The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, on Sunday, said more local jobs are expected in the coming year as a result of Saudi Arabia’s drive to ramp up investment in key sectors of the economy. Edun said this follows Saudi Arabia’s SALIC International Investment Company’s acquisition of a 35.43 per cent stake in Olam Agri Holdings for $1.24bn The Coordinating Minister of the Economy affirmed this after meeting President Bola Tinubu at his Ikoyi home in Lagos. The deal, which closed on December 23, 2024, values Olam Agri Holdings at $3.5bn. Olam Group will retain a majority stake of 64.57 per cent in the agricultural unit in a deal first announced in March 2022. Edun, accompanied by his counterpart in the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, had led a delegation to Saudi Arabia to follow up on various investment pledges made to Nigeria by Saudi businesses in the past few visits. He said this visit resulted in a $1.2bn investment by the Saudi Agricultural Livestock Investment Company in Olam. This investment, he argued, is expected to increase FOREX inflow, and jobs and boost the economy. Edun explained, “I’d say what we have brought back is investment. What we have brought back is foreign exchange. We have brought jobs for Nigerians. “If you look at the demographics of Saudi Arabia, to the extent that they are investing abroad, they are not going to be exporting their people. They’re not like some of the other big, populous countries of Asia. “So clearly, where they invest is in jobs for Nigerians. So that’s the simplest way I would put it. Of course, the Olam transaction was a long time in the works. You all know that the Saudi Agricultural Livestock Investment Company has, just around December 23, increased its investment in Olam by a $1.2bn additional investment. Related News Economic hardship: Turn to God, CAN tells Nigerians Farotimi thanks Nigerians, hails public outcry against arrest, detention FG spends N1.4bn on repentant terrorists’ rehab centres “So it is that type of transaction that Mr president has taken the steps of stabilising the Nigerian macroeconomic environment to encourage such and to attract such and of course, that is an example of the success of the strategy followed by Mr President.” He said the delegation was in the Middle East to “follow up on the economic diplomacy, the incisive, robust and exhaustive economic diplomacy that Mr President has carried out around the world.” For his part, the Budget Minister referred to the cordial relationship between the Saudi Crown Prince, Muhammadu Bin Salman and Tinubu as a key factor in the multilateral progress. He said, “I don’t know how you evaluate achievements because once your President is respected in a country, that is an achievement. Some of you were there when Mr. President first visited Saudi Arabia. At the Business Council meeting, the Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia compared our President with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. “I think that is profound because they don’t do those things just for the optics; they are very serious about those equivalents. “In this visit where we met the Minister of Finance, Minister of Economy and Planning, Minister of Energy, as well as other deputy and vice ministers, you can see clearly that the Saudis are seeing in President Tinubu is somebody who is changing his society as they did theirs. So they appreciate our President, who is facing a greater challenge, yet he took on those reforms. For me, that is the number one achievement for our country.” Regarding the 2025 budget, Bagudu said Nigerians should expect a better economy with lower inflation, more employment opportunities, and more business support. “We have turned the bend; we have made the tough choices; we have seen the worst we could see, which is not unexpected. “That is why social protection was improved. So what we are expecting to see in 2025 is a better economy, lower inflation, more employment opportunities, more support for businesses, more infrastructure development, more funding of security and better security, and all those priority areas, including human capital development, education and health. “We’re sure to see more in that direction, and the quality of life will get better,” he explained.
