NEW YORK (AP) — If you’re planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you’re not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they’ll make at least one resolution for 2025. There’s some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren’t expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Relaxed New Year’s Eve plans for many Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year’s Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn’t usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he’s got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Younger Americans are more likely to make a resolution Every New Year’s also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they’ll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they’ll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods’ resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it’s to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. ___ Sanders reported from Washington.fc188 ph 。

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The St. Petersburg City Council voted Thursday to spend more than $23 million to repair the hurricane-shredded roof of Tropicana Field , with the goal of having the home of the Tampa Bay Rays ready for the 2026 season. The vote followed a decision earlier this week by the Pinellas County Commission to delay until December a vote on revenue bonds needed to finance a new, $1.3 billion Rays ballpark, a project that is in serious jeopardy according to Rays executives. “I can't say I'm confident about anything,” Rays co-president Brian Auld told the council members, who were scheduled later Thursday to vote on their own bonds to pay their share of the new stadium. The Trop's translucent fiberglass roof was ripped to pieces on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton swept ashore just south of Tampa Bay. There was also significant water damage inside the ballpark, with a city estimate of the total repair costs pegged at $55.7 million. The extensive repairs cannot be finished before the 2026 season, city documents show. The Rays made a deal with the Yankees to play next season at 11,000-seat Steinbrenner Field, New York's spring training home across the bay in Tampa. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said MLB wants to give the Rays and Tampa-area politicians time to figure out a path forward given the disruption caused by the hurricane. Assuming Tropicana Field is repaired, the Rays are obligated to play there for three more seasons. “We’re committed to the fans in Tampa Bay,” Manfred said at an owners meeting. “Given all that’s happened in that market, we’re focused on our franchise in Tampa Bay right now.” The vote Thursday was to get moving on the roof portion of the repair. Once that's done, crews could begin working on laying down a new baseball field, fixing damaged seating and office areas and a variety of electronic systems — which would require another vote to approve money for the remaining restoration. The city previously voted to spend $6.5 million to prevent further damage to the unroofed Trop. Several council members said before the vote on the $23.7 million to fix the roof that the city is contractually obligated to do so. “I don’t see a way out of it. We have a contract that’s in place,” council member Gina Driscoll said. “We’re obligated to do it. We are going to fix the roof.” The council voted 4-3 to approve the roof repair. Members who opposed it said there wasn't enough clarify on numerous issues, including how much would be covered by the ballpark's insurance and what amount might be provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They also noted that city residents who are struggling to repair their homes and businesses damaged by hurricanes Helene and Milton are dismayed when they see so many taxpayer dollars going to baseball. “Why are we looking to expend so much money right away when there is so much uncertainty?” council member Richie Floyd said. The new Rays ballpark — now likely to open in 2029, if at all — is part of a larger urban renovation project known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which refers to a predominantly Black neighborhood that was forced out to make way for construction of Tropicana Field and an interstate highway spur. The broader $6.5 billion project would transform an 86-acre (34-hectare) tract in the city’s downtown, with plans in the coming years for a Black history museum, affordable housing, a hotel, green space, entertainment venues, and office and retail space. There’s the promise of thousands of jobs as well. St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, a prime mover behind the overall project, said it's not time to give up. “We believe there is a path forward to success,” the mayor said. AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlbAfter Juan Soto's megadeal, could MLB see a $1 billion contract? Probably not soon

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh ushered in reforms that not only rescued his country from the brink of financial collapse but transformed it into an economic powerhouse. Manmohan Singh spent more than four decades in public service, during which he wore many hats, as central bank governor, finance minister, and then prime minister. Singh was born in 1932 in the village of Gah, which is in present-day Pakistan . By the time British India was partitioned into two countries — India and Pakistan — he and his family had moved to the Indian side of the border in Amritsar, Punjab. Singh was a highly qualified public servant. He completed his Economic Tripos at the University of Cambridge, and later received his doctorate at the University of Oxford. He began his career in academics, starting as an economics lecturer at a university and later worked with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. By the time he returned to India in 1969, he was a renowned economist. He started working with the Indian government and subsequently rose to key positions. He was appointed as chief economic advisor to the government of India and later as the governor of India's central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). After another brief stint abroad, he returned to become the prime minister's advisor. Liberalizing the Indian economy Singh's moment in the sun came in 1991. That's when his tryst with politics began. At the time, India was facing its worst economic crisis. Its foreign exchange reserves were barely enough to meet a few weeks of imports and the country was looking at a sovereign default. PV Narasimha Rao, who took over as India's new prime minister in June 1991, appointed Singh to steer