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Renuka Rayasam | (TNS) KFF Health News In April, just 12 weeks into her pregnancy, Kathleen Clark was standing at the receptionist window of her OB-GYN’s office when she was asked to pay $960, the total the office estimated she would owe after she delivered. Clark, 39, was shocked that she was asked to pay that amount during this second prenatal visit. Normally, patients receive the bill after insurance has paid its part, and for pregnant women that’s usually only when the pregnancy ends. It would be months before the office filed the claim with her health insurer. Clark said she felt stuck. The Cleveland, Tennessee, obstetrics practice was affiliated with a birthing center where she wanted to deliver. Plus, she and her husband had been wanting to have a baby for a long time. And Clark was emotional, because just weeks earlier her mother had died. “You’re standing there at the window, and there’s people all around, and you’re trying to be really nice,” recalled Clark, through tears. “So, I paid it.” On online baby message boards and other social media forums , pregnant women say they are being asked by their providers to pay out-of-pocket fees earlier than expected. The practice is legal, but patient advocacy groups call it unethical. Medical providers argue that asking for payment up front ensures they get compensated for their services. How frequently this happens is hard to track because it is considered a private transaction between the provider and the patient. Therefore, the payments are not recorded in insurance claims data and are not studied by researchers. Patients, medical billing experts, and patient advocates say the billing practice causes unexpected anxiety at a time of already heightened stress and financial pressure. Estimates can sometimes be higher than what a patient might ultimately owe and force people to fight for refunds if they miscarry or the amount paid was higher than the final bill. Up-front payments also create hurdles for women who may want to switch providers if they are unhappy with their care. In some cases, they may cause women to forgo prenatal care altogether, especially in places where few other maternity care options exist. It’s “holding their treatment hostage,” said Caitlin Donovan, a senior director at the Patient Advocate Foundation . Medical billing and women’s health experts believe OB-GYN offices adopted the practice to manage the high cost of maternity care and the way it is billed for in the U.S. When a pregnancy ends, OB-GYNs typically file a single insurance claim for routine prenatal care, labor, delivery, and, often, postpartum care. That practice of bundling all maternity care into one billing code began three decades ago, said Lisa Satterfield, senior director of health and payment policy at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . But such bundled billing has become outdated, she said. Previously, pregnant patients had been subject to copayments for each prenatal visit, which might lead them to skip crucial appointments to save money. But the Affordable Care Act now requires all commercial insurers to fully cover certain prenatal services. Plus, it’s become more common for pregnant women to switch providers, or have different providers handle prenatal care, labor, and delivery — especially in rural areas where patient transfers are common. Some providers say prepayments allow them to spread out one-time payments over the course of the pregnancy to ensure that they are compensated for the care they do provide, even if they don’t ultimately deliver the baby. “You have people who, unfortunately, are not getting paid for the work that they do,” said Pamela Boatner, who works as a midwife in a Georgia hospital. While she believes women should receive pregnancy care regardless of their ability to pay, she also understands that some providers want to make sure their bill isn’t ignored after the baby is delivered. New parents might be overloaded with hospital bills and the costs of caring for a new child, and they may lack income if a parent isn’t working, Boatner said. In the U.S., having a baby can be expensive. People who obtain health insurance through large employers pay an average of nearly $3,000 out-of-pocket for pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker . In addition, many people are opting for high-deductible health insurance plans, leaving them to shoulder a larger share of the costs. Of the 100 million U.S. people with health care debt, 12% attribute at least some of it to maternity care, according to a 2022 KFF poll . Families need time to save money for the high costs of pregnancy, childbirth, and child care, especially if they lack paid maternity leave, said Joy Burkhard , CEO of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, a Los Angeles-based policy think tank. Asking them to prepay “is another gut punch,” she said. “What if you don’t have the money? Do you put it on credit cards and hope your credit card goes through?” Calculating the final costs of childbirth depends on multiple factors, such as the timing of the pregnancy , plan benefits, and health complications, said Erin Duffy , a health policy researcher at the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. The final bill for the patient is unclear until a health plan decides how much of the claim it will cover, she said. But sometimes the option to wait for the insurer is taken away. During Jamie Daw’s first pregnancy in 2020, her OB-GYN accepted her refusal to pay in advance because Daw wanted to see the final