France's Macron vows to stay on, promises PM in 'coming days'
France's Macron vows to stay on, promises PM in 'coming days'ABILENE, Texas (AP) — Sam Hicks scored on a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished with 171 yards on the ground to lead Abilene Christian to a 24-0 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday in the first round of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats (9-4), ranked No. 15 in the FCS coaches poll and seeded 15th, qualified for the playoffs for the first time and will travel to play No. 2 seed and nine-time champion North Dakota State (10-2) on Saturday at the Fargo Dome. The Bison had a first-round bye. Abilene Christian grabbed a 7-0 lead on its second possession when Carson Haggard connected with Trey Cleveland for a 37-yard touchdown that capped a 10-play 97-yard drive. Northern Arizona (8-5), ranked 17th but unseeded for the playoffs after winning five straight to get in, picked off Haggard on the Wildcats' next two possessions but could not turn them into points. NAU went for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line with 9:30 left before halftime, but Jordan Mukes tackled Ty Pennington for a 4-yard loss. That led to a 46-yard field goal by Ritse Vaes and a 10-0 lead at halftime. The score remained the same until Hicks' big run with 10:16 left to play. Haggard passed 6 yards to Blayne Taylor for the final score with 2:16 to go. Haggard completed 23 of 29 passes for 244 yards with three interceptions. Abilene Christian's defense allowed at least 20 points in every game during the regular season and yielded at least 30 six times. The Wildcats lost their season opener to FBS member Texas Tech 52-51 in overtime. Abilene Christian's last shutout came in a 56-0 victory over Lamar on Sept. 25, 2021. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
I watched the interview with Sam Altman by Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times. It seemed like a fundamental way station in the story that people are telling about large language models and related technology. Here are some of the main points that stood out to me about the journey, and how it has informed not just business, but society as a whole. First of all, Sorkin asked Altman about the trajectory of the technology itself, and he brought this up early on the interview. Why, he asked, did people get suddenly more interested when ChatGPT first came out? In response Altman talked about what he called the “chanciness” of change, and suggested that one reason for massive investments directly after the unveiling of ChatGPT is that people were having a lot of fun talking to the model, interacting directly, and seeing firsthand what the technology was capable of. “We said, ‘Well, if that's what people want, we can make it much easier to use,’” he explained. “You don't have to sign up for a developer account and do all these other things, and we can sort of train it to be good at conversations. And so we said, okay, let's make this as a product.” Since then, as the two noted, it’s been off to the races. Is There a Wall? Artificial Intelligence and Its Limitations Sorkin and his interview subject also discussed limitations and constraints on technological progress. Altman seemed to suggest that we shouldn’t worry so much about whether there is a wall, but understand what’s already happened, and be enthusiastic about the potential that it shows. In a sense, these technologies have already proven themselves. As for drivers of this program, he suggested that algorithmic progress is at least as important as expanding compute. He pointed to the transformer as a major innovation, and if you look back in the blog, I had been laying out how new models take advantage of this architecture to jump to the next level. The AI Arms Race Noting an “arms race” in terms of processing power, Sorkin asked Altman about who the competitors are, and how that works. Later in the interview, he got into some of the tensions within the industry, where Altman largely declined to wade into the fray, but instead talked about his positive past history with Elon Musk, and his general desire to work with others across the field, rather than foment conflict. Now, without trying to cherry-pick Altman’s responses to Sorkin’s sort of personal inquiries, I think it’s notable to provide this quote and take notice, in the context that there’s a lot of talk flying around about business clout and political sway, specifically centered around whether anti-competitive behavior can come out of unusual political relationships: “I believe pretty strongly that Elon will do the right thing,” Altman said. “It can be profoundly unAmerican, to use political power, to the degree that Elon has it, to hurt your competitors and (unfairly position) your own businesses. ... I don't think Elon would do it.” For more on the background, and his other thoughts on this score, you can watch the segment. The Long March In terms of AI safety and the singularity, Altman, when asked about pain points, suggested that there’s going to be a big gap between AGI and the eventual singularity. We can be nervous now, he said, about some things, but major challenges will crop up on that open road well after we’ve attained these current sets of goals that humanity has for AI. In general, he said, he has faith that researchers will solve a lot of the practical problems with emerging digital sentience, to wit – how do we coexist with other thinkers who don’t have physical bodies, but are stuck in a mainframe somewhere? A Sense of Place Talking about the unique value and contributions of OpenAI, Altman noted that the company was essentially in the right place, at the right time. “We discovered an important new type of (tech),” he said. As an analogy, he talked about transistors and how they facilitated the eventual cloud and big data eras, invoking Moore’s law. Gordon Moore’s now-famous prediction has become a staple of reading the tea leaves on tech, and figuring out how and why we arrived at this point. To Those Who Write Near the end of the interview, Altman threw all of us who live in the human writing world a bone when he suggested that AI will not replace humans as a creative force. “We need to find new economic models where creators can have new revenue streams,” he said. To which I think most freelancers, and those working in beleaguered newsrooms, would agree. The interview ended with some touching remarks about parenthood, and Altman‘s own impending role as a father, with his thoughts about the next generations and what they will face. “The industrial revolution comes along, so machines take all of our jobs,” he said, moving through historic periods of change. “What does this mean? Computer revolution comes along. Computers take a bunch of current jobs. What does it mean? And the answer, at least in terms of what it means to be human, is: not very much. The economy will change, the kinds of jobs people will do will change, and people will care way more, and love their kids way more than they care about AI and anything else that any technology can deliver. The sort of the deep human drives are so powerful and have been here for so long. Evolution is pretty slow ... I think in some sense, my kids will grow up in a super different world, and in some other sense, it will be exactly the same.” This is my roundup of what I heard from one of the brightest stars in technology at this month’s event which is often so notable in terms of the industry as a whole. It’s almost Christmas time, and we’re looking at 2024 as a year that is coming to a close. It’s fascinating and staggering how much progress has taken place in just four short quarters. Stay tuned for more.
T-Mobile Declares Quarterly Cash DividendFrance's Macron vows to stay on, promises PM in 'coming days'The Mahayuti alliance secured a sweeping victory in the Maharashtra assembly elections, described as 'historic' by Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC, who highlighted voter support for a 'Viksit Bharat'. However, Shaina NC herself suffered a significant defeat in Mumbadevi, losing to Congress's Amin Patel by 34,844 votes. Narrating this electoral success, Shaina NC expressed pride in the Mahayuti's focus on development. The BJP's leadership, under Eknath Shinde, drove the alliance to success, with the BJP winning or leading in 132 seats, Shiv Sena in 57, and NCP in 41, out of a total of 288 assembly seats. The Maha Vikas Aghadi faced severe setbacks, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning only 20, Congress 16, and NCP(SP) 10 seats. BJP's impressive strike rate featured wins in 133 of 148 contested seats. Devendra Fadnavis praised the unity under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, ensuring a powerful mandate for Mahayuti. Expressing gratitude, CM Eknath Shinde thanked BJP's central leadership, notably PM Modi, Amit Shah, and J.P. Nadda, for their election campaigning support. His predicted triumph of 200 seats came close to fruition. The victory was heralded by congratulatory calls from Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. (With inputs from agencies.)
