NoneFeds suspend ACA marketplace access to companies accused of falsely promising ‘cash cards’
AI Mafia Demands £10k After Attacking London Eatery With Fake Reviews, Tanking Their Google RatingECONSE CELEBRATES THREE YEARS OF HELPING ATLANTICANN MEDICAL INC. MANAGE THEIR GREENHOUSE WASTEWATER
ROSEVILLE, Minn. (AP) — Republicans will start the year with at least a temporary majority in the Minnesota House after a Democrat decided not to appeal a judge's decision that he failed to establish residency in the suburban district he was elected to represent. That means Republicans will have a slim 67-66 majority in the House when the Legislature begins Jan. 14. That may not last long because Gov. Tim Walz has already scheduled a Jan. 28 special election in the Democratic-leaning district that Curtis Johnson won by 30 points in November. “While I disagree with the conclusions reached by the District Court, I recognize that whatever the decision on appeal the ultimate decision belongs to the Legislature, where it appears there is no viable pathway for me being allowed to retain my seat,” Johnson said in his resignation letter Friday. “Rather than dragging this out further, I have decided to resign now, so that a special election can be held as soon as possible.” Ramsey County Judge Leonardo Castro ruled last week that Johnson didn’t live in the Roseville-area district for the required six months ahead of the election and is therefore ineligible to serve. Johnson's Republican challenger, Paul Wikstrom, presented surveillance video and photos in court to show Johnson did not reside in the apartment he claimed as his residence. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the lack of utility hookups and regular activity at the apartment reinforced that conclusion. Republican Rep. Lisa Demuth, who is in line to become House speaker with the GOP in control, said she is pleased the judge's decision will stand. Previously, leaders of both parties had been working out a power-sharing agreement given that the chamber was expected to be divided equally 67-67. “This confirms that Republicans will have an organizational majority on day one, and we look forward to ensuring that a valid candidate represents District 40B in the upcoming legislative session,” Demuth said in a statement. Although Democrats argue that Republicans would need to have at least 68 seats to control the House. The Democrats' narrow one-vote control of the Senate — combined with Walz's veto power — will be able to stop Republicans from being able to pass laws, but the GOP could still push its agenda. Republicans will have working control of committees to advance bills to the floor, which could force Democrats from swing districts to face tough decisions on bills. And Republicans could try to launch investigations they have been seeking for a long time into the Walz administration and problems it has had limiting fraud. Demuth also questioned whether Walz has the power to set the special election so quickly even before the Legislature certifies the vacancy. If that argument prevails that would extend Republican control of the House longer, but the secretary of state's office told Minnesota Public Radio that Walz's order setting the special election is proper. Whenever the election happens, Democrats are confident they will win the seat, current House speaker Rep. Melissa Hortman said. “A prompt special election will allow the voters of District 40B to ensure that they will be represented in the Minnesota House for the bulk of the session,” Hortman said in a written statement. “We expect the district will again vote to elect a Democrat by overwhelming margins.” A pending court challenge in a different suburban district could also affect the balance of power in the House, but it appears Democrats will likely prevail in that dispute. Incumbent Democratic Rep. Brad Tabke, of Shakopee, was declared the winner by 14 votes over Republican Aaron Paul despite 20 missing ballots that were accepted but never counted and then apparently thrown away. At a hearing, his attorneys presented six of those affected voters who testified that they supported Tabke, which would be enough to preserve his win. A judge is expected to decide within the next few weeks how to proceed. The Associated Press
So you're gathering with relatives whose politics are different. Here are some tips for the holidaysBusiness leader from Oakville awarded the Order of Canada
K-drama for mental health? Binge on, one expert saysVow ASA: Receipt of subscription rights in the rights issue by primary insiders and their close associates
DisCos have failed – SenateLogo Brands Signs Historic Partnership With Jackson State University
Tennessee-Based Company Will Have Exclusive Rights to Produce a Range of Merchandise, Including Tents, Chairs, Soft-Sided Coolers, and More, for Jackson State University FRANKLIN, TN / ACCESSWIRE / November 25, 2024 / Logo Brands, Inc. is thrilled to announce its newest 10-year strategic partnership with Jackson State University, marking the company's first HBCU Strategic Partnership. Under this agreement, Logo Brands will have exclusive rights to manufacture, produce, and distribute officially licensed Jackson State tents, chairs, tables, soft-sided coolers, stadium seating, throws, and inflatable sports balls to retailers nationwide. Beyond these categories, Logo Brands will continue to offer a diverse range of products, including home textiles, totes, and drinkware for the Tigers. Maggie McHugh, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing, Logo Brands, shared her enthusiasm for the partnership. "Jackson State University boasts a rich history of resilience and a steadfast commitment to excellence. As one of the nation's premier historically Black colleges and universities, JSU is renowned for its impactful research and dedication to community uplift. We are thrilled to partner with the university to offer a diverse range of products that students, faculty, staff, and fans can enjoy for many years to come." In addition to the Logo Brands e-commerce website , Jackson State licensed products will be available through major retailers such as Sam's, Follett, Walmart, Fanatics, Costco, Hudson News, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Academy. This partnership with the Jackson State Tigers represents a significant milestone in Logo Brands' strategic partnerships, underscoring the company's commitment to supporting HBCUs. "Jackson State University values this historic partnership with Logo Brands. I have worked with