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UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew resigns for “personal reasons”

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The CEO of UnitedHealth Group has resigned, and a familiar face is at the helm of the company. This said despite 2024, which was tumultuous with higher than expected medical costs and murders of high-ranking executives, he said he “hopes to return to growth in 2026.”

Andrew Witty’s departure as CEO is for “personal reasons,” UnitedHealth Group announced on May 13th. The company tapped Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO from 2006 to 2017, replacing the resigning executive.

Witty is no longer the CEO, but he will serve as a senior advisor to Hemsley. Hemsley will continue to be the chairman of the company’s board of directors.

“We are grateful for Andrew’s stewardship at United Health Group, especially during the most challenging times that any company has faced,” Hemsley said in a news release. “The board and I wish him the best of his leadership and compassion as CEO and as director, and for him and his family.”

UnitedHealth Group shares will decline after 2025 outlook suspension

As CEO, Hemsley said the company is aiming to return to its “long-term growth target of 13-16%.”

“Leading the people at UnitedHealth Group has been a huge honor as they work to improve their health system every day.

In addition to the leadership changes, the company said it has suspended its 2025 outlook. This is partly because healthcare costs remain “higher than expected” for many UnitedHealthCare Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. The decision led to a decline in the healthcare giant’s shares down more than 10% in morning trading.

The company’s stock fell in February when the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating United Health’s Medicare claims practices. The civil fraud investigation is investigating the company’s practices to document diagnosis that lead to additional payments to Medicare Advantage plans, said WSJ cites people familiar with the issue.

As of 1:15pm on May 13, UnitedHealth Group shares were under $320 after falling more than 15% on Tuesday.

UnitedHealth Group targets the biggest health industry data breaches of all time

With UnitedHealth Group looking to the future, many are still working on a tumultuous year for the company.

In 2024, UnitedHealth Group was at the heart of the biggest health industry data breach of history. It was under public scrutiny after the murder of UnitedHealthcare, CEO of Brian Thompson, the company’s insurance unit CEO.

Regarding the February 2024 data breaches, the company said in January that hackers had stole a record of around 190 million people in cyberattacks from their changed healthcare subsidiary. The healthcare giant’s updated figures are nearly twice the previous estimate of 100 million victims.

The violation of Healthcare, owned by UnitedHealth, disrupted the healthcare industry as doctors and hospitals were unable to collect payments for weeks when computer systems were closed.

United Health Group was criticized after Brian Thompson’s murder

UnitedHealth Group’s 2024 was once again covered in the murder of Thompson in December, with the nationwide manhunt and Luigi Mangione being ultimately arrested at McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangion pleaded not guilty to Thompson’s murder, but his trial has not yet begun.

The CEO’s murder and the arrest of the 26-year-old sparked a nationwide debate about UnitedHealthcare and the entire US health insurance industry.

The system is equipped for Americans who need care and those with health insurance. This is primarily due to the role Wall Street plays in our healthcare system,” Wendell Potter, a former Cygna executive who has become a whistleblower for the health insurance industry, previously told USA Today.

Defending the witty UnitedHealthcare after the resourceful murder of Thompson

In an operation by the New York Times, which was announced after Thompson’s murder, Whitty said, “…we also struggle to understand this pointless act and Vitriol directed at our threatened colleagues.”

Similarly, witty and resourcefulness made publicly aware that the US health system was “flawed” and needed reform, but he also defended UnitedHealthcare.

“We know that the health system doesn’t work as well as it should be, and we understand people’s complaints about it,” Witty wrote in his opinion article. “No one designs the system we have, and no one did. It’s a patchwork built over decades.”

Jonathan Limehouse covers USA Today’s broken and trending news. Contact him at jlimehouse@gannett.com.

Contributions: Phaedra Treenan, Alltubecker, Jeanine Santucci, N’Dea Yancey-Brag & Cecilia Garzella/ USA Today



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DNC Subcommittee votes to void the election of Kenyatta’s David Hogg as a vice chair

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WASHINGTON – David Hogg, who was at the heart of the Democratic National Committee for his efforts to “not contacted, ineffective” incumbent in Congress, risks losing his position as vice-chairman of the committee.

Hogg announced in April that the leader we deserve was pouring $20 million to fund young candidates who will challenge the incumbent in the Safe Blue District. DNC Chair Ken Martin urged officers to remain neutral in the primary, giving Hogg the ultimate to step down from the committee or divorce from his organization.

The DNC Eligibility Committee voted in favor of the resolution on Monday to recommend ejecting the February election, which created the sub-chairs for Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta.

The vote came after Oklahoma DNC member Kalyn Free, who ran for vice-chairman, allegedly elected a procedure in which Hogg and Kenyatta “unfairly disadvantaged” the vote. The resolution will come to the entire DNC body for the final vote.

“Before I became chairman, I am disappointed to learn that there was a procedural error in the February vice-chairman election,” committee chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

“The Credentials Committee has issued a recommendation. We believe that DNC ​​members will carefully consider the committee’s resolution and resolve this issue fairly. We would like to thank all officers, including Kenyatta and Hog Chair.

The DNC has argued that recent votes have nothing to do with the neutral pledge, but Hogg in a statement said “it is impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party that has pushed this vote significantly.”

“I became the Vice-Chair of the DNC and ran to help the Democrats improve, and I didn’t defend the irrepreneurial status quo that caused voters from almost all demographic groups to be alienated from us,” Hogg said.

He added: “The DNC has committed to eliminating me. This vote provided a way to quickly track that effort.”

Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, became prominent for his participation in protests and marching against gun violence.



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Campagnolo makes huge U-turn as new groupset breaks cover at Giro d’Italia

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It’s only two years since Campagnolo launched Super Record Wireless, its first attempt at a wireless groupset that placed batteries inside each derailleur, but it appears to be getting an overhaul already. 

What we assume to be a new version has been spotted aboard the bikes of Team Cofidis at the Giro d’Italia, and Campagnolo fans can rejoice, as the thumb shifter is back. 



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Kim Kardashian Jewelry Robbery Exam: “Kardashian” Star Testifies

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Reality TV star Kim Kardashian said when she testified in a Paris court about the 2016 robbery, she testified about the robbery that she was stolen at gunpoint in a hotel room by a gang that stole millions of worthy gems, so she thought she would be raped and killed.