bill. But in 2023, during her second pregnancy, a private midwifery practice in New York told her that since she had a high-deductible plan, it was mandatory to pay $2,000 spread out with monthly payments. Daw, a health policy researcher at Columbia University, delivered in September 2023 and got a refund check that November for $640 to cover the difference between the estimate and the final bill. “I study health insurance,” she said. “But, as most of us know, it’s so complicated when you’re really living it.” While the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover some prenatal services, it doesn’t prohibit providers from sending their final bill to patients early. It would be a challenge politically and practically for state and federal governments to attempt to regulate the timing of the payment request, said Sabrina Corlette , a co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University. Medical lobbying groups are powerful and contracts between insurers and medical providers are proprietary. Because of the legal gray area, Lacy Marshall , an insurance broker at Rapha Health and Life in Texas, advises clients to ask their insurer if they can refuse to prepay their deductible. Some insurance plans prohibit providers in their network from requiring payment up front. If the insurer says they can refuse to pay up front, Marshall said, she tells clients to get established with a practice before declining to pay, so that the provider can’t refuse treatment. Related Articles Health | Which health insurance plan may be right for you? Health | California case is the first confirmed bird flu infection in a US child Health | Sharyl Attkisson: The raw milk debate, and a Maryland farm owner who says it’s good for you Health | Your cool black kitchenware could be slowly poisoning you, study says. Here’s what to do Health | Does fluoride cause cancer, IQ loss, and more? Fact-checking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s claims Clark said she met her insurance deductible after paying for genetic testing, extra ultrasounds, and other services out of her health care flexible spending account. Then she called her OB-GYN’s office and asked for a refund. “I got my spine back,” said Clark, who had previously worked at a health insurer and a medical office. She got an initial check for about half the $960 she originally paid. In August, Clark was sent to the hospital after her blood pressure spiked. A high-risk pregnancy specialist — not her original OB-GYN practice — delivered her son, Peter, prematurely via emergency cesarean section at 30 weeks. It was only after she resolved most of the bills from the delivery that she received the rest of her refund from the other OB-GYN practice. This final check came in October, just days after Clark brought Peter home from the hospital, and after multiple calls to the office. She said it all added stress to an already stressful period. “Why am I having to pay the price as a patient?” she said. “I’m just trying to have a baby.” ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.SINGAPORE: The sun is just peeking through on a Friday morning when I speak to Raymond Webster. It's also after midnight in the United Kingdom, where he lives, but Webster assures me his bedtime is late. After all, this isn’t your average 70-year-old. The Englishman is an avid mountain climber and passionate about driving. When not doing either of those things, he competes in the professional badminton circuit against others more than half his age. Since entering his first Badminton World Federation event in 2016, he's mostly hovered around the 800 mark in the men's rankings, and played close to 60 singles matches. He has lost all of them. Webster's recent matches include a 3-21, 8-21 defeat to 23-year-old Bruneian Kan Kah Kit in November; and a lopsided 3-21, 1-21 loss to 29-year-old compatriot Ngan Heng Lin in September. Webster loved every minute of these contests. To understand what drives him in his badminton exploits, one has to wind the clock back about five decades. "WILD EXPERIENCES" Webster’s foray into the sport began in his 20s, when he joined coaching sessions by top English player Ray Stevens. “Ray has a magnetic personality and fire for the sport that would set anyone's ambitions alight,” Webster told CNA. Though he was regularly "pummelled" by Stevens, badminton started to appeal to him for its "pure dynamics and the way the game flowed from surges of all-out intensity to moments of fine control”. It was during one of these sessions when "the lights came on" and Webster thought he could excel at the sport. "With a score of 11-15, it was the closest that I'd ever come to beating a champion," recalled the Englishman. "After the session, Ray asked me: 'How did you play like that?' Responding, I (said I) don't know. But years later I found out and fully understand that it stems from fight or flight. I have been in flow state several times on court." Webster next planned to head to China to play badminton, but this fell through. After scouring badminton magazines for contacts, he set off "with some trepidation" on his first trip abroad and travelled through the Americas for about four weeks. He still remembers his first event - a "dog fight" where he won with a third set score of 17-16 - as well as what it was like to play breathless at an altitude of 2,200m at the Mexican Open. Webster then spent five years in South Africa, working and playing provincial badminton. When he finally returned home, most of his former sparring partners had moved on to playing at the top level. Around