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go fish casino no deposit bonus Amaravati, Dec 24 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said he has accepted the training policy recommendations made by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC). The southern state inked an agreement with the CBC in August for employee training and the establishment of a global institute of good governance in Amaravati. Also Read | Election Commission Rejects Congress Claims on Voter Turnout Discrepancies, Clarifies Data Process; Stands by Transparency in Maharashtra Assembly Elections. "In a knowledge-driven economy, staying updated with the latest skills is crucial. As part of our efforts to enhance governance efficiency in Andhra Pradesh, I am pleased to announce the acceptance of the training policy recommendations by the CBC," Naidu said in a post on X. The chief minister also noted that these recommendations will serve as the foundation for establishing the Global Institute of Good Governance (GIGG) in Amaravati to drive transformative capacity-building initiatives. Also Read | Dog Attack in Kerala: 88-Year-Old Woman Mauled to Death by Stray Dog in Thiruvananthapuram. He said key programmes such as Mission Karmayogi will utilise advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence for targeted skill development, guided by comprehensive skills census. According to Naidu, training will commence for critical departments such as police, revenue, municipal administration, Panchayati Raj, agriculture, education and health. "The government of Andhra Pradesh is also exploring innovative workspace solutions, including work from home models, to enhance productivity and efficiency," the chief minister said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)Uzbekistan advances transport and engineering infrastructure dev't in New Tashkent

ULSTER SNAPPED THEIR five-game losing streak with a brilliant performance charged by their young players in Galway tonight. Richie Murphy’s men despite making the trip to Galway without a string of senior players. Yet the visitors looked hungrier throughout, starting with real intent and delivering some excellent defensive moments to land their first away win of the season. “We’re obviously massively delighted to get that win,” said Ulster boss Richie Murphy. ‘Traveling up during the week we lost a few boys, even in the warm up there we lost Rob Herring, so we’re missing a lot of experience at the pitch. So for those guys to come in and do as well as they done and for those young blacks to stand up and play against the likes of Bundee (Aki) and Mack (Hansen) is massively satisfying for us. “We didn’t give them a minute on the ball defensively, we put a lot of pressure on them and a lot of that credit has to go to Johnny Bell.” Ulster captain Nick Timoney was outstanding, while number eight James McNabney lead the charge in a dominant first half showing. Murphy also singled out his half-backs and a strong defensive display from centres Ben Carson and Jude Postlethwaite. “From an attack point of view, obviously the two tries we got were on the back of good forward carries, dominating a little bit around the gain line. “That young backline is going to take a little bit of time to get used to the speed of the game and how they can bring others into the game, but I thought both Ben Carson and Jude Postlethwaite were very strong defensively, very strong with their carry. “I thought Jack Murphy put us in a couple of different good places and I saw Nathan Doak had an incredibly good game. His clearance kicking and his pressure coming through off the back of the line was incredible.” The win lifts Ulster to eight in the URC table, as they head into a week off before returning to Champions Cup action with games against Leicester and Exeter next month.Neulight's IntelliTier: Empowering Educators with Next-Gen EdTech for Personalized Student Support

