Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretaries
Winston's performance in snowy win over Steelers adds new layer to Browns' quarterback conundrumMoldova continues to face a high-intensity hybrid war, including a significant increase in malign cyber activity and incursions. This necessitates increasing focus on the development of cyber resilience, which would also support the continued efforts of the Moldovan government to digitize more systems and the ongoing growth of the country's technology sector. Moldova’s data and cybersecurity policy efforts have not kept pace with the development and use of digital infrastructure, further complicating the challenge of counteracting the cyber aspects of the ongoing high-intensity hybrid war. Strategic and deliberate investments made in Moldova over the next five years thus have an enormous potential for return. Given the importance of the topic, this report provides an overview of Moldova’s recent digitization journey. This paper provides a deeper dive into the technology sector, including Moldova’s efforts to increase digital literacy and to strengthen human capital, as well as its e-governance efforts. Moreover, this piece outlines the country’s current cybersecurity landscape, including some specific risks and opportunities as well as the support Moldova’s partners and allies are delivering in this space. Most importantly, this piece includes key policy recommendations to strengthen the sector in support of securing Moldova’s democratic and economic future. This report is made possible by support from the U.S. Agency for International Development.
NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. The University of Iowa graduate began his career as a certified public accountant at PwC and had little name recognition beyond the health care industry. Even to investors who own its stock, the parent company's face belonged to CEO Andrew Witty, a knighted British triathlete who has testified before Congress. When Thompson did occasionally draw attention, it was because of his role in shaping the way Americans get health care. At an investor meeting last year, he outlined his company's shift to “value-based care,” paying doctors and other caregivers to keep patients healthy rather than focusing on treating them once sick. “Health care should be easier for people,” Thompson said at the time. “We are cognizant of the challenges. But navigating a future through value-based care unlocks a situation where the ... family doesn’t have to make the decisions on their own.” Thompson also drew attention in 2021 when the insurer, like its competitors, was widely criticized for a plan to start denying payment for what it deemed non-critical visits to hospital emergency rooms. “Patients are not medical experts and should not be expected to self-diagnose during what they believe is a medical emergency,” the chief executive of the American Hospital Association wrote in an open letter addressed to Thompson. “Threatening patients with a financial penalty for making the wrong decision could have a chilling effect on seeking emergency care.” United Healthcare responded by delaying rollout of the change. Thompson, who lived in a Minneapolis suburb and was the married father of two sons in high school, was set to speak at an investor meeting in a midtown New York hotel. He was on his own and about to enter the building when he was shot in the back by a masked assailant who fled on foot before pedaling an e-bike into Central Park a few blocks away, the New York Police Department said. Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said investigators were looking at Thompson's social media accounts and interviewing employees and family members. “Didn’t seem like he had any issues at all,” Kenny said. "He did not have a security detail.” AP reporters Michael R. Sisak and Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Indianapolis. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email.Nine arrests at Liverpool v Manchester City after reports of tragedy chanting - The Guardian
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UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York
President Biden’s decision to renege on his pledge not to pardon his prodigal son’s crimes has consequences for the American justice system. Ironically, it also may diminish resistance to President-elect Trump pardoning members of the mob that stormed the Capitol nearly four years ago in an effort to overturn Biden’s 2020 election victory. The two situations are not equivalent, of course. Still, they both tear at the heart of America’s scruples. More than 1,100 Trump supporters got convicted of participating in the siege that sent a joint session of Congress into hiding, injured scores of police officers and left the Capitol in a shambles. Several defendants received probation for misdemeanor charges of entering the Capitol with the mob. But more than 600 were imprisoned from one month to up to 22 years on felony charges of destroying property, assault and battery or encouraging the attack. Trump described them as “political prisoners” and “patriots,” promising to pardon them if elected president again. He said recently he will decide their pardons on a case-by-case basis. A song titled “Justice for All” described their fate. Created and posted often on social media by a group of Jan. 6 defendants (“J6 Choir”) locked in a Washington, D.C. jail block, the song’s popularity drew sympathizers across the country. It briefly made music’s top hits list. Democrats and legal experts denounce Trump’s plan to pardon Jan. 6 defendants as victims of misguided justice. The objection is somewhat hypocritical in the aftermath of Biden pardoning son Hunter. He was convicted of lying on a gun license application