Latest news with #rejected
Newsweek
20 hours ago
- Health
- Newsweek
New York Boomers Lose Medicare Battle
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New York's highest court has rejected a legal challenge by retired city workers seeking to block a plan to move them from traditional Medicare - with city-funded supplemental coverage - to private Medicare Advantage plans. Newsweek has contacted the New York City Law Department for comment via email. Why It Matters New York City is required by law to provide health insurance coverage for retirees formerly employed by the city. The roots of the policy go back to 2021, when city officials and leaders of major public employee unions agreed to cut $600 million annually from the city's healthcare spending. The agreed-upon solution was to shift roughly 250,000 retirees and their dependents to a Medicare Advantage plan - an alternative to traditional Medicare that typically offers lower premiums. At the time, City Hall, then under the helm of former New York Mayor Bill De Blasio, argued in favour of the change because of the annual savings it would generate. The current Mayor Eric Adams has since embraced the idea. But critics have said the plan would mean more out-of-pocket costs for former New York government employees. What To Know In a unanimous decision issued Wednesday, June 18, Judge Shirley Troutman of the State of New York Court of Appeals said the retirees failed to provide adequate evidence that the shift would reduce their health benefits. The court also found no legally binding agreement ensuring the city would maintain their existing coverage. Stock image/file photo: Medicare enrollment form. Stock image/file photo: Medicare enrollment form. GETTY "If forced into a Medicare Advantage plan, retirees will lose access to many of the doctors they depend on for life-saving treatment and will routinely be denied coverage for medical care. That is because, unlike traditional Medicare (a publicly run program), private Medicare Advantage plans limit access to medical providers and medical care in order to maximize profits," the Organization of Public Service Retirees said in a statement following the decision. Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance options approved by Medicare. They replace traditional Medicare Parts A and B, covering hospital and outpatient care — except hospice. Most also include prescription drug coverage (Part D). Insurance companies offering these plans get a set payment from Medicare for each person enrolled. They also charge patients out-of-pocket costs and often require them to use doctors in their network or get referrals to see specialists. What People Are Saying The Council of the City of New York Common Sense Council said in a statement: "While we are extremely disappointed with the Court of Appeals decision today, it only strengthens our resolve to fight for our municipal retirees and ensure they are provided the supplemental Medicare insurance they were promised. We encourage our colleagues to join us in supporting Intro 1096, which would prevent this administration and any future administration from taking away this fundamental right and forcing retirees into a lesser health insurance plan." Marianne Pizzitola, president of the NYC Organization of Public Service Retirees, said in a press release: "On behalf of 250,000 retirees, we call on the City Council and the next mayor to prevent us from being forced into a privatized Medicare Advantage plan and to let us continue receiving the health insurance we were promised and desperately need: traditional Medicare plus a supplemental plan." Justin Brannan, New York City Council Finance Committee Chair and Democratic candidate for city comptroller, said on X: "The City of New York should never, ever be screwing over retirees – and neither should the courts. Nobody will ever want to work for New York City again. Zero trust. Medicare Advantage is a bait and switch scam & betrayal. Enough! City Hall clearly doesn't care about retirees." What Happens Next While the Court of Appeals dismissed the retirees' primary claims, it sent the case back to a lower court to resolve remaining legal issues.
