99 gaming Experts react to Bank of Canada interest rate cut

The Green Party is set to suffer significant losses in the Irish General Election, with its leader expecting just a handful of parliamentarians to be returned. Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman said the party could not buck the trend in Ireland of junior coalition partners in Fine Gael and Fianna Fail governments losing support in subsequent elections. He said they expected to retain two to three seats out of the 12 they had won in the 2020 election on the back of a worldwide “Green wave”. “Undoubtedly it’s a disappointing result for our party today,” Mr O’Gorman told reporters in Ongar, Dublin. “It’s hard for a smaller party in government, that’s long been the tradition, the history in Ireland. We hoped going into the election to buck that but we haven’t been able to buck that today.” Mr O’Gorman, a candidate in Dublin West, is among the outgoing Green Party TDs in a battle to retain their seats. Culture Minister Catherine Martin, who is fighting to remain a Green Party TD for Dublin Rathdown, said it was a “very tight” race in her four-seat constituency. “We go in (to government) not afraid of that because the issue of the climate and biodiversity crisis is (greater) than our survival,” she said on RTE Radio. “I stand over and am proud of our track record of delivery.” Green candidate in Waterford Marc O Cathasaigh said he would not be “in the shake-up” to retain his seat in that constituency, while junior minister Ossian Smyth looks at risk of losing his seat in Dun Laoghaire. Junior minister Joe O’Brien is expected to lose his seat in Dublin Fingal, Neasa Hourigan is at risk in Dublin Central, while Wicklow’s Steven Matthews garnered just 4% of first preferences. Former Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who announced his retirement from frontline politics in June, said his party had not had a good day. Arriving at the count centre at the RDS in Dublin, the outgoing environment minister told reporters: “If you don’t get elected you accept that, but you come back stronger and you learn lessons, and we’ve done that in the past and we will do that again.” He added: “No matter what the results today there will be a strong Green Party in Ireland, we have deep roots in the community and it’s a very distinct political philosophy and I think there is still space for that in Irish politics, for sure.” Mr Ryan said he did not believe his decision to retire, and the timing of his announcement, had affected the party’s showing. “Unfortunately – and this is just one of those days – we didn’t get the number of votes,” he said. He added: “We’ll look back and see what are the lessons, and what can we learn and what can we do differently. “It’s just one of those days when we didn’t have a good day.

Mohave girls basketball fall in tight game against Moon ValleyKylian Mbappe misses penalty and Real Madrid loses ground in Champions League

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "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?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.Over 18,000 in Mexico register to run for Supreme Court seats and federal judges in new systemNone

ROSEN, TOP RANKED INVESTOR COUNSEL, Encourages Unisys Corporation Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - UISMichigan, Ohio State fight broken up with police pepper spray after Wolverines stun Buckeyes 13-10The ZRP has announced that they are investigating a case of abuse of two minors in a video that circulated. In the video that Crime Watch Zimbabwe shared, two minor boys were being beaten by a man wearing blue trousers. The man can be heard in the video asking the boys to strip so that he beats them. One of the boys shared that he was not wearing any underwear, to which the older man replied that it didn’t matter. The assault continued while other grown-ups watched , and one behind the camera was cheering for the beating to continue. Another woman joined in the attacks with a small log and began beating the two minors on the heads before she was held back. She kept wanting to come back to beat them, but another woman held her back. ALSO READ: Man Kills His 2-Month-Old Baby With A Log While Beating His Wife Minors In Need Of Medical Assistance After Flogging The people who were beating the children in the video are reported to be neighbours to their mother. One of the minors reportedly can not walk and requires medical attention after the beatings. The police have since released a statement on X regarding the video: Reference is made to a disturbing video circulating on social media, depicting a man wearing blue work suit trousers brutally assaulting two minors. The assault is further exacerbated by the arrival of a woman who joins in the attack. The suspects have been identified and investigations are currently underway to ensure that the law takes its course without fear or favour. The incident occurred in Madziwa area, Mashonaland Central Province. ALSO READ: Fortune Chasi Expresses Desire To Return To The Energy Ministry As Electricity Situation Worsens The police are urging the public not to take matters into their own hands regarding the law. Follow Us on Google News for Immediate Updates

Vadodara: LIC Housing Finance Ltd (LICHFL) has declared the Agora City Centre on Mangal Pandey Road near VUDA Circle as a stressed asset and sold it to an asset reconstruction company (ARC). The project has been mired in a series of controversies despite being among the most luxurious real estate projects built on a large scale in the city. The project was developed by Manav Infrastructure under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). It came up on the land where the Sanjaynagar slums once stood. The residents of the slums were offered houses in high-rise buildings that came up on a part of the land. All the buildings were constructed, and the houses were handed over to their beneficiaries as well. Balaji City Centre, which included retail, commercial, and residential properties along with a high-end clubhouse and other luxurious facilities, was planned on the remaining part of the land. The project was touted to be unique and the first of its kind in the city. However, it was mired in controversies since work began. It was alleged that the Agora City Centre project was announced without permission. When the work began, it was also alleged that a retaining wall was being constructed inside the border of the Vishwamitri River. The project also ran into trouble over its height, and some floors were done away with. The project was in the limelight again after the floods when Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) identified encroachments obstructing the flow of the river and razed the clubhouse of the project. A major setback for Manav Infrastructure came when its chairman Ashish Shah died. Shah, who was the driving force behind the company and the Agora City Centre, died due to dengue in Ahmedabad in 2022. According to a notice issued by LICHFL last month for identifying an agency that could take over the stressed loan, the developers owed Rs 711.2 crore as the total payable amount. The agency started looking for an ARC to take over this loan and invited bids. In a recent statutory disclosure to stock exchanges as per Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) guidelines, LICHFL said that it sold the stressed loan to CFM Asset Reconstruction Private Ltd, an ARC identified after the bidding process. The ARC paid Rs 250 crore as consideration to LICHFL after the bidding process. The declaration is significant as it reveals that the project is in financial difficulties and LICHFL identified an ARC. The ARC will now take steps to recover the loan.