and income tax evasion. What devastates the rule of law is Biden’s broken pledge to let his son face the consequences of his felony crimes, including possible prison time. His stunning turnaround occurred, he said, because his son was a victim of a Justice Department political prosecution. That’s the exact reason Trump advances for his intent to pardon some, if not all, the Jan. 6 defendants. He also claims that’s why he was prosecuted and convicted of 34 felonies in his hush money trial as well as charges pending in his other legal cases. Oddly, it seems Biden and Trump agree the Justice Department has been weaponized for political means. Trump says when he returns to office he will rid the department, including its FBI office, of what he calls partisan hacks bent on destroying the country. They will, of course, be replaced by diehard loyalists committed to his America First agenda. Democrats can hardly object. Their president of the last four years has damned the Justice Department and demoralized its employees for his own sake. And just two months before departing the White House. Listen to his attempt to rationalize the decision to pardon his son when he said repeatedly he would not. “For my entire career I have followed a simple principle: just tell the American people the truth. They will be fair-minded,” Biden said in a statement. “Here’s the truth: I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected the process and it led to a miscarriage of justice (of his son).” Biden asked Americans to understand “why a father and a president would come to this decision.” Many will not. Sure, other presidents, including Trump in his first term, granted pardons to family and friends for alleged criminal behavior. In most of these cases, the persons pardoned felt the outcome of their sentences, including prison time. Biden’s rollback of his no pardon pledge — just two weeks before his son’s sentencing — disregarded the legal standard that no person is above the law; that everyone is treated equally no matter their station in life. Sadly, Biden’s decision of defiance comes at a time when the justice system’s moral fiber is fraying.A special alcohol-free zone will be created in South Albury to stop anti-social behaviour linked to the annual Chryslers on the Murray car show. or signup to continue reading A temporary ban on boozing in an area bounded by Union Bridge in the south, Smollett Street in the north, Wodonga Place in the west and Townsend Street in the east is set to apply for the next two March weekends when the event is held. There would also be a non-permanent alcohol prohibited area in the nearby parks alongside the Murray River over the same dates. Albury Council will vote on a recommendation supporting the new measures at its meeting on Monday, November 25, with an opportunity for feedback with the proposals to be publicly exhibited for 30 days. The crackdown on alcohol follows a brawl during an unsanctioned cruise along Wodonga Place as part of this year's Chrysler gathering. The parade of vehicles has been occurring for years, but in Albury Wodonga Chrysler Club president Rod Taylor welcomed the council adopting the alcohol-free area, which will be in force from 5pm to 9am across the Friday and Saturday nights. "We 100 per cent support that," Mr Taylor said. "It will just calm things down a bit more, it's a move in the right direction. "Most of the people understood that it was getting a bit out of hand and something had to be done because it was getting a bit dangerous." Mr Taylor said he would also like police to have a mobile random breath testing unit in the area as a deterrent. He attended the and saw police there rotating around such a unit and believed it should be replicated in Albury. Albury Council has already committed to having its mobile security camera trailer in the cruise area to allow police to monitor behaviour and communicate with crowds via onboard loud speakers. In their report to Monday night's meeting, the council's community safety partner Julia Vesval and acting team leader communities Diane Small note NSW police have concerns about spectator safety and their resources being strained. Police stated roads, such as Wodonga Place, could not be closed due to the need for emergency access and their heavy vehicle route status. The council staff conclude the proposed CCTV trailer deployment and alcohol-free zones "will ensure the streets and open spaces are available equally for the enjoyment of everyone, while remaining relevant to contemporary community expectations, and continue to provide a collective vision that supports cohesive growth and enhancement of our city". Chryslers on the Murray, which is centred on Wodonga's Gateway Island, is tipped to attract 7000 car fans and inject $2.8 million into the Border economy. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. 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Congressional bicameral team pushes for insurance, pharmaceutical reformUDST, CIT Switzerland ink MoU to enhance academic collaborationUkraine’s allies have shifted their focus from seeking a victory to trying to put President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the best position to counter Russian advances or negotiate a possible ceasefire, people familiar with the matter said. For now, that means NATO is redoubling efforts to rush more weapons to the war-torn country as Kyiv forces are slowly losing ground, raising the specter the eventual truce may freeze the conflict with swathes of Ukraine under occupation by Vladimir Putin’s troops. Putin has shown no willingness to discuss a ceasefire, but the return of Donald Trump to the White House has focused NATO allies on how to shore up the political will to sustain the nearly three-year war as