the Indian economy out of crisis as his finance minister. A month after the prime minister and his cabinet were sworn in, Singh presented his first budget. He gave a landmark speech in parliament that shifted the course of the economy. India went from socialism and protectionism to market-based liberalization. The reforms not only staved off an economic crisis, but they also ushered in unprecedented growth in the subsequent years that brought millions of people out of poverty and raised living standards for average Indians. Return to power More than a decade after his historic speech, Singh found himself in the limelight once again. The Indian National Congress, the country's grand old party of which Singh was a member, won the 2004 parliamentary elections. It seemed that powerful Congress leader Sonia Gandhi was all set to become the prime minister. But Gandhi, the Italian-born widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, decided to not take up the highest office in the country amid political outrage over her foreign origins. Instead, she picked Singh as prime minister. During his tenure, he worked with several world leaders, including two US presidents. One of them was Barack Obama who, in his book 'A Promised Land', described Singh as "a man of uncommon wisdom and decency." Manmohan Singh was "a self-effacing technocrat who'd won people's trust not by appealing to their passions but by bringing about higher standards of living and maintaining a well-earned reputation of not being corrupt," Obama wrote in his post-presidency memoir. A 'weak' prime minister? Critics say the reason Sonia Gandhi anointed him was because even though he had impeccable credentials, Singh had virtually no political power. Never in his political career did he win a popular election. The one time he contested as a Congress candidate in the 1999 election, he lost. From 1991 to 2019, Singh was a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament elected by a state legislature where the Congress held a majority. He simply could not pose a challenge to Gandhi, who retained real power in government. This remained one of the biggest criticisms of Singh's premiership that lasted from 2004 to 2014. Singh's legacy was further marred by a series of corruption scandals. While he was never personally implicated in any of the scandals, he was seen as lacking control of his party which was widely perceived as corrupt. He defended his record in one of the last press conferences he gave as prime minister. "I do not believe that I have been a weak prime minister... I honestly believe that history will be kinder to me than the contemporary media or for that matter the opposition in parliament," he said. "Given the political compulsions, I have done the best I could do," Singh said. Edited by: Shamil Shams

Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh 's role in the 2008 nuclear deal may be a forgotten one amid the current geopolitical scenario with different Presidents and PMs at the helm of power in the US and India, but his contribution has been a pivotal one in building up of the India US bond . ET Year-end Special Reads Corporate Kalesh: Top family disputes of India Inc in 2024 The world of business lost these eminent people in 2024 Fast, faster, fastest: How 2024 put more speed into your shopping Has former PM Manmohan Singh worked to build the Indo-US bond? The United States and India did not have a great relationship since India's independence, with the Western powers backing Pakistan strongly at a point when India had close ties with Soviet Union. Manmohan Singh came to the political core of India when USSR was on the brink of collapse, and from thereon, he has tried to build up the economic bond between the United States and India, since his time as the Finance Minister. His economic vision has more than a few times, saved India from an economic crisis and his contribution towards Indo-US relations must aways be remembered. Ex-PM Manmohan Singh passes away, India in shock, condolences pour in Former PM Manmohan Singh has reportedly passed away after being admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. PTI has already tweeted the news of his death on their social media handle. Former PM Manmohan Singh has died: AIIMS Delhi pic.twitter.com/UYSo99hU9r — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 26, 2024 Artificial Intelligence(AI)Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AIBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Artificial Intelligence(AI)Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows InnovationsBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Artificial Intelligence(AI)Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPTBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Artificial Intelligence(AI)Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-OnBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Artificial Intelligence(AI)Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AIBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program MarketingPerformance Marketing for eCommerce BrandsBy - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara MarketersView Program Office ProductivityZero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program FinanceA2Z Of MoneyBy - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdgeView Program MarketingModern Marketing Masterclass by Seth GodinBy - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling AuthorView Program AstrologyVastu Shastra CourseBy - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu ShashtriView Program StrategySuccession Planning MasterclassBy - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd.View Program Data ScienceSQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data VisualizationBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Artificial Intelligence(AI)AI and Analytics based Business StrategyBy - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCIView Program Web DevelopmentA Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program MarketingDigital Marketing Masterclass by Pam MooreBy - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media ExpertView Program Artificial Intelligence(AI)AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding SkillsBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Office ProductivityMastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program MarketingDigital marketing - Wordpress Website DevelopmentBy - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expertView Program Office ProductivityMastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance AnalysisBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Web DevelopmentMastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend ExcellenceBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program FinanceFinancial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire CodeBy - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting EducatorView Program Data ScienceSQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to ProBy - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and DeveloperView Program Is Manmohan Singh the crucial figure in the Indo-US nuclear deal? 2008 brought in a groundbreaking nuclear deal between the United States and India, which was proposed and spearheaded by Manmohan Singh, who was the Prime Minister of India back then, with George W. Bush being the US President then. The US Congress gave their final approval to an agreement facilitating nuclear cooperation between the United States and India, which was criticized by a majority of countries who weren't allies of the Western powers back then. However, PM Singh and President Bush stood their ground and tried to get this deal sealed in a bid towards international nonproliferation efforts. That very deal lifted the moratorium of nuclear trade between both the countries that was into implementation for around three decades, as per reports. However, critics across India and US called the terms of this nuclear deal agreement overly beneficial for India, and both President Bush and PM Singh had to face the wrath of the international community back then.FAQs:Has Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away? Former PM Manmohan Singh has passed away after being admitted to an hospital in India, citing critical illness, as per reports. Who signed the 2008 US-India nuclear deal? Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former US President George W Bush were responsible for the signing of the 2008 US India nuclear deal. #sr_widget.onDemand p, #stock_pro.onDemand p{font-size: 14px;line-height: 1.28;} .onDemand .live_stock{left:17px;padding:1px 3px 1px 5px;font-size:12px;font-weight:600;line-height:18px;top:9px} #sr_widget.onDemand .sr_desc{margin:0 auto 0;} #sr_widget.onDemand .sr_desc{color: #024d99;margin-top:10px;} #sr_widget.onDemand .crypto .live_stock .lb-icon{8px 6px 5px 3px !important} #sr_widget.crypto.onDemand a.text{border-bottom:1px solid #ccc;padding-bottom:5px;display:block;width:100%} #sr_widget.onDemand .sr_desc .text p, #stock_pro.onDemand .sr_desc .text p{font-size:12px;font-weight:400;} (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onmanmohan singh deathManmohan Singh2008 nuclear dealIndia US bondeconomic vision of Manmohan Singhpm manmohan singh death newsindo us nuclear dealeconomic crisis(Catch all the US News, UK News, Canada News, International Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) 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The answer might surprise youChinese Students in US Warned to Return Home Before Trump's Inauguration Amid Concerns Over Travel Bans and Visa RestrictionsDr. Manmohan Singh: The economist who shaped India's economic futureManmohan Singh passes away at 92; PM Modi, Mallikarjun Kharge and others mourn former PM's demiseRemembering Dr. Manmohan Singh: A legacy of economic reforms and leadershipManmohan Singh, former Prime Minister and hero of India's economic liberalisation, passes away at 92Netflix NFL: How much did Beyoncé charge for her Texans-Ravens Christmas game halftime show?Govt imposes restrictions on import of low ash metallurgical coke for 6 monthsMassive layoffs in USA? Here's what data revealsBeyoncé to go on tour in 2025 amid Jay-Z rape lawsuit? Big announcement coming on January 14, all details hereGensol Engineering gets Rs 897-cr solar project from NTPC RELIsraeli announces new strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen's capital and portsIndusind Bank puts MFI loans worth Rs 1573 crore on the blockWorld's richest man Elon Musk's private jets made 355 flights in 2024 and spent 881 hours crisscrossing the globe; here's what his travels indicate10 Bangladeshi infiltrators, 5 Indian traffickers arrested in Nadia district of West BengalFollow us on:Download ET App:subscribe to our newsletterCopyright © 2024 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service var page = { msid : '116690596', subsec1 : '1715249553', subsec1Name : 'News', compId : '', cfmid : '', cfseopath : '', budgetCommentKeyword: '0', meta_SpecialID: '', agency:'', age: '-.00', currTime : '23.06' } var sharer = {title:"Manmohan Singh, the 'forgotten hero' in the controversial 2008 nuclear deal? 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But, little do we know about the person who was at the core of improving India-US relations over the past two decades. 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Choose your reason below and click on the Report button. This will alert our moderators to take action Name Reason for reporting: Foul language Slanderous Inciting hatred against a certain community Others Your Reason has been Reported to the admin. X To post this comment you must Log In/Connect with: The Economic Times or Fill in your details: Will be displayed Will not be displayed Will be displayed Share this Comment: Post to Twitter { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "inLanguage":"en", "keywords" : ["manmohan singh death","Manmohan Singh","Indo-US relations","2008 nuclear deal","India US bond","economic vision of Manmohan Singh","pm manmohan singh death news","indo us nuclear deal","economic crisis","contribution towards Indo-US relations"], "headline": "Manmohan Singh, the 'forgotten hero' in the controversial 2008 nuclear deal? Here's how he worked towards ", "description": "India and the United States' foreign relations are currently at its peak, with reigning PM Narendra Modi and Joe Biden sharing a close bond, and President-elect Donald Trump also having strong terms with India's foreign officials as well as the Indian PM. But, little do we know about the person who was at the core of improving India-US relations over the past two decades. Here's an insight into how former PM Manmohan Singh contributed towards building up of Indo-US terms", "datePublished": "2024-12-26T23:06:00+05:30", "dateModified": "2024-12-26T23:06:00+05:30", "url":"https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/manmohan-singh-the-forgotten-hero-in-the-controversial-2008-nuclear-deal-heres-how-he-worked-towards-improving-indo-us-relations/articleshow/116690596.cms", "mainEntityOfPage":"https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/manmohan-singh-the-forgotten-hero-in-the-controversial-2008-nuclear-deal-heres-how-he-worked-towards-improving-indo-us-relations/articleshow/116690596.cms", "articleSection" : "News", "articleBody":"Former