Digital Ally, Inc. Receives Notification of Deficiency from Nasdaq Related to Delayed Filing of Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
But what if I told you that may not necessarily be the case, and that your favourite discontinued chocolate may be sitting on your local supermarket shelf right now. Well it's true. Chocolate lovers have endured a tough 12 months with major brands including Cadbury and Nestle axing products from their range. Chocolates discontinued in 2024 Some of the chocolates discontinued in the UK so far this year have included: Discontinued UK chocolates and sweets Discontinued chocolates still available in UK stores But although you may think that once chocolates have been discontinued, they are no longer available, that is not always the case. To prove this, I went to local stores including Asda, B&M, Tesco and Home Bargains to see which discontinued chocolates I could find. Here's what I found: Cadbury confirmed earlier this year its had been discontinued and there were "no plans" to bring it back. However, it appears the company has done a back flip on this decision with the popular chocolate bar reintroduced as part of the company's . You can find Dairy Milk Mint Crisp bars in stores across the UK including at the likes of Asda and Tesco. In November 2023, Nestle revealed it was discontinuing its Caramac and Animal Bars, a decision the company said was made due to falling sales. Caramac was had been a part of the Nestle range for 64 years. But on July 23, to stores across the UK. Nestle said they would be available "while stocks last", but over four months later and they are still on sale across the country including in Asda and B&M. Alongside the bar, there Caramac button sharing bags and a multipacks are also available. Cadbury launched Dream chocolate in the UK back in 2002. But it didn't last long, being discontinued a few years later. In 2019, the confectionary company released Cadbury white as a replacement. But Dream chocolate is still available in other countries - including Australia. And as a result, chocolate bars returned to B&M stores across the country back in October. Cadbury Coins were discontinued back in 2014. But it appears now they have become a part of it's Christmas range. First appearing on shelves for a limited time over the festive period in 2023, and now back again ahead of Christmas 2024. But you'll need to be quick if you are hoping to get your hands on a bag of Cadbury coins. Because once they're gone you'll have to wait until next Christmas for your next chance. were discontinued in the UK "several years ago", but made a return in select B&M stores across the country recently. Like the Dream chocolate bar, Fuse Mini Treats are still available in other countries, hence how B&M have managed to acquire stock. While I was unable to find any at my local B&M store, despite several attempts, Newfoodsuk was able to secure a packet back in October. A variety of other discontinued chocolates have been spotted in stores across the UK in 2024. These include the likes of (discontinued in 2023) and (discontinued by Mars Wrigley in 2022). Best places to find discontinued chocolates Big name brands will bring back discontinued chocolates from time to time - like Nestle and Caramac or Cadbury and Dairy Milk Mint Crisp bars - which will mean they will be more readily available, including at major supermarkets (like Tesco and Asda). But, what I have found, is you are more likely to find a discontinued gem in either B&M or Home Bargains. B&M has been particularly good for discontinued chocolates. It's also worth keeping an eye out at B&M for different chocolate bars that have come from overseas, that aren't usually available in the UK. The likes of Cherry Ripe (Australia), Dairy Milk Snack (Australia) and Perky Nana (New Zealand) chocolate bars have all been spotted at B&M stores at some point recently, and are popular among chocolate lovers in the UK. So next time you head out to the shops, make sure you keep your eyes peeled for any discontinued chocolates that may be hiding on the shelves.
Winnipeg Jets (18-6, in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (14-8, in the Central Division) Dallas; Sunday, 4:30 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Dallas Stars host the Winnipeg Jets after Mason Marchment scored two goals in the Stars' 5-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. Dallas has a 14-8 record overall and a 5-2-0 record in Central Division play. The Stars have a +17 scoring differential, with 76 total goals scored and 59 conceded. Winnipeg has an 18-6 record overall and a 7-1-0 record in Central Division play. The Jets have gone 10-1-0 in games they score at least one power-play goal. Sunday's game is the second time these teams square off this season. The Jets won the last matchup 4-1. Cole Perfetti scored two goals in the victory. TOP PERFORMERS: Marchment has nine goals and 14 assists for the Stars. Roope Hintz has five goals and one assist over the last 10 games. Story continues below video Kyle Connor has 13 goals and 16 assists for the Jets. Mark Scheifele has scored five goals with three assists over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Stars: 6-4-0, averaging 3.9 goals, 6.6 assists, 3.3 penalties and 8.6 penalty minutes while giving up three goals per game. Jets: 5-5-0, averaging three goals, 4.7 assists, 4.2 penalties and 11.7 penalty minutes while giving up 2.7 goals per game. INJURIES: Stars: None listed. Jets: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .By Daily Trust The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, is rallying the organized private sector’s investment to fast track its ongoing seaport modernization project. The move is to further strengthen the Federal Government’s plans to diversify the nation’s economy from oil and gas to