Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket launches its 1st pair of Galileo navigation satellites

Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket successfully launched its first pair of Galileo navigation satellites on Wednesday, Dec. 17, from the Kourou Spaceport in French Guiana. The satellites, part of Europe’s GPS-equivalent constellation, will deploy about 3 hours and 20 minutes after liftoff and undergo a four-month positioning phase before becoming operational. Most previous Galileo satellites were launched on Ariane 5 or Russian Soyuz rockets, with Europe … Continue reading Europe’s Ariane 6 rocket launches its 1st pair of Galileo navigation satellites

New research suggests interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is not a spaceship

The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, once speculated by some—including Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb—to be alien technology, has been shown to behave like a typical comet. A new study in Research Notes of the AAS finds that its unusual motion is caused by natural “outgassing,” where gas and dust expelled from its surface give it small rocket-like pushes, altering its speed, orbit, and spin. Measurements using NASA’s Psyche spacecraft … Continue reading New research suggests interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is not a spaceship

NASA’s Roman Telescope Will Observe Thousands of Newfound Cosmic Voids

The observable universe contains up to two trillion galaxies, which are not randomly scattered but instead form giant cosmic “bubbles” separated by mostly empty regions called cosmic voids. NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will map these voids with unprecedented precision, helping scientists study the universe’s expansion and the mysterious roles of dark matter and dark energy. By combining galaxy positions and spectroscopic redshifts, astronomers … Continue reading NASA’s Roman Telescope Will Observe Thousands of Newfound Cosmic Voids

Google retains spot as world’s most popular internet service

ChatGPT has become one of the internet’s 40 most popular websites, reflecting the rapid growth of generative AI, according to a Cloudflare report. Despite Google, Facebook, and Instagram remaining dominant overall, ChatGPT’s rise was highlighted as the year’s defining story for online activity. Launched by OpenAI in November 2022, ChatGPT had 700 million active users as of September. Cloudflare also reported a 19% increase in … Continue reading Google retains spot as world’s most popular internet service

Woman arrested for hiding razor blades in loaves of bread at Walmart stores

Camille Benson, 33, of Texas, was arrested for allegedly inserting razor blades into loaves of bread at two Walmart stores in Biloxi, Mississippi, and has been charged with attempted mayhem with a $100,000 bond. The first incident was reported on December 5 at a Walmart Supercenter, followed by a second on December 8 at a Walmart Neighborhood Market. Subsequent inspections revealed additional tampered loaves, prompting … Continue reading Woman arrested for hiding razor blades in loaves of bread at Walmart stores

Millions of Hyundai and Kia owners can get free repairs from settlement

Millions of Hyundai and Kia owners are eligible for free repairs under a nationwide settlement over inadequate anti-theft protections. The settlement, led by Minnesota’s attorney general and joined by 34 other states, addresses vehicles lacking engine immobilizers, which left them more prone to theft. Hyundai and Kia must provide free repairs for about 9 million eligible vehicles from 2011 to 2022, at a cost that … Continue reading Millions of Hyundai and Kia owners can get free repairs from settlement

California judge rules that Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing around Autopilot

A California administrative law judge ruled that Tesla’s marketing of its “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving” systems is deceptive, citing that the names suggest cars can operate autonomously when attentive drivers are still required. The California DMV adopted the judge’s order but modified the penalty, giving Tesla 60 days to correct its marketing claims before potentially facing a 30-day suspension of its sales license, while its … Continue reading California judge rules that Tesla engaged in deceptive marketing around Autopilot

Warner Bros. to reportedly tell shareholders to reject Paramount offer

Warner Bros. Discovery’s board could announce as early as Wednesday whether to reject Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion takeover bid, sources say. The decision would likely favor Netflix’s $27-per-share cash-and-stock offer for Warner Bros’ non-cable assets, including its film and TV library and HBO Max. Paramount CEO David Ellison made a $30-per-share all-cash bid directly to shareholders, claiming a clearer regulatory path and financing support from … Continue reading Warner Bros. to reportedly tell shareholders to reject Paramount offer

