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The last decade of Star Wars —hell, even the last half-decade —has been an eventful one . It may be 12 years since Disney first bought Lucasfilm, but we’re still feeling the aftershock of that acquisition in different ways. And it all started with Thanksgiving weekend and the first-ever reveal of Star Wars: The Force Awakens to the general public. Disney released Force Awakens’ original trailer on November 28, 2014, initially across select theaters in the US and Canada, and then expanded its reach that December. At 88 seconds long, it was the textbook definition of a teaser, with glimpses of its main characters heading somewhere we weren’t exactly privvy to contrasted by stretches of black screen. Is that a ball droid, who’s the Stormtrooper, is that Andy Serkis, why the heck is there a crossguard lightsaber? These were all questions that rushed to the forefront of social media, followed shortly by: what is this about ? While the 2008 Clone Wars movie was the last actual Star Wars feature to hit theaters, there hadn’t been a live-action film since 2005. In general, the entire franchise was in a weird spot at the time: Star Wars Rebels’ first season had just gone on holiday break, the Expanded Universe got declared non-canon months earlier, and it’d been a year since the Star Wars 1313 game was cancelled. This trailer was the launch point of a massive fresh start for everyone, and it paid off big time. A week after launch, it had 58.2 million views , and outlets commended it for evoking the feel of the original trilogies. Luke, Leia, and Han were nowhere to be seen, but the brief visuals and John Williams’ score did their job in making you think of what Star Wars had been at its best, and that it could fall in that same territory. Say what you want about Disney’s ownership of Star Wars, the studio knows how to promote it. This was true then with Force Awakens, and it’s become even more true a decade later as it’s snatched up more properties and found more ways to promote them . When it’s got something on its hands that it has faith in, Disney will move heaven and earth to ensure you know it exists, whether you want to or not. This trailer did the trick; people fully realized it at the time, but they did ultimately miss Star Wars and what it brought to the table. Disney understood that, hence this and subequent trailers doing their best to sell Awakens as the return of Star Wars first and a film second. Think back to how hard the marketing worked to sell the allure of new characters and worlds with the tease of continuing the stories of the original characters, bringing back the music, and the “Chewie, we’re home” that’ll always feel like it was specifically written for applause in theaters. All trailers are events unto themselves, particularly when it comes to movies and video games. Things have only become bigger and bigger over the years, and nowadays, trailers are treated more like the second coming, much of which you can put on Force Awakens’ first teaser. Can they still do that now? Ask us again in about, hrm...three-to-five years?In a rapidly changing world, Africa has emerged as a key stage for global competition. With its vast resources and strategic significance, the continent is drawing significant interest from powerful players such as Russia, China and the United States. As Africa faces new promises and potential threats, leaders on the continent are challenged to make choices that could shape Africa’s role in an increasingly multipolar world. Recent developments underscore the complexity of this environment: Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended a promise of “total support” to Africa, presenting Moscow as a counterbalance to Western influence. Meanwhile, China is expanding its presence in Africa’s electric vehicle (EV) sector, leveraging its potential as a market and production base. At the same time, the approaching return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency brings uncertainty about America’s future engagement with Africa. Russia’s “total support” for Africa, highlighted at the recent summit in Sochi, reflects Moscow’s ambition to deepen alliances beyond the Western sphere. Isolated due to its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, Russia is presenting itself as a non-colonial partner, offering an alternative to what it frames as Western “neo-colonialism.” This message resonates with several African countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso, where leaders have grown wary of France and other Western influences. Russia’s narrative emphasizes its historical support for decolonization and its recent strategic partnerships with African nations seeking defense and economic stability. Moscow’s support includes military assistance, economic investments and diplomatic partnerships that offer African countries a model different from traditional Western alliances. However, underlying questions remain regarding the depth of Russia’s engagement. Some experts argue that Russia’s commitment to Africa might diminish if its geopolitical needs change, especially if the conflict in Ukraine is concluded. Russia’s interest in Africa seems largely transactional, focusing on short-term advantages, such as natural resource access and arms deals, rather than a long-term strategy for African development. This