Gulf Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Oil Prices Extend Losses As Iran Rejects Zero Enrichment As Condition For US Talks
A series of headlines, some contradictory, on where things stand with Iran nuclear negotiations with the US, sent oil sliding, then pumping, then extending losses again. One senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran is 'ready' to discuss limitations on its uranium enrichment, while a quick follow-up headline said 'zero enrichment will undoubtedly be rejected' by Iran 'especially now, under Israel's strikes.' The official said 'the role of European powers is now more prominent, as Tehran is unwilling to engage with US amid Israeli attacks. After that glimmer of hope offered for negotiations, the clarification that nothing has in fact change, sent oil dropping further Friday morning. Oil prices declined on Friday but stayed on track for a third straight weekly increase, following the White House's postponement of a decision regarding US participation in the Israel-Iran conflict: Brent crude futures were down $2.57, or around 3.3%, to $76.28 a barrel by 1204 GMT but still set to gain nearly 3% on the week. According to the latest from Bloomberg: Israel will complete the task of preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons whether or not the US joins the operation, its energy minister said. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the only way to end the war is to 'unconditionally' stop Israel. And Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has clarified just before meeting European officials in Geneva related to EU efforts at mediate that 'Iran is not prepared for negotiations with anyone while Israel continues its attacks.' More Friday and overnight headlines… * * * Geopolitics: Middle East War Israel will complete the task of preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons whether or not the US joins the operation, its energy minister said. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the only way to end the war is to 'unconditionally' stop Israel, according to Bloomberg E3/EU-Iran meeting in Geneva expected to occur 'this afternoon', via WSJ's Norman. Israeli Defence Minister Katz has ordered the military to increase attacks on Iranian regime targets within Tehran. Iran's Foreign Minister says they will only hold nuclear talks in the E3 meeting. Russia's Kremlin says dialogue with Ukraine continues expect to agree next week on a date for the next round of talks Ukraine is unpredictable, continue 'special military operation', though would prefer to reach goals by diplomatic needs. US Involvement The White House said, 'message directly from the President – based on the fact that there is a significant chance of negotiations with Iran in the near future – I will make a decision on whether to launch [an attack] in the next two weeks.' US President Trump had been briefed on both the risks and benefits of bombing Fordow and his mindset was that disabling it was necessary due to the risk of weapons being produced in a relatively short period of time, according to CBS. Broadcasting Authority, citing an Israeli source, reported that the US had asked Israel to defer its attack on the Fordow nuclear facility. Kann News reported that there was a 'possible attack at Fordow': according to sources, the US had asked Israel to wait until negotiations with Iran had been exhausted. US President Trump is to attend a National Security Meeting at 11:00 EDT on Friday. US law enforcement officials had stepped up surveillance of Iran-backed operatives in the US, according to CBS sources. The White House said Iran was able to produce a nuclear bomb within 'a couple of weeks'. A White House official told Fox's Heinrich that the US military had no doubt about the efficacy of bunker busters in eliminating the site at Fordow, and also denied that any options—including tactical nuclear weapons—had been taken off the table. The White House Press Secretary said there were no signs that China was getting involved militarily in Iran, according to Reuters. The US reportedly believed Iran would build a nuclear bomb if Supreme Leader Khamenei were assassinated and the Fordow facility was attacked, according to The New York Times. Strikes There were reports of Israeli strikes in the Lavizan area of Tehran, where Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei was reportedly hiding in a bunker, according to i24 journalist Stein. An Israeli military spokesman said Israel had attacked the special forces headquarters of the internal security apparatus in Tehran within the last 24 hours, according to Reuters. Journalist Horowitz said on X that opposition sources were circulating 'unconfirmed' reports claiming that the head of Iran's military, Abdolrahim Mousavi, had been killed in an Israeli strike. The Fars News Agency said Iran had used a new generation of precision missiles in its attack on Israel on Thursday morning, according to Fars. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said an explosion had occurred on Thursday evening in Tel Aviv at the residence of the Norwegian ambassador to Israel, according to Reuters. The Jordanian army said an explosives-laden drone had fallen in the Azraq area after it 'fell short of its range,' according to Al Hadath. Iranian media reported that air defences were activated in Isfahan, according to Al Arabiya. Diplomacy Britain, France, and Germany are to hold talks with Iran's Foreign Minister on Friday in a last-ditch effort to avert an escalation of conflict in the Middle East and a possible US intervention, according to FT. Iran's Foreign Minister had reached out to European foreign ministers, requesting a meeting with them on Friday, Jerusalem Post reported. Trump administration officials are pitching the president's two-week timeline as an opportunity to allow diplomacy to play out. Special Envoy Witkoff and Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi had been in communication in recent days, though there were no plans for the two to meet yet, according to ABC. Trump's special envoy to the Middle East Witkoff will not attend the UK/France/Germany talks with Iran in Geneva on Friday, according to White House officials cited by NBC. An Iranian source denied reports of a phone call between Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi and US presidential envoy Witkoff following Israel's aggression, according to Iran Nuances. The White House Press Secretary said they would see how the EU meeting with the Iranians went tomorrow, according to Reuters. US officials said no date had been set for a meeting between US and Iranian officials yet, according to Axios. US Military and Deployment Over the next 10 to 14 days, there were expected to be two aircraft carriers in the Middle East and a third operating in the Mediterranean Sea, according to ABC. Iranian Actions A senior IRGC official said that before the Israeli airstrikes, all enriched uranium had been transferred from the nuclear sites to secret hiding locations, according to i24 journalist Stein. Iran's Tasnim News Agency, quoting an Iranian official, said intelligence had thwarted a major Israeli plot against Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi in Tehran, according to Sky News Arabia. Iraq's Hezbollah threatened to target US bases and close the Strait of Hormuz if Washington joined strikes on Iran, according to Al Hadath. An Israeli official said Iran could likely sustain the current rate of missile fire at Israel for up to five months, provided their missile launchers were not destroyed, according to NBC. Israel anticipated attacks from Iran's proxies across the Middle East, according to Israel Channel 14. An Israeli intelligence official said the imminent collapse of the Iranian regime was far from the truth, according to NBC. Geopolitics: Other A Japanese destroyer sailed through the Taiwan Strait after a Chinese jet approached it, according to Nikkei. China President Xi met with New Zealand PM Luxon in Beijing, according to CCTV.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
LIVE news updates: IDF says Hezbollah commander killed in Lebanon drone strike
A Hezbollah commander was killed in an Israeli drone strike last night in southern Lebanon, according to a report by The Times of Israel. The target of the strike in the town of Barish was Yassin Izz a-Din, commander of Hezbollah's rocket artillery unit in the Litani River sector, according to the military. Iran's supreme leader rejected US demands for surrender following additional Israeli strikes on Wednesday, warning that any American military action would inflict 'irreparable damage' on the US. Meanwhile, European diplomats planned to meet with Iran on Friday. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his second public appearance since the Israeli strikes began six days earlier, as Israel eased certain daily restrictions, indicating a possible decline in the missile threat from Iran. Khamenei's remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump posted on social media, calling for Iran's unconditional surrender and warning Khamenei that the US knows his location but has no current plans to kill him, 'at least not for now". While Trump initially distanced himself from Israel's unexpected strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, he has recently suggested increased expressing interest in a resolution 'much bigger' than a ceasefire. "Our armed forces are ready to defend the homeland, supported by officials and all segments of the nation," Iran's supreme leader said in an address on June 18. The Iran-Israel conflict entered its seventh day as both sides exchanged missile strikes on Thursday. 9:51 AM Putin says that a meeting with Trump should be well-prepared, bring positive results Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that his potential meeting with US President Donald Trump should be well-prepared and bring positive results and that he hoped Washington would take steps to restore relations with Moscow. 9:39 AM Trump administration removing 988 hotline service tailored to LGBTQ+ youth in July The 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will stop providing tailored support options to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults on July 17, according to a statement on a federal agency's website.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tyler Perry's lawyer dismisses ‘The Oval' star's $260 million sexual assault lawsuit as a ‘scam'
