
Washington Examiner Caption

Twitter was set ablaze Friday evening when CEO Elon Musk directed users to an information dump about the company's behind-the-scenes musings on the suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop. Journalist Matt Taibbi spearheaded the disclosure of the "Twitter Files" in a lengthy thread of tweets, releasing internal communications highlighting how political groups prodded Twitter to take down tweets and officials at the company grappled with the politically fraught decision.

Biden signs bill to avert rail shutdown
President Biden on Friday signed a bill that will avert a rail strike, just days before the deadline for an agreement to have been reached and amid fears that such a halt in railroad operations wou…

‘This will be awesome’: Musk leaks Twitter's Hunter Biden files
The tech billionaire's latest move will likely ingratiate him further with conservatives — and plunge the social media platform deeper into political controversy.


G-7 joins EU on $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil
The Group of Seven nations and Australia have joined the European Union in agreeing to a $60-per-barrel price cap on Russian oil.


Ukraine war: Price cap on Russian oil will hit Putin immediately - US
The G7 and Australia join the EU in imposing the cap of $60 a barrel meant to hit Russia's war chest.


Attorneys clash over references to Trump as closing statements conclude in Trump Organization trial
Prosecutors concluded their case against the Trump Organization by challenging the defense's attempts to distance Donald Trump and his company from the CFO's fraud.

Macron hits New Orleans' French Quarter, meets with Musk
French President Emmanuel Macron has paid a visit to Louisiana, the U.S. state most closely aligned with his country historically and culturally.


Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone testifies before federal grand jury
Two top Trump White House lawyers testified before a federal grand jury investigating Jan. 6, sources told ABC News.

Warnock or Walker? New poll shows who is leading heated GA Senate runoff, as countdown to election begins
Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is leading the Senate race against Herschel Walker in a new CNN/SSRS poll that also found the economy remains the top issue to Georgia voters.

Georgia county ordered to extend absentee ballot deadline in runoff election | CNN Politics
A superior court judge in Georgia has ordered Cobb County to extend its deadline for accepting absentee ballots in the US Senate runoff after a lawsuit claimed that numerous voters who had applied for absentee ballots had not received them.


Pentagon debuts its new stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider
The United States' newest nuclear stealth bomber has made its public debut after years of secret development.


Russia-Ukraine live updates: Putin suspends key US-Russia nuclear treaty in speech denouncing West
Live updates on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Biden condemns antisemitism as Ye praises Hitler days after dinner with Trump, white nationalist Fuentes
Biden condemned antisemitism and took an apparent shot at former President Donald Trump after he dined with the rapper Ye and white nationalist Nick Fuentes.

DNC panel votes to make South Carolina first nominating state instead of Iowa
South Carolina will replace the starting-gun spot held for decades by Iowa after that state’s caucus suffered technical problems in 2020.


Finland's Sanna Marin says Europe would be in trouble without US
"I must be brutally honest with you," Sanna Marin says. "We would be in trouble without the US."


Prosecutor says Donald Trump knew about his company's alleged tax fraud scheme
The prosecution rested its case, but first got permission to tell jurors a fraudulent practice "was known to Mr. Trump"


Newt Gingrich: GOP ‘must learn to quit underestimating’ Biden
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said in a blog post that the Republican Party “must learn to quit underestimating” President Biden. Gingrich said in the post on his website that Bi…


Trump expresses support for Capitol rioters as he continues to embrace extremist groups | CNN Politics
Former President Donald Trump expressed support for the rioters behind the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol in a video played during a fundraiser Thursday that was hosted by the Patriot Freedom Project, a group that assists families of those charged in the riot.


‘Election Crime’: Trump rages against Big Tech amid Hunter Biden revelations - Washington Examiner
Former President Donald Trump seethed amid the Hunter Biden laptop revelations and lashed out at Big Tech and the Justice Department for engaging in "illegal and sinister" behavior. Decrying the 2020 election as a "scam and a fraud," Twitter's onetime most voracious user leaned on the laptop...


'Silence is complicity': Biden calls on political leaders to denounce antisemitism
A number of Republicans have distanced themselves from Ye, who recently dined with Trump, after the rapper's antisemitic interview with a conspiracy theorist.


