US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump boarded Air Force One for the first time in four years to assess Hurricane Helene's damage in North Carolina. The visit also includes a trip to California to inspect wildfire damage and address resource issues.
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Margo Martin, a White House aide, shared a photo with Donald Trump from the Oval Office, praising him as the "world's greatest boss." The picture gained attention due to a map showing "Gulf of America," reminiscent of Trump's past executive order.
President Trump considered deploying US special forces to combat Mexican cartels and took executive actions on US landmarks, renaming Denali and the Gulf of Mexico. He also ended an app for migrant legal entry, while emphasizing his priority to keep America safe and his stance on border issues.
Donald Trump thinks Russia is ready to make a peace deal to end the Ukraine conflict. He blames Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the delay. Trump criticised Zelenskyy for rejecting any agreement that legitimises Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Zelenskyy says Ukraine's constitution does not allow surrendering territory. Relations between Trump and Zelenskyy worsened after a heated meeting.
SpaceX’s seventh Starship test flight on Thursday achieved a significant milestone as the Super Heavy booster was successfully caught by robotic arms. However, the spacecraft’s engines failed mid-flight, and contact was lost 8.5 minutes after liftoff.
Frenchman Dominique Pelicot, convicted in December for organizing the rape of his wife, Gisèle, is now being questioned over an attempted rape and a rape-murder case from the 1990s. Pelicot, 72, is under investigation for the 1991 murder of Sophie Narme and a 1999 attempted rape, with DNA evidence linking him to the latter. Pelicot denies involvement in the 1991 case but admitted the 1999 crime. Concerns have risen about other potential undetected crimes.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a surprise visit to US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate. Photos showed them at Mar-a-Lago's entrance and conversing, with a Christmas tree in the background. The meeting preceded President Joe Biden's planned visit to Rome. Meloni also met Florida Senator Marco Rubio, with the purpose of the visit undisclosed.
A recent Taiwanese survey reveals alarmingly low support among young people for regulating pro-China influencers. Less than 40% of those aged 20-24 favor legal measures against influencers promoting unification, compared to much higher support in other age groups. Experts warn this indicates a concerning lack of awareness about Chinese influence campaigns, particularly among youth exposed to Chinese social media.
In Herald Square, Manhattan, a taxi struck a 9-year-old boy and other pedestrians after the driver possibly experienced a medical emergency. Bystanders quickly intervened to rescue the pinned victims. Six people were injured, including the boy's mother. The incident is under investigation, but initial indications suggest it was accidental, not deliberate.
US judges have temporarily blocked parts of President Trump's executive orders targeting Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, citing constitutional violations. The firms argue these orders aim to punish opposition and restrict their legal work. Jenner & Block and Perkins Coie have sued to stop further actions.
China's military conducted extensive air and naval activities near Taiwan, prompting the island's defense ministry to activate an emergency response center. Taiwanese officials described the activities as training, while China reiterated its stance against Taiwanese independence and foreign collaboration. The increased military presence followed Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's recent visits to Hawaii and Guam.