Indian PM Manmohan Singh's role in the 2008 nuclear deal may be a forgotten one amid the current geopolitical scenario with different Presidents and PMs at the helm of power in the US and India, but his contribution has been a pivotal one in building up of the India US bond. Has former PM Manmohan Singh worked to build the Indo-US bond?The United States and India did not have a great relationship since India's independence, with the Western powers backing Pakistan strongly at a point when India had close ties with Soviet Union. Manmohan Singh came to the political core of India when USSR was on the brink of collapse, and from thereon, he has tried to build up the economic bond between the United States and India, since his time as the Finance Minister. His economic vision has more than a few times, saved India from an economic crisis and his contribution towards Indo-US relations must aways be remembered. Ex-PM Manmohan Singh passes away, India in shock, condolences pour inFormer PM Manmohan Singh has reportedly passed away after being admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. PTI has already tweeted the news of his death on their social media handle. Is Manmohan Singh the crucial figure in the Indo-US nuclear deal? 2008 brought in a groundbreaking nuclear deal between the United States and India, which was proposed and spearheaded by Manmohan Singh, who was the Prime Minister of India back then, with George W. Bush being the US President then. The US Congress gave their final approval to an agreement facilitating nuclear cooperation between the United States and India, which was criticized by a majority of countries who weren't allies of the Western powers back then. However, PM Singh and President Bush stood their ground and tried to get this deal sealed in a bid towards international nonproliferation efforts. That very deal lifted the moratorium of nuclear trade between both the countries that was into implementation for around three decades, as per reports. However, critics across India and US called the terms of this nuclear deal agreement overly beneficial for India, and both President Bush and PM Singh had to face the wrath of the international community back then.FAQs:Has Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away? Former PM Manmohan Singh has passed away after being admitted to an hospital in India, citing critical illness, as per reports. Who signed the 2008 US-India nuclear deal? Former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and former US President George W Bush were responsible for the signing of the 2008 US India nuclear deal.", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://img.etimg.com/thumb/msid-116690603,resizemode-4,width-1200,height-900,imgsize-340975,overlay-economictimes/articleshow.jpg", "width": 1200, "height": 900 }, "author": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "" }, "publisher": { "@type": "NewsMediaOrganization", "name": "Economic Times", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://img.etimg.com/thumb/msid-76939477,width-600,height-60,quality-100/economictimes.jpg", "width": 600, "height": 60 } } } { "@context": "https://schema.org/", "@type" : "WebPage", "name" : "Manmohan Singh, the 'forgotten hero' in the controversial 2008 nuclear deal? 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Israel , renowned for its expertise in silicon chip design that powers global tech giants like Intel , Nvidia , and Apple , is expanding its innovation into a new frontier—biochips. Israel will soon host its first-ever research and development lab dedicated to biochip and smart sensor technology, focusing on medical diagnostics, environmental rehabilitation, and energy generation from waste. 2 View gallery After becoming a leader in the field of silicon, Israel is turning to a new field ( Photo: Shutterstock ) The lab, a collaboration between Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Israeli company Bacaromus, will integrate biology, engineering, and artificial intelligence. The $29.6 million project will be supported by a $19.6 million investment from the government through the Israel Innovation Authority. Biochips developed in the lab aim to revolutionize fields such as medicine and environmental science. Applications include accelerating drug development, real-time monitoring of health conditions from within the body, rapid diagnosis of infectious diseases from small samples, purifying contaminated water, and more. Biochips and biological devices have the potential to manipulate individual cells, perform microscopic processes, and detect molecular changes. Practical uses range from identifying airborne toxins, breaking down oceanic plastic and organic waste, diagnosing viral and bacterial diseases, detecting explosives at border crossings, cultivating food in harsh conditions, and pinpointing contaminated areas. Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play : https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store : https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv The new facility will provide Israeli biotech researchers and companies with cutting-edge tools and infrastructure to drive biochip innovations across medicine, energy, and agriculture—reducing dependence on foreign resources. Dror Bin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority, stated the lab will serve as a hub for research, knowledge sharing, and technological development, attracting foreign investments, international collaborations, and fresh talent to Israel. 2 View gallery Biochips may help break down plastics that have long since become one of the planet's biggest problems ( Photo: Shuttertock ) The lab’s founders, IAI and Bacaromus, were chosen following a rigorous selection process. IAI brings decades of expertise in advanced technology development, including 3D printing, advanced materials, machine learning, simulation, and system integration. Bacaromus, based in Caesarea, specializes in chip packaging and optical components, offering cleanroom facilities, assembly support, and a skilled team with extensive experience in the field. Innovation, Science, and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel hailed the project as a strategic milestone. “The new lab marks a groundbreaking chapter where biology, engineering, and artificial intelligence converge to create transformative solutions that can change the world,” she said. >

