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The Biden administration proposes new rules to push insurers to boost mental health coverage

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday is announcing new rules meant to push insurance companies to increase their coverage of mental health treatments.The new regulations, which still need to go through a public comment period, would require insurers to study whether their customers have equal access to medical and mental health benefits and to take remedial action, if necessary. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act requires that insurers provide the same level of coverage for both mental and physical health care — though the administration and advocates argue insurers’ policies restrict patient access.The rules, if finalized, would force insurers to study patient outcomes to ensure the benefits are administered equally, taking into account their provider network and reimbursement rates and whether prior authorization is required for care.The Democratic president’s administration says it’s aiming to address issues such...

Taliban bans beauty salons in Afghanistan despite UN concern and rare public protest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The Taliban announced Tuesday that all beauty salons in Afghanistan must now close as a one-month deadline ended, despite rare public opposition to the edict.Sadiq Akif Mahjer, spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, did not say whether it would use force against salons that do not comply.The ruling is the latest curb on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls following edicts barring them from education, public spaces and most forms of employment.The Taliban said it decided to ban beauty salons because they offered services forbidden by Islam and caused economic hardship for the families of grooms during wedding festivities.Its earlier announcement of a one-month deadline for salons to wind down their businesses led to a rare public protest in which dozens of beauticians and makeup artists gathered in Kabul, the capital. Security forces used fire hoses and tasers and shot their guns into the air to break up the protest.The ban also drew co...

'Try That in a Small Town' rockets to No. 2 on charts after music video controversy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jason Aldean's “Try That in a Small Town” is experiencing exponential growth following controversy over its music video.“Try That in a Small Town,” which was released in May, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week just behind BTS’s Jung Kook solo single “Seven,” featuring Latto. The track experienced the biggest sales week for a country song in over 10 years.According to Luminate, the song hit 11.7 million on-demand audio and video streams between July 14 and 20, marking a 1,000% increase from the previous week. Prior to the music video release on July 14, the track accounted for 987,000 streams in the U.S.Digital song sales increased from 1,000 to 228,000, in those same weeks, respectively. ‘This is not American’: Sheryl Crow responds to Jason Aldean’s controversial song The music video for the song lasted just one weekend on Country Music Television before the network pulled it in response to an outcry over its setting and lyrics. W...

Wagner in Belarus

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

The Wagner Group in Belarus may become the source of a hybrid threat to EuropeThe mercenaries of the Wagner Group have redeployed to the territory of Belarus - the decision was made shortly after their failed campaign against Moscow. Contrary to the announced plan of their further deployment to Africa, which may still take place after further preparation, it is obvious that Putin has created a new hybrid threat to Europe - this time right on its eastern border. Well-armed and trained mercenaries with combat experience can endlessly terrorise the territories of Lithuania, Latvia, even Poland bordering Belarus. This is a new challenge for Europe, which requires an immediate response, IFBG, Dispatches.A new camp for the mercenary forces of the Wagner Group for 8,000 people was built near the town of Osipovichi in central Belarus. More than 2 thousand mercenaries are already on the territory of the republic, and the search for new recruits is ongoing. Obviously, this deci...

Bridge: July 25, 2023

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

The player we call “Secondhand Rose” showed up at my club today. When the lesson about “second hand low” on defense was taught, Rose must have been out with Jiggs the plumber.Rose was East. South’s bid of four spades suggested a strong five-card suit, and North rightly passed.West led the queen of hearts and continued. South ruffed and had only nine top tricks; he needed a club trick. If he drew trumps, leaving him with one at most, and led a club, the defense would force with a third heart lead, and South might never score a club trick.DOWN ONESo South led a trump to dummy (not best) and returned a club … and Secondhand Rose … with the ace! Rose then led the ace of hearts. South ruffed, drew trumps and ran the diamonds, but West won the last two tricks with the king of clubs and a heart.South succeeds if Rose ducks the first club. West takes the king and forces with a heart, but South draws trumps, runs the diamonds and leads a club. Rose m...

