• coblos4d
  • coblos4d
  • coblos4d
  • https://146.190.97.109/
  • rtp coblos4d
  • coblos4d
  • coblos4d
  • coblos4d
  • slot gacor
  • https://greater.jhatkaa.org/
  • https://desa-sidorejo.penajamkab.go.id/wp-content/plugins/wp-automatic/thai-x/
  • https://mti.unisbank.ac.id/wp-content/slot-singapore/
  • https://lsp-p1.mercubuana-yogya.ac.id/slot-gacor-hari-ini-server-luar/
  • https://ktuner.com/dragon77/
  • coblos4d
  • coblos4d
  • https://heylink.me/.coblos4d/
  • https://ft.unram.ac.id/thai/
  • https://pilmapres.umj.ac.id/www/
  • https://sisdakin.polkam.go.id/thagcr/
  • https://ppid.cianjurkab.go.id/site/
  • https://perpustakaan.polkam.go.id/coba/
  • slot88
  • https://blog.kitabisa.com/produk-gacor/
  • https://www.fullpress.it/
  • hoki88
  • coblos4d
  • https://sbsinkubator.unisbank.ac.id/wp-content/thai/
  • coblos4d
  • https://davanuserviss.lv/blogs/
  • https://www.wyjatkowyprezent.pl/blog/
  • viocash
  • coblos4d
  • coblos4d
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/topeng798/
  • coblos4d
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/enak/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/uploads/dewaslot88/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/hk/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/files/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/sbobet/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/uploads/singapore/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/777/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/th777/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/slot88/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/luar/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/dragon77/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/slot/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/upgrade/slot-5k/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/plugins/rajaslot138/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/plugins/slot99/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/wp-content/themes/slot-gacor-4d/
  • https://datapb.ccae.ufpb.br/rtp/
  • Moves – planetcirculate https://planetcirculate.com Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:01:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 What’s at stake for TikTok as Congress moves to force a sale https://planetcirculate.com/whats-at-stake-for-tiktok-as-congress-moves-to-force-a-sale/ https://planetcirculate.com/whats-at-stake-for-tiktok-as-congress-moves-to-force-a-sale/#respond Mon, 18 Mar 2024 08:01:01 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/whats-at-stake-for-tiktok-as-congress-moves-to-force-a-sale/

    A closely watched House vote on Wednesday passed legislation that poses the biggest threat yet to TikTok’s presence on some 170 million American phones. The bill in question, which would ban TikTok in the United States if the app’s US operations aren’t sold within six months, sailed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee last […]

    The post What’s at stake for TikTok as Congress moves to force a sale appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>



    A closely watched House vote on Wednesday passed legislation that poses the biggest threat yet to TikTok’s presence on some 170 million American phones.

    The bill in question, which would ban TikTok in the United States if the app’s US operations aren’t sold within six months, sailed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee last week in a 50-0 bipartisan vote.

    The bill then moved to the full House, which voted 352-65 Wednesday to pass the legislation. Now the bill will move to the Senate, where its fate remains up in the air.

    A controversial bill that could ban TikTok in the US is headed to the Senate after a House vote on Wednesday. REUTERS

    Many lawmakers have warned that TikTok, owned by China-based ByteDance, poses a threat to national security, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who said in a statement following the House vote: “Today’s bipartisan vote demonstrates Congress’ opposition to Communist China’s attempts to spy on and manipulate Americans, and signals our resolve to deter our enemies.”

    Still, 50 Democrats and 15 Republicans voted against the bill, which would bar companies like Apple or Google from offering TikTok on their app stores or providing the social platform with web hosting services in the US unless ByteDance divests itself within 180 days.

    Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), who surprisingly said no to the legislation, cited free speech issues, according to CNBC.

    ByteDance has denied that it shares data from American users with the Chinese Communist Party, calling the concerns “misinformation.”

    What happens next?

    The bill faces an uncertain road in the Senate, where its future remains largely in the hands of Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who has been vague about bringing it to the floor for a vote.

    Schumer so far has declined to endorse the bill, saying he would speak with committee leaders first — many of whom have already come out against the bill, which a spokesperson for TikTok told The Post on Wednesday “was jammed through for one reason: It’s a ban.”

    “We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service,” a TikTok spokesperson added.

    Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has yet to endorse the bill, which sailed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee last week in a unanimous bipartisan vote. REUTERS

    Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was among those pledging to stand in the way of the bill’s passage.

    Americans “choose to use TikTok to express themselves,” Paul said ahead of the House vote Tuesday. “I don’t think Congress should be trying to take away the First Amendment rights of [170] million Americans,” the Washington Post reported.

    With President Biden and former President Donald Trump on opposite sides of the debate, Schumer is likely weighing the political ramifications of the bill ahead of the 2024 election and the impact it could have on key Senate races.

    Schumer also needs to make sure he has enough votes to pass the bill before bringing it to the floor and risking an embarrassing loss.

    With that, the Senate isn’t expected to act as quickly as the House did.

    “I tend to think Schumer’s going to sit on it for a little while,” said a former Treasury Department official with Hill experience who spoke on condition of anonymity. “If it does come up for a vote in the Senate, it’ll have to pass, because you just can’t have a bill like this out there being tough on China where you don’t get enough members.”

    “For people who are in the upcoming cycle, the [Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown]s of the world and others, it’s going to be tricky.”

    “If Schumer brings it up on the floor, if it’s a majority vote, it passes. If it’s some procedure where you have to get 60 votes, I don’t know if I see it. I think Trump will get enough people to stop and say, ‘Well, we love the intention of the bill, but it may have flaws.’”

    President Biden has said he would sign the TikTok legislation into law if it reaches his desk. AFP via Getty Images

    What if the bill passes the Senate?

    Biden has said he would sign it into law if it reaches his desk. 

    At that point, app stores like those operated by Apple and Google would be subject to civil penalties if they continued to distribute TikTok.

    The app would also lose its ability to update on US phones, meaning it would lose compatibility with the latest versions of iOS and Android and cease to function.

