purdy said. “In the second half there were drives where we could’ve stayed on the field. I had to be better for this team and didn’t play my best.” GREENLAW’S RETURN Linebacker Dre Greenlaw’s return was an inspiration to Shanahan and his teammates, with the 49ers’ linebacker registering eight first half tackles and ranging sideline to sideline as if he’d never had a ruptured Achilles. He departed when his leg tightened up, with Monday bringing the news that it had more to do with fatigue than another injury. With the 49ers getting a mini-bye this weekend before visiting Miami in Week 16, Greenlaw could be good to go for another start. “He’s got some soreness. He’s day to day,” Shanahan said. It reminded Shanahan of Greenlaw in Year 3, when he had a groin injury in the opener that needed surgery, and other than 13 snaps in Week 11 against Minnesota, didn’t play again until the regular-season finale against the Rams when he had 12 tackles. “We needed to win that to go to the playoffs,” Shanahan said. “And that game, I thought he had one of the best games I’ve ever seen from linebacker play and it was looking a lot like that last night too. Exactly the same, it was just only a half a football, but it was amazing.” THE INJURY FRONT — Left tackle Trent Williams continues to heal slowly from an ankle injury but Shanahan hopes to get him in the lineup before the season is over. “He’s trying to get back, but it’s just been a frustrating injury for him,” Shanahan said. ” t hasn’t healed like he or we would like. Having these 10 more days before our next game, hopefully that gives a better chance” — Defensive end Nick Bosa emerged from the Rams game without any setbacks to his oblique/hip injuries. “It was awesome to get Nick back and he really helped us,” Shanahan said. “It was a good sign that they didn’t tell me about anything today.” — Linebacker Dee Winters is day to day with a neck injury. SNAP JUDGEMENTS 64: Linebacker Fred Warner, cornerback Deommodore Lenoir and cornerback Renardo Green each played all but one snap on defense. 60: One game after playing a career low 15 snaps, safety Ji’Ayir Brown played 60 snaps with Malik Mustapha missing the game with a chest injury. Brown came out of the game with a groin injury and is day to day. 54: Guards Aaron Banks and Dominick Puni, tackles Jaylon Moore and Colton McKivitz, center Jake Brendel and Purdy played every offensive snap. 51: Starting split end Jauan Jennings was targeted nine times from Purdy while missing just three snaps but had just two receptions for 31 yards. 41: The 75.9 percent figure of snap counts was the most for Isaac Guerendo in his rookie season after coming in questionable with a foot sprain. Backup Patrick Taylor Jr. played just three snaps. 30: Greenlaw made a remarkable return in his first game back from rupturing an Achilles tendon last Feb. 11. 26: Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, playing with a sore knee, played 26 snaps mostly after Greenlaw’s departure with Campbell refusing to enter the game. 10: Tashaun Gipson got his first work on defense since rejoining the 49ers on Nov. 7. 5: Edge rusher Ronald Beal Jr., who has had trouble getting traction as a pass rusher all season, played sparingly with Nick Bosa (47), Leonard Floyd (39) and Yetur Gross-Matos (31) getting the bulk of the work.Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck taken off on stretcher with ankle injury in loss to Barcelona

AP Business SummaryBrief at 5:25 p.m. EST

Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their healthhelped DriveBC add 22 new cameras in 2024, delivering 37 more views to help motorists travel more safely, especially during winter. People checking traffic and weather conditions when planning trips on the province’s roads can now access 503 cameras on the total DriveBC webcam network. deliver 1,037 views of current road conditions, including 25 sites in the East Kootenay. Where technically feasible, ministry crews strategically locate the webcams throughout B.C. based on needs identified by residents, contractors or weather experts, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit recently outlined. Many DriveBC cameras are pan-tilt-zoom cameras that can deliver several views from a single position. On the Lower Mainland, many intersection cameras provide images of four or more positions. The DriveBC cameras protect privacy. For example, this uses a pixelated mask to avoid showing private property, the ministry pointed out. In addition to providing information about weather, road and traffic conditions, DriveBC has links to information about border delays, inland ferries, ongoing construction projects and tips for how to drive safely in winter conditions. DriveBC is accepting public feedback on its redesigned web portal to replace the existing website next year. The new site will include a simplified map, clearer event notification, new advisory features and better mobile usability. about the redesigned web portal to replace the existing website next year. : The Highway 3A webcam view using a pixelated mask (upper right) to avoid showing private property.

