THE TOP NEWS STORIES THIS WEEK
12-21-25 TO 12-27-25
U.S. News
Epstein Files Released: A federal judge ordered the public release of the grand jury records from the 2006 investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, placing fresh scrutiny on Ghislaine Maxwell.
Christmas Storms: Massive mudslides and flooding buried homes in California following record-breaking holiday storms.
Powerball Jackpot: A single ticket sold in Arkansas won a massive $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve.
Times Square Preparation: New York City unveiled a "patriotic" red, white, and blue crystal ball for New Year’s Eve to kick off America’s 250th birthday (Semiquincentennial).
DOJ Delay: The Department of Justice requested a "few more weeks" to finish the release of the Epstein files after missing a primary deadline.
NC Shooting: A shooting during a custody exchange in North Carolina left one man dead and two police officers injured.
Bullet Train Lawsuit: California dropped its lawsuit against the federal government in an attempt to restore funding for the state's high-speed rail project.
Kwanzaa Celebrations: National observances for Kwanzaa began on December 26 with a focus on community resilience.
FEMA Buyouts: Residents in North Carolina expressed frustration as hundreds of applications for FEMA buyouts following Hurricane Helene remained unapproved months later.
Nursing Home Explosion: A gas explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home trapped residents and sparked a massive rescue operation.
Politics
Christmas Diplomacy: President Trump spent Christmas making calls to children and soldiers, notably defending the coal industry and joking about a "bad Santa."
EU Censorship Row: The EU warned of retaliatory action after the U.S. barred five European officials from entry, accusing them of "censorship" related to digital safety laws.
Religious Messaging: Controversy erupted over official holiday messages from Trump aides that critics argued blurred the line between church and state.
Ambassador Recalls: The Trump administration announced plans to install "loyalist" diplomats following the recall of 30 career ambassadors.
Greenland Rejection: Leaders in Denmark and Greenland issued a joint statement telling the U.S. that "you cannot annex other countries" following renewed interest in the territory.
HHS Lawsuit: Over a third of U.S. states sued the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over a new rule curtailing youth gender-affirming care.
Legal Defeats: Federal courts ruled against Trump’s efforts to strip security clearances from opposing lawyers, including high-profile attorney Mark Zaid.
Immigration Pressure: New reports showed the Trump administration ratcheting up pressure on the Maduro regime, using military threats to deter migration.
Farmer Bailouts: The administration announced a final round of farmer bailouts to compensate for the impact of 2025 trade tariffs.
Palau Migrant Deal: The Pacific nation of Palau agreed to accept 75 migrants from the U.S. in exchange for an increase in federal aid.
World Affairs
U.S. Strikes in Nigeria: On Christmas Day, the U.S. launched airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) camps in Nigeria, which Trump stated was to protect persecuted Christians.
Ukraine Peace Plan: President Zelenskyy and President Trump signaled they were nearing a joint plan to end the war, including a proposed "demilitarized zone."
South China Sea Tensions: China imposed sanctions on U.S. defense firms following a new arms deal with Taiwan.
Yemen Conflict: Separatists in southern Yemen (STC) seized control of all eight southern governorates, leading Saudi Arabia to withdraw its final troops from Aden.
Gaza Border Opening: Israel announced it would reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip.
Thai-Cambodian Clashes: A border skirmish involving artillery and F-16 airstrikes broke out between Thailand and Cambodia, resulting in multiple civilian and military casualties.
Venezuelan Tensions: The U.S. Coast Guard seized a second oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as part of an escalating "maximum pressure" campaign.
Korean Political Crisis: Prosecutors in South Korea sought a 10-year sentence for ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol in the first trial following his brief martial law declaration.
Pope’s Christmas Message: Pope Leo XIV gave his first Urbi et Orbi address, warning that the global economy treats people like "merchandise" and calling for peace in Sudan and Ukraine.
Sydney Massacre Reflection: Australia held memorials for the 15 victims of the Hanukkah shooting at Bondi Beach, which occurred earlier in the month.
Economy
Tariff Impact: Analysts released a year-end report showing that Trump’s 2025 tariffs have fundamentally overturned decades of U.S. trade policy.