Prosecutor: Evidence shows Trump 'explicitly' OK'd tax fraud
Prosecutors have resumed their closing argument in the Trump Organization’s criminal tax fraud trial, promising to share previously unrevealed details about Donald Trump’s knowledge of a tax dodge scheme hatched by one of his top executives.


Germany welcomes Biden comments in trade dispute
Germany has welcomed President Joe Biden’s apparent willingness to discuss tweaking U.S. legislation that European leaders say unfairly discriminates against their industries

Ukraine can win against disorganised Russian army: Ex-NATO chief
Al Jazeera interviews Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO’s chief from 2009 until 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea.

Dems move to make South Carolina, not Iowa, 1st voting state
Democrats have voted to remove Iowa as the leadoff state on the presidential nominating calendar and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024.


Distaste for Walker provides tailwind for Warnock in Georgia
Distaste for Herschel Walker appears to be bolstering Democratic enthusiasm for Sen. Raphael Warnock in Georgia's Tuesday runoff.


Biden's South Carolina pick for presidential kick-off spurs state battle
President Joe Biden's bid to shake up the Democratic Party's presidential nominating contest has set off a battle with state officials, testing his political muscle and reshaping the next contest to lead the United States.
Split-ticket voting helped bring on GOP midterm demise, Republican firm finds - Washington Examiner
Apprehension among critical GOP constituencies and a penchant for split-ticket voting during the midterm elections helped wither away the expected red wave, a Republican research firm found. Despite a favorable political environment, "tactical missteps" helped to dissuade voters from rallying...


Elon Musk's 'amnesty' pledge brings back QAnon, far-right Twitter accounts
Data reviewed by NBC News shows that many restored accounts trafficked in conspiracy theories and hate speech. The changes come as some high-profile users have fled.


Hillary Clinton sends message on midterms elections, abortion rights; 'We're not going back'
Hillary Clinton said women "are not going back" amid victories on abortion access during the midterm elections and gains by female political candidates

Warnock focuses on turnout as early voting ends in Georgia runoff
Early voting closed ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.


Arizona secretary of state seeks investigation of Republicans who balked at certifying election | CNN Politics
The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office on Friday asked state and local prosecutors to investigate and take enforcement action against two Republican officials who had balked at certifying their county’s election results by the legal deadline.


Trump asks judge to keep third-party review on schedule after appeals court dismisses special master - Washington Examiner
Former President Donald Trump asked a Florida federal court to keep the third-party review of documents seized from his Mar-a-Lago estate on schedule one day after a federal appeals court ruled to halt the special master from oversight.Trump's request was made to U.S. District Judge Aileen...


Amid GOP worries, Herschel Walker’s campaign desperately pleads for cash
With control of the Senate no longer in play, the Georgia Republican is having a tough time convincing voters they need him.


Biden, asked why he's not campaigning in Georgia for Warnock, cites Boston fundraiser
President Joe Biden will not travel to Georgia to campaign for Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., ahead of the Dec. 6 runoff election for Senate.

Biden says Walker doesn’t deserve to be in the Senate
President Biden on Friday said that Republican candidate Herschel Walker does not deserve to be in the Senate, just days ahead of the runoff in Georgia on Tuesday. During a stop at a International …


Tish James' top New York aide resigns following harassment probe
James’ office confirmed her chief of staff Ibrahim Khan resigned after an outside probe into accusations against him.


Biden asks U.S. Supreme Court to pause second ruling against student debt plan
A day after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear arguments over the legality of President Joe Biden plan to cancel billions of dollars in student debt, his administration on Friday asked the justices to put on hold a judge's ruling in a separate case that found the program unlawful.

Proud Boys want DC police officer to testify in their defense at upcoming trial | CNN Politics
Lawyers for Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio revealed in court Friday that they plan to argue during their December seditious conspiracy trial that the far-right extremist group was in touch with law enforcement about their plans to rally in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021.


San Francisco vote to allow police use of deadly robots spurs concern and outrage
“I don’t think that we’ve done enough research,” one law professor and retired detective said.


From haute cuisine to hate cuisine: Why Republicans are finally taking aim at Trump
Now, Republicans may sense an opportunity to achieve Trump’s policies without Trump’s personality.


Infowars host Alex Jones files for personal bankruptcy
Infowars host Alex Jones has filed for personal bankruptcy protection in Texas. Jones cites debts that include nearly $1.5 billion he has been ordered to pay to families who sued him over his conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook school massacre.