the non oil sector. It is expected that this will boost its annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Nigeria’s economy expanded by 3.46 percent year-on-year in third quarter 2024, the highest since the fourth quarter of 2023, increasing from 3.19 percent in the previous quarter, according to Trading Economics. Mark Ellis’s Pepe Victory Fuels His Ambition to Buy BlockDAG for 30,000x ROI Cross River PDP members protest reinstatement of removed chairman Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop held in Lagos on Tuesday, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, in his keynote speech stated that Nigeria has achieved notable progress in maritime governance, which he said includes the ratification and domestication of international protocols and conventions. The event is a stakeholders’ engagement and technical validation workshop on the development of national policy on Marine and Blue Economy held in Lagos on Tuesday. According to him, these measures have strengthened the nation’s safety and security framework, resulting in a remarkable three-year period of zero incidences of piracy in the nation’s waters. “We are actively seeking private sector investment for port modernisation, which is critical for boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness and attracting sustainable funding for the sector,” Oyetola said. The Minister further reiterated that all the efforts are integral to ensuring that the policies translate into tangible progress and measurable outcomes. He lamented that the recurring spate of boat mishaps underscores the pressing need for immediate action on the policy and strategy front. He pointed out that Nigeria is vigorously pursuing its candidacy for election into Category C of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), “which underscores our determination to strengthen our voice in global maritime governance.” He reiterated that as the government developed this policy, the ministry remains committed to repositioning Nigeria as a dominant player in the marine and blue economy both regionally and globally. “A robust national policy will ensure that we address these issues through a comprehensive framework that aligns with international best practices while safeguarding our marine resources for future generations,” Oyetola said. He highlighted that the national policy which the government seeks to craft must, therefore, be comprehensive to tackle all challenges and unlock the full potential of the sector. He maintained that the validation workshop is a milestone in an effort to elevate Nigeria’s marine and blue economy. Oyetola averred that a diligent and inclusive policy-making process underscores the ministry’s commitment to collaboration and precision. He announced that the ministry has painstakingly developed strategies to guide the sustainable use of the marine resources. “Our partnerships with the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, the Kingdom of Norway, WorldFish, and other stakeholders have yielded notable strategy and policy documents that are very vital inputs into the National Policy on Marine & Blue Economy,” he explained. Oyetola explained that the nine-part draft policy presents an elaborate overview of the marine and blue economic endowments of the country and its current state. He emphasised that the initial consultations and technical drafting processes have produced a draft policy that is both inclusive and forward-looking. The minister stated that the goal is to critically evaluate the draft policy, ensuring that it addresses the needs of all stakeholders, incorporates global standards, and positions Nigeria as a regional leader in blue economy. “It affirms our mandate, vision, and mission; which sets the stage for the objectives of the policy and its aspirations. “It further dissects these aspirations into five broad parts of legal and institutional framework; maritime transport, trade, and shipping; fisheries and aquaculture; marine abiotic resources; and marine innovation and technology,” he said. “It also identified an array of cross-cutting issues and then concluded with a scan of stakeholders to support the implementation structure. It is comprehensive,” he stated. Speaking further, Oyetola revealed that the outcome from these stakeholder engagements will be used to update the draft policy and at the end of the process, “we expect to deliver a national policy document that sets out the roadmap to developing our blue economy, creating jobs, promoting private sector investments, and delivering inclusive prosperity to all Nigerians, especially for our youths and women.” He stated that the blue economy is a transformative pathway for nations seeking to balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. Oyetola maintained that for Nigeria, with 853 kilometers of coastline, extensive inland waterways, and a vast exclusive economic zone, the marine environment holds unparalleled opportunities in areas of fisheries and aquaculture, shipping and maritime infrastructure, tourism, renewable energy, and seabed mining. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Olufemi Oloruntola, added that the workshop is a key step in shaping the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, “a framework designed to address Nigeria’s specific needs and aspirations while embracing sustainable development principles.” He added that the workshop provides an opportunity for stakeholders to review, refine, and enrich the draft policy through a participatory and inclusive approach. Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You. NEWS UPDATE: Nigerians have been finally approved to earn Dollars from home, acquire premium domains for as low as $1500, profit as much as $22,000 (₦37million+). Click here to start. FG port modernization private sector investment
