Nearly 3 million people could receive a boost in Social Security payments under legislation set for a final Senate vote in the coming days. The Social Security Fairness Act would end longtime provisions that reduce the federal benefit for people who are also eligible for other pensions. The policies have heavily affected people who worked in state, local and federal government jobs, as well as teachers, firefighters and police officers, according to lawmakers and advocates. The bill has bipartisan support but has drawn some criticism from some conservatives. The House approved the measure in November by a vote of 327-75 and the bill easily cleared its first hurdle in the Senate on Wednesday. Its backers hope the Senate will vote to send the legislation to President Joe Biden before lawmakers’ lame-duck session gives way to the new Congress in January. Here is more on what the bill would mean: What would the measure do? The bill would repeal two provisions that limit Social Security benefits for certain recipients based on retirement payments they get from other sources — most often, but not exclusively, a public retirement program of a state or local government. The Windfall Elimination Provision modifies the usual benefit formula for retirees or disabled workers who are entitled to pension payments based on earnings from jobs that were not covered by Social Security. The details vary person to person but the idea, broadly, is that a monthly benefit is reduced by an amount tied to how much that person is receiving from a pension program in which they enrolled in lieu of paying Social Security payroll taxes. The Government Pension Offset follows a similar principle. It limits Social Security spousal benefits (those paid to a spouse based on their living spouse’s work and payroll tax history) and the widow’s or widower’s benefits (paid after a spouse’s death). Reductions are based on pension benefits for a retired federal, state or local government worker who opted out of some or all Social Security taxes and instead paid into another public retirement insurance program. Current law establishes the offset at two-thirds of an alternative pension payment. Under that standard, for example, a retired public health nurse might receive a $1,500 monthly disbursement from a state retirement system that does not participate in Social Security. Then, if that person becomes eligible to receive a spouse’s Social Security benefit after the spouse’s death, that survivor’s Social Security benefit would be reduced by $1,000 each month. Who is affected? Social Security is commonly understood as a universal system in which everyone participates by paying Social Security payroll taxes and later getting benefits. But federal law has carved out exceptions. Generally, there are a few job categories that can be exempted and, thus, trigger benefit offsets: — Civilian federal employees hired before 1984 are covered under the Civil Service Retirement System instead of Social Security. Federal workers hired since 1984 are covered under a different federal retirement structure that requires those employees participate in Social Security. — State and local government employees who participate in their jurisdictions’ retirement systems that allow them to opt out of Social Security. — Railroad workers who are covered under a separate federal insurance program. — Some clergy who can opt out. The Congressional Research Service estimates that in December 2023, there were 745,679 people, about 1% of all Social Security […]
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes rose in November to their fastest pace since March with home shoppers encouraged by a wider selection of properties on the market, even as mortgage rates mostly ticked higher. Existing home sales rose 4.8% last month, from October, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.15 million, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. Sales accelerated 6.1% compared with November last year, representing the biggest year-over-year gain since June 2021. The latest home sales topped the 4.1 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet. Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 17th consecutive month. The national median sales price rose 4.7% from a year earlier, to $406,100. Despite increasing in November and October, home sales are still running below last year’s pace, when they sank to a nearly 30-year low. “Looks like we won’t match last year in terms of the annual total, so it will be the lowest home sales since 1995,” said Lawrence Yun, the NAR’s chief economist. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. A shortage of homes for sale has helped prop up prices, which as of last month are up 50% nationally since 2019. Mortgage rates have come down this year after the average rate on a 30-year home loan reached a 23-year high of nearly 8% in October 2023, but not nearly enough to make a difference for many would-be homebuyers. The average rate eased to a two-year low just above 6% in September following the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut its main interest rate for the first time in more than four years. But it has mostly risen since then. It was 6.6% last week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. Home sales that closed last month likely reflect contracts signed in September and October, when mortgage rates were more attractive. Heading into next year, the outlook for mortgage rates remains cloudy. Many economists predict that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will ease next year, but generally hold above 6%. Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, including the moves in the yield on U.S. 10-year Treasury bonds, which lenders use as a guide to price home loans. Bond yields shot up Wednesday after the Fed signaled that it will likely deliver fewer cuts to rates next year than it forecast just a few months ago. While the central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, its actions and the trajectory of inflation influence the moves in the 10-year Treasury yield. Home shoppers who could afford to buy in November benefited from a pickup in the homes that are available. There were 1.33 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 2.9% from October, but up 17.7% from November last year, NAR said. That translates to a 3.8-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 4.2-month pace at the end of October last year, but up from 3.5-month pace in November last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers. “We are seeing sales increase because of this increase in inventory of inventory,” Yun said. Still, the supply of homes on the market remains about 30% […]
California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu, which is tearing through dairy cows in that state and causing sporadic illnesses in people in the U.S. That raises new questions about the virus, which has spread for years in wild birds, commercial poultry and many mammal species. The virus, also known as Type A H5N1, was detected for the first time in U.S. dairy cattle in March. Since then, bird flu has been confirmed in at least 866 herds in 16 states. More than 60 people in eight states have been infected, with mostly mild illnesses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the nation’s first known severe illness caused by the virus, health officials said this week. Here’s what you need to know. Why did California declare a state of emergency? Gov. Gavin Newsom said he declared the state of emergency to better position state staff and supplies to respond to the outbreak. California has been looking for bird flu in large milk tanks during processing. And they have found the virus it at least 650 herds, representing about three-quarters of all affected U.S. dairy herds. The virus was recently detected in Southern California dairy farms after being found in the state’s Central Valley since August. “This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak,” Newsom said in a statement. What’s the risk to the general public? Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stressed again this week that the virus poses low risk to the general public. Importantly, there are no reports of person-to-person transmission and no signs that the virus has changed to spread more easily among humans. In general, flu experts agreed with that assessment, saying it’s too soon to tell what trajectory the outbreak could take. “The entirely unsatisfactory answer is going to be: I don’t think we know yet,” said Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. But virus experts are wary because flu viruses are constantly mutating and small genetic changes could change the outlook. Are cases becoming more serious? This week, health officials confirmed the first known case of severe illness in the U.S. All the previous U.S. cases — there have been about 60 — were generally mild. The patient in Louisiana, who is older than 65 and had underlying medical problems, is in critical condition. Few details have been released, but officials said the person developed severe respiratory symptoms after exposure to a backyard flock of sick birds. That makes it the first confirmed U.S. infection tied to backyard birds, the CDC said. Tests showed that the strain that caused the person’s illness is one found in wild birds, but not in cattle. Last month, health officials in Canada reported that a teen in British Columbia was hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu, also with the virus strain found in wild birds. Previous infections in the U.S. have been almost all in farmworkers with direct exposure to infected dairy cattle or poultry. In two cases — an adult in Missouri and a child in California — health officials have not determined how they caught it. It’s possible that as more […]
Toronto police have launched a hate crime investigation after Bais Chaya Mushka Girls Elementary School in North York was targeted by gunfire for the third time. Police responded to reports of gunfire at the Jewish elementary school at approximately 2:33 a.m. on Friday. Officers discovered evidence of a firearm discharge, but no injuries were reported as the school was empty at the time. This is the third such incident at the school this year. As YWN had reported, gunfire was also reported in October during Yom Kippur and YWN reported about a second shooting in May, both occurring in the early morning hours. In connection with the October shooting, a 17-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man were arrested and charged with multiple firearms offences. Authorities at the time were investigating potential links between the earlier shootings. Community leaders and politicians condemned both prior attacks, calling for increased vigilance and support for the Jewish community. The latest incident comes just days after a Montreal synagogue was targeted in a firebomb attack—the second such attack on the synagogue in just over a year. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Amazon workers affiliated with the Teamsters union launched a strike at seven of the company’s delivery hubs less than a week before Christmas. The Teamsters said the workers, who voted to authorize strikes in recent days, joined picket lines on Thursday after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union had set for contract negotiations. The company says it doesn’t expect the strike to impact holiday shipments. Amazon has a couple hundred employees at each delivery station. The Teamsters mainly have focused on organizing delivery drivers, who work for contractors that handle package deliveries for the company. But Amazon has rebuffed demands to come to the negotiating table since it doesn’t consider the drivers to be its employees. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters also says the union represents some Amazon warehouse workers. Here’s what else you need to know: Where are the strikes happening? The strikes are taking place at three delivery hubs in Southern California, and one each in San Francisco, New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, and Skokie, Illinois, according to the union’s announcement. The union hasn’t said how many workers are participating in the strike, nor how long it will go on. Vinnie Perrone, the president of a local Teamsters union in metro New York, said Thursday that the walkout would continue “as long as it takes.” The union, which claims to represent 10,000 Amazon workers at 10 facilities, said workers in more locations were prepared to join the fight. Employees at a company air hub in California have authorized a strike. So have workers at an Amazon warehouse in New York, which unionized with the nascent Amazon Labor Union in 2022 and has since affiliated with the Teamsters. The Teamsters says its local unions are also putting up picket lines at other Amazon warehouses. A company spokesperson said Thursday the strikers were “almost entirely outsiders, not Amazon employees or partners, and the suggestion otherwise is just another lie from the Teamsters.” What do the workers want? The striking workers are fighting for higher wages, better benefits, and safer work conditions. The Teamsters have tried to get Amazon to come to the negotiating table since last year, when the labor organization first said it had unionized a group of delivery drivers in California who work for a contractor. Amazon — which denies it employs the workers — refused, leading the union to file unfair labor charges against the company at the National Labor Relations Board. In August, prosecutors at the federal labor agency classified Amazon as a “joint employer” of subcontracted drivers. In September, the company boosted hourly pay for the drivers amid the growing pressure. Amazon warehouse workers who voted to union in the New York City borough of Staten Island also have tried to get the company to engage in contract negotiations. The National Labor Relations Board certified the Amazon Labor Union election, but the company objected to the representation vote and refused to bargain. In the process, Amazon also filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the labor board, which it aaccused of tainting the vote. Some organizers involved with the unionization effort there have long believed Amazon would not come to the negotiating table unless workers went on strike. What about holiday deliveries? Amazon says it doesn’t expect the strike to impact its operations, but a walkout — especially one that lasts many days — could delay shipments in some metro areas. […]
Preview of Sunday’s “CBS 60 Minutes:” For the first time, recently retired Mossad agents who led the pager and walkie talkie plot against Hezbollah tell Lesley Stahl how they executed the operation, sharing never-before-known details of the 10-year undercover op.
Speaker Johnson, as he entered the Capitol, said to expect House votes this morning. “We’re expecting votes this morning,” he said. “So y’all stay tuned, we’ve got a plan.” VP elect Vance just arrived. Freedom Caucus members are already inside Johnson’s office.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported more than 270,000 people to 192 countries over a recent 12-month period, the highest annual tally in a decade, according to a report released Thursday that illustrates some of the financial and operational challenges that President-elect Donald Trump will face to carry out his pledge of mass deportations. ICE, the main government agency responsible for removing people in the country illegally, had 271,484 deportations in its fiscal year ended Sept. 30, nearly double from 142,580 in the same period a year earlier. It was ICE’s highest deportation count since 2014, when it removed 315,943 people. The highest it reached during Trump’s first term in the White House was 267,258 in 2019. Increased deportation flights, including on weekends, and streamlined travel procedures for people sent to Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador fueled the increase, ICE said. The agency had its first large