Increased drought forces California to deliver less water to cities
The West Coast's ongoing drought has forced California's water management system to greatly reduce its output to 27 million people.

Border crisis not to blame for suicide among CBP officials - Washington Examiner
The first suicidologist for U.S. Customs and Border Protection says several factors contribute to the high number of suicides among employees.

Unindicted Trump looms large over closings in company's New York tax fraud trial
Prosecutors called the former president the "elephant not in the room" during their closing arguments Friday.


Four Navy sailors at same command appear to have died by suicide in less than a month
All four were assigned to the Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center, in Norfolk, Va.


Trump Org. closing arguments end after debate over role of former president | CNN Politics
Closing arguments ended Friday in the criminal trial of the Trump Organization with New York prosecutors urging the jury to put aside politics and the company’s namesake and focus simply on the fraud allegations against it – despite accusing Donald Trump of knowing about the schemes in real time.


US targets Russian mercenary group over religious freedom
The Biden administration has put a well-known Russian paramilitary organization on a list of religious freedom violators alongside a number of notorious terrorist organizations.


US Embassy in Spain among targets in string of letter bombs: Report - Washington Examiner
A letter bomb was discovered and safely defused at the United States Embassy in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday, marking the sixth explosive device to be sent to high-profile government targets in recent weeks. The latest bomb was intercepted Thursday afternoon by the security post at the embassy, a...


Top Republican accuses Biden administration of ‘unlawful’ stonewalling of Afghanistan oversight
The ranking Republican of the House Foreign Affairs Committee is accusing top Biden administration officials of violating the law by stonewalling oversight efforts of U.S. assistance in Afghanistan…


Top House Republican demands answers from Biden admin over non-binary nuke official facing prison time
Rep. Jim Banks, the top member of the powerful Republican Study Committee, wrote to Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, demanding answers about non-binary official Sam Brinton.

World Cup Viewer's Guide: Americans face the Netherlands
DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Christian Pulisic became an American star with the winning goal — and the injury he got while scoring it — that lifted the United States into the round of 16 at the World Cup.


Rail unions slam Senate's 'anti-American' rejection of sick days
SMART-TD, the largest rail union, called the vote on paid sick days, "extremely disappointing."

Biden’s NIH pressed by lawmakers over taxpayer-funded ‘cruel dog tests’ - Washington Examiner
EXCLUSIVE — President Joe Biden's National Institutes of Health is being pressed by members of Congress for answers on the agency's taxpayer-backed "cruel dog tests," according to a Thursday letter obtained by the Washington Examiner. The NIH has come under fire for conducting experiments on...


Putin is open to talks and diplomacy on Ukraine, Kremlin says
President Vladimir Putin is open to talks on a possible settlement to the conflict in Ukraine and believes in a diplomatic solution, the Kremlin said on Friday after Joe Biden suggested he was prepared to speak to the Russian leader.

U.S. judge dismisses indictment against Huawei CFO that strained U.S.-China relations
A U.S. judge on Friday dismissed an indictment against Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies Co [RIC:RIC:HWT.UL], formally ending a criminal sanctions case that strained U.S.-China relations.

Florida, DeSantis yank billions in investments from 'woke' BlackRock over ESG investing
Florida is yanking $2 billion worth of state assets managed by BlackRock, escalating the GOP standoff with the world’s largest money manager over ESG.
www.usatoday.com

US hiring stays strong, complicating Fed's inflation fight
The nation’s employers kept hiring briskly in November despite high inflation and a slow-growing economy — a sign of resilience in the face of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes

Uvalde shooting victims seek $27B, class action in lawsuit
Victims of a Texas elementary school shooting are seeking a $27 billion class action lawsuit against city and state police, the city of Uvalde and other school and law enforcement officials for failing to follow active shooter protocol, according to the lawsuit filed this week.


New B-21 stealth bomber is unveiled: What did we see?
The new B-21 stealth bomber was unveiled publicly on Friday.

Man arrested in fatal shooting of Migos rapper Takeoff
Police in Texas have announced an arrest in last month’s shooting death of the performer Takeoff. Houston police said Friday that 33-year-old Patrick Xavier Clark was charged with murder and has been arrested in connection with the rapper’s death.


