Intel's interim co-CEO Zinsner says new chief executive will have foundry experienceOne of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Saints QB situation remains cloudy as matchup with Washington nears

One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used "physician work time values," which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it's unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It's not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado . People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. "If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem's announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn't affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare , another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

LUANDA, Angola (AP) — long-delayed trip to Africa had many of the hallmarks of a traditional state visit: There was a 12-shot cannon salute. A series of warm handshakes with Angolan President João Lourenço. Celebratory music. Photo opportunities. But another issue overshadowed the visit. When reporters tried to question the president about why he after repeatedly saying he would not do so, Biden tried to brush aside the questions. He gestured toward Lourenço and laughed, declaring, “Welcome to America.” Biden saluted Lourenço for his efforts to bolster stronger U.S. relations, declared that would shape the world’s future and even indulged his love of trains by championing a major railway project that his administration says could change the way the entire continent does business. Some takeaways from the president’s visit: (Don’t) meet the press Biden offered the joke about America before his meeting with Lourenço, and he answered a question on Tuesday about the political situation in South Korea, saying only that he’d not been briefed — something that was rectified moments later when advisers filled him in on what was happening as the motorcade sped away from a site where he’d given a speech. Other than that, Biden went the entire trip, which began Sunday night and included two brief stopovers in Cape Verde in addition to Angola, dodging reporters. He did similar during last month’s . Biden’s press secretary tried to explain the pardon decision Since Biden announced his pardon decision shortly before climbing aboard Air Force One bound for Africa, it fell to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre to spend nearly half an hour offering long and awkward answers to uncomfortable questions aboard the aircraft hours later. Biden said in a statement explaining the pardon that, while he believed in the justice system, he also felt that politics had infected the cases against his son and “enough was enough.” Jean-Pierre maintained that he wasn’t trying to have it both ways. “I don’t think it’s a contradiction,” she said. “Two things could be true. You can believe in the Department of Justice system, and you could also believe that the process was infected politically.” She also bristled when it was suggested that such complaints about the Department of Justice smacked of President-elect Donald Trump’s of federal bureaucrats that he’s said for years are out to unfairly undermine him and fellow top Republicans. ‘All in on Africa’ — with time running out During his meeting with Lourenço at the presidential palace, Biden said, and extolled how strong Angolan relations were with Washington. His administration has invested billions in Angola, with the centerpiece being promoting the Lobito Corridor, a vast project to revitalize supply chains by refurbishing 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) of train lines in Angola, Zambia and Congo. Given where Angola was barely a generation ago, the alliance is in many ways remarkable. An oil-rich nation on Africa’s southwest coast, Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975, but spent subsequent years embroiled in civil war, which often featured proxy fighting between U.S.-backed forces and those allied with the Soviet Union. Even today, the country’s red and black flag features a yellow machete and half-cog, an insignia resembling the Soviet hammer and sickle. But Biden leaves office on Jan. 20, and Lourenço, like many leaders of African nations, has already begun suggesting that he’s looking toward a Trump-dominated future. Biden administration officials say they’re hopeful Trump and top Republicans will continue a business-friendly approach to investing in Africa that includes continuing to support the Lobito Corridor. Now the Africa policy will be up to Trump Biden lauded Lourenço for helping boost his country’s relationship with the United States, and he said the youth of Africa would change the world. He also visited the country’s national slavery museum, stressing how Angola and the United States — which were once linked by the horrors of enslaved human beings, now could increasingly be linked by economic opportunity. But if Biden came to Angola hoping to cement his foreign policy legacy in this country and throughout Africa, it will actually fall to Trump — the man he and spent much of 2024 running against before in July — to see it through. ___ Will Weissert, The Associated Press