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Was Black Friday 2024 the biggest ever? Holiday shopping by yearAmaravati, Dec 24 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said he has accepted the training policy recommendations made by the Capacity Building Commission (CBC). The southern state inked an agreement with the CBC in August for employee training and the establishment of a global institute of good governance in Amaravati. “In a knowledge-driven economy, staying updated with the latest skills is crucial. As part of our efforts to enhance governance efficiency in Andhra Pradesh, I am pleased to announce the acceptance of the training policy recommendations by the CBC,” Naidu said in a post on X. The chief minister also noted that these recommendations will serve as the foundation for establishing the Global Institute of Good Governance (GIGG) in Amaravati to drive transformative capacity-building initiatives. He said key programmes such as Mission Karmayogi will utilise advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence for targeted skill development, guided by comprehensive skills census. According to Naidu, training will commence for critical departments such as police, revenue, municipal administration, Panchayati Raj, agriculture, education and health. “The government of Andhra Pradesh is also exploring innovative workspace solutions, including work from home models, to enhance productivity and efficiency,” the chief minister said. PTI STH ARI This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. var ytflag = 0;var myListener = function() {document.removeEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);lazyloadmyframes();};document.addEventListener('mousemove', myListener, false);window.addEventListener('scroll', function() {if (ytflag == 0) {lazyloadmyframes();ytflag = 1;}});function lazyloadmyframes() {var ytv = document.getElementsByClassName("klazyiframe");for (var i = 0; i < ytv.length; i++) {ytv[i].src = ytv[i].getAttribute('data-src');}} Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );

The state government will commission a new mobile filtration plant to clean up tap-water supplies in the Blue Mountains that have been tainted by a plume of cancer-linked “forever chemicals”. The additional filtration is already being installed at the Cascade Water Filtration Plant in Katoomba, which supplies drinking water to nearly 50,000 residents across the area on the World Heritage List. A new mobile water filtration plant will be installed at Katoomba to remove cancer-linked PFAS contaminants from tap-water supplies. Credit: Wolter Peeters The plant will deploy granular activated carbon and ion exchange resin technology to purify the water. The per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) were discovered at elevated levels in Blue Mountains drinking-water supplies after the state government was pressured into testing by a Herald investigation in June. The article challenged authorities’ assumptions there were “no known PFAS hotspots in our drinking-water catchments” . After initially dismissing the Herald’s reporting, authorities quietly commissioned tests that revealed the true extent of contamination. Levels have been detected in the Cascade Water Filtration Plant that would breach Australia’s proposed new drinking-water guidelines for forever chemicals, set to be finalised by April next year. The new filtration technologies are expected to significantly reduce PFAS levels and ensure Sydney Water can comply with the new guidelines. “It is important that communities are confident in the knowledge that they have access to safe and secure water, and this new technology will help us in those efforts,” NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson said. “We will continue to support our water authorities across the state to deliver the highest-quality drinking water to every home and business.” Jon Dee, who leads the local STOP-PFAS action group, saw the move as proof the state government knew it needed to act to make the region’s drinking water safe again. “This is a great win for the Blue Mountains community and The Sydney Morning Herald’s push to reduce our community’s exposure to forever chemicals,” he said. NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson. Credit: Flavio Brancaleone The source of the contamination in the drinking water is yet to be identified, but independent tests have linked it to a 1992 petrol tanker crash on the Great Western Highway. The plant is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year. Granular activated carbon traps PFAS contaminants due to its porous structure, while ion exchange resin swaps unwanted ions, such as PFAS, with safer ions. “While PFAS treatment is still an evolving field, we are leading the way with new ideas, such as this one, to ensure the continued delivery of world-class drinking water across the Sydney Water network,” Sydney Water managing director Roch Cheroux said. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .

TORONTO , Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - DeFi Technologies Inc. (the " Company " or " DeFi Technologies ") (CBOE CA: DEFI ) (GR: R9B) DEFTF , a financial technology company that pioneers the convergence of traditional capital markets with the world of decentralised finance (" DeFi "), announces that Russell Starr , Head of Capital Markets, will be a featured guest on Stocktwits Daily Rip Live on December 3, 2024 , at 9:00 AM EST . Daily Rip Live airs every market day, delivering Stocktwits' vibrant community the latest market updates, trading insights, and in-depth analysis of emerging financial trends. Anchored by Shay Boloor and Jordan Lee , renowned for their expertise and engaging social media presence, the show features a lineup of expert guests, making it a go-to resource for active traders and investors. Tune in live via: Watch the live show on: https://stocktwits.com/ @Stocktwits on X : https://x.com/Stocktwits Stocktwits YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/stocktwits Learn more about DeFi Technologies at defi .tech About Stocktwits Stocktwits is the premier social media platform dedicated to investors and traders. With an active community of over 10 million users, Stocktwits has established itself as a leading voice in the investing world. Driven by the mission to help investors enhance their returns, Stocktwits offers a rich ecosystem of community interaction, data, content, and tools that empower investors to connect, learn, profit, and have fun in the process. For more information, visit https://stocktwits.com/ About DeFi Technologies DeFi Technologies Inc. ( CBOE CA: DEFI ) ( GR: R9B ) (( DEFTF ) is a financial technology company that pioneers the convergence of traditional capital markets with the world of decentralized finance ( DeFi ). With a dedicated focus on industry-leading Web3 technologies, DeFi Technologies aims to provide widespread investor access to the future of finance. Backed by an esteemed team of experts with extensive experience in financial markets and digital assets, we are committed to revolutionizing the way individuals and institutions interact with the evolving financial ecosystem. Join DeFi Technologies' digital community on Linkedin and Twitter , and for more details, visit https:// defi .tech/ About Valour Valour Inc. and Valour Digital Securities Limited (together, " Valour ") issues exchange traded products (" ETPs" ) that enable retail and institutional investors to access digital assets like Bitcoin in a simple and secure way via their traditional bank account. Valour is part of the asset management business line of DeFi Technologies Inc. ( CBOE CA: DEFI ) ( GR: R9B ) (( DEFTF ).For more information on Valour, to subscribe, or to receive updates and financial information, visit valour.com . About Reflexivity Research Reflexivity Research LLC is a leading research firm specializing in the creation of high-quality, in-depth research reports for the bitcoin and digital asset industry, empowering investors with valuable insights. For more information please visit https://www.reflexivityresearch.com/ About Stillman Digital Stillman Digital is a leading digital asset liquidity provider that offers limitless liquidity solutions for businesses, focusing on industry-leading trade execution, settlement, and technology. For more information, please visit https://www.stillmandigital.com Cautionary note regarding forward-looking information: This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to the participation of DeFi Technologies on Stocktwits; development of ETPs; the regulatory environment with respect to the growth and adoption of decentralized finance; the pursuit by DeFi and its subsidiaries of business opportunities; and the merits or potential returns of any such opportunities. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company, as the case may be, to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but is not limited to the growth and development of decentralized finance and the digital asset sector; rules and regulations with respect to decentralized finance and digital assets; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. THE CBOE CANADA EXCHANGE DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/defi-technologies-to-be-featured-on-stocktwits-daily-rip-live-302320182.html SOURCE DeFi Technologies Inc. © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.A month after the Saskatchewan Party was re-elected, the government is outlining its priorities in the 2024 throne speech. “We should never take for granted the tremendous privilege that we have in our province and our country to freely choose our representatives and our government,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said in the speech. Moe says his government plans to start working on affordability issues, including a promise to reduce personal income tax rates. The provincial government also plans to address problems in health care, education and community safety. Affordability The largest section of the throne speech, Moe said he will introduce the largest personal income tax reduction in Saskatchewan since 2008 by raising the personal exemption, spousal exemption, child exemption and seniors supplement by $500 a year in each of the next four years, in addition to