Patriots QB Drake Maye questionable to return after suffering head injury vs. Chargers FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye is questionable to return with a head injury after taking a blow to the helmet in the first quarter of New England’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Maye was scrambling near the sideline on third down of the Patriots’ first possession of the game when he was hit by Chargers cornerback Cam Hart. Maye stayed down on the turf for several seconds before eventually getting up and jogging off the field on his own power. He briefly sat on the bench before going to the medical tent for evaluation. Corbin Burnes and Arizona Diamondbacks agree to $210 million, 6-year deal, AP source says PHOENIX (AP) — Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a $210 million, six-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a successful physical. The 30-year-old Burnes was perhaps the top free agent pitcher on the market after going 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA for Baltimore last season. The Orioles acquired the right-hander in a February trade after he spent his first six major league seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. Eli Manning and Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and prolific tight end Antonio Gates are among the finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The Hall on Saturday announced the names of the 15 modern-era finalists who advanced from a group of 25 to the final stage of voting. The selection committee will vote next month to pick the class of between three and five modern-era players that will be announced the week of the Super Bowl. NBA coaches react with dismay over firing of 2-time coach of the year Mike Brown ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Not even two years ago, Rick Carlisle publicly lauded Mike Brown for the job he did on the way to winning the NBA’s coach of the year award. And on Friday, Carlisle was among the coaches reacting with dismay that Brown was fired. The Sacramento Kings dismissed Brown on Friday, with the team off to a 13-18 start this season and mired toward the bottom of the Western Conference — despite back-to-back winning seasons, something that franchise hadn’t managed in nearly two decades. Panthers place 1,000-yard rusher Chuba Hubbard on IR for final 2 games with strained calf CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Panthers have shut down leading rusher Chuba Hubbard for the final two games of the season because of a strained calf. He was placed on injured reserve Saturday. Hubbard was limited in practice Friday with a knee injury and was listed as questionable to play Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After practice, Hubbard complained of pain and had an MRI, which revealed a grade two calf strain, according to the team. Hubbard ran for 1,195 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. He becomes the third Panthers running back to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining Miles Sanders and rookie Jonathan Brooks. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck announces plan to enter NFL draft after season-ending elbow injury Georgia quarterback Carson Beck has announced his plans to enter the NFL draft, five days after having season-ending elbow surgery. The fifth-year senior made his NFL plans official on social media. Beck suffered a right elbow injury in the first half of the Bulldogs’ 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the Southeastern Conference championship game on Dec. 7. Beck had surgery on Monday to repair his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow. He is expected to begin throwing next spring. Backup Gunner Stockton will make his first start in the Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame on Wednesday. Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Injured Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts won't play Sunday against Dallas. Hurts is still in the NFL concussion protocol. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was injured early at Washington after his head slammed against the ground on one run and he was hit in the helmet by Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu at the end of another. Hurts isn’t healthy enough to play just yet. McCord throws for 453 yards, 5 TDs in No. 22 Syracuse's 52-35 Holiday Bowl win over Washington State SAN DIEGO (AP) — Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns to break Deshaun Watson’s Atlantic Coast Conference season passing record and lead No. 22 Syracuse to a 52-35 victory over depleted-yet-scrappy Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night. LeQuint Allen rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns for his second straight 1,000-yard season for the Orange (10-3), who had their first 10-win season since 2018. Fran Brown joined Paul Pasqualoni (1991) as the only Orange coaches since World War II to win 10 game in their first season. The Cougars (8-5) lost their fourth straight game but were spirited despite losing coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest, quarterback John Mateer to Oklahoma, both coordinators and the quarterbacks and running backs coach. Southern California overcomes 17-point deficit to beat Texas A&M 35-31 in Las Vegas Bowl LAS VEGAS (AP) — Jayden Maiava threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Ford with eight seconds left to give Southern California a 35-31 victory over Texas A&M in the Las Vegas Bowl on Friday night. A graduate of Liberty High School in nearby Henderson and a transfer from UNLV, Maiava helped the Trojans (7-6) overcome a 17-point deficit. After Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed raced 19 yards for a touchdown with 1:49 remaining to regain the lead, Maiava drove Southern California 75 yards in 10 plays for the winning score.The Aggies (8-5) opened the third quarter by scoring 17 straight points to take a 24-7 lead. Taylen Green leads Arkansas to 39-26 victory over Texas Tech in the Liberty Bowl MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Taylen Green threw for 341 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 81 yards in Arkansas’ 39-26 victory over Texas Tech on Friday night in the Liberty Bowl. Green completed 11 of 21 passes and Arkansas (7-6) had 573 yards of total offense. J’Koby Williams rushed for 123 yards and a TD for Texas Tech (8-5). Will Hammond threw for 280 yards and a touchdown. The Red Raiders took a shot before game time when leading running back Tahj Brooks, who rushed for 1,505 yards, opted not to play for “personal reasons.” The first half was highlighted by big scoring plays, including a 54-yard run by Williams and a 94-yard pass from Green to receiver Dazmin James, the longest pass play in Liberty Bowl history.