    The app is already on millions of phones in the US, but the bill’s passage would force internet service providers to block access to TikTok, according to software-centric blog Lifehacker, effectively shutting down access to the platform whether it’s already on a device or not.

    This is exactly how the Indian government went about barring the app, citing national security threats, Lifehacker noted.

    There’s one potential loophole, though, Lifehacker noted: Users can change their location on their virtual private network, or VPN, which would make it appear that they’re trying to access TikTok from another country.

    More than 170 million Americans alone reportedly use TikTok, many of whom are younger than 30. Getty Images

    TikTok could also challenge the ruling, as it did in Montana, when a first-of-its-kind state ban sought to bar the short-form video-sharing app from state residents’ devices.

    In November 2023, TikTok won a reprieve in the state, which would have allowed the social media site’s ban to take effect in January.

    District Judge Donald Molloy argued that it “likely violated the First Amendment” and “oversteps state power and infringes on the constitutional rights of users” after noting that TikTok’s counsel had better arguments.

    Why do some lawmakers want to ban TikTok?

    Time and time again, TikTok has been deemed a national security threat.

    As recently as Monday, Trump sounded the alarm on the Chinese-owned platform, citing the need to protect the American people’s privacy and data rights.

    Upward of 170 million Americans alone use TikTok, many of whom are younger than 30, and reports of the Chinese government stealing data of the app’s users have raised concerns among lawmakers in Washington.

    Concerned users have pointed to the app’s odd demands — such as its request for users to input their iPhone passwords to view content — as reason why TikTok may allegedly be spying on its US-based users.



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post What’s at stake for TikTok as Congress moves to force a sale appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/whats-at-stake-for-tiktok-as-congress-moves-to-force-a-sale/feed/ 0
    On the heels of proposed “Skittles ban” last year, California moves to ban food dyes from school meals https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-proposed-skittles-ban-last-year-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/ https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-proposed-skittles-ban-last-year-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:20:46 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-proposed-skittles-ban-last-year-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/

    Those vibrant dyes that color your Easter eggs, Gatorade, Fanta sodas, Doritos and candies such as Skittles might soon be deemed unsafe for kids at California public schools. After adopting a bill last year that outlaws four food additives statewide starting in 2027, California now is moving to ban more than half a dozen dyes […]

    The post On the heels of proposed “Skittles ban” last year, California moves to ban food dyes from school meals appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>


    Those vibrant dyes that color your Easter eggs, Gatorade, Fanta sodas, Doritos and candies such as Skittles might soon be deemed unsafe for kids at California public schools.

    After adopting a bill last year that outlaws four food additives statewide starting in 2027, California now is moving to ban more than half a dozen dyes — Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, and the white pigment titanium dioxide — from foods offered at public schools.



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post On the heels of proposed “Skittles ban” last year, California moves to ban food dyes from school meals appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-proposed-skittles-ban-last-year-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/feed/ 0
    TikTok ban moves forward as House passes bill; fight shifts to Senate https://planetcirculate.com/tiktok-ban-moves-forward-as-house-passes-bill-fight-shifts-to-senate/ https://planetcirculate.com/tiktok-ban-moves-forward-as-house-passes-bill-fight-shifts-to-senate/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 11:17:55 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/tiktok-ban-moves-forward-as-house-passes-bill-fight-shifts-to-senate/

    The House approved a bill Wednesday that calls for China tech giant ByteDance to divest TikTok or the popular social video app will effectively be banned in the U.S. The measure passed with a resounding 352-65 vote and with one member voting present. The legislation, dubbed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, […]

    The post TikTok ban moves forward as House passes bill; fight shifts to Senate appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>


    The House approved a bill Wednesday that calls for China tech giant ByteDance to divest TikTok or the popular social video app will effectively be banned in the U.S.

    The measure passed with a resounding 352-65 vote and with one member voting present.

    The legislation, dubbed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, was introduced March 5 by Reps. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party. Two days later, House members on the Energy and Commerce Committee voted unanimously to approve the bill, which refers to TikTok as a threat to national security because it is controlled by a foreign adversary.

    The bill now heads to the Senate where it faces an uncertain future as senators appear divided about the legislation, and other federal and state-led efforts to ban TikTok have stalled.

    “This process was secret and the bill was jammed through for one reason: it’s a ban,” a TikTok spokesperson said after the vote was passed. “We are hopeful that the Senate will consider the facts, listen to their constituents, and realize the impact on the economy, 7 million small businesses, and the 170 million Americans who use our service.”

    In a short-video clip that was posted on TikTok later in the afternoon, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew expressed dismay to TikTok users over what he described as a “disappointing vote in the House of Representatives,” and said that the bill “gives more power to a handful of other social media companies” and that “it also take billions of dollars out of the pockets of creators and small businesses.”

    “Over the last few years, we have invested to keep your data safe in our platform, free from outside manipulation; we have committed that we will continue to do so,” Chew said. “This legislation, if signed into law, will lead to a ban of TikTok in the United States, even the bill sponsors admit that that’s their goal.”

    Chew added that TikTok “will continue to do all we can, including exercising our legal rights to protect this amazing platform that we have built with you.”

    President Joe Biden, who created an official TikTok account in February as part of his election campaign, has previously said that he would sign the bill if it is passed, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre acknowledged that the White House is providing “technical support” in the crafting of the legislation. Jean-Pierre said in a media briefing March 6 that once “it’s on legal standing and it’s in a place where it can get out of Congress, then the President would sign it.”

    Participants hold signs in support of TikTok at a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol Building on March 12, 2024 in Washington, DC. 

    Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images

    Although House members who drafted the bill have previously said that it “does not ban TikTok,” the legislation in its current form requires ByteDance to divest TikTok within roughly six months in order for the app “to remain available in the United States.” If the bill is enacted, app store owners such as Apple and Google along with internet-hosting companies would be prohibited from supporting TikTok and other apps that are linked to ByteDance.

