NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski scored 14 points apiece, and Ustby added 14 rebounds to lead No. 16 North Carolina to a 53-36 victory over Villanova in a semifinal game at the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday. The Tar Heels (5-1) play Indiana in the championship game on Monday. The Hoosiers upset No. 18 Baylor 73-65 in Sunday’s first semifinal. Ustby made 6 of 8 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer for North Carolina on the way to her first double-double of the season. Donarski hit 6 of 10 shots with a pair of 3-pointers. Maddie Webber led the Wildcats (4-2) with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Lara Edmanson pitched in with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Tar Heels held Villonova’s leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe to two points after she came in averaging 16.6 per game. Bascoe missed all seven of her shots — three from distance — and made 2 of 4 at the free-throw line. Ustby had seven points and Donarski scored five to guide the Tar Heels to a 17-7 lead after one quarter. Donarski scored five more in the third quarter to help North Carolina turn a 30-18 lead at halftime into a 44-23 advantage heading to the final period. North Carolina shot 40% from the floor, made 5 of 17 from beyond the arc (29.4%) and 4 of 6 at the foul line. Villanova shot 23.5% overall but made 5 of 18 from distance (27.8%) and 7 of 10 free throws. The Tar Heels scored 15 points off of 21 Villanova turnovers. They turned it over 14 times but it led to only three points for the Wildcats. North Carolina outscored Villanova 30-14 in the paint and never trailed. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP women’s college basketball: and
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Burn some rubber, TNBOONE, N.C. (AP) — Myles Tate led Appalachian State with 20 points and Dior Conners hit the game-winning 3-pointer with one second left as the Mountaineers defeated William & Mary 79-76 on Sunday. Tate had five rebounds and 10 assists for the Mountaineers (3-2). Conners went 5 of 9 from the field (5 for 8 from 3-point range) to add 15 points. CJ Huntley shot 6 of 9 from the field and 1 for 4 from the line to finish with 14 points. Noah Collier led the Tribe (3-5) in scoring, finishing with 19 points and eight rebounds. William & Mary also got 13 points from Malachi Ndur. Kyle Pulliam also had 12 points. Appalachian State went into the half leading William & Mary 42-30. Jamil Muttilib put up 12 points in the half. Tate led Appalachian State with 15 points in the second half. NEXT UP Appalachian State plays Wednesday against Sam Houston, and William & Mary visits Old Dominion on Monday. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Steve Maclin is the Honorary Ambassador for TNA’s Toy & Food Drive taking place next week. TNA announced on Wednesday that Maclin will be part of the drive, which takes place over Final Resolution weekend on December 13th and 14th in Atlanta, Georgia. The full announcement reads: TNA Wrestling Annual Holiday Toy & Food Drive Helps The Needy in Atlanta Back-to-back Nights of Action-Packed Pro Wrestling At Center Stage, December 13-14 Former TNA World Champion Steve Maclin is the Honorary Ambassador for TNA’s 2024 Toy & Food Drive, set for December 13-14 at the Final Resolution live event on Friday, December 13 and the iMPACT! TV Taping on Saturday, December 14, both held at Center Stage in Atlanta. “Toys For Tots is a tradition carried on by the U.S. Marine Corps to help the community, giving toys to kids,” Maclin said. “This is something that should be done; you don’t want a kid to not have a toy on Christmas. “To be the Honorary Ambassador for TNA’s 2024 Toy & Food Drive is very special.” All fans are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy as TNA partners with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program, which distributes toys to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity created in 1991. Popular toy categories include sporting equipment, books, backpacks, board games, radio control cars/trucks, hand-held electronics and skateboards/helmets. In addition, TNA is partnering with Zaban Paradies Center in Atlanta that works to empower couples, families and individuals facing homelessness to reach self-sufficiency. Fans are asked to donate non-perishable food items and/or toiletries, such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors and more. All fans who donate will have a chance to win a one-of-a-kind, limited-edition Maclin photo that will be autographed. Maclin has a deep interest in supporting Toys For Tots as he served as a Machine Gunner/0331 Infantry with the Second Battalion 8th Marines Weapons Company, completing two tours of Afghanistan. TNA Wrestling presents Final Resolution on Friday, December 13 at Center Stage in Atlanta, airing live on the TNA+ app starting at 8 p.m. ET. On Saturday, December 14, the stars of TNA Wrestling, including Nic Nemeth, Jeff & Matt Hardy, Joe Hendry, Jordynne Grace and former Atlanta Falcons player Moose, will be back in action at Center Stage – with all matches taped to air on future episodes of TNA’s flagship weekly TV show, iMPACT!, airing every Thursday night on AXS TV. All the TNA stars will be Atlanta for two nights of action-packed pro wrestling. In addition to the aforementioned TNA stars, also scheduled to appear are Eric Young, Masha Slamovich, Ash By Elegance, Mike Santana, Josh Alexander, Brian Myers, Eddie Edwards, Frankie Kazarian, Jake Something, Ace Austin, PCO and others. For tickets to both TNA shows in Atlanta, including Final Resolution, go to: https://www.ticketmaster.com/tna-wrestling-tickets/artist/1008830.
