jili 5566

jili 5566 Whether Soto tops Ohtani's record deal may depend on mathA 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the U.S. West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by multiple smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The tsunami warning was in effect for roughly an hour. It was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon. “It was a strong quake, our building shook, we’re fine but I have a mess to clean up right now,” said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed with food, wares and souvenirs that is a main attraction in Ferndale. “We lost a lot of stuff. It’s probably worse than two years ago. I have to go, I have to try and salvage something for the holidays because it’s going to be a tough year,” Kreitzer said before hanging up. The region — known for its redwood forests, scenic mountains and the three-county Emerald Triangle’s legendary marijuana crop — was struck by a 6.4 magnitude quake in 2022 that left thousands of people without power and water. The northwest corner of California is the most seismically active part of the state since it’s where three tectonic plates meet, seismologist Lucy Jones said on the social media platform BlueSky. Shortly after the quake, phones in Northern California buzzed with the tsunami warning from the National Weather Service that said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.” South of San Francisco in Santa Cruz, authorities cleared the main beach, taping off entrances with police tape. Numerous cities urged people to evacuate to higher ground as a precaution, including Eureka. “I thought my axles had fallen apart,” said Valerie Starkey, a Del Norte County supervisor representing Crescent City, a town of fewer than 6,000 about 66 miles (106 km) north of Eureka. “That’s what I was feeling ... ‘My axles are broken now.’ I did not realize it was an earthquake.” Gov. Gavin Newsom said he has signed off on a state of emergency declaration to quickly move state resources to impacted areas along the coast. State officials were concerned about damages in the northern part of the state, Newsom said. Crews in Eureka, the biggest city in the region, were assessing if there was any major damage from the quake, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel said. Bergel, who works as a resource aid at a middle school, said lights were swaying and everyone got under desks. “The kids were so great and terrified. It seemed to go back and forth for quite a long time,” she said. Some children asked, “Can I call my mom?” The students were later sent home. In nearby Arcata, students and faculty were urged to shelter in place at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. The campus in was not in the tsunami hazard zone and after inspections, “all utilities and building systems are normal and operational,” the university said in a statement. Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal said residents experienced some cracks in their homes’ foundations, as well as broken glass and windows, but nothing severe. There also have been no major infrastructure problems, building collapses or roadway issues, and no major injuries or deaths have been reported, he said. Honsal said he was in his office in the 75-year-old courthouse in downtown Eureka when he felt the quake. “We’re used to it. It is known as ‘earthquake country’ up here,” he said. “It wasn’t a sharp jolt. It was a slow roller, but significant.” Michael Luna, owner of a Grocery Outlet in Eureka, said that besides a few items falling off shelves, the store on Commercial Street was unscathed by the earthquake. “We didn’t have any issues but a couple of deodorants fall off.... I think the way the earthquake rumbled this time, it was a good thing for our store because the last earthquake was a huge mess,” he said. They evacuated customers and closed their doors temporarily until officials lifted the tsunami warning, he said, rushing off the phone to attend to a growing line of customers at check-out. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, known as BART, stopped traffic in all directions through the underwater tunnel between San Francisco and Oakland, and the San Francisco Zoo’s visitors were evacuated. Dave Snider, tsunami warning coordinator for the Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska, said the computer models indicated that this was the type of earthquake that was unlikely to cause a tsunami and gauges that monitor waves then confirmed it, so forecasters canceled the warning. This quake was a strike-slip type of temblor that shifts more horizontally and is less prone to cause tsunamis, unlike the more vertical types, said National Weather Service tsunami program manager Corina Allen in Washington state. The California Geological Survey says the state’s shores have been struck by more than 150 tsunamis since 1800, and while most were minor, some have been destructive and deadly. On March 28, 1964, a tsunami triggered by a powerful earthquake in Alaska smashed into Crescent City hours later. Much of the business district was leveled and a dozen people were killed. More recently, a tsunami from a 2011 earthquake in Japan caused about $100 million in damages along the California coast, much of it in Crescent City. _____ Dazio reported from Los Angeles. AP writers Chris Weber and Dorany Pineda in Los Angeles; Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California; Sophie Austin and Tran Nguyen in Sacramento, California and Seth Borenstein in Washington, D.C. contributed to this report. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where The Las Vegas Stadium Authority is expected to approve a OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who is in a legal dispute

AP Business SummaryBrief at 4:40 p.m. ESTPrincess Cruises Launches Love Boat by Hannah Campaign Featuring Hannah Waddingham

None

Women’s protection crisis

Texans WR Nico Collins says he was fined for tossing TD ball to kidPieridae Announces 2025 Guidance & Capital ProgramRuben Amorim reveals key factor behind Man United stars abandoning plans to wear LGBT rainbow jackets after Noussair Mazraoui refusal - as he insists there is 'no doubt' over the club's values Man United had planned to wear an LGBT rainbow jacket before taking on Everton Mazraoui declined to do so as the gesture went against his religious beliefs LISTEN NOW to It's All Kicking Off!: Why can't Chelsea win the league? They made seven changes and still scored five. Do you think Liverpool could do that? By CHRIS WHEELER and MICHAEL PAVITT Published: 22:31 GMT, 6 December 2024 | Updated: 22:32 GMT, 6 December 2024 e-mail View comments Ruben Amorim has revealed that the solidarity among Manchester United 's players was the key factor in in the decision to abandon plans to wear rainbow-themed jackets supporting the LGBT + community before Sunday's win over Everton . The gesture went against the religious beliefs of Noussair Mazraoui so the rest of the United players decided not to leave the Morocco international as the odd man out when they walked out before the game at Old Trafford. Amorim explained: 'It was a group decision as players, as it should be. There's three difficult things to manage. On one side, it's club values. There's no doubt what this club believes and fights for. Then you have religion, which you have to respect. It's our values to respect other opinions. 'And the third thing is the group thing. 'I won't leave Nous alone, we're a team'. The majority of the players believe in one thing, but they saw one guy alone and said let's be together. 'It's three things we have to manage and respect, and it's a hard issue to address. I think we did it in a good way. We need to respect everything but we also to respect the religion of Nous and his culture.' Asked if it will be an issue again in future, Amorim replied: 'I don't know if Nous is going to change his religion and his beliefs. We will address at the time if it comes, but it's a really hard decision.' Man United scrapped plans to wear an LGBT rainbow jacket after Noussair Mazraoui refused In previous seasons, United have worn the top to show their support for the LGBT community Man United head coach said players made a 'group decision' to not leave out Mazraoui Man United had issued a statement in midweek following reports Mazraoui had refused to wear the rainbow jacket. Manchester United said the club 'welcomes fans from all backgrounds, including members of the LGBTQ+ community', adding: 'We are strongly committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion. 'We demonstrate these principles through a range of activities, including support for our Rainbow Devils supporters' club, and campaigns to celebrate our LGBTQ+ fans and combat all forms of discrimination. 'Players are entitled to hold their own individual opinions, particularly in relation to their faith, and these may sometimes differ from the club's position.' United's LGBT fan group Rainbow Devils issued a response, saying they were 'disappointed' in the summer signing. In a post on X, the organisation wrote: 'As part of this year's Rainbow Laces campaign, Rainbow Devils worked closely with - and had great support from - Manchester United and the Fan Engagement team. 'This has included working with the Manchester United Foundation to spread the message of inclusivity with local schools, to a Q&A with two Men's first team players, to supportive messages from many Men and Women first team players (including an individual one from captain Bruno Fernandes). 