Mar-a-Lago documents: Takeaways from the ruling rebuking Donald Trump and the appointment of a special master | CNN Politics
The appeals court ruling throwing out the special master process that had been put in place for the Mar-a-Lago search was a major rebuke of former President Donald Trump’s arguments for why the materials seized from his home should be subject to outside review.


West Bank footage throws spotlight on Israel's use of lethal force
Four Palestinians were shot dead by Israeli troops during confrontations on one day this week.


Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott responds to LeBron James’s criticisms - Washington Examiner
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott issued his response to LeBron James's criticisms of team owner Jerry Jones. Their comments are about a published photo of Jones from 1957 outside North Little Rock High School as black students were being integrated into the school for the first time...


FBI director admits Trump was right about TikTok's national security issues: 'Doesn't share our values'
FBI Director Christopher Wray said at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy on Friday that people should stop using TikTok amid national security concerns.

Early voting ending with polls in Georgia showing Warnock, Walker are neck and neck
Early voting is wrapping up in the high-profile Georgia runoff election and polls are showing a razor tight race between Republican Herschel Walker and Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock. NBC News’ Vaughn Hillyard has the latest updates.


Republican flips Northern California congressional seat
Correction: John Duarte is projected to win the race in California’s 13th Congressional District. Republican nominee John Duarte is projected to win the race in California’s 13th Congressiona…


Biden sees economy avoiding recession, but risks remain
President Joe Biden is assuring the nation that the U.S. economy is chugging along. But along with his upbeat words on Friday, a new jobs report showed that high inflation remains a threat.


Ukraine war shows Europe too reliant on U.S., Finland PM says
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown that Europe is too reliant on the United States for its own security, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday.

Prosecutor turns focus on Donald Trump as company's tax fraud trial ends
Donald Trump's namesake real estate company engaged in tax fraud and the former U.S. president knew it was going on, a prosecutor said in closing arguments in the Trump Organization's criminal trial on Friday, countering defense assertions that Trump was unaware of the scheme.

FBI met weekly with Big Tech ahead of the 2020 election, agent testifies
An FBI agent testified to Republican attorneys general this week that the FBI held weekly meetings with Big Tech companies in Silicon Valley ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

Bhopal disaster’s perpetrators used ‘dummy’ firms to keep biz on
Several Indian gov’t firms bought Union Carbide products through a backdoor channel for up to 14 years.

Prince Harry and Meghan drop documentary preview during historic William and Kate US trip - Washington Examiner
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry dropped the first preview for their Netflix documentary series Thursday, coinciding with Prince William and Kate Middleton's first visit to the United States in eight years. The trailer for Netflix's Harry & Meghan documentary promised an...


Dozens of senators warn China of ‘grave consequences’ if it uses violence against protesters
Nearly half of the Senate signed onto a pointed letter to China’s Ambassador in Washington on Friday, warning of “grave consequences” and “extraordinary damage” to Sino-U.S. relations if Beijing ca…


An interracial couple was pressured to break up. Four decades later, they rekindled their romance and got married.
Jeanne Gustavson tracked down the love of her life decades after she broke up with him because her family didn't support their relationship.

Musk spars with advocates over hate speech on Twitter
Musk said Twitter’s post-takeover hate speech issue has subsided. An advocacy group begs to differ.


Wounded officers sue Sig Sauer, say gun goes off by itself
Police and federal law enforcement officers are among 20 people from multiple states saying they were wounded by a popular type of Sig Sauer pistol

Georgia shatters single-day early voting record again
Georgia topped its one-day record for early voting again on Friday, with more than 350,000 voters casting their vote in the runoff election between Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Republican Herschel …


Immigrant advocates challenge constitutionality of DeSantis' migrant flights
The Southern Poverty Law Center and immigration advocacy groups are suing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state transportation secretary for flying migrants to Massachusetts.


Judge blocks Indiana abortion ban on religious freedom grounds
A second Indiana judge on Friday blocked the state from enforcing its law banning most abortions after Jewish, Muslim and other non-Christian women challenged it in a lawsuit.

Web designer opposed to gay marriage at center of U.S. Supreme Court clash
The wedding websites that Colorado-based web designer Lorie Smith would like to create for clients might offer ceremony details, pictures, a story about the couple and a biblical quote celebrating how through marriage they "become one flesh."

Congressional Christmas crunch
Congress successfully avoided a government shutdown by passing bill to avoid a railroad strike.

