America in Brief

UnitedHealthcare CEO killed; LA becomes ’sanctuary city'; federal court upholds TikTok ban; and new U.S. care sales are up again.
America in Brief
This still image from surveillance video shows the suspect, left, sought in the the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, centre, outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding an investor conference, on Dec. 4, 2024. AP Photo
Updated:
0:00

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.

U.S. Border Patrol agents monitor illegal border crossings in Jacumba, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2024. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
U.S. Border Patrol agents monitor illegal border crossings in Jacumba, Calif., on Jan. 10, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

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.

The office of TikTok in Culver City, Calif., March 13, 2024. (Mike Blake/File Photo/Reuters)
The office of TikTok in Culver City, Calif., March 13, 2024. Mike Blake/File Photo/Reuters

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.

Jeep vehicles are delivered to a dealership in Chicago, Ill., on June 20, 2024. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Jeep vehicles are delivered to a dealership in Chicago, Ill., on June 20, 2024. Scott Olson/Getty Images

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.

Stuart Liess
Stuart Liess
Author
Author’s Selected Articles