Outnumbered's creator has clapped back at critics after the show's Christmas special faced backlash for being "depressing". The much-anticipated festive episode of the beloved BBC series graced screens yesterday, reuniting viewers with the Brockman clan for one final family gathering. The original cast reprised their roles, with Claire Skinner and Hugh Dennis returning as parents Sue and Pete, alongside Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche, and Ramona Marquez as their offspring Jake, Ben, and Karen. This time around, the narrative took a poignant turn, revealing that the couple had not only become grandparents but were also grappling with Pete's prostate cancer diagnosis. Crafted by the show's original creators Guy Jenkin and Andy Hamilton, who also directed the special, the storyline struck a balance between the show's trademark wit and the gravity of Pete's health scare. Despite the cancer being treatable, the episode delved into Pete's internal struggle over breaking the news to his children, culminating in a heart-wrenching scene where Ben learns of his father's condition via video call due to travel disruptions. By the end, the family's resilience shines through, with the kids cracking jokes and Pete reassured by their strong reaction, reports the Mirror . Despite the writers' efforts to weave in significant issues, some viewers were left disheartened, taking to social media to express their discontent. One viewer lamented, "Pete having cancer, I f***ing hate this," while another questioned, "Why did they bring it back though just for it to have a depressing storyline on boxing day." A third viewer shared: "I wasn't expecting Pete to have c*ncer. They seriously put that in the Christmas special? ! And all the stuff with Jane being depressed and Jake being so tired he can barely function and the neighbours being noisy... This isn't Christmasy at all." The creator of the show Guy Jenkin explained the rationale behind the inclusion of such a weighty issue in the festive episode. Guy Jenkin spoke candidly about the decision, sharing: "People often remember Outnumbered for the delightful children, but it always dealt with quite serious things: dementia, death, homophobia. We dealt with that through how parents explain it to their children and this is the same except that the children are considerably larger. He further commented on the subject matter, adding: "There's still a stigma attached to the word cancer, and we just wanted to show how very, very normal it is, as well as how the Brockmans dealt with it with warmth, love, and especially humour, because that's a very British way of dealing with that sort of stuff." *Outnumbered is available to catch up on BBC iPlayer.

SANTA ANA, Calif., Dec. 13, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In a groundbreaking move for the property management and inspection industry, DrBalcony ( drbalcony.com ) introduces its cutting-edge app, a pioneering digital platform designed to revolutionize the balcony inspection process. This innovative tool empowers homeowners, property managers, and Homeowner Associations (HOAs) with a streamlined, intuitive experience, eliminating inefficiencies and redefining how inspections are managed. With a user-friendly interface and advanced features, the DrBalcony App transforms what was once a complex, time-consuming process into one that is seamless and efficient. Users can now obtain instant quotes, create and manage projects, and schedule inspections—all with just a few taps on their devices. “At DrBalcony, we are passionate about reimagining property management through technology,” said Greg, VP of Sales of DrBalcony. “The app reflects our dedication to simplifying inspections while upholding safety and compliance standards. With over 2,500 inspections completed, we’re proud to offer a solution that sets a new benchmark for convenience and reliability.” FEATURES THAT SET THE DRBALCONY APP APART Instant Quotes: Receive transparent, accurate pricing for inspections without waiting days for a response. Project Management Made Simple: Track, manage, and oversee your inspection projects effortlessly from start to finish. Hassle-Free