'On this latter occasion, which was United's official Rainbow Laces game, the players were due to wear specially designed jackets pre-match to mark the occasion. Shortly before the game, Rainbow Devils was informed that these jackets would not be worn. Mazraoui (left) - who is a devout Muslim - told teammates he would not wear it due to his faith Former United stars Cristiano Ronaldo (middle) and Jadon Sancho (right) pictured in the jacket 'The reason being that one of the matchday squad had refused to wear the jacket on the grounds of their personally held beliefs. Therefore, to maintain the team ethos and togetherness, none of the players would be wearing them. 'This was obviously a great disappointment to Rainbow Devils, but also to all those who had worked hard at the club to deliver this event. 'We are aware of who the player concerned is, but we feel it isn't our role to single him out, and risk spoiling all the other positive things that the majority of those at the club have done. 'We respect the right of this player to have his own views, whilst also feeling disappointed that he put the rest of the squad into a position where they felt that they couldn't wear their jackets. 'We also worry what kind of negative effect this incident might have on any player at the club who may be struggling with their sexuality. Man United were among three clubs to have seen their players involved in controversy over surrounding rainbow clothing. As part of the Premier League 's Rainbow Laces campaign to support the LGBTQ+ community, top-flight captains were given rainbow armbands to wear for last weekend fixtures and matches in midweek. Sam Morsy and Marc Guehi shook hands before kick-off in midweek, with Morsy not wearing a rainbow armband while Guehi did Guehi was reprimanded for having 'I love Jesus' written on his armband on Saturday The Crystal Palace star had 'Jesus loves you' written on his rainbow armband on Tuesday night England and Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi defied a Football Association reprimand by writing a religious message on his rainbow-coloured captain's armband against Ipswich Town. Guehi had written a similar message on his armband for last weekend's fixtures. Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy twice refused to wear the rainbow armband, citing his religious beliefs. In light of Morsy's refusal to wear the rainbow armband on the weekend, Ipswich released a statement insisting the club 'proudly supports' the Premier League's campaign. Premier League Ruben Amorim Manchester United Share or comment on this article: Ruben Amorim reveals key factor behind Man United stars abandoning plans to wear LGBT rainbow jackets after Noussair Mazraoui refusal - as he insists there is 'no doubt' over the club's values e-mail Add comment

Leo – (23rd July to 22nd August) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Do not let stress impact the morale Resolve the relationship issues and spend more time together. Continue the commitment at work that will help you meet the expectations. Health is safe today. The romantic relationship is packed with fun today. Despite the challenges, you will outshine others in the workplace. Consider better management of finance. Your health will also be good today. Leo Love Horoscope Today Have a pleasant time and you may also surprise the lover with unexpected gifts. A romantic lunch or dinner is a good time to propose. Ensure you value the relationship and also provide the proposed space to the partner. Be careful about the words you use while sitting with the partner as some statements may be misunderstood by the lover, leading to chaos. Your attitude is crucial here. Single Leos may meet someone interesting today. Married females may also conceive today. Leo Career Horoscope Today Continue the discipline at work and stay in the good book of the management. Those who are into human resources, hiring, finance, and sales will have a tough time while bankers and accountants should be careful about the figures. Government employees may be required to answer questions that are challenging. You will travel for job reasons. Your efforts will ensure the clients are happy and the management will consider the contribution during the appraisal discussions. Leo Money Horoscope Today Maintain a balance between income and expenditure Today is good to buy electronic appliances you should avoid large investments in the stock market. Do not get into arguments related to property with siblings as this can lead to complications in the relationship today. You may have challenges in raising big funds to expand your business. Some professionals will not receive the expected appraisal. Leo Health Horoscope Today No serious health issue will impact the routine life. However, some females may develop coughing, sneezing, and ear-related infections. Children may complain about throat pain which may stop them from attending school. It is good to have control over the diet. Ensure you skip all food items that are rich in oil and grease and instead opt for more vegetables and fruits. Leo Sign Attributes Strength: Generous, Loyal, Energetic, Enthusiastic Weakness: Arrogant, Luxury seeker, Careless, and Self-complacent Symbol: Lion Element: Fire Body Part : Heart & Spine Sign Ruler : Sun Lucky Day : Sunday Lucky Color: Golden Lucky Number : 19 Lucky Stone : Ruby Leo Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Good compatibility: Leo, Aquarius Fair compatibility: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Less compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)