The Kardashian, dressed in a black suit and flashy jewels, arrived in court in a black van just minutes ago on May 13th, accompanied by his mother, Kris Jenner. The courtroom does not allow cameras and her testimony is not broadcast live.

“I thought I would definitely die,” she told the court, shed tears from time to time between testimony. “I thought of my sister and I thought she would come in and see me have that memory within her forever.”

Kardashian’s sister, Kourtney Kardashian, joined her on a trip to Paris. She was not in the hotel during the robbery.

The suspect is accused of tieting Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape before making it with gemstones. This includes the $4 million engagement ring, her then-husband rapper, formerly known as Kanye West.

“I came to Paris for Fashion Week, and Paris has always been a place I loved so much,” Kardashian told the court.

“We were leaving the next morning, so we were packing. It was around 3am. I heard him stomp the stairs while in bed,” she recalled the night of the robbery.

“And I thought there were a few police officers in my bedroom, or I thought there were police officers like they were wearing police uniforms.

“Then I heard one of the gentlemen say with force, ‘Ring! Ring!’ In English, refer to accents,” she said.

“I was pretty hysterical and I looked at the concierge and told him, ‘We have to make it into the baby’s house, what happens to us,” Kardashian said.

She says at one point that the robber threw her into the bed, one of them grabbed her by the leg, and she feared that she would be raped. “But he tied me up and closed my legs,” she said.

Prior to Kardashian’s testimony, her stylist Simone Harouche, who was sleeping in the same luxury hotel flat at the time of the attack, told the court of “terror” of “terror” they felt during the robbery.

“I have a baby, and I have to live” – ​​that’s what I heard her say. “I’ll take it all – I need to live,” said Harrowch, who was downstairs in the double suite at the time of the attack.

Harrowch quickly locks him in the bathroom and asks Kardashian’s sister Kourtney and their bodyguard for help.

“She was by her own side, I’ve never seen her like that,” Harrowch said as the robbers left and Kardashian joined her downstairs. “She was just screaming and saying, “We need to get out of here, we need help. What will we do if they come back?”

Harouch also cryed from time to time during her testimony, saying she changed careers for the robbery and received medical treatment.

Overall, nine men and one woman have been tried by the Criminal Court. Five of them (all men) face accusations of armed robbery and lures and are at risk of potentially being sentenced to life in prison. Others have been charged with accomplices in robbery or with unauthorized possession of weapons.

When the robbers fled on foot or by bicycle, they lost some of their jewelry, including six diamond crosses that the corridors found in the street and brought to the police. However, most gems were never found, including a $4 million engagement ring.

Contribution: Brendan Morrow



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The Israeli Strike hits Gaza Hospital. Journalist Hassan Eslaia was an obvious target

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CNN

Israel attacked hospitals in Gaza early Tuesday, a day after temporarily suspending military operations for Hamas’ release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander.

Israeli forces resumed strikes in Gaza about an hour after Alexander left the territory, attacking the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza on Tuesday after raiding the Al-Dalazi district of northern Gaza on Monday evening.

The IDF strike targeted the surgical ward on the third floor of the hospital. This is currently “completely unserved,” killing two patients and injuring medical staff, Palestinian Medical Assistance (MAP) said.

The strike target looked like Hassan Esreia, a well-known Gaza photojournalist. He was being treated at a hospital after being injured in an early targeted Israeli airstrike in April.

The IDF claimed that at the time of the strike in April, Esreia had participated in the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and was part of Hamas’ Karnnis Brigade, but provided no evidence to support the claim. He claimed he worked as a “pronounced a journalist and owned a news company.” On Tuesday, Israeli forces said they “stricken a critical Hamas terrorist” at Nasser Hospital, but did not name him Esreia.

Esreia traveled to Israel on October 7, 2023 to document the attacks of photographs published by several major news organizations. He previously said that there was no prediction of an attack and rushed to the scene along with other photojournalists to document a major news event.

CNN, along with other press, regularly used materials provided by Eslaiah. CNN cut ties with Hamas in November 2023 after new allegations of ties with Hamas were revealed. CNN said on October 7, 2023 it was not collaborating with the network.

Eslaia said she faced “false allegations” from the IDF from her hospital bed in April and “whether or not she’s fighting.”

The Ramala-based Palestinian Journalist Conservation Centre condemned Esreia’s murder and called for an international investigation into what they described as “a vicious assassination.” The center was called Esreia killing “the intentional targeting of the voice of truth.”

Some of them will be inspecting Nasser Hospital on Tuesday, according to hospital officials.

The Nasser Hospital strike on Tuesday is the latest example of Israel’s intentional attack on health facilities in Gaza, where Israel has been accused of violating international law.

According to the Geneva Convention, hospitals are entitled to special protection during armed conflicts under international humanitarian law and can only be targeted in very limited circumstances.

According to the medical activities coordinator at Nasser Hospital-based MAP, the latest attack on Nasser Hospital “completely destroys” two patient rooms and partially damages the other three and the nursing station.

“The extension of the intensive care unit, which includes three ICU beds, was also affected. Its electrical and oxygen systems were damaged by the strike. We made the entire section unoperated,” the coordinator said in a statement provided by MAP.

The strike adds to a situation that is already rapidly deteriorating for healthcare facilities in Gaza.

Dr Atef Al-Hout, medical director at Nasser Hospital, said that amid the current 10-week strip lockdown in Israel, the hospital is rapidly running out of fuel to drive generators.

Following the release of Israeli-American hostage Alexander, the United States is renewing its push for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli delegation was scheduled to fly to Qatar on Tuesday to resume negotiations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that these talks will continue “under fire.”



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Social Security Cola estimates after the April 2026 inflation report

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Estimates from independent analysts show that it could increase by 2.4% next year, based on Tuesday’s Consumer Inflation Report.

According to the Labor Bureau’s Consumer Price Index, overall consumer prices rose 2.3% from the previous month, a measure of average changes in goods and services costs, up 2.4% from the previous month, and the lowest annual increase since February 2021. The so-called CPI-W subset of consumer price reports used to determine the increase in social security’s cost of living increased by 2.1% from a 2.2% increase in March.