Scheduling: Book inspections at a time that works best for you—no back-and-forth emails or phone calls required. The DrBalcony App is tailored to meet the specific needs of California property owners, offering features designed to ensure the integrity of balcony structures while making compliance with state laws like SB 721 and SB 326 more accessible than ever. Learn more: https://drbalcony.com/services/ A SOLUTION BACKED BY REAL RESULTS “For years, the balcony inspection process has been frustrating and inefficient,” shared Omid, CEO of DrBalcony. “This app eliminates unnecessary complications. From instant quotes to straightforward scheduling, it’s a game-changer.” DOWNLOAD THE DRBALCONY APP TODAY The DrBalcony App is now available for download and marks a significant leap forward in property management. By addressing common pain points in the inspection process, DrBalcony ensures peace of mind for property owners, engineers, and HOAs, all while maintaining safety and compliance with California’s strict balcony safety regulations . About DrBalcony: DrBalcony leverages innovative technology to enhance balcony inspection, focusing on efficiency, safety, and customer-centric solutions. With a mission to simplify the complex, DrBalcony has become a trusted name in the balcony inspection industry, ensuring compliance and safety standards are met with ease. Learn more: https://drbalcony.com/ . Your property’s safety has never been simpler—download the DrBalcony App today! NEWS SOURCE: DrBalcony Keywords: Real Estate, DrBalcony, Balcony Inspections, home inspection, safety, app, solution, service, SB 326, SB 721, SANTA ANA, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (DrBalcony) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122836 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/drbalcony-app-redefines-balcony-inspections-with-unparalleled-efficiency/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.Former PM Manmohan Singh Leading figures from India’s business and corporate world, including Infosys founder Narayana Murthy , Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath , billionaire Anand Mahindra and Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal, have paid glowing tributes to former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh . Widely regarded as the architect of India’s economic liberalization, Singh’s contributions to the nation’s growth have been celebrated for decades. Singh passed away on December 26 at the age of 92. He was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here following a deterioration in his health. The heartfelt messages highlight his visionary leadership, integrity, and the profound impact he has had on India’s economic and political trajectory. Infosys founder Narayan Murthy mourns death of former PM Manmohan Singh In an official statement, Narayan Murthy said “Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, was a gentleman, a scholar, and a value-based politician. His leading the economic reforms, under the guidance of Sri Narasimha Rao, is what laid a strong and durable foundation for the acceleration of India’s economic growth. Therefore, every Indian should be extremely grateful to this extraordinary individual for enhancing the prosperity of our country.” Anupam Mittal pay tributes to Manmohan Singh In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mittal wrote “Some leaders fail their nations; sometimes nations fail their leaders. Some called him a puppet and we joked along > about a man who gave India hope, progress, & dignity😔 However, no power can deny Dr. Manmohan Singh’s legacy as one of India’s greatest change-makers. Rest well sir 🙏🏻 U were & always will be, a class apart 👳🏼‍♂️👑”. Ananda Mahindra bids farewell to Manmohan Singh Mahindra in an X post wrote “Farewell Dr. Manmohan Singh. You loved this nation. And your service to it will long be remembered. Om Shanti 🙏🏽”. Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath pays tribute to Manmohan Singh In a post on X, Kamath said “RIP Dr. Manmohan Singh. In the journey of a nation, it’s the ones who see the future before others do, who leave the most lasting marks..”

Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their health

Amid the high-pitch war of words over hiring H-1B visa-holders in America, tech billionaire Elon Musk, who has been handpicked by US President-elect Donald Trump to lead his proposed Department of Government Efficiency, joined the debate Saturday morning with a strong comment. The owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and X (formerly Twitter), asked right-wingers and MAGA loyalists to “take a big step back” as H-1B visa row intensified. “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and **** ******** in the face,” Musk posted on the social media platform owned by him. “I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he added. Skilled professionals from other countries need the H-1B visa to work in the US, and it is quite popular among immigrants, with Indians forming a big part of this chunk of the American population. A large number of people on social media, especially the Make America Great Again (MAGA) loyalists, have been for the last few days speaking against immigrants, after the President-elect appointed Indian-American Sriram Krishnan as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the White House. Krishnan had earlier spoken in favour of removing caps for green cards. Musk taking side of the immigrants and blasting right-wingers and Trump supporters is big because he is a close ally of the President-elect set to assume office on January 20. Musk had gone all out to campaign for him, both online and offline, and is credited with playing a big role in Trump's return to power scripting one of the biggest political comebacks in the history of the US. 💯 — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 27, 2024 What Is The H1B Visa Row? “Anything to remove country caps for green cards / unlock skilled immigration would be huge,” Sriram Krishnan had said in November, speaking in favour of bringing more skilled professionals to the US on H-1B visa. Anything to remove country caps for green cards / unlock skilled immigration would be huge. https://t.co/21toGtW5lS — Sriram Krishnan (@sriramk) November 14, 2024 This hadn’t gone down well with anti-immigration MAGA loyalists, and a controversy broke out after his appointment to the White House, with right winger Laura Loomer criticising his stance to be “not America First policy”. She also called tech executives "termites", and that they are aligning themselves with Donald Trump only to "enrich" themselves. Deeply disturbing to see the appointment of Sriram Krishnan @sriramk as Senior Policy Advisor for AI at the Office of Science and Technology Policy. It’s alarming to see the number of career leftists who are now being appointed to serve in Trump’s admin when they share views... https://t.co/pf0WiViy32 pic.twitter.com/nR0TkZpNK7 — Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 23, 2024 Tech billionaires are like termites who have descended upon Palm Beach to INFEST AND ROT from within. They don’t just want to replace your jobs. They want to replace the MAGA agenda by hiding and eating away at it as they multiply from within. Just like a termite... — Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) December 24, 2024 "...the tech billionaires are lining up outside the gates of Mar a Lago with their checkbooks. They want to buy influence so they can sabotage Trump’s immigration policies," she posted on December 26 . A heated debate has been continuing on social media on what will be the immigration policy under Donald Trump, with right-wingers denouncing even the influence of Elon Musk and investors like Vivek Ramaswamy who are pro-immigration. Vivek Ramaswamy is co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) along with Musk, whose job will be to cut by a third the size of the US government. The debate comes close on the heels of the presidential election that saw immigration as one of the most important issues, with Trump vowing to end illegal immigration and deport those who are already in the US. However, while his presidential campaign was centered around the issue of illegal immigration, the current debate is all about legal immigrants. While the anti-immigration lobby says skilled professionals working in the US on H-1B visa bite into the pie of jobs meant for US citizens, with some of them even calling for the visa programme to be discontinued with, technology companies say such immigrants are critical for the functioning of the sector as they fill a big gap. Trump, who had as a presidential candidate in 2016 called the H-1B visa regime “very bad” and “unfair” for US workers, is yet to say anything on the debate this time round. H1B Visa Row: Who Said What Trump may not have said anything on the matter yet, the debate over the H1B Visa programme has many prominent people speaking up. While Musk posted that there is a “permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent” and that it’s “the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley”, Ramaswamy said American culture was to be blamed for the fact that there is a lack on US-born engineers, as he suggested Americans have “venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long”. There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent. It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 25, 2024 Ramaswamy also said: "A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers." The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if... — Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 26, 2024 His comments did not go down well with many. Nikki