UnitedHealthcare CEO Killed in Targeted Attack
Police are striving to identify the man who murdered the CEO of America’s largest health insurance company in what has been described as a targeted attack.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in the back and leg by a masked man waiting for him outside the Hilton hotel in a busy area of Midtown Manhattan early on Dec. 4, where he was due to attend the company’s annual investor conference.
The gun appeared to be fitted with a silencer, according to surveillance video.
The shooter escaped on an e-bike heading toward Central Park, police said. The suspect is still at large.
Los Angeles Becomes a ‘Sanctuary City’
Los Angeles has voted to become a “sanctuary city,” protecting the status of illegal immigrants within its boundaries.
A “sanctuary city” generally limits its cooperation with immigration authorities regarding information sharing and local police cooperation in instances of status checking and detainment.
President-elect Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to declare a national emergency to solve the illegal immigration crisis in the country by initiating mass deportations.
“We have been a pro-immigrant city for a number of years … and what we are doing here is we are hardening our defenses,” city Councilman Bob Blumenfield said.
An exemption has been put in place regarding cases of serious offenses.
Federal Court Upholds TikTok Ban, Forcing Sale
A U.S. federal appeals court has ruled that ByteDance, a Chinese company, must sell the American operations of its popular social media app TikTok by next year or face a ban.
Federal prosecutors argue that TikTok creates a serious national security threat owing to its access to 170 million Americans’ data.
Chinese company law, coupled with its national intelligence law, requires all organisations to carry out the Communist Party’s activities and assist with national intelligence.
TikTok and its parent company say the ruling is unconstitutional and violates Americans’ free speech rights.
New US Car Sales Are Up Again
New U.S. car sales are on the up again, with availability of new cars coupled with demand from buyers reaching the highest point in four years, according to reports.
Buyers also seem more settled with the economy with the average purchase being nearly $50,000 according to Kelley Blue Book.
New and used car sales are up 11 percent from 2023, with car loan rates on the decline according to Cox Automotive’s recent Auto Market Report, giving people more incentive to reach into their wallets.
The overall sentiment seems to be driven by an improving economy and post-election results.