ICC rejects Israeli bid to block Gaza war crimes investigation

The International Criminal Court (ICC) appeals chamber has rejected Israel’s attempt to block an investigation into its actions in Gaza, allowing the probe to continue. The court upheld a lower court ruling permitting the ICC prosecutor to investigate alleged crimes following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel argued that events after October 7 constituted a new situation requiring a fresh … Continue reading ICC rejects Israeli bid to block Gaza war crimes investigation

Japan lifts megaquake advisory but urges caution

Japan lifted a megaquake advisory for its northeastern coast Tuesday, a week after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off northern Japan. The advisory, which had urged residents to sleep in day clothes with helmets, shoes, and grab bags at hand, is no longer in effect, though officials stressed that the risk of a major quake remains. The 7.5 quake, near Aomori and south of Hokkaido, … Continue reading Japan lifts megaquake advisory but urges caution

M23 announces exit from DRC’s Uvira as US-brokered ceasefire stutters

The M23 armed group has agreed, at the request of the United States, to withdraw from the strategic town of Uvira in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which it seized last week. Corneille Nangaa, leader of the Alliance Fleuve Congo coalition that includes M23, confirmed the withdrawal in a signed statement posted online. However, reports from Uvira indicated that M23 fighters were still … Continue reading M23 announces exit from DRC’s Uvira as US-brokered ceasefire stutters

Man found dead in submerged car near Seattle after a week of heavy rain and flooding

A 33-year-old man died after driving into floodwaters near Seattle, becoming the first reported fatality from a week of heavy rain and flooding in the region. Rescue crews found his car submerged in about six feet of water in Snohomish County, but lifesaving efforts failed. Authorities warned that many residents underestimated the speed and danger of rising waters, with numerous rescues involving people stranded atop … Continue reading Man found dead in submerged car near Seattle after a week of heavy rain and flooding

Rob and Michele Reiner’s son charged with murder in their deaths

Nick Reiner, 32, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of his parents, Michele and Rob Reiner, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege he used a knife in the killings and have added a special allegation reflecting that claim. Reiner is being held without bail, and his arraignment will be scheduled at a later … Continue reading Rob and Michele Reiner’s son charged with murder in their deaths

House won’t vote on health care tax credit extension, angering GOP moderates

The House will not vote this week on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year. An attempt by moderate Republicans to force a vote failed after the House Rules Committee blocked proposed amendments to a GOP health care bill that does not include an extension. Moderates warn that letting the subsidies lapse could sharply … Continue reading House won’t vote on health care tax credit extension, angering GOP moderates

Trump declares ‘Venezuelan regime’ a foreign terrorist organization, orders oil tanker blockade

President Donald Trump ordered a total blockade of oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, declaring Nicolás Maduro’s government a foreign terrorist organization. Trump accused the regime of using oil from what he called stolen U.S. assets to finance terrorism, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. The U.S. escalated tensions further by seizing an oil tanker, the Skipper, allegedly used to transport sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil … Continue reading Trump declares ‘Venezuelan regime’ a foreign terrorist organization, orders oil tanker blockade

Woman charged in $29M COVID fraud busted driving stolen van to court

A Florida woman was arrested after driving a stolen vehicle to the federal courthouse where she was scheduled to stand trial for alleged COVID-relief fraud. Latoya Clark, 39, was stopped near the Fort Pierce courthouse when a license plate reader flagged the 2025 Ram ProMaster van she was driving as stolen. Clark reportedly admitted she knew why she was being detained and said she was … Continue reading Woman charged in $29M COVID fraud busted driving stolen van to court

MIT nuclear science professor found shot dead at home

MIT nuclear science professor Nuno Loureiro, 47, was shot multiple times and killed inside his Brookline, Massachusetts home Monday night, according to authorities. Police responded to reports of a shooting around 8:30 p.m., and Loureiro later died at a hospital; officials say the case remains an active homicide investigation with few details released. Law enforcement confirmed the killing is not connected to a recent mass … Continue reading MIT nuclear science professor found shot dead at home

