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UnitedHealth Group's CEO eulogized his slain colleague Brian Thompson in a New York Times op-ed. Thompson's shooting sparked a nationwide debate about the state of the health insurance industry. Witty's op-ed faced fierce online criticism from people who said it didn't offer solutions. The head of UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, is responding to the "vitriol" that's been lodged — both on- and offline — against the health insurance industry and its workers. Advertisement In an op-ed published in The New York Times on Friday, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty expressed his grief over the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week, as well as his appreciation for the "outpouring of support" for Thompson. He then condemned the mounting rhetoric that he said has glorified violence against health insurance workers. "We also are struggling to make sense of this unconscionable act and the vitriol that has been directed at our colleagues who have been barraged by threats," Witty wrote. Advertisement "No employees — be they the people who answer customer calls or nurses who visit patients in their homes — should have to fear for their and their loved ones' safety," he wrote. Witty acknowledged growing criticism that the healthcare industry is flawed and defended his company's place within it. "We know the health system does not work as well as it should, and we understand people's frustrations with it," Witty wrote, adding that UHG's mission is to build a system that works better for everyone. Advertisement And Thompson, he added, advocated for ideas "aimed at making health care more affordable, more transparent, more intuitive, more compassionate — and more human." The fatal shooting of Thompson outside a midtown Manhattan hotel last week sparked a nationwide conversation about the state of the health insurance industry in the US, with many criticizing the system's ability to provide life-saving care. Social media has been inundated with memes mocking Thompson's death , praising the shooting suspect, and calling out other healthcare CEOs. Some executives have sought out greater security over fears for their safety , though a suspect has been arrested and charged in connection with Thompson's murder. Advertisement Witty's op-ed in the Times had received more than 2,400 comments as of Friday afternoon, many of which ridiculed his statement and condemned what they said were UHG's practices of denying insurance claims. A number of commenters called out Witty for saying the system is flawed without providing any tangible solutions to fix it. Others criticized the for-profit health insurance system as a whole, with some acknowledging that businesses are meant to make a profit and others advocating for nonprofit healthcare. UnitedHealth didn't respond to a request for comment from BI.The New England Patriots ’ 34-15 loss to the Miami Dolphins officially finalized their status as a losing football team in 2024. Dropping to 3-9 on Sunday, the Patriots will not be able to get back into winning territory over their remaining five games of the season. As a consequence, they already know that they will finish with a losing record for a third year in a row. After going 8-9 in 2022 and 4-13 in 2023, New England will be no better than 8-9 this season. And if the performance in Miami and the season as a whole is any indication, that record seems unattainable for rookie head coach Jerod Mayo and a Patriots team that has struggled with playing consistent football in all three phases throughout the year. The Patriots not reaching winning territory in three straight campaigns is nothing new, but it has been a while since the organization found itself in that situation. The last such losing streak happened between 1989 and 1993, when New England went five years without finishing a single season above .500. Under Robert Kraft’s ownership, which started in 1994, the team has not experienced a dry run like this one. Time will tell whether it will extend beyond three seasons, and where Kraft’s threshold for losing lies with his club’s new regime. After Sunday’s loss in Miami, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux preached patience. “There are going to be ups and downs,” he said in the locker room after the game. “Nobody got it in a day. Rome wasn’t built in a day. The Patriots organization under Jerod Mayo is not going to be built in a day.” On Day 318 of the Mayo era, that became painfully true yet again.In a statement following the incident, Alibaba confirmed that the fire had been successfully extinguished. The company reassured customers, partners, and shareholders that there were no reported injuries or casualties as a result of the incident. Furthermore, Alibaba stated that there were no significant property losses, emphasizing that the data center's critical infrastructure remained intact.

The controversy surrounding Liu Yang's resignation highlights the importance of openness and accountability in educational institutions. As a well-respected figure in the field of finance and accounting, Liu Yang's departure has left a void that will not be easily filled. Students who have benefitted from his teaching and guidance are now left wondering about the future direction of their education.

