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Judith Graham | (TNS) KFF Health News Carolyn Dickens, 76, was sitting at her dining room table, struggling to catch her breath as her physician looked on with concern. “What’s going on with your breathing?” asked Peter Gliatto, director of Mount Sinai’s Visiting Doctors Program. “I don’t know,” she answered, so softly it was hard to hear. “Going from here to the bathroom or the door, I get really winded. I don’t know when it’s going to be my last breath.” Dickens, a lung cancer survivor, lives in central Harlem, barely getting by. She has serious lung disease and high blood pressure and suffers regular fainting spells. In the past year, she’s fallen several times and dropped to 85 pounds, a dangerously low weight. And she lives alone, without any help — a highly perilous situation. This is almost surely an undercount, since the data is from more than a dozen years ago. It’s a population whose numbers far exceed those living in nursing homes — about 1.2 million — and yet it receives much less attention from policymakers, legislators, and academics who study aging. Consider some eye-opening statistics about completely homebound seniors from a study published in 2020 in JAMA Internal Medicine : Nearly 40% have five or more chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease. Almost 30% are believed to have “probable dementia.” Seventy-seven percent have difficulty with at least one daily task such as bathing or dressing. Almost 40% live by themselves. That “on my own” status magnifies these individuals’ already considerable vulnerability, something that became acutely obvious during the covid-19 outbreak, when the number of sick and disabled seniors confined to their homes doubled. “People who are homebound, like other individuals who are seriously ill, rely on other people for so much,” said Katherine Ornstein, director of the Center for Equity in Aging at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. “If they don’t have someone there with them, they’re at risk of not having food, not having access to health care, not living in a safe environment.” Related Articles Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy are all the rage. Are they safe for kids? Rural governments often fail to communicate with residents who aren’t proficient in English Some breast cancer patients can avoid certain surgeries, studies suggest Herb Chambers makes massive, $100M gift to Mass General Hospital to fund cancer care Who gets obesity drugs covered by insurance? In North Carolina, it helps if you’re on Medicaid Research has shown that older homebound adults are less likely to receive regular primary care than other seniors. They’re also more likely to end up in the hospital with medical crises that might have been prevented if someone had been checking on them. To better understand the experiences of these seniors, I accompanied Gliatto on some home visits in New York City. Mount Sinai’s Visiting Doctors Program, established in 1995, is one of the oldest in the nation. Only 12% of older U.S. adults who rarely or never leave home have access to this kind of home-based primary care. Gliatto and his staff — seven part-time doctors, three nurse practitioners, two nurses, two social workers, and three administrative staffers — serve about 1,000 patients in Manhattan each year. These patients have complicated needs and require high levels of assistance. In recent years, Gliatto has had to cut staff as Mount Sinai has reduced its financial contribution to the program. It doesn’t turn a profit, because reimbursement for services is low and expenses are high. First, Gliatto stopped in to see Sandra Pettway, 79, who never married or had children and has lived by herself in a two-bedroom Harlem apartment for 30 years. Pettway has severe spinal problems and back pain, as well as Type 2 diabetes and depression. She has difficulty moving around and rarely leaves her apartment. “Since the pandemic, it’s been awfully lonely,” she told me. When I asked who checks in on her, Pettway mentioned her next-door neighbor. There’s no one else she sees regularly. Pettway told the doctor she was increasingly apprehensive about an upcoming spinal surgery. He reassured her that Medicare would cover in-home nursing care, aides, and physical therapy services. “Someone will be with you, at least for six weeks,” he said. Left unsaid: Afterward, she would be on her own. (The surgery in April went well, Gliatto reported later.) The doctor listened carefully as Pettway talked about her memory lapses. “I can remember when I was a year old, but I can’t remember 10 minutes ago,” she said. He told her that he thought she was managing well but that he would arrange testing if there was further evidence of cognitive decline. For now, he said, he’s not particularly worried about her ability to manage on her own. Several blocks away, Gliatto visited Dickens, who has lived in her one-bedroom Harlem apartment for 31 years. Dickens told me she hasn’t seen other people regularly since her sister, who used to help her out, had a stroke. Most of the neighbors she knew well have died. Her only other close relative is a niece in the Bronx whom she sees about once a month. Dickens worked with special-education students for decades in New York City’s public schools. Now she lives on a small pension and Social Security — too much to qualify for Medicaid. (Medicaid, the program for low-income people, will pay for aides in the home. Medicare, which covers people over age 65, does not.) Like Pettway, she has only a small fixed income, so she can’t afford in-home help. Every Friday, God’s Love We Deliver, an organization that prepares medically tailored meals for sick people, delivers a week’s worth of frozen breakfasts and dinners that Dickens reheats in the microwave. She almost never goes out. When she has energy, she tries to do a bit of cleaning. Without the ongoing attention from Gliatto, Dickens doesn’t know what she’d do. “Having to get up and go out, you know, putting on your clothes, it’s a task,” she said. “And I have the fear of falling.” The next day, Gliatto visited Marianne Gluck Morrison, 73, a former survey researcher for New York City’s personnel department, in her cluttered Greenwich Village apartment. Morrison, who doesn’t have any siblings or children, was widowed in 2010 and has lived alone since. Morrison said she’d been feeling dizzy over the past few weeks, and Gliatto gave her a basic neurological exam, asking her to follow his fingers with her eyes and touch her fingers to her nose. “I think your problem is with your ear, not your brain,” he told her, describing symptoms of vertigo. Because she had severe wounds on her feet related to Type 2 diabetes, Morrison had been getting home health care for several weeks through Medicare. But those services — help from aides, nurses, and physical therapists — were due to expire in two weeks. “I don’t