A Baltimore judge has paused the city’s lawsuit against an Anne Arundel County gun shop — a complaint that alleges the store sold thousands of untraceable “ghost guns” miles from city limits — ahead of trial because of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could determine the legal definition of a firearm. Baltimore’s case against Hanover Armory LLC had been scheduled to begin in early December, but Circuit Judge Shannon E. Avery froze it last week pending a ruling in VanDerStok v. Garland . The case before the nation’s highest court is the gun industry’s challenge to one of President Joe Biden’s preeminent gun safety measures. By selling thousands of so-called ghost guns near city limits, Baltimore alleges, Hanover Armory helped flood city streets with untraceable firearms that police went on to confiscate at staggering rates in connection to crimes. “As long as people who are not legally allowed to possess a firearm — young people, known violent offenders and gun traffickers — have the opportunity to build these tools of death and destruction and violence, we will not be able to build the safer future for Baltimore that we all want,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, a Democrat, said when he announced the lawsuit in 2022. “These weapons will continue to be used in crimes that tear loved ones away from their families and traumatize our communities.” The city estimates Hanover Armory was responsible for selling approximately 85% of the ghost gun kits sold in Maryland from about 2016 until June 2022, when the state banned such products. Over that time, Hanover sold 2,347 such products. The 15 other gun stores for which the city got records sold a combined 415 over the same period, according to court records. In 2022, Biden’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which regulates the gun industry, also imposed further restrictions on the sale of ghost gun kits. Its new rule said the build-it-at-home gun kits amounted to firearms under the federal Gun Control Act of 1968, meaning dealers had to complete background checks on customers before selling and manufacturers had to mark the products with serial numbers. David Pucino, legal director and deputy chief counsel at Giffords Law Center, a gun violence prevention organization, said the ATF’s rule sharply reduced sales of ghost gun kits, leading the gun industry to challenge it in courts around the country. The industry won favorable rulings in Texas and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit , which said the ATF overstepped its authority by making the rule. A decision from the Supreme Court could take months. Oral arguments took place in October. “The opinion will say whether that rule can be federal law. The rule says ghost gun parts are firearms,” Pucino, who is not involved in the city’s case, told The Baltimore Sun. Pucino said the Supreme Court’s ruling could have implications for Baltimore’s lawsuit, which brings claims under state and federal law. Pucino said the claims raised under federal law could be nullified if the high court ruled the ATF’s 2022 rule was improper. “Baltimore has a strong claim to win under state law no matter what happens with federal law,” Pucino said. Hanover Armory asked Avery to freeze the case, arguing that a Supreme Court ruling favoring the gun industry could end the case. Lawyers for Hanover also said going to trial against that backdrop would waste resources, potentially rendering a jury’s work “meaningless.” An attorney for Hanover declined to comment Wednesday. The city opposed a delay, saying in a court filing its case was poised for trial, “even if the U.S. Supreme Court went so far as to say ‘ghost gun kits can never be firearms.’” Baltimore’s lawyers wrote that its claims against Hanover included issues of Maryland law. “The City will put forward evidence that Hanover Armory negligently entrusted its parts and kits in a manner that foreseeably contributed to the harm suffered by the City,” the city’s lawyers wrote. “The city will also put forth evidence that Hanover Armory knowingly violated the Maryland Handgun (Roster) Law as an accomplice.” The city also said postponing the trial would exacerbate the crisis and delay a resolution. In addition to damages from the trial, the city is seeking to establish a fund to mitigate gun violence caused by ghost guns. “The City looks forward to having its day in court and remains confident that it will hold Hanover Armory accountable for its contribution to the ghost gun crisis in Baltimore City,” spokesperson Bryan Doherty said on behalf of the city’s law department. Baltimore’s argument against the gun shop mirrors its ongoing case against opioid distributors . In both lawsuits, the city alleges the companies contributed to a public nuisance that deprived residents of their rights to health and safety. To succeed in the gun case, Baltimore’s lawyers must convince a jury that the shop added to a crisis of violence fueled by untraceable firearms. If the city wins at trial, as it did in the opioid case, it advances to an “abatement phase” of the litigation with an even larger pool of money on the table. “The City continues to grapple with the destructive effects of the ghost gun crisis. The Baltimore Police Department still regularly recovers ghost guns from crime scenes,” city attorneys wrote. “Accordingly, one of the City’s primary remedies in this case will be an abatement fund to halt the crisis. Eight more months of waiting will mean eight more months without an adequate remedy for Hanover Armory’s conduct.” Avery’s order said lawyers on both sides of the case had to file a request for a status conference within 10 days of the Supreme Court’s ruling. The postponement comes after the city won the right to present its case to a jury , overcoming an effort from Hanover to end the case without a trial. It also follows the city’s settlement with Polymer80 Inc. , which was said to be the nation’s largest manufacturer of ghost gun kits, for $1.2 million. Have a news tip? Contact Alex Mann at amann@baltsun.com and @alex_mann10 on X.Streetside justice; brutal hit-and-run; victim busts gang lair‘Chilla Zille’: DA’s iron lady shares ‘charming’ Zuma waltz... and ‘kind’ call after THAT tweet