Scorpio – (23rd October to 21st November) Daily Horoscope Prediction says, Keep confidence level growing Keep the love life engaging and consider a romantic dinner. Professionally you will have a busy day. Handle the financial affairs with care. Health is good. Overcome the relationship issues with a positive attitude. At the office, you have a tight schedule that may reflect on your health. Make major investments to have a good return in the future. Health is also positive today. Scorpio Love Horoscope Today Be fair in love today. Minor issues may come up but they won’t be serious. Handle them diligently. If you had a tiff in the previous days, today is good to troubleshoot them. Handle the crisis with care and you’ll see positive results. A weekend at a hill station is a good option to strengthen the bonding and spend time sharing emotions. You may also introduce the lover to the family. Married Scorpios must keep a distance from office romance which otherwise can cause turbulence today. Scorpio Career Horoscope Today Be patient and diplomatic while dealing with managers. Do not lose your temper in team meetings and always be clear in ideas. This will help you put forward the concept. Team managers or team leaders should have alternative plans in case a project goes haywire. Students will clear examinations while entrepreneurs will be successful in gaining new contracts. If you are keen to start a partnership, pick the day as you will see good results sooner. Entrepreneurs handling manufacturing-related businesses will see good results today. Scorpio Money Horoscope Today Some unexpected expenses will come up and you should have enough wealth in the coffers. You can consider investing in land, property, stock, or any other source in the second half of the day. Some Scorpios will resolve financial issues with the siblings today. Businessmen may consider expansion of business to new territories which also means a good inflow of revenue today. Some traders will face tax-related issues today. Scorpio Health Horoscope Today No serious health issues will be there but children may complain about oral health issues. Females should be careful while chopping vegetables and fruits in the kitchen as minor cuts may happen. You should also drink plenty of water and must give up both alcohol and tobacco. Pregnant females should be careful while riding a two-wheeler. Scorpio Sign Attributes Strength Mystic, Practical, Intelligent, Independent, Dedicated, Charming, Sensible Weakness: Suspicious, Complicated, Possessive, Arrogant, Extreme Symbol: Scorpion Element: Water Body Part: Sexual Organs Sign Ruler: Pluto, Mars Lucky Day: Tuesday Lucky Color: Purple, Black Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Stone: Red Coral Scorpio Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Good compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio Fair compatibility: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Less compatibility: Leo, Aquarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: www.astrologerjnpandey.com E-mail: djnpandey@gmail.com Phone: 91-9811107060 (WhatsApp Only)Enzo Maresca insists Chelsea are now free of 'Cole Palmer FC' tag in clear sign of progresshead coach has said he does not regret his confrontation with supporters at on Thursday, insisting he will never back down from doing "the right thing". in the away end after full-time of Spurs' 1-0 loss at the Vitality Stadium. The Spurs manager revealed his wife disapproved of his behaviour but, speaking ahead of Sunday's derby against , said he had no regrets about the incident. "No, they felt like they needed to give me feedback, so I thought I’d get close enough for them to make sure they were heard," Postecoglou said. "Hopefully after 18 months, you [the media] have realised that I am who I am. I don’t really care. "Whether people think I’m an easy target, soft target. I’m going to shy away from it. I’ve fought my whole life and I’m not going to race down the tunnel because some people feel like they need to give me some direction. It doesn’t bother me, it doesn’t. "From my perspective, what motivates me and what drives me on a daily basis is to continually stay true to my values and what I believe is the right thing to do in every situation. Maybe people thought it wasn’t the right thing to do. My wife certainly didn’t. "So I got some feedback there as well. But that’s ok. I’m not going to change. It’s who I am, mate. I’ve been like that my whole career and I won’t change.” Postecoglou approached fans after his players had received a mixed reception from the travelling support and could be seen