know what I’ll do then, probably just spend a lot of time in bed,” Morrison told me. Among her other medical conditions: congestive heart failure, osteoarthritis, an irregular heartbeat, chronic kidney disease, and depression. Morrison hasn’t left her apartment since November 2023, when she returned home after a hospitalization and several months at a rehabilitation center. Climbing the three steps that lead up into her apartment building is simply too hard. “It’s hard to be by myself so much of the time. It’s lonely,” she told me. “I would love to have people see me in the house. But at this point, because of the clutter, I can’t do it.” When I asked Morrison who she feels she can count on, she listed Gliatto and a mental health therapist from Henry Street Settlement, a social services organization. She has one close friend she speaks with on the phone most nights. “The problem is I’ve lost eight to nine friends in the last 15 years,” she said, sighing heavily. “They’ve died or moved away.” Bruce Leff, director of the Center for Transformative Geriatric Research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, is a leading advocate of home-based medical care. “It’s kind of amazing how people find ways to get by,” he said when I asked him about homebound older adults who live alone. “There’s a significant degree of frailty and vulnerability, but there is also substantial resilience.” With the rapid expansion of the aging population in the years ahead, Leff is convinced that more kinds of care will move into the home, everything from rehab services to palliative care to hospital-level services. “It will simply be impossible to build enough hospitals and health facilities to meet the demand from an aging population,” he said. But that will be challenging for homebound older adults who are on their own. Without on-site family caregivers, there may be no one around to help manage this home-based care. ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.A Price For Everything?NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW) and certain of the Company’s senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws. If you invested in Edwards Lifesciences, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation . Investors have until December 13, 2024 to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors in Edwards Lifesciences securities. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and is captioned Patel v. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation , et al. , No. 24-cv-02221. What is the Lawsuit About? The Complaint alleges that Edwards is an international company that researches, develops, and provides products and technologies for heart valve repair and replacement therapies, as well as critical care monitoring solutions. Edwards categorizes its therapies and technologies into four categories: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (“TAVR”), Transcatheter Mitral and Tricuspid Therapies (“TMTT”), Surgical Structural Heart therapies, and Critical Care therapies. As alleged, Edwards consistently touted the TAVR platform, the significant unmet demand for TAVR, and the Company’s ability to capitalize on that demand by scaling its various patient activation activities. These statements were allegedly materially false and misleading. In truth, TAVR’s demand and growth had stalled as Defendants’ patient activation activities failed to reach the perceived low-treatment-rate population and healthcare organizations prioritized other treatments over TAVR. On July 24, 2024, Edwards slashed guidance for TAVR for fiscal 2024 and announced disappointing financial results for TAVR for fiscal 2Q 24. This is allegedly because developments in new procedures, including Defendant’s own TMTT, put significant strain on hospital structural heart teams such that they were underutilizing TAVR, despite the Company’s continued claims of a significantly undertreated patient population. The news disclosed on July 24, 2024 caused a significant 31% decline in the price of Edwards stock, from $86.95 per share on July 24, 2024 to $59.70 per share on July 25, 2024. Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation . What Can You Do? If you invested in Edwards Lifesciences you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm. All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses. Submit your information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation Or contact: Ross Shikowitz ross@bfalaw.com 212-789-3619 Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP? Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs’ Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.’s Board of Directors (pending court approval), as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd. For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com . https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/edwards-lifesciences-corporation Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

tomch/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Alphabet Inc. ( NASDAQ: GOOGL ) ( NASDAQ: GOOG ) remains one of our favorite tech coverage picks for the mid-to long-term guys. We're updating our thoughts on the stock after Bloomberg reported that the Tired of losing money? Our Tech Contrarians team of Wall Street analysts sifts through the noise in the tech industry and captures outperformers through a coveted research process. We let the work speak for itself here . Tech Stock Pros is a team of three former technology sector engineers with a long history of investing in the tech sector. Tech Contrarians Learn more Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.Pakistani police arrest thousands of Imran Khan supporters ahead of rally in the capital

The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has said that yesterday’s fire incident left the hospital with no remarkable damage. The hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Omotayo Ogunleye, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, said normal activities had commenced in the hospital. Ogunleye said nobody was hurt by the incident and that an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, which occurred on Saturday morning, was ongoing. “At the moment, light has been restored, and work activities have resumed at the section where the fire incident took place. “The management, noting that the fire incident raised no cause for alarm, wishes to thank all staff, Oyo State Fire Service, and all other well-wishers for their concern and prompt responses. Sources revealed that 16 patients had to be urgently evacuated from the ward to ensure their safety.Linda Annis offered a holiday message for shoppers: don’t let Christmastime Grinches steal your Christmas or your Christmas cheer. Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, gave her annual tips for a crime-free Christmas at a home in Cloverdale Dec. 9. “Every year, we ask the Grinch himself to help us remind people to follow some very common-sense precautions,” she said. “Nonetheless, every year we hear stories of people who still take chances with their valuables and their personal safety. That’s why we like to come out as the shopping season heats up with some helpful reminders, and a few things people might not have thought about.” Annis, who is also a Surrey city councillor, said the message is “especially important” as the year draws to a close and concerns with crime and public safety are riding. “Now is not the time to let down our guard when it comes to porch pirates, purse snatchers, home break-ins, parking lot B&Es and online fraudsters,” she said. “If you see a crime in action, call 9-1-1 or the local police right away. And if you have information about what nefarious deeds somebody’s up to, or see a suspicious person in the neighbourhood, but want to remain anonymous, call us at Crime Stoppers.” She added if anyone has information, they can telephone Crime Stoppers, use the P3 smartphone app to report crime anonymously, or visit solvecrime.ca. “Your anonymity is guaranteed by the Supreme Court of Canada. You’ll never be questioned or called to testify.” Annis, the Grinch, and little Cindy Lou Who teamed up to stage safety scenarios. Their efforts helped illustrate the dos and dont’s for the holidays as it pertained to shopping, both at stores and online. Annis ended her remarks with a few red hot, Grinch-thwarting tips to help prevent the onset of some Christmas blues. Ask neighbours to help keep an eye on your front door for deliveries. Some thieves actually follow delivery trucks to people’s homes so they can steal parcels as soon as the truck is gone. Use your video camera feeds to watch for both deliveries and crooks. Maybe you’ll spot someone stealing your Christmas lawn display, or packages from your porch. Where programs exist, register your doorbell and home security cameras to help police quickly find recordings of neighbourhood crimes. Voluntary programs in some cities, like Project Iris in Surrey, could help police solve a break-in or other crime at your house or your neighbour’s. Does the website you’re buying from, and the merch you buying, look legit? Maybe it’s cheaper that it really should be? Organized retail crime costs Canadians almost $5 billion a year, so buy from established businesses, not unknown sources. Shoplifted or stolen goods may be sold online or through flea markets, with the money often going to gangs dealing in drugs or illegal weapons. Think about who might be watching your sunny vacation pics on social media. Remember, your post from the beach tells the whole world you’re not at home – and that includes thieves. Large empty boxes outside your home tell everyone what valuable goodies are inside your house to steal. Boxes from that gaming computer, 65-inch TV, or other expensive gifts should be stored out of sight until the cardboard can be recycled. You can also close blinds to keep people from seeing inside your house. Etch your valuables in case they’re stolen. Ask local police to help etch your property with your driver’s license number. Also photograph valuables showing make, model and serial number. Theft is getting worse, so don’t leave valuables visible in your car. Before you lock up your car to go shopping, leave nothing visible inside. Not even pocket change or empty bottles or cans. And don’t fill your car with gifts and then go back into more stores. Someone may be watching what you’ve bought. Find a busy, well-lit section of the parking lot and lock your gifts out of sight in the trunk. Leave your garage door opener at home or in your pocket. A thief who takes your remote sitting from your console, and finds your address somewhere in the car, considers that an open invitation to come open your garage for a look. Watch your pockets in busy stores. Keep purses and wallets where you can keep track of them and thwart pickpockets who look to take advantage while jostling with holiday crowds. Visit for more info.Brittany Mahomes' One-Word Message To Patrick Mahomes After Chiefs-Panthers

Degrees were handed out to 391 graduates and undergraduates at the University of Nebraska at Kearney Friday at the UNK Health and Sport Center. Interim Chancellor Charlie Bicak conferred degrees. University of Nebraska System President Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold delivered the keynote address. Winter commencement exercises brought together graduates, their friends and families, UNK staff and more. The student speaker was Emily Conrad of Gretna, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management emphasis. A Gretna native, Conrad was an active participant in the College of Business and Technology Living-Learning Community, serving as a mentor and leading community service events and business tours. The student speaker was Emily Conrad of Gretna, who graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a management emphasis. Also addressing the graduates was NU Board of Regents Vice Chair Paul Kenney. The national anthem was performed by Class of 2024 members Abbygail Marshall of North Platte and Megumi Sakamoto of Toyama, Japan, who both graduated magna cum laude. Interview of Carsyn McBride, a two-time tournament champion wrestler this season for Kearney High. Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox.Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Interior announced that the UAE authorities have arrested in record time the three perpetrators involved in the murder of Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan national according to his identification documents at the time of entry into the UAE, where he lived as a resident. The Ministry reiterated the UAE's unwavering capability to decisively address any attempts to undermine the security and stability of its society. The Ministry further explained that upon receiving a missing person report from the victim's family, a specialised search and investigation team was promptly assembled. This led to the discovery of the victim's body, the identification and arrest of the perpetrators, and the initiation of the necessary legal procedures. Full details of the incident will be disclosed upon the conclusion of the investigations. The Ministry affirmed that the UAE and its institutions are fully committed to safeguarding the safety and security of its citizens, residents, and visitors. It highlighted that the nation's security apparatus maintains the highest standards of security and safety, which have been fundamental to the UAE since its founding. The Ministry also stressed that it will utilise all legal powers to respond decisively and without leniency to any actions or attempts that threaten societal stability. Furthermore, it reaffirmed its readiness to implement all necessary deterrent measures to protect social harmony and peaceful coexistence, strictly adhering to the nation's laws and regulations.