fully indexing income tax brackets. Moe said a family of four can expect to save more than $3,400 over the next four years and a senior couple will save more than $3,100. “When fully implemented, an additional 54,000 people will no longer pay any Saskatchewan income tax,” Moe explained. “The Saskatchewan Low-Income Tax Credit will be increased by 20 per cent over the next four years. When it comes to homeowners, the Home Renovation Tax Credit will allow homeowners to claim up to $4,000 in home renovation expenses every year, to a maximum benefit of $420 annually. Seniors will be able to claim an additional $1,000 every year, for a maximum benefit of $525 annually. Moe promises the Saskatchewan First-Time Homebuyers Credit will be increased by 50 per cent, from $10,000 to $15,000. The government is also promising to increase the disability tax credit by 25 per cent. The government will also introduce legislation to extend the carbon price exemption on natural gas through 2025. Health care Moe said his government will continue to accelerate the hiring of health-care professionals and expand urgent care centres. An urgent care centre opened in Regina this July and has served the needs of more than 14,000 patients. Moe said his government will open additional urgent care centres in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, North Battleford, Moose Jaw and Regina. Moe is also promising 450,000 surgeries will be performed over the next four years. “Increasing capacity will reduce surgical wait times to no more than three months,” the speech says. “To meet the need for more health-care infrastructure, five new hospitals are under development in Prince Albert, Weyburn, Esterhazy, Rosthern and Yorkton. “Over four years, my government will invest more than $2.6 billion into health-care infrastructure.” The speech also said the province will further implement a nurse task force, provide women with the option to do cervix self-screening at home for the human papillomavirus and more. Education When it comes to education, Moe said he will work to expand the specialized support classroom model. “My government will work with school divisions to expand the specialized support classroom pilot to 200 more schools throughout the province,” Moe said. He also said he would increase funding for school divisions, but not by how much or when. Safer communities When it comes to community safety, Moe said his government will add 500 more police officers and 500 more addiction recovery spaces. “More police officers, more access to recovery spaces, more mental health supports and stronger laws – that’s my government’s plan for safer communities and neighbourhoods,” the speech reads. Saskatchewan NDP push back The Saskatchewan Party heads into the 61-seat legislature with 34 members, facing a larger 27-member Opposition under NDP Leader Carla Beck. Beck said this speech from the Throne was just more of “the same old Sask. Party.” “Regardless of who you voted for, people want action from their elected officials. They want results now,” said Beck. “Claiming to have heard voters’ concerns while refusing to change course makes it clear that this is the same old Sask. Party government. People are tired of the same old song and dance from these guys. They want better than this.” Beck said the speech misses the mark in many key areas. She believes there are no new affordability measures until tax time next year, and only for those who are actually eligible. The NDP leader also said the promises do nothing to get Saskatchewan schools “out of last place in Canada,” and no changes to the “failed healthcare plan.” “Scott Moe suggests he’s heard the message from the people of Saskatchewan that they want change, but he offers nothing of the sort,” Beck said. “He’s pressing ahead with cuts to funding for hospitals and schools and doing nothing immediately to help make life more affordable for families. This is a government that’s out of ideas and out of touch with the people in this province who are hurting.” Beck, whose party gained ground in Saskatoon and Regina after the election, said she will press Moe to suspend the provincial gas tax and fix health care. She says her party plans to introduce an emergency motion that would give Moe a Wednesday deadline to pause the gas tax. — More info to come.Global Launch of JETOUR T2 i-DM: Reshaping the Hybrid SUV Market

golubovy/iStock via Getty Images Introduction Aptiv ( NYSE: APTV ) is a $13bn market-cap auto component manufacturer, providing a variety of electrical components and ADAS systems for both ICE and EVs. Key to the investment thesis is the adoption of EVs, as they carry a 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.As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act plans continues through Jan. 15, you’re likely seeing fewer social media ads promising monthly cash cards worth hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars that you can use for groceries, medical bills, rent and other expenses. But don’t worry. You haven’t missed out on any windfalls. Clicking on one of those ads would not have provided you with a cash card — at least not worth hundreds or thousands. But you might have found yourself switched to a health insurance plan you did not authorize, unable to afford treatment for an unforeseen