Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez engaged to longtime boyfriend Riley Roberts

Reuters
Germany joins U.S., UK in making diplomatic contact with Syria's HTS
Germany plans talks with representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in Damascus on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said, joining the United States and Britain in establishing contact with the Islamist group after it led the overthrow of Syria's Bashar al-Assad. German diplomats' first talks with representatives of the HTS-appointed interim government will focus on a transitional process for Syria and the protection of minorities, a spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said.
NBC News
What we know so far about the Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Wisconsin
A 15-year-old female student killed a teacher and a student at the private Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, on Monday.
AFP
Markets mostly down as Fed gears up for interest rate decision
Most markets fell Tuesday as attention turned to the Federal Reserve's upcoming policy decision, with traders hoping for guidance on its interest rate plans as president-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office.However, he added: "The wild card is what happens after Donald Trump takes office as US president.
AFP
Japan to make renewables top power source by 2040
Japan wants renewable energy to be its top power source by 2040 in a push to reduce dependence on coal and gas and become carbon neutral by mid-century, government plans showed on Tuesday.Resource-poor Japan "will aim to maximise the use of renewable energy as our main source of power", said the draft Strategic Energy Plan unveiled on Tuesday.
CNN
US embassy in Vanuatu suffers ‘considerable damage’ as powerful quake strikes Pacific nation
A powerful 7.3 earthquake hit Vanuatu on Tuesday, damaging multiple buildings, including a complex in the capital Port Vila that hosts the diplomatic missions of Western nations including the United States.
Associated Press
Taipei mayor calls for less confrontation as China continues sending ships, planes near island
The China-friendly mayor of Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, on Tuesday called for less confrontation between the sides, even as Beijing continues to send warships and fighter jets to intimidate the self-governing island democracy. Chiang Wan-an was speaking Tuesday at the 15th Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum, which is not sanctioned by Taiwan’s government, whose official position is that Taiwan is already an independent country with no reason to unify with China. Between Monday and Tuesday, China sent 10 military aircraft and seven aircraft toward Taiwan, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry.
CNN
China extends visa-free transit policy to 10 days as part of efforts to lure more foreign tourists
China has tripled the amount of time visitors can spend in the country without a visa in yet another move to entice more foreign tourists.
CNN
Russian general wanted by Ukraine for chemical munitions use killed in Moscow blast
A bomb hidden in an electric scooter killed a senior Russian general in charge of nuclear protection forces in Moscow on Tuesday, Russia’s investigative committee said.
AFP
Russian military's chemical weapons chief killed in Moscow blast
The head of the Russian army's chemical weapons division died on Tuesday when an explosive device attached to a scooter went off outside an apartment building in Moscow, officials said.Russia's Investigative Committee said that Kirillov was killed after "an explosive device planted in a scooter parked near the entrance of a residential building was activated on the morning of December 17 on Ryazansky Avenue in Moscow".
USA TODAY
Head of Russia's nuclear and chemical defense forces killed in Moscow explosion
Authorities said Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, chief of Russia's Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defense Forces, was killed along with his assistant.
Associated Press
Middle East latest: US military says it bombed a Houthi military facility in Yemen's capital
The U.S. military on Tuesday said it bombed a Houthi military facility in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, the latest U.S.-led attack on the Iranian-backed rebels. The Houthi media office said the strike hit part of the sprawling complex that houses the rebels’ Defense Ministry. U.S. Central Command said the strike late Monday targeted a key command and control facility that was “a hub for coordinating Houthi operations,” including attacks on U.S. Navy and merchant vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
AFP
Major quake crushes buildings in Vanuatu capital, bodies seen
A powerful earthquake struck the Pacific island of Vanuatu on Tuesday, smashing buildings in the capital Port Vila including one housing the US and other embassies, with a witness telling AFP of bodies seen in the city.The ground floor of a four-storey block in Port Vila used by the US, French and other embassies was completely flattened, AFP photos showed.
CNN
Justin Trudeau is facing a political crisis made worse by Donald Trump. Can he survive as Canada’s leader?
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau soared to victory in 2015 on the promise of change and “sunny ways” for the country.
AFP
Restoring Milan's Duomo, one statue at a time
In a workshop in the Milan suburbs, sculptor Giovanni Calderino completes his latest project -- a battered statue from the top of the Italian city's gothic cathedral, and its gleaming white replacement.Too fragile to put back, Calderino has created a perfect replica to take its place -- the latest of a steady stream of replacements that maintain the splendour of one of Italy's most famous monuments.
AFP
Tehran malls close early to save energy: media
Malls and shopping centres in Iran's capital will limit opening hours starting Tuesday, closing two hours earlier to tackle severe energy shortages, local media said. The Tehran Chamber of Trade Unions and Guilds has decided that malls and shopping centres would close at 8:00 pm (1630 GMT), instead of their usual time of 10:00 pm, according to a statement carried by news agency ISNA. State TV quoted the head of the organisation, Hamidreza Rastegar, as saying that "if malls fail to abide by the n
TODAY
Exclusive: Dad thought long COVID caused his breathing troubles. It was a watermelon-sized tumor in his chest
A month after contracting COVID-19 in January 2021, Nicholas Pastuovic was tired, had a severe cough, hot flashes and woke in the middle of the night “drenched with sweat.”
Reuters
Kenyan man sentenced to 50 years in jail for killing LGBTQ activist
A Kenyan court has sentenced a man to 50 years in prison after he was convicted of the murder of gay rights activist Edwin Kiptoo nearly two years ago. His housemate, Jacktone Odhiambo, who police believe had been in a relationship with him, was found guilty of murder early this month. Odhiambo had denied murdering Kiptoo when he was arraigned in early February 2023.
CBS News
Quake rocks Pacific island Vanuatu, deaths feared, U.S. embassy damaged
A powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, damaging buildings in the capital, Port Vila, including one housing the U.S. Embassy. A witness said bodies were seen in the city.
NBC News
Woman who was charged as stowaway after flying to Paris without a ticket is arrested at Canadian border
A woman who was charged as a stowaway after she was accused of boarding a New York-to-Paris flight last month without a ticket has been arrested in New York near the Canadian border after she cut off her ankle bracelet, authorities said Monday.
Associated Press
A bomb kills the head of Russia’s nuclear defense forces and his assistant in Moscow
An explosive device planted near an apartment building in Moscow killed the head of Russia’s nuclear and chemical forces early Tuesday, officials said. Russia’s Investigative Committee said the bomb, which was triggered by the device placed in a scooter, killed Lt. General Igor Kirillov and his assistant. Kirillov, who was named the head of Russia’s nuclear defense forces in April 2017, was under sanctions from several countries including the U.K. and Canada for his role in Ukraine.

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