Constitutional amendment for local bodies on the anvilA teen was shocked to receive his first Christmas gift from a youth homeless charity after struggling with a difficult home life. James came into contact with the Quarriers just before after being forced to rely on temporary accommodations and sleeping on friends couches because "home wasn’t a good place”. After moving into his own flat he faced spending the festive season alone. The 16-year-old, like many youngsters from a difficult background, had missed out on many of life’s most basic joys due to poverty and family instability. One of those joys the charity was able to give him, was his first Christmas gift. Julia Cringean, Project Manager for Quarriers Youth Housing Support Services said: “When we told him we had a present for him, he was visibly shocked "He said: ‘I’ve never had a gift at Christmas'. Knowing that he was finally included, that someone cared enough to make his Christmas special, meant the world to him.” “Homelessness is horrendous at any time. But for a young person, especially at Christmas, it can feel unbearable. “Many of the young people we support don’t have a stable family to rely on. At Christmas, that missing family support is felt even more deeply. We want to make Christmas as nice as it possibly can be for them. They need essentials - and they need to feel included in the festive season.” The Quarriers have now launched their Christmas Appeal to provide a special gift for every young person it supports who is experiencing homelessness. They are calling for Glaswegians to give the gift of Christmas this year and provide dignity and practical support to a young person going through difficult times. Quarriers Youth Homeless Services, five of which are based in Glasgow city centre, provides support to young people, including those leaving care or at risk of homelessness. The service aims to provide a person-centred, holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to enable young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless to access appropriate advice/guidance; access and sustain temporary or permanent accommodation safely; improve their quality of life; and be socially included. Julia continued: “Poverty and homelessness rob young people of a fair start in life, impacting everything from their education to their mental health. Our Christmas Appeal is one way we can bring hope to these young lives, offering gifts that are symbols of care and belonging.” To learn more clickNone

Greater Victoria could become the next Silicon Valley for life science. A new report from the South Island Prosperity Partnership (SIPP) highlights Greater Victoria’s potential as a hub for life sciences innovation. The study, commissioned with the District of Saanich, identifies the region’s strengths, challenges, and opportunities in fields like medical devices, biotech and digital health. With over 60 life sciences companies, key infrastructure like UVic’s Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology, and access to top-tier research and talent, the report emphasizes the region’s ability to foster growth. SIPP’s Dallas Gislason noted that while Vancouver Island accounts for just 15 per cent of B.C.’s life sciences businesses, Greater Victoria is home to some of Canada’s largest life science companies like MedTech and StarFish Medical. Challenges such as limited capital and rising costs remain, but the report calls for boosting investment, strengthening industry-academic ties, and supporting startups. Samuel Mercer of the Vancouver Island Life Sciences Association said Greater Victoria is positioning itself as a leader in innovation, similar to San Diego’s rise alongside San Francisco. The findings position Greater Victoria as a growing player in B.C.’s life sciences sector with the potential to drive innovation and economic growth.Argentine lithium junior drawing major eyes

Renfrew – A December 4 special council meeting included a staff recommendation to approve the awarding of the town’s Information Technology (IT) contract to one of six service providers that submitted quotes during an RFP process. However, Renfrew council did not endorse the recommendation citing both a lack of financial information and scoring information as the reason to table the tender award until the next meeting for them to review all relevant information. A week later the item was discussed during the December 10 closed session and when council resumed the open meeting, it was announced that council reversed its decision and agreed to issue the award to the recommended IT service provider. Although not formally rejected at the December 4 meeting, there was consensus the contract could not be issued. The main reason council refused to adopt the staff recommendation was a lack of any documentation justifying an increase of 400 per cent over the budgeted amount. Staff Recommendation During the December 4 meeting, Charlene Jackson, Treasurer/Director of Finance and Corporate Services, introduced the recommendation and said the three-year contract would increase from the 2025 budgeted amount of $21,600 to $84,500. She told council staff were directed to complete an IT assessment and review options for IT support ahead of the 2025 fiscal year. She said that during the assessment, staff were informed by the current IT service provider he was planning to retire before the end of 2024. Upon receipt of that information, a new Request for Proposal (RFP) for a three-year contract for an IT service provider was issued. It was issued on October 25 with a closing date of November 15. “This is coming forward and we are not recommending the lowest bidder,” Ms. Jackson said. “We did have a scoring evaluation for each of the six bidders but we did not want to provide the entire scoring mechanism because it does outline a number of items that could be detrimental to any service provider.” She said six submissions were received and the evaluation team consisted of the Treasurer/Director of Finance & Corporate Services, Deputy Treasurer/Manager of Finance, and the IT Support representative from Nestor IT Services. The bids were presented to council in order of a ranking system from zero to 100. The ranking of the six companies were: OnServe 91 points; IC 360 85 points; Pathway 75 points; Valley Bytes 58 points; NOVA 56 points and Tenetech 48 points. Ms. Jackson said the recommendation coming from staff was that OnServe be awarded the contract for IT Services and the duration of the contract be for three years effective December 1, 2024 until December 31, 2027. Council Shocked With Lack of Information Ms. Jackson completed her presentation asking if council had any questions or concerns. It took less than two