West Forsyth won the coin toss and has deferred to the second half. Follow along for live updates from Fred Lewis Stadium in Kernersville as East Forsyth takes on West Forsyth in the second round of the NCHSAA 4-A state playoffs. East Forsyth (11-0) beat West Forsyth (8-3) 48-42 on Nov. 1. The Eagles got a 3-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Baker to J.P. Gilchrist with 9.4 seconds left to pull out the win. mpruitt@wsjournal.com Sent weekly directly to your inbox!La. Senate passes tax cuts, temporary sales tax increase

Dictionary.com Names "Demure" as the 2024 Word of the YearPreview: NEC vs. FC Utrecht - prediction, team news, lineups

Katelyn and Kiersten Van Kirk, who are teammates on the Boise State University volleyball team, recently joined a lawsuit over transgender athletes in the Mountain West Conference. The sisters were all-state players at Manhattan Christian, helping the program reach five straight Class C championship matches and winning the title four times during that span. Now at Boise State, they’re among several current and former players claiming that their Title IX rights have been violated due the participation of a transgender athlete on the San Jose State University team. Boise State opted to forfeit its two regular season conference matches against SJSU, and three other conference schools followed suit with forfeitures. “It’s been a difficult season just because of this issue and there’s just been so many different conversations that we’ve had to have. It’s taken away a lot of just the volleyball part of the season,” Katelyn said. “I think that it has been a huge problem, but I think as a school and as just me personally, that we’re just standing up for different types of girls throughout the nation playing sports and different kids that want to play sports too.” The lawsuit the Van Kirks joined, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Colorado two weeks before the start of the Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Championship, asked for the SJSU player be declared ineligible for the tournament and for SJSU’s forfeit wins to be vacated. The emergency injunction was rejected by U.S. District Judge S. Kato Crews and upheld by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Had the judge granted the injunction, Boise State would have moved up to the No. 4 seed from No. 6 in the conference tournament. SJSU finished as the No. 2 seed and had a bye into the semifinals. “I wouldn’t say I was necessarily surprised (by the judge’s decision),” Kiersten said. “But it is disappointing to see just because all of us as athletes just worked so hard all season long and the tournament is what we were working towards all year long and winning the Mountain West championship. So to see that not being changed, and then our opportunities being taken away from us because of that, was really disappointing.” Why wasn’t the lawsuit filed earlier? “I think it definitely could have been something that was done earlier but also this is something that was so new to the teams in the Mountain West that at the beginning we were trying to figure out how to maneuver and manage what was going on,” Kiersten said. “Then towards the end of the season it was, no, we want to see something different, we want to see something changed. That’s when the Mountain West lawsuit began to be filed.” Boise State defeated Utah State in four sets in the quarterfinals on Nov. 27. Just hours following the victory, the team released a statement about choosing not to play SJSU in the semifinals: “The decision to not continue to play in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one. Our team overcame forfeitures to earn a spot in the tournament field and fought for the win over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not have to forgo this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.” Katelyn and Kiersten said there were many people involved in the decision not to play the semifinal match. But they declined to say whether the vote was unanimous. “Unfortunately, I am unable to answer that question because of the school and where we are at right now,” said Katelyn. The are 16 players listed on the team’s roster, including senior opposite Paige Bartsch, who led Helena Capital to three consecutive Class AA championships and was named the 2019 Montana Gatorade Player of the Year. “It was kind of just the whole program that had to just communicate a lot through different ways, and we just had to have multiple conversations about it,” Katelyn said. “It was a really hard decision to make.” Added Kiersten: “We knew going into that tournament there would be a decision that would need to be made since ultimately if we won we were going to face San Jose no matter what since they were on our side of the bracket. It’s a really hard situation to be in as student-athletes who work your whole career to get to that point of being in a Mountain West championship and working towards a Mountain West championship. To have that taken away is really heartbreaking. There’s a part of you that really wants to play