President Trump dismissed allegations connected to leaked Yemen war plans, calling it a 'witch hunt' and defended Secretary Hegseth despite Democratic calls for resignation. Trump's defense followed revelations about a message mishap involving timing details of strikes on Huthi rebels in a senior official's chat group.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiates the "Grain from Ukraine" fund to aid Syria's stability and economy. The program will deliver 500 tons of flour, sufficient for 33,000 Syrian families for a month. Ukraine intends to engage with European and American partners to maximize support and foster peace in the Middle East.
Conservative commentator and writer Ann Coulter said H-1B workers can not leave a company and are actually preferred not because they are highly skilled but because they are "indentured servants" which the techs want. The comment came amid a major row over Vivek Ramaswamy's criticism of American culture in which he justified why American companies hire more foreigners for tech roles.
A German court heard a couple's confession to killing two Ukrainian refugees to take a baby, motivated by their inability to have children. They planned the crime, drugged the victims, and killed them before taking the newborn. The couple is charged with double murder and child abduction.
Women in Germany experience a significant 20% drop in income from employment after marriage due to reduced working hours or complete withdrawal from the workforce, while men's earnings remain unchanged. This disparity is influenced by the country's tax system and traditional gender roles prevalent in West Germany.
Starting January 1, Milan's new law bans smoking in all public spaces, including streets, to combat air pollution and passive smoking. Non-smoker Stellina Lombardo supports the tougher measures, while some residents find it excessive. The ban, part of progressive restrictions since 2021, aims to enhance air quality and public health. E-cigarettes are exempt from this rule.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faces backlash after demanding an additional $49 million in budget cuts from the Fire Department, leading to reduced emergency response capability amid raging wildfires. The fires have destroyed thousands of homes and continue to burn uncontrollably, with firefighters struggling to contain the flames.
China is set to launch the Shenzhou 20 mission to its space station, with astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie embarking on a six-month stay. They will replace the current crew and conduct experiments, perform extravehicular activities, and improve the station. Chen Dong, a veteran astronaut, will lead the mission, while his crewmates will experience their first spaceflight.
Comedian Whitney Cummings made provocative jokes targeting the Democratic Party and Kamala Harris during CNN's New Year's Eve Live special. She criticized Joe Biden's health and the lack of voter choice within the party, while also making bold claims and questioning mainstream media coverage. Cummings received mixed reactions on social media, with strong support from MAGA followers.
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi will visit the UK, Ireland, Germany, and the US before attending the G20 meeting in South Africa. In London, he will meet UK foreign secretary David Lammy as relations improve between the two nations. Wang will also attend the Munich security conference and later chair a UN security council event on global governance. At the G20, he aims to promote multilateralism, while the US secretary of state Marco Rubio is skipping the summit over an "anti-American" agenda.
A video showing a federal worker discussing his experience with Elon Musk has sparked a debate about the treatment of federal employees. The worker revealed that Musk's visit to his agency led to job cuts and intense scrutiny of employees by young, inexperienced staff. The issue was further complicated by accusations of nepotism and internal blockades.