presents a dilemma for African leaders: While Russian support can provide valuable resources and influence, over-reliance on Moscow can limit Africa’s independence and flexibility in the future. Africa’s leaders should weigh the benefits of engaging with Russia against the potential risks. By developing specific mutual agreements and safeguarding their own autonomy, African countries can navigate this partnership effectively. Russia’s promise of “total support” can benefit Africa, but only if African leaders take steps to maintain control over the direction of their partnerships and ensure that these engagements serve long-term national and regional interests. While Russia’s influence in Africa is largely driven by military and political factors, China’s presence is deeply rooted in economic partnerships, particularly in the energy and technology sectors. As China faces tariffs from the U.S. and the European Union, Africa has become an increasingly attractive market and production base for Chinese EV companies. Recently, major Chinese automakers, including BAIC and Zeekr, committed to establishing EV manufacturing plants in Egypt. This investment leverages Africa’s growing market potential and Egypt’s strategic location, enabling China to access African and Middle Eastern markets and reduce its dependency on traditional Western consumers. China’s investment in Africa’s EV industry aligns with its broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), positioning Africa as a strategic node in China’s global supply chain. China is creating new opportunities for economic growth in Africa by building factories and infrastructure. However, African leaders must be cautious in avoiding overreliance on China. Although Chinese investments can stimulate job creation and technological advancement, they can also lead to economic dependency if African industries remain dependent on Chinese expertise and capital. African nations should negotiate terms that emphasize technology transfer, workforce training, and local capacity building to ensure that these partnerships benefit their economies in the long run. As Africa adopts clean energy and advanced technology, a balanced approach to Chinese investment can empower African economies, turning the continent into a competitive global green economy. By focusing on equitable agreements, Africa can harness China’s economic strength, while safeguarding its autonomy. A second Trump administration could shift U.S. priorities in Africa, likely focusing less on aid and more on strategic investments that counterbalance China’s influence. Trump’s first term largely ignored Africa, with the most notable policy change being a reduction in aid and diplomatic engagement. Yet members of Trump’s previous national security team, including Peter Pham, recognize Africa’s strategic significance in the U.S.-China rivalry. Should Trump return, the U.S. may continue strategic initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor, which aims to reduce Africa’s dependence on China to export critical minerals. However, African leaders must prepare for the possibility that Trump’s policies prioritize short-term economic gains over the long-term developmental needs of African nations. One likely change in U.S. policy under Trump would be cuts to the foreign aid budget, which could have substantial effects on African nations that rely on this support. This might lead African leaders to seek new alliances or strengthen ties with countries that are less inclined to impose political conditions on their aid. Moreover, Trump’s stance on certain social policies, including LGBTQ+ rights, contrasts sharply with the Biden administration’s, potentially reshaping U.S. relationships with African countries that resist these policies. For example, Uganda could see a return to preferential trade arrangements under Trump following its expulsion from the African Growth and Opportunity Act due to its anti-LGBTQ+ laws. African nations should not rely solely on U.S. aid or favorable trade policies to sustain growth. Instead, by diversifying their partnerships, they can better protect themselves from the uncertainty of U.S. political shifts. Leaders should also approach U.S. partnerships with realistic expectations, focusing on initiatives that offer mutual benefits, such as infrastructure and trade development, rather than expecting comprehensive support for domestic agendas. Africa stands at a strategic crossroads, with multiple global powers vying for influence on the continent. By carefully navigating these relationships, African leaders can maximize their benefits while ensuring that foreign influence does not compromise Africa’s autonomy. The following are several recommendations for African decision-makers. Firstly, African countries should negotiate agreements that prioritize technology transfer, workforce training and local content requirements to leverage foreign investment effectively. Partnerships with foreign companies in sectors such as electric vehicles or renewable energy should include provisions that support domestic industry and enable African talent to develop skills for long-term economic sustainability. Secondly, African leaders should align foreign partnerships with development goals, focusing on infrastructure, green technology and social resilience. By emphasizing inclusive growth, African countries can address