in that game and then there’s a part of you that wants to stand for what you believe is right and stand for future generations.” The Van Kirks said they’ll continue to fight for “fair play.” “We’ll see with the higher court and what happens there,” said Katelyn. “If that doesn’t work out, then I think we’re just going to keep going up and just keep trying to fight the fight. Try our best just to figure out just a fair way of fair play for girls and also boys.” While the SJSU player has been identified by some news outlets, the Belgrade News is not publishing her name to protect her privacy. She played the three previous years without incident, and neither the player nor SJSU has spoken publicly about her identity. Kiersten said her participation became an issue this year. “It was definitely something that was under the radar,” Kiersten said. “There was always suspicions and a little bit of talk about it being an issue, but no one really knew until this year when I believe that one of this athlete’s roommates found out. And then in preseason that’s when it really hit the news and that’s when it came a bigger topic of discussion.” Kiersten, who is a junior opposite for the Broncos, has competed against the player the past three seasons. She noted the moment that something didn’t seem right. “I remember this one play, it was the last play of my freshman year, and there was an overpass. This athlete just jumped up like insanely high and just hit it straight down,” she said. “I remember after the game, we were all like, there’s no way. I’ve never seen any female athlete do that before.” According to the NCAA Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy, if a transgender woman meets the parameters set by that sport’s governing body she is allowed to compete in women’s sports. For volleyball, a transgender woman is considered eligible if she can suppress her testosterone under 10 nmol/L. San Jose State told CNN and ESPN that all of its student athletes are eligible to compete on its women’s volleyball team. Boise State was the first school to forfeit a match followed by Utah State, Nevada and Wyoming. After Boise State’s first forfeiture, the Mountain West Conference updated its policy, Kiersten said, to allow the forfeited matches to count as wins for SJSU and losses for the team’s that opted not to play. “In the NCAA, it’s just counted as a no contest,” Kiersten noted. “But the Mountain West changed it so it would be counted as a forfeit loss and win. So that was a big aspect of the Mountain West lawsuit to get those wins and losses removed since it would change the standings in the tournament.” In addition to the Van Kirks, SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser and assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose are among the plaintiffs. “Obviously the co-captain is also the setter on the team and so she’s in this lawsuit and she’s trying to make a stand and same with the assistant coach. I commend them for taking a stand. I feel that is a really hard position to be in especially when you are on a team that player and you see nothing being changed,” said Kiersten. “But then again, all of other athletes ended up forfeiting games to take a stand against it and she still gets an opportunity to play for a championship on that team. I do commend her, and I think it’s great that she’s trying to make a change, but at the same time she was able to play in a championship and every team forfeited and didn’t get that experience.” Colorado State defeated SJSU 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16 in the tournament championship match on Saturday. Katelyn said she understands that there are people who see the situation differently and feel that a transgender athlete deserves the same opportunity that she has earned. “I think that either way there’s always going to be someone that’s upset. I just think that whatever is best for them, and I want the best for them, but I just think that playing in women’s sports is unfair competition and also a safety hazard as well,” Katelyn said. “I would say that men and women are created differently. Since birth we’re differently structured and hormones aren’t just going to change that. I think that just in sports it’s a big deal because men have that advantage over women, and women have fought so hard for their rights for so long, so I just think that we try very hard and as women we deserve those spots.” Despite the controversy, it was a successful season for Boise State. The Broncos finished with a 19-10 overall record, which includes the three forfeit losses, and were 10-8 in the Mountain West Conference. “It was still a really great season. I think we had a great season competing despite all of the controversy that happened,” said Kiersten. “It was kind of like a Covid situation in kind of a way where you have to take the games that you’re given and go all out in those games. Because there might be other games that you’re not necessarily able to play in.” Get any of our free daily email newsletters — news headlines, opinion, e-edition, obituaries and more.

