First AI boxing referee will oversee title bout in Saudi Arabia

Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 in Riyadh will feature a groundbreaking AI boxing judge. While the robot’s scores won’t influence the fight’s outcome, fans can compare its scoring with the official judges. The AI will analyze key metrics like aggression, landed punches, and defense in real time. This experimental system, introduced by Saudi official Turki Alalshikh, has sparked mixed reactions online, … Continue reading First AI boxing referee will oversee title bout in Saudi Arabia

Biden to visit Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in final days of his presidency

U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Rome from January 9-12 to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Sergio Mattarella, and Pope Francis. The trip, likely Biden’s last foreign visit as president, will emphasize U.S.-Italy ties and acknowledge Meloni’s influential role as a European leader. Biden will also thank Meloni for her G7 leadership and discuss global challenges. His meeting with Pope Francis will … Continue reading Biden to visit Italian PM Giorgia Meloni in final days of his presidency

Putin says he’s ‘ready’ for potential talks with Trump during year-end news conference

Russian President Vladimir Putin portrayed recent setbacks in Syria and Ukraine as successes during his annual Q&A, asserting that Russia has strengthened as a sovereign nation. He expressed readiness for talks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war. Putin highlighted Russia’s daily territorial gains in Ukraine, despite the costly stalemate, and promised to recapture the Kursk region, where Ukrainian … Continue reading Putin says he’s ‘ready’ for potential talks with Trump during year-end news conference

Macron tells cyclone-hit Mayotte islanders to be grateful they are French after facing jeers

French President Emmanuel Macron faced backlash during his visit to cyclone-hit Mayotte, where locals criticized the lack of water, electricity, and support following Cyclone Chido. Macron’s comment that Mayotte should feel “happy to be in France” drew further anger. The storm, the strongest in 90 years, caused widespread destruction, killing 31 and injuring over 1,300. Mayotte, the EU’s poorest region, struggles with poverty, migration, and … Continue reading Macron tells cyclone-hit Mayotte islanders to be grateful they are French after facing jeers

11 dead, 60 injured in car attack at German Christmas market

Eleven people were killed and at least 60 injured when a car plowed into pedestrians at the Magdeburg Christmas market in Germany. The driver, a 50-year-old Saudi Arabian doctor who arrived in Germany in 2006, has been arrested. Police are not seeking additional suspects but reportedly found an explosive device in the vehicle. Witnesses described the scene as resembling a warzone, with cries of children … Continue reading 11 dead, 60 injured in car attack at German Christmas market

Senate Republicans fume over ‘fiasco’ in House

Senate Republicans expressed frustration Thursday over the House’s failure to pass funding measures to prevent a government shutdown, calling it a “fiasco.” With the Friday deadline looming, no viable agreement is in sight. Speaker Mike Johnson’s latest proposal to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling collapsed, making a shutdown likely. Sen. John Cornyn criticized the dysfunction but hoped for a last-minute solution, while … Continue reading Senate Republicans fume over ‘fiasco’ in House

Netanyahu won’t attend Auschwitz liberation anniversary event, fearing arrest by Poland

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly skipping the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation on January 27, fearing potential arrest in Poland due to its support for the ICC’s war crimes warrant against him. The event, marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day, will host global leaders, including Britain’s King Charles. Israeli authorities have not coordinated attendance, and President Isaac Herzog also plans to miss the event, … Continue reading Netanyahu won’t attend Auschwitz liberation anniversary event, fearing arrest by Poland

Man pleads guilty to running secret Chinese police station in NYC above noodle restaurant

Chen Jinping, 60, pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as an agent of the Chinese government by helping establish a secret police station in Manhattan’s Chinatown in early 2022. The station, linked to China’s Ministry of Public Security, closed later that year. Chen and co-defendant “Harry” Lu Jianwang allegedly destroyed evidence during an FBI investigation. Chen faces up to five years in prison under a … Continue reading Man pleads guilty to running secret Chinese police station in NYC above noodle restaurant