Official 2026 Coke will not be determined until October as it relies on third quarter inflation data collected between July and September. However, analysts often track estimates in the months leading up to the important July-September time frame.

Coke at 2.4% is the smallest increase since 2020, with average retirement benefits rising to around $48 in April at $1,999.97 a month. In January, the average beneficiary received an increase of 2.5%. This was a $50 salary increase from $1,907 in January 2024 to $1,957.

The estimated 2.4% COLA increase is higher than last month’s 2.2% forecast, but it could underestimate the final 2026 cola, says Mary Johnson, Independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst.

“Trump administration tariffs are just beginning to impact consumer prices,” she said.

How could Trump’s tariffs affect Coke?

While some of the highest in President Donald Trump’s tariffs have now fallen or suspended, economists believe that those on the spot are enough to quickly increase inflation.

“The escalation with China provided short-term relief, but the reality that inflation is likely to peak at 3% later this year remains a significant uncertainty about what US trade policy will look like over the next 90 days.”

On Monday, China and the US said they would suspend mutual tariffs for 90 days. The US, which is effective from Wednesday, will temporarily reduce China’s tariffs from 145% to 30%, while China will reduce US tariffs from 125% to 10%.

Coke should rise along with increased inflation.

What is CPI-W?

The Social Security Administration plantes an average annual increase in the consumer price index for urban wage workers and administrative workers (CPI-W) from July to September.

CPI-W is a subset of the overall consumer inflation index that examines price inflation experienced by adults under the age of 62, Johnson said. The problem with that is that younger workers spend different money than older people eligible for Medicare. For example, economists estimate that younger workers spend around 7% of their budget on healthcare, but research and surveys show that older people tend to spend an average of 15% or more on healthcare.

As a result, cola often seems inadequate to keep up with rising costs, Johnson said.

However, this year, Johnson noted that prescription drug prices have not grown as fast as in the past few years. Prices for prescription drugs rose 2.3% from one year ago to April, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2023, prescription drug prices increased by 3.3% from December 20th to December 20th, 202223 before slowing down last year.

Since 2023, the Inflation Reduction Act requires pharmaceutical companies to pay a Medicare rebate if drug prices rise faster than inflation. “That provision, widely supported by Medicare beneficiaries, could be curbing runaway drug prices,” she said.

Can Trump keep prescription drug prices even lower?

Trump signed an executive order on Monday, encouraging governments to negotiate costs for prescription drugs that have been paid in other countries, and to what tend to be much lower.

The proposal has been widely supported by older Americans, but it is unclear whether Trump’s order will cut costs, Johnson said.

“But the executive order is not the same as a change in the law that empowers Medicare to use these prices in negotiations with pharmaceutical companies,” Johnson noted. The court also blocked similar plans during Trump’s first presidency.

Instead, the executive order appears to use pricing in the most preferred countries to promote consumer sales. The executive order also mentions exemptions that allow prescriptions to be imported from other countries where prices may be low.

“If it doesn’t muddier the water enough, you need to wonder how tariffs will affect the final drug price,” she said.

Medora Lee is a money, market and personal finance reporter for USA Today. mjlee@usatoday.com and Subscribe to our free daily money newsletter Personal finance tips and business news every Monday to Friday.



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Trump-backed top crypto buyers win exclusive dinner with the president | Donald Trump

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On Monday, the top 220 buyers of Donald Trump-sponsored cryptocurrency gained access to an exclusive dinner with the president as a reward for pouring money into coins. It was the culmination of Trump’s promotions for weeks in a contest. This brings together claims that he uses his position to enrich his family business while opening himself up to foreign influence.

The cryptocurrency, called $Trump, was created in mid-January, boasts a market capitalization of over $2 billion after months of investors bought the coins that they had been significantly promoted. According to Reuters, companies related to Trump’s family and other companies own most of the coin.

“Congratulations. If you’re in the top 220 leaderboards, we’ll contact you within the next 24 hours. Check your inbox (and spam folders) and look forward to an invitation and a call for Trump’s official dinner,” Trump’s website announced daytime on Monday. “We’ll see you President Trump at the gala dinner held in Washington, DC on May 22nd.”

Trump’s crypto companies have garnered criticism from Democrats, ethics watchdogs and even the Securities and Exchange Commission for potential conflicts of interest and corruption allegations. The contest to dine with the president has reinforced these concerns as they created what is essentially a bid war for direct access to the president.

Dinner is being held at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, and includes a “ultra-exclusive VIP reception with the President” for the top 25 owners of the coin. The rules listed on the Coin website suggest that those who purchase the coin can also send others on their behalf, and state that if the buyer is unable to attend, they can go to their place by listing the names of family members and friends.

Coin’s buyer leaderboard is public, but does not explicitly list the winner’s names. Instead, the site only lists the buyer’s username and cryptocurrency wallet number, leading to speculation about who was fighting for dinner and what political or economic benefits they could have.

According to an analysis of Bloomberg’s crypto wallet, many of the top $$ owners used foreign cryptocurrency exchanges that ban US users from purchasing coins. Democrats and government ethics groups argue that memecoin can allow foreign entities to purchase influence with the president. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumental is launching an ethical investigation into Trump’s cryptocurrency activities.

“$Trump allows and even invites anyone in the world, including foreign governments and uncruel individuals, to directly enrich the president, hiding the potential rewards of blockchain pseudonyms.”

The White House argues that the auctions Trump personally promoted on his true social platform will not affect the president’s policy choices. White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt told reporters last week that Trump has “been stuck with all laws of conflict of interest” through his cryptocurrency efforts.

The price of $Trump Coin has fluctuated significantly since it debuted on January 17th. It first rose to about $75 per coin, then plunged downward the following week, hovering about $12 at the end of the auction. Approximately 750,000 buyers lost money trading coins, and the biggest buyers collectively spent millions reaching the top of the leaderboard.

“This is a security, high status event with President Trump,” Coin’s website said. “If you get a seat at a table, that’s you I won it. ”



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Trump says he will end our sanctions on Syria

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Speaking in Saudi Arabia, President Trump said he would order termination of sanctions on Syria to normalize relations with the new government.

