Former Colorado clerk will remain in state prison after a federal judge rejects her bid for freedom

A federal magistrate judge on Monday denied former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ request to be released on bond while appealing her state conviction for orchestrating a data breach scheme tied to 2020 election fraud claims. Peters argued her nine-year sentence violated her First Amendment rights, claiming she was punished for speaking out about alleged election fraud, but prosecutors noted judges can consider speech relevant … Continue reading Former Colorado clerk will remain in state prison after a federal judge rejects her bid for freedom

Israel launches new wave of air attacks on Lebanon, straining fragile truce

Israel carried out multiple airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Monday, targeting sites linked to Hezbollah, including a special operations training compound and a rocket-launching site, causing damage to several homes. No immediate casualties were reported, but the attacks come amid ongoing tensions despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in 2024, which ended over a year of fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese officials, including President Joseph Aoun … Continue reading Israel launches new wave of air attacks on Lebanon, straining fragile truce

Kenya deploys more police officers to control Haiti’s gangs

Kenya sent 230 additional police officers to Haiti on Monday as part of a UN-led mission to combat the country’s rampant gang violence, while 100 officers ended their deployment. Armed gangs now control roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince, driving widespread murders, kidnappings, and looting amid ongoing political instability. The multinational mission, initially approved by the UN Security Council in 2023, has struggled due to being underfunded … Continue reading Kenya deploys more police officers to control Haiti’s gangs

Attack kills six Pakistani soldiers, raises tension with Afghanistan

Six Pakistani soldiers were killed and four injured in an overnight attack on a security checkpoint in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, carried out by the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). Two militants were also killed during the heavy firefight, according to officials. The attack comes amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, following recent cross-border skirmishes that have killed dozens. Although Afghan and Pakistani officials signed a … Continue reading Attack kills six Pakistani soldiers, raises tension with Afghanistan

Wreck of 2,000-year-old pleasure boat discovered off Egypt’s coast

Underwater archaeologists have discovered a 2,000-year-old Egyptian pleasure boat off the coast of Alexandria near the island of Antirhodos. The vessel, over 115 feet long and 23 feet wide, featured a luxuriously decorated cabin and was propelled solely by oars, with Greek graffiti suggesting it was built in Alexandria in the first century AD. This is the first discovery of its kind in Egypt, matching … Continue reading Wreck of 2,000-year-old pleasure boat discovered off Egypt’s coast

CERN upbeat as China halts particle accelerator mega-project

CERN’s director-general, Fabiola Gianotti, says China’s pause on its Circular Electron Positron Collider (CEPC) creates an opportunity for Europe’s own large particle accelerator plan. The CEPC, announced a decade ago, would have been 100 km long, dwarfing CERN’s 27-km Large Hadron Collider (LHC), which famously confirmed the Higgs boson in 2012. CERN is now considering the 91-km Future Circular Collider (FCC) to probe dark matter … Continue reading CERN upbeat as China halts particle accelerator mega-project

Sun unleashes intense X-class solar flare, triggering radio blackouts across Australia

Early on Dec. 8, the Sun unleashed a powerful X1.1-class solar flare from sunspot region AR4298, temporarily disrupting radio communications across Australia and parts of Southeast Asia. The flare, which peaked at 12:01 a.m. EST, also ejected a coronal mass ejection (CME), though initial analyses indicate it is not Earth-directed. The eruption adds to an active week of solar activity, with several earlier CMEs expected … Continue reading Sun unleashes intense X-class solar flare, triggering radio blackouts across Australia

NASA astronaut, two Russian cosmonauts return to Earth from space station

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky safely returned to Earth Tuesday after an eight-month mission aboard the International Space Station, landing on the Kazakh steppe. The Soyuz MS-27/73S undocked Monday evening, endured re-entry temperatures of 2,500°F, and parachuted to a precise landing at 12:03 a.m. EST. Russian recovery crews quickly extracted the crew, conducted medical checks, and prepared them for … Continue reading NASA astronaut, two Russian cosmonauts return to Earth from space station