medical emergency, and owing thousands of dollars to the IRS, according to an ongoing lawsuit against companies and individuals who plaintiffs say masterminded the ads and alleged scams committed against millions of people who responded to them. The absence of those once-ubiquitous ads are likely a result of the federal government suspending access to the ACA marketplace for two companies that market health insurance out of South Florida offices, amid accusations they used “fraudulent” ads to lure customers and then switched their insurance plans and agents without their knowledge. In its suspension letter, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) cited “credible allegations of misconduct” in the agency’s decision to suspend the abilities of two companies — TrueCoverage (doing business as Inshura) and BenefitAlign — to transact information with the marketplace. CMS licenses and monitors agencies that use their own websites and information technology platforms to enroll health insurance customers in ACA plans offered in the federal marketplace. Suit names long list of defendants The alleged scheme affected millions of consumers, according to a lawsuit winding its way through U.S. District Court in Fort Lauderdale that seeks class-action status. An amended version of the suit, filed in August, increased the number of defendants from six to 12: — TrueCoverage LLC, an Albuquerque, New Mexico-based health insurance agency with large offices in Miami, Miramar and Deerfield Beach. TrueCoverage is a sub-tenant of the South Florida Sun Sentinel in a building leased by the newspaper in Deerfield Beach. — Enhance Health LLC, a Sunrise-based health insurance agency that the lawsuit says was founded by Matthew Herman, also named as a defendant, with a $150 million investment from hedge fund Bain Capital’s insurance division. Bain Capital Insurance Fund LP is also a defendant. — Speridian Technologies LLC, accused in the lawsuit of establishing two direct enrollment platforms that provided TrueCoverage and other agencies access to the ACA marketplace. — Benefitalign LLC, identified in the suit as one of the direct enrollment platforms created by Speridian. Like Speridian and TrueCoverage, the company is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. — Number One Prospecting LLC, doing business as Minerva Marketing, based in Fort Lauderdale, and its founder, Brandon Bowsky, accused of developing the social media ads that drove customers — or “leads” — to the health insurance agencies. — Digital Media Solutions LLC, doing business as Protect Health, a Miami-based agency that the suit says bought Minerva’s “fraudulent” ads. In September, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas, which automatically suspended claims filed against the company. — Net Health Affiliates Inc., an Aventura-based agency the lawsuit says was associated with Enhance Health and like it, bought leads from Minerva. — Garish Panicker, identified in the lawsuit as half-owner of Speridian Global Holdings and day-to-day controller of companies under its umbrella, including TrueCoverage, Benefitalign and Speridian Technologies. — Matthew Goldfuss, accused by the suit of overseeing and directing TrueCoverage’s ACA enrollment efforts. All of the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit. The motions deny the allegations and argue that the plaintiffs failed to properly state their claims and lack the standing to file the complaints. Defendants respond to requests for comment The Sun Sentinel sent requests for comment and lists of questions about the cases to four separate law firms representing separate groups of defendants. Three of the law firms — one representing Brandon Bowsky and Number One Prospecting LLC d/b/a Minerva Marketing, and two others representing Net Health Affiliates Inc. and Bain Capital Insurance Fund — did not respond to the requests. A representative of Enhance Health LLC and Matthew Herman, Olga M. Vieira of the Miami-based firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, responded with a short message saying she was glad the newspaper knew a motion to dismiss the charges had been filed by the defendants. She also said that, “Enhance has denied all the allegations as reported previously in the media.” Catherine Riedel, a communications specialist representing TrueCoverage LLC, Benefitalign LLC, Speridian Technologies LLC, Girish Panicker and Matthew Goldfuss, issued the following statement: “TrueCoverage takes these allegations very seriously and is responding appropriately. While we cannot comment on ongoing litigation, we strongly believe that the allegations are baseless and without merit. “Compliance is our business. The TrueCoverage team records and reviews every call with a customer, including during Open Enrollment when roughly 500 agents handle nearly 30,000 calls a day. No customer is enrolled into any policy without a formal verbal consent given by the customer. If any customer calls in as a result of misleading content presented by third-party marketing vendors, agents are trained to correct such misinformation and action is taken against such third-party vendors.” Through Riedel, the defendants declined to answer follow-up questions, including whether the company remains in business, whether it continues to