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WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has said he will attempt to order the end of sanctions against Syria to “give them greatness” in order to normalize relations with the new Syrian government after the collapse of dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Trump made his pledge in his remarks on May 13 when he visited the Middle East on a four-day swing, a four-day term at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh on May 13.

“Yeah, what am I doing for the Crown Prince?” Trump said.

“Sansions were cruel and crippling and nevertheless served as an important function, but now it’s time to shine. We’re taking them all off,” Trump said. “So, do your best, Syria. Frankly, show me something very special, just like it was done in Saudi Arabia.”

While in Saudi Arabia, on May 14, Trump is expected to meet Ahmed al-Sharra, the new Syrian president, who came to power after the group Syrian rebels in December kicked out President Bashar al-Assad from Damascus and ended 50 years of tension control from the Al-Assad family.

Alshara was lobbying for the end of multi-tiered US sanctions that continued after Al Assad’s expulsion. Economic sanctions have cut Syria off the global financial system, making economic recovery extremely difficult after 14 years of crushing wars.

“In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will succeed in stabilizing the country and maintaining peace,” Trump said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to meet Syria’s new foreign minister this week, according to Trump.

Contribution: Reuters. Reach Joey Garrison with @JoeyGarrison.



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‘Just watch out for the goats’ – Animal jumps at Dion Smith’s wheel at Giro d’Italia in Albania, forces him into evasive action – video

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Dion Smith narrowly escaped a run-in with an Albanian goat on stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia, after the animal ran into the road and jumped at his back wheel on the 160km route that started and finished in Vlorë.

The New Zealand rider was forced into evasive action, however, forced into some mid-May cyclocross and a ride onto the grass, while the riders behind him braked and also avoided the goat, which escaped the bizarre incident similarly unscathed.





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Who are Africans? Why Trump welcomes us white South Africans

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WASHINGTON – After halting a program to hospitalize refugees in the United States, President Donald Trump is giving an exception to one group of white South Africans who claim to be victims of racism.

A group of 59 South Africans belonging to the white minority African ethnic group classified as refugees by the Trump administration arrived in the United States on May 12th.

For decades, South Africa has been ruled under apartheid control by the country’s white minority, many of which were descendants of Dutch settlers. Apartheid, a legalized system of segregation, stripped the majority of its citizens from its fundamental rights and forced many black South Africans to live in ethnic Bantstan. It ended in 1994.

Many white South Africans, who currently make up a minority of the population, say they are targeting new laws that allow South African governments to seize property in the “public interest.”

Trump’s support for Africans returns to his first term. However, he placed his support behind the group during his second term after the land seizure policy, known as expropriation law, became law. Trump accused the South African government of “confiscating land and treating certain classes of people very badly.”

“It’s a genocide that’s happening,” Trump told White House reporters on May 12.

Deputy Chief Christopher Landau greeted the Africans who arrived at the hangar at Washington’s Dulles International Airport. He compared their journey to his father, a Jewish man from Austria, who fled Europe in the 1930s, to South America, and then to America.

Their arrival comes after Trump signed an executive order in February to resettle Africans from “escape government-sponsored racially-based discrimination.” The lawsuit gave Africans a special priority after Trump signed another order on the first day of his presidency and effectively halted new refugees enrollment when he effectively halted his new refugee admissions when he suspended the US refugee hospitalization program decades ago.

“What’s going on in South Africa fits the textbook definition of why refugee programs were created,” White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller told reporters on May 9.

Trump adviser from South Africa and Tesla CEO Elon Musk was also openly critical of the expropriation law. In February, Trump took action to block foreign aid to South Africa.

South Africa is home to an estimated 3 million Africans, typically Dutch and Huguenot descent, making up a significant portion of the roughly 4 million white people in South Africa. The country has a population of 62 million, with around 81% of whom are black.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has challenged Trump’s claims about land confiscation and discrimination against white South Africans. Ramaphosa and other defenders of the expropriation law argue that policies are necessary to reverse the apartheid-era heritage of disparities in land ownership.

Although the apartheid rules ended more than 30 years ago, a 2024 survey by researchers at the Institute of Africa and the University of Zambia shows that typical black South African households have only 5% of the typical white wealth.

“We reiterate that allegations of discrimination are unfounded,” South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said in a statement on May 9.

“It is most unfortunate that South African resettlement to the United States under the guise of being “refugees” appears to be completely politically motivated. The statement continues, and is designed to question South Africa’s constitutional democracy.

The Anglican Church announced on May 12 that it would not cooperate with federal refugees after being asked to help resolve Africans.

“It was painful to see a group of refugees selected in a very unusual way, but they have been treated more than many others who have been waiting for refugee camps and in dangerous situations over the years,” Bishop Sean Lowe wrote in a letter to his church followers.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, a top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, called the move a “baffle.”

“The decision by this administration to put one group at the forefront of the line is clearly politically motivated and an effort to rewrite history,” she said in a statement on May 12.

Contributed by Francesca Chambers.

Reach Joey Garrison with X @joeygarrison.



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Incredible images showcase workplace scientists

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CNN

Biologists tracking whales in Norwegian fjords, scientists holding a vast telescope painted under the breathtaking sky, and tiny caraglets in the top image of this year’s natural scientists’ workplace competition.

Six winners were selected from over 200 entries submitted to the competition. It presents the diverse, engaging and challenging jobs that scientists perform around the world. In its sixth year, the contest will be judged by a ju apprentice made up of staff from the journal Nature, which hosts the competition.

The overall victory image was photographed by Emma Vogel, a doctoral student at the University of Tromso. Biologist Ordon Riccarden, who scans water around a fishing trawler in northern Norway, is scanning the water for whales while holding an air gun.

“You can smell their breath,” Vogel said of the whales in a competition press release Tuesday. “And you could hear them before you could see them, it’s always very incredible.”

The winning image shows scientists in cold and warm climates. One is characterized by researchers who bore ice cores in the Svalbad archipelago, while another shows a biologist holding a small carloglet in the Lassen National Forest in California.

Scientists depicted another image next to a foggy weather balloon on Mount Hermos in Greece, another shows the vast Antarctic telescope at Amundsen Scott South Paul station illuminated by overhangs of the aurora.

