Chinese National Arrested for Trespassing at Mar-a-Lago Amid Heightened Security
A 39-year-old Chinese national, Zijie Li, was arrested on trespassing charges after attempting to access President-elect Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, despite a court order barring him from the property.
Li, a student visa holder from suburban Los Angeles, was apprehended Thursday after arriving in an Uber at the estate’s entrance in Palm Beach, Florida, AP News reports.
Since Trump’s victory in the general election, a high-tech robot dog, along with a heightened police presence, has been stationed at his Mar-a-Lago residence, reported NBC News.
He had previously been arrested for similar offenses, including attempts to enter the estate earlier this year. Li is currently being held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail.
Li’s arrest follows a series of troubling encounters with law enforcement and Secret Service agents at or near Mar-a-Lago. His first attempt to breach the estate occurred in July, when he told Secret Service officers he had information linking China to a separate assassination attempt on Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, AP News added.
After being ordered to leave, he was arrested a week later for trespassing, though he was released on bail with a condition to stay away from Mar-a-Lago.
In October, Li was placed in a mental hospital after approaching a local homeowner near Mar-a-Lago, inquiring about gaining entry to the estate. He was released from the hospital just days before his most recent arrest, which revoked his prior bail, according to the report.
This is not the first time Mar-a-Lago has been the site of unlawful entries. During Trump’s presidency, the estate saw multiple breaches, including two by Chinese nationals.
In one notable incident, Yujing Zhang, a Chinese businesswoman, gained access to the property in 2019 while carrying electronic devices, leading to suspicions of espionage. She was later deported after being convicted of trespassing, the report read.
Despite numerous security breaches, there has been no indication that these incidents were attempts to harm Trump.
Read Next:
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Donald Trump's Second Term Could Reshape US Healthcare System, With Major Impacts on Affordable Care Act And Medicare
On Wednesday, Donald Trump, the Republican candidate and former president, was elected to the highest office again, marking a return to an administration. His second term is likely to impact U.S. healthcare.
Trump has been unclear about his healthcare policy goals during his campaign. Healthcare ranked lower than issues like the economy and immigration in voter concerns.
A poll from the Associated Press found that only 8% of voters viewed healthcare as their top issue, compared to 39% who chose the economy and 20% who picked immigration. Abortion was the leading issue for 11% of voters.
Also Read: Trump’s Potential ‘Health Czar’ Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Rattles Vaccine Stocks: ‘Shoot First Reaction’
Despite his focus on “Make America Healthy Again,” millions of Americans may lose health insurance subsidies next year, depending on the political climate after the election and the Republicans’ control of the Senate.
The subsidies, expanded under the 2021 American Rescue Plan, help many, particularly the middle class, afford health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
These subsidies are set to expire at the end of 2025, and it remains uncertain whether they will be extended under the new administration.
Trump and other Republicans have opposed continuing the subsidies.
The NBC News report, citing some analysts, suggests that the chances of extension could be less than 5% if Republicans win control of the House and the Senate.
Even if Democrats control the House, extending these subsidies seems unlikely. Without an extension, nearly 4 million Americans could lose coverage by 2026 due to unaffordable premiums.
The 2021 changes led to a surge in ACA enrollment, with 15.5 million people benefiting from subsidies across 32 states. The report adds that if the subsidies aren’t renewed, up to 15.4 million Americans could lose health coverage by 2030.
Another significant issue is Trump’s stance on Medicare. As president, he supported Medicare Advantage, a private insurer-run program that could eventually replace traditional, government-run Medicare.
The NPR report highlights that critics argue that expanding private insurers could increase costs for taxpayers and limit care, with some beneficiaries finding it difficult to switch back to traditional Medicare.
Robert Berenson, a former government official, warned that traditional Medicare could “wither on the vine.”
Medicare Advantage grew with the 2003 legislation introducing a drug benefit and expanded private insurers’ role in the program. Although private plans were expected to lower costs, they have been more expensive.
The report also says that in 2023, Medicare Advantage plans cost taxpayers about 6% — or $27 billion — more than traditional Medicare, though some research suggests they offer better care.
The future of healthcare policy in the U.S. will depend on the political dynamics in Congress and Trump’s second term.
With Republicans pushing for major changes to the ACA and Medicare, experts warn of significant shifts in how Americans access and pay for healthcare in the coming years.
Read Next
Photo via Shutterstock
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Palantir Stock vs. Microsoft Stock: Wall Street Says Only 1 Will Head Higher From Here
Enterprises are spending heavily on artificial intelligence (AI)-powered software to drive automation and efficiency, and use data to make smarter and faster decisions. And that trend may be just getting started. The enterprise AI market could grow at an annual rate of 37.6% between 2025 and 2030, according to analysis from Grand View Research.
Two companies poised to see years of growth ahead in the enterprise-software space are Palantir Technologies (NYSE: PLTR) and Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Both companies have already seen the benefits of massive AI-related spending for their business and shareholders. Palantir stock is up 230% this year alone, as of this writing. Microsoft is up 77% since announcing an increased stake in generative AI leader OpenAI in early 2023.
Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free »
Despite the strong outlook for the industry, Wall Street analysts only expect one of these enterprise-software leaders to keep climbing higher over the next 12 months.
-
Palantir has a median-price target of $38 per share, based on the estimates of 22 analysts. That implies a downside of 30% from its share price, as of this writing.
-
Microsoft has a median-price target of $500 per share, based on the estimates of 57 analysts. That implies upside of 18% from its share price, as of this writing.
Here’s what investors need to know.
Palantir develops software to help government agencies and commercial clients use big data to find insights and create operational efficiencies. Its initial focus on government contracts allowed it to develop a framework that it could apply to big commercial-enterprise customers as well.
Palantir’s commercial-customer count is growing quickly, up 51% year over year. U.S. commercial revenue grew 54% year over year in the third quarter, fueling overall growth of 30%.
At the same time, its adjusted-operating margin expanded to 38% from 29% a year ago, as it leverages its growing scale. It’s blowing past the Rule of 40, which suggests it could have even more room to grow faster if it spent more on sales and marketing. But CEO Alex Karp would rather focus his attention on building a great product for a few select clients with deep pockets. He suggests that leads to better results in the long term.
Palantir offers two main software platforms, Gotham for government clients and Foundry for commercial clients. It introduced the Apollo platform in 2021 to ensure continuous operations for clients and allow them to run its software in virtually any environment.
DOJ Files Charges In Iranian Plot To Assassinate Trump
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced federal charges against three individuals linked to an alleged Iranian scheme to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump.
What Happened: The Justice Department disclosed on Friday that Farhad Shakeri, 51, was instructed by Iranian officials in September to conduct surveillance and ultimately assassinate Trump, as reported by CNN.
Shakeri, who remains at large in Iran, was allegedly directed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to focus on Trump after initially being tasked with other assassination missions against U.S. and Israeli citizens.
See Also: Trump Media & Technology Group Stock Is Surging Wednesday: What’s Going On?
Prosecutors have accused Shakeri of engaging in recorded conversations with law enforcement and being given a seven-day deadline by IRGC officials on October 7 to devise an assassination plan.
Two other individuals, Carlisle Rivera and Jonathan Loadholt, were arrested in New York for allegedly aiding the Iranian government in surveilling a separate U.S. citizen of Iranian origin. Both appeared in court on Thursday and are detained pending trial.
Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray have condemned the threats from Iran, highlighting the serious national security risk posed by the Iranian regime.
Why It Matters: The revelation of this plot comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran.
Earlier this year, U.S. intelligence agencies disclosed that Iran attempted to share hacked information from Trump’s campaign with President Biden’s team, though no response from the Biden campaign was found.
This incident, reported in September, underscores Iran’s ongoing cyber and physical threats against U.S. interests.
Additionally, Trump himself has publicly acknowledged threats to his life from Iran, expressing gratitude for increased Secret Service protection.
These developments highlight the persistent and multifaceted threats posed by Iran, necessitating vigilance and robust security measures by U.S. authorities.
Read Next:
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Flickr
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Annual Shareholder Meeting
Houston, Nov. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Silver Star Properties REIT, Inc. (“Silver Star” or the “Company”), a self-managed real estate investment trust currently repositioning into the self-storage asset class, intends to, present to the Board of Directors, a request to call an annual meeting of stockholders as required under the bylaws of the Company in the month of August, 2025. All stockholders will be notified in satisfaction of the requirements of the bylaws and Maryland statutory provisions.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/annual-shareholder-meeting-302300488.html
SOURCE Silver Star Properties REIT
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Crypto Analyst Sees Bitcoin Hitting $80,000 This Month
Cryptocurrency trader and expert Michaël van de Poppe has projected that Bitcoin BTC/USD could potentially hit the $80,000 mark this month, following a possible retest at the $71,679 level.
What Happened: Van de Poppe made his forecast on social media platform X. He anticipates that Bitcoin might undergo a minor correction before climbing over 5% from its current price.
“Bitcoin is consolidating around a new ATH. I do believe we’ll continue, but probably have a slight correction first – dips ready to be bought. Next? $80,000 in November,” he said in the post.
The trader attributes this potential surge to substantial inflows into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the aftermath of the victory of pro-crypto candidate Donald Trump.
Also Read: Analyst Says This Crypto Could Explode By Up To 3.765%, And It Is Not Bitcoin Or Solana
In another post on X he said, “Record-breaking inflow in Bitcoin since Trump won the elections. More than $2 Billion has flown into the Bitcoin ETF. More than $120 million has flown into the Ethereum ETF. The bull market is here.”
At the time of reporting, Bitcoin was trading at $75,966, marking an increase of over 11% since its Election Day low of $68,206.
Van de Poppe also expressed long-term bullish sentiments for Ethereum ETH/USD, suggesting it will continue to rally higher with retests of lower price levels. Ethereum is currently trading at $2,920, up more than 21% from its Election Day low of $2,403.
