December 14, 2024 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlightedthe following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread by Columbia University Since 2006, Ruben Gonzalez's Columbia lab has used single-molecule light microscopy to study the structural dynamics of biomolecules. In lay person's terms, that means: they use hyper-powerful microscopes that generate movies of what individual molecules look like as they perform the actions that make our bodies tick. Gonzalez is a professor of biophysical chemistry in Columbia's Faculty of Arts and Sciences and at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and will become Dean of Science in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences in January. In a new paper out this month in the journal Nature , he and his lab describe a major new finding about how the eIF4F protein interacts with messenger RNAs. Columbia News spoke with Gonzalez about his research, and how his latest finding could affect drug treatments for diseases like cancer. Can you explain your lab's work broadly? My lab is interested in trying to understand how the motions of biomolecules—molecules produced by the body—contribute to their functions. We record movies to give us a data-informed sense of what those motions look like. That allows us to understand how the biology really functions, which in turn can help us and other scientists think about how we might control that biology by manipulating such motions, providing a new paradigm for developing therapies to tackle diseases like cancer. There are many cases where drugs act by impairing a biomolecular motion, so understanding that motion is crucial. The dream is to be able to record these movies at atomic scales and in real-time. But we're not there yet. What led you to record these movies? For a long time, static images of biomolecules at atomic scales exhibited blurry regions, which led scientists to the conclusion that parts of the biomolecule were moving, and that such motions might be important to biology. It sort of captured my imagination. What are the moving parts, and where are they moving? What is the timing of these motions, and why is all of this important? Those kinds of questions have really been the driving feature of all we do in the lab. We do a lot of technology development in my lab. We build these microscopes, we optimize them, we continuously push the technology. We also have a whole group that develops computational algorithms and software for the analysis of the data that comes from these. What does the new paper in Nature show? To make proteins, which are the building blocks of everything in our cells and in our bodies, cells need to prepare messenger RNAs (mRNAs), the molecules that carry the building instructions. They do that with the help of a protein called eukaryotic initiation factor 4F, or eIF4F, that must converge at a certain location at one end of the mRNA, which we call the mRNA "cap." Using our movie technology and led by graduate students Riley Gentry and Nicholas Ide, we discovered—quite unexpectedly—that eIF4F doesn't just directly assemble at the cap as everyone had always assumed. Instead, it 'hops' along the mRNA trying to identify the cap. One reason this is important is that drugs, such as anticancer drugs , that aim to disrupt this process in order to stop dangerous cells like cancer cells from proliferating currently target the direct assembly of eIF4F at the cap. Our finding provides a deeper understanding of how eIF4F actually finds its way to the cap on the mRNA, which will help us develop more targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matter— daily or weekly . What makes the finding significant? There are a number of things that make this a significant finding. It's really redefining something fundamental about this critical biological function, in a way that will rewrite what's in textbooks. It also answers some big, decades-old questions that we and others have had, which is that we've known for decades that different regions and properties of the mRNA that are far away from the cap can influence the ability of eIF4F to converge at the cap, but no one has ever been able to figure out how that could be, and our findings help explain this. Another reason is that if you can develop drugs that influence the search that eIF4F does along the mRNA, it could have big implications. It could help us more precisely target particular mRNAs, manipulating the production of the specific proteins at the heart of the disease. That could mean that future cancer drugs would use something more like a scalpel than a sledgehammer to stop molecular motions that have gone awry, rather than halting a whole bunch of processes that include the dangerous ones you want to stop but also good ones you would want to leave unimpaired. More information: Riley C. Gentry et al, The mechanism of mRNA cap recognition, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08304-0 Journal information: Nature Provided by Columbia UniversityUS agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer saysTHE HAGUE >> The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants today for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.” Judges said there were also reasonable grounds to believe the blockade on Gaza and lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies “created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which resulted in the death of civilians, including children, due to malnutrition and dehydration.” The decision was met with outrage in Israel, which called it shameful and absurd. Gaza residents expressed hope it would help end the violence and bring those responsible for war crimes to justice. Hamas welcomed the warrants against the Israelis, and a senior official told Reuters it was a first step towards justice. The warrant for Masri lists charges of mass killings during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and also charges of rape and the taking of hostages. Israel has said it killed Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in July but Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this. The prosecution indicated it would continue to gather information with respect to his reported death. Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza. The United States, Israel’s main diplomatic supporter, is also not a member of the ICC. It said it “fundamentally rejects” the move. “We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” a White House National Security Council spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. is discussing next steps with its partners. Global powers Russia, China and India have also not signed onto the ICC, the world’s permanent war crimes court, which is backed by all of the European Union, Australia, Canada, Britain, Brazil, Japan and dozens of African and Latin American countries. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan had announced on May 20 that he was seeking arrest warrants for alleged crimes connected to the Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the Israeli military response in Gaza. Israeli and Hamas leaders have dismissed allegations that they committed war crimes. The court does not have its own police force to carry out arrests and relies on its 124 member states for that, with only limited diplomatic means to force them if they do not want to. Khan called on signatories of the court’s founding treaty “to live up to their commitment to the Rome Statute by respecting and complying with these judicial orders.” In a statement he said “we count on their cooperation in this situation, as with all other situations... We also welcome collaboration with non-states parties in working towards accountability and upholding international law.” GLOBAL REACTION “Netanyahu and Gallant now are war criminals and sooner or later some country will bring them to justice, no matter how long it takes,” said Shaban Abed, 47, a technical engineer and a resident of Gaza City, now displaced in the Khan Younis area. He said the court’s move was “late, but never too late.” Rabeeha, a mother of five and a resident of Gaza City who only gave her first name, said she hoped it would help bring an end to the war. “I hope we can soon see Netanyahu and the criminal Gallant in jail,” she said. “Now they can’t travel, now they are being hunted.” Netanyahu’s office said the ICC decision was “antisemitic” and he will “not yield to pressure, will not be deterred” until Israel’s war objectives are met. The ICC has “lost all legitimacy” after issuing the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said. “A dark moment for the International Criminal Court,” Saar said on X, adding that it had issued “absurd orders without authority.” There was no immediate comment from Gallant. In a statement, Hamas welcomed the warrants against Gallant and Netanyahu and urged the court to expand accountability to all Israeli leaders. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters the warrants against the Israelis were an important step towards bringing justice for the victims and that all countries should back them. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the decision was not political but made by a court and thus should be respected and implemented. “The tragedy in Gaza has to stop,” he said. Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi also said the ICC’s decision must be implemented, adding that Palestinians deserved justice after what he termed Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza. The Netherlands’ foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp said his country acts on arrest warrants for people on its territory and will not engage in “non-essential” contacts. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, said: “The court is a dangerous joke. It is now time for the U.S. Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body.” Israel’s 13-month campaign in Gaza has killed about 44,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly all the enclave’s population while creating a humanitarian crisis, Gaza officials say. It launched the campaign in response to the October 2023, Hamas-led attack which killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, with more than 250 others taken hostage, Israel has said. Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague, Nidal Al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Nadine Awadalla in Dubai, Toby Sterling, Charlotte Van Campenhout and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Ingrid Melander and Anthony Deutsch.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna on Tuesday commissioned 12 roads within Kaduna metropolis. The projects were commissioned ten months after the groundbreaking in February. Speaking at the event, the governor noted that the completed roads will enhance connectivity and accessibility for residents, farmers, business owners, and other road users in Kaduna and its environs. Mr Sani further said that the new roads, “will reduce travel time, enhance security, boost trade and commerce, and foster social interaction among our citizens.” He added that the, “well-constructed roads are the backbone of economic activity, enhancing transportation, connecting people and businesses, and connecting farmers and citizens to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities.” According to him, the commissioning “symbolises the progress we are making together as a community and reflects our collective aspirations for a better tomorrow.” He, therefore, urged all stakeholders, including community leaders, local government officials, and citizens, to take ownership of the roads. “Let us work together to ensure they are well-maintained and utilised to their fullest potential. These roads are not just for transportation; they are conduits for economic growth, social interaction, and community development,” he added. The commissioned roads are Garba Ja Abdulkadir Road, Bissau Road, Unguwan Muazu township Roads, including Water Intake Road, off Yakowa Road. Other are the Yakubu Gowon Residential Layout Roads, the Kawo Layout Roads, off ‘Yan Awaki Road, the State House Roads Network, and the Stadium Roundabout to Command Junction Road. The others are the residential layout off Gobarau Road; the residential layout off Kinshasha Road, Sultan-Surame road and Ohinoyi Road. Mr Sani also promised that in the second quarter of 2025, his administration will commission 12 more roads, including the 5.525 km asphaltic road from Airport Road to Tudun Biri Community, Kaduna State. He recalled that, “Our administration has performed the groundbreaking for the construction of 70 roads totalling 770 kilometres across the three senatorial districts of Kaduna State. “While a number of these projects have already been successfully completed, the remaining ones are progressing steadily towards completion,” he added.Stock market today: Wall Street rallies ahead of ChristmasInside the life of trans scientist named one of BBC's most influential women: Her wife still calls her Luis, she talks about palm trees being 'transsexual' and has two daughters who call her 'Dad'
New Delhi Amid concerns flagged by the Congress, the Election Commission on Tuesday said there were no arbitrary additions or deletions of voters in Maharashtra where assembly polls were held recently. The poll body focussed on two primary concerns raised by the Congress – arbitrary deletion of voters and subsequent additions in the electoral rolls of Maharashtra, and changes in voter turnout data figures on the day of polling between 5pm and 11.30pm. After meeting the ECI on December 3, senior Congress leader Manu Abhishek Singhvi had claimed that in 118 constituencies in the state, of which the BJP won 102, each constituency saw voter turnout increase by about 25,000 persons per constituency, compared to the general elections between the general and the state elections. In its November 29 letter to the ECI, the party had claimed that in the 50 assembly constituencies that saw an average increase of 50,000 electors, the BJP won 47 of them. The ECI claimed that this was a “baseless accusation” that “creates unnecessary and avoidable doubts and anxiety in the mind of the public”. On discrepancy in voter turnout between 5 pm and 11:30 pm, the ECI said, “At the time of counting, data entered in Form 17C is tallied with data in EVM in presence of the counting agents and therefore allegation of gap between voting percentage data released 5:00 PM on poll day and final polling percentage data is superfluous.” “Commission trusts that INC should not have any clarification missing after these elaborations. Commission is committed to a respectful collaborative relation with all political parties, so critical for a healthy democracy and welcomes suggestions for any improvement in the electoral process,” the response signed by ECI secretary SK Das said. It said that there were only six assembly constituencies, not 50 as claimed by Congress, where more than 50,000 electors were added. Copies of the draft rolls, and claim and objections were provided to Congress in all constituencies, the ECI said. “INC representatives indeed participated in revision of electoral rolls at various stages till the finalisation of electoral rolls,” the ECI said. It said that in the