The final victory photo shows the silhouette of a man entering the cabin against a dark background of the starry sky in eastern Siberia. His colleague, photographer Jiayi Wang, said the remote area they worked was beautiful and the long period they spent there could be boring too. “There’s no network there, and the only thing you can do is look at the rocks,” he said in a press release.



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UnitedHealth CEO resigns as the company pulls financial forecasts for 2025 | US Healthcare

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UnitedHealth CEO Andrew Witty has stepped down for personal reasons, with the country’s biggest health insurance company suspended its full-year financial outlook due to higher than expected health costs.

According to Minnesota, the company’s chairman, Stephen Hemsley, will soon become CEO.

Hemsley was CEO of UnitedHealth Group from 2006 to 2017. He remains chairman of the company’s board of directors. Witness will serve as Senior Advisor to Hemsley.

It was a penalty for United Health, which began in December when executive Brian Thompson was targeted and killed outside a hotel in New York City. It has nothing to do with the financial operations of the $340 billion healthcare giant, but its stock has fallen badly since the attack.

“I am extremely disappointed and apologize for the performance setbacks I encountered from both the outside and internal challenges,” Hemsley said during an early conference call Tuesday.

“Many of the issues that prevent us from achieving our goals and opportunities are primarily within our control. We are optimistic about our future, as these problems are within our ability to solve them. We approach them with humility, rigor and urgency.”

The 60-year-old witty member joined the company in 2018 after serving as CEO of British drug maker Glaxosmithkline for about nine years. He was appointed CEO of UnitedHealth in February 2021, replacing Dave Wichmann.

UnitedHealth has become one of the largest companies in the country under Witty’s leadership. Last year, total revenue exceeded $400 million, up 55% from the $257 billion UnitedHealth that brought in the year before Witty became CEO.

UnitedHealth shares are high under Witty, up 60.5%.

However, United Health has had several set-offs over the past five months as he is attracting public attention for Luigi Mangione, who was charged with federal murder in the murder of Thompson last month.

The incident rattles security-worried corporate executives whilst capturing the American imagination and causing a cascade of res and online vitriol against US health insurance companies.

UnitedHealth cut its 2025 forecast last month after turning first-quarter revenue into Miss in over a decade. On Tuesday, the company completely retracted its financial forecasts and said its health costs from new Medicare Advantage members were higher than expected.

UnitedHealth’s shares, which plummeted 38% from Thompson’s ambush on December 4 in Midtown Manhattan, fell more than 12% at the opening bell.

Over 50 million people are enrolled in health insurance under UnitedHealth Group Inc. There is also an increase in the benefits managers of large pharmacies that operate prescription drug coverage, and the Optum segment, which provides care and provides technical support.

UnitedHealthCare is the nation’s largest provider of Medicare Advantage Plans with over 8 million customers. These are personally implemented in federal compensation programs primarily for people over the age of 65.



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‘3-2-1, C’est Partiiieeee’ – Remco Evenepoel begins Tour de France preparation

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Remco Evenepoel has kicked off his preparation for the 2025 Tour de France, with a first ride on home roads. 

Between now and Saturday July 5, when the Tour begins in Lille, in northern France, Evenepoel will gradually increase his training load, attend a three-week altitude train camp and race the Criterium du Dauphine (June 8-15) and the Belgian national championships on June 27 and 29.   



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Sports betting and what happens when the trend wins college students

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It was Game 5 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals, and the Houston Rockets were aiming to take the lead in a tied series with the Golden State Warriors. With just one minute left in the game, Rockets Guard Eric Gordon hit a clutch shot. Rocket wins, 98-94.

When Gordon scored, a room erupted at a Houston home on the outskirts of Saul Marek. The victory was refreshing, but also frightening, for a 20-year-old at the time who was a lifelong Rockets fan. He joined his twin brothers and dad, jumping up from the couch and cheering.

Unknown to them, he was in panic.

He had bet $1,500 on the Warriors to win, but now he’s borrowing money that he didn’t need from his bookie. It would be the first time he fell into debt due to the sports gambling addiction that ruled his life for two years. At his lowest point, he recalls a $25,000 drop.

“My life was focused on gambling. If I hadn’t made a bet, I would have been thinking about what to do next,” says Marek, now 27.

According to a 2023 survey by the NCAA, following the legalization of sports bets in 2018, 67% of all college students bet on the game. Gambling experts believe it is even higher now thanks to the prevalence of apps and the growing market that has attracted more young people. It’s a trend that wiped out university campuses, and for some young people it leads to complex and debilitating addiction. Addiction experts say the problem is widely misunderstood.

Sports and gambling are everywhere for young men

For Malek, the bet has always been to evoke the same feeling as he won the first middle school fantasy baseball league. Even as a sixth grader, the rush proved his excellent sports instincts – he drafted Matt Wheaters to lead the 2009 Fantasy League – was exhilarating.

After he began to lose money, he blocked Bookie’s number and moved on to a new online sports book. Rockbottom came at 1am in the winter of 2019 on a school night at Trinity University. He waited for his girlfriend to fall asleep and drove for two hours to Lucky Eagle Casino near the border with Mexico, where he was planning to get his money back.

It only took him 15 minutes to blow $400 into his pocket. Upon getting home, he tried to convince him that he had no problems.

Before sports betting was legalized, Maryland’s Problem Gambling Prevention Manager Heather Eschleman received about three requests a year as educators demand presentations on sports betting addiction. Now she earns three times a month from a high school teacher and a university professor.

Over the past three years, the number of 1-800 her organization runs has seen a surge in calls between ages 18 and 20, tripling the number of calls between ages 21 and 25.

According to Dr. Timothy Pon, co-director of the UCLA Gambling Research Program, teenagers’ executive capabilities, abstract thinking and decision-making skills continue to develop until age 25.

“The (teenager’s) brain has no impulsive control, and it has no ability to recover quickly from loss,” says Fon. “I know, I want money, I want to get excited, I want what my friends have. I want to prove that I’m very cool to my friends.”

According to Fong, there are teenagers and young adults who often inaccurately confuse gambling success with skills.

Philadelphia sports fan Rob Minnick (now recovering at age 26), says he felt it was “not easy” to make money by betting on games he watched with friends in high school. He had won a scoop ice cream of $8.38 per hour, but his ability to win $100 on a parlay was “splash of the mind.”