PepsiCo to cut prices, eliminate products as part of a deal with an activist investor

PepsiCo announced plans to cut prices and eliminate nearly 20% of its product offerings by early next year, following pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which holds a $4 billion stake in the company. The company aims to use the savings to boost marketing, enhance consumer value, and accelerate the launch of products with simpler, functional ingredients, such as Doritos Protein and prebiotic cola. … Continue reading PepsiCo to cut prices, eliminate products as part of a deal with an activist investor

More than 1 in 4 self-checkout shoppers admit they’ve stolen: Survey

A recent LendingTree survey found that 27 percent of Americans who use self-checkout have intentionally taken an item without scanning it, up from 15 percent in 2023. Millennials (41 percent) and Gen Z adults (37 percent) were the most likely to admit to this, while Baby Boomers were least likely at 2 percent. Men (38 percent) were more than twice as likely as women (16 … Continue reading More than 1 in 4 self-checkout shoppers admit they’ve stolen: Survey

Florida designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will be designated as foreign terrorist organizations at the state level, following a similar move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The order directs Florida agencies to prevent unlawful activities by these groups and deny resources to anyone providing material support, citing alleged links to violence, terrorism, and fundraising for … Continue reading Florida designates Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR as foreign terrorist organizations

Car bomb kills 5 people, including 3 officers, in front of police station in Mexico

At least five people, including three police officers, were killed and three others injured when a car exploded near a police station in Coahuayana, Michoacán, Mexico, on Saturday. The explosion scattered human remains across the area and is under investigation by Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office. Michoacán is a hotspot for drug cartel activity, including groups designated as terrorist organizations by the U.S., and criminal groups … Continue reading Car bomb kills 5 people, including 3 officers, in front of police station in Mexico

Protesting Greek farmers swarm onto airport tarmac in Crete

On Monday, angry farmers in Crete stormed the tarmac at Heraklion’s Nikos Kazantzakis airport, forcing a suspension of flights, while clashes erupted near Chania airport, leaving two people injured. The protests target delays in EU-backed agricultural subsidies, following a scandal revealing widespread fraudulent claims. Farmers across Greece have used tractors and vehicles to block roads, ports, and airports, disrupting traffic and freight transport, particularly at … Continue reading Protesting Greek farmers swarm onto airport tarmac in Crete

100 schoolchildren abducted in Nigeria are released

A total of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state, Nigeria, were released over the weekend and hosted at a government ceremony on Monday, appearing relieved but disoriented. At least 303 children and 12 teachers were seized on Nov. 21, with 50 escaping and about 150 still in captivity. Details of the release, including whether a ransom was paid, were not … Continue reading 100 schoolchildren abducted in Nigeria are released

UAE-backed separatists tighten grip over southern Yemen

Tensions in southern Yemen escalated on Monday after the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council seized control of parts of the oil-rich Hadhramaut province. In response, Yemen’s airspace was briefly closed, stranding hundreds of passengers, as the Saudi-led coalition reportedly withheld flight permissions to send a “message” to the separatists. The takeover highlights divisions within the anti-Houthi camp, which opposes Iran-backed Houthis controlling most of northern Yemen, … Continue reading UAE-backed separatists tighten grip over southern Yemen

Thailand-Cambodia fighting spreads along border as death toll rises 

Renewed clashes between Thailand and Cambodia over a long-disputed border have escalated, resulting in multiple deaths and thousands displaced. Cambodia reports that two more civilians were killed overnight, raising its total to seven, while Thailand says at least three of its soldiers have died. Both countries blame each other for breaking the fragile ceasefire established in July. The ceasefire had been hailed as a historic … Continue reading Thailand-Cambodia fighting spreads along border as death toll rises 

Bomb explosion kills over 30 in eastern Congo after army clashes with pro-government militia

A bomb explosion in eastern Congo’s Sange killed over 30 people and wounded 20 amid clashes between the Congolese army (FARDC) and the pro-government Wazalendo militia. The violence occurred just days after a U.S.-brokered peace deal aimed at ending fighting with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, highlighting continued instability despite the agreement. Residents described confusion and attacks that made it difficult to distinguish between soldiers … Continue reading Bomb explosion kills over 30 in eastern Congo after army clashes with pro-government militia