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Perpetual motionKim vows the toughest anti-US policy before Trump takes officeThe 10 costliest climate disasters in 2024 racked up damage totalling more than 200 billion US dollars, Christian Aid has warned. A report from the charity on hurricanes, floods, typhoons and storms influenced by climate change warns that the top 10 disasters each cost more than 4 billion US dollars in damage (£3.2 billion). The figures are based mostly on insured losses, so the true costs are likely to be even higher, Christian Aid said, as it called for action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and finance for poor countries to cope with climate change. Politicians who “downplay the urgency of the climate crisis only serve to harm their own people and cause untold suffering around the world”, climate expert Joanna Haigh said. While developed countries feature heavily in the list of costliest weather extremes, as they have higher property values and can afford insurance, the charity also highlighted another 10 disasters which did not rack up such costs but were just as devastating, often hitting poorer countries. The single most costly event in 2024 was Hurricane Milton, which scientists say was made windier, wetter and more destructive by global warming, and which caused 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion) of damage when it hit the US in October. That is closely followed by Hurricane Helene, which cost 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion) when it hit the US, Mexico and Cuba just two weeks before Milton in late September. The US was hit by so many costly storms throughout the year that even when hurricanes are removed, other storms cost more than 60 billion US dollars in damage, the report said. Three of the costliest 10 climate extremes hit Europe, including the floods from Storm Boris which devastated central European countries in September and deadly flooding in Valencia in October which killed 226 people. The effects of the floods in Valencia in October were devastating (Alamy/PA) Events which were not among the most costly in financial terms but which have still been devastating include Cyclone Chido which hit Mayotte in December and may have killed more than 1,000 people, Christian Aid said. Meanwhile, heatwaves affected 33 million people in Bangladesh and worsened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, flooding affected 6.6 million people in West Africa and the worst drought in living memory affected more than 14 million in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia and Zimbabwe, the charity said. Christian Aid chief executive Patrick Watt said: “There is nothing natural about the growing severity and frequency of droughts, floods and storms. “Disasters are being supercharged by decisions to keep burning fossil fuels, and to allow emissions to rise. “And they’re being made worse by the consistent failure to deliver on financial commitments to the poorest and most climate-vulnerable countries. “In 2025 we need to see governments leading, and taking action to accelerate the green transition, reduce emissions, and fund their promises.” “There are many more droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and floods not included that are becoming more frequent and intense. “Most of these disasters show clear fingerprints of climate change. “Extreme weather is clearly causing incredible suffering in all corners of the world. Behind the billion-dollar figures are lost lives and livelihoods.” And Prof Haigh, emeritus professor of atmospheric physics at Imperial College London, said: “The economic impact of these extreme weather events should be a wake-up call. “The good news is that ever-worsening crises doesn’t have to be our long-term future. “The technologies of a clean energy economy exist, but we need leaders to invest in them and roll them out at scale.” The 10 costliest climate disasters of 2024 were: – US storms, December to January, more than 60 billion US dollars; – Hurricane Milton in the US, October 9-13, 60 billion US dollars (£48 billion); – Hurricane Helene in the US, Mexico, Cuba, 55 billion US dollars (£44 billion); – China floods, June 9-July 14, 15.6 billion US dollars (£12.4 billion); – Typhoon Yagi, which hit south-west Asia from September 1 to 9, 12.6 billion US dollars (£10 billion); – Hurricane Beryl, in the US, Mexico and Caribbean islands from July 1-11, 6.7 billion US dollars (£5.3 billion); – Storm Boris in central Europe, September 12-16, 5.2 billion US dollars (£4.1 billion); – Rio Grande do Sul floods in Brazil, April 28-May 3, 5 billion US dollars (£4 billion); – Bavaria floods, Germany, June 1-7, 4.45 billion US dollars (£3.5 billion); – Valencia floods, Spain, on October 29, 4.22 billion US dollars (£3.4 billion).
