Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been appointed acting administrator of USAID, which is facing potential closure under the direction from Elon Musk and Donald Trump. USAID headquarters was shut down on Monday, with remote work enforced for employees. Established in the 1960s, the agency provides international humanitarian aid, which Musk sees as unnecessary.
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Santa Claus departed the North Pole at 4am ET and will enter the US between 9pm and midnight, tracked live by Norad. Norad's tradition began in 1955 due to a misprint in an ad. Santa travels starting west from the International Date Line, covering Asia, Europe, and the Americas, arriving when children are asleep.
Prosecutors have updated the indictment against Sean 'Diddy' Combs, accusing him of forcing two additional women into sex acts and threatening to drop a woman off a balcony. Combs, who denies the charges, is accused of a prolonged sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy involving at least three women.
Two security guards were injured in a gunfire exchange with a suspect attempting to steal over $1,000 worth of goods from Target at a Los Angeles shopping plaza. The suspect fired five rounds before escaping and was later arrested. The incident follows heightened concerns about retail crime in California, leading to new legislation against repeat shoplifting.
A Russian court has set a February 24 appeal hearing for French researcher Laurent Vinatier, jailed for three years for failing to register as a "foreign agent." Vinatier, working for a Swiss mediation NGO, admitted guilt, claiming ignorance of the law. France has condemned the case, which comes amid strained Russia-France relations over Ukraine. His lawyers argue the sentence is excessively harsh and sought a fine instead.
Former Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill, who killed Osama bin Laden, is launching a marijuana brand, Operator Canna Co., aimed at helping veterans with PTSD. O’Neill believes cannabis can aid in managing stress and anxiety, offering a safer alternative to alcohol and prescription drugs. Sales will support disabled veterans, law enforcement, and first responders.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to visit Washington to finalize a significant economic partnership with the US, focusing on Ukraine's rare earth minerals sector. The deal comes amid Trump's criticism of Zelenskyy and pressure for Ukraine to allocate future revenue to the US.
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.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott faced criticism after mistakenly including condolences for Rosalynn Carter, who passed in 2023, in his statement for Jimmy Carter's death. Abbott swiftly corrected the error after public backlash. This follows other past blunders, such as sharing a satirical article as real news. Abbott also ordered Texas flags at half-mast for Carter.
During a livestreamed chat, Elon Musk and Alice Weidel made controversial claims about Hitler being a communist, despite his documented anti-communist stance. The discussion, tied to free speech and media control, raised concerns among German intelligence agencies monitoring the AfD's rise in the polls ahead of the snap election.
Haiti is experiencing extreme violence with numerous killings and thousands forced to flee their homes. Despite efforts from international security missions, gangs continue to control large parts of the country. The United Nations has called for urgent support, highlighting a dramatic increase in deaths, kidnappings, and gender-based violence.