Derek Dixon claims Perry, 55, made unwanted sexual advances in text messages and while the budding actor stayed in the 'Straw' creator's guest home in Atlanta. A former star of Tyler Perry's series 'The Oval' is accusing the billionaire film and TV mogul of sexual assault and workplace harassment in a new multi-million-dollar lawsuit that Perry's attorney is calling a 'scam.' According to TMZ, Derek Dixon claims Perry, 55, made unwanted sexual advances in text messages and while the budding actor stayed in the 'Straw' creator's guest home in Atlanta. Dixon, who played the character 'Dale' in BET's 'The Oval,' alleges that Perry invited him to his home on several occasions and that the Hollywood giant repeatedly touched him without his consent. The actor said he feared his career would be negatively affected if he outright rejected Perry's alleged advances. According to the $260 million lawsuit, Dixon says he first met Perry when the writer, director and producer allegedly picked him out of a crowd in 2019 and asked for his number. He claims Perry suggested he had an acting role for him and later cast him in two episodes of Perry's TV series 'Ruthless.' TMZ reports that Dixon claims that, in 2020, Perry invited him to his Atlanta home, where he said he drank too much and stayed the night in a guest room. He alleges that Perry got in the bed with him and began touching his thighs–which he claims he rejected. However, the lawsuit accuses Perry of continuing to show his interest and make other advances, including years' worth of 'sexually charged' text messages. 'No straight man would be going on walks with you or cooking dinner for you unless they wanted to f–k you. I would f–k you,' read one alleged text message according to the lawsuit, per TMZ. Dixon's lawsuit names other incidents, like another alleged 2020 encounter at Perry's home when he allegedly asked Dixon if he 'likes it rough in bed.' Dixon alleges Perry grabbed his throat and said, 'Look how excited you just got.' In another alleged incident in June 2021, Dixon claims Perry came inside the guest house to hug him goodnight. The actor said he was wearing only his underwear when Perry allegedly pulled down his underwear and grabbed his buttocks. Dixon alleges that Perry told him to 'relax and just let it happen' and assured him it wouldn't hurt. Dixon claims he rejected Perry's advances in every incident and would change the subject to avoid things going any further. The alleged incidents reportedly resulted in Dixon filing a complaint with the Equal Employment and Opportunity Commission in June 2024. He also quit his role on 'The Oval,' claiming he could no longer endure the alleged sexual harassment. Dixon is now suing Perry for damages in the lawsuit, which accuses Perry and Tyler Perry Studios of sexual assault, sexual harassment, battery, quid pro quo and workplace sexual harassment. Matthew Boyd, an attorney for Tyler Perry, has categorically denied the allegations. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' said Boyd. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' More must-reads: Sean 'Diddy' Combs probably won't testify as defense says its case could be less than 2 days R. Kelly claims he was hospitalized for drug overdose; feds slam his 'repugnant' request for house arrest Israeli strikes damage Iran's underground nuclear site, agency says, as Trump issues ominous warning
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
K-P Opposition rejects budget, cites failures
Opposition parties in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly have outright rejected the provincial budget for the fiscal year 202526, expressing deep reservations over its substance. In stark contrast, government members lauded the budget, hailing it as the "best in the province's history." Leader of the Opposition, Dr Ibadullah, speaking on the floor of the House, criticized the budget by highlighting the province's heavy reliance on external sources. "Only seven per cent of the province's revenue is internally generated, while 93 per cent depends on federal transfers and loans," he said. "Government expenditures make up 99 per cent while development spending is only 1 per cent. This is the 12th and likely the last budget of PTI's rule." He criticized the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for failing to fully utilize Annual Development Program (ADP) funds during its 12-year rule. "There's a lot of activity on social media, but the reality on the ground is that the province lies in ruins," he added. Dr Ibadullah also made references to international and regional politics, praising the army for its response to Indian aggression and expressing solidarity with Iran. Addressing the development allocations, he noted: "Though Rs538 billion has been earmarked for development, this is not a surplus budget as claimed. The figures are misleading, and the public is being deceived." He pointed out the provincial debt ballooning from Rs166 billion during the ANP era to Rs800 billion under PTI, amounting to a 600 per cent increase. He called out failures in flagship projects such as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and raised corruption allegations related to the Kohistan, Malam Jabba, and Billion Tree Tsunami scandals. "Rs31 billion have been recovered from the Kohistan scam alone due to the Speaker's efforts," he claimed. He also lamented the overall state of education and healthcare in the province, saying that 30 per cent of schools lack basic facilities and a large percentage of students struggle with basic subjects like Urdu and mathematics. In higher education, he accused universities of mass hiring and lack of research output, while also claiming that 60 per cent of Basic Health Units (BHUs) are non-functional. "Health cards are being politicized, and hospitals are in a dire state. Tell us one positive achievement," he demanded.