U.S. Military Willing to Attack ‘Designated Terrorist Organizations’ Within America, General Says

Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee he would carry out a lawful order to attack “designated terrorist organizations” in the U.S. if he had no legal concerns. His statement is controversial because the Trump administration has labeled some groups, including certain drug cartels and reportedly Antifa, as terrorist organizations, a designation some experts say lacks a clear … Continue reading U.S. Military Willing to Attack ‘Designated Terrorist Organizations’ Within America, General Says

Vatican unveils Nativity scene, lights Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square

The Vatican unveiled its Nativity scene and lit a 25-meter Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square on Monday, accompanied by a band, chorus, and dancers in traditional South Tyrol costumes. The spruce tree came from Italy’s German-speaking autonomous province on the Austrian border, while the life-size Nativity scene was designed by the Nocera Inferiore-Sarno diocese, featuring southern Italian architectural elements. South Tyrol deputy governor Rosmarie … Continue reading Vatican unveils Nativity scene, lights Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square

James Webb Space Telescope finds 1st evidence of ‘dinosaur-like’ stars in the early universe

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope may have found the first evidence of “monster” stars that existed shortly after the Big Bang, with masses up to 10,000 times that of the sun. These prehistoric stars, now extinct, likely collapsed into massive black holes, leaving behind chemical “fossils” in the universe. The discovery came from studying the galaxy GS 3073, 12.7 billion light-years away, where … Continue reading James Webb Space Telescope finds 1st evidence of ‘dinosaur-like’ stars in the early universe

Morocco’s Safi counts the cost in aftermath of deadly flash floods

Flash floods in the Moroccan town of Safi have killed at least 37 people, with search and rescue operations ongoing. The coastal town, about 300 km south of Rabat, was hit by a torrent that swept away cars and debris, marking the deadliest flood in Morocco in over a decade. Survivors are being treated at Mohammed V Hospital, with two in intensive care, while schools … Continue reading Morocco’s Safi counts the cost in aftermath of deadly flash floods

Hunter Biden disbarred in Connecticut after complaints about gun, tax convictions

A Connecticut judge on Monday disbarred Hunter Biden for violating state attorney conduct rules, following complaints related to his federal gun and tax convictions. Biden consented to the disbarment and admitted to attorney misconduct, but did not admit to any criminal wrongdoing; he was previously disbarred in Washington, D.C., in May. The judge cited violations including dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation, and referenced his prior … Continue reading Hunter Biden disbarred in Connecticut after complaints about gun, tax convictions

New Trump tariffs collection hits $200 billion, Customs says

The U.S. has collected over $200 billion in tariffs in 2025 under new duties imposed by President Trump, according to Customs and Border Protection. These tariffs, including “reciprocal” and fentanyl-related duties, were implemented without congressional approval and are currently facing legal challenges in the Supreme Court. Collections dropped slightly in November as imports slowed and some duties were reduced, but CBP emphasized the tariffs’ role … Continue reading New Trump tariffs collection hits $200 billion, Customs says

Brian Walshe found guilty of killing his wife and dismembering her body

A Massachusetts jury on Monday found Brian Walshe guilty of first-degree murder for killing his wife, Ana Walshe, and dismembering her body three years ago. The verdict followed nearly two weeks of testimony in Norfolk County Superior Court, where prosecutors argued Walshe was motivated by money and his wife’s affair, detailing how he methodically dismembered and disposed of her body. Walshe’s defense claimed Ana Walshe … Continue reading Brian Walshe found guilty of killing his wife and dismembering her body

Russia-Ukraine peace deal could be closer than ever, US officials signal

U.S. officials indicated Monday that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine may be closer than ever, with roughly 90% of issues reportedly resolved. Discussions in Berlin involved U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, focusing on a U.S.-authored 20-point peace plan. Proposed terms include NATO-style security guarantees for Ukraine, reconstruction efforts, and measures to deter further Russian incursions, with … Continue reading Russia-Ukraine peace deal could be closer than ever, US officials signal