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 5:20 p.m. EST
North Korea's chilling warning to US just weeks before Trump takes officeNew England Patriots Head Coach Jerod Mayo leaves the field following Saturday’s 40-7 loss to the Chargers. Michael Dwyer/Associated Press FOXBORO, Mass. — Eleven and a half months after he was introduced as the head coach of the Patriots, the chief reason to believe in Jerod Mayo remains unchanged. It’s nothing you can see, nor hear, nor point to as proof. It’s an idea, an extension of the imagination. Something abstract. Potential. Or, in the words of the pessimist: pure, unfounded faith. Because most of what we’ve seen and heard from Mayo since he was hired paints an increasingly disturbing reality for the NFL’s once premier franchise. The Patriots are a laughing stock. An embarrassment. A doormat the Chargers, of all franchises, just wiped their feet on before waltzing into the playoffs without having to play their starters through to the end. Meanwhile, these Patriots are penalty prone. Selfish. Unaccountable. And now, most damning of all, they’re quitters. “Just to speak for myself, I’ve seen a lot of stuff out there. It feels like a lot of guys start giving up when things get hard,” defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale told me after Saturday’s 40-7 loss. New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is sacked by Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James Jr. during the second half of Saturday’s game in Foxborough, Mass. Robert F. Bukaty/Associated Press Shaking his head, Ekuale continued: “I feel like towards the end of the fourth quarter, some of the guys just give up, and some guys play to the end of the whistle. I don’t know, man. It’s been a tough year, ups and downs.” Saturday was all downs, an avalanche leading into next weekend’s season finale and an uncertain future beyond that who-cares affair with the Bills. All of the reporting surrounding Mayo’s future has indicated he will return for 2025, provided he avoids a “collapse” or “calamity” down the stretch. Did Saturday’s loss, by far the Patriots’ worst of the season, qualify as either? I don’t know. What I do know is I have seen enough to pass on potential, and pick up the phone for Mike Vrabel. If Vrabel is, indeed, interested in returning to New England, the Krafts ought to bring him home. Say what you will about Vrabel’s Titans — a hard-nosed, boring bunch often hamstrung by bad quarterbacks — they never quit. They didn’t break fundamentally. Instead, they knocked out the dynasty-era Pats in January 2020, Tom Brady’s last game as a Patriot, and made the AFC championship game that same year. Two seasons after that, they clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and Vrabel was named Coach of the Year. During his Tennessee tenure, Vrabel was widely regarded as a top-10 NFL coach and compiled a winning record. Mike Vrabel was a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots as a player and he now has eight years of coaching experience. Wade Payne/Associated Press Whatever Mayo might become, he’s light-years away from that, and eight seasons behind Vrabel in coaching experience. All of the years Vrabel has spent outside New England since being traded as a player in 2009 have served him in a way Mayo can never know until he leaves himself; building a network, learning other systems, coaching techniques and philosophies. Vrabel is not a Patriot anymore, and that fact, along with his track record of hiring strong offensive coordinators, makes him the perfect candidate for what Mayo was hired to do in the first place: reboot and modernize the franchise. Because under Mayo, the Patriots coaches are stuck on a hamster wheel of failure; unable to complete the four basic tasks of their profession: motivate, organize, teach and develop. This staff is not reaching its best players. “I’ve never been in this position; as disconnected or not on the same page as I am right now,” Pats defensive lineman Keion White told me. “Like, I know I can play good football. I have the ability to. I’m just not right now, and (I’m) trying to figure it out what it is.” This staff has not developed anyone outside of Drake Maye. Fellow rookie Javon Baker still has fewer career catches than Vederian Lowe, the team’s left tackle, and Ja’Lynn Polk’s caught two passes since Halloween. This staff can’t force opponents to “play left-handed.” The pick that should have been Polk, Ladd McConkey, the Chargers’ leading receiver by more than 400 receiving yards, scored two touchdowns Saturday. Two! And the staff is not inspiring players in a way that suggests the Patriots will be able to next season. “Just need to compete better, fight a little more,” Pats receiver Kendrick Bourne admitted. “Just embarrassing.” Never mind Mayo’s ongoing parade of media mistakes, which continued Saturday when Rhamondre Stevenson started the game after he told the national television and local radio broadcasts the butterfingered Stevenson would sit. Or that veteran players continue to reflect Mayo’s don’t-mind-the-defense attitude after a 33-point beatdown when they allowed 150 rushing yards. “I thought we were playing good run D — just particularly talking about defense — I thought we were playing good run defense,” Pats nose tackle Davon Godchaux said. “You know, I think (Jim) Harbaugh made a statement and said they were going to come in and play bully ball. Particularly when you say that, they typically want to run the ball, stop the run, play your special teams. I thought for the most part, we played good run defense.” Man. Seriously? What matters is the Patriots have one game left against the Bills, who are likely to rest their starters ahead of the playoffs. Several Pats players happily noted Buffalo’s expected lineup decision Saturday’s post-game locker room, perhaps the saddest possible commentary on the state of the franchise. That the Patriots, six-time Super Bowl champions, might win because of whom the Bills choose to sit, not because of who they are as a team. If ownership opts to fire Mayo’s coordinators the following week, the Krafts will face an impossible task of hiring quality coaches willing to work a second-year headman on the hot seat with minimal experience. If they run it back with Mayo, Alex Van Pelt and DeMarcus Covington, ownership will send a message that losing like this can be tolerated; that they again are betting on potential, while the on-field results and locker-room commentary scream otherwise. The thing is, I’m done with potential. The sure thing is out there. His name is Mike Vrabel, and if he’s willing and able to return, that’s all the Krafts need to know. We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use . More information is found on our FAQs . You can modify your screen name here . Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve. Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe . Questions? Please see our FAQs . Your commenting screen name has been updated. 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Since November 2023, Houthi forces in Yemen have conducted over against commercial ships and warships, creating an unprecedented challenge for the maritime industry. This escalation has not only disrupted vital trade routes but also sent ripples through the global economy, affecting everything from shipping costs to consumer prices. Transit through the Suez Canal, a critical chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, has plummeted by over compared to the previous year. This has caused the canal’s revenue to decrease by , painting a stark picture of the crisis’s impact on global commerce. The economic ramifications are equally severe. As ships are forced to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, journey distances are increased, transit times are lengthened, and fuel consumption is boosted. Specifically, this detour adds approximately to shipping journeys, resulting in longer transit times and additional lead times of up to for shipments between Asia and Europe. While military intervention has been the go-to response for such crises, it’s time we considered a more sustainable, market-driven approach to maritime security. The private sector, with its capacity for innovation and efficiency, could offer solutions that are both more effective and economically viable in the long term. These entities have already proven their worth in combating piracy, having been employed by shipping companies. By creating a competitive market for maritime security services, we could drive innovation in threat detection and deterrence while potentially reducing costs through market efficiencies. Insurance companies could play a pivotal role in this market-driven approach. By offering reduced premiums to vessels that implement enhanced security measures, they could create a financial incentive for ships to invest in their own protection. This approach aligns security interests with economic ones, hopefully leading to a more widespread adoption of security measures. The maritime security market, valued at in 2023, is projected to grow to by 2032. This growth potential could attract significant investment in developing advanced technologies for threat detection and response. The collaboration between BlackSky Technology and Spire Global to create a real-time marine tracking service capable of monitoring over worldwide is a perfect example of the potential for the private sector to find innovative solutions in maritime security. Some critics have argued that a private sector solution to the Red Sea Crisis might lead to a fragmented approach to maritime security. However, this concern can be addressed through proper regulation and international cooperation. This approach is not about completely privatizing maritime security, but rather about using the strengths of both public and private sectors. Government oversight and international cooperation remain crucial, but it needs to be complemented by policies that encourage and facilitate private sector involvement in maritime security. The fallout surrounding the Red Sea crisis has shown that a secure maritime domain is essential for global prosperity, and by harnessing the power of the market, we can work towards achieving this goal. It’s time for policymakers and industry leaders to come together and chart a new course for maritime security which embraces the private sector while maintaining the necessary oversight and coordination of governmental bodies. By SchiffGold.com, via Zerohedge.com
NEW YORK -- Major League Baseball switched a pair of series involving the Tampa Bay Rays to the first two months of the season in an attempt to avoid summer weather problems at open-air Steinbrenner Field, their temporary home following damage to Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay is scheduled to play 13 of its first 16 games at home and 47 of 59 through May 28, then play 69 of its last 103 games on the road. The Rays are home for eight of 25 games in July and eight of 26 in August. Editor's Picks Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees' spring field 11d Jeff Passan City OKs, then reverses $23M to fix Rays' stadium 3d A series scheduled at the Los Angeles Angels from April 7-9 will instead be played at Tampa, Florida, from April 8-10, MLB said Monday. The second series between the teams will be played at Anaheim, California, from Aug. 4-6 instead of at St. Petersburg, Florida, from Aug. 5-7. Minnesota 's first series against the Rays will be played at Steinbrenner Field from May 26-28 and the Twins' second will be at Target Field in Minneapolis from July 4-6. The Class A Tampa Tarpons, Steinbrenner Field's usual team, had six home postponements, two cancellations and four suspended games this year from June 21 through their season finale on Sept. 8. Tampa Bay is now scheduled to play its first six games at home against Colorado and Pittsburgh , go to Texas for a three-game series, then return for a 13-game homestand against the Angels, Atlanta , Boston and the New York Yankees . Tropicana Field, the Rays' home since the team started play in 1998, was heavily damaged by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, with most of its fabric roof shredded. The Rays cannot return to the Trop until 2026 at the earliest, if at all.