Cameroon is first African team to beat Brazil at World Cup
Cameroon coach Rigobert Song came full circle on a memorable and bittersweet night for African soccer.


FBI director defends failed investigations of Chinese academics
Speaking at the University of Michigan, Wray also said Chinese Americans are "in the crosshairs of the Chinese government," which tries to recruit them.


Teenagers led a group of hackers who breached some of the world's biggest tech companies. The government wants to know how they did it.
The group targeted Uber, Microsoft, Okta and Samsung for extortion, in some cases, DHS Secretary Mayorkas said, "with relatively unsophisticated techniques."


Biden fires back at Holocaust denialism
President Biden on Friday issued an apparent repudiation of Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, who recently denied the Holocaust and has for weeks been making other antisemitic comments, …


Alex Jones files for bankruptcy protection, lists Sandy Hook families as creditors
The bankruptcy filing by Alex Jones comes weeks after he was ordered to pay more than $1 billion to the family of Sandy Hook massacre victims.

Despite hurdles, DNC members unite behind Biden's proposed primary shake-up
Biden's plan adds Georgia and Michigan to be among the first five voting states and would vault South Carolina to the front of the line.

Tesla delivers the first of its semitruck line - Washington Examiner
Tesla delivered the first of its electric semitrucks on Thursday after five years of developing the model. CEO Elon Musk appeared at the truck's factory in Sparks, Nevada, to commemorate the shipment but did not disclose how many models were sent out. While it is not the only electric semitruck...


Anita Hill says Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade is indicator of what could happen to individuals’ civil rights | CNN Politics
Americans should not just consider how the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade impacts women’s rights, but also how it affects individuals’ civil rights, Anita Hill said in an interview with CNN’s Chris Wallace.


Boebert's race against Frisch in Colorado goes to recount
The Colorado Secretary of State has ordered a recount in Colorado’s congressional race where Republican Rep.


Kamala Harris communications director set to depart after nearly a year - Washington Examiner
Vice President Kamala Harris’s communications director Jamal Simmons is leaving his position after nearly one year in the role, according to an internal memo obtained by the Washington Examiner.Simmons, a veteran Democratic messaging operative, joined Harris’s team in January following months of...

Prosecutor: Evidence shows Trump 'explicitly' sanctioned alleged tax fraud scheme at two companies
A defense attorney representing one of the Trump companies on trial for the alleged fraud dismissed the argument raised in the prosecution's closing.
www.usatoday.com

Democrats vote to adopt Biden's shakeup to 2024 presidential primary calendar
Democratic Party officials meet in the nation’s capital on a mission to revamp the top of their 2024 presidential nominating calendar after President Biden proposed dramatic changes

South Carolina Democrats stunned by Biden's surprise plan to put them first in 2024
Top South Carolina Democrats had not even requested to be moved to the most enviable spot for the 2024 presidential primary.


Major Biden donors scored invites to lavish state dinner
Several prominent donors to President Biden's victory fund and campaign received invites to his first lavish state dinner, including Alex Soros, the son of billionaire George Soros.

Who in the U.S. gets paid sick leave, in four charts
Where you live, where you work and what industry you’re in all affect the likelihood of getting paid time off for illness.


U.S. labor market shrugs off recession fears; keeps Fed on tightening path
U.S. employers hired more workers than expected in November and increased wages, shrugging off mounting worries of a recession, but that will probably not stop the Federal Reserve from slowing the pace of its interest rate hikes starting this month.

European security org faces existential crisis at meeting
A security organization born in the Cold War to maintain peace in Europe has ended a high-level meeting without a final resolution.


Latest cloud for U.S. solar industry


World Cup updates: Team USA looks forward to 2026
The World Cup is underway in Qatar.

Florida lawmakers consider move to reverse stripping Disney of self-governing status: report
Florida lawmakers are reportedly working on a legal move that would halt the decision to strip Walt Disney World of its unique self-governing status, first made in the aftermath of the mass media c…


Biden faces backlash from Democrats in Iowa, New Hampshire against making South Carolina first primary state
Democrats in New Hampshire and Iowa are voicing concerns about President Biden's plan to reshuffle the Democratic Party's primary election calendar.