    More on the TikTok ban bill

    Lawmakers from both parties have claimed that TikTok poses a national security risk because of the app’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party, which Chew has denied during Senate hearings. On the other hand, tech policy and civil liberties organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Knight Institute have opposed the bill over concerns that it would violate First Amendment rights.

    TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on “TikTok: How Congress Can Safeguard American Data Privacy and Protect Children from Online Harms,” on Capitol Hill, March 23, 2023, in Washington, DC.

    Jim Watson | Afp | Getty Images

    Meanwhile, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said in an interview with CNBC earlier this week that he’s concerned that banning TikTok would also make Facebook parent Meta a stronger company.

    “Without TikTok, you can make Facebook bigger, and I consider Facebook to be an enemy of the people,” Trump said.

    The former president’s comments were noteworthy considering that the Trump administration, citing national security concerns, previously tried to remove TikTok from app stores in 2020 and also called on ByteDance to divest the app. That same year, Microsoft was mulling an acquisition of TikTok in a deal ranging between $10 billion and $30 billion, but ultimately talks between the two companies fell through and the Biden administration eventually revoked the Trump administration’s order.

    In the chance that the latest TikTok bill passes, Angelo Zino, a vice president and senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, told CNBC, it’s possible that TikTok’s U.S.-only business “could fetch a valuation north of $60 billion” when “looking at peer valuations in the market.”

    “That said, we don’t even know if it would get to that point as ByteDance could decide to just have TikTok stop doing business in the U.S. if forced to do so,” Zino said in an email.

    Earlier this week, prominent venture capitalist and Republican megadonor Keith Rabois said in a post on X that he would “never fund any Republican candidates or leadership PACs (or the NRSC) run by Republicans who vote against the TikTok legislation.”

    “Support for the TikTok bill is an IQ test” for members of Congress, Rabois said in an email to CNBC.

    A potential ban of TikTok in the U.S. has resulted in several prominent TikTok creators looking for other ways to diversify their businesses and brands outside of creating viral videos on the platform, CNBC previously reported.

    Watch: TikTok ban isn’t censorship, it’s national security, says Beacon CEO

    TikTok ban isn't censorship, 'it's national security,' says Beacon CEO Jim Anderson



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! Planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post TikTok ban moves forward as House passes bill; fight shifts to Senate appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/tiktok-ban-moves-forward-as-house-passes-bill-fight-shifts-to-senate/feed/ 0
    Seahawks make flurry of moves as NFL calendar flips to the new year https://planetcirculate.com/seahawks-make-flurry-of-moves-as-nfl-calendar-flips-to-the-new-year/ https://planetcirculate.com/seahawks-make-flurry-of-moves-as-nfl-calendar-flips-to-the-new-year/#respond Thu, 14 Mar 2024 01:21:06 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/seahawks-make-flurry-of-moves-as-nfl-calendar-flips-to-the-new-year/

    On the official first day of the NFL’s new league year, the Seahawks celebrated by making a bunch of moves. In a dizzying few hours, the Seahawks added three players — one, George Fant, who is making a return to where his career began, and another, Rayshawn Jenkins, who will likely be counted on to […]

    The post Seahawks make flurry of moves as NFL calendar flips to the new year appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>


    On the official first day of the NFL’s new league year, the Seahawks celebrated by making a bunch of moves.

    In a dizzying few hours, the Seahawks added three players — one, George Fant, who is making a return to where his career began, and another, Rayshawn Jenkins, who will likely be counted on to start at safety — and kept five others who could have become free agents, including 2020 second-round pick Darrell Taylor.

    That stood in marked contrast to the first two days of the free-agent negotiating period when they made just three moves — two of which were re-signing their own players in tight end Noah Fant and defensive lineman Leonard Williams, the other signing tight end Pharaoh Brown.

    Here’s a review of the day’s activities.

    Seahawks reunite with George Fant 

    On the day it became official that Bobby Wagner would be moving on, signing with the Washington Commanders, the Seahawks brought back a name from the past in Fant.

    Fant played for the Seahawks from 2016-19 after making the roster as an undrafted free agent. He spent three seasons with the New York Jets and last year with the Houston Texans and will add insurance and maybe competition for Abe Lucas at right tackle.

    Fant started 13 games last year for Houston and played in 16 overall, playing 874 snaps at right tackle and 41 at left tackle.

    The Seahawks have returners at each spot — Charles Cross at LT and Lucas at RT.

    Lucas played just six games last season while battling knee issues and had surgery after the season.

    President of football operations John Schneider said at the NFL scouting combine the hope is that Lucas will be healthy for the 2024 season. They could view Fant as competition and insurance at right tackle, and he could give the team options in how to use its offensive line, maybe using a tackle to help fill the voids at guard.

    Fant has 73 starts overall in 99 career NFL games, including 24 in his first stint with the Seahawks. That included 10 at left tackle in 2016 as a rookie when he took over after Seattle did not re-sign Russell Okung.

    Jenkins an Adams/Diggs replacement 

    Jenkins, a starter the last three seasons with Jacksonville and a veteran of 80 NFL starts, will help replace the departed duo of Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, each released last week.

    Jenkins was released last week by Jacksonville in a cost-cutting move — he was entering the final season of a four-year deal worth up to $35 million he signed with the Jaguars in 2021 — and reportedly visited Seattle on Monday and was said to have a visit scheduled in San Francisco.

    Terms of his deal were not immediately known.

    The Seahawks likely view him as a potential starter at safety alongside Julian Love in a remade back end of the defense after the releases of Adams and Diggs. 

    Jenkins was the 113th overall pick of the 2017 draft by the Chargers out of Miami and started 31 games in the 2019 and 2020 seasons before moving on to Jacksonville.

    Jenkins, who turned 30 in January, is listed as a strong safety. But he was used liberally at both safety spots last year by the Jaguars. According to PFF, he had 489 yards at strong safety, 335 at free safety and 188 in the slot.

