Where does the U.S. land on list of ‘world’s happiest’ countries for 2023?

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

Where does the U.S. land on list of ‘world’s happiest’ countries for 2023? By Marnie Hunter | CNNThere’s cause for optimism in the latest report on world happiness.For one, benevolence is about 25% higher than it was pre-pandemic.“Benevolence to others, especially the helping of strangers, which went up dramatically in 2021, stayed high in 2022,” John Helliwell, one of the authors of the World Happiness Report, said in an interview with CNN.And global happiness has not taken a hit in the three years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Life evaluations from 2020 to 2022 have been “remarkably resilient,” the report says, with global averages basically in line with the three years preceding the pandemic.“Even during these difficult years, positive emotions have remained twice as prevalent as negative ones, and feelings of positive social support twice as strong as those of loneliness,” Helliwell said in a news release.The report, which is a publication of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, draws on global survey ...

Biden establishes vast new national monument near Nevada-California border, honoring tribes

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

Biden establishes vast new national monument near Nevada-California border, honoring tribes In the largest land conservation act of his presidency so far, President Biden on Tuesday established a new national monument in the Mojave Desert along California’s border with Nevada, protecting an area sacred to Native American tribes that is also home to big horn sheep, Joshua tree forests, desert tortoises, ancient petroglyphs and other unique features.The 506,000-acre monument — roughly two-thirds the size of Yosemite National Park — is located on federally owned property overseen by the Bureau of Land Management in Clark County, Nevada, including most of the point in Nevada’s southern shape, about 30 miles south of Las Vegas.“Our national wonders are literally the envy of the world. They have always been,” Biden said at a White House ceremony. “They always will be. They are central to our heritage as a people and central to our identity as a nation.”The area is named the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument, which in the Mojave language mean...

Sources: SF Giants’ Austin Slater ruled out for Opening Day

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

Sources: SF Giants’ Austin Slater ruled out for Opening Day SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Giants on Tuesday morning released an inauspicious medical update on Austin Slater. The right-handed half of their center field platoon, who strained his hamstring last week, still has not resumed baseball activities. And, major league sources said, Slater will not be ready when San Francisco opens its season against the Yankees on March 30.After receiving an MRI on Friday that revealed a strained left hamstring, Slater was given a timeline of three to four weeks to return to play, sources said. The timeline indicates a moderate strain and places his earliest possible return after the club’s opening road trip through New York and Chicago.Slater, who missed the first half of Cactus Leagues games with neuritis in his throwing elbow, said it felt like he had taken “one step forward, three steps back” with the unfortunate news. He had played in three games — two at designated hitter — and taken nine at-bats this spring before he suffered his sec...

NCAA Tournament: Best bets for the Sweet 16 and a breakdown of the UCLA-Gonzaga showdown

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

NCAA Tournament: Best bets for the Sweet 16 and a breakdown of the UCLA-Gonzaga showdown Two years ago, Gonzaga and UCLA produced one of the greatest games in NCAA Tournament history, a masterclass in shotmaking that ended, in overtime, on a 40-foot buzzer beater by Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs.The teams met again early the following season on a neutral court, but it wasn’t close: The Zags carved up UCLA’s defense in a 20-point victory.UCLA’s prospects for victory in round three — a Sweet 16 duel Thursday night in Las Vegas — depends entirely on a trio of big men who played no role whatsoever in either of the previous meetings.Adem Bona, Kenneth Nwuba and Mac Etienne must contain Timme, or recent history will repeat.Their modus hackerandi?They have 15 fouls to give against the ultra-skilled senior, whose 28 points fueled Gonzaga past TCU in the second round.We suspect Bona, Nwuba and Etienne will be instructed to use each foul without hesitation or regret. After all, Timme shoots only 63.7 percent from the line.Put another way:— If they ...

Another storm hits Bay Area: Flights delayed, flood advisory in effect

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

Another storm hits Bay Area: Flights delayed, flood advisory in effect (KRON) -- Flights have been delayed at SFO and road closures are in effect as the latest in a series of atmospheric rivers impacts the Bay Area. The storm is projected to bring high winds and significant rainfall to the region impacting both the morning and evening commutes. For the Bay Area, the biggest impacts will be slick and flooded roads during the and very strong winds through the afternoon resulting in potential downed trees and power outages. After 14 atmospheric rivers, how full are California’s reservoirs? Follow along for the latest Bay Area storm updates:Tuesday, March 2111:30 a.m. -- Over 200 flights delayed at SFOThere have been 205 flight delays at San Francisco International Airport on Tuesday, according to FlightAware. Twenty-seven flights have also been canceled as San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area grapple with another round of wet, winter weather. 10:40 a.m. -- About 5K without powerPG&E's latest power outage report showed 5,373 customers were with...