this time, he picked up a recurring stomach injury and had to eventually forgo the sport he so loved. "Every time I moved, it was like I had glass inside me or wire mesh," he recalled. "I lost the ability to be active." At 42, Webster went back to university and eventually landed an engineering job in the semiconductor industry. It meant he could travel the world and pursue his other hobby of mountain climbing. "Despite carrying a lot of pain, I climbed solo most weekends for 11 years," he said, adding that he was at his fittest at 50 years old "with the cardio power of a husky dog". "Although the wild experiences I had climbing in winter were a tremendous high, I longed to play badminton again ... (but) I thought I would never be able to." STEPPING INTO A "SECOND LIFE" Then came the toughest years of Webster's life, which started when he was made redundant at his job. He tried to play badminton again but it was too painful to do so, due to his old injury that seemed like it had no way to heal. "There seemed no hope and I hit a brick wall and without the job and the mountains and with the gremlin of stress ... I was in a deep mental well, depressed beyond function," he said. "And that is a horrible place to be." "I had no way out but to dig my way up. It's all I could do basically. A ll I knew at that time was to just do something physical so I would get on my bike and ride till I was tired." At the same time, he continued trying ways to regain what he called his "competitive mobility", while battling through the pain of the injury. Eventually, what helped was yoga. "With persistence, I became more flexible than when I was a teenager," said Webster. He slowly took to the badminton courts at his local club and before he knew it, at age 62, he was playing at his first BWF event. "The world of badminton had changed in every aspect, and walking onto a show court was like a time warp," said Webster. "Looking back I had been playing in black-and-white TV, and now stepped into full-colour HD. It was simply awesome." In the years since, Webster has often been on the end of lopsided scorelines. "When I first entered the tour, I had aims of more success, but it's a strong tide to swim against when I never played as a junior," he said. "A couple of times I had to play with flu or migraine and suffer the consequences. But I accept it. "It's akin to climbing those big mountains again, when bad weather beat me back, and I went up again for a fifth attempt in total adversity, scaring myself to the point of my feet trembling me off the ice footholds that I cut, and pushing beyond where I could not reverse." Still, there have been memorable moments. There was the first time he won a game on the BWF circuit, when he beat the Netherlands' Rakesh Sharma 23-21 before losing 26-28, 15-21. It was 2022 and his opponent was 34 years old then. "Being out on a badminton court when my opponents are generally 40 to 50 years younger, people tell me that is a victory," said Webster. "When I have performed well and the umpire says: 'respect', I feel too that I am playing for them, since most of them are former players and they too must stay engaged with the 'addiction'. "There're so many people that wish they were on court playing because they either were badminton players or want to be a badminton player. But for many reasons they can't play ... I feel like that I'm fulfilling their desire." With his story garnering some attention online, fans have requested wefies and spare shirts while others ask how he's maintained his mobility to play a sport that can be tough on the body. "Much of that is because my whole family were incredibly active. I never stopped moving as a kid, I climbed trees, cycled thousands of miles a year, 200 miles in a day and went climbing most weekends," he said. "It made me tough and durable (and) my thought processes have not changed or aged in any way." LIKE OPENING A GIFT On the BWF tour, players accumulate points by playing in and winning matches. Those with more points automatically enter the main draw of tournaments. Players like Webster need to compete in the qualifiers to make it to the main draw. "For myself, I am not aiming for ranking, just to maintain enough points to stay on the ladder and climb sometimes," he said. Getting to each tournament is the culmination of "a lot of organising" for the Englishman. "Sometimes I've played three events in succession and loaded the car with three sets of gear, flown back to the airport, changed all the gear, and off on the next adventure. It's a real buzz." None of this comes cheap, though. Travelling the world to compete requires money - and Webster has been digging into his savings to finance his passion. "I ask for second meals on the plane so I don't have to buy a dinner in a restaurant. And I try and bum an entry into an airport lounge and eat well," he added. "But I'm running on the sheer effort that I put into my career, it paid well and just enough to have kept me on the circuit for a few years." There've even been times when he spent nights in his car or in the airport. But when he finally gets on court, it's like "waiting for a gift and then opening it", said Webster. That sheer joy keeps him going. "I accept the low scores and nobody's expecting me to win. But what is one of the greatest motivations - apart from that I enjoy being in that environment, and I enjoy my body able to rally and move pretty well - is (having) people encourage me," he said. "My family, just siblings now, love what I engage myself in, and since I picked myself up and battled my way back from rock