    A Husky returns home 

    The Seahawks began filling out their offensive-line depth Wednesday, reaching an agreement with former UW standout Nick Harris on a one-year deal.

    The NFL Network reported it’s worth up to $3.26 million with a base value of $2.51 million.

    Harris played at UW from 2016-19, crossing paths there with Seahawks offensive-line coach Scott Huff for the last three years of his Husky career.

    Harris was a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2020 and has played in 40 games over four years with Cleveland, with four starts. He missed all of the 2022 season with a knee injury but returned to play in 17 games with two starts in 2023.

    His playing time has come primarily at center, but he has also played some guard.

    Harris may come in to compete with Olu Oluwatimi for the starting center spot to replace Evan Brown, last year’s starter who is a free agent. He could compete for time at guard where they will be looking for a replacement for left guard Damien Lewis, who has reached an agreement with Carolina.

    Seahawks extend Taylor, tender Jackson and Rhattigan

    The Seahawks retained three of their restricted free agents before Wednesday’s 1 p.m. deadline, reaching an agreement to extend Taylor and tendering cornerback Michael Jackson and linebacker Jon Rhattigan.

    They did not tender offensive lineman Jake Curhan, making him an unrestricted free agent.

    ESPN also reported they tendered exclusive rights free agent Brady Russell.

    There were no immediate details on the contract for Taylor. But reaching an agreement with him means he will stay on the roster for at least another season.

    Taylor was a second-round pick out of Tennessee in 2020 at No. 48 overall who missed all of his rookie year because of a leg injury. He has played in 49 games over the last three seasons with 21.5 sacks.

    He had 5.5 sacks last season in what was regarded as something of a disappointment after he had 9.5 in 2022.

    RFAs given tenders can still negotiate with other teams but the tender gives Seattle the right to match any offer and possible compensation.

    Jackson was given a fifth-round tender, assuring him a salary of $3.116 million for 2024 if he makes the roster, and meaning the Seahawks can get a fifth-round pick as compensation in return if he signs with another team, or can match any offer he might get.

    Rhattigan was given a right-of-first-refusal tender, giving him a salary of $2.985 million if he makes the roster, and the Seahawks have the right to match any offer he might get, but no compensation if he signs elsewhere.

    Seahawks keep Burns

    The Seahawks kept another of their pending unrestricted free agents in the fold Wednesday morning, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with cornerback Artie Burns.

    Burns, 28, started one game and played 231 snaps overall last year as a reserve/situational cornerback and figures to contend for a similar role again this season.

    Re-signing Burns means they have their top-five corners from last year all set to return, the others being Jackson (assuming he doesn’t get an offer as an RFA and leave) and Tre Brown, Riq Woolen and Devon Witherspoon, who are all under contract.

    Wednesday’s moves left the Seahawks with six of their unrestricted free agents unsigned: Brown, Curhan, linebacker Devin Bush, defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., offensive lineman Jason Peters and guard Phil Haynes.



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post Seahawks make flurry of moves as NFL calendar flips to the new year appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/seahawks-make-flurry-of-moves-as-nfl-calendar-flips-to-the-new-year/feed/ 0
    Room for Hungary rate policy moves is narrowing, central bank warns https://planetcirculate.com/room-for-hungary-rate-policy-moves-is-narrowing-central-bank-warns/ https://planetcirculate.com/room-for-hungary-rate-policy-moves-is-narrowing-central-bank-warns/#respond Wed, 13 Mar 2024 13:49:12 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/room-for-hungary-rate-policy-moves-is-narrowing-central-bank-warns/

    BUDAPEST – Hungary’s central bank on Wednesday repeated a warning that government moves to curb its independence could limit the room for monetary policy manoeuvring as Prime Minister Viktor Orban moved to tighten oversight of the bank’s operations. The Hungarian forint rebounded from one-year-lows near the key 400 mark hit on Tuesday, pressured by moves […]

    The post Room for Hungary rate policy moves is narrowing, central bank warns appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>


    BUDAPEST – Hungary’s central bank on Wednesday repeated a warning that government moves to curb its independence could limit the room for monetary policy manoeuvring as Prime Minister Viktor Orban moved to tighten oversight of the bank’s operations.

    The Hungarian forint rebounded from one-year-lows near the key 400 mark hit on Tuesday, pressured by moves by European lawmakers to overturn a decision to release 10 billion euros of EU funding to Hungary and a deepening standoff between the bank and Orban’s government.

    The bank has slashed its base rate by 900 basis points since last May. But with global central banks likely to keep interest rates higher for longer, the scope for further aggressive cuts to Hungary’s 9% benchmark rate, the EU’s highest, is narrowing.

    “A monetary policy strategy aimed at reaching and preserving price stability can only be credible and therefore effective if the central bank is independent from political pressure focused on short-term benefits,” Bianka Horvath, a former rate-setter now working as an aide to Governor Gyorgy Matolcsy said.

    Orban and his former ally Matolcsy have been embroiled in an increasingly bitter policy spat since the 2022 election, trading blame over the worst inflationary surge in the European Union.

    “Outside intervention affecting the outcomes of central bank measures … infringes the independence of central banks, limits the effectiveness of monetary policy decisions and narrows the room for monetary policy manoeuvre,” Horvath said in a piece published on the bank’s website.

    The government has said its proposed changes to the central bank law would not affect the bank’s core tasks such as setting monetary policy and its independence was not under any threat.

    Horvath said government caps on prices and interest rates and other measures affecting monetary transmission, a practice also criticised by some credit rating agencies, could force the bank into maintaining tight monetary conditions for longer.

    The bank’s next policy meeting is due on March 26.

    Declines in the forint, central Europe’s worst-performing currency this year, already derailed the bank’s plan in January to temporarily ramp up the pace of rate cuts, though last month it delivered a larger, 100-basis-point cut, as expected.