21 dead as Mozambique erupts in violence after election court ruling

LIBERTY LAKE, Wash., Dec. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Itron, Inc. (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is innovating new ways for utilities and cities to manage energy and water, marks a significant milestone with the 50th deployment of its Temetra ® solution in Australia, which is being deployed by Aqwest, the provider of drinking water to the City of Bunbury and its surrounding areas in Western Australia. With Itron’s cloud-based multi-vendor meter data collection and management solution, Aqwest will be able to manage its existing mechanical meters while enhancing and optimizing operations. Aqwest selected Temetra, Itron’s innovative cloud-based solution, to simplify meter data collection by utilizing a solution capable of incorporating multi-vendor meter reads. With the adoption of Temetra, Aqwest can now upgrade to digital meters at a pace best suited for its operations and seamlessly collect meter readings from existing mechanical meters and future smart meters through a single data collection and management platform. This multi-vendor capability allows Aqwest to gain comprehensive insights into consumption patterns through one unified platform. Utilizing Aqwest’s existing communication protocols and meter vendors, Temetra will collect, record and upload meter data using the handheld mobile Android devices currently in use by the utility. Temetra provides valuable insights by analyzing both current reads and historical data, enabling Aqwest to address customer billing questions and detect potential water leaks. This 50 th customer milestone reinforces Itron’s commitment to addressing water scarcity in Australia and ensuring that communities are better equipped to manage water operations. The Temetra solution enables utilities to address critical water management tasks more efficiently. These capabilities are key to helping utilities anticipate and address potential water challenges before they turn into a crisis, such as losing water within the distribution system. “Aqwest is committed to providing sustainable, high-quality drinking water to the Bunbury Region. As the effects of climate change continue to impact on local water security, having an efficient water management system in place is crucial,” said Gary Hallsworth, chief executive officer at Aqwest . “We are delighted to be working with Itron to upgrade our water metering infrastructure to improve our customer consumption data and billing capabilities.” “Australia is no stranger to water shortages due to its dry climate, recurring droughts and the challenges caused by climate disruption, making water management a complex issue. On top of these challenges, population growth is increasing the demand on existing water infrastructure, much of which is aging and prone to inefficiencies,” said Don Reeves, senior vice president of Outcomes at Itron. “We are excited to celebrate this significant milestone. Working together with Australian utilities, we strive to deploy efficient solutions to address these challenges and to ensure that both remote and urban communities are equipped to tackle water management. With Temetra, utilities across the country are another step closer to water security.” Temetra is a globally adopted, cloud-based, multi-vendor, multi-commodity, meter data management solution. Temetra supports a variety of meter manufacturers and communications protocols enabling a smooth migration from automated meter reading to advanced meter reading. Temetra’s open ecosystem solution enables interoperability at all levels and supports multiple data collection technologies concurrently, providing utilities a smooth migration path from manual to smart metering. Storing meter read data from a variety of sources in one location, combined with other innovations like map-based routing, enhances operational efficiency. Temetra has demonstrated scalability, accommodating thousands of customers ranging in size from several hundred meters to several million. About Itron Itron is a proven global leader in energy, water, smart city, IIoT and intelligent infrastructure services. For utilities, cities and society, we build innovative systems, create new efficiencies, connect communities, encourage conservation and increase resourcefulness. By safeguarding our invaluable natural resources today and tomorrow, we improve the quality of life for people around the world. Join us: www.itron.com . Itron ® , the Itron Logo and Temetra are registered trademarks of Itron, Inc in the United States and other countries and jurisdictions. All third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners and any usage herein does not suggest or imply any relationship between Itron and the third party unless expressly stated. For additional information, contact: Itron, Inc. Sharon Chong Field Marketing Manager, Asia Pacific Office: +65 69837687 sharon.chong@itron.com Paul Vincent Vice President, Investor Relations 512-560-1172 Investors@itron.com Itron, Inc. LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/itroninc X: https://twitter.com/ItronInc Newsroom: https://itron.com/newsroom Blog: https://itron.com/blogNoneBrowns star Garrett, on the cusp of 100 sacks, is driven to be the best

UCLA 2025 football schedule: Bruins will see Big Ten talent, former Pac-12 foesMETAIRIE, La. (AP) — If Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi has any definite ideas about who'll play quarterback for New Orleans against Washington on Sunday, he's not ready to share that information. Rizzi maintained on Wednesday that there's still a chance that Derek Carr could clear the concussion protocol and function well enough with his injured, non-throwing left hand to return against the Commanders. Meanwhile, reserve QBs Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler split first-team snaps during Wednesday's practice, which Carr missed, Rizzi said. “We're not going to name a starter right now,” said Rizzi, who also made a point of noting that Carr would not be placed on the club's injured reserve list and would not need surgery. “We're going to see how that progression plays out, first with Derek and then obviously with Jake and Spencer.” Carr, whose latest injury occurred when he tried to dive for a first down during Sunday's 14-11 victory over the New York Giants , has already missed three starts this season because of a separate, oblique injury. New Orleans lost all three of those games, with Rattler, a rookie, starting and Haener, a second-year pro, serving as the backup. In his three starts, Rattler completed 59 of 99 passes (59.6%) for 571 yards, one TD and two interceptions. Haener has gotten sporadic work this season in relief of both Carr and Rattler, completing 14 of 29 passes (48.3%) for 177 yards and one TD without an interception. Rizzi said he finds the 6-foot-1 Haener and 6-foot Rattler “very similar in a lot of ways," adding that whichever of those two might play “doesn't change a whole bunch" in terms of game-planning. “They're both similar-size guys. Their athletic ability is very similar,” Rizzi said. “They're similar-style quarterbacks. We're not dealing with opposites on the spectrum.” The Saints also signed another QB this week — Ben DiNucci — to help take scout team snaps at practice, now that Rattler and Haener are not as available to do that while competing to possibly start if Carr is indeed unable to play. The Saints (5-8) have won three of four games since Rizzi took over following the firing of coach Dennis Allen. That allowed New Orleans to remain alive in the NFC South Division, currently led by Tampa Bay (7-6). Rizzi said Carr has not had any setbacks this week in terms of progressing through the NFL's concussion protocol. “By the end of the week, if's he's not able to get any reps in any form or fashion, then obviously we'll go with one of the other guys,” Rizzi said. NOTES: RB Alvin Kamara did not practice on Wednesday because of an illness. ... WR Chris Olave, who is out indefinitely because of concussions this season, has returned to meetings at Saints headquarters. He as not, however, made plans to return to practice yet because he still plans to meet first with neurological specialists to try to assess the risks of returning to action during what's left of this season. Rizzi said the possibility of Olave playing again this season remains “on the table” for now. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