social and economic inequalities, strengthen national stability and create a more favorable environment for foreign investments that benefit the population. Thirdly, while Russia, China and the U.S. are the most prominent global actors in Africa, African leaders should engage with other nations that offer less conditional support, such as Türkiye and the Gulf states. These partnerships can provide additional financial resources and technical support without the political strings that often accompany Western or Chinese assistance. Broadening the base of partnerships helps Africa reduce its reliance on any single power and enhances its bargaining power. Fourthly, strengthening regional alliances allows African countries to negotiate more effectively with foreign powers. Platforms such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) enable African nations to act collectively, making it easier to attract investments that respect the continent’s priorities. By fostering regional unity, African leaders can ensure that Africa’s interests are addressed globally. Fifthly, as foreign investment increases, African governments must maintain transparency in their dealings to prevent corruption and ensure that the benefits reach local populations. Clear regulations governing foreign investments will strengthen public trust, reduce the risk of dependency, and create a stable investment environment that benefits both African economies and foreign investors. Africa has never been significant in a rapidly evolving multipolar world. Russia’s promise of “total support,” China’s calculated expansion in Africa’s EV sector, and a potential shift in U.S. priorities under Trump’s leadership all present African leaders with both opportunities and challenges. By strategically engaging with these powers, diversifying partnerships and prioritizing sustainable growth, Africa can position itself as an autonomous and influential player on a global stage. African leaders have the chance to shape a future in which Africa’s growth is marked by resilience, sustainability and independence. With prudent forward-thinking policies, Africa can leverage foreign partnerships to create prosperous, stable and self-reliant futures.
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There has been a surge in WhatsApp account hacks in Sri Lanka during the past couple of months, with scammers using verification code manipulation to gain access to accounts and defraud contacts. This alarming trend has led to numerous occasions of financial fraud and identity theft and journalists have become the latest victims of this cybercrime. The Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) has warned the public of financial fraud being carried out targeting social media platform, WhatsApp. As the latest development of this alarming trend, WhatsApp accounts of nearly 10 Sri Lankan journalists were compromised during the past few days, particularly of those who work in the English media using sophisticated methods to gain unauthorised access to their user accounts. In all recent incidents, the users have reported receiving unexpected WhatsApp verification codes and scammers contacting users, posing as friends or acquaintances, to request the code, which, once shared, grants hackers control over the account. This enables them to read and send messages, access contacts, and even make calls. According to forensic cybercrime experts, hackers use a two-step approach: “First, they compromise the user’s WhatsApp account through the verification code, and then target the user’s contacts with requests for financial assistance. Victims have reported sending money – Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 100,000, believing they were aiding a friend in a dire need.” Be cautious always Cybercrime experts ask users to “always be cautious” when a WhatsApp message requests a verification code. They said any OTP or a code received should never be shared. Victims are advised to alert their contacts via social media if their accounts are hacked, helping prevent further scams. With the increasing prevalence of this scam, the SLCERT and relevant authorities are encouraging users to enable two-step verification on their accounts and to remain vigilant when receiving any messages involving verification codes. When such an untoward incident of compromising a WhatsApp account occurs, the WhatsApp account user has to face a great deal of inconvenience expending much time to retrieve the account. When a user is subjected to such WhatsApp account hack, the only option available for him is to lodge a complaint with the Computer Crime Investigation Division (CCID) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) or complain to the SLCERT seeking technical advice on how to overcome such issues and regain the control of the WhatsApp account. Several journalists who became victims of hacking their WhatsApp accounts over the past couple of weeks said that the Police response to their complaints was often lethargic and that there should be a mechanism in place to immediately trace the culprits who resort to such cybercrimes. Otherwise, the hackers do the maximum possible damage to the victims and continue their financial scams after they take control over a WhatsApp account. Those who are not familiar with such financial scams might transfer money to those bank accounts. The police can