Luigi Mangione agrees to extradition to NYC at court hearing

Luigi Mangione, 26, has agreed to extradition to New York City to face an 11-count indictment, including first-degree murder charges, in the December 4 shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Hilton. The charges, including terrorism-related allegations, aim to hold Mangione accountable for what prosecutors describe as a crime intended to provoke terror. Mangione was arrested after a nationwide manhunt and faces life … Continue reading Luigi Mangione agrees to extradition to NYC at court hearing

About 3 dozen high-rise buildings in South Florida are sinking, a study finds

A study by the University of Miami found that nearly 35 high-rise condos and luxury hotels along a 12-mile stretch of South Florida’s coast, from Miami Beach to Sunny Isles Beach, are sinking or settling by 0.8 to 3.1 inches, with about half being less than 10 years old. Causes include nearby construction, shifting limestone and sand layers, and tidal flows. The findings highlight the … Continue reading About 3 dozen high-rise buildings in South Florida are sinking, a study finds

DA Fani Willis booted from election interference case in Georgia

The Georgia Court of Appeals has disqualified Fulton County DA Fani Willis from prosecuting Donald Trump’s election interference case due to her past romantic relationship with a special prosecutor involved in the case. While the court dismissed Trump’s bid to throw out the case entirely, the ruling disrupts the prosecution weeks before Trump’s return to the White House. Willis plans to appeal the decision, the … Continue reading DA Fani Willis booted from election interference case in Georgia

Nick Fuentes ‘targeted at home by man wanted for triple murder’

Far-right figure Nick Fuentes claims he was targeted by an armed man after a triple murder suspect was shot dead by police in Berwyn, Illinois. Fuentes posted a video showing a man with a gun and crossbow ringing his doorbell and calling his name. Authorities confirmed the suspect killed three family members earlier that day in Mahomet, Illinois, and fatally shot two dogs before being … Continue reading Nick Fuentes ‘targeted at home by man wanted for triple murder’

One killed in Kyiv as Russian missile attack targets Ukraine’s capital

A Russian missile attack on Kyiv killed one person and injured seven, damaging buildings and sparking fires. Russia used hypersonic Kinzhal and Iskander ballistic missiles in response to Ukrainian strikes on a Russian chemical plant. Loud blasts and debris caused fires in several Kyiv districts, with air defences intercepting additional drone attacks overnight. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces repelled Russian advances in southern Ukraine near Kherson, where … Continue reading One killed in Kyiv as Russian missile attack targets Ukraine’s capital

Crowd crush kills 35 children at funfair in Nigeria, police say

At least 35 children were killed and six critically injured in a crowd crush at a funfair in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. Police arrested eight people, including the event’s sponsor, over the tragedy, which occurred at an Islamic school’s event organized by Women in Need of Guidance and Support (WING). The event aimed to host 5,000 children with prizes like scholarships. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and … Continue reading Crowd crush kills 35 children at funfair in Nigeria, police say

Cyclone Chido death toll in Mozambique rises to 73

The death toll from Cyclone Chido in Mozambique has risen to 73, with 66 deaths in Cabo Delgado province, according to the National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management. The cyclone, which brought winds of 260 km/h (161 mph) and heavy rainfall, injured over 540 people, destroyed more than 39,100 homes, and affected over 329,500 people. UNICEF described the situation as “devastation,” emphasizing the precarious … Continue reading Cyclone Chido death toll in Mozambique rises to 73

Israeli military strikes Yemen hours after Houthi attack targets Israel

Israel launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen early Thursday, killing nine and injuring three, in response to recent Houthi missile and drone attacks, which were largely intercepted. The strikes targeted facilities near Yemen’s capital Sanaa and the Hodeidah port. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Houthi leaders against further aggression, linking the attacks to escalating tensions amid Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. Earlier, … Continue reading Israeli military strikes Yemen hours after Houthi attack targets Israel

Netanyahu tells Israeli troops to stay in area of Syria’s Mount Hermon until end of 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the military to remain at Syria’s Mount Hermon until at least the end of 2025, according to a CNN source. Israel seized the strategic peak, overlooking Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month. While initially described as a temporary move, Netanyahu cited security concerns and the need for stability in Syria … Continue reading Netanyahu tells Israeli troops to stay in area of Syria’s Mount Hermon until end of 2025

