Day: August 14, 2022

Will you get insulin-cost relief from the inflation bill? Not if you have private insurance

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Will you get insulin-cost relief from the inflation bill? Not if you have private insurance

But an out-of-pocket cap identical to that for Medicare was stripped from the bill for those with private insurance because Democrats are trying to pass the bill by a simple majority through the reconciliation process. That requires Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough to vet the provisions. She said most of the health-related features were fine, but the insulin proposal for those who have private insurance, not Medicare, violated the Byrd provision, which says that issues “extraneous to the federal budget” cannot be passed by simple majority through reconciliation.

…

Out-of-pocket spending for those with Part D Medicare drug coverage will be capped at $2,000 a year.

…

In 2024, a 5% coinsurance payment that now kicks in after someone reaches the catastrophic drug spending level of $7,050 in Medicare will end. Because drug companies set their own prices, 5% on expensive drugs can be a lot of money.

Related:

Read More »

Yurash: We’re trying to prevent meeting between Pope and Patriarch Kirill

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Yurash: We’re trying to prevent meeting between Pope and Patriarch Kirill

Ukrainian Ambassador to the Vatican Andriy Yurash admitted that a meeting between the pontiff and Patriarch Kirill in Kazakhstan is undesirable for Ukraine. “There is a big discussion now about why we are trying to prevent the Pope and Patriarch Kirill from meeting in Kazakhstan in September 2022,” the official said to Channel 24, adding that “they were ready to meet this year in Lebanon, on neutral territory.”

Related:

Pope to Kazakhstan Sept. 13-15, may meet Russia patriarch

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis will travel next month to Kazakhstan, where he could meet with Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, who has justified Moscow’s war in Ukraine.

Patriarch Kirill: The war with Ukraine is devil work

According to the Patriarch, the Church “should pray today for peace, for an end to internecine strife as St. Sergius did, as our Russian Church did when the Russian princes were engaged into internecine strife, destroying each other.”

*scratches head*

US congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

US congressional delegation arrives in Taiwan

As Markey’s delegation arrived in Taipei, Chinese fighter jets, bombers and airborne early warning aircraft departed for Thailand for joint exercises with the Royal Thai Air Force.

Meanwhile, the US is holding joint exercises in Indonesia with the Australian, Japanese, and Singaporean forces, while the Pentagon announced last week that the US Navy will conduct “air and maritime transits” through the Taiwan Strait in the coming weeks, while the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group will remain stationed in the region.

Related:

As US lawmakers make more provocative visits, China’s determination to solve Taiwan question sooner rather than later also rises

Several US lawmakers made a visit to the island of Taiwan via US military aircraft on Sunday. This is new provocation. On the same day, it’s revealed by the Taiwan side that China’s PLA sent 22 military aircraft and six warships for combat readiness security patrols in the Taiwan Straits and some of them crossed the so-called median line, which the mainland doesn’t recognize.

Venezuela opposition leader Guaido in “informal” meetings with Colombia’s govt

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)1 Comment

CARACAS – Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido has held “informal meetings” with members of newly elected Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s government, he said on Friday.

Venezuela opposition leader Guaido in “informal” meetings with Colombia’s govt

Related:

Argentine Judge Orders The Theft of Venezuela’s EMTRASUR Plane at US Request

Who Is Judge Federico Villena, Hijacker of Venezuela’s EMTRASUR Plane in Argentina?

Africa taken for ‘neo-colonial’ ride

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

By Anis Chowdhury and Jomo Kwame Sundaram – Jul 26, 2022

SYDNEY and KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 26 2022 (IPS) – Like so many others, Africans have long been misled. Alleged progress under imperialism has long been used to legitimize exploitation. Meanwhile, Western colonial powers have been replaced by neo-colonial governments and international institutions serving their interests.

Africa taken for ‘neo-colonial’ ride

Data Privacy Matters: Facebook Expands Encryption Just After Facebook Messages (Obtained Via Search Warrant) Used To Charge Teen For Abortion

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Fri, Aug 12th 2022 12:09pm – Mike Masnick

In the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, there has been plenty of attention paid to the kinds of data that companies keep on us, and how they could be exposed, including to law enforcement. Many internet companies seemed somewhat taken by surprise regarding all of this, which is a bit ridiculous, given that (1) they had plenty of time to prepare for this sort of thing, and (2) it’s not like plenty of us haven’t been warning companies about the privacy problems of having too much data.

Data Privacy Matters: Facebook Expands Encryption Just After Facebook Messages (Obtained Via Search Warrant) Used To Charge Teen For Abortion

Leaked NSO Group Presentation Details Malware’s Ability To Turn On Cameras, Mics To Surveil Targets

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

from the just-because-it’s-illegal-domestically-doesn’t-mean-you-can’t-profit-from-it dept

Fri, Aug 12th 2022 03:45pm – Tim Cushing

Israel’s foremost purveyor of malware, NSO Group, has undergone nearly a yearlong reckoning. A leak last summer appeared to show NSO customers were routinely targeting journalists, activists, members of opposition parties, and, in one case, the ex-wife of a Dubai ruler.

Leaked NSO Group Presentation Details Malware’s Ability To Turn On Cameras, Mics To Surveil Targets