UnitedHealthcare to remove prior insurance approval requirements for nearly two-thirds of pediatric services
- UnitedHealthcare will eliminate prior authorization for roughly two-thirds of healthcare services for members under 18 — covering many diagnostics, routine surgeries and pediatric specialties (cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, orthopedics).
- It will add authorization waivers for procedures at leading pediatric hospitals and says the change aims to cut delays and paperwork so parents spend less time navigating care.
- The move is part of a broader industry push — UnitedHealth and CVS have standardized many prior‑auth requirements, and UnitedHealthcare expects 70%+ of prior authorizations to use the new standardized process by year‑end.
Medical Health
Business and Finance
May 29, 2026 at 12:08 PM
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China opposes any country using freedom of navigation to undermine its sovereignty
- Canada’s warship HMCS Charlottetown made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on May 22–23.
- China protested, saying it firmly opposes actions that it sees as undermining its sovereignty and security.
- Taiwan called the strait an international waterway and said it monitors allied military movements but doesn’t publicly disclose them.
War and Conflicts
Politics
May 29, 2026 at 11:45 AM
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Powerful Gas Explosion in Dallas Apartment Building Kills 3
- A powerful gas explosion ripped through a Dallas apartment building Thursday, killing at least three and sparking a five‑alarm fire.
- Officials say a contractor likely struck a gas line, triggering the violent blast.
- Emergency crews are conducting urgent searches for missing residents and continuing rescue and recovery efforts.
Disasters
May 29, 2026 at 11:27 AM
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US special operations commander says the next war may require the military to 'creatively destroy' old ways of training
- Top special-ops leader says the military will have to "stop doing" some old training to free up time for new priorities — calling for a "creative destruction" of the training calendar.
- New tech and lessons from recent wars (drones, counter‑drone, electronic warfare, Ukraine) are pushing a shift in what troops must learn.
- Leaders still insist gritty, traditional skills and endurance (like high‑surf swims) matter, so tough tradeoffs lie ahead.
War and Conflicts
Technology & Computing
May 29, 2026 at 11:19 AM
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Indonesians mark 20 years since mud volcano eruption swallowed up entire communities in East Java
- People gathered at the mud lake to mark the 20th anniversary of the Lusi eruption, scattering flowers and praying for the at least 14 people who died when boiling mud swallowed villages.
- Scientists say the 2006 disaster was likely triggered by gas drilling; the mud still erupts (white smoke and dredging are common) and the site has even become a grim tourist attraction with locals now guiding visitors or driving motorcycle taxis.
- Tens of thousands were displaced, compensation and aid have been incomplete, and survivors still face health, environmental and civil-registration problems—fueling calls to rethink reliance on extractive industries.
Disasters
Business and Finance
May 29, 2026 at 9:42 AM
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Smalltalk