bottom and years of pain, it has opened new doors. "It's my second life and I aim to never stop. Or I'll drop." It's not about just taking part either: Webster is adamant that he can improve. Next year, he plans to head to the mountains to build up his lung power, before competing in a series of tournaments. "I know I have the inherent skills, but not the consistency. That will come with the right enabler," he said. Soon after our interview, Webster tells me he's mulling over competing at the Korea Masters. Initially, it seems as if the 30-hour journey to Iksan city might be too much of a disincentive. But when I check the results a couple of days later, I spot a familiar name. Webster made it to Korea after all. “When people ask my age, I reply 'I stopped counting at 21',” he said. “If age enters my head, I throw it out. I am not going to slow down.”The Ravens looked better defensively last week, but now Roquan Smith's injury is a concernNone
CTE study of 77 dead hockey players: Risk for brain disease increased with each year playedDec. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Poison experts see it every winter holiday season: Parents rush kids to the emergency room or call hotlines, panicking that their child has ingested something dangerous. Between holiday breaks, visiting relatives' homes, attending festivities, and opening gifts galore, kids face extra risks for accidental exposure to poison. In addition to heart felt season’s greetings, the Nebraska Poison Center sends out reminders that changes in routine may increase risks for kids. Poison experts urge parents and party hosts to remember safety best practices. • Pretty holiday plants aren't edible. Keep small children and animals away from mistletoe, holly berries, yew plants and poinsettias. • Be mindful of small batteries. Toys, games, watches, remotes, and musical greeting cards may contain button or disc batteries. If swallowed, they can become stuck and cause serious injury or death if not removed. • Watch out for water beads and magnets in toys . Expanding water beads and rare earth magnets are inappropriate for those who may ingest them. Strong magnets can stick together in the intestines and trigger a medical emergency. If water beads are swallowed, they may swell and cause a blockage in the intestines. • Be on the lookout for nicotine-containing products, including vape liquid and chewing tobacco, as well as CBD and THC products . These are often in brightly colored packaging that can easily be mistaken for candy or other food items for children. If swallowed by youngsters, nicotine may cause shakiness, vomiting or seizures. Keep these items away from common areas, locked and out of reach. • Lock up cleaning cabinets. Cleansers, laundry pods, and other cleaning products should also be stored out of sight. Do not mix chemicals together when cleaning and follow all label directions for using these products. • Remind relatives without small children about the importance of child-proofing prescription drugs . Encourage friends and family to store medications up, out of sight and locked up tight, not out on a nightstand or counter. Keep all purses and travel bags secured. • Be vigilant about the bar and alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are more readily accessible during gatherings. Clean immediately after gatherings and remove all items that may contain alcohol. Sadly, the holiday season can bring joy and grief simultaneously. As seasonal calls to the Poison Center concerning children increase, so do calls about intentional harm. If you or a loved one are having thoughts of self-harm or are in a crisis, remember that you are not alone. Call 988 to reach the 24/7 National Suicide and Crisis Line for help. Prevention is the best way to avoid and minimize poisonings. The Poison Center’s specially trained registered nurses and pharmacists are available 24/7/365. If you have questions or suspect poisoning exposure, call 1-800-222-1222. Your call will be routed to a local poison control center. Poison Center services are free and confidential. More information The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) has more about poison exposure. SOURCE: Holiday Help From the Nebraska Poison Center, fact sheet.
Police recover hostages without paying ransom in Rahimyar Khan Police force kidnappers to flee via use of modern weapons, armoured vehicles and night vision technology, A representational image showing Punjab Police personnel during an operation in this image released on August 15, 2024. — Facebook/Police Department Rahim Yar khan RAHIMYAR KHAN: In a daring operation, Punjab Police successfully rescued two hostages, Usman Maqbool, a prominent baker from Sadiqabad, and Badshah Ji, a Hindu youth, without paying ransom. Acting on a tip-off, police teams, led by DPO Rizwan Umar Gondal, intercepted the kidnappers in the border area of Sindh during an attempted transfer of the hostages. Utilizing modern weapons, armoured vehicles, and night vision technology, the police forced the kidnappers to flee, eaving the victims tied up but unharmed. The operation was met with widespread public praise, as citizens welcomed the police with rallies and slogans of “Long live Punjab Police.” DPO Gondal reaffirmed the police’s commitment to eradicating crime and ensuring public safety. googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1700472799616-0'); });Variety’s Faith & Media Impact Report Presented by the Coalition for Faith and Media
How to Watch the NBA Today, December 7