morale starts to fade. As foreign ministers gathered in Brussels this week have focused on how to supply more weapons, governments have begun considering various negotiated scenarios to end the war, the people said. The discussion includes the kind of security guarantees that would protect Ukraine, while not provoking Putin, the people said. All of them spoke on the condition of anonymity given the political and security sensitivity of the planning, which is private and still incomplete. One possible option for a cease-fire includes creating a demilitarized zone. In case of a cease-fire, European troops would probably secure and patrol it, according to one senior NATO diplomat. Those discussions come amid recognition that the situation in Ukraine is unsustainable and negotiations should begin soon, according to another senior western diplomat. For European allies, the scenarios also offer an opportunity to show Trump they can stay relevant if cease-fire talks eventually crystallize. The private considerations over how the war may end took place as NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte, tried on Wednesday to keep the focus on surging weapons to Ukraine, setting aside for now the contours of any cease-fire. “We must do more than just keep Ukraine in the fight,” Rutte said in his closing remarks at the NATO meeting. “We must provide enough support to change the trajectory of this war once and for all.” “Changing the trajectory means that where the frontline is now moving westwards we have to make sure that Ukraine is in a position of strength” when it comes to potential talks, he added. Zelenskyy himself signaled in recent interviews that a diplomatic solution is needed and that he’d accept an end to hostilities with parts of eastern Ukraine occupied, an outcome recent polls have shown a majority of Ukrainians would tolerate. “Zelenskyy’s acknowledgment that Ukraine won’t be able to liberate all Russian-occupied territory militarily is more than a recognition of reality,” said Lucian Kim, International Crisis Group analyst and author of recently published Putin’s Revenge: Why Russia Invaded Ukraine. “It is also an opening to future peace efforts by a second Trump administration.” The key for Zelenskyy — and the complication for NATO — is his request that the alliance provide security guarantees over the portions of the country that Kyiv still controls, as well as the uncertain possibility of regaining that territory later through diplomacy. The Ukrainian president said on Sunday that any invitation to join the alliance must apply to his entire country, within its internationally recognized borders. His country’s previous experience with security guarantees, provided jointly by Russia, the U.S. and Britain by the Budapest Memorandum in 1994 in return for Kyiv giving up its Soviet-era nuclear arsenal, proved worthless when Putin invaded. Membership for Ukraine in NATO — with its security guarantee that a war against one is a war against all — is out of the question in the short term. It would also be a red line for Putin, who sees NATO on Russia’s border as a threat and Ukraine ultimately a part of his sphere of influence. Instead, Kyiv would need security guarantees that potentially bind the U.S. or other allies to come to its defense if Russia were to breach any cease-fire. Those would go beyond the commitments by the U.S. and dozens of allies to bolster Ukraine’s military over the long term, including with training. One goal of bulking up Kyiv’s military, and allowing it to strike deeper into Russia with western weapons, is to convince Putin that talks are better than fighting, which now is unlikely with Russian forces continuing to advance. “We don’t want to sugarcoat anything,” General Christian Freuding, head of the German Defense Ministry’s planning and command staff, said in comments posted online. Russia is taking the initiative “on all fronts, in all areas” and making continuous territorial gains. That includes on the eastern transport hub of Pokrovsk, which he sees Ukrainian forces needing to abandon by early next year. According to a NATO senior official, the pace of Russia’s advances is increasing, putting Ukrainian frontlines under additional pressure. And while Russia is sustaining casualties of about 1,500 killed and wounded a day, they have also been able to recruit around 30,000 new personnel a month, cementing the country’s manpower advantage. “Putin is clearly in the lead and doesn’t particularly want any negotiations,” Estonia’s ambassador to NATO, Juri Luik, said in an interview with the nation’s public broadcaster ERR. Worries within the administration of outgoing President Joe Biden that a Russian victory would embolden Moscow allies China, Iran and North Korea are at least partly behind the renewed surge of artillery shells, missiles, land mines and air defense systems. NATO’s Rutte said in an interview with the Financial Times this week that he delivered a similar warning to Trump about America’s rivals when he visited the president-elect recently in Florida. Even without a shift to Trump, who has criticized the billions the U.S. has pledged to support Ukraine, dwindling manpower and weapons mean talks would need to begin next year anyway, according to Samuel Charap, a senior political scientist at Rand. “Ukraine lacks the manpower to stop the Russian offensive, and the west has little left to give in terms of existing stocks of weapons,” Charap said. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken landed in Brussels this week, planning to discuss how to protect Ukraine over the long term, despite his short time left. “You’ve got me, you’ve got us,” Blinken told Rutte before their meeting. “Until the 20th of January,” he added, referring to Biden’s last day in office.