Seoul arrests ex-top security official over border killing
South Korean prosecutors arrested the country’s former national security director over suspicions he engaged in a cover-up to hide details and distort the circumstances surrounding North Korea’s killing of a South Korean fisheries official near the rivals’ sea boundary in 2020.


President Biden greets Prince William in Boston
President Biden greeted Prince William as event brought them both to Boston on Friday.


Negotiators take first steps toward plastic pollution treaty
More than 2,000 experts wrapped up a week of negotiations on plastic pollution Friday, at one of the largest global gatherings ever to address what even industry leaders in plastics say is a crisis.


Idaho student murders: Rumours, 'clues' and online detectives
Amateur web detectives are trying to solve the killings of the four students, but experts urge caution.


Help wanted: New York City seeks 'badass' rat czar
Millions of New York rats have been put on notice: the most populous city in the United States is hiring a director of rodent mitigation, a new position that calls for a "swashbuckling attitude" and a "general aura of badassery."

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna expressed concerns over Twitter’s censorship of Hunter Biden laptop story
Rep. Ro Khanna appeared to be the only Democrat who expressed concerns about Twitter's decision to censor the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson still facing threats stemming from 2020 election — "The Takeout"
In her reelection last month, Benson comfortably defeated her Trump-backed opponent by14 percentage points.


Rail strike is cancelled - at the cost of paid sick leave
The pandemic and a vicious flu season has re-energised the fight for paid sick leave.


Florida mulls U-turn on move to strip Disney theme-parks of self-governing status - FT
Florida lawmakers are mulling plans to reverse a move that would strip Walt Disney Co of its right to operate a private government around its famous theme-parks, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people briefed on the plan.

Julia Reichert, Oscar-winning documentarian, dies at 76
An Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker behind “American Factory” whose films explored themes of race, class and gender, Julia Reicher has died at 76.


Rumors are swirling about the University of Idaho murders. Here's what investigators have said so far.
As details on the University of Idaho murders continue to emerge, rumors of skinned dogs and connections to other stabbings have surfaced. Here's what police say about the claims – one month after the murders.


Border district congressman warns of migrant 'hurricane' at border when Title 42 ends
Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is warning of a hurricane of mirgation at the southern border when Title 42 ends later this month after a federal court order.
No one-on-ones yet scheduled between Biden and African leaders heading to D.C.
A lack of bilateral meetings is likely to frustrate visiting leaders eager for time with the U.S. president.


FBI director raises national security concerns about TikTok
FBI Director Chris Wray is raising national security concerns about TikTok. He warned Friday that control of the popular video sharing app is in the hands of a Chinese government “that doesn’t share our values.”


French President Macron continues American tour in New Orleans
President Macron continued his diplomatic visit to the United States in Louisiana after a year of surging energy costs in France inspiring protest nationwide.

South Korea advances at World Cup after wild finish to group
South Korea advanced to the round of 16 at the World Cup on the tiebreaker of goals scored after beating Portugal 2-1 following a stoppage-time strike from Hwang Hee-chan.


Former Trump White House counsel and his deputy testify to Jan. 6 criminal grand jury | CNN Politics
Former Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone and deputy counsel Patrick Philbin testified to a federal grand jury for several hours in Washington, DC, on Friday, indicating the Justice Department had compelled the men to answer more questions in the January 6, 2021, criminal investigation...


Border crossings are near record highs and may go up more on Dec. 21
Estimates of the extra number of migrants who might cross the border daily when Title 42 ends range up to 2,500, meaning daily apprehension totals might hit 10,000.


Judge denies emergency motion to block Indiana AG from accessing medical records in investigation of abortion services provided to 10-year-old | CNN
An Indiana judge has denied an emergency motion that in part requested to block the state’s attorney general from accessing patient medical records in an investigation involving an Indianapolis doctor who provided abortion services to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio, according to an order...


EXPLAINER: 5 key takeaways from the November jobs report
For nearly nine months, the Federal Reserve has relentlessly raised interest rates to try to slow the U.S. job market and bring inflation under control.


Chief of staff to New York attorney general resigns amid ‘misconduct’ allegations, source says | CNN
Ibrahim Khan, the chief of staff to New York State Attorney General Letitia James, has resigned amid “misconduct” allegations, according to a source with the attorney general’s office.