five month-period between the general and state elections, there was an addition of 4,881,610 electors and deletion of 800,391 (average of 2,779 electors per assembly constituency), resulting in a net addition of 4,081,228 electors in the state. This is because, in December 2021 (brought into force in August 2022), the Representation of People Act, 1951, was amended to increase the number of qualifying dates for registration in electoral rolls from only January 1 to April 1, July 1 and October 1. As July 1 and October 1 fell in the five-month period, people who turned 18 years olf also became eligible to registered for the state elections and were enrolled. Of the 4,081,228 net additions, 872,094 (21.4%) were between the ages of 18 and 19, while 1,774,514 (43.5%) were between the ages of 20-29, accounting for 64.8% net additions. The ECI said that returning officers and the district election officers, under the supervision of the ECI, prepare the electoral rolls which are revised annually. The final roll is published around January 5 each year and is then continuously updated until October. The draft roll is published until October. After this publication, both the public and political parties can file claims and objections. In addition, ahead of all state assembly elections, the ECI carries out Special Summary Revision (SSR) of the rolls which involves house to house survey, physical field verification by the booth level officers, random checking by higher-ups, and regular meetings with political parties. Political parties appoint booth level agents to oversee the process. The ECI said that monthly lists of additions, deletions and modifications to the rolls are published on the website, and the draft and final rolls are available on the CEO/DEO’s websites. Free copies of part-wise draft and final rolls are provided to all recognized political parties while general public can get a copy by paying a “nominal fee”. The ECI said that two copies of the electoral rolls, one hard copy with images of the electors and one soft copy without the images, is made available at ERO level. “These instructions are uniformly followed in the entire country,” the ECI said. The ECI also said that the list of all claims and objections is shared with recognized political parties on a weekly basis. Congress had claimed that voters were arbitrarily deleted from the rolls in the five-month period between the general elections and the Maharashtra assembly polls. The party had asked for the raw data and the forms involved. The ECI outlined the standard operating procedure around deletion from the rolls. It said that deletions due to registered death require proper verification, including submission of a death certificate. For unregistered deaths and change in address, the necessary forms (Form 7 and Form 8, respectively) must be received. For each deletion, the BLO must submit a field verification identity. For all proposed deletions, except registered deaths, the ECI said that a notice is issued and the concerned elector is given “reasonable opportunity” to be heard. If more than 2% of all electors are proposed to be deleted from one polling station, the electoral registration officer must personally “cross verify” each case of deletion. The ERO must also personally cross verify deletions is the same person objects to the deletion in more than five cases. On discrepancy in voter turnout, the ECI said, “[T]he Commission has decided to not only inform you once again, but also educate citizens at large about the concept of statutory sharing of VTR with candidates contesting the elections in Form 17C, and the very different concept of non-statutory framework of sharing VTR on VTR APP designed for the general public and underline the difference between the two,” the ECI wrote. During the general elections, the changes in voter turnout had been a major sticking point, resulting in a scathing letter from the ECI to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The ECI said that “voter turnout” is not a legally defined concept nor is its publication legally required at any level. It reiterated that Form 17C (part I), is the “immutable co-shared record”, with details of the number of votes recorded, that is shared with the polling agents of the candidates at the end of the poll after it is filled out by the presiding officer of the polling station. The data given in the voter turnout app is a “facilitative measure” by the ECI which is not a statutory requirement. It is collected by sector magistrates every two hours starting at 9 am through various media including phone, in person visits to the booth, messaging group, etc. “It is possible that sector magistrates may not get accurate upgraded trends from some PSs in some cycles of data collection,” the ECI wrote. These trends are not a substitute for the data in Form 17C, it said. “Considering 5:00 PM data as the final voter turnout or as its closest approximation is merely a misconception,” the ECI said and called it “interim data of approximate voter turnout”. Polling can continue even after 6 pm, the ECI said. After polling ends, the presiding officer has to perform “multiple statutory, non-statutory and administrative functions”, the poll body said. Form 17C Part I (with data from the EVM about the number of votes registered on the machines, votes polled during mock poll, number of votes cast, etc.), is given to the candidates or their agents at the end of the poll, on the polling day itself, the ECI said. On the polling day, the returning officer must collect and securely store EVMs in strongrooms. “Updation of the poll turnout data on the VTR APP coming around the same time, is only a next priority,” the ECI said. “The voting data provided at 11:45 PM on the day of poll can also not be considered as final voter turnout, as it is also not possible to provide the final voter turnout data before scrutiny of Election Papers, which is held on the next day of poll in the presence of the candidates and observers. Also, some polling parties may not have been able to return/submit their documents by that time,” The ECI said that the scrutiny of Form 17A (list of people who voted at booth level) is done a day after polling. In certain cases, some polling parties return on P+2 or P+3 days day to difficulties in “geography, security concerns and weather conditions”.US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says
YouTubers KSI, IShowSpeed, Ronaldinho, and Lineker kick off global expansion of Baller League in UK and US
DETROIT (AP) — For most of a century, the Detroit Lions making the playoffs was a banner day. Suddenly, it has become old hat. After winning their last NFL championship in 1957 , the Lions only played 13 playoff games in the next 75 seasons. They only won one of them — a 38-6 rout of the Dallas Cowboys in 1991. That all changed last season. The Lions beat the Rams 24-23 on Jan. 14 and then defeated Tampa Bay 31-23 a week later. They led the NFC championship game 24-7 at halftime, but the San Francisco 49ers rallied to win 34-31. This year, things have been even better. A week after a Thanksgiving win over the Chicago Bears, the Lions beat Green Bay 34-31 to move to 12-1 and clinch a second straight postseason berth — the first time they've done that since going three years in a row from 1993-95. Coach Dan Campbell didn't even notice his team had secured a playoff spot after beating the Packers. “I just found that out — I didn't even realize,” he said after the game. “It's good. It's good, but it's like, man, we've got four (games) left and we want to get in a different way. We want to go in on our terms and find a way to get this one seed. That's