https fb777 com Chargers are expected to be without top RB Dobbins and could lean on QB Herbert against FalconsWEST BLOOMFIELD — Last November, the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s Eaglets locked themselves in a weight room, and began prepping for the 2024 season waiting for moments like this. A moment where you can be resilient, determined, and succeed in. Related Articles High School Sports | PHOTOS: Football State Semifinals – Flat Rock vs Pontiac Notre Dame Prep High School Sports | Photo gallery from the Division 2 football semifinal between Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Birmingham Groves High School Sports | Hudsonville pulls away from Adams in second half of semifinal, ending Highlanders’ special run High School Sports | Everest Collegiate completes unbeaten season, fends off OLL to repeat as D4 champs High School Sports | Photo gallery from Everest Collegiate vs. St. Joseph Our Lady of the Lake in the D4 volleyball state final “That’s just been Orchard Lake Football for centuries for years is to play physically. And we needed that to help us for times like this, in the playoffs, and all that good stuff. So I’m just proud of this group,” third-year head coach Jermaine Gonzales said. “You don’t understand, we started this thing back in November after last season, not making the playoffs our weight program started in November. And these seniors were locked in all spring, summer, winter, to get to this point.” That point was to force overtime with under a minute to play, make a key interception in overtime, and help seal a win. Thanks to those series of events, the Eaglets will return to Ford Field with an 28-27 overtime win over Birmingham Groves in the MHSAA Division 2 state semifinals on Saturday. OLSM will play Byron Center on Friday at 7 p.m. at Ford Field for the state championship. “That was our whole mindset all year, but this is a resilient group, like, all year, we lost closed games to really tough teams,” Gonzales continued. “But we know as a team, we got better from it each week. And I just think we just showed that today. Hats off to Groves, they’re a helluva team, well-coached, physical team. This was a great game, but the job’s not finished.” Both Groves and OLSM played back and forth the entire game answering scoring drives with scoring drives. But a defensive stop came up late in the fourth quarter. Groves’ defense forced the Eaglets to punt from its own end zone, which gave the offense the ball in plus territory with 1:09 to play. The Falcons offense moved the ball as close to field goal range. On third down from just outside the red zone. Coach Brendan Flaherty thought he had enough time to spike the ball, after a run play was called on third down. “We got, you know, some mayday field goal and we have that in our playbook, and we just didn’t have enough time to get it out there,” he said. “So we thought we could gain a couple more yards there and maybe spike the ball and yeah, get it there. That’s what we were hoping to do.” Groves was able to recover immediately in overtime after losing the coin toss. Noah Sanders scored his third touchdown of the day that gave the Falcons a 27-21 lead. Groves then decided to go for a 2-point conversion, to have OLSM chase points. “We were trying to get them ahead so they’d have to chase some points,” Flaherty said. “We made a call there because we knew they’d sell out for a block. We thought we had a good call drawn up because the play was open there for a second there.” As Ryan Counts rolled to his left, he had Wyatt Shortridge open, but the Eaglets made a play and picked off a contested pass. The next play, St Mary’s scored with a 10-yard touchdown run by senior Bryson Williams, his second of the game. Then it was up to a freshman kicker and holder combo to send OLSM to Ford Field. “I trusted my line, I trusted Luke (Jackson), and I really trust DJ (Taylor). He’s been holding for me all freshman year and he’s amazing. He’s probably the best holder I’ve ever had, and I knew he was just gonna go through,” freshman Brannon Hardy said. “DJ and I haven’t missed an extra point all year. Now we’re going to Ford Field.” The Eaglets started the scoring on its opening drive of the game when Camari Patterson scored a 1-yard touchdown run. Senior Darrin Jones added another on a 43-yard touchdown as well on OLSM’s second drive of the game. On the other sideline Noah Sanders answered the opening drive with a 50-yard touchdown of his own. The Toledo commit had a second touchdown in the second half as well on a 1-yard carry before he earned his third score in overtime. Sanders had 27 carries for 180 yards. The game was tied going into the half thanks to Counts’ 7-yard pass to Shortridge. OLSM retook the lead on a 21-yard score late in the third quarter on fourth and five by Williams. The Groves defense was buoyed in big moments by Chris Little who had two interceptions in the second half. Photo gallery from the Division 2 football semifinal between Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Birmingham Groves /*! This file is auto-generated */!function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;iNo. 7 Tennessee dispatches UT Martin to remain undefeated

Even with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight

LONDON— Many of us have felt it, and now it’s official: “brain rot” is the Oxford dictionaries’ word of the year. Oxford University Press said Monday that the evocative phrase “gained new prominence in 2024,” with its frequency of use increasing 230% from the year before. READ MORE: ‘Brat’ is Collins Dictionary word of the year Cambridge Dictionary and Dictionary.com reveal their ‘2024 Word of the Year’ Oxford defines brain rot as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.” The word of the year is intended to be “a word or expression that reflects a defining theme from the past 12 months.” “Brain rot” was chosen by a combination of public vote and language analysis by Oxford lexicographers. It beat five other finalists: demure, slop, dynamic pricing, romantasy and lore. While it may seem a modern phenomenon, the first recorded use of “brain rot” was by Henry David Thoreau in his 1854 ode to the natural world, “Walden.” Oxford Languages President Casper Grathwohl said that in its modern sense, “‘brain rot’ speaks to one of the perceived dangers of virtual life, and how we are using our free time.” “It feels like a rightful next chapter in the cultural conversation about humanity and technology. It’s not surprising that so many voters embraced the term, endorsing it as our choice this year,” he said. Last year’s Oxford word of the year was “rizz,” a riff on charisma, used to describe someone’s ability to attract or seduce another person. Collins Dictionary’s 2024 word of the year is “brat” – the album title that became a summer-living ideal.How to watch Vegas Golden Knights at Colorado Avalanche for FREE: time, channelsWho will Oleksandr Usyk fight next? Potential plans for heavyweight king following Fury rematch triumph | Sporting News

Webjet: ACCC takes online travel giant to Federal Court for allegedly misleading consumers on costs

By JILL COLVIN and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A number of President-elect Donald Trump ‘s most prominent Cabinet picks and appointees have been targeted by bomb threats and “swatting attacks,” Trump’s transition team said Wednesday. The FBI said it was investigating. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and Administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. She said the attacks ranged from bomb threats to swatting, in which attackers initiate an emergency law enforcement response against a target victim under false pretenses. The tactic has become a popular one in recent years. Leavitt said law enforcement and other authorities acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted and Trump and his transition team are grateful. Among those targeted were New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to serve as the next ambassador to the United Nations; Matt Gaetz, Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general; and former New York congressman Lee Zeldin, who has been tapped to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Law enforcement officials are also looking into whether Susie Wiles, Trump’s incoming chief of staff, and Pam Bondi, the former Florida attorney general whom Trump has chosen as Gaetz’s replacement, and other incoming administration officials were also victims — as well as how each was targeted, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity as the investigation continues. Wiles and Bondi did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FBI said in a statement that it was “aware of numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents targeting incoming administration nominees and appointees” and was investigating with its law enforcement partners. The FBI added: “We take all potential threats seriously, and as always, encourage members of the public to immediately report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.” White House spokesperson Saloni Sharma said President Joe Biden had been briefed and the White House is in touch with federal law enforcement and Trump’s transition team. Biden “continues to monitor the situation closely,” Sharma said, adding the president and his administration “condemn threats of political violence.” Stefanik’s office said that, on Wednesday morning, she, her husband, and their 3-year-old son were driving home from Washington for Thanksgiving when they were informed of a bomb threat to their residence in Saratoga County. Her office said “New York State, County law enforcement, and U.S. Capitol Police responded immediately with the highest levels of professionalism.” The New York State Police said a team was dispatched to sweep Stefanik’s home on Wednesday morning in response to the bomb threat but did not locate any explosive devices. The agency directed further questions to the FBI. Zeldin said in a social media post that he and his family had been threatened. “A pipe bomb threat targeting me and my family at our home today was sent in with a pro-Palestinian themed message,” he wrote on X. “My family and I were not home at the time and are safe. We are working with law enforcement to learn more as this situation develops.” Police in Suffolk County, Long Island, said emergency officers responded to a bomb threat Wednesday morning at an address listed in public records as Zeldin’s home and were checking the property. In Florida, the Okaloosa County sheriff’s office said on Facebook that it “received notification of a bomb threat referencing former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s supposed mailbox at a home in the Niceville area” around 9 a.m. Wednesday. While a family member resides at the address, the office said, Gaetz “is NOT a resident.” No threatening devices were found. Gaetz was Trump’s initial pick to serve as attorney general, but he withdrew from consideration after allegations that he paid women for sex and slept with underage women. Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and said last year that a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls had ended with no federal charges against him. The threats follow a political campaign marked by disturbing and unprecedented violence. In July, a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the then-candidate in the ear with a bullet and killing one of his supporters. The Secret Service later thwarted a subsequent assassination attempt at Trump’s West Palm Beach, Florida, golf course when an agent spotted the barrel of a gun poking through a perimeter fence while Trump was golfing. Trump was also the subject of an Iranian murder-for-hire plot, with a man saying he had been tasked with planning the assassination of the Republican president-elect. Also this week, authorities arrested a man they say posted videos on social media threatening to kill Trump, according to court documents. In one video posted on Nov. 13, Manuel Tamayo-Torres threatened to shoot the former president while holding what appeared to be an AR-15 style rifle, authorities said Among the other videos he posted was one from an arena in Glendale, Arizona on Aug. 23, the same day Trump held a campaign rally there, according to court papers. An attorney for Tamayo-Torres did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. Public figures across the political spectrum have been targeted in recent years by hoax bomb threats and false reports of shootings at their homes. About a year ago the FBI responded to an uptick in such incidents at the homes of public officials, state capitols and courthouses across the country around the holidays. Many were locked down and evacuated in early January after receiving bomb threats. No explosives were found and no one was hurt. Some of those targeted last year were Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. In Wu’s case, a male caller told police he had shot his own wife and tied another man up. When police and EMT responders arrived at the address given by the caller, they quickly realized it was the Boston mayor’s home. Wu, a Democrat, has also been targeted by many swatting calls since she took office in 2021. The judges overseeing the civil fraud case against Trump in New York and the criminal election interference case against him in Washington were both targeted earlier this year. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who recently abandoned the two criminal cases he brought against Trump, was also the subject of a fake emergency call on Christmas Day last year. Earlier this year, schools, government buildings and the homes of city officials in Springfield, Ohio, received a string of hoax bomb threats after Trump falsely accused members of Springfield’s Haitian community of abducting and eating cats and dogs. And in 2022, a slew of historically Black colleges and universities nationwide were targeted with dozens of bomb threats, with the vast majority arriving during the celebration of Black History Month. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement Wednesday that anytime a member of Congress is the victim of a swatting’ incident, “we work closely with our local and federal law enforcement partners.” The force declined to provide further details, in part to “minimize the risk of copy-cats.” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called the threats “dangerous and unhinged.” “This year, there was not just one but TWO assassination attempts on President Trump,” he wrote on X. “Now some of his Cabinet nominees and their families are facing bomb threats.” He added: “It is not who we are in America.” Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Colleen Long and Eric Tucker in Washington, Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this report. Be civil. Be kind.Brazilian police indict former President Bolsonaro and aides over alleged 2022 coup attempt

Whenever she hangs up her ropes, Jackie Crawford will go down as one of the best ever to compete. Her 23 world titles are second in the history of the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association behind only Wanda Harper Bush, who won the last of her 32 titles in 1969. Among Crawford’s more impressive feats is capturing a world title at the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping while she was six months pregnant with her daughter Journey. In March, she took home her first RodeoHouston title, leaving her with just one box to check: competing in the Thomas &Mack Center during the National Finals Rodeo. “That will always linger there. I can’t make it go away,” Crawford says. “That’s one of those I will always dream of.” This year’s breakaway roping champion will be crowned Dec. 3 and 4 at the South Point. Given that the NFBR is scheduled to return there in 2025, time may be running out for the 41-year-old known as the Queen of Breakaway Roping. ‘Growth has just been phenomenal’ It’s the fastest event in rodeo, often resulting in winning times of 2 seconds or less. After a calf leaves the chute, a cowgirl gives chase. Once she ropes it around its neck, she stops her horse, pulling the rope taut and causing the nylon string that connects the rope to her saddle horn to break away. That’s when the timer stops the clock, ending the action without the calf being thrown to the ground or tied. It’s also the fastest-growing event in rodeo. In 2019, breakaway was part of 30 competitions sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. This year, it was included in 500 rodeos. (Surprisingly, there’s still room to grow as the PRCA puts on 800 rodeos a year.) “This growth has just been phenomenal,” says Jimmie Munroe, the ProRodeo Hall of Famer who’s on her third stint as president of the WPRA. The road to this current boom, though, has been long and frequently rocky. A breakaway national champion was first crowned by the National High School Rodeo Association in 1953, yet the event wasn’t added to the Girls Rodeo Association, the precursor of the WPRA, until 1974. Breakaway world champions were crowned that year and the next, but the title wasn’t awarded again until 1982, when Las Vegas’ Pam Minick took the crown. Two decades later, Crawford won what was until that point breakaway roping’s largest prize: a saddle, a bumper pull trailer and $6,000. “And I thought, ‘I’ll never see this again a day in my life,’ ” she says. “ ‘This is it. This is the top of the mountain, right here.’ ” On March 11, 2023, Crawford left The American Rodeo in Arlington, Texas, with a check for $600,000 for a single day’s work. Perfect timing Shelby Boisjoli-Meged came along at just the right time. The 26-year-old grew up in Langdon, Alberta, but relocated to the rodeo hotbed of Stephenville, Texas, which Crawford also calls home. Boisjoli-Meged moved there with her sisters and fellow ropers Makayla and Marissa in search of rodeo opportunities that just weren’t available in Canada. She was attending Ranger College in 2017 when WPRA ropers began lobbying for their inclusion in PRCA events in the Columbia River Circuit states of Oregon and Washington. In 2019, Boisjoli-Meged was the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s reserve breakaway roping champion. The same year, Chicago’s Windy City Roundup added breakaway and offered a payout equal to its core events. Crawford took home the $50,000 top prize. “After that happened, I feel like it just blew the ceiling off of breakaway roping,” Boisjoli-Meged says. “All of the jackpots took off, and they paid a crazy amount of money. There were girls making over $200,000 a year at the breakaway jackpots. Everything just took off after that.” She joined the WPRA in 2020 and qualified for the first National Finals Breakaway Roping that year. That inaugural event took place in Arlington alongside the National Finals Rodeo during its pandemic-related exile from Las Vegas. Since then, the competition has served as a lead-in to the NFR, first at Orleans Arena before moving to its current home at the South Point in 2022. Last year, Boisjoli-Meged won her first gold buckle along with an NFBR-record $33,157 over the two days of competition to finish with a single-season earnings record of $197,706. That capped a remarkable year that included her wedding to Haven Meged, the 2019 tie-down roping world champion. “I was on such a high that I guess I didn’t realize how surreal it was and how great of a year it really was,” Boisjoli-Meged says. “And then I think it took until this year when I’m struggling a little bit to realize like, ‘Wow, last year was incredible.’ I don’t think I’ll ever have another year just like that.” Similar path as barrel racing Marriage aside, years like that would have been tough to fathom for the 38 women — including National Cowgirl Hall of Fame members Isora DeRacy Young, Blanche Altizer Smith and Betty Barron Dusek — who came together on Feb. 28, 1948, in San Angelo, Texas, to form the Girls Rodeo Association. “They didn’t want to just carry flags and be in different acts,” Munroe says. “They wanted to have the opportunity to compete.” The GRA hosted its own events, but its members also began lobbying rodeo committees to include them. Given the choice of adding cutting, bronc riding or barrel racing, it was the latter that caught on. “Well, for one thing, there was no stock involved,” Munroe says, noting that the only added expense for rodeos was the prize money. “It was very easy to understand. It was like a horse race. There wasn’t judging involved; the fastest time won.” Munroe adds that the cowgirls “really had to dress up back then, so it was colorful,” which contributed to barrel racing’s appeal. Still, during the inaugural National Finals Rodeo in Dallas in 1959, barrel racing was nowhere to be seen. The ladies wouldn’t join the NFR until 1967. That was the last time an event was added to its ranks. No room at the Thomas &Mack “It’s not dissimilar to how we saw the growth and excitement behind barrel racing,” Paul Woody says of the rise of breakaway roping. “Through the growth and a lot of people pushing and doing what they did, it was finally able to be added and became an equal-paying event at the NFR. Now, there’s not a single rodeo that takes place across the country that doesn’t include barrel racing.” But Woody, the chief marketing officer of the PRCA, cautions that it won’t be easy to add breakaway as the NFR’s eighth event. “The reality is, between site logistics, economic