Ultimately, Xie Na's absence serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities of life and the resilience required to navigate its twists and turns with grace and fortitude. As she moves forward from this incident, we can expect Xie Na to emerge stronger and more determined in her pursuit of happiness and success, both personally and professionally.Kennedy Center pays tribute to Coppola, the Grateful Dead, Raitt, Sandoval, The Apollo

The launch of the city sub-center "Rail + Land" demonstration line represents a significant investment in Beijing's future. Not only will the new subway line improve transportation options for residents and commuters, but it will also spur economic development and urban revitalization in the city's sub-center. The integration of transit-oriented development principles into the project design will help to create vibrant and walkable communities that are well-connected to public transportation.Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Play now Get the latest Belfast Live breaking news on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Join us on WhatsApp The 14th of February is a day that many of us celebrate our love for our partners, but for ice skating legends Torvill and Dean, it is known as Bolero Day as it was the date in 1984 that they won gold in the Winter Olympics in Sarajevo. On the 40th anniversary of that moment, they announced that they would be retiring from performing next year and embarking on a tour celebrating their 50-year skating partnership and the iconic moments that have earned them the title of the world's greatest ice skating duo. Ahead of their tour coming to Belfast for three performances in April, the duo stopped by the SSE Arena to chat to Belfast Live and put our political reporter on thin ice - literally. " When you say 50 years, gosh, that's a long time, but also you go, that was 50 years, just like that," Christopher Dean said. " I think we're ready to do our last tour. I think whilst we can still feel fit and we can still skate in a way that we want to be able to see, I think this final tour is the right time for us." This isn't the first time that the skating duo have called it quits as back in 1998, the pair decided to hang up their skates and Christopher moved to the US and Jayne focused on her family. However, back in 2006, the pair reunited as Dancing on Ice hit our screens on ITV which would eventually lead them to perform once again. Our Political Reporter swapped Stormont for Ice Skates as he joined Torvill and Dean for an ice skating lesson (Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live) "In '98, we decided that that's when we were going to quietly retire, and we both had other things and so on," Jayne Torvill said. " But then we got this phone call asking if they thought we could teach celebrities to skate, and we said no, no, no. "When we first started the series, we were choreographing all the routines and then one of our producers said, Would you mind demonstrating some of the moves on camera? And we said, no, that's fine. They said, could you demonstrate them to the music? And we were like, well, that's like a routine. And she went, yeah. And so we ended up performing again, but once we started it, we just enjoyed it so much." Despite a few slips, James was just about still standing! (Image: Justin Kernoghan/Belfast Live) The pair told us that they credit the show for keeping them fit and said that their upcoming tour will be "nostalgic". " We're going to take everybody back to the beginning where we started, and then we're going to go through some of our iconic pieces up to today," Christopher added. " But we have 15 other world professional skaters that are going to be accompanying us and helping tell that story. " We've got big multimedia screens, really talented skaters, and so I think it's going to be an inspirational night and it's going to be a celebration at the same time." Torvill and Dean will be back on UTV every Sunday night in early 2025, as Head Judges on the 17th series of Dancing on Ice. but as for our political reporter, he is probably better suited to Strictly Come Dancing. Video by Harry Bateman/Belfast Live For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here. Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow BelfastLive Facebook Twitter Comment More On Dancing on Ice Strictly Come Dancing ITV UTV SSE Arena