Ask Amy: We’ve had it with this couple’s disrespect toward us

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

Dear Amy: When my son married, his wife made it clear that he was too close to his mom (me) and that this must stop.She wants no part of us except for when she needs a babysitter.In spite of her attitude toward us, we have been very generous with them because we adore our three grandchildren and have a great relationship with them.We’ve paid for summer camp and all the extracurricular activities for the children, along with the down payment for their house.We are not allowed to buy the grandchildren gifts.I know I put up with too much disrespect from both of them for many years, just to be able to see the grandchildren.Recently our young granddaughter seemed proud about scores on tests that she took in school. When I asked my son about it he said, “It’s none of your business.”This was the last straw.My husband has had it and is done with them. I feel the same. But now they won’t let the children have contact with us. HurtingDear Hurting: Your son and his wife have used y...

Ada Hegerberg does not start Norway’s critical match against Switzerland at Women’s World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

HAMILTON, New Zealand (AP) — Norway striker and former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg was seen walking back into the tunnel moments before her country’s Women’s World Cup match against Switzerland on Tuesday, despite being named to the starting lineup.Initially listed as a possible substitute for the match, Sophie Roman Haug started in Hegerberg’s place as Norway’s striker. The team’s official Twitter account quoted national team doctor Trygve Hunemo saying that “Ada Hegerberg got a feeling in the groin on the last sprint during the warm-up.”Last year’s European Championship marked Hegerberg’s return to international soccer after previously not appearing for Norway in five years. Following the 2017 European Championship, Hegerberg left the team in protest of the unequal treatment of the men’s and women’s squads by the Norwegian federation.Hegerberg has the most goals of any current Norwegian player (16) and has appeared for her country 32 times.___AP Women’s Worl...

Colombia coach misses Women’s World Cup win over South Korea, also suspended for Germany match

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

SYDNEY (AP) — Colombia won its opening match of the Women’s World Cup 2-0 over South Korea as Las Cafeteras head coach Nelson Abadía served the first of a two-game suspension. Colombia’s manager since 2017, Abadía received a red card at the end of the 2022 Copa América Femenina final for arguing with a match official. A spokesman for CONMEBOL, the governing body for South America’s international tournaments, did not provide any other details about the incident.The red card was equivalent to a two-game suspension, which meant Colombia’s first two games in Group H at the global tournament. Abadía will also miss the game against Group H favorite Germany on Sunday.“He’s kind of like the dad of the team,” Colombian midfielder Elexa Bahr said. “But I don’t think it affected us at all. We all came to win the first game and that’s what we did.”Angelo Marsiglia is filling in for Abadía. “He was always there to provide us with the best conditions,” Colombian forward Linda Caicedo...

Stock market today: Global markets mixed after Chinese promise to support economy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Global stock markets and Wall Street futures were mixed Tuesday after China’s ruling Communist Party promised to shore up its sagging economy ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting traders hope will announce this interest rate cycle’s final increase.London and Shanghai advanced while Tokyo and Paris retreated. Oil prices edged lower.Chinese leaders have promised measures to boost sluggish economic growth by supporting real estate sales and other struggling sectors but gave no details and didn’t mention possible stimulus spending.Any stimulus is “unlikely to be significant” while Beijing takes a “gradual and targeted approach,” Andrew McCaffery of Fidelity International said in a report.In early trading, the FTSE 100 in London rose 0.1% to 7,686.57. The CAC 40 in Paris lost less than 0.1% to 7,424.47 and the DAX in Frankfurt shed less than 0.1% to 16,186.36.On Wall Street, the future for the benchmark S&P 500 was 0.15% higher ahead of Wednesday’...

Australians confident in squad depth despite Sam Kerr’s injury at Women’s World Cup

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:34 GMT

Brisbane, Australia (AP) — Having the Women’s World Cup on home soil has given Australia’s team the confidence it can contend for the title even without star striker Sam Kerr on the field.The Chelsea forward and Australian captain missed the Matildas’ opening game last week because of a calf muscle injury that will also keep her sidelined for Thursday’s Group B game against Nigeria. And perhaps longer than that.The Matildas are pitching it as a chance to show the depth of their squad.“I think we could play any one of us right now in the starting 11 and it would be the same as what we do on the training pitch,” midfielder Tameka Yallop said from Australia’s team camp in Brisbane. “So I think everyone has that ability and capability to step up and be a star at any point.”Steph Catley, wearing the captain’s armband in place of Kerr, converted a penalty kick for co-host Australia’s 1-0 opening win over Ireland. Despite the win, the Matildas’ offense struggl...