enroll Affordable Care Act clients, and whether it is still operating its New Mexico call center using another affiliated technology platform. Lawsuit: COVID relief package made ‘scheme’ possible The suspension notification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services letter cites several factors, including the histories of noncompliance and previous suspensions. The letter noted suspicion that TrueCoverage and Benefitalign were storing consumers’ personally identifiable information in databases located in India and possibly other overseas locations in violation of the centers’ rules. The letter also notes allegations against the companies in the pending lawsuit that “they engaged in a variety of illegal practices, including violations of the (Racketeer Influenced & Corrupt Organizations, or RICO Act), misuse of consumer (personal identifiable information) and insurance fraud.” The amended lawsuit filed in August names as plaintiffs five individuals who say their insurance plans were changed and two agencies who say they lost money when they were replaced as agents. The lawsuit accuses the defendants of 55 counts of wrongdoing, ranging from running ads offering thousands of dollars in cash that they knew would never be provided directly to consumers, switching millions of consumers into different insurance policies without their authorization, misstating their household incomes to make them eligible for $0 premium coverage, and “stealing” commissions by switching the agents listed in their accounts. TrueCoverage, Enhance Health, Protect Health, and some of their associates “engaged in hundreds of thousands of agent-of-record swaps to steal other agents’ commissions,” the suit states. “Using the Benefitalign and Inshura platforms, they created large spreadsheet lists of consumer names, dates of birth and zip codes.” They provided those spreadsheets to agents, it says, and instructed them to access platforms linked to the ACA marketplace and change the customers’ agents of record “without telling the client or providing informed consent.” “In doing so, they immediately captured the monthly commissions of agents ... who had originally worked with the consumers directly to sign them up,” the lawsuit asserts. TrueCoverage employees who complained about dealing with prospects who called looking for cash cards were routinely chided by supervisors who told them to be vague and keep making money, the suit says. When the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services began contacting the company in January about customer complaints, the suit says TrueCoverage enrollment supervisor Matthew Goldfuss sent an email instructing agents “do not respond.” How it started The lawsuit states the “scheme” was made possible in 2021 when Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The act made it possible for Americans with household incomes between 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level to pay zero in premiums and it enabled those consumers to enroll in ACA plans all year round, instead of during the three-month open enrollment period from November to January. Experienced health insurance brokers recognized the opportunity presented by the changes, the lawsuit says. More than 40 million Americans live within 100% and 150% of the federal poverty level, while only 15 million had ACA insurance at the time. The defendants developed or benefited from online ads, the lawsuit says, which falsely promised “hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars per month in cash benefits such as subsidy cards to pay for common expenses like rent, groceries, and gas.” Consumers who clicked on the ads were brought to a landing page that asked a few qualifying questions, and if their answers suggested that they might qualify for a low-cost or no-cost plan, they were provided a phone number to a health insurance agency. There was a major problem with the plan, according to the lawsuit. “Customers believe they are being routed to someone who will send them a free cash card, not enroll them in health insurance.” By law, the federal government sends subsidies for ACA plans to insurance companies, and not to individual consumers. Scripts were developed requiring agents not to mention a cash card, and if a customer mentions a cash card, “be vague” and tell the caller that only the insurance carrier can provide that information, the lawsuit alleges. In September, the defendants filed a motion to dismiss the claims. In addition to denying the charges, they argued that the class plaintiffs lacked the standing to make the accusations and failed to demonstrate that they suffered harm. The motion also argued that the lawsuit’s accusations failed to meet requirements necessary to claim civil violations of the RICO Act. Miami-based attorney Jason Kellogg, representing the plaintiffs, said he doesn’t expect a ruling on the motion to dismiss the case for several months. The complaint also lists nearly 50 companies, not named as defendants, that it says fed business to TrueCoverage and Enhance Health. Known in the industry as “downlines,” most operate in office parks throughout South Florida, the lawsuit says. Complaints from former employees and clients The lawsuit quotes former TrueCoverage employees complaining about having to work with