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Geoffrey Hinton to donate some of his Nobel Prize winnings to create new annual awardKUALA LUMPUR: Five years, five leaders. After a period of rapid government turnover from 2018 to 2022, many Malaysians see the current Madani administration’s two-year birthday as the mark of relative political stability. “If the government keeps on changing, how are policies going to stick? Who would want to invest in the country?,” said Mr Mohd Asrul Nizam. The 39-year-old automobile technician was speaking to CNA at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre this weekend, at an event to mark the government’s second anniversary. It has been two years since its leader, Mr Anwar Ibrahim, took the helm of the country in 2022. Thousands flocked to the event on Friday (Nov 22) where, as well as an opportunity to settle outstanding traffic fines issued by the police with a 60 per cent discount, there were booths promoting health screenings, a free helmet exchange programme, a job fair and sales of essential goods. Mr Asrul himself was there, not only to mark the political anniversary, but also to pay off his company’s eight summonses, most of them which were for speeding. He said that he is not surprised by the fact that the government is still intact. But given the country's recent history of political instability, some experts consider the administration reaching this two-year mark to be an achievement in itself. “When the unity government was formed, no one thought that it would be able to last this long. There are 18 parties in the coalition with different agendas, but it has held on,” said Dr Azmi Hassan, senior fellow at the Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research. Some political analysts told CNA that Mr Anwar’s biggest achievement to date was to keep the government - made up of 18 different parties - running this long, adding that economic concerns were of a higher priority than institutional reform for most people. “For the majority, the main concern is economic related. Institutional reforms are a lower priority compared to livelihoods,” said Mr Ibrahim Suffian, co-founder and programs director of the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research. But there are some, especially those from civil society organisations, who are unhappy with the pace of reform and say that the government should not assume that it has the luxury of time to implement the reforms that were promised in their election manifestos. “D GRADE” IN REPORT, DESPITE NEW INITIATIVES Last month Mr Anwar told members of his PKR party that the unity government has helped the country to achieve political stability that enabled the federal administration to set clear policies on industry, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, green technology, and semiconductors. However, the CSO platform for reform - a coalition of 70 organisations – said that excitement for reform is fading as the pragmatism of realpolitik takes precedence. “Delays, excuses, and a slow pace hinder progress. It is essential to maintain a sense of urgency and not allow fear of identity politics or opposition pressures to derail the momentum for reforms,” said its chairman, Mr Jerald Joseph. He acknowledged several reforms Mr Anwar’s government has initiated or pledged support for, such as the removal of the mandatory death penalty, the subsidy rationalisation of things such as petrol and education and the engagement over the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) which seeks to restore the rights of Sabah and Sarawak. He also said that several new initiatives were similarly promising, such as the vetting of high-profile appointments in government-linked companies (GLCs), forming additional Parliamentary Special Select Committees (PSSC), and raising the minimum salary to RM1,700 (US$380) a month. However, he said that comprehensive reforms in key governance areas are still lacking. “It is time to create a clear, public roadmap that conveys the urgency and scope of the institutional changes Malaysians need. Without this, the government risks eroding public trust and confidence,” he said. The executive director of the Coalition of Free and Fair Elections (BERSIH) Mr Ooi Kok Him told CNA that there were two trains of thought when it came to the pace of reforms – some who said time was needed and others who were “impatient” for reforms. “We believe that time is running out. You may believe that you have three more years just like how Pakatan Harapan leaders believed they had more than 22 months to govern. So you cannot take time for granted and you must implement reforms when you have the opportunity to do so,” he said. BERSIH is well known for its organisation of protests against the government in the past. On Tuesday, it revealed its report card for the government, with the Madani administration getting 45.8 per cent or a D grade. BERSIH said the grade reflected significant gaps between its reform promises and actual implementation. Mr Anwar’s political secretary Kamil Abdul Munim said in a post on X on Wednesday that reforms as well as the political, economic and administrative change agenda were still ongoing. He also said that they should learn from their past experiences and that changes cannot be rushed. “They also have to be done based on priority according to the context and current situation,” he said. Their report card looked at three aspects – electoral reforms, institutional reforms, and civil liberties with the assessment looking at the fulfilment of manifesto commitments and a comparative evaluation of progress relative to previous administrations. It did not consider aspects such as the economy. The report said that when it came to electoral reforms there had been no meaningful progress on key issues such as constituency malapportionment, gerrymandering, or the introduction of absentee voting for outstation voters, despite campaign promises to address these. On institutional reforms, the report said the government achieved incremental progress, including passing the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act and strengthening Parliamentary Special Select Committees. It noted however that major reforms to safeguard institutional independence, such as separating the roles of the attorney general and public prosecutor, or institutionalising fair Constituency Development Funds (CDF), remain stalled