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Wall Street Pauses as Fed Meeting Looms: Futures Hold Steady

U.S. stock futures were little changed on Tuesday as investors awaited the start of the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq futures all hovered near flat, reflecting a cautious mood across Wall Street. The Fed is widely expected to keep interest rates unchanged, but traders are focused on Chair Jerome Powell’s comments and the central bank’s updated economic projections. Markets are looking for clues on when rate cuts might begin in 2024, with inflation cooling but still above the Fed’s long-term target. Recent gains in equities have been fueled by optimism that the Fed’s tightening cycle is over, yet uncertainty remains about how quickly monetary policy will shift toward easing. Until then, investors appear content to hold their positions, waiting for clearer signals from the Fed before making bold moves.

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Controversial Turkish Import Endangers Newborns in Alberta, Documents Reveal

 

Recent documents have raised alarming concerns over Alberta’s emergency importation of children’s pain medication from Turkey. Produced by Atabay Pharmaceuticals and sold under the brand name Parol Suspension, the drug is marketed at a concentration of 24 mg/ml—significantly lower than the 32 mg/ml concentration found in the standard, Canadian-authorized formulation.

Health experts and opposition critics warn that this altered concentration poses a twofold risk. First, the discrepancy could lead to dosing errors if parents and caregivers, accustomed to the standard formulation, misjudge the correct volume needed. Second, there are fears that the lower concentration may lead to the clogging of hospital feeding tubes—a critical concern for vulnerable newborns.

Alberta Blue Cross has informed pharmacists that Parol must be dispensed with enhanced caution, requiring additional education on its proper use. Critics argue that the rushed procurement—amounting to approximately $80 million—exemplifies a misstep in prioritizing political expedience over stringent safety protocols. With traditional supplies of children’s pain medications already in short supply, many worry that this controversial alternative might jeopardize the health of Alberta’s youngest patients.

Further review and tighter regulatory oversight are now being called for, as stakeholders demand that the province safeguard the well-being of newborns and ensure that emergency measures do not compromise pediatric care.

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