Ukrainian President Zelenskyy thanks US President Biden for unwavering support, days before Biden leaves office. Discussions include new sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and bolstering Ukraine's air defenses. Zelenskyy values US-provided military aid in defending against ongoing Russian aggression and stresses the importance of preserving Ukraine’s independence.
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French far-right leader Marine Le Pen paid tribute to her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, the controversial founder of the National Front who passed away at 96. Known for antisemitism and racial violence, he was both revered and criticized. Marine aims to mainstream the party despite their public disputes and her own legal troubles.
Germany holds elections on Sunday after its three-party "traffic light" coalition collapsed last year and could soon have a "black-red" government while a "Jamaica" or "blackberry" alliance is less likely. - Colourful coalitions - Scholz's collapsed red-yellow-green coalition was dubbed the "traffic light" government.
Stanley Zhong, a teenager with a perfect academic record and a job at Google, is suing multiple universities after being rejected by 16 colleges. The lawsuits allege discrimination against Asian-American applicants in admissions, despite affirmative action being banned in California and by the US Supreme Court.
Residents in Western North Carolina are worried about FEMA's decision to end temporary housing assistance for 2,000 families after Hurricane Helene, especially with a snowstorm imminent. Concerns about power outages and infrastructure fragility persist. Volunteers continue to provide aid amid growing frustration over the government's response.
Two Oregon men, aged 59 and 37, were found dead from exposure in Washington's Gifford Pinchot National Forest after failing to return from a Sasquatch search. Their lack of preparedness and severe weather led to their deaths. A family member reported them missing on Christmas Day, prompting a three-day search involving 60 volunteers, canine units, drones, and the Coast Guard.
A federal judge has mandated the disclosure of records from an initiative led by Elon Musk and established by President Trump, citing unusual secrecy. Another judge has blocked the initiative's access to sensitive treasury records, finding such access violates federal law as it affects the central payment system managing trillions in federal payments.
Greek authorities recovered one body and rescued 39 migrants after their boat capsized off Gavdos. Many remain missing, prompting a search operation. Separately, two vessels rescued 135 more migrants from boats near Gavdos, believed to have departed Libya. These incidents highlight the increasing frequency of migrant boat emergencies in the area.
A train collision near Sri Lanka's Minneriya National Park killed at least six elephants, including four babies. The crash, which caused train derailment, occurred as the elephants attempted to cross railway tracks. This incident highlights the rising number of elephant fatalities from train accidents, driven by habitat loss and increasing elephant movement near human settlements. In 2024, nine elephants died in such collisions, a slight decrease from 24 in 2023.
On a lush green hilltop on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Carmela Keren Yakuti proudly shows off her home in Dovev, which she fled more than 16 months ago over fears of a Hezbollah attack. - Rockets, mortars - While many of Dovev's residents were returning this week, the scene was not so joyous in other communities along Israel's northern border.
Meta offers TikTok creators financial incentives, longer Reels video durations, and new editing tools to entice them to Instagram and Facebook amidst TikTok's uncertainty in the US. Despite potential resistance due to Meta's perceived political affiliations, financial rewards may sway creators' and followers' platform choices.