Maggie for years, and this opportunity to continue growing our brand and expanding the market with quality and story-telling products is very rewarding," says Kamesha Hill, Director, Auxiliary Enterprises. "We look forward to the partnership and the opportunity to continue to share the history of our great institution, Jackson State University." About Logo Brands: Logo Brands is a leading manufacturer of officially licensed products for over 800 colleges and leagues, including the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NASCAR. The company's extensive product range spans outdoor lifestyle, indoor living, and on-the-go categories, with more than 900 different product lines in its history. Founded as a family business in 2000, Logo Brands began by shipping tailgate chairs from a garage just outside of Memphis, Tennessee, and now operates its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee. Contact Information Aubree Gardiner Communications and Social Media Manager (615) 236-2693SOURCE: Logo Brands
The adoption of the most sacred document called the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949 binds together this diverse country and provides the guiding light for its governance. The Constitution of India guarantees rights to citizens and casts obligations on the State and provides for institutions of governance making them accountable to develop a vibrant democracy. Passage of seventy-five years is a good time for stock-taking of the ideals and vision of the founding fathers. The greatest ideal of any vibrant democracy is the oldest concept protected since 1215. Magna Carta provided that no free man shall be taken or imprisoned except by law of land. In India, liberty is freedom from arbitrary and unfair restraint upon an individual. No liberty can ever be absolute and nobody has liberty to disturb liberty of others. The framers of the Constitution gave little discretion to future lawmakers on life and liberty. The liberty under the Indian Constitution finds place in Article 21, which provides restrictions by ‘procedure established by law’. Life and Liberty has been given a broad meaning and interpretation to make life and democracy meaningful. The Indian Constitution was framed amidst the stress of the partition riots resulting from the greatest migration in world history. The pangs of partition had permitted preventive detention laws of the type of the infamous Rowlatt Act and the Second World War Law Defence of India Act 1939, which permitted detention on the basis of likelihood of a person commuting an offence. Democratic countries have no such laws during normal peace times. Arrest or detention is made because ‘he has committed an offence’, not because ‘he is likely to commit an offence’. The framers of the Constitution believed that in a democratic country like ours, the parliament will enact such laws only in extreme situations but that faith in the democratic legislations and the governments was belied as arrest and detention is used and misused till date. Arrest and detention under draconian laws has for political vengeance only increased in recent times. Critics of the government, public dissenters, independent political thinkers, critical journalists and in particular, those from minority community are facing the brunt of laws like Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMLA) and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) etc which may not be strictly preventive detention laws, but various penal laws are now weaponised to incarcerate citizens whose liberty is inconvenient to the government or for political reasons. A vibrant democracy can flower in a liberal atmosphere, where dissent is celebrated as flavour of democracy. The UAPA in particular has been invoked by the government to silence its critics and PMLA is misused to silence the political opponents, so that they can no longer act inconveniently. That has struck at the very foundations of liberty and has threatened electoral democracy itself. The apex court has, of late, sharpened ‘bail, not jail’ principle giving some relief to opposition leaders and other dissenters of the establishment, but the courts have not been able to check down the sliding of liberty at the hands of a powerful executive. The Supreme Court declared the remand order of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha illegal and a blatant attempt to circumvent the due process of law, but by that time Purkayastha spent many months in jail. Umar Khalid, a former JNU student arrested under UAPA on 13/9/2000, is still unable to see the light of freedom till date. Arwind Kejriwal remained in jail for six months in a PMLA case. Sidheeq Kappan, a journalist, remained in prison for nearly two years. These are just few examples of high-profile critics. A few days back our Home Minister announced that prisoners who have completed a third of their sentence would be released to get justice before this year’s Constitution Day. That is certainly a welcome step but it would be great if the political dissenters get relief, to give our democracy a new meaning. The country did not require new criminal laws but certainly required a new ‘arrest and jail code’ which could provide guidance to all the courts over the great principle of ‘jail not bail’. When provision of liberty was being discussed, a member of the constituent assembly said, “I am well aware myself how the police arrest people for reasons wholly unconnected with security or order and sometimes merely with a view to paying off old scores or wreaking private vengeance.” There has been significant democratic backsliding due to declining liberties. Earlier, it was the Emergency period and the present times when democratic institutions are formally in place with democratic ideals and liberty itself becoming a casualty, which is bringing down the quality of our democracy, entitling international rating agencies to dub us as ‘electoral autocracy’ or ‘flawed democracy’. On September 15, 1949, H V Kamat said, “Has anybody considered how some other persons, possibly totally opposed to our ideals, to our conceptions of democracy, coming into power, might use this very Constitution against us and suppress our rights and liberties? This Constitution, which we are framing here, may act as boomerang, may recoil upon us and it would be then too late for us to rue the day when we made such provisions in the Constitution.” He was so prophetic! (Cleofato Almeida Coutinho is a senior advocate, who taught constitutional laws for over three decades.)