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 21, 2024-- ACH remains a popular payment method for B2B finance operations. At the same time, ACH is one of the most commonly and easily defrauded forms of payment. Victim organizations risk significant losses, compromised reputation and possible legal consequences. Bectran, Inc. , the credit, collections and accounts receivable platform leading the way in fraud prevention, has partnered with GIACT, part of the London Stock Exchange Group and the leader in helping companies positively identify and authenticate customers, to offer robust, persistent protection against ACH fraud for credit departments. “Partnering with GIACT marks a significant step in Bectran’s commitment to streamlining credit risk management,” comments Bectran’s CEO, Louis Ifeguni. “Identifying potential ACH fraud automatically and reliably gives departments a profound additional security in their decisioning.” Know Your Business Many credit departments collect ACH forms on their credit applications. Requests backed by valid bank accounts should represent a lower risk, making decisioning quick and more confident. Without verification, though, unstable or stolen bank account information can easily pass as trustworthy — garnering quick approvals. While such ACH fraud has historically been associated mostly with consumer transactions, more and more scammers have begun targeting B2B credit, lured by the high-dollar transactions and relative ease of ACH forgery. Even departments that do verify ACH may still be vulnerable. Some services use outdated databases to check account funding and standing. Few services include the ability to match applicants to account owners, meaning applications could be approved based on stolen credentials. Protect It Automatically With GIACT , Bectran provides users leading coverage for account verification and ACH fraud prevention. GIACT’s real-time account checks keep credit reviews and customer experience running smoothly. At the same time, as part of the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), GIACT has access to the largest bank account database in the US, giving credit departments more confidence and security in their decisions. Bectran utilizes GIACT to give creditors two layers of account validation. The first verifies each account’s status, indicating whether the account is open and whether it has any risk indicators such as recent returns or insufficient funds notices. The second attempts to authenticate the account, comparing the applicant information with the account owner’s information when available, which can help catch applicants using stolen bank account information. Bectran combine these checks and presents them seamlessly in the credit workflow, aiding departments in protecting their businesses. Bectran automatically flags transactions indicated by GIACT as high-risk and provides a report of GIACT’s findings on each application. Backed by Bectran and GIACT, credit departments can more quickly and confidently identify safe accounts while assessing risky transactions with more reliable and complete information. “GIACT brings the trustworthiness of the London Stock Exchange Group to credit departments using ACH,” says Ali Kidwai, Product & Implementation Sr. Manager, Bectran. “You can move through credit reviews faster and more securely, trusting that bank accounts are verified thoroughly.” Learn more about Bectran’s partnership with GIACT, and about Bectran’s full fraud prevention suite, at Bectran.com . About GIACT GIACT is part of the London Stock Exchange Group, one of the world’s leading providers of financial markets infrastructure. GIACT’s account and identity verification solutions enable businesses to verify accounts quickly and seamlessly so that they and their customers can transact with confidence. With GIACT’s integrated bank database and open banking solution, businesses can verify accounts, safeguard payments and reduce unauthorized returns — all in real time. About Bectran Bectran is the premier SaaS platform for Finance Departments, akin to CRM for Sales. Trusted by diverse organizations, from SMEs to Fortune 500 companies, we streamline credit processing by over 98%, reducing credit defaults and collection costs. Many businesses rely on Bectran for efficient Accounts Receivable and Collections management, achieving up to 95% cost savings. With rapid onboarding in days, our platform is hailed by credit professionals as the future of credit management. Visit Bectran.com to learn more about financial solutions for your industry. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121050944/en/ CONTACT: Bectran Inc 224-231-4160 PR@Bectran.com KEYWORD: ILLINOIS EUROPE UNITED STATES UNITED KINGDOM NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE FINANCE BANKING DATA MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY FINTECH SECURITY SOURCE: Bectran, Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 11/21/2024 02:01 PM/DISC: 11/21/2024 02:01 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241121050944/en

An aerial view of the aftermath of an overnight strike attributed to Israel on the Barzeh scientific research centre affiliated with the Syrian defence ministry in northern Damascus on 10 December 2024. (Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP) Israel said it had hit Syria more than 350 times since the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, wiping out strategic weapons and infrastructure. It would not let those weapons fall into the hands of jihadists, said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel aims to permanently retain what it calls a defensive buffer in southern Syria. Israel aims to impose a "sterile defence zone" in southern Syria that would be enforced without a permanent troop presence, defence minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday, as the military said a wave of air strikes had destroyed the bulk of Syria's strategic weapons stockpiles. Over the past 48 hours, following the collapse of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, the military said jets had conducted more than 350 strikes on targets including anti-aircraft batteries, military airfields, weapons production sites, combat aircraft and missiles. In addition, missile vessels struck the Syrian naval facilities of Al-Bayda port and Latakia port, where 15 Syrian naval vessels were docked. Israeli officials said the strikes across Syria were aimed at destroying strategic weapons and military infrastructure to prevent them being used by rebel groups that drove Assad from power, some of which grew from movements linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. "We have no intention of interfering in Syria's internal affairs, but we clearly intend to do what is necessary to ensure our security," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "I authorised the air force to bomb strategic military capabilities left by the Syrian army, so that they would not fall into the hands of the jihadists." Following Assad's flight on Sunday, Israeli troops moved into the demilitarised zone inside Syria created after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, including the Syrian side of the strategic Mount Hermon that overlooks Damascus, where it took over an abandoned Syrian military post. A military spokesperson said Israeli troops remained in the buffer zone as well as "a few additional points" in the vicinity. But he denied that forces had penetrated Syrian territory significantly beyond the area, after a Syrian source said they had reached the town of Qatana, several km (miles) to the east of the zone and just a short drive from Damascus airport. "IDF forces are not advancing towards Damascus. This is not something we are doing or pursuing in any way," Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani, the military spokesperson, told a briefing with reporters. 