conduct investigations to ascertain those bank account details shared by the hackers. According to the accepted procedure, the banks and finance companies cannot disclose the details of their account holders to a third party. Even if the police want to investigate such accounts, they will have to get a court order. Pretext of financial distress A senior journalist of a leading weekend English newspaper, who became a victim to a scam a couple of days ago, said that he had received a WhatsApp call from a known contact, asking him to join a zoom meeting mentioning a code number. When the journalist had declined to join the zoom meeting, the hacker had asked him to repeat the code number displaced in his WhatsApp call, following which the journalist’s WhatsApp account was immediately hacked. Once the WhatsApp account is compromised, scammers use it to send messages to the user’s contacts, requesting money under the pretext of financial distress. Some of those contacts, who are not familiar with such cybercrime frauds, immediately call or respond to such fake WhatsApp messages hoping that it’s a genuine case. A former News Editor of a leading weekly English newspaper who had also faced a similar issue a recently told the Sunday Observer that he had lodged a complaint with the CCID, but he hasn’t received any feedback so far. The senior journalist said the hackers had also shared WhatsApp messages among some of his schoolmates in foreign countries too. “Then as advised by my friends, I immediately changed my mobile number for a brief period. Several other journalists who also became victims had also followed the same guidelines, and said they are also waiting for feedback from the CCID. When looking at the real-life examples of WhatsApp hacks in Sri Lanka, a retired officer had fallen victim to a similar scam, where the hackers had used his account to defraud his friends and family. A Colombo based businessman had also lost significant sums of money after his account was compromised, with scammers sending messages to his contacts requesting financial assistance. A money swindling scheme had also taken place recently after SJB Colombo District Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahuman posted on Facebook to warn his contacts against the hackers impersonating him on WhatsApp. Hackers who accessed the MP’s WhatsApp account had sent messages to his contacts requesting money. After that, many people had responded to the messages with fund transfers to the account details mentioned. Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said when a complaint is made on the hacking of Facebook or WhatsApp, the CCID will take action regarding that. However, he said there is no significant increase in cybercrimes in Sri Lanka over the past couple weeks. The incidents pertaining to hacking Facebook and WhatsApp are not a recent development that took place in Sri Lanka. These incidents had taken place for a long time and we have also educated the social media users about these hackings and other cybercrime related incidents. Recent developments When social media develops, hacking and other scams using social media and the internet is also developed. Therefore, the hacking of WhatsApp and Facebook is reported not only in Sri Lanka but also worldwide. However, most of those who use social media have an understanding of how these recent developments take place. CCID Deputy Director SSP Darshika Ranasinghe said anybody who became a victim of such cybercrimes can either present a written complaint or send an email to the CCID. The CCID will take action regarding complaints made on any such hacking incidents. SLCERT Senior Information Security Engineer Charuka Damunupola told the Sunday Observer that during the past three months, they had received nearly 74 complaints on hacking of WhatsApp accounts. In most of these cases the user should try to re-register his number with WhatsApp. However, if the user is getting an error message saying that you should try in eight or 24 hours because of the scam mechanism placed in WhatsApp, the user should uninstall the WhatsApp app and try to install it again using the same procedure. That is one option that they could try in such a case. We have had a few cases where users got their access back by reinstalling the app. There is another option similar to some sort of hacking using a WhatsApp business account. The user can download the WhatsApp business account and try to register the number into a WhatsApp business account and then he will get a SMS and enter it and register it to the WhatsApp business account and then the ordinary WhatsApp account will lose its access. Normally, those are the two simple things the user can do if their WhatsApp accounts got compromised. He said during the past few weeks, they witnessed a surge in this particular WhatsApp account hack. The most important thing is if someone’s WhatsApp account is hacked, that account holder’s contacts can also get these messages and the hackers will go through their contacts and see what groups they are in by creating communities. That is why it’s like going in circles among journalists, politicians and Government officials. The hacker will only need to compromise one account. If you take one mobile phone, you will have hundreds of contacts. There is a possibility that anyone can be fooled through such scams and they will disclose their