Kuala Lumpur New Theory Emerges on the Disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Suggesting Deliberate Crash in Remote Oceanic TerrainFormer prime minister Manmohan Singh, described as the architect of Indian economic reforms, died on Thursday. Here is the timeline of his five-decade old career in bureaucracy and politics. 1954: Completed Master’s in Economics from Panjab University 1957: Economic Tripos (3-year degree prog) from Cambridge University 1962: D.Phil in Economics from Oxford University 1971: Joins Government of India as Economic Advisor in Commerce Ministry 1972: Appointed Chief Economic Advisor in Finance Ministry 1980-82: Member, Planning Commission 1982-1985: Governor of the Reserve Bank of India 1985-87: Served as Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission 1987-90: Secretary General of South Commission in Geneva 1990: Appointed Advisor to Prime Minister on Economic Affairs March 1991: Appointed chairman of University Grants Commission 1991: Elected to Rajya Sabha from Assam, and re-elected in 1995, 2001, 2007 and 2013 1991-96: Finance Minister under P V Narasimha Rao government 1998-2004: Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha 2004-2014: Prime Minister of India (Except for the headline, this story, from a syndicated feed, has not been edited by Odishatv.in staff)Did you know Pope Francis was a nightclub bouncer, his favorite movie is “La Strada” by Federico Fellini, and that he doesn’t watch television? On the occasion of his 88th birthday on December 17, these and other interesting facts about Pope Francis are highlighted below. 1. How did he discover his vocation? On the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle, Pope Francis discovered his vocation to the priesthood after going to confession when he was 16 years old. It happened on Sept. 21, 1953. It was Student Day in Argentina, which coincides with the day when spring begins in the southern hemisphere and is celebrated with a big party. “Before going to the party, I passed by the parish I attended and I found a priest I didn’t know and I felt the need to go to confession. This was for me an experience of encounter: I found Someone who was waiting for me.” “I don’t know what happened, I don’t remember, I don’t know why that priest was there, whom I didn’t know, why I had felt that desire to go to confession, but the truth is that Someone was waiting for me. He had been waiting for me for a long time. After confession I felt that something had changed,” the Holy Father shared. He said that after that confession he said that he was no longer himself: “I had heard something like a voice, a call: I was convinced that I had to be a priest.” 2. What is his favorite dish? November 19, 2022, was one of those rare occasions when Pope Francis left the Vatican without an official program. The reason? A family reunion in Asti, the Italian city where his cousin Daniela di Tiglione lives, who was celebrating her 90th birthday. On that occasion, Pope Francis was able to enjoy his favorite dish: Bagna Cauda, a typical Piedmont dish prepared with anchovies, oil, and garlic and used as a sauce for vegetables. 3. A passion for tango Before being ordained a priest, especially during his youth, Pope Francis enjoyed tango, one of the most emblematic dances of Argentina. He also liked the milonga, another typical dance from his homeland. 4. He was a bouncer in a nightclub Like any young man, Jorge Bergoglio worked various jobs to earn his first salary. Although his first job was scrubbing the floors of the hosiery company where his father worked, in 2013 he confessed to a group of young people that he was also a bouncer at a nightclub. Thanks to that experience, he began “to guide the disillusioned to the Church.” 5. He’s missing a lung When he was 21, he had to have a lung removed due to an infection, which has caused him to suffer from some breathing difficulties in recent years. 6. He has refused forgiveness only once On more than one occasion, Pope Francis has encouraged priests to forgive “everything” in the confessional and to “not torture” the faithful in the confessional. During an interview on Italian television in January, he stated that in his more than 50 years as a priest he has refused forgiveness only once, “because of the hypocrisy of the person.” 7. The prayer he says every day to keep his good humor On several occasions, Pope Francis has praised a good sense of humor and stressed that sadness is not a Christian disposition. He has even gone so far as to say that the “hallmark of a Christian” is joy and not being a sourpuss. To be good-humored, he says a prayer from St. Thomas More every day, a prayer he has referred to in numerous public appearances, most recently with the president of France, Emmanuel Macron. “Lord, give me a sense of humor. Grant me the grace to understand a joke, to discover in life a bit of joy, and be able to share it with others,” the Holy Father prays every day. 8. St. Joseph, his help in difficulties There is an image of St. Joseph that Pope Francis is very fond of that shows the “silent” saint lying down asleep. During his apostolic trip to the Philippines, the pontiff referred to St. Joseph as “a strong man of silence” and said that he keeps this figurine on his desk. “Even when he sleeps, he takes care of the Church,” he said. “When I have a problem, a difficulty, I write a little note and put it under St. Joseph so that he can dream about it. In other words, I tell him: Pray for this problem!” the Holy Father confessed. 9. Pope Francis favors taking a daily nap Pope Francis usually goes to bed at 9 p.m. and wakes up around 4 a.m. He sleeps about six hours a day, as he usually reads for an hour after going to bed, until 10 p.m. “Later I need a nap. I have to sleep for 40 minutes to an hour. I take off my shoes and fall into bed. And I also sleep deeply and wake up alone. On days when I don’t take a nap, I notice it,” he once said. 10. What is his favorite soccer team? Even though he no longer lives in Argentina, Pope Francis continues to root for the San Lorenzo de Almagro team from Buenos Aires. He keeps up to date thanks to a Swiss Guard who informs him of the team’s news every week, since the pope doesn’t watch the games. In fact, during an audience at the Vatican in September, a delegation from the San Lorenzo club asked the Holy Father for his blessing to name the club’s next stadium after him. 11. The day his life was saved At the age of 44, Pope Francis suffered from gangrene of the gallbladder, a serious complication that occurs when the tissue of this organ of the digestive system becomes necrotic due to an interruption of blood flow. “I felt like I was dying,” said the Holy Father, referring to the night in 1980 when he was operated on by Dr. Juan Carlos Parodi, an eminent Argentine surgeon who saved the life of then-Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio. In 2014, 34 years later, the two held a private meeting in the Vatican. 