GARRIOCH: The Ottawa Senators version of 'Twas the Night before ChristmasLosses for big technology stocks pulled major indexes lower on Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.3% from its record high a day earlier, and the Nasdaq composite lost 0.6%. Losses for Nvidia, Microsoft and Broadcom were the biggest weights on the market. Dell sank 12.2% after reporting revenue that fell shy of forecasts, and HP dropped 11.4% after giving a weaker-than-expected outlook. Treasury yields fell in the bond market. U.S. financial markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below. Stocks wavered in afternoon trading on Wednesday, as losses for several Big Tech companies offset gains elsewhere in the market. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% in afternoon trading, even though more stocks were rising than falling in the index. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 135 points, or 0.3%, as of 3:05 p.m. Eastern time. Both indexes set records on Tuesday. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.5%. Losses for tech heavyweights helped pull the broader market lower. Semiconductor giant Nvidia slipped 1.6%. Its huge value gives it outsized influence on market indexes. Microsoft fell 0.9% Several personal computer makers added to Big Tech's heavy weight on the market following their latest earnings reports. HP sank 11.8% after giving investors a weaker-than-expected earnings forecast for its current quarter. Dell slumped 11.9% after its latest quarterly revenue fell short of Wall Street forecasts. Gains for financial and health care companies helped counter Big Tech's downward pull. Visa rose 0.9% and Thermo Fisher Scientific added 2.3%. The U.S. economy expanded at a healthy 2.8% annual pace from July through September, according to the Commerce Department, leaving its original estimate of third-quarter growth unchanged. The growth was driven by strong consumer spending and a surge in exports. The update follows a report on Tuesday from the Conference Board that said confidence among U.S. consumers improved in November, but not by as much as economists expected. Consumers have been driving economic growth, but the latest round of earnings reports from retailers shows a mixed and more cautious picture. Department store operator Nordstrom fell 8.5% after warning investors about a trend toward weakening sales that started in late October. Clothing retailer Urban Outfitters jumped 19.1% after beating analysts’ third-quarter financial forecasts. Weeks earlier, retail giant Target gave investors a discouraging forecast for the holiday season, while Walmart provided a more encouraging forecast. Consumers, though resilient, are still facing pressure from inflation. The latest update from the U.S. government shows that inflation accelerated last month. The personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE, rose to 2.3% in October from 2.1% in September. Overall, the rate of inflation has been falling broadly since it peaked more than two years ago. The PCE, which is the Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, was just below 7.3% in June of 2022. Another measure of inflation, the consumer price index, peaked at 9.1% at the same time. The latest inflation data, though, is a sign that the rate of inflation seems to be stalling as it falls to within range of the Fed's target of 2%. The central bank started raising its benchmark interest rate from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023 and held it there in order to tame inflation. The Fed started cutting its benchmark interest rate in September, followed by a second cut in November. Wall Street expects a similar quarter-point cut at the central bank's upcoming meeting in December. “Today’s data shouldn’t change views of the likely path for disinflation, however bumpy," said David Alcaly, lead macroeconomic strategist at Lazard Asset Management. "But a lot of observers, probably including some at the Fed, are looking for reasons to get more hawkish on the outlook given the potential for inflationary policy change like new tariffs.” President-elect Donald Trump has said he plans to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China when he takes office in January. That could shock the economy by raising prices on a wide range of goods and accelerating the rate of inflation. Such a shift could prompt the Fed to rethink future cuts to interest rates. Treasury yields slipped in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.25% from 4.30% late Tuesday. The yield on the two-year Treasury, which more closely follows expected actions by the Fed, fell to 4.22% from 4.25% late Tuesday. U.S. markets will be closed Thursday for Thanksgiving, and will reopen for a half day on Friday. Damian J. Troise And Alex Veiga, The Associated Press