    The government has repeatedly piled pressure on Matolcsy, whose second six-year term expires next March, to cut rates more aggressively to help the economy rebound as the veteran Orban, in power since 2010, faces a heavy 2024 election calendar. REUTERS



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post Room for Hungary rate policy moves is narrowing, central bank warns appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/room-for-hungary-rate-policy-moves-is-narrowing-central-bank-warns/feed/ 0
    On the heels of ‘Skittles ban,’ California moves to ban food dyes from school meals https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-skittles-ban-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/ https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-skittles-ban-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/#respond Tue, 12 Mar 2024 23:57:16 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-skittles-ban-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/

    Those vibrant dyes that color your Easter eggs, Gatorade, Fanta sodas, Doritos and candies such as Skittles might soon be deemed unsafe for kids at California public schools. After adopting a bill last year that outlaws four food additives statewide starting in 2027, California now is moving to ban more than half a dozen dyes […]

    The post On the heels of ‘Skittles ban,’ California moves to ban food dyes from school meals appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>



    Those vibrant dyes that color your Easter eggs, Gatorade, Fanta sodas, Doritos and candies such as Skittles might soon be deemed unsafe for kids at California public schools.

    After adopting a bill last year that outlaws four food additives statewide starting in 2027, California now is moving to ban more than half a dozen dyes — Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6, and the white pigment titanium dioxide — from foods offered at public schools.

    “As a lawmaker, a parent, and someone who struggled with ADHD, I find it unacceptable that we allow schools to serve foods with additives that are linked to cancer, hyperactivity and neurobehavioral harms,” said Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, an Encino Democrat and author of AB 2316 who also wrote last year’s California Food Safety Act that critics dubbed a “Skittles ban.” “This bill will empower schools to better protect the health and wellbeing of our kids and encourage manufacturers to stop using these dangerous additives.”

    Gabriel noted a 2021 California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment report that said “consumption of synthetic food dyes can result in hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in some children,” and Food and Drug Administration safety assessments “are based on 35- to 70-year-old studies.” The report cited a dramatic rise in U.S. kids diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in recent years.

    The National Confectioners Association, which represents the candy industry, said the FDA constantly assesses the safety of food ingredients and that the move is being pushed by activists with little scientific training.

    “These activists are dismantling our national food safety system state by state in an emotionally-driven campaign that lacks scientific backing,” the NCA said in a statement. “FDA is the only institution in America that can stop this sensationalistic agenda, which is not based on facts and science.”

    It’s unclear how much the bill would affect meals and snacks offered by schools, which have made efforts to provide healthier alternatives. The dyes aren’t found in, say, a ham and cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They are, however, common in candies, colorful drinks and many processed snack foods.

    Cheetos Crunchy Flamin’ Hot and Doritos Flamin Hot Nacho flavors have Red 40 and Yellow 5 and 6. Green Gatorade has Yellow 5. Hostess Donettes powdered sugar donuts have titanium dioxide. Some of those items might be found in a school vending machine.

    The FDA had no immediate comment, but its website indicated that it considers the dyes that would be subject to the proposed law safe.

    Yellow 5 dye “may cause itching and hives in some people” in rare cases, the FDA said, but “the totality of scientific evidence shows that most children have no adverse effects when consuming foods containing color additives,” though some “may be sensitive to them.”

    The FDA said its food advisory committee reviewed dyes in 2011 and “concluded that a link between children’s consumption of certified color additives causing behavioral effects had not been established.”

    The FDA website indicates the agency is reviewing a challenge filed last year to the safety of titanium dioxide, which it considers safe for use as a color additive in foods, according to the specifications that it not exceed 1% by weight of the food.

    A United Nations and World Health Organization committee on food additives reevaluated titanium dioxide last year and found it to be safe, the FDA reported. And although the European Food Safety Agency could not rule out possible cancer links, health authorities in the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand disagreed, and the FDA also didn’t find a basis for cancer concerns.

    Titanium dioxide originally was to be banned in last year’s California Food Safety Act but was dropped before final passage. The additives banned in California in 2027 are Red No. 3 dye, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil and propyl paraben.

    The FDA is currently reviewing the safety of Red Dye 3, says propyl paraben is generally recognized as safe, and potassium bromate may be safely used. In November, the FDA said it can no longer affirm the safety of brominated vegetable oil, a stabilizer for fruit flavoring in beverages and would revoke its authorization.

    “The FDA continues to fail to keep us safe from harmful chemicals in our food,” said Melanie Benesh, Environmental Working Group’s vice president of government affairs. “In the absence of federal leadership, states like California continue to step up to keep us safe from toxic chemicals we and our families enjoy.”

    But the confectioners association argued that the brominated vegetable oil example shows that the FDA is staying on top of food safety, and its role shouldn’t be usurped piecemeal by states.

    “This is how our food safety system was designed to work,” the NCA said in a statement, “and it’s a real-time example of it working.”

    The bill will be heard in the Assembly Education Committee in coming weeks.



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post On the heels of ‘Skittles ban,’ California moves to ban food dyes from school meals appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/on-the-heels-of-skittles-ban-california-moves-to-ban-food-dyes-from-school-meals/feed/ 0
    Australia must make ‘critical’ move on TikTok as US moves towards banning app https://planetcirculate.com/australia-must-make-critical-move-on-tiktok-as-us-moves-towards-banning-app/ https://planetcirculate.com/australia-must-make-critical-move-on-tiktok-as-us-moves-towards-banning-app/#respond Sun, 10 Mar 2024 06:51:18 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/australia-must-make-critical-move-on-tiktok-as-us-moves-towards-banning-app/

    A TikTok ban is “highly likely” to pass the United States congress before the year is done, sparking “critical” warnings Australia not be left behind. The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday voted unanimously 50-0 to advance a Bill, that, if passed, would prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless the platform is divested […]

    The post Australia must make ‘critical’ move on TikTok as US moves towards banning app appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>


    A TikTok ban is “highly likely” to pass the United States congress before the year is done, sparking “critical” warnings Australia not be left behind.