Netflix continues to express confidence that its streaming platform is prepared to handle the massive audiences expected for a pair of Christmas Day NFL games along with the start of its live coverage of the World Wrestling Entertainment's "Raw" next month. Concerns were raised after users experienced issues with buffering and low quality feeds during the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson boxing match last month. Netflix has exclusive rights to stream NFL games on Christmas Day between the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. Beyonce is scheduled to perform during halftime of the Ravens-Texans game, which could create more server traffic Netflix must take into account. It's a major test after the company reported an average global live audience of 108 million viewers for Paul's victory over Tyson in Arlington, Texas. Downdetector.com , which tracks service outages, announced that there were 90,000 issues reported at one point. "It was a big number, but you don't know, and you can't learn these things until you do them, so you take a big swing," Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria told Front Office Sports. "Our teams and our engineers are amazing, moved super quickly, and stabilized it, and many of the members had it back up and running pretty quickly. But we learn from these things. "We've all obviously done a lot of stuff to learn and get ready for the NFL and Beyonce, and so we're totally ready and excited for WWE." WWE president Nick Khan told FOS that Raw's tone and content will not change as it moves to the streaming service, with its first event of 2025 scheduled for Jan. 6. "There's some online chatter about, ‘oh, it's going to be R-rated, or for us old folks, X-rated.' That's definitely not happening," Khan said. "It's family-friendly, multi-generational, advertiser-friendly programming. It's going to stay that way. I would look for more global flair, especially as the relationship continues to develop." --Field Level MediaHartwater Aesthetics® Expands Team
Get TECNO’s latest AI-powered PHANTOM V Flip 2 5G on its first sale for only P27,999Every investor has heard the phrase "buy low, sell high." It's a simple enough piece of advice that's less simple to apply. What exactly qualifies as "low"? One possible answer is when a company's shares fall significantly in one day following a setback that barely affects its long-term prospects. That's what recently happened to Vertex Pharmaceuticals ( VRTX -0.46% ) , a biotech company. Here is why now is as good a time as any to "buy low" when it comes to this stock. Vertex's pain medicine underwhelms Vertex Pharmaceuticals' suzetrigine is an investigational pain treatment. Its first approved indication could come as early as next month in treating acute pain. It will seek label expansions thereafter, including in targeting painful lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR, a condition that results from a pinched or inflamed nerve in the lower back). Vertex Pharmaceuticals recently released data from a phase 2 study for suzetrigine in LSR. Unfortunately, the market was not impressed. The medicine hit its primary endpoint of a decrease in the average daily leg pain intensity as measured by the Numeric Pain Rating Scale after 12 weeks of treatment. Suzetrigine led to a statistically significant reduction in pain, but so did a placebo, and the difference between the two was not particularly large. This data created some uncertainty concerning suzetrigine's efficacy in people with LSR, a condition that affects millions of patients every year, and could, therefore, be a large and lucrative market for Vertex Pharmaceuticals. That's why the company's shares dipped by more than 10% in one day after it released this data. Focus on the long game Vertex will likely still run a phase 3 study for suzetrigine in LSR that could break its way. But what if it doesn't? The biotech has many more tricks up its sleeves. It recently earned approval for its next-gen cystic fibrosis (CF) therapy, Alyftrek. Vertex has a monopoly in the CF drug market. Alyftrek is yet another improvement from its latest gem, Trikafta. Among other things, Alyftrek is just as effective despite its once-daily dosage (Trikafta is taken twice a day). The company's CF franchise continues to drive strong top-line growth. Third-quarter revenue increased by 12% year over year to $2.77 billion. There is still a good chance suzetrigine will earn approval in acute pain next month. Vertex has also been ramping up its gene-editing treatment, Casgevy, which targets two rare blood diseases. Although it has been approved for over a year in some markets, including the U.K., Casgevy will take time to impact Vertex's financial results significantly. That is the nature of gene-editing treatments. However, the medicine has a massive, multibillion-dollar opportunity. You can also look at Vertex's pipeline. It has phase 3 programs in APOL-1 mediated kidney disease and Iga nephropathy (also a kidney disease). It has earlier-stage programs in type 1 diabetes, a particularly promising project for Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The company's VX-880 could be a functional cure for patients with this chronic condition and allow them to make their own insulin, something that is typically impossible for people with type 1 diabetes. In an ongoing phase 1/2 study, 12 patients treated with VX-880 11 showed reduced or complete elimination of the need for synthetic insulin. Three of them with more than a year of follow-up also showed elimination of severe hypoglycemic events. There is still a long way to go before Vertex earns approval for VX-880, but the company has consistently demonstrated its innovative qualities. Though the phase 2 data for suzetrigine in LSR is a bit of a setback, it does little to change Vertex's long-term prospects. What happened last time the company's shares fell off a cliff following a clinical setback? That was on Oct. 14, 2020, when it announced it was giving up on a phase 2 trial for VX-814, an investigational therapy for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. And since Oct. 15, 2020, Vertex's shares have outperformed the S&P 500 , even taking into account its recent massive drop. VRTX Total Return Level data by YCharts I expect the same thing to happen this time around. Patient investors will benefit from scooping up shares of this biotech stock on the dip.