'Temporary, limited measure' Israel, which has just agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon following weeks of fighting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah movement, calls the incursion into Syrian territory a limited and temporary measure to ensure border security. But the scale of the Israeli strikes echoed a similar wave of attacks in southern Lebanon in September that destroyed a significant quantity of Hezbollah's missile stocks. According to the Israeli military the strikes hit most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria as well as production sites in the cities of Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Latakia and Palmyra. Scud and cruise missiles as well as sea-to-sea missiles, drones, launchers and firing positions were destroyed, it said in a statement. Strikes against military airfields and bases also destroyed Syrian military attack helicopters, fighter jets and tanks. Israel welcomed the fall of Assad, an ally of its main enemy Iran, but has reacted cautiously to the leading rebel faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. HTS has roots in Islamist movements including al Qaeda and Islamic State though it has sought for years to moderate its image. Katz gave no details of the "sterile defence zone" Israel aims to impose in southern Syria but the extent of the operation underlined the power of its air force. "We want relations with the new regime in Syria," Netanyahu said but added that if Iranian weapons were transferred through Syria to Hezbollah or if Israel were attacked "we will respond forcefully and we will exact a heavy price". We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered. Join News24 today Related Links 'Suddenly everyone was scared': Assad flees Syria, PM promises to co-operate with new leadership Russia vows 'appropriate and palpable' response to US weapons fired by Ukraine Syrian rebels capture key city of Hama in fresh blow to Assad, Iran, and RussiaDarius Tahir | (TNS) KFF Health News President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to run the sprawling government agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act marketplace — celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz — recently held broad investments in health care, tech, and food companies that would pose significant conflicts of interest. Oz’s holdings, some shared with family, included a stake in UnitedHealth Group worth as much as $600,000, as well as shares of pharmaceutical firms and tech companies with business in the health care sector, such as Amazon. Collectively, Oz’s investments total tens of millions of dollars, according to financial disclosures he filed during his failed 2022 run for a Pennsylvania U.S. Senate seat. Trump said Tuesday he would nominate Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The agency’s scope is huge: CMS oversees coverage for more than 160 million Americans, nearly half the population. Medicare alone accounts for approximately $1 trillion in annual spending, with over 67 million enrollees. UnitedHealth Group is one of the largest health care companies in the nation and arguably the most important business partner of CMS, through which it is the leading provider of commercial health plans available to Medicare beneficiaries. UnitedHealth also offers managed-care plans under Medicaid, the joint state-federal program for low-income people, and sells plans on government-run marketplaces set up via the Affordable Care Act. Oz also had smaller stakes in CVS Health, which now includes the insurer Aetna, and in the insurer Cigna. It’s not clear if Oz, a heart surgeon by training, still holds investments in health care companies, or if he would divest his shares or otherwise seek to mitigate conflicts of interest should he be confirmed by the Senate. Reached by phone on Wednesday, he said he was in a Zoom meeting and declined to comment. An assistant did not reply to an email message with detailed questions. “It’s obvious that over the years he’s cultivated an interest in the pharmaceutical industry and the insurance industry,” said Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a watchdog group. “That raises a question of whether he can be trusted to act on behalf of the American people.” (The publisher of KFF Health News, David Rousseau, is on the CSPI board .) Oz used his TikTok page on multiple occasions in November to praise Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including their efforts to take on the “illness-industrial complex,” and he slammed “so-called experts like the big medical societies” for dishing out what he called bad nutritional advice. Oz’s positions on health policy have been chameleonic; in 2010, he cut an ad urging Californians to sign up for insurance under President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, telling viewers they had a “historic opportunity.” Oz’s 2022 financial disclosures show that the television star invested a substantial part of his wealth in health care and food firms. Were he confirmed to run CMS, his job would involve interacting with giants of the industry that have contributed to his wealth. Given the breadth of his investments, it would be difficult for Oz to recuse himself from matters affecting his assets, if he still holds them. “He could spend his time in a rocking chair” if that happened, Lurie said. In the past, nominees for government positions with similar potential conflicts of interest have chosen to sell the assets or otherwise divest themselves. For instance, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Attorney General Merrick Garland agreed to divest their holdings in relevant, publicly traded companies when they joined the Biden administration. Trump, however, declined in his first term to relinquish control of his own companies and other assets while in office, and he isn’t expected to do so in his second term. He has not publicly indicated concern about his subordinates’ financial holdings. CMS’ main job is to administer Medicare. About half of new enrollees now choose Medicare Advantage, in which commercial insurers provide their health coverage, instead of the traditional, government-run program, according to an analysis from KFF, a health information nonprofit that includes KFF Health News. Proponents of Medicare Advantage say the private plans offer more compelling services than the government and better manage the costs of care. Critics note that Medicare Advantage plans have a long history of costing taxpayers more than the traditional program. UnitedHealth, CVS, and Cigna are all substantial players in the Medicare Advantage market. It’s not always a good relationship with the government. The Department of Justice filed a 2017 complaint against UnitedHealth alleging the company used false information to inflate charges to the government. The case is ongoing. Oz is an enthusiastic proponent of Medicare Advantage. In 2020, he proposed offering Medicare Advantage to all; during his Senate run, he offered a more general pledge to expand those plans. After Trump announced Oz’s nomination for CMS, Jeffrey Singer, a senior fellow at the libertarian-leaning Cato Institute, said he was “uncertain about Dr. Oz’s familiarity with health care financing and economics.” Singer said Oz’s Medicare Advantage proposal could require large new taxes — perhaps a 20% payroll tax — to implement. Oz has gotten a mixed reception from elsewhere in Washington. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, the Democrat who defeated Oz in 2022, signaled he’d potentially support his appointment to CMS. “If Dr. Oz is about protecting and preserving Medicare and Medicaid, I’m voting for the dude,” he said on the social platform X. Oz’s investments in companies doing business with the federal government don’t end with big insurers. He and his family also hold hospital stocks, according to his 2022 disclosure, as well as a stake in Amazon worth as much as nearly $2.4 million. (Candidates for federal office are required to disclose a broad range of values for their holdings, not a specific figure.) Amazon operates an internet pharmacy, and the company announced in June that its subscription service is available to Medicare enrollees. It also owns a primary care service , One Medical, that accepts Medicare and “select” Medicare Advantage plans. Oz was also directly invested in several large pharmaceutical companies and, through investments in venture capital funds, indirectly invested in other biotech and vaccine firms. Big Pharma has been a frequent target of criticism and sometimes conspiracy theories from Trump and his allies. Kennedy, whom Trump has said he’ll nominate to be Health and Human Services secretary, is a longtime anti-vaccine activist. During the Biden administration, Congress gave Medicare authority to negotiate with drug companies over their prices. CMS initially selected 10 drugs. Those drugs collectively accounted for $50.5 billion in spending between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, under Medicare’s Part D prescription drug benefit. At least four of those 10 medications are manufactured by companies in which Oz held stock, worth as much as about $50,000. Related Articles National Politics | The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump’s promises on growth and inflation National Politics | After Trump’s Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles National Politics | Republicans push back against Democrats’ claims that Trump intelligence pick Gabbard is compromised National Politics | Trump 2.0 has a Cabinet and executive branch of different ideas and eclectic personalities National Politics | Senators took down one Trump Cabinet pick. But the fight over their authority is just beginning Oz may gain or lose financially from other Trump administration proposals. For example, as of 2022, Oz held investments worth as much as $6 million in fertility treatment providers. To counter fears that politicians who oppose abortion would ban in vitro fertilization, Trump floated during his campaign making in vitro fertilization treatment free. It’s unclear whether the government would pay for the services. In his TikTok videos from earlier in November, Oz echoed attacks on the food industry by Kennedy and other figures in his “Make America Healthy Again” movement. They blame processed foods and underregulation of the industry for the poor health of many Americans, concerns shared by many Democrats and more mainstream experts. But in 2022, Oz owned stakes worth as much as $80,000 in Domino’s Pizza, Pepsi, and US Foods, as well as more substantial investments in other parts of the food chain, including cattle; Oz reported investments worth as much as $5.5 million in a farm and livestock, as well as a stake in a dairy-free milk startup. He was also indirectly invested in the restaurant chain Epic Burger. One of his largest investments was in the Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain Wawa, which sells fast food and all manner of ultra-processed snacks. Oz and his wife reported a stake in the company, beloved by many Pennsylvanians, worth as much as $30 million. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Bectran Partners with GIACT for ACH Fraud Prevention

LOS ANGELES — He’d been battered for weeks, lingering on the turf in pain at various points in previous wins over Nebraska and UCLA, always game enough to return a few players later after gingerly limping off. But running back Woody Marks, long USC’s Iron Man at running back, couldn’t return after another blow Saturday against Notre Dame. After a first-quarter handoff for nine yards, Marks laid on the turf for a few beats before stumbling to his feet, appearing slightly disoriented as he entered a medical tent on USC’s sideline. He eventually returned to the sideline as redshirt freshman Quinten Joyner took his place, but walked off into the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tunnel at the two-minute mark of the first half as the CBS broadcast reported he’d be out for the rest of the afternoon . It was a massive loss for USC’s offense, and could’ve served as the end of Marks’ time in a Trojans jersey depending on his bowl-game decision. If so, what a run it has been for the Mississippi State transfer: finishing with 1,133 yards on the ground in 12 games, putting together one of the more complete seasons by any USC running back in recent memory. Senior Day They came marching one by one down the barrel of the Coliseum, adorned with wreaths of honor, USC’s Easton Mascarenas-Arnold and Jaylin Smith and Woody Marks all exchanging hugs with Lincoln Riley as an early crowd erupted in claps for its program pillars. It was a moment of levity, USC honoring beloved seniors Saturday afternoon on the final day of its regular season. It was also, however, a sobering reality. With Mascarenas-Arnold, Smith and Marks went 138 combined tackles and four interceptions and 1,421 yards from scrimmage; with left guard Emmanuel Pregnon and center Jonah Monheim went two crucial pieces of a much-improved Trojans offensive line. Walking out from the tunnel on Senior Day, certainly, doesn’t provide an end-all, be-all on players’ futures. But it gave a hint, certainly, that several names who still carried eligibility – Mascarenas-Arnold, Smith, wide receiver Kyron Hudson – could be moving on come the winter. “We’ll have a few guys, obviously, who will have some decisions to make on if they go pro or if they stay and play another year,” Riley said Tuesday, when asked how he might adjust USC’s offensive personnel in the offseason. “Not a ton, but we’ve got a couple guys that have those decisions. We’ll just see. We’re going to try to get the right talent in here.” USC will be hard-pressed to add that talent, certainly, as eyes turn ahead to a bowl-game slot and the 2025 season. If every player honored on USC’s announced Senior Day graphic moves on , either via the NFL draft or the transfer portal, USC stands to lose 17 players from its offense, defense and special teams who started Saturday against Notre Dame. Here’s the breakdown: Offense: WR Kyle Ford, TE Lake McRee, RB Woody Marks, C Jonah Monheim, LG Emmanuel Pregnon, RT Mason Murphy, WR Kyron Hudson Defense: S Akili Arnold, LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold, LB Mason Cobb, CB Jacobe Covington, DT Nate Clifton, DT Gavin Meyer, CB Jaylin Smith, CB Greedy Vance Jr. Special teams: P Eddie Czaplicki, K Michael Lantz It’s still probable, as Riley mentioned, that a few of those names elect to stay at USC for another season. McRee, Murphy and Hudson, in particular, are redshirt juniors and would likely see their draft stock elevated by a return for a prominent senior year at USC. Still, the Trojans will have major work to do in the transfer portal and with depth development this offseason, particularly at center, replacing Monheim, and cornerback. Caleb Williams returns Not a day after the NFL’s Chicago Bears canned head coach Matt Eberflus following a 23-20 loss to the Detroit Lions , former star quarterback and No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams was back at the Coliseum on for his USC jersey-retirement ceremony in a palate cleanser of a Saturday afternoon. Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner who conquered opposing defenses and NIL riches in his time at USC, took a moment to thank the Coliseum crowd upon leading the Trojans out of the tunnel Saturday. “Number 13 is back,” Williams announced over the PA, speaking in a microphone to wide cheers. “And not only – is in the rafters now, because of all of you.”