Police activity in Concord, investigation ongoing

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

Police activity in Concord, investigation ongoing (KRON) -- There is police activity in the area of Solano Way and Broadmoor Avenue, according to the Concord Police Department. The investigation is ongoing. People are being advised to avoid the area.

San Jose PD officers respond to family disturbance involving man who assaulted relative

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

San Jose PD officers respond to family disturbance involving man who assaulted relative (KRON) -- Officers with the San Jose Police Department are responding to a family disturbance involving a man that assaulted a relative, according to a tweet from San Jose PD. The disturbance occurred on the 5600 block of Chesbro Avenue. Uber passenger hit, killed on I-580 freeway off-ramp The suspect has fled the initial scene and officers are clearing the surrounding neighborhoods out of precaution, police said.This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Strong magnitude 6.5 quake rattles Afghanistan, Pakistan

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

Strong magnitude 6.5 quake rattles Afghanistan, Pakistan ISLAMABAD (AP) — A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rattled much of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Tuesday, sending panicked residents fleeing from their homes and frightening people even in remote villages. Twelve people were injured in northwest Pakistan in the quake, which was centered in Afghanistan and also felt in bordering Tajikistan.The tremors were so powerful that many people fled their homes and offices in Pakistan’s capital of Islamabad, some reciting verses from the Quran, Islam’s holy book. The scene was repeated in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan.“The quake was so strong and terrifying, we thought houses are collapsing on us, people were all shouting and were shocked,” said Shafiullah Azimi, a Kabul resident. The U.S. Geological Survey said the center of the magnitude 6.5 quake was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) south-southeast of Jurm in Afghanistan’s mountainous Hindukush region, bordering Pakistan and Tajikistan.Rakhshinda Tauseed, a physician, ...

Tobin Anderson leaving FDU to replace Rick Pitino at Iona

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

Tobin Anderson leaving FDU to replace Rick Pitino at Iona NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) — Tobin Anderson is leaving NCAA Cinderella Fairleigh Dickinson after one fairy-tale season and replacing Rick Pitino at Iona.Iona athletic director Matt Glovaski announced the hiring on Tuesday, a day after Pitino left to take the job at St. John’s of the Big East Conference.Anderson led the No. 16 seed Knights to a win over No. 1 Purdue in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament last week, only the second time a No. 16 seed has knocked off a top-seeded team. UMBC beat No. 1 Virginia in 2018.“Iona University represents everything my family and I were looking for in a school, a basketball program and a campus atmosphere,” Anderson said in a statement. “Our goal is to build upon the tremendous tradition of Iona basketball and elevate the program to greater heights.”Iona of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference was knocked out of this year’s tournament by UConn on Friday.“We have long known him to be a fantastic coach and an even bette...

US players welcome Gio Reyna after World Cup flap, Ream says

Published Mon, 16 Dec 2024 15:34:46 GMT

US players welcome Gio Reyna after World Cup flap, Ream says DAVENPORT, Fla. (AP) — Gio Reyna has been welcomed back to the U.S. national team by Tim Ream, one of the group’s senior players, after the family of the young midfielder sparked a feud with Gregg Berhalter that left the coach’s future uncertain.After Berhalter used Reyna sparingly at the World Cup, the player’s parents, former U.S. captain Claudio Reyna and former women’s player Danielle Egan Reyna, notified the U.S. Soccer Federation of a 1992 domestic violence involving Berhalter and the woman he later married — Danielle Egan’s former college roommate.The USSF commissioned a law firm to investigate and appointed Anthony Hudson interim coach after Berhalter’s contract expired Dec. 31. The law firm said there was no legal impediment to retaining Berhalter, who remains a candidate, and the USSF put off a coaching decision until after a new sporting director is hired, probably this summer.Gio Reyna is among 24 players in camp ahead of CONCACAF Nati...