Why It Matters: The prediction by van de Poppe is significant as it comes at a time when Bitcoin is experiencing a resurgence following the US presidential election.
The victory of pro-crypto candidate Trump has led to an influx of investments into Bitcoin ETFs, indicating a bullish market. Furthermore, the trader’s positive outlook for Ethereum suggests a broader upward trend in the cryptocurrency market.
Read Next
Michaël Van De Poppe Predicts Massive Bitcoin Surge, Says Price May Soar By 890%
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Abortion Pill Orders Spike Hard Following Election As Women Brace for Potential Restrictions
Anti-abortion advocates are gearing up for a concerted push to roll back abortion access under Donald Trump’s second presidency.
With the Biden administration easing abortion access through telehealth and emergency abortion guidelines, these groups see the next phase of their campaign as dismantling policies they deem “pro-abortion,” AP News reports.
Telehealth company Wisp experienced a dramatic surge in abortion pill orders, with a 600% increase between Election Day and the following day, as women seem concerned.
In states like Florida and Texas, where abortion pills cannot be legally shipped, orders for “morning after” pills surged nearly 1000%, AP News added.
This spike reflects growing uneasiness about access to reproductive healthcare following the election.
Reversing Biden’s Emergency Abortion Guidelines
One of the key targets for anti-abortion groups is Biden’s directive requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions when a woman’s life or health is at risk, AP News reports.
The guidance, aimed at ensuring access to abortion in states with restrictive laws, has faced legal challenges in places like Texas and Idaho.
Also Read: Trump Stumbles Again Over Health Care Issues Involving Abortion And Obamacare
Trump is expected to revoke this directive, which some hospitals have relied on to navigate restrictive state laws, especially in high-risk cases like ectopic pregnancies. Legal experts warn that, if reversed, this could further endanger women’s health in states with strict abortion bans.
Impact on Abortion Pills and Telehealth Access
Another area of concern for abortion rights advocates is the ease with which women can access abortion pills.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA relaxed regulations, allowing women to obtain abortion pills like mifepristone through telehealth consultations. Anti-abortion groups argue that these pills are unsafe and should require in-person medical supervision.
With the Supreme Court maintaining access to the drug, conservative states have continued to challenge its distribution. A potential Trump administration could take steps to restrict access to abortion pills, further complicating abortion access across the country.
As women’s abortion pill orders surged following the 2024 election, it’s clear that access to reproductive healthcare remains a volatile issue. Trump’s actions on abortion will likely shape the landscape for years to come, with advocates on both sides preparing for a protracted legal and political battle.
Read Next:
Photo: Shutterstock
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Warren Buffett Invested $99 Billion of His Portfolio in 2 Stocks That Could Rise 19% and 20%, According to a Couple of Wall Street Analysts
Warren Buffett took the helm at Berkshire Hathaway in 1965. Since then, shares of the holding company have soared by about 4,631,475%, making him perhaps the most well-regarded investor of his time.
Buffett knows as well as anyone that the price you pay for a stock is a big factor determining the return it will eventually provide. If you’d like to see your portfolio perform the way Buffett’s has, purchasing shares of quality businesses while their stock prices are depressed should be a big part of your strategy.
Start Your Mornings Smarter! Wake up with Breakfast news in your inbox every market day. Sign Up For Free »
The benchmark S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) index has risen by about 36% over the past 12 months, and it looks like Buffett expects continued gains from at least a couple of its components. At the end of September, $98.6 billion of the holding company’s portfolio was invested in two S&P 500 stocks that have lagged the benchmark index, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO).
Both of these stocks have been trading well below the expectations of Wall Street analysts who follow them closely. Here’s a look at why they’re expected to outperform to see if they deserve a place in your portfolio too.
Berkshire Hathaway has been trimming its Apple stake, but it is still the equity portfolio’s largest holding. The holding company valued its Apple stake at $69.9 billion at the end of September, down from $174.3 billion at the end of 2023.
Apple stock underperformed the S&P 500 index by rising just 25% during the 12 months ended Nov. 8, 2024. Gains have been subdued because it’s been a long time since the iPhone maker launched a new product that can drive sales growth. Trailing-12-month revenue contracted by 0.8% since late 2022.
Apple’s lack of growth is concerning but not for Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring, who thinks the stock can climb much higher. He recently reiterated a $273 price target that implies a gain of about 20% from recent prices.
Whether it was iPhones, Macs, or accessories, sales of every product category were lower in fiscal 2024, which ended on Sept. 30, than they were in 2022. Wall Street isn’t turning its back on the stock because service sales are way up. Over the same 2-year period, revenue from the App Store, streaming, and cloud services grew by 23% to $96.2 billion.
Equipment sales can fluctuate with economic downturns and new product cycles. Recurring-service revenue is often more predictable and nearly always more lucrative. A revenue mix shifting toward services improved gross-profit margin in fiscal 2024 to 46.2% from 43.3% in 2022.