customers lured by false cash promises in the online ads. A former employee who worked in the company’s Deerfield Beach office was quoted in the lawsuit as saying that senior TrueCoverage and Speridian executives “knew that consumers were calling in response to the false advertisements promising cash cards and they pressured agents to use them to enroll consumers into ACA plans.” A former human resources manager for TrueCoverage said sales agents frequently complained “that they did not feel comfortable having to mislead consumers,” the lawsuit said. Over two dozen agents “came to me with these complaints and showed me the false advertisements that consumers who called in were showing them,” the lawsuit quoted the former manager as saying. For much of the time the companies operated, the ACA marketplace enabled agents to easily access customer accounts using their names and Social Security numbers, change their insurance plans and switch their agents of record without their knowledge or authorization, the lawsuit says. This resulted in customers’ original agents losing their commissions and many of the policyholders finding out they suddenly owed far more for health care services than their original plans had required, the suit states. It says that one of the co-plaintiffs’ health plans was changed at least 22 times without her consent. She first discovered that she had lost her original plan when she sought to renew a prescription for her heart condition and her doctor told her she did not have health insurance, the suit states. Another co-plaintiff’s policy was switched after her husband responded to one of the cash card advertisements, the lawsuit says. That couple’s insurance plan was switched multiple times after a TrueCoverage agent excluded the wife’s income from an application so the couple would qualify. Later, they received bills from the IRS for $4,300 to cover tax credits issued to pay for the plans. CMS barred TrueCoverage and BenefitAlign from accessing the ACA marketplace. It said it received more than 90,000 complaints about unauthorized plan switches and more than 183,500 complaints about unauthorized enrollments, but the agency did not attribute all of the complaints to activities by the two companies. In addition, CMS restricted all agents’ abilities to alter policyholders’ enrollment information, the lawsuit says. Now access is allowed only for agents that already represent policyholders or if the policyholder participates in a three-way call with an agent and a marketplace employee. Between June and October, the agency barred 850 agents and brokers from accessing the marketplace “for reasonable suspicion of fraudulent or abusive conduct related to unauthorized enrollments or unauthorized plan switches,” according to an October CMS news release . The changes resulted in a “dramatic and sustained drop” in unauthorized activity, including a nearly 70% decrease in plan changes associated with an agent or broker and a nearly 90% decrease in changes to agent or broker commission information, the release said. It added that while consumers were often unaware of such changes, the opportunity to make them provided “significant financial incentive for non-compliant agents and brokers.” But CMS’ restrictions might be having unintended consequences for law-abiding agents and brokers. A story published by Insurance News Net on Nov. 11 quoted the president of the Health Agents for America (HAFA) trade group as saying agents are being suspended by CMS after being flagged by a mysterious algorithm that no one can figure out. The story quotes HAFA president Ronnell Nolan as surmising, “maybe they wrote too many policies on the same day for people who have the same income or they’re writing too many policies on people of a certain occupation.” Nolan continued, “We have members who have thousands of ACA clients. They can’t update or renew their clients. So those consumers have lost access to their professional agent, which is simply unfair.” Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. He can be reached by phone at 954-356-4071, on Twitter @ronhurtibise or by email at rhurtibise@sunsentinel.com.

NHL fines Edmonton Oilers forward Jeff Skinner $2,000 for embellishmentShine up your baubles, straighten the tree and put on your sparkliest jumper, because the most glamorous hour of the festive TV schedule is back! With six new celebrities entering the ballroom hoping to be crowned 2024’s yuletide champion here’s how to watch the 2024 "Strictly Come Dancing" Christmas Special from anywhere with a VPN — and potentially for free. “Strictly” and Christmas just go hand in hand. The camp, the sparkles, the music. A lynchpin of the BBC’s Christmas schedule, the absolute mountain of TV gifts we have to unwrap this year means the ballroom competition airs earlier than usual, but it’s set to be no less of a televisual treat. Coming off Chris McCausland’s stunning victory in the regular season, six new celebrities hope to replicate the comedian's success in the one-off edition. This year we're going to be treated to the best efforts of fellow funnyman Josh Widdicombe, “Drag Race” star Tayce, fitness presenter and podcaster Vogue Williams, Olympian Harry Aikines-Aryeetey (aka Gladiator Nitro), former Eastender Tamzin Outhwaite and racing driver and “Celebrity