flight to China in six years and also had planes stop in Albania, Angola, Egypt, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Mauritania, Romania, Senegal, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mexico was the most common destination for deportees (87,298), followed by Guatemala (66,435) and Honduras (45,923), the report said. Mexico and Central American countries are expected to continue to bear the brunt of deportations, partly because those governments more readily accept their respective citizens than some others and logistics are easier. Still, ICE’s detention space and staff limited its reach as the number of people it monitors through immigration courts continued to mushroom. The agency’s enforcement and removals unit has remained steady at around 6,000 officers over the last decade while its caseload has roughly quadrupled to about 8 million people. (AP)
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) released harrowing bodycam footage on Thursday of the dramatic confrontation between Chicago Police officers and a the illegal Muslim terrorist who shot a Jewish man on his way to shul on a Shabbos morning in West Rogers Park. The incident began on the morning of October 26, one day after Simchas Torah, when 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi shot a 39-year-old Jewish man in the shoulder as the victim walked to shul along the 2600 block of West Farwell Avenue. First responders arriving at the scene were met with gunfire, as Abdallahi allegedly opened fire on them, striking an ambulance but miraculously injuring no officers or paramedics. Police returned fire, hitting Abdallahi multiple times. The newly released bodycam footage shows officers chasing the suspect as he fled down Washtenaw Avenue near Farwell. In a tense standoff outside a bungalow on the corner, Abdallahi is seen lying on the ground in a maroon sweatshirt, still moving. Officers ordered him to place his hands on his abdomen before firing additional shots. The suburban street, typically quiet, was suddenly transformed into a chaotic battleground. Residents took cover as bullets flew, and officers sought shelter behind vehicles, including a black pickup truck parked nearby. The footage concludes with officers confiscating a firearm from Abdallahi and rendering aid as he lay on the sidewalk, blood pooling beneath him and fallen leaves scattered on his clothing. It took the city of Chicago a week before they even called this a “hate crime” let alone a terror attack, even as YWN published video footage of the terrorist yelling “Allah Akbar” as he shot at paramedics and police. [YWN EDITORIAL: Woke Chicago Mayor’s And PD’s Deafening Silence On Anti-Semitic Violence – And That Of Jewish Orgs] Initially, Abdallahi faced multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated battery. Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling later announced additional charges of hate crime and terrorism after further investigation determined that Abdallahi had targeted the victim for being Jewish. On November 15, Abdallahi was transferred from Ascension St. Francis Hospital to the Cook County Jail’s Cermak Health Services. But just two weeks later, on November 30, he was found unresponsive during a routine check by jail staff, having hanged himself in an apparent suicide attempt. He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital but succumbed to his injuries, concluding the case. Authorities said data from Abdallahi’s phone showed extensive planning and antisemitic motivations. He reportedly saved the locations of shuls on multiple occasions in the days before the attack and conducted internet searches for “Jewish Community Center” and a suburban gun store. Prosecutors also stated that his phone contained over 100 antisemitic and pro-Hamas images and videos. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The New York City Council voted on Thursday to rename a portion of President Street in Brooklyn to “Lubavitcher Rebbe Way” in honor of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the revered leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. “Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, known as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, was the seventh leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement and one of the most transformative figures in modern Jewish history,” said City Council Member Crystal Hudson, who introduced the legislation. She detailed the Rebbe’s remarkable journey, noting that he arrived in the United States in 1941 after escaping the Holocaust. During his decades of leadership, the Rebbe spearheaded Chabad-Lubavitch’s global expansion, establishing a wide array of institutions, including schools, shuls, care homes, and rehabilitation centers. “His ability to meet people where they were—engaging them with warmth and heartfelt communication regardless of their background or status—set him apart,” Hudson said. The renamed block of President Street is located between Brooklyn and New York Avenues, holds historical importance, as it was where the Rebbe’s home was located. Yaakov Berhman, a representative for Chabad’s public relations, praised the council’s decision. Taking to social media, he wrote, “Today, the @NYCCouncil officially named President Street, located between Brooklyn and New York Avenues, as ‘Lubavitcher Rebbe Way.’ This is the block where the Rebbe lived during his leadership and where his home remains as a sacred place of prayer and inspiration.” Berhman, who delivered the invocation at the City Council session, expressed gratitude to Hudson for her leadership and tribute to the Rebbe. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal are advancing but remain weeks away from completion, according to an Arab diplomat who spoke with The Times of Israel on Thursday. “The trajectory is good, but there are still major issues to be negotiated, followed by difficult political decisions that both sides will need to make,” the diplomat said. While international mediators, including the U.S. and Qatar, push for a resolution, unnamed Israeli officials have expressed cautious optimism. According to Hebrew media reports, a deal could be reached by the end of December. An Israeli official involved in the negotiations told Walla news that talks in Qatar over recent days have been “productive,” though significant gaps persist. Channel 12 news also reported progress, quoting an Israeli official as saying, “We are in the final stages of reconciliation,” with clarity on a potential deal expected in the coming days. CIA Director Bill Burns has played a key role in bridging gaps between the parties. Arriving in Qatar on Wednesday, Burns helped secure compromises that both sides are reportedly considering, according to Israeli officials. Yaron Cohen, Israel’s hostage affairs coordinator, updated families of captives on Thursday, saying that a combination of regional developments and U.S. influence has created conditions favorable for an agreement. However, Cohen urged caution against relying on media reports, suggesting families contact his office directly with questions. The primary sticking point in the negotiations remains the nature of the ceasefire. Hamas seeks a permanent end to the war, including the withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza. Conversely, Israel has proposed a temporary pause during which some hostages would be released, followed by the resumption of its military campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military and governing structures. Disputes also persist over the scope and terms of the deal. According to Channel 12, contentious issues include the number and identities of hostages to be freed; mechanisms for returning displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza; and the release and potential exile of high-risk Palestinian prisoners. Israel has reportedly demanded the release of 34 hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, as part of an initial ceasefire phase. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The suspect wanted for the stabbing of a Jewish man on Monday, Dec. 9, on President Street in Crown Heights has been apprehended, thanks to a collaborative effort by the NYPD and Crown Heights Shomrim. Crown Heights Shomrim shared the update on social media, praising the “great detective work” of the NYPD’s 71st Precinct. “The perpetrator wanted for a stabbing on President Street was arrested!” the statement read. Shomrim credited their surveillance team, which provided initial photos and videos that were instrumental in the investigation. The attack left a Jewish man seriously injured after being stabbed in the neck. Crown Heights Hatzolah paramedics swiftly responded to the scene, stabilizing the victim before transporting him to Kings County Hospital. Following the assault, the suspect fled the scene, sparking a citywide manhunt. Surveillance footage released by Shomrim helped law enforcement identify and locate the suspect. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Two Union Pacific employees were killed and three people were injured when a freight train collided with a tractor-trailer and derailed in a small West Texas city, authorities said Thursday. The train derailed around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Pecos after the collision at a railway crossing, authorities said. Union Pacific, based in Omaha, Nebraska, said Thursday that two employees had been killed. Pecos Police Chief Lisa Tarango said the other injuries were minor. Although hazardous materials were being carried aboard the train, none were released in the derailment, city officials said. The hazardous materials included lithium ion batteries and air bags. Leaked diesel fuel was contained, officials said. The National Transportation Safety Board sent a team to investigate. It said in a statement Thursday that it doesn’t determine or speculate about the cause during the on-scene phase of the investigation. Ronald Lee, emergency services chief for Reeves County, said that some of those injured were in the Chamber of Commerce building, which was damaged in the derailment. He said damage to the Chamber of Commerce was “significant enough” that officials advised against entering the building until an engineer could inspect it. Railroad safety has been in the spotlight ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, in early 2023, spilling a cocktail of toxic chemicals and catching fire. Regulators urged the industry to improve safety and members of Congress proposed a package of reforms, but railroads haven’t made many major changes to their operations and the bill has stalled. Eddie Hall, national president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen union that represents engineers, said in a statement that the derailment is “a reminder that much more needs to be done to make railroading safer.” The derailment, he said, “should serve as a wake-up call to legislators to improve rail safety.” Images from the site of the crash in Pecos show that the train was hauling metal shipping containers that were stacked two high. Pecos, which has a population of about 13,000, is located about 200 miles (320 kilometers) east of El Paso. Tarango said the cleanup was underway. (AP)