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Voters reject turncoats in western MaharashtraROME (AP) — In 2020, it was a run to the Champions League quarterfinals just as Bergamo was becoming the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic . Last season, it was an upset victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final to end the German club’s European-record unbeaten run at 51 games. Atalanta keeps on surprising and its latest exploit was moving atop Serie A following a 3-1 win at Parma on Saturday for its seventh straight win in the Italian league. And to think that coach Gian Piero Gasperini considered leaving Atalanta toward the end of last season. Now, Gasperini has the chance to guide “La Dea” (The Goddess), as the team is nicknamed, to its first ever Italian league title. There’s a long way to go, though, and it should be noted that Atalanta is level on points with second-place Inter Milan, which routed Hellas Verona 5-0 earlier, and that Napoli has a chance to reclaim the lead when it hosts Roma on Sunday. Also Saturday, AC Milan and Juventus drew 0-0 at the San Siro in a match with few chances from both sides. Milan produced one shot on goal and Juventus created two. Atalanta's Mateo Retegui scored his league-leading 12th goal of the season, Ederson made it 2-0 before the break and Europa League final hero Ademola Lookman restored the two-goal advantage after Matteo Cancellieri had pulled one back for Parma. Retegui’s fourth headed goal of the season put him atop that category across Europe’s five major leagues, according to Opta, while Lookman volleyed in a cross from Juan Cuadrado after having two goals disallowed. Gasperini was sent off midway through the second half for protests. But he was smiling in the stands at the final whistle. Atalanta's 34 goals are the most in Italy, and trail only Barcelona (42), Bayern Munich (36) and Paris Saint-Germain (36) across Europe's top five leagues. Atalanta has won two and drawn two in the Champions League this season. Marcus Thuram scored twice for defending champion Inter at Verona. Inter was missing top striker Lautaro Martinez, who was out sick. But five goals in the first half made Lautaro’s absence a non-issue. Joaquin Correa opened the scoring 17 minutes in, Thuram then scored twice before more goals from Stefan de Vrij and Yann Aurel Bisseck. Correa nearly added another in second-half stoppage time but his effort hit the woodwork. Inter's only loss across all competitions this season was a derby defeat to Milan in September. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerThe masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The gunman is still at large and a manhunt is underway. Here's the latest: Water bottle and protein bar wrapper may hold clues to the shooter’s identity Just minutes before the shooting, the suspect was seen on surveillance footage purchasing the two items from a nearby Starbucks. Both the water bottle and protein bar wrapper were later recovered from a trash can in the vicinity of the killing, according to a police spokesperson. They’ve been sent to the city’s medical examiner for expedited fingerprint testing. Tips about the shooting, many unfounded, are pouring in through a police hotline As the suspect remained at large Thursday afternoon, New York police were sorting through a growing number of leads coming in through a public hotline. Many have been unfounded, including a tip from a commuter who claimed to have spotted the shooter on a Long Island Rail Road train Wednesday evening. Police searched the train, but found no sign of the gunman. Members of the public have also provided police with several different names of people who bear a resemblance to the gunman — though they have yet to confirm the shooter’s identity. NYPD spokesperson Carlos Nieves urged anyone with information to contact the department “even if it seems trivial.” “We ask you to call the tip line because that little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together,” he said. Anger and vitriol against health insurers filled social media in the wake of Thompson’s killing Users’ reactions — and in many cases jokes — populated comment sections teeming with frustration toward health insurers broadly and UnitedHealthcare in particular. “I would be happy to help look for the shooter but vision isn’t covered under my healthcare plan,” one comment read on Instagram. “Thoughts and prior authorizations!” wrote another user. Police searched Upper West Side hostel seen in new images Images released by police of a person they say is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Both feature a black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semicircle. Matheus Taranto, a guest at the hostel who’s visiting from Brazil, says he saw police at the lodging Wednesday evening. He said an officer wouldn’t let him access a bathroom where he wanted to brush his teeth. “I asked why, he was like, no, nothing happened,” said Taranto, 24. He didn’t connect the dots with the shooting until later. Police in Minnesota say they believe bomb threat against Thompson’s home was a hoax In Minnesota, police in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove, where Thompson lived, said Thursday they believe a bomb threat on Wednesday night was a hoax. Maple Grove police put out a statement Thursday saying a “suspected swatting investigation” was underway. The department said it received a report of a bomb threat directed at two addresses around 7 p.m. CT Wednesday. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office assisted, but investigators found no suspicions devices or other items. “The case is considered an active investigation, while the incident appears to be a hoax. No further comments will be made at this time,” the police statement said. Police reports provided to The Associated Press by the department show that officers made contact with family members at one of the homes and were told they had seen nothing suspicious and had received no direct threats. In Minnesota, authorities investigate reported bomb threat against Brian Thompson’s home Back in Thompson’s home state of Minnesota, authorities were investigating a bomb threat that reportedly was made against his home Wednesday night, after his death. It was first reported by TMZ. City Prosecutor Andrew Draper confirmed to The Associated Press via email Thursday that he received an email Wednesday night “regarding a bomb threat. I reported it to the Maple Grove Police Department and do not have any additional information.” Maple Grove police officials did not immediately respond to requests for details Thursday. Local ATF spokesperson Ashlee Sherrill said: “ATF was made aware of the incident in Maple Grove last night, but no ATF resources were deployed. We are unable to confirm any further details.” A local FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for information on the FBI’s involvement in the investigation. Words on ammunition were written in marker, AP source says The words emblazoned on the ammunition used in the shooting – “deny,” “defend” and “depose” – were written in permanent marker, according to a law enforcement official. The official wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. — Jake Offenhartz What’s known about the search As of Thursday morning, police were still searching for the shooter. They released new photos of a person they said is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. The images match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, including its black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semi-circle. An employee at the hostel said police had visited but declined to provide further information. Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the lodging, said in an emailed statement that they are cooperating with the NYPD but can’t comment due to the active investigation. According to the official who spoke to AP about the ammunition messaging, investigators are running DNA and fingerprint analysis on items found near the shooting, including a water bottle, that they believe the suspect may have discarded. Additionally, they’re looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan. What is the criticism of insurers? Doctors and patients have become particularly frustrated with prior authorizations, which are requirements that an insurer approve surgery or care before it happens. UnitedHealthcare was named in an October report detailing how the insurer’s prior authorization denial rate for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years. The report from the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also named rivals Humana and CVS. Insurers say tactics like prior authorization are needed to limit unnecessary care and help control spiraling medical costs. Frustrations extend beyond the coverage of care. Expensive breakthrough medications to slow Alzheimer’s disease or help with obesity are frequently not covered or have coverage limits. How do Americans feel about insurers? In the U.S. health care system, patients get coverage through a mix of private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and government-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. That can prove particularly frustrating for doctors and patients because coverage often varies by insurer. Polls reflect those frustrations with the U.S. health care system in general and insurance companies in particular. About two-thirds of Americans said health insurance companies deserve “a lot of blame” for high health care costs, according to a KFF poll conducted in February . Thompson’s wife said her husband had received previous threats Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. Words on ammo in CEO shooting echo common phrase on insurer tactics: Delay, deny, defend A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting — “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The three words were emblazoned on the ammunition a masked gunman used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. They’re similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” — the way some attorneys describe how insurers deny services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book that was highly critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the wording or any connection between them and the common phrase. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting a deepening frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. ▶ Read more about the messaging left behind by the shooter New photos released by the NYPD The New York Police Department released photos Thursday morning, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured. Police say the person is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. UnitedHealthcare’s history of claim denials A Senate panel has been investigating how frequently three major insurers, including UnitedHealthcare, deny care to patients who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. It has also investigated the use of artificial intelligence in deny those claims. Medicare Advantage is the private version of Medicare, which provides health insurance to millions of older Americans. The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee’s report released earlier this year found that as UnitedHealthcare relied more on its automated system to review claims denials increased for post-acute treatment, which includes nursing home or rehabilitation care. The insurer denied nearly a quarter of claims, a rate that doubled over just a two-year period from 2020 to 2022. What’s known about the suspected shooter? Joseph Kenny, the NYPD chief of detectives, says the shooter wore a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers and a distinctive gray backpack. He arrived outside the hotel about five minutes before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson did, then waited and ignored other pedestrians before he approached Thompson from behind. After the assailant began to fire, his 9 mm pistol jammed but he quickly fixed it and kept firing, Kenny said, another sign of the shooter’s professionalism. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” Kenny said. Hunt for the shooting suspect brought New York police to at least two hostels Thursday morning The hostels were on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and police were following a tip that the suspect may have stayed at one of the residences, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The official requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing search. According to an employee of Kama Central Park, two detectives arrived at the hostel at 7 a.m. Thursday with a photo of the shooter and asked staff if they recognized the man. They did not, the employee said, and the detectives left soon after. An employee at the nearby HI New York City hostel also confirmed that police had visited the location Thursday, but declined to provide further information. — Jake Offenhartz New York Mayor Adams says he’s ‘never seen a silencer before’ New York Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday the shooter used a silencer — something he’d never encountered in his 22 years as a police officer. “In all of my years in law enforcement I have never seen a silencer before,” Adams, a retired NYPD captain, said in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “And so that was really something that was shocking to us all.” Deny,’ ‘defend’ and ‘depose’: Ammunition used in CEO’s killing had writing on it, AP source says The masked gunman used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies use to try to avoid paying claims. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny had said earlier. — Mike Balsamo, Jake Offenhartz and Michael R. Sisak Just getting up to speed? Start here The chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest insurers, was killed Wednesday in midtown Manhattan in what police described as a targeted attack by a shooter outside a hotel where the company was holding a conference. ▶ Read more about the key things to know about the fatal attack The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — The locker room after the Rams’ 37-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was as quiet as any this season. Players shouldered blame in quiet, shorts responses to reporters’ questions before filing out and into the night. As they dissected what had just happened, the Rams (5-6) also looked ahead and stated they could not afford for this game to spiral into the next game, which is Sunday’s matchup with the New Orleans Saints (4-7). “Just make sure you turn the page. Obviously, there are things that we want to correct from the game and find ways to be better moving forward, but make sure that we come out with great energy today. It starts today,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said before Wednesday’s practice. “There are going to be things we want to clean up from practice, make sure we do that and move on day-to-day with the right attitude and the right spirit.” As the Rams have gone about making those corrections, a consistent word has come to mind: Consistency. Asked what he’s looking for from the defense Sunday after its worst performance since the early weeks of the season, head coach Sean McVay used that word. He spoke about playing as a unit, sticking to assignments, coverage and pass rush complementing each other. Then he added with a smile, “Same things I’m looking for on the defense would be exactly how I would answer your offensive question as well.” Even 11 games into the season, we still haven’t seen the Rams offense perform with the type of consistency you would expect from a group with this much talent. Against the Eagles, the Rams moved the ball well in the first quarter, reaching the red zone twice without needing a third down. But any momentum was quickly lost with a 10-play second quarter that resulted in a loss of six yards. It was the same story a week before, with the offense blazing in the second and third quarters against the Patriots while going nowhere in the first and fourth quarters. “It’s kind of the word ‘consistency’ right now,” Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “There are times where it feels like we go right down the field and put it in, and there are other times where it just feels a little bit harder than it should. I think that’s the biggest key right now.” The defense is facing a similar obstacle. The Rams are among the best in the NFL at holding teams without a touchdown in the red zone, limiting opponents to a 48.8% success rate. That ranks eighth in the league, but the flip side is that the Rams allow teams 3.7 trips into the red zone per game, which is tied for 28th. Defensive tackle and captain Kobie Turner raised the issue of allowing too many long drives following the Eagles loss, and defensive coordinator Chris Shula agreed with the assessment. “Some of that, especially the other night, they were in third downs a decent amount of time and it was a third and favorable,” Shula said. “Then, finding a way to get stops, finding a way to play, get them off track, get them into 2nd-and-longs where you get those 3rd-longs, and you can earn the right to rush the passer.” Entering Week 13, it’s not encouraging that the Rams are still struggling to find consistency in their execution. But to this point, it hasn’t upended their season. The wild card might be out of reach, but the NFC West title is still up for grabs. But that starts with a road win against a Saints team playing with nothing to lose. “We know that it’s going to be a great challenge, especially at their place. It’ll be rocking atmosphere and environment with the holidays and the momentum they have,” McVay said. “We’ve a lot of guys that are experiencing things for the first time. I have seen the resolve of this group show itself. Now, we’ve to do it.” RAMS (5-6) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (4-7) When: 1:05 p.m. Sunday Where: Superdome, New Orleans TV/radio: FOX (Ch. 11)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 382, 226