verification code or they will send money without thinking twice. This scam is widely spreading within these few weeks. WhatsApp accounts of several journalists from both print and electronic media had been compromised during the past couple of days. Some fake WhatsApp calls are circulated by the hackers on the pretext that they are from a Government office asking the users to join a Zoom meeting. Most of the journalists could think that it is an important discussion and click the link to join it. A few people had complained to SLCERT that they had noticed that on certain occasions the call originated from their own contact. Damunupola said sometimes, it can come from an unknown number and it can be an overseas number as well. The hackers may give missed calls or they will call and ask you to enter some numbers. We haven’t seen those cases very much. Normally, what happens in that scenario is they will forward your call to their numbers. Through that they will re-register the number by a WhatsApp phone call verification and anyway it will verify on their phone because all the calls are going to that number. They scam a huge number of people and they don’t send these WhatsApp messages singly. They just want at least one person to click the message and fooled and that is enough for them. They send WhatsApp messages on a smart scale. At the initial stage, it was mainly targeted at the Muslim community as they do some online prayers. Then hackers sent them fake WhatsApp messages or calls asking them to join a religious or prayer discussion. If you look at the messages, the greetings mainly say As-Salaam-Alaikum and also added some Muslim words in the text. After that they delete that message, and now they are sending the message in flawless English. He said either way, the WhatsApp call comes from an unknown number or your own contact, and it is impossible to trace the WhatsApp anyway. The only possible evidence is that the Police can investigate the accounts that the hackers ask to deposit money. They send some account holders name and account number to deposit that money. The bank and finance companies have the details of these account holders. But they don’t disclose it to a third party. Even if we make a request, they will ask for a court order and that is the normal procedure for any bank. Floating accounts We have also identified several such bank account details belong to two or three banks sent by the hackers to the WhatsApp users. However, the Police have to get a court order to investigate these accounts but most of these accounts are actually floating accounts. This is the untold story of these accounts because the scammers don’t directly go to a bank to prove their identity so that they have these floating accounts or hijacked accounts to do such scams. He said these account holders have no idea what is happening to their accounts. Sometimes, most of these floating accounts belong to the people who had passed away. If the police try to find the account holder, there is no such person or that he had passed away. However, there are a few ways to withdraw the money deposited in those floating accounts. Even though the Police have the name of the account holder, they can’t do much as there is no such person. The only thing that the Police can do is to default the account. At a certain point, scammers have to get that money into their hands. They use a proxy such as a drug addict or beggar to withdraw the money from a nearby ATM machine and just give them some money for it. Therefore, the scammer won’t be in the picture when the withdrawal takes place. These are some of the techniques used by the scammers. However, some of these accounts can be the real person’s accounts. At times, these scammers recruit university students saying that they have to do an online job. They tell the students that they will get money into their accounts and then they will have to buy online gift cards and send them to an email address. This is the untraceable part of this scam and the person who has got involved in it has no idea whatsoever about as he thinks that he is doing an online job. He is in fact, also a part of a crime. The scammers have set up well organised scams all over the world and they haven’t even visited Sri Lanka. Through fake passports and identity documents anyone can get SIM cards and that is the dangerous part of this scamming. Mechanism to trace the account According to Damunupola, the only possible way to contact WhatsApp is only through it. If someone has already hacked your WhatsApp account, there is no way to communicate with the support team. They don’t have a direct support email or support team here. Obviously, they see these kinds of things happening within a short period of time. At least, they need to take precautions. If someone’s account is accessed by a different IP, there should be a mechanism to trace it. He said when looking at hacking of social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook and emails, it has mainly affected Facebook as the majority are facebook users. Because of that most of the cases we receive are Facebook hackings and there are several incidents of Instagram hackings as well. During this year, we received nearly 7,000 complaints relating to social media related scams but all these are not relevant to hackings of WhatsApp or Facebook. This includes hacking, creating fake accounts, unauthorised use of photographs and videos by someone else. Those cases are now mainly handled by the CCID because they have a Meta connection mainly for Facebook.