seconds for Councillor Kyle Cybulski to raise his hand stating he had many. “I have many concerns with respect to the way the report was presented to us in terms of demeanor and the timeline and the amount of information provided,” he said. “I understand some of the information not being provided in order to protect ourselves. However, this is the only option we were given because the score is the best, yet there is no information on the top two or three in order to be given a realistic way of coming towards a proper solution.” Coun. Cybulski asked if the company that performed the IT network security analysis prior to the October 25 RFP was awarded the security project through an RFP competitive process or if it was a sole-sourced contract. Clerk Carolynn Errett stated the previous CAO directed the finance department to be the lead of IT network analysis. She said both the former CAO and finance department staff identified the need for a complete security analysis and staff followed standard procurement policies when awarding the contract. Although Ms. Errett did not specifically state if the contract was sole-sourced or was an RFP, Coun. Cybulski, who appears to be well versed in the town’s procurement policies, was able to decipher Ms. Everett’s vague answer and immediately posed a follow-up question. “So a sole-source company did the evaluation, they wrote the RFP and now we are being asked to award them an opportunity to do this service at a massive over-budget and yet we do not understand or know what the second or third place cost is to provide this service,” Coun. Cybulski stated. “I am not happy with this and I have told my fellow councillors this is not what we are expecting in a report when we are being asked to make a major decision.” Ms. Jackson followed his comments by stating OnServe did not write the RFP for a security analysis of the IT network. She said it was written and issued by town staff. Coun. Cybulski argued the lack of crucial information within the report limited council’s option to make a decision. He identified a section of the report where it was stated if the recommendation to go with OnServe is rejected, the only option available to council is to start over and re-issue an RFP which would go past the announced retirement of the current service provider. It was obvious Coun. Cybulski was becoming increasingly frustrated. He expressed his concerns over the content of the report and said if the report contained vital information from the five other bids, including the actual dollar amounts, a list of services provided and other relevant information, it would provide council with five other options to explore before issuing a second RFP. Councillor Clint McWhirter followed up on the Coun. Cybulski’s point and asked if the financial numbers provided by the top three bids could be made available to council so they could see the actual differences and a description of what services were offered with each bid. Ms. Jackson informed council the bid submitted by IC360 was $30,000 higher than the next closest bid and she recommended the details of services provided be discussed in closed session due to possible exposure of the town’s IT network in a public forum. Councillor John McDonald supported the idea of a closed session to discuss the network security issues and the overall bids for council to understand the scope of the winning bid. He requested the report be tabled. Council agreed to add the IT report to the closed session portion of the December 10 council meeting. Following that closed session the agenda included an item identified as “I.T. Requirements as it relates to I.T. RFP Evaluation.” When Mayor Tom Sidney announced council voted in favour of awarding the IT network RFP to OnServe for a three-year term, he did not include any information, including the value of the contract. The Leader has submitted a written request to the Clerk’s office requesting the dollar amount issued for the three-year contract.Niger: Gov Bago presents appropriation bill of N1.56trn for 2025

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H&M CELEBRATES NEW STORE WITH CHRISTINA AGUILERA NEW YORK , Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at noon, H&M celebrated the reopening of its iconic Times Square flagship, located at 1472 Broadway, with a special appearance and ribbon cutting ceremony with global pop superstar Christina Aguilera . The refined space, featuring elevated aesthetics and materials, includes immersive experiences showcasing the very best of the brand's fashion identity. At the time of opening, the store will showcase a variety of fashion-forward collections including the H&M Studio Holiday Capsule, which was launched in select stores and online today, offering a modern take on partywear. The store caps off a season of investment and reignited direction for the Swedish brand in its U.S. home of New York City . "I am so excited to be here at H&M's gorgeous new store, in Times Square no less," said Christina Aguilera . "What perfect timing for this location to reopen with their new collection just before the start of the holiday season. We're very excited to bring on the joy for the season!" This fall, H&M celebrates the launch of its most impressive season of fashion yet, which will be on full display at the new Times Square store. The fully redesigned flagship is an elevated, dynamic space featuring women's and men's collections, including special shop-in-shop destinations for H&M Move, the brand's sport offering, as well as denim, lingerie, and accessories. The location will also carry clothing for children ranging from newborn to 10 years old. "H&M debuted in the US nearly 25 years ago with a flagship location in New York City . As a pivotal city for our brand, we continue to invest in our NYC stores to ensure they remain cutting-edge and inspirational to our ever-evolving customer," says Michael Beaumont , Regional Head of Expansion for H&M Americas. "With this refreshed flagship store, customers will be able to see and feel H&M's strengthened brand identity firsthand through hyper-curated artistic and design elements, innovative technologies, and interactive experiences — all anchored by H&M's diverse fashion offerings." The focus on customer experience is reflected in the brand-new immersive fitting area, a first in North America , where fashion lovers can explore trends, try on looks, and bring their style dreams to life. The fitting rooms, a first offer a customizable, multi-sensory experience with LED screens in the floor and ceiling, along with interactive mirrors. Customers can express themselves by selecting visual themes and music based on their style choices and moods, making the shopping experience