pointing to his chest during the exchange. Asked if he was taking responsibility for Spurs' performance and result, he said: "Yeah, [I was saying], 'It’s on me but also whatever you’ve got to direct, direct it at me. And I’m listening. I’m listening, I’m looking, I’m understanding.'" After last season's home game with Chelsea, Postecoglou's side were applauded off after bravely sticking to Postecoglou's high defensive line and attacking principles, despite having two players sent off before the hour and losing two more to injuries. Asked about the connection with fans, Postecoglou admitted that he would have "to find a way" to get the majority of supporters behind him, adding: "That will be dependent on what people see, what people feel. "The only way I can affect that is by what we produce on game days. "I’ve got to concentrate on the controllables, and the controllables are the team, how we prepare, how we play and hopefully through that vehicle we get everyone on board. "I’m sure at other clubs, if you stick to a plan and go through difficult moments, there’s dissension among supporters in these moments. You forget about that when you’re on the other side. Yeah it’s about winning but it’s about belief as well in what you’re doing sometimes. You look beyond the results I think. "That’s what happened at the start of my tenure last year. We lost against Chelsea but there was a sense that we were building something. Obviously it kind of went off the rails after that game. It’s not just about winning, but where we are right now it will certainly help." A depleted Spurs, who were again missing seven players to injuries, illness and suspension, after Dean Huijsen ghosted in at the far post to head home a corner after 17 minutes. "It can’t be a physical thing when it happens early in the game, I don’t think," Postecoglou said, when asked what went wrong on the south coast. "It’s not a physical thing. We started the game well. It’s not like we started sluggishly. The first two chances that came fell to Deki and Dom. Two chances where you go: ‘Ok, we’ve started the game really well.’ “And literally the first time they go up, they get a set-piece and they score an unopposed header. That kind of tells you that, nah ... You can’t go into a game like that and allow the opposition then to take control of the game. "We prepared ourselves for a tough game, that was going to be tougher than any other game we were going to face last night. And the disappointing thing is, like I said, that in a game where we started well, we once again allowed the opposition to play the game on their terms by us lacking discipline and conviction in a key moment. And we can’t keep doing that."

NASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to goPresidio Granted Second 180-Day Period by Nasdaq to Regain Compliance with Minimum Bid Price Rule

Bills offense is ‘Cooking,’ with running game adding a powerful new dimensionPatrick Gunning of King & Wood Mallesons reports that on November 29, 2024, the Australian Parliament passed more than 30 bills on the final sitting day for the calendar year. Among the flurry of legislative activity were the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 and the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024. Privacy Amendment Act The Privacy Amendment Act represents the initial stage of the Australian government’s response to a long-running reform process, with the government indicating that if it is re-elected in 2025, a second tranche of amendments will be proposed. We highlight some of the 2024 amendments. Broader Enforcement Powers for the Australian Information Commissioner This includes changes to: Clarify when “serious” contraventions (which can result in fines of A$50 million or more) occur. Enable the regulator to bring civil penalty proceedings for contraventions that do not meet the “serious” threshold, but are deserving of court action to deter others (with a maximum fine of up to A$3.3 million). Enable the regulator to issue an “infringement notice” for breaches of certain less serious requirements of Australian privacy law. If a regulated entity chooses to pay the penalty set out in the infringement notice (up to A$330,000 per specified contravention), the regulator cannot commence court proceedings in respect of those contraventions unless the regulator withdraws the infringement notice and returns the fine. Alternatively the regulated entity can choose to not pay the fine, in which case the regulator has the discretion to take a different form of enforcement action (such as commencing civil penalty proceedings in a court, where the maximum fine is ten times greater than available under the infringement notice regime). The current Privacy Commissioner, Carly Kind, was appointed in 2024. She has signalled an intention to more actively enforce the law than her predecessors. The new enforcement powers in the 2024 amendments will give her tools to achieve