Suspect in murder of Migos rapper Takeoff arrested in Houston
A suspect has been arrested and charged in the shooting death of rapper Takeoff last month, Houston police and city officials said on Friday, in what the mayor called the latest tragic example of "a young man taking the life of another young man."

Suspect in killings of 4 at pot farm returned to Oklahoma
The man wanted in the shooting deaths of four people at an Oklahoma marijuana farm has been extradited back to the state from Florida

French President Macron continues American tour in New Orleans
President Macron continued his diplomatic visit to the United States in Louisiana after a year of surging energy costs in France inspiring protest nationwide.

'We want him here': Maxine Waters urges Bankman-Fried to testify
The former FTX CEO has signaled he would be open to testifying.


GOP's Duarte takes California Central Valley US House seat
Republican John Duarte defeated Democrat Adam Gray in a new California U.S. House district in the Central Valley farm belt that produced the closest congressional contest in the state this year.


Elton John to play Glastonbury as epic tour draws to close
Elton John is scheduled to perform at the Glastonbury Festival in June, in what organizers say will be his farewell show in Britain

"Rogue wave" kills American woman, injures four others on Antarctic cruise ship
"We didn't know if we should get our gear ready for abandoning ship," one passenger told a local TV station.


US military halts patrols against Islamic State in Syria
U.S. forces have stopped joint military patrols in northern Syria to counter Islamic State extremists, as Turkish threats of a ground invasion stymie those missions with Kurdish forces.


Biden administration weighs Trump-like asylum limits as it braces for end of Title 42 border restrictions
Title 42, a policy that allows U.S. border officials to expel some migrants on public health grounds, is set to end on Dec. 21 because of a court order.


Jennifer Garner, John Legend attend lavish U.S. state dinner for France's Macron
U.S. President Joe Biden rolled out the red carpet on Thursday for celebrities, lawmakers, and titans of industry at the White House's first state dinner in honor of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Biden weighs reviving Trump-era immigration restrictions, officials say
U.S. President Joe Biden's administration would make it harder to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border under several plans being considered that bear similarities to policies pushed by former President Donald Trump.

US presidential election 2024: Biden pushes to re-shuffle early states
President Joe Biden is calling for the list of early primary states to be changed.


Democrats vote to move forward with Biden plan to put South Carolina first on 2024 primary calendar | CNN Politics
The rule-making arm of the Democratic National Committee on Friday voted to approve a proposal to drastically reshape the 2024 presidential nominating calendar and make South Carolina the first state to hold a primary, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire on the same day a few days later, and...


US forces monitor Mideast skies at Qatar base amid World Cup
AL-UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar (AP) — As World Cup fans throng stadiums across Qatar, about 8,000 American troops stationed just nearby watch over the airspace of the tumultuous Middle East from a major base run by this energy-rich nation.


West Virginia state senator leaves Democratic Party for the GOP
Glenn Jeffries, a state senator representing West Virginia's 8th District, officially filed to leave the Democratic Party and join the Republican Party.

Man pardoned by ex-Kentucky gov. convicted of strangulation
A Kentucky man has been convicted of strangulation and domestic violence, three years after he was one of hundreds pardoned during former Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin’s last days in office

DeSantis 2024 prospects prompt Fla. lawmakers to review law
Florida’s top lawmakers are considering changes to a law to clear the path for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to run for president without giving up his post.


'He did nothing wrong': Family of Texas entrepreneur fatally shot by police say he was defending his home
Austin police shot Rajan Moonesinghe on Nov. 15 as he held a rifle on his own porch. His family told NBC News he thought his home was burglarized and say police did not provide enough warning.


Texas man arrested, charged with threatening Boston doctor caring for transgender children
Prosecutors say the suspect called and threatened the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center after misinformation spread online about procedures at Boston Children's Hospital.


Hillary Clinton says overturning Roe v. Wade puts US in company of Afghanistan, Sudan
Hillary Clinton spoke Friday about the overturn of Roe v. Wade and said it is "shocking to think that in any way we're related to poor Afghanistan and Sudan."

Iranian athlete’s family home demolished by officials, media outlet says | CNN
The family home of Iranian rock climber Elnaz Rekabi has been demolished, according to the pro-reform news outlet IranWire, after she rose to international prominence this fall for competing with her head uncovered.


Biden's push for early South Carolina primary seen as reward for Clyburn’s loyalty
President Biden suggested the Democratic National Committee move its first primary to South Carolina, the state he first won in 2020 that is home to a key ally.