Post-Christmas Trading: Markets remained quiet but closed slightly lower on December 26 as investors looked toward 2026.
US Graphite Mines: Domestic graphite mining saw a resurgence in interest after decades of closure, driven by the need for EV battery components.
Tyson Layoffs: Tyson Foods announced the layoff of 3,200 workers in Nebraska, a major blow to the regional economy.
Sugar Import Ban: The Philippines extended its ban on sugar imports through 2026 to protect local farmers.
Drug Costs: New data highlighted the "deadly consequences" of rising medication costs as insurance coverage for many specialty drugs was reduced.
34 Defense Budget: Japan’s cabinet approved a record-high defense budget for the coming year to counter rising regional threats.
1MDB Sentencing: Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak was sentenced to 15 years in a fresh 1MDB-related corruption trial.
Retail Sales: Early reports indicated a moderate "Christmas bump" in retail, though inflation concerns kept spending growth below 2024 levels.
AI Utilities: Rising energy demands from AI data centers became a political flashpoint as utility companies sought rate hikes.
Technology
DeepSeek Disruption: The Chinese AI startup DeepSeek dominated tech headlines, showing it could achieve high-level LLM performance using fewer Nvidia chips than U.S. competitors.
Age Restrictions: Australia’s new "Online Safety Amendment" took effect, legally barring children under 16 from social media platforms like TikTok and X.
H3 Rocket Failure: Japan’s flagship H3 rocket failed to place a critical geolocation satellite into orbit, a major setback for the JAXA space program.
AI Person of the Year: TIME Magazine officially named "The Architects of AI" as its 2025 Person of the Year.
VR for Seniors: New studies highlighted how virtual reality is being used to combat loneliness among the elderly during the holiday season.
Nuclear Data Centers: The Trump administration’s Energy Secretary pushed for the expansion of data centers powered by modular nuclear reactors.
AP Verify: The Associated Press launched "AP Verify," an AI-powered tool to help newsrooms detect deepfakes and misinformation.
Space Milestones: A Maryland-born astronaut successfully arrived at the ISS, fulfilling a lifelong dream during the Christmas week mission.
Apple/Google Probe: The EU launched a new investigation into mobile app store fees, targeting the "duopoly" of Apple and Google.
Interactive Toys: Health experts warned of privacy "hidden dangers" inside the new generation of AI-enabled toys sold this Christmas.
Health
Autism Classification: Scientists announced a breakthrough study identifying four distinct biological types of autism, potentially changing how the condition is treated.
Infant Botulism: A rare but alarming outbreak of infant botulism linked to contaminated formula prompted a national health alert.
Wegovy Pill: The pharmaceutical industry celebrated the rollout of Wegovy (semaglutide) in pill form, making the weight-loss drug more accessible.
Dementia Prevention: A long-term study released this week suggested that certain social hobbies could reduce the risk of dementia by up to 76%.
Gender-Affirming Care Lawsuits: Public health officials warned of a "mental health crisis" as states moved to ban transition-related healthcare.
Coffee and Health: New research identified a specific compound in coffee and chocolate that significantly improves cardiovascular health.
Pediatrics Lawsuit: The National Pediatrics Association sued the government, claiming retaliatory cuts to HHS grants for child health programs.
Living Donors: A pilot program using social networks to find kidney donors reported a 40% increase in successful transplants.
Holiday Loneliness: Health experts issued "loneliness protocols" to help single adults cope with the psychological strain of the holidays.
Avian Flu Monitoring: Health officials increased surveillance in the Midwest after a new strain of avian flu was detected in wild bird populations.
Education
School Abductions: All 130 students and staff abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria in November were finally released on December 21.
Hip-Hop in Schools: A popular PBS segment highlighted how urban schools are successfully using hip-hop to teach social-emotional skills.
KSU Shooting: A shooting at Kentucky State University left one person dead and another injured, renewing the debate over campus security.
Child Care Investment: Year-end data showed that U.S. states have invested more in child care in 2025 than any previous year to combat rising costs.