that objective. New Statutory Tort of Invasion of Privacy The Privacy Amendment Act introduces a new statutory tort for serious invasions of privacy involving intrusion upon seclusion and/or misuse of information, where: the plaintiff has a reasonable expectation of privacy; the conduct by the defendant is intentional or reckless; the invasion of privacy is serious; and the public interest in the plaintiff’s privacy outweighs any countervailing public interest. While it remains to be seen how widely the statutory tort of invasion of privacy will be litigated, expectations are that most cases will be brought against media defendants by well-resourced high-profile individuals. While the regulator will have the right to make submissions in such a case, the regulator will not have standing to bring a statutory tort claim on behalf of any individual. Class actions are, however, a possibility if a single event affects multiple individuals. However, a typical cyber incident is not likely to qualify as a serious invasion of privacy, because the conduct of a defendant organization that has been hacked by a malicious third party is rarely intentional or reckless, even if it may involve negligence. Automated Decisionmaking In addition to the changes related to enforcement, the Act also provides greater transparency for individuals when regulated entities use personal information for automated decisionmaking. Regulated entities will now be required to include in their privacy notices details about what information is involved and what types of decisions are made using automated decisionmaking technology. Children’s Online Privacy Code The Act also directs the Commissioner to develop a Children’s Online Privacy Code, as discussed further below. The Act includes minimal parameters for the Code, however, beyond applicability and consultation provisions. Social Media Minimum Age Act The Australian Parliament enacted the Social Media Minimum Age Act only eight days after its introduction. The Act amends the Online Safety Act 2021 by requiring providers of an “age-restricted social media platform” to take reasonable steps to prevent Australian children under the age of 16 from having an account. Providers who fail to do so will be subject to civil penalties of up to A$49.5 million. The eSafety Commissioner will be responsible for administering the new requirements to be imposed on age-restricted social media platforms. The Act defines an ”age-restricted social media platform” is as a platform that: allows users to post material; allows users to interact with other end-users; and enables social interactions between two or more end-users (as the platform’s sole or significant purpose). Some forms of messaging services will be covered by this definition, in addition to platforms that would generally be considered social media platforms. Providers of age-restricted social media platforms will have 12 months to implement age assurance techniques. The Act is not prescriptive about the techniques that may be implemented, but does impose limits on a provider’s right to collect government-issued identifiers and digital IDs for the purpose of enforcing the minimum age requirement. It is possible that by the time that these age-restriction requirements take effect, the Privacy Commissioner will have developed an enforceable Children’s Online Privacy Code, which also will apply to providers of age-restricted social media platforms, as well as to others that deal with children online (such as e-commerce businesses). The age-restriction requirements do not apply to platforms where ”none of the material on the service is accessible to, or delivered to, one or more end-users in Australia”. However, given the global nature of most social media platforms, it seems inevitable that some platform providers will regard this law as a legislative overreach by the Australian Parliament. For example, X Corp recently resisted the Australian eSafety Commissioner’s order to remove video footage of a violent attack in an Australian church from the platform. X Corp argued successfully in the Federal Court of Australia that it had taken all reasonable steps to remove the content from its platform by geo-blocking users with Australian IP addresses. As the initial injunction expired, the Australian eSafety Commissioner dropped the court case to pursue administrative action, having lost her argument that X Corp should have removed the content from its platform entirely because Australians using VPNs could circumvent the geo-blocking measures. Similar enforcement difficulties are likely to arise under the Social Media Minimum Age, as Australian children under the age of 16 may also use VPN services that allow them to circumvent whatever measures are put in place to restrict their ability to have an account on an age-restricted platform. For further detail on these Australian reforms, visit KWM’s insights on data and privacy developments .

