Trump doesn’t rule out troops in Venezuela, says President Nicolás Maduro’s ‘days are numbered’

In a Politico interview, President Donald Trump said Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s “days are numbered” but declined to comment on whether the U.S. might send troops to the country. He defended strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug vessels, suggested similar actions could target Mexico and Colombia, and criticized European leaders as “weak” and “decaying” due to immigration policies. Trump also claimed Russia holds the upper hand … Continue reading Trump doesn’t rule out troops in Venezuela, says President Nicolás Maduro’s ‘days are numbered’

Justice Department confirms in court filing it may prosecute Comey again

The Justice Department said Tuesday it intends to continue pursuing a prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey. The statement came in court filings responding to a lawsuit by Comey’s friend and former lawyer, Dan Richman, who seeks to block the government from using his property as evidence. The move follows the dismissal of Comey’s previous indictment and a judge’s temporary restrictions on the DOJ’s … Continue reading Justice Department confirms in court filing it may prosecute Comey again

Japan warns of possible megaquake after powerful earthquake

Japan issued a megaquake advisory after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck northern Honshu, causing 34 mostly minor injuries and some structural damage. Officials warned that a subsequent magnitude 8 or larger quake could occur within a week, potentially triggering a tsunami up to 98 feet and killing nearly 200,000 people. The advisory aims to prompt residents, especially along the coast, to prepare emergency supplies and … Continue reading Japan warns of possible megaquake after powerful earthquake

Zelenskyy ‘ready for elections’ after Trump questions Ukrainian democracy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to hold elections within 60 to 90 days if Ukraine’s parliament and foreign partners can ensure security, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism that he is clinging to power. Zelenskyy emphasized that the decision belongs to Ukrainians, not foreign leaders, and highlighted logistical and legal challenges under wartime conditions and martial law. Opposition politicians warn that … Continue reading Zelenskyy ‘ready for elections’ after Trump questions Ukrainian democracy

Trump slams Europe’s immigration policies, calls continent ‘weak’

President Donald Trump criticized Europe, calling the continent “weak” and “decaying” due to immigration, and urged countries to deport those who entered illegally. He specifically attacked London Mayor Sadiq Khan, claiming he was elected by immigrants and promoting a harmful ideology. Trump’s remarks follow his administration’s National Security Strategy warning of “civilisational erasure” in Europe and suggesting resistance to current European policies. He also commented … Continue reading Trump slams Europe’s immigration policies, calls continent ‘weak’

Thune says Senate GOP will offer alternative health care bill as Democrats seek to extend tax credits

Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, plan to offer a GOP health care bill for a vote alongside Democrats’ proposal to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits later this week. The Republican bill, the Health Care Freedom for Patients Act, would redirect funds to health savings accounts for bronze plan users rather than extending the tax credits, which Democrats say help … Continue reading Thune says Senate GOP will offer alternative health care bill as Democrats seek to extend tax credits

ACLU files lawsuit seeking legal basis for Trump’s Caribbean boat strikes

Rights groups including the ACLU, NYCLU, and Center for Constitutional Rights have filed a lawsuit seeking the release of an internal Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) opinion that allegedly justifies the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug trafficking vessels off Latin America. The lawsuit argues that the public deserves to understand the legal rationale behind military actions that have killed at least 86 people since … Continue reading ACLU files lawsuit seeking legal basis for Trump’s Caribbean boat strikes

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