Fraudulent Recruitment: In Jammu and Kashmir, 103 firemen were terminated after an inquiry found "large-scale fraud" in the recruitment exams.
Title IX Battles: Several school districts in the South filed new challenges against federal Title IX interpretations regarding student identity.
AI in the Classroom: A report revealed that 60% of U.S. high schools now have formal policies regarding the use of generative AI for assignments.
Medical School Protests: Protests continued at a new medical institute in Jammu over the composition of its first MBBS batch, though classes remained uninterrupted.
Universal Pre-K: Three more states announced plans to implement universal Pre-K programs starting in the fall of 2026.
Teacher Shortages: A holiday-week report indicated that while recruitment is up, teacher retention in rural areas remains at a 10-year low.
Sports
Michigan Coaching Shakeup: The University of Michigan shocked the college football world by hiring Kyle Whittingham as their new head coach.
Taylor Swift’s Future: Speculation grew about Taylor Swift’s 2026 plans after her record-breaking appearances at NFL games throughout late 2025.
Christmas Day NFL: The NFL’s Christmas Day triple-header saw record-breaking viewership, though players expressed concerns over the short turnaround between games.
Chalamet Table Tennis: Actor Timothée Chalamet made headlines by participating in—and nearly winning—a celebrity table tennis tournament in New York.
Olympic 2028 Prep: Construction for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics hit a major milestone with the completion of the "Village Plaza" concept.
European Football: A major controversy erupted in the Premier League over a "no-call" VAR decision during the traditional Boxing Day fixtures.
K-Pop in Sports: "K-Pop Demon Hunters" was named the breakthrough entertainment/sports crossover of the year by major outlets.
Transfer Window: Rumors began to swirl about a record-breaking $200 million transfer for a top Brazilian striker to a Saudi Pro League team.
NBA Christmas: The NBA’s traditional Christmas Day slate was headlined by a double-overtime thriller between the Lakers and the Celtics.
Hockey World Juniors: The 2026 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships kicked off on December 26 with a dominant win for Team USA.
- U.S. launches airstrikes on ISIS targets in Nigeria — President Trump announced Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State militants accused of targeting Christians, described as a "deadly" operation.
- Ongoing Epstein files controversy — DOJ faced backlash over redactions and delays in releasing more documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
- U.S. intercepts oil tankers off Venezuela — Coast Guard seized vessels amid escalating pressure on the Maduro regime.
- Powerball jackpot winner — A ticket in Arkansas won a massive $1.817 billion prize, ending a long drought.
- Supreme Court ruling on National Guard — Court sided against Trump in a case involving deployment in Chicago/Illinois.
- Record holiday spending — Consumer spending exceeded expectations despite economic concerns.
- Marijuana rescheduling impacts — Executive order led to changes, including potential Medicare coverage.
- Massive power outages and holiday travel disruptions — Widespread blackouts affected travel rush.
- Immigration policy shifts — Changes to apps and programs like CBP One affected migrants.
- Weather impacts — Major storm threats in Southern California for Christmas week.
- Trump-Zelenskyy meeting scheduled — Presidents set to discuss Ukraine peace plan in Florida.
- U.S. strikes in Nigeria announced by Trump — Framed as protecting Christians from ISIS.
- Epstein files release issues — Redactions and removals sparked bipartisan outrage.
- Venezuela tensions escalate — U.S. pursuits and seizures of oil tankers.
- Supreme Court blocks Trump on National Guard — Ruling against federal deployment in states.
- White House announcements — Including press secretary pregnancy and AI hiring interest.
- Congress year recap — Focus on ceding power to executive amid ambitious agenda.
- Trump appoints Greenland envoy — Amid ongoing interest in the territory.
- Executive orders record — Trump issued over 220 in first year of second term.
- Drug pricing deals — Trump announced agreements with pharmaceutical companies.
- Trump-Zelenskyy summit on Ukraine peace — Discussions on territory, security guarantees amid Russian strikes on Christmas.
- U.S. airstrikes in Nigeria and Syria — Against ISIS targets, including retaliation for attacks.
- Russia open to Ukraine territory swap — Putin signals flexibility but demands full Donbas.