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Citigroup announced on Monday that it has completed the separation of retail bank Banamex from its institutional banking business in Mexico as it prepares to list Banamex on the stock exchange. “With this separation complete, effective December 1, Citi will now operate two separate financial groups in Mexico: Grupo Financiero Citi México and Grupo Financiero Banamex,” the New York-based bank and financial services company said in a statement . “The separation into these financial groups marks a significant step in the execution of its strategic plan to simplify the firm,” the company added. Citigroup purchased Banamex – one of Mexico’s largest banks – in 2001. It announced in May 2023 that it would seek to sell Banamex on the stock exchange, ending conjecture that a US $7 billion sale to the conglomerate Grupo México was imminent . On Monday, Citigroup said that it “continues to actively work on the proposed IPO of Grupo Financiero Banamex.” The timing of the listing, it added, “will be driven by regulatory approvals and market conditions to maximize shareholder value, which remains a priority for Citi.” Reuters has reported that Citigroup has considered a dual stock listing for Banamex, possibly in Mexico City and New York. Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser said Monday that the separation of Banamex from Citi México “represents an important milestone in our simplification and brings us closer to our long-term vision of a more connected bank that is focused around our core strengths.” “We are proud to have executed this process thoughtfully and with full transparency. Our commitment to our clients in Mexico is as strong as ever, and we will continue to connect Mexico and the world through our market-leading investor and corporate client platforms,” she said. “We will now prepare for the Banamex IPO, focused on optimizing value for our shareholders.” According to the Citigroup statement, Citi México will maintain “a significant presence” in Mexico and continue to serve Citi’s institutional clients here through “a full-service bank,” Citi Banco México, and through the brokerage Citi México Casa de Bolsa. Approximately 3,000 Citi México employees will serve around 2,000 institutional clients, including “financial institutions, governments, investors, multinationals, and national companies seeking to internationalize,” according to Citigroup. For its part, Banamex will continue to operate as a full-service bank, “offering retail banking, including wealth management services, consumer loans, residential mortgage lending, deposits, payroll services, payments and a full suite of commercial banking products,” Citigroup said. “... With its digital-first mentality, innovative online banking and mobile apps and an extensive network of approximately 1,300 branches and more than 9,100 ATMs across the country, Banamex will continue to offer a full range of financial services to nearly 20 million clients, furthering its 140-year legacy in Mexico,” the company said. “Over 39,000 employees currently supporting these businesses, as well as Banamex’s art collection and historical buildings, and the social and cultural associations ( Fomentos ), will continue to be part of the Banamex financial group,” Citigroup added. Banamex had revenue of more than US $4.7 billion in the first nine months of 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported last week . “Banamex accounted for about 8% of Citi’s total revenue in the first nine months of 2024,” the newspaper said. With reports from ReutersThe Latest: Police search for man who killed UnitedHealthcare CEO, new photos of suspect released
MIAMI (AP) — Keyone Jenkins threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns and Florida International beat Middle Tennessee 35-24 on Saturday to end the regular season for both teams. Lexington Joseph had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, Devonte Lyons had a 21-yard scoring run later in the frame and FIU (4-8, 3-5 Conference USA) led the entire way. Jenkins threw scoring passes of 38 and 19 yards to Dean Patterson and 50 yards to Eric Rivers. The touchdown pass to Rivers marked FIU's largest lead of the contest at 35-17 with 11:01 left in the fourth. Nicholas Vattiato threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns for the Blue Raiders (3-9, 2-6). He was intercepted once. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