or unfulfilled. It added that critical appointments, such as those of the attorney general and the heads of key institutions such as the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) and Election Commission (EC), continued to lack parliamentary oversight. On civil liberties, BERSIH said that while the government had abolished the mandatory death penalty, it had failed to repeal or amend laws such as the Sedition Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act, and the Peaceful Assembly Act. The Malaysian Cabinet agreed to review the Sedition Act last year so that it can only be applied to provocations towards the royal institution. In March this year, it agreed to start the process of amending the act. However, in the meantime, activists have still been arrested under the Sedition Act for incidents unrelated to royalty. “Activists and opposition figures continue to face harassment under these laws, contradicting the government’s reformist rhetoric,” said the report. The report even claimed that comparative analysis showed that Mr Anwar lagged behind his predecessors in implementing reforms within the first two years of coming into power, coming in third behind Mr Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Muhyiddin Yassin and Najib Razak were ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the report. “Leaders such as Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mahathir Mohamad made more substantial progress within similar time frames,” said the report, adding that Mr Anwar even underperformed compared to Najib in his first term, although Najib’s subsequent actions in undermining key institutions for his political benefit during his second term meant his administration ranked bottom. “The Unity Government’s cautious and incremental approach has slowed reform momentum and diminished public confidence,” added the report. Mr Ooi said that a post-election coalition government should not be an excuse to abandon all reform promises, pointing out that BN and PH shared four major promises that have not been fully implemented. He said that one of the common promises made by both coalitions in their manifestos was that major appointments at public institutions such as the MACC and EC would go through parliamentary scrutiny, but this has not happened so far. Mr Azam Baki was reappointed as the chief commissioner of MACC in May this year without undergoing parliamentary scrutiny. Economy minister Rafizi Ramli in Jan 2022 said that some of MACC actions against PH were political persecution and that he would be called up for questioning if they formed the government. “Election manifestos remain binding even when parties enter coalitions. Coalitions should be formed to advance and fulfil these agendas, not to set them aside,” said Mr Ooi. Mr Anwar was sworn in as prime minister on Nov 24, 2022, after the 15th General Election failed to produce a clear winner and resulted in a hung parliament. He leads a unity government comprising Pakatan Harapan (PH), previous ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and Parti Warisan (Warisan) among others. The government has also faced criticisms over some of its plans and proposals. Ms Sophie Lemière, an adjunct fellow with the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that several planned reforms, such as the Malaysian social media licensing plans, amendments to its citizenship bills and the “Mufti bill”, are stirring Malaysia “backward”. “The stability of the government and the current desperate need for economic recovery are the recurrent political arguments used to justify the necessity to cooperate with existing power structures while satisfying the most conservative sections of society even if that means compromising civil liberties,” she said in an article on Nov 1. The “Mufti Bill” aims to define the role and responsibilities of the Islamic jurors in the Federal Territories, which include Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya. In a response to BERSIH’s grading, Mr Anwar told the parliament on Thursday that the government was still new and could perform better over time. “About BERSIH's (rating), it's okay if they want to give us a 'D'. At least it's not an 'F'. (If in UPSR) we get a 'D', later during SPM we should get an 'A'. (Because) we are still very new,” he was quoted as saying by news portal Malaysiakini. The UPSR refers to the now discontinued public exam for primary students while the SPM is the equivalent of the O-levels examination taken by fifth year secondary school students. ANWAR “COMMITTED TO REFORMS” BUT MORE CHANGES NEEDED In a public forum held last week by the CSO platform for reform, Deputy Law Minister M. Kulasegaran said that he also wanted to see more changes in the country although there were many challenges they had to overcome, including pushback from the civil service. “I also want to see the changes (happening),” he said, giving the example of wanting more power to be given to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) which he described as being “toothless”. He also said that the appointment of the MACC chief for example was something that he believed should be brought to the parliament. “This is what we said when we were there (as opposition) ... We should empower it. If you refer to our speeches in parliament, many of us would have said that. I feel very wrong about it,” said Mr Kulasegaran. He however claimed that Mr Anwar is committed to reforms. “He has given a fair leeway to the ministries and ministers ... and that changes must come from within (the ministries). He has no time to look into any particular matter,” he said. Dr Wong Chin Huat, a political scientist from Sunway University in Kuala Lumpur told CNA that the government was stable and could complete its full term. He said that while it had delivered some reforms, he asked if they were trying to co-opt the opposition into the coalition. “This government claimed that it cannot implement a lot of reform for fear of backlash. That’s true when you look at certain things such as the Sedition Act but fair treatment of the opposition is certainly not something that will get you backlash anywhere. Not from the society or not from the opposition,” he said, in reference to the CDF. He said the reason why Malaysia ended up being embroiled in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal for instance was because there were not enough checks and