- Israel recognizes Somaliland — First country to formally acknowledge independence.
- MERS-CoV cases rise — Global reports, including in Saudi Arabia and imported to France.
- Venezuela oil tanker seizures — U.S. actions heighten tensions.
- Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem — Return after hiatus, amid West Bank issues.
- Pope Leo XIV's Christmas message — Decries Gaza suffering, calls for peace in multiple conflicts.
- Nuclear submarine developments — Arms race between North and South Korea.
- Various incidents — Including protests in Kenya over elephants, crashes in Japan.
- Budget cuts and leadership changes — Ongoing issues in districts like Ventura County.
- AI in education discussions — Broader 2025 impacts, but no major weekly event.
- Placements and awards — Universities like Plaksha report strong outcomes; student awards in challenges.
- Cellphone policies implementation — New rules in schools post-legislation.
- Higher education restructuring — Plans in states like Colorado.
- International student visa tightenings — Affecting enrollments.
- Hip-hop in social-emotional learning — Programs highlighted.
- Brown University review — DOJ program review post-shooting (earlier context).
- Year-end positives in districts — Like Milwaukee's new superintendent energy.
- Global issues — Out-of-school children crises and funding pledges.
- Strong stock market performance — S&P 500 hits records, eyes 7,000; broadening beyond tech.
- Record holiday spending — Higher than expected, boosting retail.
- GDP upward revision — Q3 growth to robust levels.
- Inflation cools — To 2.7% in November.
- AI-driven wealth gains — Tech barons add over $500B.
- Fed rate context — Recent cuts support resilience.
- Market rotation — Into cyclicals like financials/industrials.
- Consumer confidence dip — Despite spending.
- Year-end optimism — Despite uncertainties like tariffs.
- Global growth outlooks — Modest for advanced economies.
- AI layoffs surge — Over 50,000 jobs cut citing AI in 2025.
- Nvidia-Groq deal — Licensing tech and hires.
- AI data centers strain power — Reviving old plants.
- Lawsuits over AI training — Including NYT reporter vs. Google/xAI/OpenAI.
- Trump AI hiring campaign — Draws massive interest.
- Microsoft AI self-sufficiency push — CEO's mission.
- Data center climate issues — Built in wrong locations.
- Year in review — AI boom, Musk's influence.
- Breakthroughs — Like strained germanium for faster chips.
- Regulatory actions — Italy vs. Meta on WhatsApp.
- Full-fat dairy linked to lower dementia risk — Large long-term study.
- MERS-CoV outbreak update — Cases in Saudi Arabia and Europe.
- Kimchi daily for immune boost — 12-week study benefits.
- Portfolio diet for heart health — Lowers cholesterol.
- Cannabis reclassification — Medicare coverage implications.
- Mood-boosting foods — Research on happiness links.
- Sleep vs. exercise priority — Choose sleep for health.
- Orange juice for heart — Potential benefits.
- Year breakthroughs — Like shingles vaccine vs. Alzheimer's, male birth control progress.
- Various studies — On supplements, cancer networks, etc.
- NFL Christmas games — Broncos beat Chiefs; other matchups.
- College football bowls begin — Hawaii Bowl upset; ongoing games.
- NBA Christmas slate — Warriors, Knicks wins; standout performances.
- Playoff openers — Oregon, others advance.
- Steelers beat Lions — Close game.
- MVP race shifts — Jokic overtakes.
- Women's moments — Shiffrin 100th win, etc. (year review).
- Boxing — Upcoming Inoue fight.
- Big Ten games — Purdue blowout, etc.
- Bowl predictions and schedules — Holiday week focus.
THIS WEEK'S DAILY TOP NEWS
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 21, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/morning-news-update-december-21-2025.html
MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 22, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/morning-news-update-december-22-2025.html
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 23, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/morning-news-update-december-23-2025.html
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 24, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/morning-news-update-december-24-2025.html
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 25, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/morning-news-update-december-25-2025.html
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2025
Big Education Ape: MORNING NEWS UPDATE: DECEMBER 26, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/12/morning-news-update-december-26-2025.html
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2025