Donald Trump Jr has emerged as the most influential Trump family member in the transition as the president-elect builds the most controversial cabinet in modern US history, according to a half dozen sources with knowledge of his role, elevating inexperienced loyalists over more qualified candidates for top positions in his administration. Login or signup to continue reading Trump, who fiercely prizes loyalty, has long relied on family members for political advice, but which relative has his ear is known to vary. This time, it is Don Jr who has helped cabinet contenders sink or rise to the fore - from championing Senator JD Vance as Trump's running mate to blocking former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo from joining the cabinet, according to the sources, who include donors, personal friends and political allies. Don Jr is due to join conservative venture capital fund 1789 Capital, although one of the sources said he will continue to host his politics-focused podcast and support candidates that espouse Trump's brand of politics. He will provide advice to his father in the White House, the source added, although they cautioned that Don Jr was unlikely to be involved in day-to-day deliberations. Don Jr and the Trump-Vance transition team did not respond to a request for comment. In addition to ensuring candidates are loyal to his father, Don Jr typically seeks out contenders who embrace an anti-establishment worldview, including protectionist economic policies, and a reduction in military interventions and overseas aid, according to a handful of the sources and Don Jr's own comments on social media site X and in public. Two of the candidates Don Jr championed may face a rocky confirmation process in the Senate: Robert F Kennedy Jr, who Trump plans to nominate as the top US health official, and Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump plans to nominate as intelligence chief. Kennedy is an environmental activist who has spread misinformation on vaccines. Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, implied that Russian President Vladimir Putin had valid grounds for invading Ukraine and stirred controversy when she met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the midst of his bloody crackdown on dissidents in 2017. Don Jr was also instrumental in lobbying his father to pick his close friend Vance as Trump's running mate - a win that has given him extra political capital as an adviser during the transition, one of the sources added. "The reality this time is we actually know what we're doing," Don Jr told Fox News earlier this month. "And it's about surrounding my father with people who are both competent and loyal." Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner were prominent in his 2016 presidential campaign, the subsequent transition and throughout his first term. This time, they are far less active, although Kushner, formerly Trump's senior adviser who focused on the Middle East, told Reuters that he is briefing real estate investor Steve Witkoff on his new job as special envoy to the region. "I have been working with Witkoff to get him up to speed on Trump's past efforts," Kushner said through a spokesperson. A half-dozen sources close to Kushner said they expect him to be involved in Middle Eastern policy in an unofficial capacity, with the goal of normalising relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia under an expansion of the 2020 Abraham Accords. Kushner helped broker the accords, a series of normalisation agreements between Israel and Arab nations. Kushner, Ivanka and sibling Eric Trump, who runs the Trump Organization business, do not plan to join the new administration, according to their representatives as well as sources. One source close to the transition said Trump does not appear to need his family for advice as much as in the past because of aides like Susie Wiles, who helped to run the most disciplined of his election campaigns to date. Trump has named Wiles as his chief of staff, a powerful position in Washington. "Stuff is really buttoned down," the source said of Trump's current team. "He may not need the family this time like he used to." Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. 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. 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BAKU (Agencies): Countries at this year’s climate summit in Baku agreed on Sunday to an annual finance target of $300 billion to help poorer countries deal with impacts of climate change, with rich countries leading the payments, according to a hard fought deal clinched in overtime at COP29. The new goal is intended to replace developed countries’ previous commitment to provide $100 billion per year in climate finance for poorer nations by 2020. That goal was met two years late, in 2022, and expires in 2025. The agreement was criticized by developing nations, who called it insufficient, but United Nations climate chief Simon Steill hailed it as an insurance policy for humanity. “It has been a difficult journey, but we’ve delivered a deal,” Steill said after the agreement was adopted. “This deal will keep the clean energy boom growing and protect billions of lives. It will help all countries to share in the huge benefits of bold climate action: more jobs, stronger growth, cheaper and cleaner energy for all.” “But like any insurance policy – it only works – if the premiums are paid in full, and on time.” The COP29 climate conference in the Azerbaijan capital had been due to finish on Friday, but ran into overtime as negotiators from nearly 200 countries struggled to reach consensus on the climate funding plan for the next decade. At one point delegates from poor and small island nations walked out in frustration over what they called a lack of inclusion, worried that fossil fuel producing countries were seeking to water down aspects of the deal. Some delegations said this deal is headed in the right direction, with hopes that more money flows in the future. Yet, some like India were not satisfied. “It’s a paltry sum,” Indian negotiator Chandni Raina said, repeatedly saying how India objected to rousing cheers. “I’m sorry to say we cannot accept it.” She told The Associated Press (AP) that she has lost faith in the United Nations system. A long line of nations agreed with India and piled on, with Nigeria’s Nkiruka Maduekwe, CEO of the National Council on Climate Change, calling the deal an insult and a joke. “I’m disappointed. It’s definitely below the benchmark that we have been fighting for for so long,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey, of the Panama delegation. He noted that a few changes, including the inclusion of the words “at least” before the number $300 billion and an opportunity for revision by 2030, helped push them to the finish line. The summit cut to the heart of the debate over financial responsibility of industrialized countries – whose historic use of fossil fuels have caused the bulk of greenhouse gas emissions – to compensate others for worsening damage wrought by climate change. It also laid bare divisions between wealthy governments constrained by tight domestic budgets and developing nations reeling from costs of storms, floods and droughts. Speaking for nearly 50 of the poorest nations of the world, Evans Davie Njewa of Malawi was more mild, expressing what he called reservations with the deal. And the Alliance of Small Island States’ Cedric Schuster said he had more hope “that the process would protect the interests of the most vulnerable” but nevertheless expressed tempered support for the deal. ‘A base on which to build’ U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a post on X that he hoped for a “more ambitious outcome.” But he said the agreement “provides a base on which to build.” There were somewhat satisfied parties, with European Union’s Wopke Hoekstra calling it a new era of climate funding, working hard to help the most vulnerable. But activists in the plenary hall could be heard coughing over Hoekstra’s speech in an attempt to disrupt it. Countries also agreed Saturday evening on rules for a global market to buy and sell carbon credits that proponents say could mobilize billions more dollars into new projects to help fight global warming, from reforestation to deployment of clean energy technologies. Countries are seeking financing to deliver on the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels – beyond which catastrophic climate impacts could occur. The world is currently on track for as much as 3.1 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of this century, according to the 2024 U.N. Emissions Gap report, with global greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuels use continuing to rise. What counts as developed nation? The roster of countries required to contribute – about two dozen industrialized countries, including the U.S., European nations and Canada – dates back to a list decided during U.N. climate talks in 1992. European governments have demanded others join them in paying in, including China, the world’s second-biggest economy, and oil-rich Gulf states. The deal encourages developing countries to make contributions, but does not require them. The agreement also includes a broader goal of raising $1.3 trillion in climate finance annually by 2035 – which would include funding from all public and private sources and which economists say matches the sum needed to address global warming. Securing the deal was a challenge from the start. Donald Trump’s U.S. presidential election victory this month has raised doubts among some negotiators that the world’s largest economy would pay into any climate finance goal agreed in Baku. Trump, a Republican who takes office in January, has called climate change a hoax and promised to again remove the U.S. from international climate cooperation. Western governments have seen global warming slip down the list of national priorities amid surging geopolitical tensions, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and expanding conflict in the Middle East, and rising inflation. The showdown over financing for developing countries comes in a year that scientists say is destined to be the hottest on record. Climate woes are stacking up in the wake of such extreme heat, with widespread flooding killing thousands across Africa, deadly landslides burying villages in Asia, and drought in South America shrinking rivers. Developed countries have not been spared. Torrential rain triggered floods in Valencia, Spain, last month that left more than 200 dead, and the U.S. so far this year has registered 24 billion-dollar disasters – just four fewer than last year.Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, will be looking to capitalize on any weaknesses displayed by Barcelona and seize the opportunity to overtake them in the standings. With everything still to play for, the race for the La Liga title is set to go down to the wire, providing fans with a thrilling spectacle of footballing drama and excitement.

