dailycast

Unbiased headline news – President-elect Donald Trump on Monday gave his backing to House Speaker Mike Johnson to remain in the position for the 119th Congress. Trump announced his “total and complete endorsement” of Johnson, R-La., on his Truth Social platform early Monday morning. He praised the Louisiana congressman as a “good, hard-working, religious man” and expressed confidence that Johnson “will do the right thing, and we will continue to win.” — South Korean authorities said Monday they have requested a court to issue an arrest warrant for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol over allegations of insurrection and abuse of power tied to his failed attempt to declare martial law. The request comes from a joint investigation team comprising officials from the police anticorruption office and the defense ministry. The team is seeking to detain Yoon after he failed to respond to three prior subpoenas for questioning about his December 3 martial law declaration. Similar arrests of former leaders such as Roh Tae-woo, Chun Doo-hwan, Park Geun-hye, and Lee Myung-bak occurred only after they left office. — A federal appeals court on Monday denied President-elect Donald Trump’s effort to overturn a jury’s verdict from last year, which found him liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s. The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that “Trump has not demonstrated that the district court erred in any of the challenged rulings” and found he “has not carried his burden to show that any claimed error or combination of claimed errors affected his substantial rights as required to warrant a new trial.” — The fund responsible for compensating victims of Bernie Madoff’s infamous Ponzi scheme began its final disbursement this week, distributing an additional $131 million to investors who were defrauded. Payments are being sent to 23,000 victims globally, bringing total recoveries to 94% of the losses suffered. Federal prosecutors noted that the majority of these victims were small investors who lost less than $500,000 in the massive fraud. — Three high-end watches, including a $9,000 Rolex, stolen from actor Keanu Reeves’ Los Angeles home have been recovered in Chile, police said. Chilean authorities reported that a man was arrested in Santiago on Saturday in connection with the theft, as part of a larger local operation. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is now in custody. One of the recovered watches is a Rolex Submariner engraved with the “John Wick” actor’s name. — The funeral for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100, is scheduled for Jan. 9 at Washington National Cathedral. According to the Carter Center, Carter will also lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda after Congress extended the invitation to his family. The 39th president, a peanut farmer’s son who rose to the nation’s highest office, died at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by loved ones. He had recently become the longest-lived former U.S. president.

Unbiased headline news – Syria’s newly formed government is grappling with growing unrest in several regions, marked by an increase in violations and acts of revenge. These developments have heightened fears among the country’s minorities, particularly the Alawite and Christian communities, according to Syrian analysts and experts. The rapid collapse of President Bashar Assad’s Baath Party regime, the relatively peaceful control gained by Syrian rebels, and assurances from their leader, Abu Mohammad al Jolani—who now goes by his real name, Ahmad Sharaa—have spurred optimism about the nation’s future. — Although protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza dominated headlines for months, coverage has diminished. Yet, demonstrations opposing the conflict remain active more than 14 months after hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians escalated. Protesters continue demanding an end to the violence in Gaza and greater advocacy for Palestinian rights. Major European capitals still witness large turnouts at rallies, even as some nations, such as Germany, impose restrictions on criticism of Israel. — A devastating winter storm left two people dead and six others injured as it swept across Texas and Mississippi, eventually tearing the roof off an Alabama courthouse early Sunday and causing “significant damage” in downtown areas. “The roof has been blown off of the courthouse and this could have been caused by an extremely brief tornado,” Chelsea Aaron, a WAFF-TV meteorologist, posted on social media alongside photos of the damaged Limestone County Courthouse in Athens. The rare December storm surged through Alabama late Saturday into Sunday. — California Justice Department officials are investigating the death of a man who was fatally shot by his parole officer on Christmas Eve, authorities said. Jeremy Sanchez, 26, was at his Fresno home when a “physical altercation” occurred with the parole agent, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated. The officer discharged his weapon, striking Sanchez. Despite attempting lifesaving measures, the officer was unable to prevent Sanchez’s death at the scene. — Eleven secret graves containing the remains of 15 men were uncovered in Chiapas, a southern Mexican state embroiled in a conflict between the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación drug cartels, local officials reported Sunday. Chiapas Governor Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar announced on social media that the discovery followed a raid in La Concordia, near the border with Guatemala. He added that four individuals connected to the case had been detained with weapons and drugs in their possession. — A Texas-based company known for its elaborate synchronized drone shows has been prohibited from staging such events after a mishap in Orlando in which several drones collided and fell into the crowd. The Federal Aviation Administration revoked Sky Elements’ waiver required to conduct shows over live audiences, the agency confirmed in a statement on Friday. The duration of the suspension remains unclear at this time.