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a conditional order to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, instructing the state to explain why “basic food” should not be provided to Nukhba terrorists. The order was issued as part of a petition filed by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, which claimed before the judges that basic conditions are not being provided to the terrorists and presented data indicating “a significant decrease in the weight of security prisoners.” “A conditional order is hereby given, instructing the respondents to appear and provide reasons why steps should not be taken to ensure that security prisoners are provided with food that allows for basic living conditions in accordance with applicable law,” the Supreme Court’s decision stated. Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded: “Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has become a shield for those Nuhbah human scum who brutally slaughtered, raped, burned, and abducted our sons and daughters with Nazi-like cruelty. The Israel Prison Service is diligent in adhering to the law and providing the minimum required by law, and not a gram more than that. Indeed, under my watch, the era of the feasts, marmalades, and lamb meat is over. There are no more bakeries or canteens with deposits from terror funds. A terrorist prison will no longer be a hotel. The Supreme Court wants to return us to those days. The Israeli public will judge.” Matan Jerafi, the director of the Im Tirtzu organization, responded: “Justices Kabub, Kasher, and Barak-Erez are joining Justice Ruth Ronen in erasing any remnant of public trust in the Supreme Court. In wartime, the true values of the Supreme Court judges become clear: this is not a high court of justice – it is a court for Nuhbahs! A stain that will not be erased from the names of the judges. What is the next step? Sending donuts and latkes to the terrorists? While the hostages are languishing in Hamas’s tunnels and our soldiers bravely struggle against the enemy, the court rewards terrorists and terrorist organizations, thus encouraging them to continue the torture of the hostages. As long as there is no pressure on the imprisoned terrorists – what interest does Hamas have in releasing the hostages? A court of lunatics.” Chairman of the Constitution Committee, MK Simcha Rothman, responded: “The immense disconnect between the ivory tower of the Supreme Court and the healthy and logical feelings of Am Yisrael is the real reason for the glaring lack of trust in the judicial system. This must be corrected, together.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Specialty pharmacies and online companies that have been selling off-brand copies of two blockbuster drugs for obesity and diabetes will need to phase out their versions next year under a federal decision issued Thursday. The Food and Drug Administration said that a nationwide shortage of Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro has been resolved, eliminating the need for copycat versions of the drugs that have become wildly popular with Americans trying to lose weight. The decision is a win for Lilly — which had been pressing the FDA to take the step for months — and is expected to impact how patients access the drugs, including how much they pay. Zepbound is FDA-approved to treat obesity and Mounjaro is approved for diabetes. They use the same active ingredient, tirzepatide. The FDA said Thursday that “Lilly’s supply is currently meeting or exceeding demand,” after two years of shortages. Both drugs are part of the GLP-1 class that has shown unprecedented results for helping people shed weight by decreasing appetite and boosting feelings of fullness. Wegovy and Ozempic — competing drugs from Novo Nordisk — remain on the FDA’s shortage list. With demand for GLP-1 drugs booming, compounding pharmacies and telehealth companies like Hims and Ro have jumped into the market, selling cheaper versions online. People can usually get a month’s supply for several hundred dollars. Thursday’s decision gives businesses between 60 and 90 days, depending on their size, to phase out their products. The FDA permits compounded versions of brand name drugs when they are in shortage, and the shift back to Lilly’s medications could improve safety for consumers. The FDA warned patients last year about problems with the ingredients and formulations of some GLP-1 drugs sold online. The agency has limited oversight of compounding pharmacies, which are primarily overseen by state authorities. Compounding pharmacies use raw drug ingredients to produce customized versions of prescription medications — for instance, when patients have allergies to certain ingredients. The industry has grown into a multibillion-dollar business over the past decade amid increasing drug shortages. Demand for off-brand GLP-1 drugs has been amplified by aggressive online promotions from telehealth companies, which aren’t subject to the same marketing rules as drugmakers. The FDA previously declared an end to the shortage of Mounjaro and Zepbound in early October, but reversed its decision after public pushback and a lawsuit filed by compounding pharmacies. (AP)