1 2 Hyderabad: R-Home chairman Chakka Bhaskar and managing director Sudharani were arrested by Cyberabad's economic offences wing (EOW) for allegedly duping 200 customers by failing to develop the promised flats in Ghatkesar and Sangareddy. Police said that Bhaskar and his wife were arrested based on a complaint given by V Manoj Kumar, who lost Rs 65 lakh after the accused defaulted in delivering the flat. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who went where and for how much IPL 2025: Complete list of players of each franchise They collected Rs 48 crore from the customers in connection with the projects - Bliss Heights project in Ghatkesar, ORR Heights project in Patancheru, and Farmland project at Karamungi in Sangareddy district - which they promised to develop. "Without obtaining permissions, the accused gave wide publicity and advertised their projects using media and social media with attractive promotional schemes stating that they are providing flats at a cheaper rate compared to the market. They promised that they would hand over the project within a period of three years; otherwise, they would give a rent of Rs 6,000 for a 2BHK flat and Rs 8,000 for a 3 BHK flat," DCP (EOW) K Prasad said.

The total wealth of Trump’s top team is $340 billion — more than the GDP of 169 countriesORLANDO, Fla. — UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after four seasons with the school. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the first to report the move, which will see Malzahn to leave to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn previously worked with FSU coach Mike Norvell during their time at Tulsa under then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08. The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season in which they lost eight of their last nine games, the longest losing streak since 2015. Malzahn, 59, was in the fourth year of a contract through 2028. His buyout, it is reported, would have been $13.75 million. He finished 27-25 at UCF but lost 16 of his last 22 games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons in the Big 12. After back-to-back nine-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024. This season started with high expectations as Malzahn made sweeping changes to the program. He retooled the strength and conditioning department and hired Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively. He also added nearly 50 new players to the roster, leaning heavily on the transfer market. UCF started by winning its first three games against New Hampshire, Sam Houston and a thrilling comeback at TCU, but offensive struggles saw the Knights tumble through a TBD-game losing streak to finish the season. Terry Mohajir hired Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was hired to replace Danny White. The move came eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of coaching the Tigers. The two briefly worked together at Arkansas State in 2012 before Malzahn left for the Auburn job. “When he [Mohajir] offered the job, I was like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t thinking about or talking about ...,” Malzahn said during his introductory press conference. “This will be one of the best programs in college football in a short time. This is a job that I plan on being here and building it.” UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman before traveling to Louisville on Sept. 17, where quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone in the final minute of a 42-35 loss. Backup Mikey Keene would finish out the season as Gabriel announced his intention to transfer. The Knights would finish the season on the plus side by accepting a bid to join the Big 12 Conference in September and then by defeating Florida 29-17 in the Gasparilla Bowl. Malzahn struck transfer portal gold in the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped guide UCF to the American Athletic Conference Championship in its final season. However, Plumlee’s injury forced the Knights to go with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The team finished with losses to Tulane in the conference championship and Duke in the Military Bowl. Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Big 12 but would go down with a knee injury in the final minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the next four games as backup Timmy McClain took over the team. Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t help UCF, on a five-game losing streak to open conference play. The Knights got their first Big 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the following week, but the team still needed a win over Houston in the regular-season finale to secure a bowl bid for the eighth straight season. From the moment Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, particularly in Central Florida. “We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fire,” Malzahn said at the time. “We’re going to go after the best players in America and we’re not backing down to anybody.” From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star high school and junior college prospects. Eight four-star prospects were in the three recruiting classes signed under Malzahn. The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite ranking of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class in school history. The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects. Malzahn has always leaned on the transfer market, signing 60 players over the past three seasons. Some have paid huge dividends, such as Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Pace and Plumlee. Others haven’t been as successful, such as quarterback KJ Jefferson, who started the first five games of this season before being benched for poor performance. Jefferson’s struggles forced the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing action at one point or another this season. This season’s struggles led to several players utilizing the NCAA’s redshirt rule after four games, including starting slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who have also entered the transfer portal. Defensive end Kaven Call posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter in which he accused the UCF coaching staff of recently kicking him off the team when he requested to be redshirted. Get local news delivered to your inbox!