Officer testifies in evidence hearing about finding gun in Luigi Mangione’s bag

During Day 4 of pretrial hearings, body camera footage and testimony revealed that Altoona police searched accused CEO killer Luigi Mangione’s backpack without a warrant after arresting him at a McDonald’s. Officers debated whether a warrant was needed, with one noting the search might require one due to the case’s severity, while a supervisor justified it as a “search incident to arrest.” The search uncovered … Continue reading Officer testifies in evidence hearing about finding gun in Luigi Mangione’s bag

Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos

Congress is using the annual defense bill to pressure the Pentagon into releasing unedited videos of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats off Latin America. Lawmakers plan to withhold a quarter of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s travel budget until the footage is provided to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The videos focus on a controversial follow-up strike on Sept. 2 that killed two survivors … Continue reading Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos

Japan assesses damage from 7.5 magnitude quake that injured 33

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off Japan’s northeastern coast late Monday, causing injuries, minor damage, and a small tsunami. At least 33 people were injured, mostly from falling objects, and a tsunami of up to 70 centimeters hit coastal communities, damaging some oyster rafts. Power outages affected about 800 homes, bullet train services were temporarily suspended, and roughly 480 residents took shelter at Hachinohe Air … Continue reading Japan assesses damage from 7.5 magnitude quake that injured 33

Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba resigns as New Jersey U.S. attorney after disqualification

Alina Habba, former defense lawyer for Donald Trump, resigned as U.S. attorney for New Jersey after judges ruled she was ineligible for the position due to the circumstances of her interim appointment. Habba will remain at the DOJ as a senior advisor to the attorney general, while the department plans to appeal the 3rd Circuit’s ruling. Attorney General Pam Bondi criticized the court’s decision, calling … Continue reading Former Trump lawyer Alina Habba resigns as New Jersey U.S. attorney after disqualification

Trump threatens 5% tariff on Mexico over water treaty violations affecting Texas farmers

President Donald Trump warned that Mexico’s failure to deliver water under the 1944 Water Treaty is harming Texas farmers and could trigger a 5% tariff if 200,000 acre-feet aren’t released by Dec. 31. Trump said Mexico still owes over 800,000 acre-feet from past years and accused the country of unfairly harming U.S. agriculture. Texas farm groups have faced severe drought-driven shortages, threatening crops, jobs, and … Continue reading Trump threatens 5% tariff on Mexico over water treaty violations affecting Texas farmers

Rep. Jasmine Crockett launches Senate run in Texas, shaking up Democratic primary

Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas launched a campaign for U.S. Senate, shaking up the Democratic primary just before the filing deadline. She argues she is the strongest Democrat to challenge Republican Sen. John Cornyn, saying she can mobilize a diverse coalition and address rising costs while holding Donald Trump accountable. Her entrance pushed former Rep. Colin Allred to exit the race, leaving Crockett to face … Continue reading Rep. Jasmine Crockett launches Senate run in Texas, shaking up Democratic primary

Judge orders top DOJ attorney to testify about Alien Enemies Act deportations

A federal judge has ordered top Justice Department attorneys to testify about the Trump administration’s controversial March deportations carried out under the Alien Enemies Act. The deportations sent more than 100 alleged gang members to a prison in El Salvador, despite the judge previously ordering the flights to be turned around. Judge James Boasberg is examining whether officials deliberately defied his instructions and whether their … Continue reading Judge orders top DOJ attorney to testify about Alien Enemies Act deportations

U.S. pushes Zelensky for swift yes on peace plan: Ukrainian officials

The U.S. is pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept major territorial concessions, particularly giving up all of the Donbas region, as part of President Trump’s peace proposal, according to Ukrainian officials. Kyiv believes the plan currently favors Moscow, especially after Trump advisers Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin and then urged Zelensky to agree quickly. While the U.S. insists it has … Continue reading U.S. pushes Zelensky for swift yes on peace plan: Ukrainian officials