The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Friday hospitals have only two days' fuel left before they must restrict services, after the UN warned aid delivery to the war-devastated territory is being crippled. The warning came a day after the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant more than a year into the Gaza war. The United Nations and others have repeatedly decried humanitarian conditions, particularly in northern Gaza where Israel said Friday it had killed two commanders involved in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack that triggered the war. Gaza medics said an overnight Israeli raid on Beit Lahia and nearby Jabalia resulted in dozens killed or missing. Marwan al-Hams, director of Gaza's field hospitals, told reporters all hospitals in the Palestinian territory "will stop working or reduce their services within 48 hours due to the occupation's (Israel's) obstruction of fuel entry". World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was "deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of 80 patients, including 8 in the intensive care unit" at Kamal Adwan hospital, one of just two partly operating in northern Gaza. Kamal Adwan director Hossam Abu Safia told AFP it was "deliberately hit by Israeli shelling for the second day" Friday and that "one doctor and some patients were injured". Late Thursday, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for the Palestinian territories, Muhannad Hadi, said: "The delivery of critical aid across Gaza, including food, water, fuel and medical supplies, is grinding to a halt." He said that for more than six weeks Israeli authorities "have been banning commercial imports" while "a surge in armed looting" has hit aid convoys. Vowing to stop Hamas from regrouping, Israel on October 6 began an air and ground operation in Jabalia and then expanded it to Beit Lahia. Gaza's health ministry says the operation has killed thousands. The UN says more than 100,000 have been displaced from the area, and an official told the Security Council last week that people "are effectively starving". Issuing the warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, the Hague-based ICC said there were "reasonable grounds" to believe they bore "criminal responsibility" for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity including over "the lack of food, water, electricity and fuel, and specific medical supplies". A furious Netanyahu said: "Israel rejects with disgust the absurd and false actions and accusations made against it." He said the judges were "driven by anti-Semitic hatred of Israel". On Friday, he thanked his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban for inviting him to visit in defiance of the ICC warrant, which Orban branded "political". Hungary currently holds the rotating EU presidency. US President Joe Biden, whose country is Israel's top military supplier, called the warrants against Israeli leaders "outrageous", but other world leaders supported the court. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said Netanyahu would be arrested if he set foot in the country. Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday discussed efforts towards a ceasefire in Lebanon, the White House said. The ICC also issued a warrant for Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, saying it had grounds to suspect him of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the attacks on Israel that sparked the war, and including "sexual and gender-based violence" against hostages. Israel said it killed Deif in July, but Hamas has not confirmed his death. On Thursday, a UN representative said an Israeli raid on Palmyra in Syria this week was "likely the deadliest" by Israel on the country so far. On Friday, a war monitor said the strikes killed 92 pro-Iran fighters. Israel again bombed Gaza on Friday. In Gaza City, just south of Jabalia, one man who said he took his cousins to hospital after a strike urged "the world... to put an end" to the war. Belal, who gave only his first name, said 10 members of his family had been killed. At least 44,056 people have been killed in Gaza during more than 13 months of war, most of them civilians, according to figures from Gaza's health ministry which the United Nations considers reliable. Hamas triggered the war with the deadliest attack in Israeli history, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures. The war expanded to Lebanon in late September when Israel escalated air strikes against Iran-backed Hezbollah and later sent ground troops into southern Lebanon, after nearly a year of tit-for-tat cross-border exchanges which Hezbollah said were in support of Hamas. Lebanon says more than 3,580 people have been killed in the country, most of them since late September. A strike on Baalbek in the east killed the director of Dar al-Amal university hospital and six colleagues, the health ministry said late Friday. Israeli strikes again targeted Hezbollah's south Beirut stronghold and south Lebanon, the official National News Agency said. UN peacekeepers in south Lebanon have reported being fired on numerous times, blaming both Israel and "non-state" actors. On Friday, Rome said Hezbollah was probably behind rocket fire that lightly wounded four Italian peacekeepers. bur-ami/srm/kirNEW YORK (AP) — In a string of visits, dinners, calls, monetary pledges and social media overtures, big tech chiefs — including Apple’s Tim Cook, OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos — have joined a parade of business and world leaders in trying to improve their standing with President-elect Donald Trump before he takes office in January. “The first term, everybody was fighting me,” Trump said in remarks at Mar-a-Lago . “In this term, everybody wants to be my friend.” Tech companies and leaders have now poured millions into his inauguration fund, a sharp increase — in most cases — from past pledges to incoming presidents. But what does the tech industry expect to gain out of their renewed relationships with Trump? Clearing the way for AI development A clue to what the industry is looking for came just days before the election when Microsoft executives — who’ve largely tried to show a neutral or bipartisan stance — joined with a close Trump ally, venture capitalist Marc Andreessen, to publish a blog post outlining their approach to artificial intelligence policy. “Regulation should be implemented only if its benefits outweigh its costs,” said the document signed by Andreessen, his business partner Ben Horowitz, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and the company’s president, Brad Smith. They also urged the government to back off on any attempt to strengthen copyright laws that would make it harder for companies to use publicly available data to train their AI systems. And they said, “the government should examine its procurement practices to enable more startups to sell technology to the government.” Trump has pledged to rescind President Joe Biden’s sweeping AI executive order, which sought to protect people’s rights and safety without stifling innovation. He hasn’t specified what he would do in its place, but his campaign said AI development should be “rooted in Free Speech and Human Flourishing.” Easier energy for data centers Trump’s choice to head the Interior Department, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, has spoken openly about the need to boost electricity production to meet increased demand from data centers and artificial intelligence. “The AI battle affects everything from defense to healthcare to education to productivity as a country,′′ Burgum said on Nov. 15, referring to artificial intelligence. “And the AI that’s coming in the next 18 months is going to be revolutionary. So there’s just a sense of urgency and a sense of understanding in the Trump administration′′ to address it. Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and local governments are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies. But as data centers begin to consume more resources, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities. Changing the antitrust discussion “Maybe Big Tech should buy a copy of ‘The Art of The Deal’ to figure out how to best negotiate with this administration,” suggested Paul Swanson, an antitrust attorney for the law firm Holland & Hart. “I won’t be surprised if they find ways to reach some accommodations and we end up seeing more negotiated resolutions and consent decrees.” Although federal regulators began cracking down on Google and Facebook during Trump’s first term as president — and flourished under Biden — most experts expect his second administration to ease up on antitrust enforcement and be more receptive to business mergers. Google may benefit from Trump’s return after he made comments on the campaign trail suggesting a breakup of the company isn’t in the U.S. national interest, after a judge declared its search engine an illegal monopoly . But recent nominations put forward by his transition team have favored those who have been critical of Big Tech companies, suggesting Google won’t be entirely off the hook. Fending off the EU Cook’s notoriously rocky relationship with the EU can be traced back to a 2016 ruling from Brussels in a tax case targeting Apple. Cook slammed the bloc’s order for Apple to pay back up to $13.7 billion in Irish back taxes as “total political crap.” Trump, then in his first term as president, piled on, referring to the European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who was spearheading a campaign on special tax deals and a crackdown on Big Tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.” Brussels was eventually vindicated after the bloc’s top court rejected Apple’s appeal this year, though it didn’t stop Cook from calling Trump to complain, Trump recounted in a podcast in October. Trump hosted Cook for a Friday evening dinner at the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. Neither Apple nor the Trump transition team has commented on the nature of their discussions. Making amends? Altman , Amazon and Meta all pledged to donate $1 million each to Trump’s inaugural fund. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which billionaire Bezos owns. Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump’s past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. He recently said at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term, while also endorsing president-elect’s plans to cut regulations. The donation from Meta came just weeks after Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump in recent months had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly. And Altman, who is in a legal dispute with AI rival Elon Musk, has said he is “not that worried” about the Tesla CEO’s influence in the incoming administration. Musk, an early OpenAI investor and board member, sued the artificial intelligence company earlier this year alleging that the maker of ChatGPT betrayed its founding aims of benefiting the public good rather than pursuing profits.
What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?
Ten-man Botafogo win Copa Libertadores
Haiti gang attack on journalists covering a hospital reopening leaves 2 dead, several wounded
GameStop Reportedly Shuts Down Ton of Stores Ahead of ChristmasThe joys of homeownership are varied and abundant. The ability to roll out your tool collection and make incredibly personalized renovations to the place you call home is a big reason that many people ultimately strive to own their own house or apartment. Big-name brands make a wide collection of popular tools for DIY projects , giving homeowners inspiration as they seek improvements that benefit their lifestyle and home. But the benefits also carry their own drawbacks. For anyone living in a flood-prone area, homeownership also means the responsibility of dealing with the aftermath of a rising tide or torrential downpour. Fortunately, lots of tools can be leveraged to handle these repair necessities, too. The Ryobi catalog of tools and accessories is quite deep, and many are aimed directly at repair works after this type of misfortune befalls your home. Even a few tools in Ryobi's discontinued range like the 18V ONE+ Hybrid Surface Dryer would come in handy in the event of a flooded room. Homeowners will naturally have to look to the brand's current range, but within that catalog, there are plenty of solutions. These are some of Ryobi's best options for handling standing water and the damage it can leave behind. The first thing you need to do when dealing with floodwaters is reduce the flooding. No matter how your home has flooded or where the water is contained, you'll need to evaluate the extent of the damage and work quickly to move the water out of the space. A submersible water transfer pump should be your first port of call. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ 20 GPM Submersible Water Transfer Pump delivers significant relief from standing water in a place it shouldn't be found. The 1/6 horsepower motor moves water at 20 gallons per minute, and with a 23-foot head height, it can lift floodwaters a significant distance. This allows the pump to be used in basements and other low areas that need to evacuate water up a floor to ground level. The pump features runtime sensor options that turn the device off after five, 10, or 15 minutes of continuous use, or once water is no longer detected in the target area. It can drain water to 1-1/6-inch, leaving just a small amount of cleanup remaining once the pump has finished its duties. The pump is powered by Ryobi's 18V ONE+ battery system and features an enclosed battery case with a 15-foot tether to protect the power supply from contact with the water to be pumped. Another pump to consider from Ryobi, the 18V ONE+ HP Transfer Pump moves water with less speed but greater lifting capability. The pump features a 1/4 horsepower motor (so more potent than the submersible option) that features a 54-foot head height and a 17-foot lift height. Because the pump doesn't sit in the liquid to be moved, the task isn't quite the same, but with the use of an intake hose rather than setting down the pump itself, the transfer pump allows all but the last 1/16-inch of water to be removed from a target area. This pump also features three-speed settings, ramping up to the full 10 gallons per minute. The reality is that more than one pump may be necessary when dealing with significant flooding in your home. You might have a room filled with water, requiring hundreds or even thousands of gallons of liquid to be moved out of the space (the average four-person hot tub houses about 200 gallons and a bathtub roughly 40, for comparison's sake). The more pump capacity you can muster, the faster you can get working on all the rest of the restoration tasks that come after the water has been cleared away. This is a solid addition to your arsenal. Once you've removed the standing water, the next phase of the project begins: deciding what can be salvaged and what needs replacing. Cloth and fabric items sit on the fence of this decision-making process. Some fabric goods can be cleaned up while others might soak up the liquid and be totally ruined by floodwaters. For anything salvageable, the first step is thorough cleaning. Even if you're going to gut the space and start from scratch, a good vacuuming is necessary to clear away any leftover debris. However, you can't use any old vacuum system to clean up flood damage. A wet/dry vacuum is essential here because it won't get clogged up or bogged down by soiled debris and moisture. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ Bucket Top Wet/Dry Vacuum Kit is a great choice. Rather than investing in a hefty vacuum, the bucket top kit allows you to place the topper onto just about any 5-gallon bucket you have lying around — or a larger container with the same opening dimensions at the top — and get straight into cleaning. The system fits snugly onto a bucket and includes a filter bag. The vacuum kit is compatible with Ryobi's 18V ONE+ system batteries and is ultra-portable, weighing just 4.25 pounds. It fits most 1-1/4-inch hose accessories and features a crevice tool and swiveling connections for extreme versatility. The vacuum handles sopping wet debris, letting you start stripping back the room as soon as your pumps are done. A finish nailer should be high on any renovator's list of must-have tools when dealing with the aftermath of a flooding incident ( in comparison to a brad nailer that offers a little less versatility). Water damage affects different parts of a room in unique ways. You'll almost certainly need to pull up carpeting and unprotected hardwood floors (although laminates might survive a short bath, and vinyl is potentially salvageable, as is tile that hasn't seen anything hard drop and chip its surfaces). Similar problems come into play along the walls. You'll potentially be chopping away sections of drywall and perhaps even replacing wiring and socket faces, not to mention the baseboards that tend to be made of MDF and are among the first elements exposed to water. Bloating and disfigurement are common among wooden features exposed to water. Replacements are often necessary, and with a finish nailer, securing new detail work in place is incredibly simple. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ AirStrike 16 Gauge Finish Nailer can sink nails up to 2-1/2 inches into hardwoods, making it a good option for both the installation of features like hardwood flooring and softwood trim work (such as MDF baseboard or new cabinet faces). The tool features a depth of drive adjustment lever that doesn't need any additional accessory tools to utilize, and it features a 78% reduction in the nose size compared to its predecessor for easier alignment and faster workflow throughout your restoration project. Another excellent tool to keep on hand is a staple gun. Combination stapler/nailers are even better as they allow you to fasten workpieces with a wider range of options. The Ryobi USB Lithium 4-in-1 Craft Stapler/Nailer is a workhorse in this category and a tool that can make significant inroads into the restoration of a room or home that's been affected by floodwaters. The tool is powered by Ryobi's lithium battery pack and rechargeable via an included USB cable for quick, on-the-go power. It's a great option for stapling material out of the way temporarily or reupholstering chairs and other items that may have seen some damage but can be upcycled or salvaged with a little know-how (something that car owners often pick up when repairing seat tears , for instance). A stapler that transitions into a brad nailer is a versatile tool that can also be used in the installation of new insulation. If your walls have been badly damaged and new insulating material is required, this tool is a go-to solution for tacking in new heat-holding material behind the drywall faces. After you've started the cleanup process, you may find that there's lots to scrub in order to return certain parts of the room to their former glory. Indeed, not all damage that comes from a flooded home requires a total replacement, and some metal and other fixtures can instead be cleaned up to restore their functionality. The USB Lithium Power Scrubber from Ryobi is a great option when it comes to these parts of the job. The tool is a compact scrubbing solution that offers a 300 rpm spin speed on the brush head. The medium bristle pad that comes with the tool is great for restoring the sheen and cleanliness that you're used to on tile, granite, and fiberglass surfaces, for starters. This makes it a great solution for cleaning away signs of the flood in bathrooms and kitchens, as well as other parts of the home that might be best served by a major cleanup. The tool also features an IPX7 water resistance rating, allowing it to be submerged while you work. The result is a potent scrubber that can be used to begin the job of returning your home to normal, perhaps even as you find yourself in the pump-out phase. Anyone living in an area that's susceptible to flood damage has to contend with the reality that they may lose power at some point during the event. Power outages can last days or even weeks in remote areas or those with highly complex power grid installations. There's no guarantee that you'll be able to rely on power in your home as you begin cleaning up and getting back on track. It's also possible that flood damage has inhibited your home's ability to safely and reliably deliver electricity to your tools and appliances, even if the power is still on. This means that people in flood-risk areas will want to invest in a reliable backup power source. The Ryobi 1,800-Watt Portable Power Station is a solid choice in this arena. The backup power supply can run a full-size refrigerator for up to 18 hours or a 32-inch LED TV for 30 hours. It's therefore a solid choice for routine backup power in case of emergency. But the tool is also perfect for those needing reliable, non-grid power to support battery recharges or corded power tools and light solutions when tackling the early or middle stages of a flood repair in the home. With this tool in your arsenal, you won't be constrained by what's available through the wall socket and can get right to work on your repairs. This is particularly important for restoring rooms after a flood since the longer you leave water to sit, the more damage it ultimately creates. A power tool that's all about cooling, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Hybrid Whisper Series 20-Inch Air Cannon might not seem like a prototypical flood restoration tool. But appearances can be deceiving, and the value of a hugely powerful fan becomes immediately clear once you activate it in a room that's been damaged by floodwaters. The air cannon offers three-speed settings with a max output of 6,300 CFM that Ryobi claims can be felt across distances the size of ball fields and warehouses. While that much air power isn't typically going to be necessary in a gutted room, the air cannon's ability to dial in intense air movement is a welcome addition. What the tool brings to the table is a fast-drying component. No matter how meticulously you towel dry the cracks and crevices — and even flat surfaces like walls and floors — there's just no way to completely remove the moisture from the room without giving it time to air out. The Ryobi Air Cannon accelerates this process, reducing mustiness and ensuring surfaces dry fully before repairs like drywall or flooring installations. Installing new drywall, flooring, or trim is pointless if surrounding materials still retain moisture from the flood. The 6-inch all-terrain wheels and sturdy frame, alongside a pivoting head that rotates for precise control, offer expansive utility in all kinds of environments, and the tool sits right at home in a moisture-ridden restoration space. As you move along to the finishing touches of your cleanup, it's a good idea to consider a spot cleaning tool. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ SwiftClean Spot Cleaner Kit is an ideal solution for tackling small area cleaning tasks. Your couches and chairs, for instance, may have made it through the worst of the flooding without too much damage, but a bit of TLC is still worthwhile as you work to restore the space to a livable condition. Moisture in the air can condense and leave behind residue and patchy spots on your cushions that don't require replacement but certainly need to be cleaned up. The spot cleaner utilizes the same 18V ONE+ batteries as the rest of the primary tool lineup, and the vac tool features a spray solution function as well as stain agitator and a powerful suction motor to reduce stains to dust in a hurry. It's a great option for cleaning up other trouble spots too, when the flooding has faded into just a memory. The cleaner can be used on your car seats, as a means of tackling carpet stains, and much more. Lighting solutions are a key feature in any storm and flooding restoration. As is the case with corded power tools needing a backup power source, additional lighting elements that don't rely on main power drawn from the wall can be a difference maker in your quest to repair the damage to your home. Ryobi's 18V ONE+ 360-Degree LED Light is a fantastic solution in this region of the repair space. Area lighting is common in just about any DIY tool kit and allows you to continue working on routine DIY projects long into the night when necessary. Spot lighting is critical for work in attics, as well, even if light fixtures have been installed in your home's overhead storage and utility space. When dealing with rapid response fixes, the last thing you'll want to do is fumble around in the dark or have to call off the project because you can't see what you're working on. With Ryobi's 360-degree light, mounting the illumination device overhead delivers complete coverage of the area, and a potent 3,800 lumens of output makes for a brilliant display of lighting that will make any jobsite completely accessible. The four side panels are adjustable, too, meaning you can dial in the exact positions necessary to shine brightly on the parts of the room that need it most. It also features four brightness modes, including a single panel illumination option for jobs that require just a bit of targeted lighting. The 18V ONE+ Storm Kit from Ryobi features all the essentials you'll need to ride out a storm and get started on the work of fixing the damage once the worst has passed. It features some of the most important tools you'll want to have on hand during hurricane season and is a great starting point when rounding out your emergency preparedness toolkit for natural disasters, too. The kit includes a 150-watt power source that's perfect for charging small devices and keeping basic appliances working. It features standard plug and USB connections for varied usage depending on your needs. The kit also includes a compact radio so you can stay updated on the latest developments in your area, or perhaps even tune into music stations to keep you entertained as you ride out the worst of the storm or begin the process of restoring your home. There's also an area light, two batteries, and a charger, giving you a well-rounded emergency kit. A final pump makes the list. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ 1/6 Horsepower Telescoping Pole Pump is a great option for tackling the water removal tasks that come after floodwaters have invaded your home. The telescoping pole function allows you to reach out up to 3.5 feet away to begin the transfer of standing water from anywhere you may find it. The telescoping pole pump includes the same three timer shutoff settings as other Ryobi pumps, as well as an automatic shutoff component that stops the tool when water is no longer detected in the capture environment. The tool offers up to 26 minutes of runtime on the included 2Ah 18V ONE+ battery and delivers 15 gallons of water per minute transfer speeds with a head height of 24 feet. It also includes a removable mud filter and sediment strainer for use in outdoor environments when necessary, too. It features an LED light as well, giving you the ability to see your workspace better as you tackle the essential job of removing the rest of the standing water from inside your home.
What does Big Tech hope to gain from warming up to Trump?AP Trending SummaryBrief at 5:06 p.m. EST
Unlike scores of people who scrambled for the blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to lose weight in recent years, Danielle Griffin had no trouble getting them. The 38-year-old information technology worker from New Mexico had a prescription. Her pharmacy had the drugs in stock. And her health insurance covered all but $25 to $50 of the monthly cost. For Griffin, the hardest part of using the new drugs wasn’t access. It was finding out that the much-hyped medications didn’t really work for her. “I have been on Wegovy for a year and a half and have only lost 13 pounds,” said Griffin, who watches her diet, drinks plenty of water and exercises regularly. “I’ve done everything right with no success. It’s discouraging.” In clinical trials, most participants taking Wegovy or Mounjaro to treat obesity lost an average of 15% to 22% of their body weight — up to 50 pounds or more in many cases. But roughly 10% to 15% of patients in those trials were “nonresponders” who lost less than 5% of their body weight. Now that millions of people have used the drugs, several obesity experts told The Associated Press that perhaps 20% of patients — as many as 1 in 5 — may not respond well to the medications. It's a little-known consequence of the obesity drug boom, according to doctors who caution eager patients not to expect one-size-fits-all results. “It's all about explaining that different people have different responses,” said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, an obesity expert at Massachusetts General Hospital The drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists because they mimic a hormone in the body known as glucagon-like peptide 1. Genetics, hormones and variability in how the brain regulates energy can all influence weight — and a person's response to the drugs, Stanford said. Medical conditions such as sleep apnea can prevent weight loss, as can certain common medications, such as antidepressants, steroids and contraceptives. “This is a disease that stems from the brain,” said Stanford. “The dysfunction may not be the same” from patient to patient. Despite such cautions, patients are often upset when they start getting the weekly injections but the numbers on the scale barely budge. “It can be devastating,” said Dr. Katherine Saunders, an obesity expert at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-founder of the obesity treatment company FlyteHealth. “With such high expectations, there’s so much room for disappointment.” That was the case for Griffin, who has battled obesity since childhood and hoped to shed 70 pounds using Wegovy. The drug helped reduce her appetite and lowered her risk of diabetes, but she saw little change in weight. “It’s an emotional roller coaster,” she said. “You want it to work like it does for everybody else.” The medications are typically prescribed along with eating behavior and lifestyle changes. It’s usually clear within weeks whether someone will respond to the drugs, said Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrine specialist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Weight loss typically begins right away and continues as the dosage increases. For some patients, that just doesn't happen. For others, side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea force them to halt the medications, Dushay said. In such situations, patients who were counting on the new drugs to pare pounds may think they’re out of options. “I tell them: It's not game over,” Dushay said. Trying a different version of the new class of drugs may help. Griffin, who didn't respond well to Wegovy, has started using Zepbound, which targets an additional hormone pathway in the body. After three months of using the drug, she has lost 7 pounds. “I'm hoping it's slow and steady,” she said. Other people respond well to older drugs, the experts said. Changing diet, exercise, sleep and stress habits can also have profound effects. Figuring out what works typically requires a doctor trained to treat obesity, Saunders noted. “Obesity is such a complex disease that really needs to be treated very comprehensively,” she said. “If what we’re prescribing doesn’t work, we always have a backup plan.” The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Botafogo won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history with a 3-1 victory over fellow Brazilians Atletico Mineiro on Saturday. Botafogo played almost the entire match with ten men after Gregore was sent off in the first minute but they showed impressive spirit and resilience to secure victory at River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. It is the sixth straight season that a Brazilian club has won the Libertadores, the top competition for South American clubs. The 120-year-old Botafogo, the Rio club who have twice won the Brazilian championship, have a rich history, including producing greats such as World Cup winners Garrincha, Didi, Nilton Santos and Mario Zagallo. But they have long suffered taunts from their rivals about their failure to win the continental title -- a jibe that can be made no more. Midfielder Gregore was shown a red card after a wild, high challenge on Fauto Vera, forcing Botafogo to adjust their game plan, but Atletico failed to press home their numerical advantage. Veteran forward Hulk had an effort from outside the box saved by John but the team from Belo Horizonte created little pressure. Sensing the game might not be the rearguard action they might have expected, Botafogo began to show more attacking intent and they were rewarded in the 35th minute. Marlon Freitas's shot from the edge of the box ricocheted around a crowded box before the ball fell to Luiz Henrique, who fired home from close range. To their credit, Botafogo didn't retreat to defend their slim advantage and they were able to double their lead in the 44th minute. Atletico defender Guilherme Arana attempted to shepherd the ball back to goalkeeper Everson, but Luiz Henrique snuck between the pair and went down under challenge from the keeper. After a VAR review, a penalty was awarded and Alex Telles confidently smashed home the spot kick to give Botafogo an unlikely 2-0 lead at the break. Atletico, who won the Libertadores in 2013, made a triple substitution at the interval and it paid off swiftly with Eduardo Vargas heading in from a corner. Inevitably, there was late pressure from Atletico, but Botafogo made sure of the victory when Junior Santos finished off a counter-attack deep in stoppage time. With the win, Botafogo earns the final of 32 places in next year's FIFA Club World Cup to be held in the United States. The club, owned by American businessman John Textor, also has a chance to complete a double by winning what would be their third Brazilian league title -- they currently lead Serie A by three points with two games remaining. Luis Henrique, whose fine form this season has seen him break into the Brazil squad, said the win was an emotional one for him and the team. "Many people tried to stop me, but I know that God is with me, my family is with me, and I have to keep my feet on the ground because there is still more to come," the 23-year-old striker said. "I want to thank Botafogo a lot, Botafogo needs to be at the top, because it's a club that has been working hard, that has been doing a lot on a daily basis." sev/jsMeeting Jimmy Carter — and getting a scoop about Bush, Blair and Iraq from the perfect gentleman
Leading Pipeline Technology Company T.D. Williamson Expands With Innovative Canadian Pipeline Repair BusinessRuben Amorim has revealed he will “forget” an interview in which Marcus Rashford suggested he wanted to leave Manchester United, as the manager will “focus on improving Marcus”. Amorim caused a splash when he left Rashford out of the squad for the Manchester derby in December. The forward had been benched for a couple of games previous, but featured late on in those games. After being sat out of the 2-1 win against City, Rashford did an interview in which he said he was ready for a new challenge. He was left out of the United squad for the next two games, and in the meantime, there have been lots of reports stating he’ll be sold, loaned or look for a way out, with a lot of clubs linked with his signature. But Amorim has maintained if he does the right things, he can get back into his side, and the United manager has now suggested he’ll look past the interview in the hopes of helping Rashford to improve as a player. “It is a hard situation. I understand that these players have a lot of people around them, making choices that are not the first idea from the player,” he told Sky Sports . “I am always here to help Marcus as another player. I have to do what I have to do. They chose to do the interview as it is not just Marcus. I understand that. “As a coach I focus on performance and the way you train. The rest, it is better for me and the club to deal with that when the time comes. “At the moment I focus on improving Marcus and we need a talented guy like Marcus. I forget the interview now and see what I see on the pitch.” MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365: 👉 Man Utd lucky to have only one clown in worst Premier League XI of weekend 👉 Owen slams ‘stupid’ Man Utd star in Bournemouth loss as he urges Amorim to get ‘brutal’ 👉 Man Utd swap deal given ‘OK’ with Old Trafford seen as ‘perfect destination’ for ex-Brighton star Whether he will be included in squads going forward will seemingly still depend on if he shows the right attitude, but Amorim will return the favour if that does happen. READ MORE : Man Utd ‘willing to pay’ £63m to land elite striker as Euro club encourage mammoth raidSimple intuitiveness would have suggested that in the absence of No. 1 wide receiver George Pickens over the past three games that Pat Freiermuth would have been a much-utilized weapon in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. That has not materialized. Although Freiermuth does have two touchdown receptions in that time, he had a total of only 12 targets, nine catches and 86 yards over the past three games while Pickens has been out because of a hamstring injury. Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith maintained that Freiermuth is a major part of the game plan and was dismissive about those who track targets. “It’s just not a reality of how the game is played,” Smith said. “I only say that because I think Pat — and you can ask him this; this isn’t just coach-speak — you’re the primary (receiver) on a lot of (play calls), (but) obviously the coverage dictates a lot. And then other than things, if the quarterback sees something and likes a better matchup, that’s where the ball goes. “Pat has helped us in recent weeks. Pat has been pretty damn good in the red zone. When guys get the game plan, it’s not like you’re icing somebody out. It’s just whether the ball finds them or not. You may be the primary, may get a different look, something they break down, a guy gets off schedule where you’re not necessarily going to the primary target. I think Pat’s had an excellent season.” Freiermuth’s six receiving touchdowns leads the team and is tied for third among all NFL tight ends. His 50 catches are second on the team, his 508 receiving yards third behind Pickens and Calvin Austin III. During the three-game stretch without Pickens, only Austin has more catches, yards and targets for the Steelers than Freiermuth. In a turn of phrase intended to compliment, Smith called Freiermuth “the right guy” and respected his lack of selfishness in not demanding the ball more often. Less than four months removed from signing a four-year, $48 million contract, Freiermuth’s role in the offense is secure — even if it’s not necessarily producing gaudy receiving numbers. “I think anytime Pat touches the football for us is a good thing,” quarterback Russell Wilson said. “He helps us really attack the field vertically, attack it in the edges. Just he knows how to get first downs for us. He did a good picking up some big first downs last week. And so we trust him in every way.”
MORGANTOWN -- Normally, it's fun to look back upon Yogi Berra-isms. Not today. Not on the day West Virginia's football team went out and proved Yogi Berra wrong. See, Berra's credited with the quote "It's not over until it's over." He was wrong ... wrong about Saturday's football game in Lubbock, Texas, when West Virginia''s completed the regular season in the ashes of a 52-15 defeat to Texas Tech, leaving them at 6-6. The address there is "Nowheresville." But this game didn't end with the final gun; moments after quarterback Garrett Greene gave it a symbolic ending by throwing an interception. It ended far before that, when the deflated and defeated Mountaineers headed for the safety of their locker room at halftime, shell shocked by a 29-0 second quarter that left them red-faced at their performance and with no chance to win the game. The score at halftime was 35-3 and, folks, it was over then. They played the second half not to decide the outcome, only to sell beer, whiskey, automobiles and promote upcoming television programs. Berra's statement was wrong not only about the game, but about the entire Mountaineer season. They had come out of the heat of summer living in what proved to be a fantasy world, thinking they would contend for a spot in the Big 12's Championship game. Then they were smacked back to reality by Penn State and Pittsburgh and, whether they want to admit it or not, it was over ... yes,Yogi, it was over before it was over. Oh, they put together a nice mid-year run but the truth was that it really wasn't meaningful for this team never had an occasion where it rose up to pull off an upset. And while there is nothing to be proud of from a 6-6 season, when you analyze it closely you note they did not play Colorado, BYU and Arizona State. Those are arguably the three best teams in the conference and WVU's schedule did not include them. The Mountaineers beat teams they were supposed to beat, lost to teams they were supposed to lose to. They were the definition of a .500 team. "Our record wasn't what we hoped for," Brown admitted. "I will say this. Over the course of the year there were times when people counted us out and we bounced back. We have some good people in the locker room. We have some where we have to do some work. I'm talking about personnel areas. "We're very cognizant of it. We're not covering our eyes. There's areas where we have to get better. We won five games in the league. There were some games there we were capable of winning. So, I don't think we're miles away but there are some critical areas where we have to improve." Brown won't accept what most people are thinking:That this year's WVU team, his sixth as head coach, that this game and this season defined his team. "I don't think the first half of football defined who we are," Brown said. "It didn't define who we are as individuals and it didn't define who we are as a team," But you can't ignore reality. You are what you are and six years in Neal Brown's record in Big 12 games is 37-36. He hasn't beaten any Top 10 teams. They are far better than the first team he inherited from Dana Holgorsen, but they are not a contender in the conference and that's not opinion, it's there in the standings. The fans' frustration is warranted. Now what? "It's been a long season. They have to catch their breath. The positive is this is not the end of it. We have another game. Our guys will bounce back. They bounced back in the second half," Brown said. Certainly he wasn't talking about this game. True, they weren't blitzed 29-0 as they had been in the second quarter, but what kind of bounce back is it when you get outscored 17-12 in the second half. And, yeah, you can look at the stat sheet and see that WVU finished with 405 yards gained, which is not a bad offensive day ...until you realize it produced only 15 points against the team that ranked 125th in the nation in points allowed. The truth was, most of those yards were picked up, if you will pardon the expression, after this game was over. --- Follow @bhertzel on X (formerly Twitter)
