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PRESS RELEASE: DR. JAMES MWANGI APPOINTED TO THE WORLD BANK GROUP HIGH-LEVEL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON JOBS TO TACKLE LOOMING CRISESNEW 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.
NoneOTTAWA — The head of Canada's diplomatic service briefed international envoys on foreign interference last month as the intense focus on the issue across the country created confusion among some diplomats about where their work might cross the line from influence into meddling. David Morrison, the deputy minister of Global Affairs Canada, told The Canadian Press in an interview that there is a difference between interference and influence, the latter of which is the job of a diplomat. "The public inquiry and the coverage of it may have created some uncertainty," he said. "Diplomats had legitimate questions as to where we draw the line in Canada, and we tried to be very clear on that." The Liberals called a commission of inquiry into foreign interference last year following media reports and pressure from opposition parties. A final report is due by the end of January. An interim report released in May said foreign meddling by China, India, Russia or others did not affect the overall results of the 2019 and 2021 general elections. Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said it was possible — but not certain — that outcomes in a small number of ridings were affected by interference. In his interview on Tuesday, Morrison stressed that "Canadians can have absolute confidence in the integrity of our last two general elections." During his testimony at the inquiry in October, Morrison mentioned he planned to brief diplomats about the matter, and he held that briefing on Nov. 21. Ahead of each of the last three federal elections, Global Affairs Canada sent what's called a diplomatic circular, essentially a formal notice to all accredited diplomatic missions, outlining that Ottawa expects them not to endorse or finance any political parties or groups. At the Nov. 21 briefing, Morrison told foreign diplomats that they can publicly endorse or oppose a Canadian government policy, but they can't spread disinformation to discredit a particular party or "undermine public confidence" in Canadian democracy. A slideshow shared at the briefing notes that concerns about interference since 2021 "are broader than only elections" and the "strained geopolitical context ... heightens vulnerabilities" for Canada, with its many diaspora communities. The slideshow encourages "overt engagement" with Canadians and officials, such as hosting events or taking a position on Canada's national priorities. But it says that "clandestine influence" such as influencing a nomination race or running an online disinformation campaign is out of bounds, as is "clandestine, deceptive or threatening behaviour." Also wrong would be "obfuscating foreign-state involvement in activities," funding candidates directly or through in-kind contributions, and "deception meant to manipulate individuals in Canada." Larisa Galadza, who helps run the department's democratic resilience bureau, told foreign diplomats that more public awareness of interference makes clear that it is important to avoid even the perception of crossing the line. Her speaking notes, which Morrison provided, say that Canada is "increasing our efforts to set expectations." "This briefing is an indication of how seriously we are taking this issue," Galadza's notes said. She noted that "seeking to control or unduly influence members of a diaspora community" is unacceptable, and that immigrants have the right to be vocally critical of their homeland. Her notes say diplomats can lobby an MP but cannot "convey threats or offer rewards in exchange for their support." And all of these activities, she noted, are just as unacceptable if done through proxies. Morrison said such communication is necessary, as the international agreements governing the roles of diplomats apply everywhere but aren't consistently understood. "There's a wide range of opinions as to what is influence and what is interference," he said, noting some countries see the limit of what's acceptable as measures beyond what Canadians would tolerate. "In some national contexts, interference is taken to mean monkeying around with ballot boxes," he said. Morrison said the session started by "acknowledging that the definitions were not agreed, but that this was our home turf, and we wanted to make certain everyone understood the rules" in Canada. "We made it very clear that, having now given fair warning, if accredited diplomats engage in the kinds of behaviour that we described as being outside of the lines, they could expect to hear from us." Global Affairs does not monitor the behaviour of foreign diplomats in Canada, but the department's regional teams are in frequent contact with diplomatic missions and security officials alert the department whenever they find concerning activity. Morrison said his department uses a range of approaches to have foreign states understand Canada's perspective on acceptable activity. While a formal summons gets media attention, the department can also call in an ambassador to meet with someone ranking from Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly down to a junior desk officer, based on how serious the situation is. Global Affairs Canada can expel diplomats or close embassies abroad, but it can also try making its point in an informal chat at a cocktail reception. "The essence of diplomacy is to be constantly communicating and that happens classically in diplomatic circles at social events and dinners," he said. In February, senior diplomat Weldon Epp testified to Parliament that the Justice Department and the RCMP have undertaken workshops with the Indian government, "to explain what our standards legally would be" for extraditing people to India for terrorism charges. "How India defines extremism or even terrorism does not always compute in our legal system," Weldon Epp told MPs at the time. Looking ahead to the next federal election, Morrison said he's most concerned about emboldened hostile states using artificial intelligence in their attacks. He particularly worries about deepfakes, which are spoof videos and images that can dupe people into thinking politicians said or did certain things they didn't. "The foreign interference that we have seen is continuing to evolve," he said. "Our defences against it will need to continue to evolve as well." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press