12. Where does he want to be buried? Unlike many pontiffs throughout the history of the Church, whose coffins are in the crypts of the Vatican in the grottoes under St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Father revealed that he has had his tomb prepared in St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome due to the great devotion he has to the Virgin Salus Populi Romani (protectress of the Roman people), to whom he made a promise. In addition, in December 2022, the pontiff gave an interview in which he announced that he had signed his resignation in case his health did not allow him to continue exercising his ministry. 13. What is his favorite movie? “La Strada” by Federico Fellini, winner of the Oscar for best foreign film in 1957. 14. He doesn’t watch television because of a promise to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Pope Francis says he hasn’t watched television since July 15, 1990, when he promised Our Lady of Mount Carmel that he would no longer do so. The Holy Father made this promise because he “felt that God was asking me to do it.” 15. He went to therapy at age 42 In the book interview “Politics and Society” by Frenchman Dominique Wolton, Pope Francis recounted that, when he was provincial of the Society of Jesus in Argentina, he went to therapy for six months with a Jewish psychologist. “She was very good, very professional,” the Holy Father said. 16. An ‘incognito’ pope on the streets of Rome In 2013, the year he was elected bishop of Rome, a Vatican source informed the “Huffington Post” that Pope Francis went out at night dressed as a priest to give alms and help the poor on the streets of Rome. Suicide bombers planned to attack the pope Meanwhile, Pope Francis marked his 88th birthday with revelations that he almost didn’t make it, the Associated Press said. According to excerpts from his upcoming autobiography, suicide bombers had planned to attack him during his March 2021 visit to Iraq, but were killed before striking. Italian daily “Corriere della Sera” ran excerpts of “Hope: The Autobiography,” written with Italian author Carlo Musso, which is being released in more than 80 countries next month. IFrancis recalled his historic March 2021 trip to Iraq, the first ever by a pope. Covid-19 was still raging and security concerns were high, especially in Mosul. According to Italian publisher Mondadori, “Hope” is the first autobiography ever published by a pope. Catholic News Agency with Associated Press

‘Worst goal I’ve seen us concede’ – moment Celtic ace Cameron Carter-Vickers gives Brugge the lead with huge blunderBy JILL COLVIN and STEPHEN GROVES WASHINGTON (AP) — After several weeks working mostly behind closed doors, Vice President-elect JD Vance returned to Capitol Hill this week in a new, more visible role: Helping Donald Trump try to get his most contentious Cabinet picks to confirmation in the Senate, where Vance has served for the last two years. Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday with former Rep. Matt Gaetz and spent the morning sitting in on meetings between Trump’s choice for attorney general and key Republicans, including members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The effort was for naught: Gaetz announced a day later that he was withdrawing his name amid scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations and the reality that he was unlikely to be confirmed. Thursday morning Vance was back, this time accompanying Pete Hegseth, the “Fox & Friends Weekend” host whom Trump has tapped to be the next secretary of defense. Hegseth also has faced allegations of sexual assault that he denies. Vance is expected to accompany other nominees for meetings in coming weeks as he tries to leverage the two years he has spent in the Senate to help push through Trump’s picks. Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., center, and Vice President-elect JD Vance, left, walk out of a meeting with Republican Senate Judiciary Committee members, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, departs the chamber at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, center speaks during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, March 7, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, right, speaks with Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, before testifying at a hearing, March 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a classified briefing on China, at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, arrives for a vote on Capitol Hill, Sept. 12, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE – Sen. JD Vance R-Ohio speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Vice President-elect JD Vance, still a Republican senator from Ohio, walks from a private meeting with President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Vance is taking on an atypical role as Senate guide for Trump nominees The role of introducing nominees around Capitol Hill is an unusual one for a vice president-elect. Usually the job goes to a former senator who has close relationships on the Hill, or a more junior aide. But this time the role fits Vance, said Marc Short, who served as Trump’s first director of legislative affairs as well as chief of staff to Trump’s first vice president, Mike Pence, who spent more than a decade in Congress and led the former president’s transition ahead of his first term. ”JD probably has a lot of current allies in the Senate and so it makes sense to have him utilized in that capacity,” Short said. Unlike the first Trump transition, which played out before cameras at Trump Tower in New York and at the president-elect’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, this