    The House Energy and Commerce Committee on Thursday voted unanimously 50-0 to advance a Bill, that, if passed, would prohibit TikTok from US app stores unless the platform is divested from its Chinese parent company ByteDance within 165 days.

    It’s the most significant and aggressive legislative progress on TikTok to date, and should it pass, would impact the app’s 170 million US users.

    It could have implications on how Australia deals with the popular social media app moving forward.

    The Coalition’s cybersecurity spokesman, James Paterson, has long fought for Australia to take action on the app, over concerns about foreign interference and censorship.

    He said the onus was now on Australia to “urgently” investigate its next moves.

    Camera IconTikTok could soon be banned in the US, and Australia could follow suit. NCA NewsWire / Tim Pascoe Credit: News Corp Australia

    Although the app is not based in China itself, its parent company ByteDance is part-owned by a Chinese company that is beholden to Chinese security laws.

    Of specific concern is the requirement that data must be shared with the Chinese government if it is requested.

    So concerned was the Albanese government that it banned the app on all government devices last year.

    Senator Paterson said the Albanese government needed to go further, and must be proactive in the wake of the news out of the US.

    “It is absolutely critical that Australia is not left behind – but that is a major risk unless we also act,” he said.

    “The Albanese government must urgently investigate options to ensure TikTok Australia can also be protected from Chinese government influence. Otherwise we are allowing an authoritarian government to control the major source of news and information about the world for young Australians.

    “Given what we have learned about TikTok’s manipulation of content and abuse of data, the government must act to protect Australians from this serious national security threat.”

    Senator James Paterson
    Camera IconJames Paterson said Australia needed to urgently investigate options to protect Australians from potential TikTok harms. NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia

    TikTok has repeatedly maintained that ByteDance is 60 per cent owned by international investors and not influenced by the Chinese government.

    TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew was grilled by US politicians last March, where he stated “unequivocally” that neither the app or the parent company were “an agent of China or any other country”.

    A spokesman for Cybersecurity Minister Clare O’Neil said the government was “monitoring progress” on the US bill.

    “The Albanese government has taken strong action in line with advice from our agencies to restrict access to TikTok on devices used to handle sensitive information,” they said.

    “We are monitoring the progress of the bill in the US and will take additional action if and when relevant agencies advise it is appropriate to do so.”

    A TikTok spokesperson said the US bill, if passed, would “trample the First Amendment rights of 170 million Americans”.

    “It would deprive five million (American) small businesses of a platform they rely on to grow and create jobs,” they said.

    The bill will next move to the US House of Representatives, and if it passes will then progress to the Senate. If it is voted through there, it will become law.



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post Australia must make ‘critical’ move on TikTok as US moves towards banning app appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/australia-must-make-critical-move-on-tiktok-as-us-moves-towards-banning-app/feed/ 0
    NHL trade deadline passes with no further moves by Kraken https://planetcirculate.com/nhl-trade-deadline-passes-with-no-further-moves-by-kraken/ https://planetcirculate.com/nhl-trade-deadline-passes-with-no-further-moves-by-kraken/#respond Fri, 08 Mar 2024 21:40:16 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/nhl-trade-deadline-passes-with-no-further-moves-by-kraken/

    The noon NHL trade deadline came and went and the Kraken roster remained intact, an indication that the front office is ready to see where this late playoff push goes. “I’m happy that we get a chance to stay here and prove ourselves,” alternate captain Jordan Eberle, the proud owner of a newly signed contract […]

    The post NHL trade deadline passes with no further moves by Kraken appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>


    The noon NHL trade deadline came and went and the Kraken roster remained intact, an indication that the front office is ready to see where this late playoff push goes.

    “I’m happy that we get a chance to stay here and prove ourselves,” alternate captain Jordan Eberle, the proud owner of a newly signed contract extension, said Friday.

    Kraken general manager Ron Francis called the Kraken’s perch “probably the worst spot to be sitting in” as the deadline approached. One more multigame losing streak, which could begin later that night against the Winnipeg Jets, and their chances of a second straight postseason berth would plummet again, likely for good.

    However after a 7-2-1 run, they’re within striking distance of several teams in playoff spots and play several of them in the last 20 games.

    “They’re a resilient group,” general manager Ron Francis said. “They’re not throwing in the towel.”

    The only Kraken player on the move was second-line center Alex Wennberg, dealt Wednesday to the New York Rangers for a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL draft and a conditional fourth-round selection in 2025. Francis said there were contract talks with Wennberg’s camp, but they “couldn’t get comfortable” on terms.

    The other question marks were a pair of veterans in winger Eberle and defenseman Justin Schultz. Like Wennberg’s, their contracts were set to expire at the end of the season.

    About four hours before the deadline, it became clear that Eberle wasn’t going anywhere. The Kraken alternate captain’s two-year, $9.5M extension was announced amid rumors that the Edmonton Oilers, who drafted Eberle in 2008, were interested in reacquiring him for their own playoff push. Edmonton is solidly in second place in the Pacific Division.

    “More than anything I’m happy it’s over with,” Eberle said. “(We) can get back to what we’re doing, try to win some games and put ourselves in position to get in.”

    Eberle, 33, doesn’t have his name on the Stanley Cup but chose to continue his career with the Kraken, who were six points outside a playoff spot heading into Friday’s game. Eberle said he started to suspect a deal would come together within the last few days.

    “Me and my wife and kids, we’ve inserted ourselves into the Seattle community. We enjoy the lifestyle here,” Eberle said. “Not only that, but at the rink, we enjoy the group, the organization and what they’re doing. Wanted to be a part of that.”

    He’s been on the Kraken’s top line alongside second-year center Matty Beniers for most of the past two seasons, including Beniers’ rookie of the year campaign.

    “He’s kind of the go-to guy in the locker room a lot of times. He’s been in the league a long time,” Francis said. “He’s easy to talk to for our young players. He’s just that kind of guy — he’s a quality person, good hockey player and a big part of our leadership.”

    Schultz is widely expected to depart in free agency, making room for up-and-coming defenseman Ryker Evans, 22. Schultz’s services were retained for the final month of the regular season at least.

