S Korea, Japan scramble warplanes in response to Russia, China air patrol

South Korea and Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian and Chinese military aircraft conducted a joint air patrol near both countries. Seven Russian and two Chinese planes, including bombers and fighters, entered South Korea’s Air Defence Identification Zone (KADIZ) on Tuesday, prompting Seoul to deploy jets as a precaution. Japan also deployed aircraft after Russian Tu-95 bombers and Chinese J-16 fighters flew near the Tsushima … Continue reading S Korea, Japan scramble warplanes in response to Russia, China air patrol

Judge unseals Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury materials, citing Epstein files act

A federal judge in New York has ordered the unsealing of grand jury materials and other documents from Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 trial, in which she was convicted of procuring underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein. The Department of Justice requested the disclosure under the recently passed Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandates public release of investigative materials about Epstein. Judge Paul Engelmayer allowed the release but … Continue reading Judge unseals Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury materials, citing Epstein files act

Suspect in custody after student killed in Kentucky university shooting

A shooting at Kentucky State University in Frankfort left one student dead and another critically injured. The suspect, who is not a student, is in custody after being apprehended by campus police before other authorities arrived. The incident occurred in a residence hall, and officials say it appears to be isolated rather than a mass shooting. The university has canceled classes, exams, and campus activities … Continue reading Suspect in custody after student killed in Kentucky university shooting

US deploys fighter jets to Gulf of Venezuela in closest known approach yet

The U.S. flew two F/A-18 fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela on Tuesday, marking the closest known approach of U.S. aircraft to Venezuelan airspace. A U.S. defense official called it a routine training flight and emphasized that the jets stayed in international airspace. This mission comes after months of increased U.S. military activity following strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels. Earlier flights involving B-52 and … Continue reading US deploys fighter jets to Gulf of Venezuela in closest known approach yet

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro faces subpoena over private home security upgrades after firebombing

A GOP-led Pennsylvania legislative committee has issued subpoenas seeking records on roughly $1 million in security upgrades to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s private home, as well as information on charter flights taken earlier this year. The move follows an April arson attack on the governor’s official residence, which prompted police and security experts to recommend increased protections. Shapiro’s office called the investigation a partisan attack, saying … Continue reading Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro faces subpoena over private home security upgrades after firebombing

Trump administration announces deal to end Biden-era student debt repayment plan

The Trump administration announced it will end the Biden-era SAVE student loan repayment plan as part of a legal settlement, affecting millions of borrowers. The plan, launched in 2023, reduced monthly payments for low-income borrowers and prevented interest from growing, but had faced lawsuits from GOP-led states claiming it was unlawful. Under the settlement, no new borrowers will be admitted, current applications will be denied, … Continue reading Trump administration announces deal to end Biden-era student debt repayment plan

House Armed Services chair sees no need to further probe boat strike

House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers said he sees no need for further investigation into a disputed military strike in September, saying he already has the answers he needs. Democrats, however, are still calling for a full-scale probe, including hearings and document reviews. Top lawmakers recently viewed classified footage of the strike with military leaders, and the full committee is set to see the unedited … Continue reading House Armed Services chair sees no need to further probe boat strike

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