Apple and Android users have been advised to stop receiving two-factor authentication (2FA) codes via text message following revelations of a massive telecom breach that could leave sensitive data exposed to cyberattacks. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have warned that hackers, believed to be connected to China, infiltrated major U.S. telecom providers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and five other networks. The breach reportedly allowed the malicious actors to spy on customers by intercepting non-encrypted SMS messages. In a memo released Wednesday, CISA highlighted the risks of using SMS for 2FA, stating that text messages “are not encrypted” and can be easily accessed by hackers with control over telecom networks. Instead, the agency urged users to adopt more secure methods, such as authentication apps, FIDO keys, or passkeys, which offer better protection against phishing and network breaches. While some online services only offer SMS-based 2FA, CISA encouraged users to switch to alternative methods whenever possible. They also recommended strong passwords, password managers, PIN protections, and regular software updates to reduce vulnerabilities. The advisory follows reports of an ongoing breach, nicknamed “Salt Typhoon,” which experts warn may be larger and more persistent than initially believed. “We cannot say with certainty that the adversary has been evicted,” said Jeff Greene, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA. “We’re tracking them, but we cannot confidently claim we know everything.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A Chinese national was arrested Thursday on charges of acting as an illegal agent for Beijing when serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed politician elected to a city council in Southern California two years ago. The arrest of Yaoning “Mike” Sun, 64, came at a time of rising concerns that the Chinese government has cultivated a network of operatives to influence local elections in the U.S. to install politicians who are friendly to Beijing and can help promote Chinese interests. According to a complaint filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Sun is accused of conspiring with Chen Jun, who was sentenced to 20 months last month for acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government. Chen, 71, also a Chinese national, pleaded guilty in July to using Chinese money to bribe federal agents to undermine the anti-Beijing spiritual group Falun Gong. The charge against Sun shows that Chen also conspired to interfere with local elections. It wasn’t immediately clear if Sun had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Sun was instructed by Chen to write up a report in 2023 to recount to Chinese officials how they helped the local politician get elected, according to the affidavit. Subsequent writings between the two men described the city councilperson as a “new political star” and included a request for $80,000 to fund more pro-Beijing activities in the United States, according to the court documents. Chen asked Sun to list all the mainstream American politicians the city councilperson was familiar with and told Sun that it would be “very effective to elevate” the status of the councilperson in China. “This case is yet another example of a very disturbing trend: the People’s Republic of China is seeking to influence foreign and domestic policy in the United States,” Martin Estrada, U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, said in a call with reporters. “To do so, government officials in China are seeking to help get elected individuals who they see as being friendly to Chinese foreign policy.” The councilperson is not named in court papers. Yaoning Sun is listed as a campaign treasurer for Arcadia city council candidate Eileen Wang on a campaign statement filing stamped in February 2022, according to records on the city’s website. In filings later in 2022, another individual is listed as the treasurer, the records show. Wang ran for election to the city council in 2022 and won. She ran a tutoring services company in the city about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles and has participated in numerous community groups, according to her biography on the city’s website. Wang didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment and a message was left on a phone number listed online as belonging to her. Jackie Tran, a spokesperson for the city of Arcadia, didn’t immediately return a phone message. The charges against Sun followed those against a former aide to two New York governors in September. Authorities have accused Linda Sun of acting as an illegal agent of the Chinese government and using her positions to subtly advance Beijing’s agenda in exchange for financial benefits worth millions of dollars. In California, Estrada said Yaoning Sun appeared to be ideologically invested in furthering the interests of […]