Bronze Age Britons were cannibalized after an ‘exceptionally violent’ attack

New research reveals that a violent attack in early Bronze Age England, around 4,000 years ago, likely involved the systematic dismemberment and cannibalism of at least 37 people. Excavated bones from Charterhouse Warren, south of Bristol, showed extensive violence, with victims killed by head blows and then dismembered. Researchers suggest this massacre was part of a cycle of revenge within or between communities, driven by … Continue reading Bronze Age Britons were cannibalized after an ‘exceptionally violent’ attack

Saturn’s rings could be much older than scientists first thought

A new study suggests that Saturn’s rings may be nearly as old as the planet itself, around 4.5 billion years, rather than being only 100 to 400 million years old, as previously believed. While earlier research suggested the rings were young due to their clean appearance, new simulations of micrometeoroid impacts indicate minimal contamination of the rings, suggesting they are much older. The study’s authors … Continue reading Saturn’s rings could be much older than scientists first thought

SpaceX launches 2 mPOWER satellites from Florida

SpaceX launched two communication satellites, O3b mPOWER 7 and 8, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on December 17, 2024, at 5:26 p.m. EDT. The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage successfully landed on the droneship “Just Read the Instructions” 8.5 minutes after liftoff, marking the booster’s first launch and landing. The two satellites were deployed into medium Earth orbit, approximately 5,000 miles above Earth. The O3b … Continue reading SpaceX launches 2 mPOWER satellites from Florida

Boeing Starliner crew’s return to Earth from International Space Station delayed yet again

NASA announced that astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who arrived at the International Space Station in June aboard Boeing’s Starliner, will not return to Earth until at least March 2025. Their mission was initially supposed to last 8-10 days but was extended due to multiple issues with the Starliner. SpaceX’s Crew-9 mission, planned to bring them back, launched in September 2023, but delays in … Continue reading Boeing Starliner crew’s return to Earth from International Space Station delayed yet again

Ukraine Becomes Latest Country to Possess Laser Weapon

Ukraine has acquired a laser weapon called “Tryzub” capable of shooting down low-flying aircraft and drones. The weapon, revealed by Colonel Vadym Sukharevskyi, can engage targets up to 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) in altitude and is currently operational. Ukraine is reportedly the fifth country to possess such technology. While it’s unclear whether the weapon is locally made or imported, its name suggests it may be … Continue reading Ukraine Becomes Latest Country to Possess Laser Weapon

University Hospitals uses Da Vinci 5 robot for surgeries

University Hospitals (UH) in Northeast Ohio has become the first in the region to use the Da Vinci 5 (DV5) robotic system for surgeries. The DV5, offering improved visualization, haptic feedback, and enhanced ergonomics, will be used for various procedures like esophagectomies and gastric bypasses. The first surgery, performed by Dr. Christopher Towe, was a hiatal hernia repair and thymus mass resection, with both patients … Continue reading University Hospitals uses Da Vinci 5 robot for surgeries

AI care robot doll from Korea eyes US entry in 2025

A South Korean company, Hyodol, has registered its AI-powered companion doll for seniors with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The doll, first released in 2019, offers emotional, safety, and emergency care support, acting as a seven-year-old grandchild with personalized, real-time conversations powered by AI. It helps with meal and medication management, cognitive tests, and can alert healthcare centers in emergencies. Hyodol aims to … Continue reading AI care robot doll from Korea eyes US entry in 2025

Starbucks union votes to authorize strike

Workers United announced that 98% of union baristas have voted to authorize a strike as they continue to negotiate a contract with Starbucks. Bargaining delegates will meet with the company on Tuesday for the final negotiation session of the year, aiming to establish a “foundational framework.” While both sides have made progress with multiple agreements, unresolved issues include unfair labor practice cases and barista pay … Continue reading Starbucks union votes to authorize strike