The masked gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The gunman is still at large and a manhunt is underway. Here's the latest: Just minutes before the shooting, the suspect was seen on surveillance footage purchasing the two items from a nearby Starbucks. Both the water bottle and protein bar wrapper were later recovered from a trash can in the vicinity of the killing, according to a police spokesperson. They’ve been sent to the city’s medical examiner for expedited fingerprint testing. As the suspect remained at large Thursday afternoon, New York police were sorting through a growing number of leads coming in through a public hotline. Many have been unfounded, including a tip from a commuter who claimed to have spotted the shooter on a Long Island Rail Road train Wednesday evening. Police searched the train, but found no sign of the gunman. Members of the public have also provided police with several different names of people who bear a resemblance to the gunman — though they have yet to confirm the shooter’s identity. NYPD spokesperson Carlos Nieves urged anyone with information to contact the department “even if it seems trivial.” “We ask you to call the tip line because that little piece of information could be the missing piece of the puzzle that ties everything together,” he said. Users’ reactions — and in many cases jokes — populated comment sections teeming with frustration toward health insurers broadly and UnitedHealthcare in particular. “I would be happy to help look for the shooter but vision isn’t covered under my healthcare plan,” one comment read on Instagram. “Thoughts and prior authorizations!” wrote another user. Images released by police of a person they say is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Both feature a black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semicircle. Matheus Taranto, a guest at the hostel who’s visiting from Brazil, says he saw police at the lodging Wednesday evening. He said an officer wouldn’t let him access a bathroom where he wanted to brush his teeth. “I asked why, he was like, no, nothing happened,” said Taranto, 24. He didn’t connect the dots with the shooting until later. In Minnesota, police in the Minneapolis suburb of Maple Grove, where Thompson lived, said Thursday they believe a bomb threat on Wednesday night was a hoax. Maple Grove police put out a statement Thursday saying a “suspected swatting investigation” was underway. The department said it received a report of a bomb threat directed at two addresses around 7 p.m. CT Wednesday. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad and the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office assisted, but investigators found no suspicions devices or other items. “The case is considered an active investigation, while the incident appears to be a hoax. No further comments will be made at this time,” the police statement said. Police reports provided to The Associated Press by the department show that officers made contact with family members at one of the homes and were told they had seen nothing suspicious and had received no direct threats. Back in Thompson’s home state of Minnesota, authorities were investigating a bomb threat that reportedly was made against his home Wednesday night, after his death. It was first reported by TMZ. City Prosecutor Andrew Draper confirmed to The Associated Press via email Thursday that he received an email Wednesday night “regarding a bomb threat. I reported it to the Maple Grove Police Department and do not have any additional information.” Maple Grove police officials did not immediately respond to requests for details Thursday. Local ATF spokesperson Ashlee Sherrill said: “ATF was made aware of the incident in Maple Grove last night, but no ATF resources were deployed. We are unable to confirm any further details.” A local FBI spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for information on the FBI’s involvement in the investigation. The words emblazoned on the ammunition used in the shooting – “deny,” “defend” and “depose” – were written in permanent marker, according to a law enforcement official. The official wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. — Jake Offenhartz As of Thursday morning, police were still searching for the shooter. They released new photos of a person they said is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting. The images match the lobby of the HI New York City hostel on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, including its black-and-white checkered floor and a distinctive bench in the shape of a semi-circle. An employee at the hostel said police had visited but declined to provide further information. Danielle Brumfitt, a spokesperson for the lodging, said in an emailed statement that they are cooperating with the NYPD but can’t comment due to the active investigation. According to the official who spoke to AP about the ammunition messaging, investigators are running DNA and fingerprint analysis on items found near the shooting, including a water bottle, that they believe the suspect may have discarded. Additionally, they’re looking into whether the suspect had pre-positioned a bike as part of an escape plan. Doctors and patients have become particularly frustrated with prior authorizations, which are requirements that an insurer approve surgery or care before it happens. UnitedHealthcare was named in an October report detailing how the insurer’s prior authorization denial rate for some Medicare Advantage patients has surged in recent years. The report from the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also named rivals Humana and CVS. Insurers say tactics like prior authorization are needed to limit unnecessary care and help control spiraling medical costs. Frustrations extend beyond the coverage of care. Expensive breakthrough medications to slow Alzheimer’s disease or help with obesity are frequently not covered or have coverage limits. In the U.S. health care system, patients get coverage through a mix of private insurers such as UnitedHealthcare and government-funded programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. That can prove particularly frustrating for doctors and patients because coverage often varies by insurer. Polls reflect those frustrations with the U.S. health care system in general and insurance companies in particular. About two-thirds of Americans said health insurance companies deserve “a lot of blame” for high health care costs, according to a KFF poll conducted in February . Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. A message left at the scene of an insurance executive’s fatal shooting — “deny,” “defend” and “depose” — echoes a phrase commonly used to describe insurer tactics to avoid paying claims. The three words were emblazoned on the ammunition a masked gunman used to kill UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson , a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. They’re similar to the phrase “delay, deny, defend” — the way some attorneys describe how insurers deny services and payment, and the title of a 2010 book that was highly critical of the industry. Police haven’t officially commented on the wording or any connection between them and the common phrase. But Thompson’s shooting and the messages on the ammunition have sparked outrage on social media and elsewhere, reflecting a deepening frustration Americans have over the cost and complexity of getting care. ▶ Read more about the messaging left behind by the shooter The New York Police Department released photos Thursday morning, asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the individual pictured. Police say the person is wanted for questioning in connection with the shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. A Senate panel has been investigating how frequently three major insurers, including UnitedHealthcare, deny care to patients who are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans. It has also investigated the use of artificial intelligence in deny those claims. Medicare Advantage is the private version of Medicare, which provides health insurance to millions of older Americans. The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee’s report released earlier this year found that as UnitedHealthcare relied more on its automated system to review claims denials increased for post-acute treatment, which includes nursing home or rehabilitation care. The insurer denied nearly a quarter of claims, a rate that doubled over just a two-year period from 2020 to 2022. Joseph Kenny, the NYPD chief of detectives, says the shooter wore a black face mask, black-and-white sneakers and a distinctive gray backpack. He arrived outside the hotel about five minutes before UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson did, then waited and ignored other pedestrians before he approached Thompson from behind. After the assailant began to fire, his 9 mm pistol jammed but he quickly fixed it and kept firing, Kenny said, another sign of the shooter’s professionalism. “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,” Kenny said. The hostels were on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and police were following a tip that the suspect may have stayed at one of the residences, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation. The official requested anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the ongoing search. According to an employee of Kama Central Park, two detectives arrived at the hostel at 7 a.m. Thursday with a photo of the shooter and asked staff if they recognized the man. They did not, the employee said, and the detectives left soon after. An employee at the nearby HI New York City hostel also confirmed that police had visited the location Thursday, but declined to provide further information. — Jake Offenhartz New York Mayor Eric Adams said Thursday the shooter used a silencer — something he’d never encountered in his 22 years as a police officer. “In all of my years in law enforcement I have never seen a silencer before,” Adams, a retired NYPD captain, said in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “And so that was really something that was shocking to us all.” The masked gunman used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” a law enforcement official said Thursday. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. The words on the ammunition may have been a reference to strategies insurance companies use to try to avoid paying claims. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny had said earlier. — Mike Balsamo, Jake Offenhartz and Michael R. Sisak The chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, one of the nation’s largest insurers, was killed Wednesday in midtown Manhattan in what police described as a targeted attack by a shooter outside a hotel where the company was holding a conference. ▶ Read more about the key things to know about the fatal attack
Trump wants pardoned real estate developer Charles Kushner to be ambassador to FranceNoneMIAMI (AP) — Keyone Jenkins threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns and Florida International beat Middle Tennessee 35-24 on Saturday to end the regular season for both teams. Lexington Joseph had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, Devonte Lyons had a 21-yard scoring run later in the frame and FIU (4-8, 3-5 Conference USA) led the entire way. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.