Former president Rodrigo Duterte warned the public about messing with his daughter, Sara Duterte, in a speech before a gathering of businessmen in October 2018. Five months later in March 2019, he told a gathering of barangay officials that “Inday is worse than me,” referring to his daughter. Duterte disclosed that he “could not control his daughter” as she was “really hard to deal with.” In January 2024, self-confessed Davao Death Squad assassin Arturo Lascañas told the media that he submitted a 186-page affidavit to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which he said contains information on the involvement of VP Sara in the extrajudicial killings in Davao City. Lascañas disclosed that it was the Vice President who initiated “Oplan Tokhang” when she was Davao City mayor in 2012, and she did so in tandem with Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who was then the city police chief. Lascañas also revealed that the total number of extrajudicial killings in Davao City is more or less 10,000. Lascañas then called on President Marcos to be careful and not to trust the Duterte father and daughter whom he branded as “traitors.” Just a month ago on Oct. 18, 2024, VP Sara threatened to dig up the remains of Mr. Marcos’ dictator father and throw them into the sea. She revealed that she “imagined herself cutting off his head,” referring to the President. And then last Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, VP Sara went on a verbal rampage, disclosing that she gave orders that, in the event she is killed, an assassin she hired would kill Mr. Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. If Duterte’s personality is an indication of the temperament inherited and grown into by his children, then intemperate words are followed through with dreadful deeds. Verbal threats made by the Dutertes are figuratively the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface lies colossal rage raring to emerge as a monstrosity of wrongful conduct. At his final campaign rally for the presidency in May 2016, Duterte gave advance warning to the nation when he said: “Forget the laws on human rights. If I make it to the presidential palace, I will do just what I did as mayor. You drug pushers, hold-up men and do-nothings, you better go out. Because I’d kill you. I’ll dump all of you into Manila Bay, and fatten all the fish there.” After he assumed the presidency, Duterte transformed his words into bloody deeds and 30,000 lives of mere drug suspects, mistaken identities, palit-ulo victims, collateral fatalities, and casualties of brazen rubouts by police rascals, were lost. Now comes Mr. Duterte’s daughter—whom he describes as a worse version of him—verbalizing vile intent. We can strongly sense wrath wanting to be transformed into deeds. There’s now a crescendo of talks that, in addition to criminal charges, VP Sara will face impeachment. If successful, she will not only be removed as vice president, but will be permanently disqualified from any public post. That will obliterate the Dutertes’ chances of regaining the presidency in 2028. The specter of impeachment gives the Dutertes critical reasons to obsess on ousting the Marcoses, by fair or foul means. It will fast-track their return to Malacañang because VP Sara will succeed as president. Once they manage to get a backdoor reentry to Malacañang before 2028, it will be a cinch for them to extend their reign for six more years until 2034. Also, the removal of the Marcoses will ensure their political survival, which is now facing an existential threat. Even Duterte is now openly calling on the military to launch a coup d’état to oust Mr. Marcos. Will all these result in the conviction and imprisonment of Duterte and VP Sara via domestic prosecution? Fat chance. All these efforts will only be used to deflate the ambitions of the Dutertes and cut them back to size as political pygmies. The only objective is to preserve and lengthen the reign of the Marcoses and their chosen successors. Once this is ensured, the Dutertes will be set free. Our country’s political elite are too cliquish and clannish to allow the permanent punishment of one of their own. We have repeatedly seen this in the fates of Joseph Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Revilla, among others. The Marcoses owe the Dutertes big time because of their patriarch’s entombment in the Libingan ng mga Bayani, and the huge political capital loaned by the Dutertes to the Marcoses that proved pivotal in their reconquest of Malacañang. There’s humongous utang na loob to repay. Besides, the Dutertes can use their command votes as currency to buy their freedom from succeeding administrations, because they will be useful as co-opted political deputies in southern Philippines. In the end, it will only be the drug war lieutenants, the education secretary’s alter egos, and the vice president’s gofers, who will fall by the sword. —————- Comments to [email protected] Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .
Israeli attorney general orders probe into report that alleged Netanyahu's wife harassed opponents
Share this Story : USA powers its way to victory over Germany in world junior championship opener Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Breadcrumb Trail Links Sports Hockey Junior Hockey World Juniors USA powers its way to victory over Germany in world junior championship opener The forward line of James Hagens, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perrault led the offensive outburst with a combined nine points. Author of the article: Don Brennan Published Dec 26, 2024 • 1 minute read Join the conversation You can save this article by registering for free here . Or sign-in if you have an account. Brandon Svoboda of the United States celebrates his goal in the second period of Thursday's game against Germany at Canadian Tire Centre. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Article content If the Canadians are going to achieve their ultimate goal at the 2025 world junior hockey championship, they’ll have to figure out a way to dim the U.S.A.’s power line. Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load. Try refreshing your browser, or tap here to see other videos from our team . USA powers its way to victory over Germany in world junior championship opener Back to video Article content It was plugged in and shining bright for Thursday’s tournament opener against Germany at Canadian Tire Centre. The unit of James Hagens, a potential first-overall pick in the 2025 National Hockey League draft, and 2023 first-rounders Ryan Leonard (selected eighth by the Washington Capitals) and Gabe Perrault (23rd by the New York Rangers) set the tone in a 10-4 victory before a large (13,017) and pro-Germany crowd in the afternoon tilt that preceded Canada’s opening showdown with Finland. Advertisement 2 Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. 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Activate your Online Access Now Article content German goaltender Nico Pertuch makes a pad save in the first period against the U.S. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Hagens lived up to his billing with two goals — including the game’s first off a goal-mouth scramble — and added a pair of assists, while Perrault matched his output by scoring twice and chipping in with two helpers. Leonard had one assist to give the line nine points overall. The Americans had a 3-0 lead after the first period, but Germany closed the gap, much to the delight of the fans. But Hagens pulled the Americans back in front by two with a wicked shot from the high slot, and the defending gold-medal winners never looked back. Haggens, Perrault and Leonard are also teammates with the Boston College Eagles. Hagens, 5-10, 176-pounder from Long Island, N.Y., has five goals and 20 points in 16 games this season, while Leonard, from Northampton, Mass., has 12 goals and seven assists. Perrault, who has dual citizenship after being born in Sherbrooke, Que., has seven goals and 16 assists this year. He is the son of former NHLer Yanic Perrault. Gabe Perreault (34) of the United States celebrates his goal with James Hagens (12) in the first period of Thursday’s game against Germany. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images The 18-year-old Hagens is described as a “cerebral tactician” who relies on great hockey sense and vision, a speedster with impressive acceleration and mobility, and a two-way centre who is reliable in all situations. He checked all those boxes on Thursday. Cole Hutson, the younger brother of Montreal Canadiens defenceman Lane Hutson, had five assists for the Americans. USA outshot Germany 55-26. Timo Ruckdäschel (10) of Germany tries to protect the puck against defensive pressure by Aram Minnetian (14) of the United States in the second period. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images Article content Share this article in your social network Share this Story : USA powers its way to victory over Germany in world junior championship opener Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Comments You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments. Create an Account Sign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. Trending New Ottawa restaurants in 2025 from three top chefs will offset a year rife with closures Life Ottawa police investigate Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg Local News Back to work! Ottawa Senators' break is over and playoff chase continues Ottawa Senators Everything Ottawa needs to know about the world junior hockey championship News Frustrated Porter passengers stuck 2 1/2 hours on YOW tarmac Local News Read Next Latest National Stories Featured Local SavingsThe Northern Arizona Lumberjacks men's basketball team (8-4) grabbed a victory over Southern Utah (8-6) on Saturday afternoon, snapping the Thunderbirds' undefeated home streak with an 83-75 comeback win in Cedar City, Utah. "We're all feeling really good right now. The second half we played a lot better defensively, we met our goal on getting stops, and the truth is we have such a competitive group in there and they stepped up to the challenge," Lumberjacks head coach Shane Burcar said. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Chaz Lanier scored 18 and No. 7 Tennessee extended its season-opening winning streak to seven games with a 78-35 victory over UT Martin on Wednesday. Felix Okpara had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Volunteers (7-0). Zakai Zeigler added 11 points and nine assists, and Igor Milicic had 13 rebounds and nine points. The Skyhawks (2-5) were led by Josu Grullon's 15 points. Lanier scored 11 points in the first half as Tennessee built a 35-20 lead at the half. Grullon had 10 for UT Martin. UT Martin: Dropped its fifth straight after two opening wins under first-year coach Jeremy Shulman. After 21 wins last year, the Skyhawks brought in 16 newcomers this season. They are picked to finish 10th in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tennessee: After receiving the news that 6-foot-9 sophomore J.P. Estrella will miss the entire season with a foot injury, the Vols have had to go back to the drawing board to determine their rotation on the front court. Estrella had been coming off the bench with Cade Phillips to spell Igor Milicic and Felix Okpara. What that big man rotation looks like will be interesting. From late in the first half to early in the second half, Tennessee scored 14 straight points and turned a 10-point lead into a 44-20 advantage. Zakai Zeigler had five of those points. UT Martin committed 18 turnovers. Five of those were shot-clock violations. Tennessee scored 24 points off the turnovers. UT Martin will be at Charleston Southern next Tuesday. Tennessee will host Syracuse next Tuesday in the SEC/ACC Challenge. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" To keep reading, please log in to your account, create a free account, or simply fill out the form below.