the priority.” Campbell was so oblivious to locking up a spot that he didn't even mention it to the team after the game — although they might have seen “Playoffs Clinched” plastered all over the scoreboards. “I wish I had told the team, but I had no idea,” he said. “Honestly, I think they know. They feel like I feel. We can do the old golf clap, but we know what we want to do.” Jared Goff, who followed Campbell into the interview room, agreed with his coach. “I just heard that,” he said. “It's pretty cool, but it is certainly not what our ultimate goal is. We want to win this division, and we've still got some work to do.” At 12-1 and on an 11-game winning streak, it is hard to find something that isn't working. The Lions offense, though, has been remarkable. They have scored at least 23 points in 10 straight games, including six games over 30, four over 40 and two over 50. They are leading the league in scoring at 32.1 points per game and are fourth in both passing touchdowns (27) and rushing touchdowns (22). The Lions are second in the league in scoring defense (18.0 ppg), but injuries are starting to catch up to them. Jordan Love averaged 10.3 yards per attempt and 17.2 yards per completion on Thursday — both season-worsts for Detroit's defense — and the Packers were the first team this season to score 30 points against them. Seven Lions defenders registered a quarterback hit on Thursday night. Linebacker Jack Campbell was a first-round pick in 2023 and has been a fixture on the Detroit defense, but the other six — Al-Quadin Muhammad, Myles Adams, Trevor Nowaske, Za'Darius Smith, Ezekiel Turner and Jonah Williams — have joined the team during the regular season to replace injured players. Rookie CB Terrion Arnold had a rough day, including yet another pass-interference penalty in the end zone, this one wiping out a Lions interception. He hasn't recorded an interception in his 12-game career and is averaging 0.6 passes defended per game. The Lions were missing 11 defensive linemen and linebackers against the Packers, then lost key defensive tackle Alim McNeill to a head injury. Most of those players are on injured reserve, but it isn't clear if McNeill, Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring), Josh Paschal (knee) or D.J. Reader (shoulder) will be available to face Buffalo on Dec. 15. 18 — the number of Lions on injured reserve, more than any other team in the NFL. If anything can derail them between now and the Super Bowl, it is going to be running out of healthy players in places other than the defensive front seven. Get as much rest and healing as possible with a long week ahead. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflNone
Trent Williams to miss another game, Nick Bosa listed as doubtfulAR Rahman calls for better investment in talent, entertainment infrastructureBETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 6, 2024-- Enviva, LLC (“Enviva” or the “Company”), a leading producer of industrial wood pellets, today announced its successful emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, marking a significant milestone in the Company’s strategic transformation. Enviva is well-positioned for long-term growth and consistent operating performance, allowing the Company to serve its customers as a market leader and critical partner in meeting their demand for renewable fuel. Enviva’s Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan”) was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, with overwhelming support from the Company's key stakeholders and business partners. As part of its financial restructuring, Enviva has equitized more than $1 billion of indebtedness and American Industrial Partners Capital Fund VIII (“AIP”) has become the largest shareholder of the Company. To support ongoing operations and future growth initiatives, Enviva is capitalized at emergence with an attractive exit loan facility, as well as access to further capital through a delayed draw term loan. As part of the Plan, stakeholders provided $250 million of new money financing through an Equity Rights Offering to help fund the recapitalization of the Company. As a result of this, the Company’s liquidity and financial profile is very strong and the Company has no near-term debt maturities. The secured funding also fully finances completion of the Company’s 11 th production plant, under construction in Epes, Alabama, which is anticipated to produce its first pellets in May 2025. Once fully ramped, the Company expects the new plant to produce ~1 million metric tons of wood pellets per year, providing a significant opportunity to sell into new and existing markets. Also on emergence, Glenn Nunziata, who most recently served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, and James Geraghty, who formerly served as Executive Vice President of Finance, has been named Chief Financial Officer. “Emergence is a critical milestone and exciting step forward in positioning Enviva for a successful future,” said Glenn Nunziata, Enviva’s Chief Executive Officer. “On behalf of Enviva, I want to express our gratitude to all our stakeholders, especially our customers and associates, for their continued business and support. With a substantially reduced debt burden and dramatically improved liquidity profile, we are well-positioned to serve our customers reliably as a leading producer of industrial wood pellets and to rebuild trust and confidence in the communities in which we operate and markets in which we sell our product.” In connection with emergence, Enviva will operate as a private company with a new Board of Managers (“Board”) comprising representatives from key shareholders, including AIP, Keyframe Capital Partners, L.P., and Ares Management funds, who bring valuable financial, operational, and end-market experience to support Enviva’s operations and future growth. Jan Trnka-Amrhein, member of Enviva’s Board and Partner at AIP, added, "Enviva’s best-in-class portfolio of production assets and robust logistics capabilities allows for the Company to be the go-to partner for woody biomass renewable energy solutions. We see an immense opportunity for growth and expansion in the markets in which Enviva operates, and we’re confident that Enviva is well equipped to reliably meet its customers’ growing demand for biomass products.” Enviva extends its gratitude to its employees, customers, suppliers, and other partners for their support throughout the restructuring process. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Kutak Rock LLP served as legal counsel, Lazard served as investment banker, and Alvarez & Marsal North America, LLC served as restructuring advisor to Enviva. The Ad Hoc Group of Creditors was represented by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and McGuireWoods LLP as legal counsel and Evercore Group LLC as investment banker. About Enviva Enviva, LLC is a leading producer of industrial wood pellets, a renewable energy source produced by aggregating a natural resource, wood fiber, and processing it into a transportable form, wood pellets. Enviva owns and operates ten plants in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi, and is constructing its 11th plant in Epes, Alabama. Enviva sells most of its wood pellets through long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts with customers located primarily in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Japan, helping to accelerate the energy transition away from conventional energy sources in hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, lime, chemicals, and aviation. Enviva exports its wood pellets to global markets through its deep-water marine terminals at the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia, the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina, and the Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi, and from third-party deep-water marine terminals in Savannah, Georgia, Mobile, Alabama, and Panama City, Florida. Learn more at www.envivabiomass.com and follow us on social media @Enviva. View source version on businesswire.com : https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206254913/en/ CONTACT: media@envivabiomass.com +1-301-657-5560 KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MARYLAND INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OTHER ENERGY FOREST PRODUCTS ENERGY FINANCE NATURAL RESOURCES SOURCE: Enviva Inc. Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/06/2024 04:18 PM/DISC: 12/06/2024 04:18 PM http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241206254913/enThe Allied Conservative Congress (ACC) has expressed the need for patriotism by Nigerians, saying the need for patriotism cannot be overemphasized in this trying period of our nationhood. In a statement issued by the national chairman of the party, Rev. Olusegun Peters, to felicitate with Nigerians on the occasion of the celebration of Christmas, he enjoined Nigerians to set aside their differences and join hands with ACC in building a better, stronger and prosperous democratic nation that future generations will be proud of. “ACC will alleviate the sufferings of the populace by providing the fruits of democracy that will revamp the economy and usher in prosperity and sustainable development. “This is in tandem with Section 14(2)b of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which states that, ‘the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.’ Nigerians desire and deserve a good deal from their governments,” he said. He called for a conservative ideology, which the Allied Conservative Congress champions. “We commend millions of Nigerians for embracing the ACC conservative ideology. It is the panacea to multifarious political, economic and social challenges citizens face. As more Nigerians embrace the conservative ideology of integrity, morality, patriotism etc, in place of personal aggrandizement that breeds corruption, violence and bad governance, Nigeria will regain its lost glory,” he added.
Last week, the UFC made its long-awaited return to China with UFC Macau , where Petr Yan turned in a vintage performance against Deiveson Figueiredo to reinsert himself into the bantamweight title conversation. Plus a whole bunch of other stuff happened including Conor McGregor being found civilly liable for sexually assaulting a woman in 2018. Needless to say, it was a busy week so let’s discuss it, along with what’s coming up. Conor McGregor fallout Do you see a fallout from Conor's lawsuit with regards to broadcast deal? A video game company already dropped him. UFC doesn't care unless it affects their bottom line; but could it affect negotiations? Or will the deal be too attenuated from the case? “Do you see a fallout from Conor’s lawsuit with regards to broadcast deal? A video game company already dropped him. UFC doesn’t care unless it affects their bottom line; but could it affect negotiations? Or will the deal be too attenuated from the case?” Let’s start here: while McGregor was found civilly liable for sexually assaulting Nikita Hand, and ordered to pay roughly a quarter million dollars in damages, it’s important to remember this was not a criminal conviction. For the uninitiated, the difference between civil and criminal (other than punishment, obviously) is that civil convictions require “a balancing of probabilities” while criminal convictions require a jury to convict “beyond a reasonable doubt.” To simplify, basically civil judgments require a 51% of certainty, while criminal ones require 99.99% of certainty. That being said, convictions in the court of public opinion require far less than a civil jury, and while there will always be people who reflexively defend anything, my anecdotal reading of the McGregor fallout has thus far led me to believe that a majority of people are out on McGregor. That fallout is already being felt by McGregor who has sponsors and projects dropping him like a heavy weight . Even his own whiskey brand (technically not his since he sold ownership, but you know what I mean) Proper No. Twelve has distanced themselves from him . Because this is what happens when you are credibly accused of rape. Of course, the UFC might be one of the few major companies in the world where that isn’t necessarily a deal breaker. After all, McGregor wouldn’t be the first person accused of terrible crimes to still get fights in the UFC . Far from it . For years, UFC CEO Dana White has written off all sorts of behavior that wouldn’t fly in any other context with a waive of the hand, and “I’ve got 700 lunatics under contract.” Given that this is not a criminal conviction, it’s easy to imagine the promotion will brush this under the rug as best it can. And I suspect it’ll be quite successful at doing so. White himself faced no recourse for slapping his wife in public and that went away in a matter of weeks. The fanbase, by and large, does not care and I struggle to think any broadcaster will have huge concerns either. After all, ESPN (a Disney-owned company) had no qualms with running Greg Hardy out there, and he wasn’t even really a needle mover. No, the fallout from McGregor’s actions will land squarely on McGregor himself. Because while the UFC is unlikely to care, as we’ve seen, the rest of the world does. There are simply too many other people to do business with who don’t have something so terrible following them around. So I suspect McGregor will continue to get dropped by sponsors, and from business deals, and any plans there were for him to break into Hollywood are out the window. Who needs the headache of tying themselves to someone like that? In fact, in a weird and tragic twist of fate, this may actually be the thing to bring McGregor back to fighting. He certainly doesn’t need to as he’s still richer than cream, but with the world closing itself off to McGregor for the first time in years, and few other business opportunities available to him, this might be what pushes him back into the gym. In fact, he’s already hinting at just that . Because if there’s one thing that’s been proven time and again its that people can forgive damn near anything if you give them a reason to love you again. After all, Mike Tyson actually went to prison for rape and yet not even a month ago 60 million households tuned in to watch him fight again . Maybe McGregor can take a similar journey back into the good graces of the public. UFC Macau What do you thing Figgies next move should be? “What do you thing Deiveson Figueiredo’s next move should be?” Now on to some happier topics, namely the aftermath of UFC Macau. On Saturday, Petr Yan and Deiveson Figueiredo put on one of the best fights of 2024. It won’t win Fight of the Year, and it probably won’t even crack the top-five, but it was the definition of elite MMA on every level. With the win, we all know where Yan should go next — a five-round rematch with Sean O’Malley — but what about Figgy Smalls? Figueiredo is about to turn 37, which means we probably don’t have that much longer left for the prime of his career. As such, we should not waste it. Figueiredo should exclusively fight in fun matchups, and the first one that jumps off the page to me is Jose Aldo . Both are coming off competitive losses (Aldo should’ve won, I’ll die on this hill) and both are former champions in a different division then they started in. When the