Cold Eeze Or Coldeez Cooling ACE? My Honest Review 2024Neel Kamal writes about sustainable agriculture, environment, climate change for The Times of India. His incisive and comprehensive reporting about over a year-long farmers' struggle against farm laws at the borders of the national capital won laurels. He is an alumunus of Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology. Read More How to make healthy Oats Palak Chilla for a kid's tiffin 10 best Fried Chicken dishes from around the world 10 ways to use turmeric in winters ​10 animals not allowed as pets in India​ 10 types of Dosa and how they are made Animals and their favourite foods 9 nuts to eat daily for hair growth in winters How to make South Indian Podi Dosa at home From tigers to cheetahs: India’s big cats and where to find them Weekend Special: How to make Multigrain ThaalipeethNone1 2 Prayagraj : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath exuded confidence that forthcoming Maha Kumbh will be a standard in itself of digital, divine and grandeur. He said no Indian would want to remain deprived of seeing uninterrupted and pure Ganga or the holy Kumbh bathing at the holy confluence of Maa Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. This time, Maha Kumbh will be made special by Prime Minister's guidance, blessings of saints and participation of common people, said Yogi on his visit to Prayagraj on Wednesday to take stock of preparations. He expressed his resolve to make Maha Kumbh an ideal example of social equality and public participation. During his visit, the chief minister unveiled equipment and development projects worth Rs 237.38 crore for security, Swachhata Mitras and Ganga Sevadoots in the fair area. "The world will get to see the rich cultural heritage of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh and India through the world's largest spiritual and cultural gathering," said the CM, adding that preparations for the event were progressing rapidly and after its successful completion, he would return to congratulate all stakeholders. He said area of Kumbh had been increased from 1,800 hectares to 4,000 hectares, spread out in 25 sectors. Parking facility of 1,850 hectares was being provided and 14 flyovers and underpasses were being built. Along with this, nine concrete ghats were being built, seven river front roads, temporary ghats, were under construction, while 550 shuttle buses, 7,000 roadways buses along with electric buses would ply to and from seven bus stands that were being built. Through bioremediation by tapping all drains and sewers, no trash would be allowed to fall into the Ganga. The CM said that on Dec 13, PM Modi was scheduled to come to Prayagraj and pray to Ganga. He sought public cooperation to make Ganga completely clean and pure. Yogi directed officials to promote importance of Kumbh at global level to connect people from every section to ‘Green Prayagraj-Green Maha Kumbh'. He stressed special plans for safety and facilities for devotees. Instructing the police to adopt polite behaviour, he instructed them to make strong arrangements for drone surveillance, cyber security and disaster management. He said special action plan should be made for special bathing days with deployment of disaster rescue teams. The CM said there was plan to improve road, rail and air connectivity for pilgrims. Instructions were also given to run public awareness campaigns along with deploying additional manpower for cleanliness and banning single-use plastic. He said there were technical arrangements, so that various aspects of Maha Kumbh could be presented in digital form. Also, the goal of ‘Green Maha Kumbh' will be realised by activating Mohalla committees in Prayagraj. He directed officials to complete work on time and not compromise on quality. He ordered completion of work of land filling at Sangam Nose and construction of roads on time. He directed to keep NDRF and SDRF ready for adverse conditions. Laying emphasis on medical and other arrangements, the CM directed preparation of temporary hospitals for medical treatment in the fair area and gave priority to cleanliness. He also emphasised taking help of specialised institutions to study various dimensions related to Maha Kumbh. Yogi said there was curiosity all over the world for Maha Kumbh 2025 and it will be made historic with public cooperation.