NASA's stuck astronauts hit 6 months in space. Just 2 more to go

Police hunt for UnitedHealthcare CEO's masked killer after 'brazen, targeted' attack on NYC street NEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire, New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. UnitedHealthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Thompson led one of the biggest health insurers in the U.S. but was unknown to millions of people his decisions affected. Then Wednesday's targeted fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO on a midtown Manhattan sidewalk thrust the executive and his business into the national spotlight. Thompson, who was 50, had worked at the giant UnitedHealth Group Inc for 20 years and run the insurance arm since 2021 after running its Medicare and retirement business. As CEO, Thompson led a firm that provides health coverage to more than 49 million Americans — more than the population of Spain. United is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, the privately run versions of the U.S. government’s Medicare program for people age 65 and older. The company also sells individual insurance and administers health-insurance coverage for thousands of employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. The business run by Thompson brought in $281 billion in revenue last year, making it the largest subsidiary of the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group. His $10.2 million annual pay package, including salary, bonus and stock options awards, made him one of the company's highest-paid executives. Hegseth fights to save Pentagon nomination as sources say Trump considers DeSantis WASHINGTON (AP) — A defiant Pete Hegseth fought to save his nomination to be Donald Trump's defense secretary Wednesday as the president-elect considered possible replacements in the face of growing questions about the former Fox News host's personal conduct and ability to win Senate confirmation. Hegseth met with legislators on Capitol Hill, conducted a radio interview and released an opinion article denying allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking. He insisted he was “not backing down one bit," that Trump was still supporting him and he planned to return Thursday for more meetings with lawmakers. But the president-elect's team was looking at alternatives including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump himself remained quiet about Hegseth while issuing a flurry of statements on social media Wednesday about other nominees and his news coverage. Hegeth, asked if he'd meet with Trump on Thursday, said he'd meet with him “anytime he'd like." Hegseth is the latest nominee-designate to be imperiled by personal baggage after the recent withdrawal of Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose vulnerabilities were well-documented. But Hegseth’s past, including the revelation that he made a settlement payment after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies, was not widely known. Supreme Court seems likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on medical treatments for transgender minors WASHINGTON (AP) — Hearing a high-profile culture-war clash, the Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors. The justices’ decision, not expected for several months, could affect similar laws enacted by another 25 states and a range of other efforts to regulate the lives of transgender people, including which sports competitions they can join and which bathrooms they can use. The case is being weighed by a conservative-dominated court after a presidential election in which Donald Trump and his allies promised to roll back protections for transgender people, showcasing the uneasy intersection between law, politics and individual rights. The Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer warned a decision favorable to Tennessee also could be used to justify nationwide restrictions on transgender healthcare for minors. In arguments that lasted more than two hours, five of the six conservative justices voiced varying degrees of skepticism of arguments made by the administration and Chase Strangio, the ACLU lawyer for Tennessee families challenging the ban. Peter Navarro served prison time related to Jan. 6. Now Trump is bringing him back as an adviser WASHINGTON (AP) — Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, will return to serve in Donald Trump’s second administration, the president-elect announced Wednesday. Navarro, a trade adviser during Trump’s first term, will be a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, Trump said on Truth Social. The position, Trump wrote, “leverages Peter’s broad range of White House experience, while harnessing his extensive Policy analytic and Media skills.” The appointment was only the first in a flurry of announcements that Trump made on Wednesday as his presidential transition faced controversy over Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief. Hegseth faces allegations of sexual misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement, and Trump has considered replacing him with another potential nominee. As he works to fill out his team, Trump said he wanted Paul Atkins, a financial industry veteran and an advocate for cryptocurrency, to serve as the next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He wrote on Truth Social that Atkins “recognizes that digital assets & other innovations are crucial to Making America Greater than Ever Before.” Trump also said he was changing course on his choice for White House counsel. He said his original pick, William McGinley, will work with the Department of Government Efficiency, which will be run by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy with the goal of cutting federal spending. Now David Warrington, who has worked as Trump’s personal lawyer and a lawyer for his campaign, will serve as White House counsel. Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes tore through a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza on Wednesday, sparking fires and killing at least 21 people, according to the head of a nearby hospital, in the latest assault on a sprawling tent city that Israel designated a humanitarian safe zone but has repeatedly targeted. The Israeli military said it struck senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, without providing additional details, and said it took precautions to minimize harm to civilians. The strike on the Muwasi tent camp was one of several deadly assaults across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. An Israeli attack in central Gaza killed at least 10 more people, including four children, according to Palestinian medics. Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, launched after Hamas’ October 2023 attack, shows no signs of ending after nearly 14 months. Hamas is still holding dozens of Israeli hostages, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced and is reliant on international food aid to survive. Israel is also pressing a major offensive in the isolated north, where experts say Palestinians might be experiencing famine. The Biden administration has pledged to make a new push for a Gaza ceasefire now that there's a truce in Lebanon between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah, ending more than a year of cross-border fighting. Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump demanded this week the release of hostages held by Hamas before he is sworn into office in January. South Korean President Yoon's martial law declaration raises questions over his political future SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — President Yoon Suk Yeol’s stunning martial law declaration lasted just hours, but experts say it raised serious questions about his ability to govern for the remaining 2 1/2 years of his term and whether he will abide by democratic principles. The opposition-controlled parliament overturned the edict, and his rivals on Wednesday took steps to impeach him. One analyst called his action “political suicide.” Yoon’s political fate may depend on whether a large number of people in coming days take to the streets to push for his ouster. Here's a look at the political firestorm caused by the martial law declaration, the first of its kind in more than 40 years. Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law on Tuesday night was accompanied by a pledge to eliminate “shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces at a single stroke.” He vowed to protect the country from “falling into the depths of national ruin.” Yoon, a conservative, cited repeated attempts by his liberal rivals in control of parliament to impeach his top officials and curtail key parts of his budget bill for next year. French lawmakers vote to oust prime minister in the first successful no-confidence vote since 1962 PARIS (AP) — France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined together Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes that forces Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his Cabinet members to resign, a first since 1962. The National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. President Emmanuel Macron insisted he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections led to a deeply divided parliament. Macron will address the French on Thursday evening, his office said, without providing details. Barnier is expected to formally resign by then. A conservative appointed in September, Barnier becomes the shortest-serving prime minister in France’s modern Republic. White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign WASHINGTON (AP) — A top White House official on Wednesday said at least eight U.S. telecom firms and dozens of nations have been impacted by a Chinese hacking campaign. Deputy national security adviser Anne Neuberger offered new details about the breadth of the sprawling Chinese hacking campaign that gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Neuberger divulged the scope of the hack a day after the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued guidance intended to help root out the hackers and prevent similar cyberespionage in the future. White House officials cautioned that the number of telecommunication firms and countries impacted could still grow. The U.S. believes that the hackers were able to gain access to communications of senior U.S. government officials and prominent political figures through the hack, Neuberger said. “We don’t believe any classified communications has been compromised,” Neuberger added during a call with reporters. Harris found success with women who have cats, but Trump got the dog owner vote: AP VoteCast WASHINGTON (AP) — The lead-up to the 2024 election was all about cat owners. But in the end, the dogs had their day. President-elect Donald Trump won slightly more than half of voters who own either cats or dogs, with a big assist from dog owners, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of more than 120,000 voters. Dog owners were much more likely to support the Republican over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Cat owners were split between the two candidates. About two-thirds of voters said they own a dog or cat, but pet owners don't usually get much attention from politicians. This year, however, past comments by Trump's running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, about “childless cat ladies” briefly became a campaign issue — and Taylor Swift signed her Instagram endorsement of Harris in September as “Taylor Swift Childless Cat Lady.” Harris did end up decisively winning support from women who owned a cat but not a dog. Still, those voters were a relatively small slice of the electorate, and pet owners as a whole did not seem to hold Vance's remarks against the GOP ticket. Childless or not, women who only owned a cat were more likely to support Harris than were dog owners, or voters who had a cat and a dog. About 6 in 10 women who owned a cat but not a dog supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast. She did similarly well among women who did not own either kind of pet.

Watchdog finds FBI missteps before Jan. 6 riot, but no undercover agents were present