Israeli air strikes on Yemen airport ‘were metres from WHO chief’Zelle is an easy way to send online money -- it's free, it's supported by all the major banks , and it only requires a phone number to instantly transfer funds. It's also been rife with fraud ever since the service launched in 2017, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is taking action. On Dec. 20, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against Early Warning Services (the consortium of banks that own Zelle), claiming that it "failed to safeguard the Zelle network from fraud and other defects, which resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in consumer losses." Zelle scams in recent years have involved everything from phishing attempts on Facebook Marketplace to fake promises of puppies . Scammers count on the instantaneous nature of Zelle payments and the fact that fraudulent payments are often technically authorized by victims. In early 2024, a new change in policy allowed banks to claw money back from criminals in certain cases, but the recent lawsuit from the CPFB indicates the system may not be working Read on to learn how the peer-to-peer payment system Zelle works, how thieves use it to scam consumers, how to protect yourself from Zelle scams and what to do if you fall prey to Zelle fraud. For more about fraud prevention, check out our list of best identity theft protection and monitoring services . What is Zelle and how does it work? Launched in June 2017, Zelle is a peer-to-peer, or P2P, payment service owned by Early Warning Services -- a consortium of major US banks. Zelle is available to more than 100 million banking customers (whether they know it or not). Zelle charges no fees and works with about 1,700 banks and credit unions. In the first quarter of 2023, people and small businesses sent $180 billion through Zelle, or almost $2 billion a day . Created to compete with other electronic payment services like PayPal, Venmo and Cash App, Zelle lets banks handle casual electronic transfers without paying any fees to third parties. Customers whose banks don't support Zelle can connect a debit card with the Zelle app. Zelle allows users to send money electronically to anyone: All you need is a recipient's email address or US phone number to transfer funds. Transactions are instant and irreversible once complete, making Zelle very attractive to criminals. How do scammers use Zelle for fraud? Most of the reported Zelle scams consist of pure social engineering : manipulating people with fraudulent information and scare tactics. Scammers use false claims and representations to get people to unknowingly authorize money transfers. A common scam involves an email or text message asking a user to confirm a large, fake Zelle payment. When the user replies that they didn't authorize the transfer, the scammer follows up with a phone call pretending to represent the bank and spoofing the financial institution's phone number. They walk the caller through bogus instructions on how to reverse the unauthorized claims that instead actually transfer money to the criminals. Another popular scam starts with a message claiming that your bank account has been compromised and that you need to take action immediately to resolve the problem. If you respond, the fraudsters follow up with a phone call, pretending to be your bank and guiding you through the process of transferring money. Along with masquerading as your bank, scammers might also pose as institutions such as utility companies. A woman in Lorain, Ohio , faced threats of service disconnection from someone posing as her electric company, who then asked her for Zelle payments to keep the power on. How do I protect myself from Zelle scams? Since most Zelle scams are socially engineered, there are concrete steps you can take to avoid them. This advice holds true for all suspected scams, not just ones involving Zelle. If you receive a message that says it's from your bank, but you didn't contact them first, don't respond. Instead, call your financial institution directly to inquire about your account and any potential security issues. Assuming there are no problems with your account, you can also inform your bank that you've been phished . If you've given some personal info out because of the phishing attempt, you can work with your bank to protect your account. If someone says you need to act immediately to resolve a financial problem, alarm bells should start clanging. Scammers use scare tactics and a sense of urgency to make you panic and less likely to think critically. With the utility scams in the section above, users were told they only had 30 minutes to act before their power was shut off. If you notice any suspicious behavior from someone claiming to represent your bank, a utility or another organization asking for immediate payment, hang up immediately and call the business directly. Also be warned of requests from any banks, businesses or utilities for new Zelle payments, especially if you've never paid them via Zelle before. If you receive any requests to pay with Zelle, contact the organization directly through their official website or phone number to get more information. Also known as multifactor authentication or two-factor authentication, 2FA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts. Each time you sign into your account, you'll receive an additional one-time password, usually delivered by email or text message, that lasts for 30 to 60 seconds. Once you've set up 2FA for your banking accounts, never give out your one-time passcodes to anyone. Criminals pretending to be your bank or utility company may pressure you with lots of bogus reasons for telling them your passcode, but real institutions will never ask you for it. If you make a payment with Zelle, you may not be able to recover the money if you were scammed by mistakenly authorizing the payment . While Zelle provides a convenient and easy payment service, limiting its use to people you know personally will cut down your risk of getting scammed. In 2022, Zelle handled 2.3 billion payments adding up to $629 billion. How do I get my money back if I'm a victim of a Zelle scam? Immediately contact the financial institution that was part of the transaction. That allows the business to start investigating as soon as possible. Because of the instant nature of Zelle, you'll want to respond quickly. Here are the links and phone numbers for reporting Zelle scams to some of the biggest banks in the US: For years, according to many local reports , banks were reluctant to reimburse losses from Zelle phishing scams, since the transactions were actually approved by the account holders. Often, victims had money returned only after news reports of their scams put pressure on banks to do so. On Aug. 30, 2023, Zelle announced new safety measures including a "new consumer reimbursement benefit for specific scam types." On Nov. 14, 2023, Reuters reported that banks participating in the Zelle payment system had begun reimbursing victims of imposter scams who had been "duped into sending money to scammers claiming to be from a government agency, bank or existing service provider." New reports in 2024 indicated that Zelle's new safety policy was helping consumers. A Seattle public teacher who was defrauded of $2,000 by a person posing as a representative of his credit union was refunded by BECU thanks to the new law, according to KIRO 7 News . If your bank refuses to reimburse you for a Zelle scam, your only recourse (other than pitching your story to local media) is to file a complaint with the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau . For more on protecting yourself from fraud, see the best identity theft protection and monitoring services and learn how to avoid common holiday package scams .Dumri MLA booked for creating ruckus
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