Brad William Henke, ‘Orange Is the New Black’ actor, dead at 56 | CNN
Brad William Henke, a veteran character actor known for his work on “Orange Is the New Black” and other series, has died, according to his agent and manager.


An influencer wanted a 'Brazilian butt lift.' She ended up at the hospital 'covered in blood.'
In a murky regulatory system, med spas advertise BBLs on Instagram alongside influencer promotions. One patient detailed why they aren’t happy with their results.


Teenager campaigning for Warnock shot in Savannah, Georgia: police
The Savannah Police Department has arrested Jimmy Paiz, who is accused of shooting a 15-year-old campaigner for Sen. Raphael Warnock in Savannah on Thursday night.

Syria resisting Russia's efforts to broker Turkey summit, sources say
Syria is resisting Russian efforts to broker a summit with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, three sources said on Friday, after more than a decade of bitter enmity since the outbreak of Syria's civil war.

An AI chatbot went viral. Some say it’s better than Google; others worry it's problematic.
ChatGPT has become social media's latest favorite tool for getting answers online. But some have warned bad actors could take advantage of the bot.


Imprisoned American Paul Whelan in Russian prison hospital, says family
The family of Paul Whelan said the unjustly detained American has been transferred to a Russian prison hospital, confirming the former U.S. Marine is alive but saying they have little information a…


Elon Musk’s complicated relationship with California


U.S. detainee Whelan calls family after week of silence in Russia
American detainee Paul Whelan phoned his family from Russia early on Friday in his first contact since last week, a period of silence that prompted the White House to express concern.

EU, G7, Australia to cap price on Russian oil at $60 per barrel
Price cap aims to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its war in Ukraine from selling crude oil internationally.

'Don't yell that': fears compete with calls for 'freedom' at China protests
As a large Beijing street protest against strict COVID curbs reached a climax late last Sunday, several protesters shouted the unspeakable - for China's ruling Communist Party and its leader Xi Jinping to step down.


Los Angeles County mask mandate could return as COVID cases rise
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to increase in Los Angeles County, health officials say they soon may reimposing indoor mask mandates.

Why are so many people sick right now?
One week after the Thanksgiving holiday, and chances are good that you are sniffling, coughing or feeling a little scratch in your throat. What’s behind the seemingly omnipresent illness?


Flu and COVID-19 vaccine uptake remain low
Story at a glance Flu is hitting heavy in many states. Flu shot coverage among adults is as low as 19 percent in some states. What people believe about their health and what information they have a…


Nearly all states reporting 'very high' or 'high' levels of flu-like illness: CDC
New data from the CDC shows that 44 U.S. states are reporting "very high" or "high" levels of flu activity.

Biden administration not expecting to renew monkeypox public health emergency
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said on Friday that it does not expect to renew the public health emergency declaration for the monkeypox outbreak when it expires early next year,…


Los Angeles County mask mandate could return as COVID cases rise
As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations continue to increase in Los Angeles County, health officials say they soon may reimposing indoor mask mandates.

Suffering from flu, RSV or COVID-19? How you can tell the difference
Flu, RSV and COVID-19 have many symptoms that are similar, but public health experts tell ABC News how you may be able to tell the difference between the three.

Peanut allergies: Parents worry after Palforzia drug sales flop
World-first peanut allergy drug Palforzia’s poor sales spark concerns over future drug research.


Suffering from flu, RSV or COVID-19? How you can tell the difference
Flu, RSV and COVID-19 have many symptoms that are similar, but public health experts tell ABC News how you may be able to tell the difference between the three.

Will pandemic prep and Medicare cuts fit the bill?
The leading bill aimed at bolstering the nation’s defenses against future pandemics is in peril as Congress races to put together a year-end package.


Beijing, Shenzhen loosen more COVID curbs as China fine-tunes policy
Although daily cases are near all-time highs, China is looking to make its zero-COVID policy more targeted amid an economic slowdown and public frustration that has boiled over into unrest.

China's Xi told EU less lethal Omicron opens way for fewer COVID restrictions
Chinese President Xi Jinping blamed mass protests in Chinese cities on youth frustrated by years of the COVID-19 pandemic, but said the now dominant Omicron variant of the virus paved the way for fewer restrictions, European Union officials said.