    Seattle’s top defenseman Vince Dunn was set to miss a second straight game with an upper-body injury against Winnipeg. Dunn skated on his own before Friday’s morning skate. 

    “It was nice to see him on the ice. It would be nicer to see him on the ice during a game,” coach Dave Hakstol quipped.

    Francis said the Kraken’s proximity to a playoff spot, rather than Dunn’s injury, “was more of a factor” in their trade-deadline decisions.

    Schultz didn’t join the Kraken for the morning skate ahead of Friday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets. The skate was ostensibly made optional because options (and rest) are good, but had the added benefit of not forcing Francis to show his hand. 

    They tend to keep at least one defenseman in reserve. Evans was that healthy scratch — practicing with the team but not playing — for about a month before Dunn was injured. Seattle recalled blueliner Cale Fleury from the Coachella Valley Firebirds for the first time this season on Friday morning, then sent him back down after morning skate, all as a precaution. So they won’t have that extra defenseman on hand for now.

    The Kraken backfilled the opening left by Wennberg, who was held out of a back-to-back earlier in the week while a trade was in the works, by moving winger Jared McCann to center and fourth-line center Pierre-Edouard Bellemare into the lineup. Bellemare had been cleared to play since Feb. 13 after suffering an injury in December. 

    Shane Wright, the Kraken’s fourth-overall pick in 2022, is “possibly an option,” Francis said, to fill in at center and gain more NHL experience during the final stretch. They like the way he’s playing in the AHL and are focused on making sure he’s ready to join the Kraken next season.



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post NHL trade deadline passes with no further moves by Kraken appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/nhl-trade-deadline-passes-with-no-further-moves-by-kraken/feed/ 0
    Avs trade Byram, Johansen as part of moves for Mittelstadt, Walker https://planetcirculate.com/avs-trade-byram-johansen-as-part-of-moves-for-mittelstadt-walker/ https://planetcirculate.com/avs-trade-byram-johansen-as-part-of-moves-for-mittelstadt-walker/#respond Wed, 06 Mar 2024 22:18:10 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/avs-trade-byram-johansen-as-part-of-moves-for-mittelstadt-walker/

    Stanley Cup contenders aren’t waiting until the NHL trade deadline day to shore up depth for what they hope is a long playoff run. The Colorado Avalanche loaded up by getting defenseman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and center Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo in separate trades. Colorado traded a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick and center […]

    The post Avs trade Byram, Johansen as part of moves for Mittelstadt, Walker appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>



    Stanley Cup contenders aren’t waiting until the NHL trade deadline day to shore up depth for what they hope is a long playoff run.

    The Colorado Avalanche loaded up by getting defenseman Sean Walker from Philadelphia and center Casey Mittelstadt from Buffalo in separate trades.

    Colorado traded a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick and center Ryan Johansen to Philadelphia for Walker and a fifth-rounder in 2026 and got Mittelstadt in a one-for-one trade that sent defenseman Bowen Byram to the Sabres.

    The Avalanche have been up and down lately, and getting Walker and Mittelstadt may just be the start of the excitement in Denver. The Avs are soon expected to get versatile winger Valeri Nichushkin back from the NHL/NHLPA player assistance program, and there’s even a chance captain Gabriel Landeskog returns for the playoffs after missing a second consecutive season following knee surgery.

    “The best trade deadline asset we can add is Val Nichushkin,” Avs forward Mikko Rantanen said before the trades were made. “He’s looking good, I think, and he’s feeling well, so just a matter of time when he can get back to playing.”

    Mittelstadt, 25, is on the verge of having a career year. He was the Sabres’ leading scorer with 47 points, including 14 goals — one short of matching his career high set last season.

    Walker, a right-handed shot, gives Colorado more stability on the blue line as it tries to win the Cup for the second time in three years. Him coming off the board could lead teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs to circle back on other defensive options available.

    Other NHL trades

    The league-leading Florida Panthers got deeper on the wing on Wednesday by acquiring Vladimir Tarasenko from Ottawa.

    The Panthers sent a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft to Ottawa for Tarasenko, and the fourth-rounder would upgrade to a 2026 third-rounder if Florida wins the Stanley Cup this season. Ottawa also is getting a third-round pick from Florida in 2025, while the Senators are retaining half of Tarasenko’s salary.

    “Vladimir is a highly skilled and experienced scoring winger who provides our club with another dynamic offensive option as we embark on the remainder of our season,” Panthers general manager Bill Zito said. “We are excited for him to join our team, and to compete for the Stanley Cup once again.”

    The moves come less than 24 hours after the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights got the ball rolling by trading with Washington for 20-goal scorer Anthony Mantha. Many more moves are expected before 3 p.m. EST Friday deadline.

    After taking on Johansen’s contract, which has $4 million annually left on it through next season, the Flyers immediately put him on waivers. GM Danny Briere, whose team is in third place in the Metropolitan Division and an unexpected playoff contender, said “everything’s on the table” for Philadelphia at the trade deadline as he looks to build for the future.

    One of those things could be a new contract for Walker’s former defense partner, Nick Seeler, a favorite of coach John Tortorella who went on injured reserve Wednesday after taking a puck off his left foot during a game earlier in the week.

    Extension talks were not happening between the Senators and Tarasenko, who had a full no-trade clause as part of his $5 million, one-year contract that allowed him to choose his preferred destination. Another pending free agent who signed just for this season, Washington’s Max Pacioretty, is in the same boat.

    Tarasenko, 32, has 17 goals and 24 assists in 57 games with Ottawa this season.

    And selling him on Florida likely was easy. Tarasenko owns a home in South Florida, has a relationship with Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and now joins a team good enough to win a title.

    He has tons of playoff experience — 97 games in 10 years — and helped St. Louis win the Stanley Cup in 2019 with 11 goals in 26 games.