Haley opposed Ramaswamy, saying: “There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture... We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers.” There is nothing wrong with American workers or American culture. All you have to do is look at the border and see how many want what we have. We should be investing and prioritizing in Americans, not foreign workers. https://t.co/fIGr45C3LD — Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) December 26, 2024 Meanwhile, batting for immigrants, Ashish K Jha, Indian-American physician and academic who was the White House Covid-19 response coordinator from 2022–2023, said: “...foreign medical graduates are also WAY more likely to practice in rural areas, practice in other underserved areas, and go into primary care.” He added: “So yes, they are filling a critical need...And they are good too.” There is good empirical data that if you’re hospitalized, having a foreign medical grad as your doctor gets you better outcomes than having a US medical grad Some folks see this as a critique of American doctors. Not at all I graduated from a US medical school and strongly... https://t.co/vwlD5ldbdj — Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) December 27, 2024 Here is a look at what others are saying: “Now that you’ve angered us, we shall march forth as a unified army to hand your country over to the communists.” is certainly one way to make your h1b visa argument. pic.twitter.com/VJCxOynOM8 — Jesse Kelly (@JesseKellyDC) December 27, 2024 The vast majority of H1B visas aren’t going to 135 IQ engineers who make 250k a year. They’re going to people who take mediocre jobs like this. The whole system is a scam, and it’s disproportionately taken advantage of by one specific country in one specific subcontinent. pic.twitter.com/N862nag6EB — Red Eagle Politics (@RedEaglePatriot) December 28, 2024 Michio Kaku, 2011. H1B is America's secret weapon. Without H1B, scientific progress in America would collapse. It will collapse the economy. Great reminder on what's at stake and why @elonmusk is fighting so hard. pic.twitter.com/GZO8L0rvFP — Atal Agarwal 💜🚐🌍 (@atalovesyou) December 28, 2024FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets might be dealing with an opponent even tougher to overcome than their poor play, missed opportunities and ill-timed mistakes. Wide receiver Garrett Wilson suggested last Sunday a losing “gene” might be an explanation for the Jets’ inability to pull out victories after the team dropped to 3-10 with a loss at Miami. On Wednesday, Aaron Rodgers presented another perhaps more sinister reason. “I mean, it might be something like that," the quarterback said of Wilson's theory. "It might be some sort of curse we've got to snap as well.” Generations of frustrated Jets fans have half-jokingly insisted there have been negative forces at work against the franchise since Joe Namath delivered on his Super Bowl guarantee in January 1969. It remains the team's only appearance in the NFL's biggest game. Rodgers has been there once — and won — with Green Bay. The 41-year-old quarterback came to New York hoping to finally lead the Jets back to the Super Bowl. He even commented on how lonely the team's only Lombardi Trophy looked during his introductory news conference 20 months ago. Instead, Rodgers' first season in New York was cut short by a torn Achilles tendon just four snaps in, immediately resurrecting "curse” theories among jaded Jets fans. With its loss last Sunday, New York extended its playoff drought to 14 straight years, the longest active skid among the major North American sports leagues. And the team will be looking for a new general manager and coach after this season, and Rodgers' future in New York is very much up in the air. “Whatever the case, this team, this organization is going to figure out how to get over the hump at some point,” Rodgers said. “The culture is built by the players. There’s a framework set down by the organization, by the upper ups, by the staff. But in the end, it’s the players that make it come to life. "And at some point, everybody’s going to have to figure out what that special sauce is to turn those games that should be wins into wins.” The Jets have held the lead in the fourth quarter in five games this season. They've lost each of them, including the past three games. New York's inability to come away with wins in those prompted Wilson's “gene” theory. “I’m not exactly sure what he was talking about there,” Rodgers said with a smile. "I don’t know what the proper nomenclature is for the situation where we’ve lost some leads or haven’t been able to take the lead late in the game, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. We haven’t been great in situational football. “A lot of those games come down to the plays in the first and second, even third quarter, where if you make the play the game is not in that situation. But in those situations, we haven’t been very good on offense or defense or even (special) teams.” Rodgers said “it takes a conscious effort, it takes an intentional effort” to establish a winning culture, and it includes leadership, practice habits and setting standards inside and outside of the locker room. And this year's Jets, Rodgers said, are “on the edge” of that. “We just haven’t quite figured out how to get that special sauce worked out, mixed up,” he said. “It’s close and a lot of great guys are in the locker room. There’s some good mix of veterans and young guys, but we just haven’t quite put it all together.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL