12. Clemson Tigers 10-3 (7-1 Atlantic Coast Conference regular season) What's next: First-round at No. 5 seed Texas, Dec. 21 Head coach: Dabo Swinney (17th season, 180-46 overall) About Swinney: The 55-year-old, who is 6-4 in the CFP, took over during the 2008 season and has won two national titles (2016, 2018). He will take the Tigers to the CFP the first time since the 2020 season and the seventh time overall. Resume The Tigers, the only three-loss team in the 12-team field, were in a must-win situation in the ACC championship game, prevailing on a last-second, 56-yard field goal to defeat SMU 34-31. Clemson lost two games to SEC opponents (Georgia and South Carolina) this season. The Tigers' other defeat came at home to Louisville. The matchup with Texas will be Clemson's first true road game against the SEC this season. Postseason history A nine-time winner of the ACC Championship Game, the Tigers notched a double-figure win total for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons. Along with its two national titles, Clemson reached the title game two other times (2019 and 2015). This will be the first Clemson-Texas matchup. The road to Atlanta It will be a tricky road for the Tigers to reach the CFP title game in Atlanta at a venue familiar to Clemson fans. The Tigers will take at least two and maybe three trips outside of their own time zone to qualify for the final. Names to know QB Cade Klubnik Klubnik, a Texas native, has been taking snaps in crucial situations since a limited role as a freshman in 2022, when he rescued the Tigers in an ACC Championship victory vs. North Carolina. Sporting a 19-8 career record as a starter, Klubnik has thrown for 3,303 yards and 33 touchdowns along with five interceptions this season. He tossed four TDs in the ACC title game Dec. 7 against SMU after receiving All-ACC honorable mention following the regular season. "He's battle-tested," Swinney said. "He has got a lot of experience under his belt. He has had some failure, which has made him better." RB Phil Mafah The senior has racked up 1,106 rushing yards with eight touchdowns this season and has 28 career scores. Mafah has averaged fewer than 17 carries per game, so he makes the most of his opportunities, and at 230 pounds he can be a load to bring down. DE T.J. Parker He's been disruptive on a regular basis, racking up 19 tackles for loss (11 sacks) this season. The 265-pound sophomore helped set the tone in the ACC title game when the Tigers feasted on early SMU mistakes. Parker is tied for the Division I lead with six forced fumbles this season. K Nolan Hauser The freshman joined the Tigers this season with great acclaim and produced a career highlight with a 56-yard game-winning field goal -- the longest in ACC title game history -- to beat SMU at the buzzer. --Field Level MediaCarnegie Learning Named to the 2025 GSV 150 for Third Timehttps://arab.news/j2n4a RIYADH: Saudi esports team Twisted Minds claimed victory against Dragons during the first ESL Saudi Challenge Grand Final, scooping the lion’s share of the tournament’s $20,000 prize pool. They become the first team to hold the title of ESL Saudi Champions in the region’s first ESL competition dedicated exclusively to the Saudi Arabian gaming community. In the semifinals, Dragons triumphed in a hard-fought best-of-five series to win 3-2, while Twisted Minds delivered a commanding performance with an unbeaten 4-0 sweep in a best-of-seven match. The finals featured Overwatch 2, an online, multiplayer, first-person shooter video game. Twisted Minds member Ibrahim Al-Ali told Arab News his team’s key to a successful gameplan was practice. “We do the basic stuff. We just practice before every tournament and keep practicing along the year ... A typical day of practice for a professional player usually is basic practice in game (which is) two hours of practice with each team, (up to) four to six hours a day.” Al-Ali has been playing Overwatch for nine years. His favorite character is “Widowmaker,” one of the game’s most popular heroes who is known for her powerful sniper rifle. Founded in 2021, Twisted Minds is known for impressive gameplay and consistent performance. The team competes in Rocket League, EA Sports FC and PUBG and recently won the PUBG Global Series 6, after claiming victory in both Series 4 and 5. Saudi Arabia boasts one of the region’s fastest-growing gaming sectors which is playing a pivotal role in the Kingdom’s transformation. FACEIT is the digital platform offering of ESL FACEIT Group, a gaming and esports company procured for $1.5 billion in 2022 by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, which is 100 percent owned by the country’s public investment fund.Ambedkar's efforts to uphold social justice through Constitution mirrors in today's policy decisions
How Shaboozey’s ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’ Has Kept the Party Going on Country Airplay ChartElon Musk is pushing for the federal government to make GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic cheap and widely available, calling it the single biggest opportunity to improve American health. But as co-chief of President-elect Donald Trump 's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Musk is also championing an aggressive effort to cut $2 trillion in federal spending—a mission seemingly at odds with the cost of subsidizing a drug that can run up to $1,000 a month. "Nothing would do more to improve the health, lifespan and quality of life for Americans than making GLP inhibitors super low cost to the public," Musk wrote on his social media platform X. "Nothing else is even close." The timing of Musk's remarks is notable. Just weeks earlier, the Biden administration proposed a $35 billion plan to allow Medicare and Medicaid to cover GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, a move that would grant millions of low-income and older Americans access to the high-priced medications. But that plan's fate now rests in the hands of Trump and his incoming administration, which has sent mixed signals on the idea. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , Trump's controversial pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), has called for Medicaid and Medicare to fund gym memberships and healthier food instead. "They're counting on selling it to Americans because we're so stupid and so addicted to drugs," Kennedy said during an appearance on Fox News ' Gutfeld! that he later posted to Instagram , concluding that Ozempic is not going to "Make America Healthy Again." Musk's push for cheaper GLP-1 drugs comes as public demand for weight-loss medications surges. Since 2013, the number of adults living with obesity in the U.S. has risen sharply, with more states now reporting over 35 percent of their adult population classified as obese, according to the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Clinical trials have shown that users of these medications can lose 15 percent to 22 percent of their body weight, a life-changing result for people struggling with obesity. But the drugs cost from $500 to $1,000 per month, and most health insurers have refused to cover them when prescribed for weight loss. Dr. Cynthia Cox, vice president at KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation), a nonprofit that offers information, analysis and research on health policy, acknowledged the potential health benefits but noted the financial challenge. "These drugs cost around $500 to $1,000 per month. So, even if they prevent diabetes or heart disease down the road, that potential savings isn't enough to offset the high monthly cost of the drug," she told Newsweek . According to a KFF analysis, the list price of Ozempic in the United States is $936 per month, more than five times the cost in Japan, where it sells for $169—the second-highest price among the countries studied. Similarly, Wegovy, another medication with the same active ingredient as Ozempic, is roughly four times as expensive in the U.S. ($1,349) compared to Germany ($328). A $35 Billion Dilemma The Biden administration's proposal would reinterpret a 2003 federal law to allow Medicare to cover weight-loss drugs, which it currently cannot do. The plan would also expand Medicaid coverage for these medications. If fully implemented, roughly 7.5 million people on Medicare and up to 28 million on Medicaid could qualify for access to these treatments. The proposal's cost is no small matter. The DHHS estimates that federal spending on GLP-1 coverage would total $35 billion over the next decade. That figure stands in stark contrast to the pledge by Musk and biotech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy —who will co-direct DOGE—to slash federal waste and spending. Ramaswamy, specifically, has been a vocal critic of federal spending on health care subsidies. "We need to scrutinize U.S. government funding of 'non-government organizations,'" Ramaswamy wrote on X, formerly Twitter , calling government-backed programs "a waste of taxpayer dollars." While Musk frames his support for cheaper GLP-1s as a long-term cost-saving measure, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has reported no direct evidence that making the drugs more accessible would reduce overall health care costs. Even if obesity-related health issues are reduced, critics argue, it would take years for those savings to be realized. In a report released in October, the CBO warned that subsidizing GLP-1 drugs could have unpredictable costs due to several key uncertainties. It is unclear how many people would use the drugs or for how long, especially if newer versions prove more effective. "The budgetary effects of the illustrative policy are highly uncertain and sensitive to the rapidly evolving, real-world data on use, savings from improved health, prices, eligibility for treatment, and other factors associated with the newer class of anti-obesity medications (AOMs)," the report reads. Price Negotiation, Competition and Reform But according to Cox, federal subsidies are not the only way to make GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic more affordable. She highlighted several alternative approaches that could reduce costs without directly relying on taxpayer-funded subsidies, such as price negotiation, increased competition and regulatory reforms. "It's expected that semaglutide—the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy—will be up for negotiation as soon as this coming year," Cox said. "This would allow the federal government to bargain with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices on GLP-1 drugs, reducing costs for Medicare beneficiaries and, in turn, lowering the financial burden on taxpayers." "We might even get an announcement on that in the next month or two," Cox added. Dr. David Ludwig, nutrition and obesity expert at Harvard University, called for a more balanced approach, according to the Associated Press (AP). "It's appropriate to treat the problems that we now face with drugs, but let's not stop there," Ludwig said. "Let's identify what's causing the problem and ultimately rely on these drugs—which have side effects—less and less over time." Dr. Andrew Kraftson, who treats obese patients at the University of Michigan, told AP that he is also encouraged by the possibility that more of his patients might be able to afford these drugs. "I'm advocating for their thoughtful use," Kraftson said. Still, the path forward is uncertain. Trump's incoming administration will have to decide whether to embrace Biden's proposal to expand coverage for GLP-1 drugs, despite the potential conflict with DOGE's broader cost-cutting mission.
Indian Market Opens In Green Amid Positive Mixed Global CuesRuthwiphdale School, an institution combining Nigerian and British curricula, has donated food items, clothes, shoes, and other essentials to Compassionate Orphanage as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative. In a statement made available to the correspondent by the school on Thursday stated that the school had been impacting lives for over a decade. The proprietress, Adenike Odetola, emphasised the school’s commitment to uplifting the underprivileged. “The reason for the charity arm is to support those who lack the opportunities to fulfill their potential. We adopted Compassionate Orphanage because it houses many orphans who, if supported, can achieve great things,” Odetola explained. She noted that the Foundation visited the orphanage twice annually to present cheques raised through donations, in addition to regular contributions from parents and pupils. According to her, these donations often include food, clothing, and other materials. Odetola added, “Our learners make cash contributions to the charity every Thursday. Related News NAFDAC seizes N3.8bn unregistered food products in Lagos Christmas: Low-key celebrations as prices soar, traders lament poor sales Crash food prices to address palliative stampedes – OPC During the festive season, leading up to Christmas, our parents generously donate food items, clothing, and other essentials to support our adopted orphans. Despite the economic challenges in the country, they have remained steadfast in giving.” She described the gesture as an effort to instill the value of generosity in the learners. “We are planting the seed of giving in our learners, and we pray it will yield a hundredfold in their lives,” she said. In addition to the donation, Ruthwiphdale School observed Jumper Day on December 11, a global event inspired by the UK charity, Save the Children. While the UK charity is not operational in Nigeria, the school has adopted the principle of raising funds for the less privileged.“The money raised during Jumper Day will be used to purchase items for Compassionate Orphanage, which will be presented on Valentine’s Day. Earlier on December 9, we visited the orphanage to donate food items and other materials, thanks to the unwavering support of our parents,” she disclosed. Odetola urged corporate organisations and schools to emulate such efforts in addressing the needs of vulnerable children. “We cannot leave everything to the government. Among these children are potential doctors, engineers, architects, and IT experts. Supporting them today is investing in a better tomorrow,” she concluded.
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December Is A Tough Month In Which To Turn BearishBleichroeder Acquisition Corp. I Announces the Separate Trading of its Class A Ordinary Shares and Rights, Commencing December 2, 2024