considerations, the timing of the event, there’s just some things that still have to be worked through before we would be able to host that event in the building.” The Thomas &Mack Center already accommodates the top 15 competitors in bareback riding, barrel racing, bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and tie-down roping, as well as the top 15 headers and top 15 heelers in team roping — plus their horses and the event stock — during each of the NFR’s 10 days. There simply isn’t room right now for another event, Woody says. It wouldn’t be right, he adds, to let all the other competitors house their horses on-site but make the breakaway competitors find other accommodations. “It’s an unfair ask if we would say, ‘Well, you get to be in there, but you don’t get to have the same amenities or credentials that come with competing at the world championships.’ ” Bigger than prize money Crawford isn’t ready to give up on her dream. As recently as 2011, she was the only cowgirl she knew of who was making a living solely through roping. Now, Crawford says, there are several doing that, and she sees parents steering their girls toward breakaway as a career path. She’s performing so well, and the money has gotten so big, that her husband, 10-time NFR qualifier Charly Crawford, stepped back from his team roping career in 2021 to support her and their children. The prize pool at this year’s National Finals Breakaway Roping has increased to $300,000, up from $250,000, but that’s dwarfed by the approximately $1.5 million awarded in each event at the National Finals Rodeo. That isn’t what motivates Crawford to want to be a part of the NFR, she says, adding that she can’t recall ever seeing a retired athlete say that what they miss most about competing is the money. “For me, it’s the experiences,” Crawford says. “It is the atmospheres. That’s the stuff that I’ll always remember.” She’s gotten a taste of the NFR, having assisted Trevor Brazile during one of his triple crown years. “Being back there in that tunnel with those guys was the most unbelievable feeling, the most electrifying feeling, that is indescribable to me,” Crawford says. The experience left her craving more. “I just want to run one with that group of elite athletes. The guys, the barrel racers. I just wanna be a part of it, and I want to run a calf in the middle of it.” Waiting for history While Boisjoli-Meged waits for her time to shine at the NFR, her horse Lil Punch has been there and done that. Last year, Haven Meged set a Thomas &Mack tie-down roping record of 6.4 seconds aboard his wife’s then-6-year-old gelding. “I’m kinda jealous my horse got to go there before me,” Boisjoli-Meged admits. She attended her first National Finals Rodeo in 2016 to support her cousin, saddle bronc rider Jake Watson. Their whole family was there cheering him on, so she knows that taking to the dirt inside the Thomas &Mack would mean the world to more than just her. “I know the sense of pride I felt. I was teary-eyed and just so excited for my cousin when I got to watch him compete there,” she says. “So I think of all the grandparents and the moms and dads and the siblings and all the families and friends that will just be so excited to see all that hard work pay off.” Boisjoli-Meged can see that day in her mind, and she’s convinced it will come.Congresswoman Gets Restraining Order Against Ex-Boyfriend for Claiming She Has STD, Forcing Her to Prove She Doesn't

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Gautam Adani, nephew Sagar Adani, and Senior Executive Vneet Jaain are clear of any bribery charges as per the US Department of Justice (DoJ), according to the latest filing with stock exchanges by a Group company – Adani Green Energy Ltd. (AGEL). In its filing, AGEL has cited news reports by various media houses on the bribery and corruption charges against Adani officials ‘Incorrect’. “Media articles which state that certain of our directors, namely Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and Vneet Jaain, have been charged with violation(s) of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in the indictment are incorrect,” said the statement filed by AGEL. “Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and, Vneet Jaain have not been charged with any violation of the FCPA in the counts set forth in the indictment of the US DoJ or civil complaint of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC),” it added. In a legal indictment, count refers to individual charges against a defendant. The DoJ indictment, which has five counts, does not have any mention of and has excluded Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani, or Vneet Jaain in Count One: ‘Conspiracy to violate the FCPA’; neither does it have mention of these three names in Count Five: ‘Conspiracy to obstruct justice’ (p. 41). Count One of the indictment, which refers to the corruption and bribery charges, only involves Ranjit Gupta, Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal, Deepak Malhotra, and Rupesh Agarwal of Azure Power and CDPQ (Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec – a Canadian institutional investor and Azure’s largest shareholder). No Adani official has been named by the DoJ under this. However, flawed understanding of the DoJ indictment by various media – foreign as well as Indian – has led to incorrect and reckless reporting of Adani Directors being charged with corruption and bribery under one or of all five counts by the US DoJ and SEC. Adani officials are only charged with Count Two: ‘Alleged securities fraud conspiracy’, Count Three: ‘Alleged wire fraud conspiracy’, and Count Four: ‘Alleged securities fraud.’ The DoJ indictment offers no evidence that bribes were paid by Adani Executives to Indian Government officials; the indictment and the complaint solely rest on claims that bribes were promised or discussed. “All of this is based on likelihoods and hearsay from former employees of Azure Power and CDPQ – places the US DoJ’s and US SEC’s action against Adani are on dangerously shaky ground – both morally and legally.” The ill-founded US action and reckless false reporting have led to significant repercussions for the Indian conglomerate, such as international project cancellations, financial market impact, and sudden examination from strategic partners, investors, and the public. Adani Group is India’s largest infrastructure player with sizeable operations in the global energy and logistics space. Over the past few years, the Indian conglomerate has been expanding its operations in international markets and directly competes with several US and Chinese entities in Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Israel, Australia, etc. Since the intimation of the US DoJ indictment, the Group has suffered a loss of nearly $ 55 billion in its market capitalisation across its 11 listed companies.Pet passports for dogs, cats and ferrets to travel within UK ‘an outrage’Newcastle Herald brings you live updates from breaking news incidents, traffic and travel from across Newcastle, the Hunter Region and beyond. Stay up-to-date with what's going on as the day progresses. Login or signup to continue reading What's making news today? Publican says it's time to demolish the famous Queens Wharf Hotel , bands like Pearl Jam are to 'become the norm' at Lake Macquarie venue , and a fire at Lake Macquarie's council building is being treated as suspicious . Note: The blog may take a moment to load. The blog is free to access for all Newcastle Herald readers, but some article links may only be accessible exclusively to our subscribers. If you have any feedback about the blog please email news@newcastleherald.com.au . You can also send in news tips, diary dates and anything you think the news team needs to know. Or you can join the conversation in the comment section below, just scroll down to start discussing today's news. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. 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Russia says it will respond if U.S. places missiles in JapanNew Delhi : Over 71.81 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) numbers have been generated (till December 22) and 46.53 crore health records have been linked with ABHA, the government said on Sunday. In addition to this, over 3.55 lakh health facilities have been registered on Healthcare Professionals Registry (HFR) and more than 5.38 lakh healthcare professionals have been registered on HPR. In the last 10 years, the country has implemented transformative policies and initiatives that reflect a steadfast commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage. A key milestone in this journey was the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY). AB-PMJAY provides health cover of Rs 5 lakh per eligible beneficiary family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisations corresponding to 1,961 treatment procedures across 27 specialties. As of December 17, AB PM-JAY has made significant strides with over 36.28 crore Ayushman Cards issued, empowering millions with health coverage. Gender-wise utilisation shows that women account for 49 per cent of the issued Ayushman cards and almost 50 per cent of total hospital admissions, showcasing the scheme’s role in promoting gender equity in healthcare, according to the Health Ministry. Additionally, AB PM-JAY has successfully empaneled 30,932 hospitals across the country. Another cornerstone of India's healthcare achievements is Mission Indradhanush, which has expanded immunisation coverage under the Universal Immunisation Programme. “Mission Indradhanush includes a provision of 11 types of vaccines enhancing protection against preventable diseases. A total of 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated in all phases of Mission Indradhanush conducted so far in the country,” informed the ministry. These efforts are underscored by a remarkable improvement in key health indicators, which highlight the effectiveness of targeted healthcare strategies and interventions. Maternal Mortality Ratio reduced from 103 per 100,000 live births in 2017-2019 to 97 per 100,000 live births in 2018-20. Infant Mortality Rate reduced from 32 per 1000 live births in 2018 to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020 and Total Fertility Rate is reduced from 2.2 in 2015-16 to 2.0 in 2019-21. “This progress is a testament to consumer-centric policies and initiatives supported by regular monitoring to ensure efficiency and impact.,” the ministry said.Six budget-friendly wrapping tricks to get you ready for Christmas

Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins unlikely to play against Falcons because of knee injuryEven with access to blockbuster obesity drugs, some people don't lose weight