more personalized and engaging. With visuals and music curated specifically for the new store, these rooms will also encourage customers to create and share their own content. "Our Times Square location is an amazing new space for customers to interact with our brand as well as each other," says Linda Li , Head of Customer Activation and Marketing for H&M Americas. "Features like our new immersive fitting rooms combine music, fashion and fun to let our customers become their own style star." The redesigned flagship showcases impressive new design features like an iconic glass wall flanking each side of the main escalator, designed by Denver based agency, Hovercraft. This signature piece combines art and technology into a multi-story ambient light display, providing customers with a dazzling show on their way to the upper levels. Other interior upgrades include fluted concrete panels, seamless terrazzo flooring, custom built wood fitting rooms and two enormous LED screens on the ground and second floor. Contact: mediarelations.us@hm.com For more images of the opening and new store, click here . For more information from the H&M group and press images visit hmgroup.com/media View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hm-reopens-iconic-times-square-flagship-in-new-york-city-as-new-brand-showcase-302313611.html SOURCE H&MIsraeli airstrikes killed a hospital director at his home in northeastern Lebanon and six others, while at least five paramedics were killed by Israeli strikes in the country's south on Friday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. The United Nations reported heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Four Italian peacekeepers were lightly wounded when a rocket, likely fired by Hezbollah, hit their base, the U.N. said. A full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-intensity conflict. More than 3,640 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,350 wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation and ground invasion, the Health Ministry said Friday. In Gaza, Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of the territory, wounding six medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, the hospital director said Friday. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here’s the Latest: BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike killed the director of a university hospital and six others at his home in northeastern Lebanon, state media said. The strike targeted Dr. Ali Allam’s house near Dar Al-Amal Hospital, the largest health center in Baalbek-Hermel province, which has provided vital health services amid Israel's campaign of airstrikes, the Health Ministry said. State-run media reported that the strike came without warning. The ministry described his death as a “great loss,” and provincial governor Bachir Khodr said in a post on X that, “Mr. Allam was one of the best citizens of Baalbek.” In two separate episodes on Friday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed five paramedics with Hezbollah's medical arm, the Health Ministry said, describing it as “war crime.” The militant group provides extensive social services, including running schools and health clinics. In a report published Friday, the World Health Organization said nearly half of all attacks on health care in Lebanon since Oct. 7, 2023, have resulted in fatalities. “This is a higher percentage than in any active conflict today across the globe,” WHO said. In Lebanon, 226 health workers and patients were killed and 199 were injured between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 18, 2024, the report said. The Health Ministry said Friday that 3,645 people have been killed in nearly 14 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel, while 15,356 were wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. The death count includes 692 women and 231 children. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza, wounding six medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, its director said Friday. Hossam Abu Safiya said the strikes before dawn Friday hit the entrance of the emergency unit as well as in the hospital courtyard. He said two members of the nursing staff suffered critical injuries. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Abu Safiya said the strikes caused damage to the functioning of the generator and disrupted oxygen supplies. The hospital is currently treating 85 wounded, 14 children in the pediatric ward and four newborns in the neonatal unit, he said. During the past month, Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit several times, was put under siege and was raided by Israeli troops, who are waging a heavy offensive in the nearby Jabaliya refugee camp and towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. The Israeli military says it detained Hamas fighters hiding in the hospital, a claim its staff denies. UNITED NATIONS – Two rockets hit a headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, injuring four Italian peacekeepers, the United Nations says. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the rockets were likely launched by Hezbollah militants or by affiliated groups Friday, impacting a bunker and a logistics area in the southwest headquarters at Chamaa. One of the structures that was hit caught fire, and the blaze was swiftly put out by U.N. staff, he said. According to Italy’s Defense Ministry, some glass shattered due to the explosion, hitting the four soldiers. Dujarric said the four injured peacekeepers were receiving treatment at the medical facility of the mission, known as UNIFIL. “Thankfully, none of the injuries are life-threatening,” he said. Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL base “intolerable.