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Trump hasn't even started yet and his new cabinet is fast collapsing. But, warns ANDREW NEIL, the biggest (and inevitable) resignations are still to come... By ANDREW NEIL, DAILY MAIL Published: 21:54 GMT, 4 December 2024 | Updated: 22:16 GMT, 4 December 2024 e-mail 21 shares 176 View comments It isn't even day one of the new administration, Donald Trump has yet to get back behind the Oval Office desk — but the revolving door is already working overtime as potential fillers of key posts file in and out with bewildering speed, their feet barely touching the ground. During Trump's first stint in power, he didn't start haemorrhaging senior appointments til after he was running the country and proving to be a difficult, unpredictable taskmaster. By the time his first administration ended, turnover in senior positions had hit 92 percent. Now he's managing to lose folks before he's even back in the saddle. First out was Matt Gaetz , Trump's original choice for Attorney General, a post also known in Trump World as Revenger-in-Chief. Gaetz is a Trump True Believer who could be counted on to root out his boss's myriad enemies in the supposed 'deep state', including the Justice Department he would run. Except that the moment his nomination was announced, previous but still seriously damaging accusations of sex trafficking and sexual relationships with minors soon resurfaced. Even more important, as Gaetz quickly discovered, so egregious had been his recent behavior in Congress that he had few friends but plenty of enemies on the Hill. And that was just on the Republican side. Confirmation of his appointment was problematic, to put it politely. Within a week, even he realized it was best to withdraw. Trump did nothing to dissuade him. He quickly nominated instead Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who served as one of Trump's defense lawyers during his first impeachment in 2020. The switch for Trump was like water off a duck's back. Bondi had been the choice of Susie Wiles, who will be Trump's White House chief of staff, all along. Trump seemed as happy with the outcome as Wiles. Now Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice (so far) for Defense Secretary, is fighting for his political life, which looks destined to be very short. The nomination of the Fox News host (and military veteran) was greeted with an avalanche of allegations , including disinterred accusations of raping a woman (which he denies but whom he paid off to secure her silence and avoid a lawsuit), the relentless pursuit of female subordinates at work, multiple claims of being drunk on the job and the mismanagement of funds at two small non-profit veteran groups he headed (not quite what you want in your resumé for the Pentagon , biggest department in the federal government). It isn't even day one of the new administration, Donald Trump has yet to get back behind the Oval Office desk - but the revolving door is already working overtime as potential fillers of key posts file in and out with bewildering speed, their feet barely touching the ground. Pete Hegseth, Trump's choice (so far) for Defense Secretary, is fighting for his political life, which looks destined to be very short. The nomination of the Fox News host (and military veteran) was greeted with an avalanche of allegations. Hegseth also once said he does not believe that women should serve in combat roles (even though that role is now well-established). I think it safe to say Team Trump's vetting of their man before going public with his nomination was not exactly exhaustive. Hegseth tramped the corridors of Congress on Wednesday desperately trying to shore up his faltering nomination. He claims Trump has told him to 'keep fighting'. No doubt the President-elect forgot to mention he was already in discussions with another Floridian and military vet, Governor Ron DeSantis, for the Pentagon position. Hegseth remains undeterred. Even his mother, Penelope, was wheeled on to Fox News on Wednesday morning to defend her son. She'd sent a devastating email to him during his divorce in 2018 accusing him of routinely abusing women and lacking any decency and character. Quite the damning criticism from one's own mother. Now she was on Fox & Friends to tell the world 'Pete is a new person... redeemed, forgiven, changed.' She has already attacked the media for publishing the email which gave her son both barrels but not reporting that she'd quickly sent a follow up apology withdrawing her scathing remarks. Which is fair enough. Though the problem is that she has not been able to produce the second email. So the media is unable to publish it. Nobody is taking her change of heart seriously. The skids are clearly under Hegseth. Republican senators who had previously dismissed the accusations against him as 'side issues' have gone quiet. Lindsay Graham, Republican Senator for South Carolina, acolyte of The Donald and a reliable lagging indicator of the way the wind is blowing, now says the claims against Hegseth are 'very disturbing', that confirmation is going to be 'very difficult', that leadership of the Pentagon requires 'good order and discipline' (sorry, Pete) and, just to twist the knife, 'every young woman who joins the military needs to feel respected and welcomed' (really sorry, Pete). For