“I understood the odds of the game, but I was sure I would be the exception to the rules,” says Minnik, who goes on a lob with Rob at once on his YouTube channel.

Jose Mendoza of Kansas City, Missouri, turned to sports betting at the age of 23 to deal with the death of his father, a habit he hid from his family. On the night when his mother couldn’t sleep from the weight of her grief, he lay in the bed to comfort her while she wept. She never knew he often puts a parlay on his cell phone while he was drifting away.

“Of course I told my friends that I was winning, but they said, “How much, how much did you lose?” “It’s always a kicker.”

“Everyone always has a betting workbook in his hand, 24/7”

The 2018 Supreme Court decision filed wagering restrictions with states when it overturned the Expert and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) that prevented most states from allowing bets. Today, sports betting is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia.

Then came the pivots to sports bets on gambling platforms – draft king, fanatics, betMGM, and dozens each with incentives for new customers. Instead of a brick and mortar casino and physical sportsbook, anyone with a mobile phone can always bet.

33 states and the District of Columbia allow sports betting on mobile apps and websites.

In-person sports betting fell in 2024, while mobile sports betting increased by around 50%, generating around $10.4 billion in revenue, according to the American Gaming Association.

“For years, I meet patients who have struggled physically to the casino and drive for 90 minutes or an hour,” says Fong. “A lot of these people I see right now don’t let them step into the casino. The only casino they know is on their phone.”

Jordan, who began betting at 3pm and asked him to withhold his last name for fear of stigma while searching for work, says he thought sports betting was a habit of growing up. But when he went to Division 1 College and joined Greek life, his addiction snowballed.

Party, alcohol and sports betting were closely related. He could bet on everything: excessive industry, props to hit the first home run.

“It’s inevitable that we’ll hear others talk about it,” says Jordan, now 25.

“Everyone has a betting workbook in his hand, 24/7,” added his father, Austin.

Minnik says it is a new heavy drinking, as it is ubiquitous with male college experiences. Even if some young adults aren’t talking about betting, they’ll hear about it while watching the main game, thanks to the ads and betting odds being mentioned by the presenter.

“It’s so normalized that if you’re experiencing gambling problems and you’re a young man, you essentially can’t see sports,” says former gambling addict Sam DeMelo.

Sports betting addiction faces stigma. why?

Chemically, gambling addiction works in the same way as substance addiction, but many people mistakenly view it as a moral failure or a lack of self-control, according to Cait Huble of the Issues Gambling Council.

That misunderstanding was the most difficult thing for Jordanian father Austin to understand.

He and his Jordanian mother regularly rescued his son from high school debt. Conversations often came to be: “Stop it. This is the last one. I don’t want to talk anymore.”

When the problem spiraled in college, they realized that this problem was running deeper – and that by saving him from debt, they made it possible for their son to addiction without realizing it.

“Recognition is horse bets, and it’s a 70-year-old man sitting at the meeting (the gambler’s anonymous),” Austin says. “Sports betting in particular transcends this profile.”

DeMelo says supporters in the space need to work on meeting the boys they have. He founded Evive, a gambling-specific digital therapy app, to bridge the gap between age and technology. Health officials from Oregon, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Virginia and Nevada, are partnering with the app.

“Everyone who is obsessed with gambling says, “If I hit a jackpot today, I’ll reclaim all the money I’ve lost over the last decade, but it’s not harmful,” DeMelo says. “To make someone celibate, you have to kill that fantasy.”

Marek told the lie that he told his parents he hurt them “more than any amount.” He began going to anonymous meetings for gamblers in 2018, but it wasn’t until July 2019 that he stopped gambling. Looking back, he hopes he is more open to hearing a recovered addict. Marek says it is a “stable process of change” that cannot be done by will alone.

“I was very dying thinking that I could just understand things and be smarter than any kind of addiction, or that I could beat gambling,” says Marek. “To think I don’t have all the answers was more helpful than having the answers.”

For those trying to keep sports betting down, Eschleman recommends starting with self-exclusion methods, such as time and deposit restrictions on sports betting apps. Self-exclusion widgets such as Gamban, Betblocker, and Gamblock can block access to accounts for a set period of time.

Minnik says that young men can gamble responsibly, but they should be aware of their motivations. On his platform, he recommends gamblers to make sure they don’t just gamble from habits.

“If there’s no more reason, it’s an alarm bell,” says Minnik. “There were many times over the course of the six years I was gambling when I stopped. I’d have come to a conclusion earlier than I had problems.”

Young adults struggling with responsible gambling can text the national issue gambling helpline 24 hours a day at 1-800-GAMBLER and find anonymous meetings of gamblers.

Rachel Hale’s role in covering youth mental health at USA Today is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editor input. Contact her at rhale@usatoday.com and @rachelleighhale.



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47 million years old bug is the oldest song cicada fossil from Europe

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Pushed by the rocks was a flat 47 million-year-old Chicada body. With a length of approximately 1 inch (26.5 mm) and a wingspan of 2.7 inches (68.2 mm), the fossilized form is almost intact, with wide spreading of its vein.

Scientists recently described the insects as new genus and species using one other that was almost similarly preserved from the same location as the fossil. Although the specimen is female, the CICADA family tree position suggests that this type of man can sing like modern CICADA. Discovered in Germany decades ago, their existence reveals that singing cicada was scattered in Europe millions of years ago.

Fossils are also the oldest example of “true” singing cicada in the family Chicadidae family, researchers reported April 29 in the journal Scientific Reports. Most modern cicadas belong to this family, including the annual cicada that appears every summer around the world, and the cyclic cicada chicks with black bods and red eyes that appear from May to June in eastern North America on a 13- or 17-year cycle. One of the biggest chicks, Brood XIV, has appeared in dozens of US states this year. CICADA is found on all continents except Antarctica, with over 3,000 species.

The fossil records of common insects are abundant in only dozens of places, and while modern Chicada species are numerous today, paleontologists have recorded only 44 Cicadidae fossils. The oldest and most definitive fossil of the singing Chicada was discovered in Montana, with dates discovered between 59 and 56 million years ago, said Dr. Hui Jiang, a paleontologist and researcher at the Institute of Bon Biological Biology at the University of Bonn in Germany. That newly listed relative is Europe’s earliest singing Chicada, Jiang told CNN via email.