The five-part series will debut globally on December 10, following elite global players on and off the field as they compete in the US Open Polo Championship in Wellington, Florida. A trailer for the series titled Polo, executive produced by Harry and Meghan, was released on Thursday, giving a behind-the-scenes look at the “fast-paced and glamorous world of polo”. In a statement, Harry said: “This series offers audiences an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look into the passion and determination driving some of the world’s elite polo players, revealing the grit behind the glamour. “We’re proud to showcase the true depth and spirit of the sport — and the intensity of its high-stakes moments.” It has been produced by the Sussexes’ Archewell Productions, having previously released three documentaries with Netflix as part of a multimillion-pound deal with the streaming giant. Heart Of Invictus, which aired last August, followed a group of service members on their road to the Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style sporting competition set up by Harry in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans. Netflix also released the documentary series Live To Lead and the controversial six-part Harry & Meghan documentary in December 2022. Harry and Meghan moved to the US in 2020 after stepping down from royal duties.

As the curtains close on the production of "Journey of Discovery", the cinematic landscape is set for a fresh perspective on the modern-day dilemmas faced by the younger generation. Director Dong Jie, a rising star in the film industry, has captured the essence of the millennial experience through his innovative storytelling and visual style.In conclusion, Wu Liufang's journey from obscurity to stardom is a testament to the transformative power of perseverance, talent, and community support. As her fan base continues to expand and her influence grows, Wu Liufang remains a shining example of what can be achieved through dedication and passion. Let us continue to support and celebrate the success of talented individuals like Wu Liufang, inspiring others to pursue their dreams and never give up on their aspirations.

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Dolphins announced Friday morning that they’ve waived wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., a move that ends his brief career with the team after just nine games. Beckham, the once-spectacular player who was most famous for the one-handed touchdown catch he made while with the New York Giants, would end his time with the Dolphins with just nine receptions for 55 yards and no touchdowns. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Harry and Meghan’s polo docuseries to highlight ‘grit behind the glamour’

South Korea has been thrown into political turmoil as the decision to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol continues to escalate tensions within the political landscape. The arrest of a sitting president is a rare and unprecedented event in South Korea's history, and it has sent shockwaves throughout the country.As the investigation unfolds and more details emerge, the public eagerly awaits the outcome of Mr. Bu's case. Whether he is found guilty or innocent, the repercussions of his actions will have a lasting impact on those involved and the community at large. It is imperative that justice is served, and measures are taken to prevent such crimes from occurring in the future.7. Inadequate Response to Natural Disasters: When faced with natural disasters, Governor LeRage's response has been slow and ineffectual. Communities have been left to fend for themselves in the aftermath of major storms and other crises.