    “Florida is probably a little bit different echelon than us right now,” Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said when asked about the Panthers’ trade for Tarasenko. “Florida is a really good team. What they’ve been doing of late is nothing short of extremely impressive.”


    AP Hockey Writer John Wawrow in Buffalo, New York, and AP Sports Writers Tim Reynolds in Sunrise, Florida, and Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report.


    AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post Avs trade Byram, Johansen as part of moves for Mittelstadt, Walker appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/avs-trade-byram-johansen-as-part-of-moves-for-mittelstadt-walker/feed/ 0
    Alabama legislation to protect IVF providers moves toward final approval https://planetcirculate.com/alabama-legislation-to-protect-ivf-providers-moves-toward-final-approval/ https://planetcirculate.com/alabama-legislation-to-protect-ivf-providers-moves-toward-final-approval/#respond Wed, 06 Mar 2024 20:05:49 +0000 https://planetcirculate.com/alabama-legislation-to-protect-ivf-providers-moves-toward-final-approval/

    MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers racing to restart in vitro fertilization services in the state are set to weigh final approval for legislation shielding providers from the fallout of a court ruling that equated frozen embryos to children. The state Senate and House will consider identical bills Wednesday that would protect providers from lawsuits […]

    The post Alabama legislation to protect IVF providers moves toward final approval appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>



    MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers racing to restart in vitro fertilization services in the state are set to weigh final approval for legislation shielding providers from the fallout of a court ruling that equated frozen embryos to children.

    The state Senate and House will consider identical bills Wednesday that would protect providers from lawsuits and criminal prosecution for the “damage or death of an embryo” during IVF services. The state’s three major IVF providers paused services after the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling last month because of the sweeping liability concerns it raised.

    Lawmakers have fast-tracked the immunity legislation as a proposed solution to get clinics open while they weigh whether additional action is needed. If the legislation passes, it will go to Gov. Kay Ivey to be signed into law, possibly the same evening.

    “The problem we are trying to solve right now is to get those families back on track to be moving forward as they try to have children,” said Rep. Terri Collins, sponsor of one of the bills.

    The court ruled that three couples who had frozen embryos destroyed when a hospital patient got into the storage unit at a fertility clinic and dropped stored embryos could pursue wrongful death lawsuits for their “extrauterine children.” The ruling, treating an embryo the same as a child or gestating fetus under the wrongful death statute, raised concerns about civil liabilities for clinics. A fourth couple filed a similar wrongful death lawsuit last week.

    The court decision drew immediate backlash as groups across the country raised concerns about a ruling recognizing embryos as children. Patients in Alabama shared stories of upcoming embryo transfers being abruptly canceled and their paths to parenthood put in doubt.

    Beth and Joshua Davis-Dillard, who transferred frozen embryos to Alabama when they moved from New York, watched as the Senate committee voted Tuesday.

    “We’ve been working up to getting ready to trying again. We still have embryos from our prior cycle, which we did in New York. We transferred them here. We can’t use them. We’re on hold,” Beth Davis-Dillard said. “I’m 44, so time is limited. We don’t have unlimited time to wait. We really want to give it a try and see if we can have another baby.”

    Beth David-Dillard said that before they transferred the embryos to Alabama, the couple briefly discussed whether the state’s strict abortion ban or political climate could be a problem but presumed it would ultimately be fine.

    “It just feels like our rights are being restricted,” she said.

    The legislative proposals state that “no action, suit, or criminal prosecution for the damage to or death of an embryo shall be brought or maintained against any individual or entity when providing or receiving services related to in vitro fertilization.” The immunity would be retroactive but would exclude pending litigation.

    Civil lawsuits could be pursued against manufacturers of IVF-related goods, such as the nutrient-rich solutions used to grow embryos, but damages would be capped and criminal prosecution would be forbidden. Doctors have expressed concern that without some protections for manufacturers they will not be able to get the products they need to provide IVF.

    Dr. Michael C. Allemand with Alabama Fertility said the legislative proposal would allow the clinic to resume IVF services by returning “us to a normal state of affairs in terms of what the liability issues are.”

    He said the past weeks have been difficult on patients and staff as procedures have been postponed.

    “There’s been some truly heart-wrenching conversations that have taken place,” Allemand said.

    The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a group representing IVF providers across the country, said the legislation does not go far enough. Sean Tipton, a spokesperson for the organization, said Monday that the legislation does not correct the fundamental problem, which he said is the court ruling “conflating fertilized eggs with children.”

    House Democrats proposed legislation that would put in state law or the state Constitution that a human embryo outside a uterus cannot be considered an unborn child or human being under state law. Democrats argued that was the most direct way to deal with the issue. Republicans have not brought the proposals up for a vote.

    State Republicans are reckoning with an IVF crisis they partly helped create with anti-abortion language added to the Alabama Constitution in 2018. The amendment, which was approved by 59% of voters, says it is state policy to recognize the “rights of unborn children.”

    The phrase became the basis of the court’s ruling. At the time, supporters said it would allow the state to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade were overturned, but opponents argued it could establish “personhood” for fertilized eggs.

    Collins said she doesn’t think lawmakers got it wrong with the amendment but that the wording was broad enough that it had ramifications they didn’t anticipate.

    Collins, who sponsored the state’s stringent abortion ban, said she thought any law exempting embryos from legal protections might be found unconstitutional under the 2018 amendment. Changing the constitution, she said, is a longer conversation.

    “It’s very divisive,” she said. “Everybody has very strong opinions on when life begins.”

    Republicans are also trying to navigate tricky political waters — torn between widespread popularity and support for IVF — and conflicts within their own party. Some Republicans have unsuccessfully sought to add Louisiana-style language to ban clinics from destroying unused or unwanted embryos.



    Source link

    Denial of responsibility! planetcirculate is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – admin@planetcirculate.com. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

    The post Alabama legislation to protect IVF providers moves toward final approval appeared first on planetcirculate.

    ]]>
    https://planetcirculate.com/alabama-legislation-to-protect-ivf-providers-moves-toward-final-approval/feed/ 0