The body structure of European fossils was so well preserved that scientists were able to assign ancient insects to modern cicada tribes called Plachipleurini.

Previous studies suggest that the strain evolved in Africa about 30 to 25 million years ago and dispersed from it, Jiang said. “The fossil pushes back the known fossil records that produce the sounds of the tribal Prepleurini tribes around 20 million years later, indicating that diversification of this group occurred much earlier than previously recognized,” the researchers added.

The findings suggest that this group of groups evolved slowly than previous estimates from proposed molecular data, said Dr. Conrad Labandeira, a senior research geologist for fossil arthropods at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC.

“This suggests that no old fossils of Plachi Pleurini have been discovered yet,” said Labandeira, who was not involved in the study. “Discoveries like this help to provide better calibration to determine more realistic evolutionary rates.”

This reconstruction illustrates the newly described CICADA species, Eoplatypleura Messelensis.

A researcher named CICADA EOPLATYPLEURA MESSELENSIS. The name refers to the location where the specimen was found. It is a rich fossil site (57-36 million years ago) dating back to the Eocene Epoch, Messelpit, Germany. The fossils, excavated in the 1980s, have since participated in the collections of the German Institute of Senkenberg and the Museum of Natural History Frankfurt.

It once filled the hole in Messel in a very deep volcanic lake with an oxygen-free bottom. The environment creates ideal conditions for fossilization, and fine-grained deposits from this former lake bed hold a variety of Eocene life, Wedman told CNN via email.

The designation was acquired in 1995, saying, “The excellent preservation of all groups of living things, not just insects, is why Mesul is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Wedmann added that “one of the most conserved insects of the Messel Pit fossil site,” more complete of the two CICADA fossils. “Senckenberg has a collection of over 20,000 fossil insects from Messel, and among these, it stands out for its truly beautiful and complete preservation.”

In overall head and body shape, E. Messelensis is very similar to modern cikada. The vanguardira says that the vanguard — a nose-like mouth — remains intact, but as most Cicadas does, a closer analysis is needed to determine whether the vanguard was used to eat plant tissue called xylem.

E. Messelensis also provides hints for wing colour and pattern. According to Jiang, this feature camouflages modern cicadas when cling to the trunk of a tree, and E. It could have served a similar purpose for messelensis.

However, E. Messelensis differs from modern cikada in a subtle way. For example, the nearest ones may have influenced the way they fly because they are wider and less elongated than the species that live today.

Did the ancient Chicada call sound like its modern day parents? “You can’t know the exact song,” Jiang said. However, based on the shape and arrangement of the Chicada body of the Synthing Chicada Group, “it is likely to produce similar sounds as modern cicadas.”

When the Brood XIV appears in billions of people in the late spring and early summer of 2025, their calls are measured from 90 to 100 decibels. Other types of Chicada produce even greater fuss. The song of African Cicada Brevisana Brevis Peak is nearly 107 dB, just as loud as the jet takes off.

The volume of the ancient species song may have been even greater, Jiang said. The abdomen of E. Messelensis is broader and larger than that of its modern parent, suggesting that males may have a larger resonant cavity. This cavity could be generating more buzz by amplifying sounds from the vibrating structures of the abdomen, known as chumpbals.

“Of course, this is just a hypothesis,” Jiang added. “Future research into how morphology relates to healthy production in modern Chicada will help test it.”

Mindy Weisberger is a science writer and media producer who appeared in Live Science, Scientific American and How It Works Magazine.



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What to do if your job does not match your job description

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Johnny C. Taylor Jr. is working on workplace questions as part of the USA Today series. Taylor is the president and CEO of SHRM, the world’s largest human resources professional association, and is the author of “Reset: A Guide to Leaders to Work in an Era of Trending Times.”

Do you have a question? Please send it here.

question: As soon as I was hired, I realized that I had a little lack of job descriptions and a bit of a job. After eight months at work, my daily responsibilities are very different from when I first started. Do you need enough interest to address the situation for next month’s annual review? – Joshua

Answer: You definitely need to raise this during your annual review. Annual reviews are the ideal time and place for career conversations. These job changes are more common than people think. Usually you accept the job, enter the ditch, and eventually your role will begin to change. Sometimes it’s slow. Otherwise, it’s abrupt. But after 8 months, if your current responsibilities don’t resemble what you signed up for, it’s worth the conversation.

Do not consider this to be an alarm sound. Instead, consider it as seeking clarity. Roles evolve naturally, especially when people grow in workplaces and when businesses need to shift quickly. The real question is: Have you been told these changes to you? Do they match your skills and interests? And do your rewards and titles reflect the work you are doing?

Come and have a prepared conversation. Please note the significant difference between the original job description and the current daily responsibility. What specific new things are you doing? When did they start? What did you stop doing? Are you currently working at a higher level than outlined in your job description? Discuss effectively and give examples, not emotionally. Your goal is to adjust your expectations rather than airing complaints.

Many managers appreciate your initiative and welcome discussion. It allows better staffing, development and reward decisions when employees talk about role clarity. You don’t just defend yourself. You are contributing to healthier and smarter organizations. So, yes, lift it up and do it with confidence and professionalism.

If your conversation with your manager doesn’t go as planned, consider reaching out to HR. They can often help in these difficult situations and provide managers with helpful coaching opportunities when needed.

My job is to switch from 100% remote to hybrid. You will have the option to move near Washington, DC headquarters or one of the six regional offices. Each payment is based on the local employment market. I’m worried about less visibility for the organization in local offices. What else should I consider when I am offered to move a job? – Chelsea

There are always many things to consider when making big changes. It’s wise to take time to weigh options.

Let’s talk about compensation and benefits first. Certainly, pay is a big deal, but it’s worth digging deeper. How does salary affect your standard of living or taxes in your new location? Don’t forget to check if there are changes to benefits such as healthcare, paid leave, holidays, and other benefits. For example, if I’m moving to a new location, will my current healthcare provider still be available or should I switch to it? It’s something to keep in mind, as some states even have unique benefits, such as paid family leave and sick leave.

