President Joe Biden honoured Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction, the highest civilian award, recognising his faith, hope, and love impacting the world. Biden conveyed the award to the pope via phone, discussing peace and alleviation efforts. This marks Biden's only presentation of the honour with distinction during his presidency.
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Ian Wagner, accused of threatening violence near UnitedHealthcare's headquarters, was ordered into custody without bond after an outburst in court, where he shouted about "power, money, and corruption." His mother, Cheryl Wagner, stated he suffers from mental illness. Officials had made multiple attempts to arrest Wagner for violating probation and electronic home monitoring before the incident at UnitedHealthcare.
Tulsi Gabbard, confirmed as the Director of National Intelligence with strong Republican support, was presented with a Captain America shield symbolizing leadership and duty. Gabbard pledges to ensure national security and address political bias in intelligence. Her bipartisan background and commitment to service mark her leadership in overseeing 18 intelligence agencies.
The Taliban has freed American citizen Faye Hall, who was detained earlier this year along with two British nationals and their Afghan interpreter. Hall thanked former President Trump for her release and highlighted the struggles of Afghan women imprisoned by the Taliban. The Reynolds couple remains in Taliban custody.
After inheriting a vast nuclear arsenal post-Soviet Union collapse, Ukraine chose to relinquish it, motivated by financial and geopolitical factors. The Budapest Memorandum of 1994 promised protection from the UK, Russia, and the US. However, Russia's 2014 Crimea annexation undermined these security guarantees, highlighting Ukraine's vulnerability amidst ongoing Russian aggression.
Detroit rapper Dajua Blanding is suing Lyft for weight discrimination after a driver refused her service citing her size. The incident, shared on TikTok, has sparked debate over corporate responsibilities towards plus-size customers. Michigan law, the only state protecting weight against discrimination, supports her claim. Lyft has reiterated their stance against discrimination.
Experts are urging the royal family to mend their relationship with Prince Harry for the 2027 Invictus Games. Despite health issues within the royal family, they believe attending the games alongside Harry would improve their public image and demonstrate unity.
Donald Trump granted clemency to over 1,500 individuals related to the January 6 Capitol riots, including violent offenders. On that day, rioters stormed the Capitol to halt the certification of Biden’s victory, resulting in injuries and deaths. Trump’s speeches incited the mob, leading to chaos and multiple instances of violence and destruction.
Marechal is the only convict who was not accused of raping Gisele Pelicot. Instead, he was found guilty of associating with Dominique Pelicot and copying his crimes. Reportedly, Marechal drugged his own wife and invited strangers to rape her, including Pelicot. According to the BBC, Marechal admitted during the trial that he had followed Dominique Pelicot’s lead and committed similar crimes, drugging his wife for five years. He was convicted of attempted rape and aggravated rape of his wife.
Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia's case has ignited a legal and diplomatic battle involving immigration policies and gang affiliation claims. Despite a judge's order, Abrego Garcia was mistakenly deported to El Salvador and is now held in a maximum-security prison. The Trump administration's refusal to comply with a Supreme Court directive to bring him back has intensified the standoff.
Cuba has announced the release of 553 prisoners after the US removed it from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move hailed by families of jailed protesters. This comes amid strained US-Cuba relations, with Cuba facing severe economic challenges partly due to US sanctions. Critics of the move argue it appeases the Cuban regime.