5 things to know for Dec. 6: UnitedHealthcare CEO, South Korea, Tsunami warning lifted, Mass deportations, 4-day workweek
By Alexandra Banner, CNN
(CNN) — NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the moon this decade amid a renewed international push for lunar exploration, is facing more delays. The mission was previously set to launch in 2026 but will now take place no earlier than mid-2027.
Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
1. UnitedHealthcare CEO
Authorities are still searching for the gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. As the manhunt extends into a third day, more details have emerged as police continue their investigation. The NYPD released photos Thursday showing a “person of interest” smiling during a flirtatious moment with a female employee at a hostel on New York’s Upper West Side. A CNN law enforcement analyst said the photo “yielded what is so far the most significant clue to identifying him.” Authorities also said the man traveled by Greyhound bus to New York 10 days before the shooting and used a fake New Jersey driver’s license to check into the hostel.
2. South Korea
The leader of South Korea’s ruling party said today that President Yoon Suk Yeoul needs to be immediately suspended from duty to protect the country from “grave danger.” The reversal by Han Dong-hoon, chief of Yoon’s own People Power Party, comes after he received “credible evidence” that Yoon had ordered the arrest of key politicians during the short-lived martial law decree imposed on Tuesday night. Yoon’s order was met with shock and anger across the country, with protesters and opposition figures demanding his impeachment. Han’s comments today are the latest sign that support for Yoon is wavering within his own party, which has criticized his declaration of martial law but has not expressed outright support for impeachment.
3. Tsunami warning lifted
A powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Northern California Thursday morning, according to the US Geological Survey. A quake that strong is relatively rare, with officials reporting only about 15 around the world each year. The quake was also the 12th strongest earthquake recorded in the state since 1906. A tsunami warning that was issued for nearly 5 million people in parts of California and the Oregon coastline was canceled by the National Tsunami Warning Center after some residents fled their homes. Officials from the US Geological Survey said they had not received reports of landslides or other significant damage.
4. Mass deportations
Mexico hopes to strike a deal with President-elect Donald Trump to limit the number of third-country deportees it could receive from the US, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday. Faced with the prospect of mass deportations across the US-Mexico border, Sheinbaum is setting up meetings with the governors of Mexican border states to “agree on how to receive our compatriots.” “We hope [mass deportations] don’t happen, but if they do, we will be ready to receive them,” she added. Since 2022, US Customs and Border Protection have recorded a yearly average of over 500,000 encounters with migrants from Central American nations, such as El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Thousands of encounters have also involved migrants from Venezuela, Cuba and China, among others.
5. 4-day workweek
Tokyo is set to introduce a four-day workweek for government employees in its latest push to help working mothers and boost record-low fertility rates. Many sociologists attribute the plunging birth rates to Japan’s unforgiving work culture and rising costs of living. “We will review work styles … with flexibility, ensuring no one has to give up their career due to life events such as childbirth or childcare,” said Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike. The shift to a four-day workweek has sparked growing interest in the West, where some companies are exploring compressed hours to attract talent seeking better work-life balance. A number of other experiments with the four-day workweek have been conducted around the world, including a successful trial in 2022 across 33 companies, with the majority based in the US and Ireland.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
White House shares photos of 2024 holiday decorations
The theme of this year’s decorations is a “season of peace and light,” the Office of the First Lady announced this week. View photos of the festive displays at the White House.
This watch was carved from a meteorite that hit Earth a million years ago
A luxury timepiece was sculpted from part of the Muonionalusta meteorite, the remains of which were first discovered in Sweden.
LA Times owner plans to add AI-powered ‘bias meter’ on news stories
The owner of the Los Angeles Times plans to implement an AI-powered “bias meter” on the paper’s news articles to provide readers with “both sides” of a story. Read why the move is sparking newsroom backlash.
Former ‘SNL’ cast members reveal how little they got paid
Pete Davidson, who appeared on “Saturday Night Live” from 2014 to 2022, recently said he was paid around $3,000 an episode. Other cast members are also speaking out and joking about their compensation.
Insurance company halts plan to put time limits on coverage for anesthesia during surgery
After sharp criticism from anesthesiologists, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is halting its plan to limit the amount of time it would cover anesthesia used in surgeries and procedures.
QUIZ TIME
Which airport is facing scrutiny after a stowaway breached TSA security checkpoints and made it onto a flight?
A. Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport
B. New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport
C. Los Angeles International Airport
D. Miami International Airport
TODAY’S NUMBER
$260 million
That’s at least how much Elon Musk spent on efforts to help send President-elect Donald Trump back to the White House, including funding a mysterious super PAC, new filings show. That makes him one of the largest single political underwriters of a presidential campaign.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“The violence and intimidation and destruction at a place of worship is something that we should never see in Australia.”
— Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, after a fire at a Melbourne synagogue early today sent worshippers fleeing for safety. Police are searching for two masked suspects in the attack condemned by the prime minister as a clear act of antisemitism.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY …
CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute airs Sunday
This weekend, CNN will honor five everyday people who are making extraordinary contributions to help improve the lives of others. All five CNN Heroes will be awarded $10,000 to benefit their nonprofit organizations, and the next CNN Hero of the Year will receive an additional $100,000 to continue their inspiring work. Tune in to the special event hosted by Anderson Cooper and Laura Coates on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET.
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