balances. “Ultimately you don’t have opposition on the pretext of nation-building, stability and harmony but eventually what you are doing is undermining democracy,” he added. Dr Wong said that for some voters, the reforms mattered, and they used it to measure if the government kept to its promises. “If the government acts like these things didn’t matter, there is a section of voters who would simply not go out and vote and this government would pay the price heavily,” he said. He believes that even a 10 per cent drop of votes from non-Malays and liberals would be enough to see PH lose half of their seats. But he added that the vote drop would affect other parties and coalitions as well. “If PH goes down, BN probably wouldn’t be doing much better,” he said. KEEPING GOVERNMENT INTACT: THE BIGGEST REFORM In a press conference on Friday the Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government would examine the views of various parties and strive to improve the quality of services besides efforts to improve, change and make institutional reforms. He said that the Minister of Law and Institutional Reform Azalina Othman Said would be introducing several bills in the parliament soon, reflecting the Government's efforts and ideas to bring about reforms to the institutions. “Many bills are being planned and are in the process (of being introduced) including the Malaysian Media Council Bill. This is the government’s commitment to improvement, including the ecosystem for media practitioners,” he said to a question about BERSIH's views on the government when it came to reform. Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said that he welcomed feedback from the different stakeholders and that as a cabinet member, he didn’t look at it negatively. “We need to find the most harmonised way to carry out these reforms,” he was quoted as saying by news platform Free Malaysia Today (FMT). “Some of the major reforms have been initiated, but it will take a while (for others),” he said on Wednesday when asked about the BERSIH report on the government. Dr Azmi told CNA however that Anwar’s biggest reform was to make sure there was political stability in the country and government. “Considering what we have been through over the past few years, it is the best reform for the last two years. I don’t think the opposition can topple the government,” he said. Since PH defeated BN in the 2018 general elections, there has been political instability in Malaysia, said Dr Azmi. In 2020, the “Sheraton Move” crumbled the Mahathir Mohamad administration from within. Part of this plot was reportedly hatched in the Sheraton Hotel in Petaling Jaya. The move saw more than 30 MPs in the ruling PH alliance defect, bringing it down after it had been in charge for just 22 months. This led to the appointment of Muhyiddin as prime minister, as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and BN joined hands to form a new ruling coalition. However, Muhyiddin’s tenure only lasted until August 2021 when some MPs from BN’s main component party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) pulled their support for him and put forth party vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob to replace Muhyiddin as prime minister. “When he formed the unity government, no one thought that he (Mr Anwar) would be able to last this long. There are 18 parties in the coalition with different agendas, but he has held on,” said Dr Azmi. Mr Anwar has served longer as prime minister than all three of his predecessors since the May 2018 general elections. Dr Azmi believed that Mr Anwar has been doing his best to rid the country of corruption and that reforms could come from this effort. He also pointed to the subsidy rationalisation plan as one of the toughest things any Malaysian prime minister could do. “That requires political will and is one of the most difficult and sensitive things to do,” he said. He said that most people were concerned with the high cost of living, but that problem was not unique to Malaysia and that Mr Anwar couldn’t be blamed for it. Mr Ibrahim of the Merdeka Centre said that while it has been a bumpy road so far with doubts about the government's ability to stay intact, how it is perceived has improved over time. “The government has proven itself to be stable and functional and people are appreciating efforts made by the government to to attract foreign investment. There has been a positive impact and the mood is changing gradually,” he said. When asked about the lack of institutional reforms, Mr Ibrahim said that it was understandable as the government was still trying to learn the lessons from before, citing the PH government that was brought down in 2020. “They want to address bigger concerns such as jobs, wages and government efficiency. That is needed to be addressed first to secure legitimacy from the majority of voters. They are aware that they didn’t get cross-cutting support (from voters) and the number one issue is the economy. “They have to seize on that first and the priority is bringing in investments and part of improving efficiency to approve applications and projects,” he said. He however said that certain things such as Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s acquittal from a corruption charge last year are hanging over Mr Anwar’s head. He added that those who cared about institutional reforms were from the upper middle-class group who would have voted for PH. Mr Ibrahim also said there were quiet reforms such as the civil service reforms where the position of Chief Secretary to the Government went to Mr Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, a low-profile civil servant. “The dissatisfaction remains but ultimately it is a smaller segment of the crowd that the government has to attend to,” he said. The stability of the government is the most important and people believe it is needed to create economic growth. The majority of people don’t want to go back to the volatile period between 2018 and 2022.”
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How to Watch the NBA Today, December 30Brian 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. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an electric bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. 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. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.
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