As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, you’re likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses. But don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card — at least not worth hundreds or thousands. But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them. The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used “fraudulent” ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge. In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited “credible allegations of misconduct” in the agency’s decision to suspend the abilities of two companies — TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign — to transact information with the marketplace. CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace. The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status. An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12: — TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach. — Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capital’s insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant. — Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace. — Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers — or “leads” — to the health insurance agencies. — Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minerva’s “fraudulent” ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company. — Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva. — Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies. — Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverage’s ACA enrollment efforts. All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints. The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants. Three of the law firms — one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund — did not respond to the requests. A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, “Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.” Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement: “TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit. “Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.” Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform. The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers’ personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers’ rules. The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that “they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.” The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and “stealing” commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts. TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates “engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents’ commissions,” the suit states. “Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes.” They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers’ agents of record “without telling the client or providing informed consent.” “In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents ... who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up,” the lawsuit asserts. TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents “do not respond.” The lawsuit states the “scheme” was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January. Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time. The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised “hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.” Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency. There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. “Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance.” By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers. Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, “be vague” and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges. In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuit’s accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act. Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesn’t expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months. The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as “downlines,” most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads. A former employee who worked in the company’s Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives “knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.” A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained “that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers,” the lawsuit said. Over two dozen agents “came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them,” the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying. For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says. This resulted in customers’ original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states. It says that one of the co-plaintiffs’ health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states. Another co-plaintiff’s policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couple’s insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wife’s income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans. CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace. It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies. In addition, CMS restricted all agents’ abilities to alter policyholders’ enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee. Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace “for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches,” according to an October CMS news release . The changes resulted in a “dramatic and sustained drop” in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said. It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided “significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.” But CMS’ restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers. A story published by Insurance News Net on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out. The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, “maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or they’re writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.” Nolan continued, “We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They can’t update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has confirmed the government will pull a controversial Bill attempting to combat misinformation and disinformation after the Opposition and the Greens vowed to oppose it. The Bill, which aimed to combat seriously harmful content on digital platforms will be scrapped in the Senate after the government realised there was “no pathway to legislate this proposal through the Senate”. The proposed legislation was also opposed by a wide-ranging group of community groups, free speech organisations and religious groups over concerns it would harm free speech, with stakeholders questioning how the definition of truth would be enforced. Despite the setback, Ms Rowland said there needed to be “safeguards” to protect Australians from misinformation and disinformation, and urged MPs and senators to work with Labor on alternative concessions. “Mis-and disinformation is an evolving threat and no single action is a perfect solution, but we must continue to improve safeguards to ensure digital platforms offer better protections for Australians,” she said. She listed alternative proposals like legislation to strengthen offences targeting the sharing of non-consensual and sexually explicit deep fakes, a proposal to enforce truth in political advertising for elections, and stronger regulations around artificial intelligence. Greens’ communications spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said that while the intent behind the Bill was “well-meaning,” the proposed laws were “badly and poorly explained and implemented”. She’s called for stronger regulation, which would target “dangerous algorithms” and heavy financial penalties for social media companies. “We’ve got to get back to the real problem, and that is how these companies profit off these dangerous posts. If you want to stop the dangerous posts spreading like wildfire, hit them where it hurts, and that’s the dollar,” she told the ABC. Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash said the Bill was an attempt to “censor free speech”. “This Bill is not about misinformation and disinformation... This Bill is about the Albanese government giving bureaucrats the ability to say whether what you and I say is misinformation or disinformation,” she told Sky.Retail and Institutional Interest in Litecoin (LTC) is Surging as Project Touts Utility and Newfound Memecoin StatusKelly Ripa Eviscerates Online Critics Live On-Air
As the Year of the Snake rolls in, the celestial shift promises a wave of fresh energy and opportunities. ET Year-end Special Reads Take That: The gamechanger weapon's India acquired in 2024 10 big-bang policy moves Modi government made in 2024 How governments tried to rein in the social media beast The 2025 Year of the Snake, beginning on January 29 and ending on February 16, 2026, brings with it the wisdom, agility, and strategic foresight associated with this ancient symbol in Chinese culture. While each zodiac sign will feel the effects of the Snake’s influence differently, some signs are set to experience a particularly auspicious year ahead. Let’s take a closer look at the luckiest Chinese zodiac signs for 2025, and how the stars will align for them in terms of career, wealth, and love, as mentioned in a report by Lifestyle Asia. Rat: A Year of Leadership and Growth Those born under the sign of the Rat can breathe a sigh of relief in 2025. After turbulent years, this year signals a period of career advancements and personal growth. 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View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Rats will have a chance to shine, particularly at work, where their unique insights and ideas will lead to success. The early part of the year will be an ideal time for Rats to foster stronger personal relationships, including romantic ones. However, Rats should keep their pride in check, as arrogance could lead to unexpected setbacks. It’s also essential to focus on maintaining good health by balancing work with self-care practices like yoga and meditation. Ox: Stability and Success in Love and Career The Ox is set for a stable and prosperous year in 2025. This period marks a fantastic opportunity for Oxen to consider a career change, as their social and professional standing will rise. A boost in income and unexpected romantic attention are also on the horizon. However, Oxen must be cautious in love, ensuring clear communication in their relationships to avoid misunderstandings. As career success flourishes, they should guard against the emotional toll of relationship woes, which could affect their overall well-being. Rabbit: Hard Work Pays Off Rabbits are among the luckiest signs in 2025, as their perseverance and hard work will finally pay off. Their career will stabilize, and financial security is within reach, especially with prudent spending. Romance will also be favorable, but Rabbits must be cautious when choosing partners, as their gentle nature could make them vulnerable to heartbreak. The year is also a good time to explore new ventures like real estate or furthering their skills for future career growth. Despite this prosperity, health remains an area to focus on, requiring attention to regular exercise and a balanced lifestyle. Snake: A Year of Prosperity As the Year of the Snake, this period is particularly beneficial for those born under this sign. The Snake’s natural intelligence and charm will be amplified in 2025, ensuring a prosperous year in terms of career, business ventures, and personal growth. Snakes will attract positive attention and could see a rise in their professional success. However, it’s crucial for Snakes to avoid overindulgence, particularly in romantic matters, to keep their relationships balanced. By focusing on their health and maintaining calm, Snakes will thrive throughout the year. Monkey: Financial Success and Networking The Monkey, known for its adaptability and quick thinking, will experience a year of stable finances and career growth. 2025 promises to be a year of networking and making breakthroughs. The Monkey’s clever decision-making will ensure they handle challenges effectively and tap into new opportunities. Financial stability is assured, and there’s a chance of unexpected wealth. In love, however, Monkeys should ensure clear communication to avoid distractions and misunderstandings. Proactive care for their health will also be key to navigating the year successfully. Rooster: Hard Work Leads to Reward Roosters can look forward to a year filled with professional rewards and personal growth. Their diligence and perseverance will lead to career advancements, earning them respect and recognition. Roosters may also experience a financial windfall, either through their salary or investments. However, they must be cautious with their spending habits to avoid unnecessary financial strain. In relationships, Roosters should address challenges head-on and focus on nurturing their home environment to create peace and harmony. FAQs What is the Chinese Zodiac? The Chinese Zodiac is a 12-year cycle in which each year is associated with one of 12 animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal represents specific personality traits and influences the year. How is the Chinese Zodiac different from the Western Zodiac? Unlike the Western Zodiac, which is based on months and the position of celestial bodies, the Chinese Zodiac follows the lunar calendar, assigning an animal to each year in a repeating 12-year cycle. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel )Here’s what to know about the new funding deal that countries agreed to at UN climate talks
Sophia Romine’s wonderful goal from nearly 30 yards out propelled the Gophers women’s soccer team into the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament on Friday. Down 1-0 at halftime, sixth-seeded Minnesota staked a two-goal comeback to beat third-seeded South Carolina 2-1 in a second-round match in Chapel Hill, N.C. Minnesota (14-4-3) will play either No. 2 North Carolina or Santa Clara at 4 p.m. Sunday. Head coach Erin Chastain has brought the Gophers back to the third round of the national tourney for the first time since coach Mikki Denney Wright did it in 2010. The U’s comeback Friday included a penalty kick goal from captain Sophia Boman in the 57th minute. The PK was earned by a foul on leading scorer Khyah Harper in the box. Boman’s confident PK rippled the back of the net to make it 1-1. Romine, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, has started every game for Minnesota this season. It was her fifth goal of the season. Related Articles