UFC heads back to Brazil next years, book that for five rounds as the co-main event. Carlos Ulberg What next for Carlos Ulberg after win #7 in a row? “What next for Carlos Ulberg after win #7 in a row?” Ulberg beat Volkan Oezdemir in a professional yet uninspiring performance on the main card of UFC Macau. Now, he sits at No. 7 in the UFC light heavyweight rankings and with his big winning streak, looks poised for a title run. Given all that, there’s no wrong way to eat this Reese’s, really, but Ulberg vs. Khalil Rountree in a striking matchup seems fun and appropriate. Jon Jones How do you determine if Jon Jones is trying to get paid what he's worth to fight Tom Aspinall or if he's pricing himself out because he has no real intentions of fighting him, aka ducking? “How do you determine if Jon Jones is trying to get paid what he’s worth to fight Tom Aspinall or if he’s pricing himself out because he has no real intentions of fighting him, aka ducking?” Well, Jones will never get paid what he’s worth to fight Tom Aspinall because he fights in the UFC and they don’t do that. But setting that aside, the answer is that we will never know. Only Jon Jones knows what’s in his own heart and what his motivations are. So unless you’re Jones, we can only guess. And unless Jones comes out and says “I will only do it for $1 billion” then a guess is all we have. Unless, of course, the UFC does decide to spend the money needed to make the fight. If the UFC meets Jon’s demands and then he starts moving the goalposts, then that’s a clear indication he never wanted the action in the first place. But again, will we ever know that? Unlikely. So ultimately, you’ll just have to decide for yourself whether Jones asking for more money than he normally would (which is what he himself is saying he’s doing) is savvy negotiation or a tacit admission that he thinks he could lose to Aspinall and thus only will risk it if he’s paid a king’s ransom. I know where I stand, and honestly, I don’t blame him for the choice I believe he’s making even if I don’t necessarily like it. PFL Championships What are you looking forward to more, Thanksgiving or a gazillion hours of the 2024 PFL Championship? “What are you looking forward to more, Thanksgiving or a gazillion hours of the 2024 PFL Championship?” Why not both? PFL Championships and Thanksgiving is a tradition like the NBA and Christmas. OK, it’s not quite like that, but I’ll admit that I do enjoy the PFL Championships every year. Because even if you haven’t kept up with the season format or whatever, we’re still talking about meaningful fights. Six new millionaires will be created on Friday, and even if the fights are all terrible (they could be!), that’s still pretty damn cool. Having said that, I am once again begging the PFL to please hire me as a consultant, because doing one mega-card on Friday strains event the most optimistic of fans (like myself). There is simply no reason to hold all six tournament championships on the same card, and there is REALLY NO REASON WHATSOEVER to also have five more regional championship bouts on that same card. 10 fights that can possibly go 25 minutes is INSANE! Plus, for some reason known to only God and Donn Davis, the event also has 6 more fights scheduled! There are jurisdictions that would consider this a war crime. The very obvious, simple answer here is that the PFL Championships should be a two-day extravaganza! Half the tournament bouts on Friday and then the other half on Saturday. Take over the entire weekend, and deliver not just championship bouts, but fill in with as many other good fights as you can. Aside from it being good business, don’t you think fighters might like the chance to earn some money right before the holidays and the long break you have until the start of next season? This isn’t hard and I don’t know why they can’t see it. Bellator Thoughts on the Bellator lack of fights situation? “Thoughts on the Bellator lack of fights situation?” And along those lines, PFL has to get its shit together with Bellator. When nearly every one of the best fighters you acquired in buying out Bellator has spoken out publicly against you , you’re screwing the pooch. All the good will PFL had at the start of the year is gone, and I truly have no clue what the hell they are doing at this point. When PFL bought Bellator, my immediate thought was that this was a great move, because while PFL has a good broadcast deal and some things in its favor, what it didn’t have was a roster of talent. Acquiring Bellator greatly helped them on that front, but to seem them flounder and flub all these great fighters has been nothing short of a disaster. Not just because it sucks as a fan, but because it’s killing the PFL brand. When respected fighters shit on you en masse, that doesn’t make other fighters start lining up to join the promotion. It’s just terrible business that won’t just hurt them this year, but will very likely greatly impede the PFL’s ability to re-sign this talent when the time comes. It’s a completely unforced error. My best guess is that PFL couldn’t financially close up Bellator after acquiring it for some legal or financial reasons and instead had to keep it limping along to run out a clock. Frankly, it feels like that clock is near its end, and my guess is that by next year, Bellator will be folded completely under the PFL brand, at which point fighters may have an easier time getting booked, but the damage may already be done by then. I thought 2024 could be a transformative year for the PFL, and it’s looking like I might be right, just not in the way I imagined. Thanks for reading, and thank you for everyone who sent in tweets (Xs?)! Do you have any burning questions about things at least somewhat related to combat sports? Then you’re in luck, because you can send your tweets to me, @JedKMeshew , and I will answer my favorite ones! Doesn’t matter if they’re topical or insane, just so long as they are good. Thanks again, and see y’all next week.US agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says BOSTON (AP) — After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey , elected officials are urging action to identify and stop the mysterious flights. Bianca Vázquez Toness And Dave Collins, The Associated Press Dec 15, 2024 2:44 PM Dec 15, 2024 2:50 PM Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message This photo provided by Trisha Bushey shows the evening sky and points of light near in Lebanon Township, N.J., on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024. (Trisha Bushey via AP) BOSTON (AP) — After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey , elected officials are urging action to identify and stop the mysterious flights. “There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday.” “'We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer,” he said. National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference or a public safety threat. But because they can’t say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones over parts of New Jersey, New York and other eastern parts of the U.S. — or how they can be stopped — has led leaders of both political parties to demand better technology and powers to deal with the drones. Sen. Chuck Schumer called Sunday for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify the drones and their operators. “New Yorkers have tremendous questions about it,” Schumer, the Senate Majority leader, told reporters about the drone sightings. “We are going to get the answers for them.” The federal government did little to answer those questions in its own media briefings Sunday morning. “There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.” Some of the drones reported above parts of New York and New Jersey have turned out to be “manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,” Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter.” Last year, federal aviation rules began requiring certain drones to broadcast their remote identification, including the location of their operators. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is behind the drones plaguing locations over New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability. Schumer wants the federal government to use a recently declassified radio wave technology in New York and New Jersey. The radio wave detector can be attached to a drone or airplane and can determine whether another flying object is a bird or a drone, read its electronic registration, and follow it back to its landing place. Schumer said state and local authorities do not have the authority to track drones. On Sunday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said federal officials were sending a drone detection system to the state. “This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details, including where the system will be deployed. Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over parts of New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Drones are now being reported all along the northern East Coast, with suspicious sightings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to news reports. Some U.S. political leaders, including Trump, have called for much stronger action against these drones, including shooting them down. Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, Mayorkas said Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said. A bill before the U.S. Senate would enhance some federal agencies’ authority and give new abilities to local and state agencies to track drones. It would also start a pilot program allowing states and local authorities to disrupt, disable or seize a drone without prior consent of the operator. “What the drone issue points out are gaps in our agencies, gaps in our authorities between the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement, the Defense Department.," said Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., Trump’s pick to be his national security adviser, speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. "Americans are finding it hard to believe we can’t figure out where these are coming from.’’ ___ Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut. Bianca Vázquez Toness And Dave Collins, The Associated Press See a typo/mistake? Have a story/tip? This has been shared 0 times 0 Shares Share by Email Share on Facebook Share on X Share on LinkedIn Print Share via Text Message Get your daily Victoria news briefing Email Sign Up More Science News Mystery drone sightings keep happening in New Jersey. Here's what we know (and don't know) Dec 15, 2024 8:21 AM 'Tis the season for roasting chestnuts. But in the US, native ones are almost gone Dec 15, 2024 6:33 AM 'Tis the season for roasting chestnuts. But in the US, native ones are almost gone Dec 15, 2024 6:31 AM
More Starbucks Locations in Southern California Close Amid StrikeGovt shuts down unregistered health facilitiesDemko to return to the Canuck bench against Columbus — as the backupTHE HAGUE >> The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants today for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense chief, as well as a Hamas leader, Ibrahim Al-Masri, for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict. In their decision, the ICC judges said there were reasonable grounds to believe Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant were criminally responsible for acts including murder, persecution and starvation as a weapon of war as part of a “widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population of Gaza.” Judges said there were also reasonable grounds to believe the blockade on Gaza and lack of food, water, electricity, fuel and medical supplies “created conditions of life calculated to bring about the destruction of part of the civilian population in Gaza, which resulted in the death of civilians, including children, due to malnutrition and dehydration.” The decision was met with outrage in Israel, which called it shameful and absurd. Gaza residents expressed hope it would help end the violence and bring those responsible for war crimes to justice. Hamas welcomed the warrants against the Israelis, and a senior official told Reuters it was a first step towards justice. The warrant for Masri lists charges of mass killings during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and also charges of rape and the taking of hostages. Israel has said it killed Masri, also known as Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in July but Hamas has neither confirmed nor denied this. The prosecution indicated it would continue to gather information with respect to his reported death. Israel has rejected the jurisdiction of the Hague-based court and denies war crimes in Gaza. The United States, Israel’s main diplomatic supporter, is also not a member of the ICC. It said it “fundamentally rejects” the move. “We remain deeply concerned by the prosecutor’s rush to seek arrest warrants and the troubling process errors that led to this decision,” a White House National Security Council spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. is discussing next steps with its partners. Global powers Russia, China and India have also not signed onto the ICC, the world’s permanent war crimes court, which is backed by all of the European Union, Australia, Canada, Britain, Brazil, Japan and dozens of African and Latin American countries. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan had announced on May 20 that he was seeking arrest warrants for alleged crimes connected to the Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the Israeli military response in Gaza. Israeli and Hamas leaders have dismissed allegations that they committed war crimes. The court does not have its own police force to carry out arrests and relies on its 124 member states for that, with only limited diplomatic means to force them if they do not want to. Khan called on signatories of the court’s founding treaty “to live up to their commitment to the Rome Statute by respecting and complying with these judicial orders.” In a statement he said “we count on their cooperation in this situation, as with all other situations... We also welcome collaboration with non-states parties in working towards accountability and upholding international law.” GLOBAL REACTION “Netanyahu and Gallant now are war criminals and sooner or later some country will bring them to justice, no matter how long it takes,” said Shaban Abed, 47, a technical engineer and a resident of Gaza City, now displaced in the Khan Younis area. He said the court’s move was “late, but never too late.” Rabeeha, a mother of five and a resident of Gaza City who only gave her first name, said she hoped it would help bring an end to the war. “I hope we can soon see Netanyahu and the criminal Gallant in jail,” she said. “Now they can’t travel, now they are being hunted.” Netanyahu’s office said the ICC decision was “antisemitic” and he will “not yield to pressure, will not be deterred” until Israel’s war objectives are met. The ICC has “lost all legitimacy” after issuing the arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said. “A dark moment for the International Criminal Court,” Saar said on X, adding that it had issued “absurd orders without authority.” There was no immediate comment from Gallant. In a statement, Hamas welcomed the warrants against Gallant and Netanyahu and urged the court to expand accountability to all Israeli leaders. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim told Reuters the warrants against the Israelis were an important step towards bringing justice for the victims and that all countries should back them. The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the decision was not political but made by a court and thus should be respected and implemented. “The tragedy in Gaza has to stop,” he said. Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi also said the ICC’s decision must be implemented, adding that Palestinians deserved justice after what he termed Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza. The Netherlands’ foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp said his country acts on arrest warrants for people on its territory and will not engage in “non-essential” contacts. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, said: “The court is a dangerous joke. It is now time for the U.S. Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body.” Israel’s 13-month campaign in Gaza has killed about 44,000 Palestinians and displaced nearly all the enclave’s population while creating a humanitarian crisis, Gaza officials say. It launched the campaign in response to the October 2023, Hamas-led attack which killed 1,200 people in southern Israel, with more than 250 others taken hostage, Israel has said. Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg in The Hague, Nidal Al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Nadine Awadalla in Dubai, Toby Sterling, Charlotte Van Campenhout and Bart Meijer in Amsterdam; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Doina Chiacu; Writing by Ingrid Melander and Anthony Deutsch.
VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier David Eby says 25-per-cent U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods would be "devastating" for the province's lumber and forestry industries. He made the comment ahead of a meeting with fellow first ministers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Eby was scheduled to participate in the virtual meeting on Wednesday to discuss U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose the tariffs unless Canada and Mexico stop illegal border crossings and prevent illicit drugs from entering the United States. Eby said the lumber and forestry sectors are already strained by a recent increase in duties amid the ongoing U.S.-Canada dispute over softwood lumber. He said after the first meeting of his new cabinet in Victoria that the tariffs are "unjustified," and they would hurt Americans as much as they would Canadians. The premier said B.C. is a source of natural gas, wood products, minerals and other products that U.S. businesses depend on, and the tariff would hinder jobs and opportunities in the province while making "life more expensive for Americans." Eby and Ottawa have called for a united front dealing with Trump's tariff plan, which he announced on social media on Monday. Eby said B.C. officials had repeatedly raised concerns with Ottawa over organized crime and illicit drugs, such as fentanyl, in relation to border security. "It's a priority for us. It has been for a while, we've written to Ottawa about it. Doesn't justify the tariffs, but it does mean that we can talk about those issues as well." Eby said Trump's proposed tariff "doesn't make economic sense," and the measure is not necessary to address issues at the border. The premier said he believes B.C. has a strong case to make for the tariff being "badly placed" if Trump's priority is to reduce costs for Americans. "I think the premiers are unified," Eby said. "There are 13 of us plus the prime minister. It's a big group of people with different political perspectives, but on this issue of ensuring that we're protecting the people in our country from these unjustified tariffs, I believe we're completely in line on that question." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 27, 2024. The Canadian PressBy Noam N. Levey, KFF Health News Worried that President-elect Donald Trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts. “The election simply shifts our focus,” said Eva Stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “States are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.” New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming Trump administration and congressional Republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years. Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt. But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job. Several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt. Some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt. “There’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community Service Society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.” New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and Republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. Other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Many measures picked up bipartisan support. President Joe Biden’s administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. Such debt burdens 100 million people in the United States, a KFF Health News investigation found . Led by Biden appointee Rohit Chopra, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority , going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. Earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. The White House also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt. Trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CFPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional Republicans, who will control the House and Senate next year, have blasted the proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports. And Elon Musk, the billionaire whom Trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency . “Delete CFPB,” Musk posted on X. If the CFPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in Massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. “There are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients. Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates. Under the Biden administration, the CFPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt. If the CFPB efforts stall under Trump, states could follow the lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years. Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt. Hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. This year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance. In Georgia, where state government is entirely in Republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients. “When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and Republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit. Many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the Trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance programs such as Medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act. Trump and congressional Republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. That could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank. And during Trump’s first term, he backed efforts in Republican-led states to restrict enrollment in their Medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GOP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts. “That’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said Stahl, of Undue Medical Debt. Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents. “States like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.