International

United Healthcare CEO shot dead in Manhattan

The executive director of the UnitedHealthcare insurer, Brian Thompson, died this Wednesday after a man shot him near a hotel in downtown Manhattan early in the morning.

The chief of police (NYPD), Jessica Tisch, said at a press conference that it was a “premeditated, planned and selective” attack, and that the suspect waited for Thompson to approach before shooting him several times, insing him in the back and leg, and fleeing on an electric bicycle.

Thompson, 50, was heading to the Hilton hotel in Midtown, a few blocks from Times Square, to participate in his company’s investor day when he was shot shortly before 7 a.m. and taken to a hospital where his death was certified, the police confirmed.

NYPD chief detective Joseph Kenny said the suspect waited for Thompson for five minutes and shot him in the back, and initially his gun magazine got stuned, but fixed it and continued to un the trigger, according to the preliminary investigation.

Kenny indicated that, according to the security videos, the suspect, a white-skinned man dressed casually and who was apparently going to attend the conference, “seems an expert in the use of weapons, since he was able to fix the failure (of the gun) very quickly.”

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Authorities investigate the death of the director of Unitedhealth

The police are investigating whether Thompson, who was staying in a hotel near the Hilton and went alone to his company’s event, had received threats.

His wife, Paulette Thompson, with whom he has two children, told NBC News that “some people had been threatening him.”

The latest images of the suspect, shortly after the murder, show him entering Central Park on a public electric bicycle.

At the crime scene and surroundings, three bullets and a mobile phone have been recovered.

“We will not rest until we identify and capture the shooter in this case,” said Tisch, who offered a reward of 10,000 dollars to the citizens and assured that the police device will be reinforced in the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree, near the Hilton hotel.

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Thompson, from Minnesota, was the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, the largest private insurer in the United States, since 2021, and had been in the company’s parent company, the UnitedHealth group, for two decades, which also confirmed the news in a statement.

“We are working together with the New York Police Department and we ask for patience and understanding in this difficult time. Our hearts are with Brian’s family and his loved ones,” the note says.

The chief executive of UnitedHealth, Andrew Witty, told those present this morning before the day for investors, scheduled for 8 in the morning, that “a very serious medical situation” had occurred with a member of the team and the event should be suspended, according to CNBC.

International

U.S. Senate Rejects Budget, Bringing Government Closer to Shutdown Amid DHS Dispute

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday against a budget proposal in a move aimed at pressuring changes at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following the killing of two civilians during a deployment of immigration agents in Minneapolis.

All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

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International

Trump Says Putin Agreed to One-Week Halt in Attacks on Ukraine Amid Extreme Cold

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he secured a commitment from Russian President Vladimir Putinto halt attacks against Ukraine for one week, citing extreme weather conditions affecting the region.

“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

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International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

Storm Kristin, which battered Portugal with heavy rain and strong winds early Wednesday, has left at least five people dead, while nearly half a million residents remained without electricity as of Thursday, according to updated figures from authorities.

The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

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Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
“Even though the rain is not extremely intense, it is causing extensive damage to homes,” he noted.

In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.