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The Logitech POP Mouse Is 50% Off During Cyber MondayThank you for your feedback on our plan for a front page refresh. I was cheered (and a little surprised) by the largely positive reception. I’ll try to capture the range of views here in a balanced way, though, from “love it” to “mess”. Quick recap: We have plans to update our masthead to 1) reflect what people actually call us ( The i / The i Paper ), 2) build recognition among existing readers and a new generation discovering our journalism, 3) include a strapline with our commitment to “impartial news and intelligent debate”, 4) update our logo, to make us easier to recognise out of context. (Away from our print front page, “ The i Paper ” is clearer than an isolated letter “ i ” on its own.) We know you are open-minded and highly engaged with this newspaper you care about so much. I’ll start with a few positive reactions then move on to critical views. “Clever, effective and succinct,” writes Diana Hunt. “Modern and appealing,” adds Rose McCray, who asks about the typeface, which reminds her of The New York Times . (I’ll take that.) The font is a serif, Larken, noted for its “natural softness and expressiveness”, and will feature in our iweekend edition. More about that on Saturday. “For what my opinion is worth,” adds Shirley Johnson from Linton Colliery, Northumberland, “I really like the newly-styled ‘ i ’. Lower-case and somehow look like a person! And I love that you refer to yourselves as The i Paper , which is what I call you.” She adds: “I hope you don’t abandon the bullet points below the main headline.” Fear not, Shirley: the rest of our front page design remains the same. A prominent red masthead still features in the top left corner for easy recognition, alongside our familiar layout. Bristol’s Karen Sadler isn’t a fan. “Muddled and inelegant” is her verdict – she prefers the existing. Chelmsford’s Peter Adkins is open to change but calls the mocked-up layout “appalling”. He adds: “Other than that, keep up the good work.” Read Next The best new books to read in September, from Zadie Smith’s The Fraud to the new Richard Osman Gill Roche dislikes the use of “ paper ”, asking with consternation: “What else could it be – Richard Osman’s latest book?” Gill, I confess that was also my starting point. I was won over by its versatility in different settings – crucial so that people recognise our (trusted) journalism in a rather noisy environment, whether they come into contact with it in print , online, on other media like TV, or word of mouth. Plymouth’s Richard Haighton says “ The i ”, but adds: “Always great to move on” – which sort of sums up the mindset of our readers over the past 14 years. Dave Beck likes the “modern” look. He wonders whether we might find a way to abbreviate it within articles, perhaps with an updated glyph (icon). I’ll speak to the Production team, Dave. Good to hear from so many regulars, as well as new readers. Subscriber Mike Newman, who writes to me periodically from Shefford, Beds, to keep me vigilant about the political balance of our columnists, sends encouragement: “Congratulations on the revamp. Love the ‘ i ’ logo.” We publish a selection of letters (critical and positive) on page 24 today, and we welcome reader feedback. You can reach me on i@inews.co.uk or @olyduf f on social media.
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Powell: Fed's independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell said the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or political outcome. Speaking at the New York Times’ DealBook summit, Powell addressed a question about President-elect Donald Trump’s numerous public criticisms of the Fed and of Powell himself. During the election campaign, Trump had insisted that as president, he should have a “say” in the Fed’s interest rate policies. Despite Trump’s comments, the Fed chair said he was confident of widespread support in Congress for maintaining the central bank’s independence. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the US but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk Wednesday became a mystery that riveted the nation. Police say it was a targeted killing. Thompson was 50. He had worked at the company for 20 years and had run health care giant UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s insurance business since 2021. It provides health coverage for more than 49 million Americans and brought in $281 billion in revenue last year. Thompson's $10.2 million annual compensation made him one of the company’s highest-paid executives. Trump nominates cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as SEC chair President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Atkins is the CEO of Patomak Partners and a former SEC commissioner. Trump calls Atkins a “proven leader for common sense regulations.” In the years since leaving the SEC, Atkins has made the case against too much market regulation. The SEC oversees U.S. securities markets and investments. If confirmed next year by the new Republican-led Senate, Atkins would replace Gary Gensler, who's been leading the U.S. government’s crackdown on the crypto industry. Atkins was widely considered the most conservative SEC member during his tenure and known to have a strong free-market bent. Australia is banning social media for people under 16. Could this work elsewhere — or even there? It is an ambitious social experiment of our moment in history. Experts say it could accomplish something that parents, schools and other governments have attempted with varying degrees of success — keeping kids off social media until they turn 16. Australia’s new law was approved by its Parliament last week. It's an attempt to swim against many tides of modern life — formidable forces like technology, marketing, globalization and, of course, the iron will of a teenager. The ban won’t go into effect for another year. But how will Australia be able to enforce it? That’s not clear, nor will it be easy. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official says at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered the new details Wednesday about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that a number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. Pete Hegseth's mother says The New York Times made 'threats' by asking her to comment on a story A basic tenet of journalism — calling someone for comment on a story — was seen as a threat by defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's mother. Penelope Hegseth appeared on Fox News Channel to talk about her son, whose nomination by President-elect Trump to lead the Pentagon is threatened by a series of stories about his past behavior. One came this past weekend, when The New York Times wrote about a private email Penelope Hegseth sent to her son about his treatment of women. She said on Fox News that she felt threatened when the Times called her about the email, which she had quickly regretted sending. The Times said they were engaging in routine journalism. District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes The District of Columbia is alleging in a lawsuit that Amazon secretly stopped providing its fastest delivery service to residents of two predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city. The district says the online retailer still charged residents of two ZIP codes millions of dollars for a service that provides speedy deliveries. The complaint filed on Wednesday in District of Columbia Superior Court revolves around Amazon’s Prime membership service. The lawsuit alleges Amazon in mid-2022 imposed what it called a delivery “exclusion” on the two low-income ZIP codes. An Amazon spokesperson says the company made the change based on concerns about driver safety. The spokesperson says claims that Amazon's business practices are discriminatory are “categorically false.” Biden says 'Africa is the future' as he pledges millions more on the last day of Angola visit LOBITO, Angola (AP) — President Joe Biden has pledged another $600 million for an ambitious multi-country rail project in Africa as one of the final foreign policy moves of his administration. He told African leaders Wednesday that the resource-rich continent of more than 1.4 billion people had been “left behind for much too long. But not anymore. Africa is the future.” Biden used the third and final day of his visit to Angola to showcase the Lobito Corridor railway. The U.S. and allies are investing heavily to refurbish train lines in Zambia, Congo and Angola in a region rich in critical minerals to counter China's influence. The end of an Eras tour approaches, marking a bittersweet moment for Taylor Swift fans NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is coming to an end after the popstar performed more than 150 shows across five continents over nearly two years. Since launching the tour in 2023, Swift has shattered sales and attendance records. It's even created such an economic boom that the Federal Reserve took note. But for many who attended the concerts, and the millions more who eagerly watched on their screens, the tour also became a beacon of joy. It's become a chance not only to appreciate Swift’s expansive music career, but also celebrate the yearslong journey fans have taken with her. US senators grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags A U.S. Senate subcommittee is taking aim at airlines and their growing use of fees for things like early boarding and better seats. Members of the Senate Permanent on Investigations say airlines have raised billions of dollars by imposing fees that are getting hard to understand and even harder to avoid paying. The senators and the Biden administration call them “junk fees,” and they say the extra charges are making travel less affordable. Some senators expressed frustration during a hearing on Wednesday hearing when airline executives couldn't explain how they set various fees. Airlines say fees let consumers pay for things they want, like more legroom, and avoid paying for things they don't want.QF concludes World Math Team Championship with award ceremonyThe world stands at the dawn of a “third nuclear age” in which Britain is threatened by multiple dilemmas, the head of the armed forces has warned. But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”
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London, United Kingdom, Dec. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grincepe is excited to announce the launch of its unique meme coin, $GEPE, which combines the playful spirit of the holiday season with the dynamic world of cryptocurrency. Inspired by the mischievous fusion of Pepe the Frog and the Grinch, $GEPE aims to infuse festive cheer into the crypto community. About Grincepe Grincepe is a meme-based cryptocurrency built on the Ethereum blockchain. It draws inspiration from the iconic characters Pepe and the Grinch to create a festive and engaging experience for its users. The project is designed to foster a community of crypto enthusiasts who appreciate humor and the holiday spirit, all while exploring innovative decentralized finance (DeFi) opportunities. Community Engagement At the heart of Grincepe's mission is a commitment to building a vibrant and interactive community. By encouraging activities such as meme creation, discussions, and collaborative events, Grincepe aims to create a space where users can connect and share in the festive spirit. This approach is intended to enhance user experiences and cultivate a sense of belonging among $GEPE holders. Innovative Features Grincepe offers several features designed to provide value and entertainment to its community: As Grincepe embarks on its journey, the team remains dedicated to transparency, innovation, and creating a positive environment for its community. While the cryptocurrency market is inherently volatile, Grincepe's primary focus is to provide an engaging and enjoyable platform where users can explore the lighter side of crypto during the holiday season and beyond. For more information and updates, please visit the Grincepe website and follow Grincepe on social media. Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. CONTACT: Kyle Wilkins yle at grincepe.com
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