If you were holding out for a new technically-street-legal supercar that would be slightly faster around most race tracks than a Porsche 911 GT3 RS, but significantly more expensive, stiffer, and seemingly worse in almost every way to drive on the street, Manthey Racing has the car for you . The new Manthey Kit GT3 RS receives a unique aero kit for more downforce, racetrack-optimized suspension, more aggressive brakes and the rear window is swapped out for a shark fin . None of this is done in the name of subtlety. This is a blunt-edged track weapon that most buyers won’t ever have enough skill to operate properly. If you’re looking for a track-only machine that will improve your skills, you’re definitely better off spending less money to go faster by calling Porsche Motorsport and getting yourself a race-ready GT3 Cup. If, for some reason, you absolutely need to prove your mettle by tracking a street-legal Porsche, then this kind of splits the difference between the GT3 RS and the track-only Cup. You’ll also have to pay around $125,000 above and beyond the standard GT3 RS base price of $241,300. That bonkers price doesn’t include any increase in power, either, as it’s purely aero, suspension and brakes. The stock 518 horsepower flat-six remains unchanged, which coupled with an increase in downforce and aerodynamic drag means you’ll probably lose some top speed. The standard GT3 RS set a Vmax of 183 miles per hour, so you can bet it’ll be a little less than that. It’ll probably be quicker through every corner on the track, though. Manthey says the new car produces 2,200 pounds of downforce at 177 miles per hour, which I would guess is its new top speed. All of the aero flicks, bigger wings, and carbon “aerodisc” wheel inserts account for just 300 pounds of downforce at those speeds. Is it really worth it? Manthey and Porsche have not yet released a Nürburgring lap time for the Manthey-kitted car, but you can bet that the new car will be a bit quicker around the Green Hell. The current non-Manthey GT3 RS ran a 6:44.848 lap time back in 2022, which is a long way off the 6:29.090 that Mercedes-AMG set with its One hypercar earlier this year. Porsche will have to really pull out some magic to get anywhere near that car’s time with half the horsepower. “Over a period of two years, we worked together with Porsche engineers on the new Manthey Kit for the 911 GT3 RS and tested it over several thousand kilometers on European racetracks and on the Nürburgring Nordschleife,” says Nicolas Raeder, Managing Director of Manthey Racing GmbH. “Our data promises a significant improvement in lap times compared to the standard 911 GT3 RS. So far, weather conditions have prevented us from achieving an official lap time on the Nordschleife. We want to make up for this at the next possible opportunity.” “With the Manthey Kit, the 911 GT3 RS has improved significantly on the racetrack, especially on medium-speed corners,” says Porsche Brand Ambassador Jörg Bergmeister. “The car dives, pitches and rolls even less, offering a much more stable aerodynamic platform. The high contact pressure therefore remains very constant under all driving conditions.” Ultimately this is a way for people with too much money to spend more than their neighbor to buy a flashy high-tech track machine for Saturday morning cars and coffees. Be careful not to put too many miles on it or you might hurt the car’s long-term value. It’s probably best that you just park this car in your garage and never drive it. Though, if I were buying a car that was going to just sit in my garage, I’d at least want one that looks good.Taylor Swift sends gifts to Kansas City Chiefs heiresses Gracie and Ava Hunt with personalized messages