Growing evidence of their criminal behavior must have driven the father and daughter to mount desperate acts—with former president Rodrigo Duterte egging the military to oust President Marcos while his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, is openly plotting to kill the Chief Executive. What is it with the Dutertes from Davao, one might ask, that their default reaction to any perceived adversity is to call for killing people? For six years under his presidency, Duterte’s “kill, kill, kill” mantra resulted in the extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of more than 6,000 as law enforcers implemented his brutal war on illegal drugs. His violence-laced rhetoric became policy that encouraged impunity among state agents and lawless elements, desensitized people to news of drug suspects being summarily killed, and normalized EJK as state response to criminality. The same propensity for killing must have prompted his daughter last month to disclose that her relationship with Mr. Marcos had become so toxic that she wanted to “cut off” his head. On Saturday night, Sara Duterte threw a fit at the House of Representatives where her Office of the Vice President chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, was being held in contempt for refusing to cooperate in the ongoing joint inquiry on how P125 million of the Vice President’s confidential funds were used up in just 11 days during the last quarter of 2022. In an online news conference in the dead of the night, Sara Duterte spewed invectives against the President, his First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez for allegedly instigating moves to persecute her and her family. Responding to a question from a female supporter, she said: “Don’t worry, ma’am, about my security because I have spoken to a person. I told him that if I were killed, he has to kill BBM (President Marcos), Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez as well. No Joke. No joke.” She added: “I left word, ma’am, that if I get killed, he shouldn’t stop until he has killed them, And he said, ‘yes.’“ Confronted with the possibility of criminal prosecution, the Vice President however backpedaled, like her father is wont to do when faced with accountability. It was a “conditional act of revenge,” she said, and was to be carried out only after her death. Not withstanding her ignorance of the law, and with the Davao template of killing adversaries perfected under her father’s term, there’s no telling which demented agent or underworld character would crawl out of the woodwork to carry out the Vice President’s imaginary deathbed command. As the second highest official of the land and constitutional successor to the presidency, Sara Duterte’s incendiary words constitute a serious threat to the President’s life, while her father’s call on the military to withdraw support from a “durugistang presidente” (a drug addict of a President) borders on sedition. The government is thus well within its right to take appropriate action to forestall such evil designs that could plunge the country into civil strife and economic and political chaos. In contrast to the Dutertes’ apoplectic statements, the President’s firm and dignified response was reassuring. Without stooping to his erstwhile political allies’ gutter level, Mr. Marcos said in a video message on Monday that he will not tolerate such criminal threats and will continue to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Sharing the general sentiment that her rants were meant to divert attention from investigations on the questionable use of P612.5 million confidential funds, the President said the search for truth “should not be subjected to ‘tokhang,’” referencing the killings under the Duterte drug war. In dealing with the ticking time bombs that the Dutertes have become, the government must pursue to its logical conclusion its probe on the possible plunder of confidential funds given to Sara Duterte, and the extrajudicial killings of thousands under Duterte’s bloody war on drugs. Now that it has all the ammunition it needs to build its case against the former president, the government must allow his thorough and unrelenting prosecution, be it in Philippine courts or before the International Criminal Court. Already, the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation have taken the appropriate initial steps to investigate Sara Duterte for possible libel, defamation and grave threats, and violations of the anti-terrorism law. Shouldn’t the older Duterte be held liable as well for the controversial law enacted during his administration? And while the Dutertes are busy digging their own graves, Malacañang has taken the offensive to expose the depravity of their power grab. In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin noted: “No motive is more selfish than calling for a sitting president to be overthrown so that your daughter can take over.” That is a much-deserved stinging rebuke, and one that should finally wake their supporters to their idols’ self-serving motives. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy .Tennis New Zealand Summer Series Gets Underway
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