So let’s talk about visibility and career growth. Working in a local office can make staying on the radar difficult, but there are ways to avoid it. Volunteer on large projects or continue to be involved by joining interested teams. You will be appearing in virtual meetings and, if possible, attend face-to-face events at headquarters when opportunities arise. Building relationships is important, so don’t be embarrassed to connect with your colleagues using email, texts, or good old phone calls.

Technology is another thing. Consider whether your region or headquarters location uses the same tools and systems, and whether they are up to date. Obsolete tools and systems can make your work even more challenging. Conversely, if the location is equipped with more advanced technology, it can be a great opportunity to improve your skills and increase value for your organization.

Finally, we assess the growth potential of each site. Do you offer strong mentoring, training, or opportunities for progress? Working at the headquarters is often considered the best option for career growth, but some satellite locations may surprise you with unique learning opportunities and different focuses that will help you thrive.

By taking a step back and taking a step back to see a wider photo, including pay, benefits, living expenses, visibility, technology, growth, and more, you can ultimately help you decide what’s best for your next career move.

The opinions and opinions expressed in this column are the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of USA Today.



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US monthly inflation rate slows amid Trump’s tariffs | Inflation

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The pace of inflation slowed in April when Donald Trump announced his drastic “liberation day” tariffs on the largest US trading partner.

According to a new inflation report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), annual inflation rate was 2.3% in April, down from the annual rate of 2.4% in March.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile energy and food prices, reached an annual rate of 2.8% in April, compared to an annual increase of 2.8% in March.

The inflation report covers April, as businesses are still trying to grasp the impact of tariffs after Trump’s announcement.

Trump rolled back most of the tariffs he announced in early April, and announced a trade deal between the UK and China last week. However, imports from China face 30% collection, while most other US imports still face 10% collection. Consumers seem to support themselves at higher prices.

Consumer sentiment fell sharply in April, measured by the University of Michigan consumer survey, and inflation expectations rose to 6.5%, the highest since 1981.

A new Harris/Guardian poll released Monday revealed six out of ten Americans that they must refrain from key financial targets due to current economic and widespread indicators of economic unrest.

It is unclear how long this pessimism will last. Wall Street rose sharply on Monday after announcing a 90-day suspension in Trump’s tariff dispute with China. However, the stock market has become more responsive to changes in Trump’s tariff policy than consumers.

Economists also hope that price increases will worsen this year. Many companies still didn’t need to raise prices as many of the items currently on sale were imported before the new tariffs were in place.

“There’s not much evidence of the tariffs that boosted CPI in April, but this is not surprising as it takes time,” Oxford Economics chief economist Ryan Sweet said in a statement.

Sweet noted that despite tariff rates being reduced, the rate against China is still high. “The overall effective tariff rate in the US (in China) remains the highest since the 1930s, and that would be inflation,” he said.

The pace of inflation has slowed, but Federal Reserve officials said they hope that tariffs will affect prices, even if only temporary.

“It certainly has increased risks to higher inflation (and higher unemployment,” Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said at a press conference last week, adding that tariffs could slow the Fed’s target rate by at least a year. “At least in the next year, if that’s how tariffs are shaking, we won’t progress towards those goals.”

This is the opposite of what Trump has said about tariffs and the impact they had on prices. Trump has been in the White House for over three months, claiming that inflation is on hold from the Biden administration.

“Drug prices will be reduced by 59%. Trump wrote on social media on Monday. “Gasoline, energy, groceries, all other costs, down. No inflation!!!”

This article was revised on May 13, 2025. Core inflation reached an annual rate of 2.8% in April, 2.8%.



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Trump administration cancels another $450 million to Harvard

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The White House has yet to reveal how frozen research funds for Harvard and other universities will specifically collapse.

play

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has cancelled an additional $450 million in grants to Harvard University two weeks after Ivy League schools released a poignant internal review of anti-Semitism on campus.

The move places considerable pressure on one of the most respected universities in the country targeting the White House threat and barrage of investigations. These include reviewing tax-free status and compliance with regulations that determine the ability to register international students.

In April, the Multiple Federal Task Force suspended approximately $2.2 billion in funding for Harvard. The Trump administration has not made clear exactly how the suspension will be implemented and which research grants will be affected. On May 5, Education Secretary Linda McMahon escalated the fight and told Harvard Jewish President Alan Gerber that the school is no longer entitled to a new federally aided research grant.

In its first announcement, the administration said grants would come from eight institutions. The Federal Education Administration did not immediately respond to questions about which new funds were finished. Harvard officials also did not respond to the investigation immediately.

This story is developing. Please check for updates.

Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA Today. You can contact him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @Zachschermele and follow Bluesky at @Zachschermele.bsky.social.



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Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard cross paths in Sierra Nevada as they step up Tour de France preparation at high-altitude training camps

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Tour de France favourites and rivals Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard have stepped up their preparations for the July Grand Tour, with the pair both heading to high altitude in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountain range this week.

Footage posted on social media showed the winners of the past five Tours training separately but in the same region of southern Spain. For at least the next two weeks, the two rivals will perhaps cross paths in the ski resort and be able to see each other train, while staying at a distance in different apartments with their teams.



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Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray End Coaching Partnership in Six Months

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CNN

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray ended their coaching relationship six months later as the 24-time Grand Slam singles champions continue to struggle with form in 2025.

“Thank you to Coach Andy. I would like to thank all the hard work, fun and support beyond the court over the past six months,” Djokovic wrote on his social media channels. “I really enjoyed growing friendship together.”

The longtime rival, facing some of the best ever encounters in court, announced in November that Murray would join Djokovic’s coaching team.

The partnership got off to a promising start as Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a four-set epic in the quarterfinals before reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January.

However, Djokovic and Murray have not been able to rekindle anything closer to that form since then.

“We would like to thank Novak for his incredible opportunity to work with him and for all his efforts over the past six months,” Murray said in a statement. “I hope Novak is the best for the rest of the season.”

Djokovic’s best performance this year reached the final of the Miami Open. The 24th-time Grand Slam champion lost in the first round at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells before Miami, and in the first round of the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open.

Recently in March Djokovic said he hopes Murray will become his coach through the French Open and Wimbledon.

The 37-year-old was drawn from the ongoing Italian opening at the end of April, and this week he accepted the wild card to the Geneva Open, which begins on May 18th.





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