one has largely happened behind closed doors in Palm Beach, Florida. There, a small group of officials and aides meet daily at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort to run through possible contenders and interview job candidates. The group includes Elon Musk, the billionaire who has spent so much time at the club that Trump has joked he can’t get rid of him. Vance has been a constant presence, even as he’s kept a lower profile. The Ohio senator has spent much of the last two weeks in Palm Beach, according to people familiar with his plans, playing an active role in the transition, on which he serves as honorary chair. Mar-a-Lago scene is a far cry from Vance’s hardscrabble upbringing Vance has been staying at a cottage on the property of the gilded club, where rooms are adorned with cherubs, oriental rugs and intricate golden inlays. It’s a world away from the famously hardscrabble upbringing that Vance documented in the memoir that made him famous, “Hillbilly Elegy.” His young children have also joined him at Mar-a-Lago, at times. Vance was photographed in shorts and a polo shirt playing with his kids on the seawall of the property with a large palm frond, a U.S. Secret Service robotic security dog in the distance. Related Articles National Politics | Matt Gaetz says he won’t return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general National Politics | Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad National Politics | Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’ On the rare days when he is not in Palm Beach, Vance has been joining the sessions remotely via Zoom. Though he has taken a break from TV interviews after months of constant appearances, Vance has been active in the meetings, which began immediately after the election and include interviews and as well as presentations on candidates’ pluses and minuses. Among those interviewed: Contenders to replace FBI Director Christopher Wray , as Vance wrote in a since-deleted social media post. Defending himself from criticism that he’d missed a Senate vote in which one of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees was confirmed, Vance wrote that he was meeting at the time “with President Trump to interview multiple positions for our government, including for FBI Director.” “I tend to think it’s more important to get an FBI director who will dismantle the deep state than it is for Republicans to lose a vote 49-46 rather than 49-45,” Vance added on X. “But that’s just me.” Vance is making his voice heard as Trump stocks his Cabinet While Vance did not come in to the transition with a list of people he wanted to see in specific roles, he and his friend, Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who is also a member of the transition team, were eager to see former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. find roles in the administration. Trump ended up selecting Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence , a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s spy agencies and acts as the president’s top intelligence adviser. And he chose Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services , a massive agency that oversees everything from drug and food safety to Medicare and Medicaid. Vance was also a big booster of Tom Homan, the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who will serve as Trump’s “border czar.” In another sign of Vance’s influence, James Braid, a top aide to the senator, is expected to serve as Trump’s legislative affairs director. Allies say it’s too early to discuss what portfolio Vance might take on in the White House. While he gravitates to issues like trade, immigration and tech policy, Vance sees his role as doing whatever Trump needs. Vance was spotted days after the election giving his son’s Boy Scout troop a tour of the Capitol and was there the day of leadership elections. He returned in earnest this week, first with Gaetz — arguably Trump’s most divisive pick — and then Hegseth, who has was been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2017, according to an investigative report made public this week. Hegseth told police at the time that the encounter had been consensual and denied any wrongdoing. Vance hosted Hegseth in his Senate office as GOP senators, including those who sit on the Senate Armed Services Committee, filtered in to meet with the nominee for defense secretary. While a president’s nominees usually visit individual senators’ offices, meeting them on their own turf, the freshman senator — who is accompanied everywhere by a large Secret Service detail that makes moving around more unwieldy — instead brought Gaetz to a room in the Capitol on Wednesday and Hegseth to his office on Thursday. Senators came to them. Vance made it to votes Wednesday and Thursday, but missed others on Thursday afternoon. Vance will draw on his Senate background going forward Vance is expected to continue to leverage his relationships in the Senate after Trump takes office. But many Republicans there have longer relationships with Trump himself. Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, said that Trump was often the first person to call him back when he was trying to reach high-level White House officials during Trump’s first term. “He has the most active Rolodex of just about anybody I’ve ever known,” Cramer said, adding that Vance would make a good addition. “They’ll divide names up by who has the most persuasion here,” Cramer said, but added, “Whoever his liaison is will not work as hard at it as he will.” Cramer was complimentary of the Ohio senator, saying he was “pleasant” and ” interesting” to be around. ′′He doesn’t have the long relationships,” he said. “But we all like people that have done what we’ve done. I mean, that’s sort of a natural kinship, just probably not as personally tied.” Under the Constitution, Vance will also have a role presiding over the Senate and breaking tie votes. But he’s not likely to be needed for that as often as was Kamala Harris, who broke a record number of ties for Democrats as vice president, since Republicans will have a bigger cushion in the chamber next year. Colvin reported from New York. Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.The US says it pushed retraction of a famine warning for north Gaza. Aid groups express concern.