Unbiased headline news – Survivors of the Azerbaijan Airlines crash in Kazakhstan described hearing loud thuds and explosions outside the aircraft during the flight, while the cause of the tragic accident remains under investigation. The Azerbaijan Airlines passenger plane went down near Kazakhstan’s Aktau Airport on Wednesday morning, killing 38 of the 67 people aboard, according to Kazakh authorities. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed regret over the deadly Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crash on Christmas but did not accept responsibility as the investigation continues. — Talks between Israel and Hamas to secure a Gaza cease-fire and release the remaining Israeli hostages there remained deadlocked on Friday, with the White House blaming Palestinian militants for the impasse. Israeli reports cited unnamed senior officials who alleged that Hamas has not yet provided lists of living hostages and is introducing new demands, sparking concerns in Jerusalem that they may lack full control over the hostages’ fates on the ground. “Hamas must decide to finalize the agreement and open the way to a resolution,” an Israeli official stated. — The National Park Service is urging the public to follow safety guidelines and warnings while observing volcanic activity following the recent eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, one of the world’s most active. Kilauea began erupting last Monday, marking its third eruption of 2024 and eighth since 2020, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Since then, a distinct eruptive event occurred on Wednesday, followed by a resumption of activity on Thursday evening, the agency confirmed. — A woman sleeping in a truck was killed when a fire triggered an explosion at a Tyson Foods poultry plant in Georgia overnight, officials reported. The victim, 61-year-old Bajarma Batozhapov of Las Vegas, was not employed at the plant, nor was her husband, according to the Mitchell County Coroner’s Office. Batozhapov’s husband, a truck driver, had her accompanying him during the incident, which partially burned the truck she was in, the coroner’s office added. — The discount retailer Big Lots, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, has reached an agreement to keep many of its stores and distribution centers operational. Big Lots announced Friday that it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, a company specializing in restructuring distressed businesses. Gordon Brothers plans to transfer Big Lots’ stores, distribution centers, and assets to other retailers. Variety Wholesalers Inc., which owns over 400 discount stores in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, intends to acquire 200 to 400 Big Lots stores to operate under the Big Lots name. — Greg Gumbel, a distinguished sportscaster who worked with CBS and NBC for 35 years, passed away from cancer at the age of 78, his family announced. “He died peacefully, surrounded by love, after a brave battle with cancer,” said his wife, Marcy, and daughter, Michelle, in a statement released by CBS Sports. “Greg faced his illness with the resilience, grace, and optimism that defined him.” In March, Gumbel missed his first NCAA tournament, citing family health concerns at the time.