Race Across the World” contestant Billy Monger. The usual judges are back with Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas and Craig Revel Horwood all set for some seasonal scoring. Expect Craig to be on fine form – it is panto season after all. And if that’s not enough to stuff your stocking, there will also be a performance from Spice Girl Emma Bunton and two spectacular group routines. Ready for a festive foxtrot and a Santa samba? Read on to find out how to watch the "Strictly Come Dancing" 2024 Christmas Special online and from anywhere. Watch the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special for free in the U.K. Watch the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special from abroad Thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network), the "Strictly Come Dancing" 2024 Christmas Special should be available to Brits no matter where they are. The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you find yourself. Our favorite is NordVPN – and you can find out why in our NordVPN review . Using a VPN is incredibly simple, just follow these steps. 1. Install the VPN of your choice . As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you're away in the U.S., and want to view your usual U.K. service, you'd select U.K. from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to BBC iPlayer and watch the 2024 "Strictly Come Dancing" Christmas Special. Watch around the world Can I watch the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special in the U.S.? "Strictly Come Dancing" doesn't air in the U.S., and as such, there will be no broadcast of the 2024 Christmas Special. The Stateside version of the show, " Dancing with the Stars " can, however, be streamed on Disney Plus . If you are a Brit travelling in the States, you can catch the show by using a VPN such as NordVPN , choosing U.K. from the list and heading to BBC iPlayer . Can I watch the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special in Canada? As with the U.S., there are currently no plans to air the "Strictly Come Dancing" 2024 Christmas Special in Canada. If you are a Brit in the Great White North on work or for vacation you can catch the show by using a VPN such as NordVPN . Can I watch the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special in Australia? "Strictly Come Dancing" isn't available to stream in Down Under, so you won;t be able to watch the 2024 Christmas Special. Aussies do have their own version of "Dancing with the Stars" which streams for free on 7Plus . If you are a Brit abroad in Oz, you can catch the show by using a VPN such as NordVPN . All you need to know about the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special trailer What is the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special release date? The festive edition of "Strictly Come Dancing" for 2024 will air on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25 in the UK, going out on BBC One at 3:55 p.m. GMT. It will also be available to stream live and on-demand for free on BBC iPlayer. Who are the the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special contestants? Josh Widdicombe (comedian, podcaster and author) "I am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation. Why have I done this?" Tayce (Drag artist, model and presenter) "I cannot wait to sleigh on the Strictly Ballroom floor. My partner and I are going to dance for our lives! In all seriousness, it’s an incredible honour to be the first Drag artist to be taking part in Strictly Come Dancing. I hope I do all of my Drag Race and Welsh fans proud! Sign me up for all the glitz, glam and discoballs." Vogue Williams (presenter, podcaster, DJ and fitness expert) "I’m so excited to join the Strictly family! Carlos would have more of a chance of winning a Nobel prize than turning me into a good dancer but I am determined to try my very best! I’m loving it so far, bring on the Ballroom floor." Harry Aikines-Aryeetey aka Nitro (Gladiator and Olympian) "STRICTLY... ARE YOU READY?! Nitro’s blasting onto the Ballroom floor this Christmas! I’m swapping my trainers for dancing shoes, and trust me, I’m bringing the power, the energy and the moves! This December I'm gonna light up that dancefloor and crank the Christmas spirit all the way UP. Let’s do this!" Tamzin Outhwaite (actress) "I've always wanted to do Strictly because I want to learn to Ballroom and Latin dance but I know that at my age, I don't think my body would be able to do the amount of weeks that is required. So I said yes to the Christmas Special because it feel like a little snippet, a Strictly hors d'oeuvre. Like I could just dip in for a couple of weeks." Billy Monger (racing driver and TV presenter) "I've spent the last 12 months training 20 hours a week for an Ironman world record attempt, but the thought of donning sequins in front of Craig Revel Horwood fills me with a fear I've never experienced before. This is about as far from my comfort zone as it can get! My family are big Strictly fans, so I'm doing it for them and to raise awareness for what I’m doing for Comic Relief next year. I'm just hoping my leg doesn't fall off mid-dance!" What are the 2024 'Strictly Come Dancing' Christmas Special pairings? More from Tom's Guide

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