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.
1 Christmas Storms: Massive mudslides and flooding buried homes in California following record-breaking holiday storms.
2 Powerball Jackpot: A single ticket sold in Arkansas won a massive $1.817 billion Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve.
3 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).
4 DOJ Delay: The Department of Justice requested a "few more weeks" to finish the release of the Epstein files after missing a primary deadline.
5 NC Shooting: A shooting during a custody exchange in North Carolina left one man dead and two police officers injured.
6 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.
7 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.
8 Nursing Home Explosion: A gas explosion at a Pennsylvania nursing home trapped residents and sparked a massive rescue operation.
9
Politics
Christmas Diplomacy: President Trump spent Christmas making calls to children and soldiers, notably defending the coal industry and joking about a "bad Santa."
10 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.
11 Religious Messaging: Controversy erupted over official holiday messages from Trump aides that critics argued blurred the line between church and state.
12 Ambassador Recalls: The Trump administration announced plans to install "loyalist" diplomats following the recall of 30 career ambassadors.
13 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.
14 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.
15 Legal Defeats: Federal courts ruled against Trump’s efforts to strip security clearances from opposing lawyers, including high-profile attorney Mark Zaid.
16 Immigration Pressure: New reports showed the Trump administration ratcheting up pressure on the Maduro regime, using military threats to deter migration.
17 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.
18
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.
19 Ukraine Peace Plan: President Zelenskyy and President Trump signaled they were nearing a joint plan to end the war, including a proposed "demilitarized zone."
20 South China Sea Tensions: China imposed sanctions on U.S. defense firms following a new arms deal with Taiwan.
21 Yemen Conflict: Separatists in southern Yemen (STC) seized control of all eight southern governorates, leading Saudi Arabia to withdraw its final troops from Aden.
22 Gaza Border Opening: Israel announced it would reopen the Rafah border crossing with Egypt to allow Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip.
23 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.
24 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.
25 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.
26 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.
27 Sydney Massacre Reflection: Australia held memorials for the 15 victims of the Hanukkah shooting at Bondi Beach, which occurred earlier in the month.
28
Economy
Tariff Impact: Analysts released a year-end report showing that Trump’s 2025 tariffs have fundamentally overturned decades of U.S. trade policy.
29 Post-Christmas Trading: Markets remained quiet but closed slightly lower on December 26 as investors looked toward 2026.
30 US Graphite Mines: Domestic graphite mining saw a resurgence in interest after decades of closure, driven by the need for EV battery components.
31 Tyson Layoffs: Tyson Foods announced the layoff of 3,200 workers in Nebraska, a major blow to the regional economy.
32 Sugar Import Ban: The Philippines extended its ban on sugar imports through 2026 to protect local farmers.
33 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.
35 1MDB Sentencing: Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak was sentenced to 15 years in a fresh 1MDB-related corruption trial.
36 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.
37
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.
38 AI Person of the Year: TIME Magazine officially named "The Architects of AI" as its 2025 Person of the Year.
39 VR for Seniors: New studies highlighted how virtual reality is being used to combat loneliness among the elderly during the holiday season.
40 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.
41 Space Milestones: A Maryland-born astronaut successfully arrived at the ISS, fulfilling a lifelong dream during the Christmas week mission.
42 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.
43
Health
Autism Classification: Scientists announced a breakthrough study identifying four distinct biological types of autism, potentially changing how the condition is treated.
44 Infant Botulism: A rare but alarming outbreak of infant botulism linked to contaminated formula prompted a national health alert.
45 Wegovy Pill: The pharmaceutical industry celebrated the rollout of Wegovy (semaglutide) in pill form, making the weight-loss drug more accessible.
46 Dementia Prevention: A long-term study released this week suggested that certain social hobbies could reduce the risk of dementia by up to 76%.
47 Gender-Affirming Care Lawsuits: Public health officials warned of a "mental health crisis" as states moved to ban transition-related healthcare.
48 Coffee and Health: New research identified a specific compound in coffee and chocolate that significantly improves cardiovascular health.
49 Pediatrics Lawsuit: The National Pediatrics Association sued the government, claiming retaliatory cuts to HHS grants for child health programs.
50 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.
51 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.
52 Hip-Hop in Schools: A popular PBS segment highlighted how urban schools are successfully using hip-hop to teach social-emotional skills.
53 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.
54 Fraudulent Recruitment: In Jammu and Kashmir, 103 firemen were terminated after an inquiry found "large-scale fraud" in the recruitment exams.
55 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.
56 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.
57
Sports
Michigan Coaching Shakeup: The University of Michigan shocked the college football world by hiring Kyle Whittingham as their new head coach.
58 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.
59 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.
60 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
HISTORY