whom the bell tolls? It tolls for thee, Pete. First out was Matt Gaetz, Trump's original choice for Attorney General, a post also known in Trump World as Revenger-in-Chief. The moment his nomination was announced, previous but still seriously damaging accusations of sex trafficking and sexual relationships with minors soon resurfaced. Trump quickly nominated instead Pam Bondi, a former Florida attorney general who served as one of Trump's defense lawyers during his first impeachment in 2020. The switch for Trump was like water off a duck's back. Bondi had been the choice of Susie Wiles, who will be Trump's White House chief of staff, all along. Hegseth (pictured with his wife) tramped the corridors of Congress on Wednesday desperately trying to shore up his faltering nomination. He claims Trump has told him to 'keep fighting'. No doubt the President-elect forgot to mention he was already in discussions with another Floridian and military vet, Governor Ron DeSantis, for the Pentagon position. Read More ANDREW NEIL: The REAL and sickeningly self-serving reason Biden pardoned Hunter The Republicans have a 53 to 47 Senate majority. If three demur from backing Hegseth he could still clinch the nomination because, as vice president, JD Vance will also be President of the Senate with a casting vote in the event of a tie. But with four Republican dissenters, Hegseth would be finished. I know of at least five likely to vote against him — and the number is growing. The revolving door is already doing overtime. As all eyes were on the Hegseth circus, Trump's candidate for the Drug Enforcement Agency, Chad Chronister, Sheriff of Hillsborough County Florida, barely lasted 24 hours before the President-elect pulled him on Tuesday for something he said which Trump found disobliging. Nor did Trump's choice for White House counsel, William McGinley, get the chance to start his job. Picked by Trump only a few weeks ago, he was replaced this week by David Warrington, the Trump campaign's top lawyer. There is more fun and games to come — and with bigger fish. The confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary is anything but a slam dunk. He has backed enough kooky conspiracy theories in his time, advocated multiple bizarre approaches to health and harbored several sex-related skeletons of his own to prove a dripping roast for the Senate confirmation process. Then there's Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's choice to be Director of National Intelligence, a controversial pick for such a post given her penchant for repeating Kremlin talking points and her cozying up to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. All that will provide the Senate with another field day. To be fair, many of Trump's choices for his second administration are respectable and uncontroversial, including the prime posts of Treasury (Scott Bessent, an experienced financier) and State (Marco Rubio, who specialized in foreign affairs as a senator). It's the more explosive ones that generate the headlines — and even then, there could be method to Trump's apparent madness. It is all very much part of his long-standing modus operandi. Set ally against ally to see who emerges on top. It's fun to watch. Throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks. If it sticks, proceed. If some of it slides off, get rid of it quickly and move on with something more reliably sticky. It's usually a win-win for Trump. The confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health Secretary is anything but a slam dunk. He has backed enough kooky conspiracy theories in his time, advocated multiple bizarre approaches to health and harbored several sex-related skeletons of his own to prove a dripping roast for the Senate confirmation process. The inevitable fallout with Elon Musk will also be an epic of monster movie proportions - a veritable Godzilla v King Kong on the banks of the Potomac. His more outlandish nominations reassure his base that he really does intend to 'drain the swamp'. If they stumble during the confirmation process, he can blame the 'deep state' and move to somebody more mainstream, all the while averring he will not rest til the deep state is dealt with. The Trump base is content. Their man is doing his best. Trump is content. He still gets a few outsiders and usurpers to stir things up but will rely largely on more mainstream figures to govern the country. Of course, the road will be rockier than that. Trump 2.0 will not be for those of a nervous disposition. He will quickly fallout with many of his more cautious appointees. Some will resign, others quit to write their tales about how terrible he is (something of a cottage industry in his first administration). Some usurpers will likely prove more trouble than they're worth. Trump will be forced to part company with them. The inevitable fallout with Elon Musk, for example, will be an epic of monster movie proportions — a veritable Godzilla v King Kong on the banks of the Potomac. So that revolving door will need to be kept well oiled. For it will be in constant use these next four chaotic but fascinating years. Share or comment on this article: Trump hasn't even started yet and his new cabinet is fast collapsing. But, warns ANDREW NEIL, the biggest (and inevitable) resignations are still to come... e-mail 21 shares Add comment