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace, and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Dujarric said Friday’s attack was the third on Chamaa in a week and came amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Chamaa and Naqoura areas in recent days. UNIFIL’s main headquarters is in Naqoura. Friday’s attack follows a rocket attack on a UNIFIL base east of the village of Ramyah on Tuesday that injured four peacekeepers from Ghana. Dujarric said UNIFIL strongly urges Hezbollah and its affiliates and Israel to avoid fighting near its positions, which are supposed to be protected. “We remind all parties that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law” and the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, he said. BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and the southern port city of Tyre on Friday, after the Israeli army issued several evacuation warnings saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites. The strikes in Beirut came dangerously close to central Beirut and Christian neighborhoods. One strike hit a building housing a gym and medical and beauty clinics, located just meters (yards) from a Lebanese army base. “What is there in the building to target? This attack they carried out on us in this building is a criminal and vile act,” resident Hassan Najdi told The Associated Press. “Because if their intention is targeting Hezbollah, this building has nothing to do with Hezbollah.” Najdi said he purchased an apartment in the building last year but had not yet moved in. He allowed a displaced family to move in and urgently asked them to evacuate after receiving the Israeli warning. The blasts sent plumes of smoke into the air and shattered glass in the vicinity. No casualties have been reported, but the strikes caused damage to nearby infrastructure and a key road connecting central Beirut to its southern suburbs. “We remain steadfast,” said Ali Daher, an employee at a mall facing the targeted building. “Everything that is lost can be replaced, and whatever is destroyed can be rebuilt in (no time).” In Tyre city, the Israeli military conducted multiple airstrikes after a series of warnings, claiming the targets belonged to Hezbollah’s Aziz unit, accusing it of firing projectiles into Israel. The Israeli military carried out other airstrikes across Lebanon, many without warnings, as heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in villages along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified. ROME — Italy said Friday it plans to discuss the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court over the Israel-Hamas war when it hosts Group of Seven foreign ministers next week. Premier Giorgia Meloni insisted that one point remained clear for Italy: “There can be no equivalence between the responsibilities of the state of Israel and the terrorist organization of Hamas.” Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Meloni’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement Friday, Meloni said Italy would study the reasonings behind the decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy respects the ICC and supports it. “But at the same time we are also convinced that the court must have a judicial role, and should not take up a political role.” Tajani will host G7 foreign ministers Monday and Tuesday outside Rome for the final meeting of the Italian G7 presidency. “As far as decisions are concerned, we will take them together with our allies,” Tajani said. During the G7 meetings, “we will talk about this with my allies there, and we will see what to do next.” Another member of the governing coalition, the outspoken Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was more defiant in supporting Israel. “If Netanyahu comes to Italy he will be welcomed,” Salvini was quoted by Italian media as saying. This item has been updated to correct that Salvini spoke of a potential Netanyahu visit to Italy, not Israel. ROME — Four Italian soldiers were slightly injured after two exploding rockets hit the United Nations' peacekeeping mission base on Friday in Chamaa in southern Lebanon, Italy's defense ministry said. Initial information suggested that two rockets hit a bunker and a room of the mission base, damaging the surrounding infrastructure, the ministry said. Shattered glass hit the four soldiers. The incident was the latest in which UN peacekeeping posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called Friday's attack “intolerable.” He said he will try to speak to the new Israeli Defense Minister to ask him “to avoid using the UNIFIL bases as a shield.” Crosetto said the conditions of the four Italian soldiers “did not cause concern.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said she learned about the new attack with “deep indignation and concern.” Meloni reiterated that “such attacks are unacceptable,” renewing her appeal for the parties on the ground “to guarantee, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL soldiers and to collaborate to quickly identify those responsible.” GENEVA — The World Health Organization says nearly half of the attacks on health care in Lebanon have been deadly since the Middle East conflict erupted in October last year, the highest such rate anywhere in the world. The U.N. health agency says 65 out of 137, or 47%, of recorded “attacks on health care” in Lebanon over that time period have proven fatal to at least one person, and often many more. WHO’s running global tally counts attacks, whether deliberate or not, that affect places like hospitals, clinics, medical transport, and warehouses for medical supplies, as well as medics, doctors, nurses and the patients they treat. Nearly half of attacks on health care in Lebanon since last October and the majority of deaths occurred since an intensified Israeli military campaign began against Hezbollah militants in the country two months ago. The health agency said 226 health workers and patients have been killed and 199 injured in Lebanon between Oct. 7, 2023 and this Monday. JERUSALEM — Israel’s new defense minister said Friday that he would stop issuing warrants to arrest West Bank settlers or hold them without charge or trial — a largely symbolic move that rights groups said risks emboldening settler violence in the Israeli-occupied territory. Israel Katz called the arrest warrants “severe” and said issuing them was “inappropriate” as Palestinian militant attacks on settlers in the territory grow more frequent. He said settlers could be “brought to justice” in other ways. The move protects Israeli settlers from being held in “administrative detention,” a shadowy form of incarceration where people are held without charge or trial. Settlers are rarely arrested in the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians has spiraled since the outbreak of the war Oct. 7. Katz’s decision was celebrated by far-right coalition allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister and settler firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir applauded Katz and called the move a “correction of many years of mistreatment” and “justice for those who love the land.” Since Oct. 7, 2023, violence toward Palestinians by Israeli settlers has soared to new heights, displacing at least 19 entire Palestinian communities, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now. In that time, attacks by Palestinian militants on settlers and within Israel have also grown more common. An increasing number of Palestinians have been placed in administrative detention. Israel holds 3,443 administrative detainees in prison, according to data from the Israeli Prison Service, reported by