Unbiased headline news – Hanna Katzir, an Israeli hostage who was freed last year after spending 49 days in captivity in Gaza, has passed away, according to officials. The 78-year-old faced a “complex medical condition” that persisted for “many months” following her release, Kibbutz Nir Oz stated. During Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Katzir was abducted from her home, and her husband, Rami, was killed in their safe room at Kibbutz Nir Oz, as reported by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters. — Japan’s National Police Agency has identified the North Korea-based hacking group TraderTraitor as the likely culprit behind a May cyberattack that resulted in $308 million in Bitcoin being stolen from a Japanese cryptocurrency exchange. The breach at DMM Bitcoin was traced back to a computer virus installed on a company employee who handled deposits and withdrawals of DMM Bitcoin virtual currency. The virus infiltrated the system via a fraudulent job recruitment message sent through LinkedIn, police stated. — President-elect Donald Trump has maintained a long-standing feud with the media, and his recent comments, legal actions, and cabinet choices suggest he plans to escalate his fight against critical coverage. Trump’s approach to addressing unfavorable press has included lawsuits targeting major outlets like CNN, ABC, and The Washington Post. He has also pursued legal actions against smaller entities, such as a Wisconsin TV station and smaller publishers, indicating a broad focus on silencing dissent. — Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen is recuperating from serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being thrown off a horse, his office reported. The incident occurred while the Republican governor was horseback riding with family near Columbus on Sunday. The fall happened while he was riding a new horse, his office said. His injuries include “minor lacerations to his spleen and kidney, seven broken ribs, a partially collapsed lung caused by rib damage, and a minor vertebra fracture.” — Swiss Olympic snowboarder Sophie Hediger has tragically died in an avalanche, according to the Swiss-Ski federation. Hediger, 26, was caught in an avalanche at the mountain resort of Arosa in eastern Switzerland, the federation confirmed. “We are stunned, and our thoughts are with Sophie’s family, to whom we extend our deepest condolences,” Walter Reusser, the CEO of Swiss-Ski’s sports division, said in a statement. No further details about the incident have been disclosed. — One million taxpayers are set to receive automatic payments from the IRS in the coming weeks, the agency announced. The payments, which could be as high as $1,400, are intended for individuals who missed claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. “These payments demonstrate our commitment to going the extra mile for taxpayers,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel stated. The IRS clarified that the payments will be sent automatically to eligible recipients, requiring no action on their part.

Unbiased headline news – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that over 3,000 North Korean soldiers have likely been killed or wounded while fighting for Moscow in Russia’s western Kursk region. Following a briefing by Kyiv’s top commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelenskyy shared the update on Telegram, emphasizing the ongoing battle in Kursk. Ukrainian forces have been engaged there since launching a surprise cross-border incursion in August. Ukrainian special forces claim their operations over three days resulted in more than 100 casualties among North Korean troops. — In 2024, devastating weather events claimed hundreds of lives globally as natural disasters grew increasingly severe and widespread. Spring brought a surge of tornadoes across the United States, while earthquakes and floods ravaged parts of the Middle East, Asia, and the Western Pacific. Intense summer heat waves gave way to hurricanes that caused widespread disruption in the southeastern U.S., and a Category 5 super typhoon devastated southeastern Asia, killing nearly 600 people. — Anonymous supporters have established several online defense funds for Luigi Mangione, including one on the crowdfunding site GiveSendGo, which has raised over $187,000 as of this week. The GiveSendGo campaign for the 26-year-old Mangione was set up by a group identifying itself as “The December 4th Legal Committee,” a reference to the day Mangione allegedly ambushed and fatally shot CEO Thompson in Midtown Manhattan. The incident occurred as the executive walked to his company’s shareholders conference at the New York Hilton. — Five people were hospitalized Monday after a chairlift appeared to malfunction at Heavenly Mountain Resort, located on the Nevada side of the Lake Tahoe region. The incident happened during the morning hours, prompting a response from the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District at around 10 a.m. local time. Emergency crews dispatched two engines and three ambulances. Authorities reported that five individuals were later transported to hospitals in Reno, Nevada. — A North Carolina police officer was shot and killed while responding to a report of an armed individual inside a supermarket, officials confirmed. The incident occurred Monday morning at a Food Lion in Greensboro, where Officer Michael Horan was fatally wounded. Police had responded to a call about a “man with a firearm” inside the store. Greensboro Assistant Police Chief MJ Harris stated that an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. — Starbucks baristas in Massachusetts, Texas, and Oregon walked off the job Monday, broadening a holiday strike to 12 cities nationwide, according to Starbucks Workers United. The strike extended to cities including Boston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Portland, adding to actions in places like Los Angeles and Philadelphia. The union reported that nearly 50 stores were brought to a standstill nationwide on Sunday. The holiday season is typically one of the busiest times of the year for the coffee giant.