Mitch McConnell, Kentucky's long-serving Republican senator, declared he will not seek re-election in 2026, marking his retirement at the end of his current term. At the age of 83, McConnell announced his decision amidst health-related incidents, underscoring a significant shift in Senate leadership.
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The Australian Tibetan youth leadership training began at the Karuna Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains, Australia, gathering 30 young Tibetans from six regions. Organized by the Tibet Information Office, the event aims to develop leadership skills and strengthen commitment to the Tibetan cause. CTA spokesperson Tenzin Lekshay delivered a keynote address. The event also highlighted shared struggles between Tibetans and aboriginal communities, fostering stronger support networks.
A cyclist in Regent's Park was attacked by men wielding a hammer, who stole his £4,200 bike in the early morning hours. This incident is part of a growing trend of violent bike robberies. Cyclists are calling for increased police presence as many feel unsafe due to the rising number of attacks.
Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, resigned after facing pressure from the Trump administration to enforce a campus mask ban at protests. Armstrong assured faculty she would not enforce the policy but ultimately stepped down after the university conceded to the federal mandate to avoid losing $400 million in funding.
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.
Prince Harry reveals his emotional experience of contacting his late mother, Princess Diana, through a psychic in his memoir, Spare. Diana reassured Harry that he was living the life she wanted for him. The memoir also shares an anecdote involving his son's mishap with a Christmas ornament and a symbolic encounter with a leopard during a trip to Botswana.
An Indian-American woman, Reeva Gupta, is suing a flight school for negligence after surviving a deadly 2023 plane crash in Long Island that killed her mother and the pilot. The lawsuit alleges ignored safety warnings led to the unavoidable accident, as an electrical short caused an in-flight fire.
Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is expected to be extradited from Pennsylvania to New York. Mangione, 26, allegedly waited outside a Manhattan hotel before killing Thompson on December 4th. He was apprehended with a 3D-printed handgun, silencer, and ammunition. New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed her commitment to justice.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday in Britain, where they discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Macron had previously said the two sides had "a lot of convergence" on pressing issues including Ukraine and the Middle East.
During a congressional hearing on US aid to Europe, Rep. Keith Self misgendered transgender Rep. Sarah McBride, sparking a heated confrontation. Rep. William Keating demanded proper recognition of McBride's identity, leading to an abrupt session end. Self later defended his actions citing a Trump-era policy. This incident is not McBride's first of such treatment.
Historical parallels illustrate the potential dangers of mass deportations. During the Great Depression, the US government forcibly deported up to 1.8 million people of Mexican descent, including thousands of US-born citizens, in an effort to free up jobs for white Americans. The economic outcome of this policy was counterproductive—wages for US-born workers stagnated or declined, and labor shortages crippled key industries. Fast-forward to today, where similar measures could have an even more... Expand