rights group Hamoked. That figure stood around 1,200 just before the start of the war. The vast majority of them are Palestinian, with only a handful at any given time Israeli Jews, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked. “All of these detentions without charge or trial are illegitimate, but to declare that this measure will only be used against Palestinians...is to explicitly entrench another form of ethnic discrimination,” said Montell. BERLIN — A German official has suggested that his country would be reluctant to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The ICC’s warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant put Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, in an awkward position. The government said in a statement Friday that it is one of the ICC’s biggest supporters, but “at the same time, it is a consequence of German history that unique relations and a great responsibility connect us with Israel.” The government said it takes note of the arrest warrants and that “we will examine conscientiously the domestic steps.” It said that any further steps would only be an issue if a visit by Netanyahu or Gallant were “foreseeable.” Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit was pressed repeatedly at a regular news conference on whether it would be conceivable to arrest an Israeli prime minister. He replied: "It’s hard for me to imagine that we would carry out arrests in Germany on this basis.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, saying that the court's rulings are “insignificant” for Russia, which doesn’t recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. The ICC last year issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other top Russian officials, accusing them of war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin has brushed off the warrants, saying that in Moscow’s eyes they’re “null and void.” Asked if the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and others can help resolve the tensions in the Middle East, Peskov said: “Well, in general, the actions of the ICC are unlikely to help anything. That’s the first thing. And secondly, we don’t see any point in commenting on this in any way, because for us these rulings are insignificant.” DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Large crowds of displaced people crammed themselves in front of a bakery in the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, desperate to get their share of bread after bakeries closed for five days due to a flour shortage and the lack of aid. “I am a 61-year-old man. This is the third day that I have come to Zadna Bakery and I still cannot get bread ... I have children to feed,” said Majdi Yaghi, a displaced man from Gaza City. The price of a small bag of pita bread increased to $16 by Friday, a stark increase from about 80 cents last month. A bag of pasta now costs $4 and a small bag of sugar costs nearly $14. That has left many Palestinian families surviving on one meal a day and reliant on charitable kitchens to survive. In Khan Younis, women and children lined up at the al-Dalu charitable kitchen for bulgur, the only food available at the makeshift charity. One of the workers there, Anas al-Dalu, told the AP that they cook ten pots every day of either rice, beans, or bulgur. But that hardly fills the need for the thousands of people displaced in the area. “The charity here is in a difficult situation. It is a drop in the ocean, and there is no aid or charities. There is nothing," said Nour Kanani, a displaced man from Khan Younis. “It is a crisis in every sense of the word. There is no flour, no charities, and no food.” BEIRUT — Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of U.N. peacekeepers. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL told The Associated Press that they are monitoring “heavy clashes” in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the northeast. UNIFIL’s headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanon’s southern edge close to the border with Israel. “We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: “Yes for the moment.” Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded.

Panthers rookie tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders released from hospital after suffering neck injuryChatGPT owner OpenAI is set to face lawsuits from five Canadian news companies for frequent breaches of copyright and online terms of use. The news companies have joined the long list of companies, artists, and authors who have filed lawsuits against OpenAI over accusations of using data to train its AI model. In a joint statement, Torstar, Postmedia, The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press, and CBC/Radio-Canada stated that OpenAI was collecting vast amounts of content to build its products without seeking permission or compensating the content creators. The companies said, "Journalism is in the public interest. OpenAI using other companies' journalism for their own commercial gain is not. It's illegal." ALSO READ | Google Faces Fresh CCI Probe Following Complaint From Real-Money Gaming Firm WinZO: Here's What Went Down On November 7, a federal judge in New York dismissed a lawsuit filed against OpenAI, which accused the company of improperly using articles from Raw Story and AlterNet. Meanwhile, in an 84-page claim submitted to Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice, five Canadian media companies are seeking damages from OpenAI and an injunction to stop the company from using their content without permission. They added, "Rather than seek to obtain the information legally, OpenAI has elected to brazenly misappropriate the News Media Companies' valuable intellectual property and convert it for its own uses, including commercial uses, without consent or consideration. The News Media Companies have never received from OpenAI any form of consideration, including payment, in exchange for OpenAI's use of their Works." OpenAI Responds In its defense, OpenAI stated that its models were trained using publicly accessible data, in accordance with fair use and international copyright guidelines that it believes are fair to content creators. Reuters quoted an OpenAI spokesperson as saying, "We collaborate closely with news publishers, including in the display, attribution and links to their content in ChatGPT search, and offer them easy ways to opt out should they so desire." The document from the Canadian news companies did not reference Microsoft. However, this month, billionaire Elon Musk broadened his lawsuit against OpenAI to include Microsoft, accusing the two companies of unlawfully attempting to dominate the generative AI market and push out competitors.