Boston Celtics are the top team in this week’s CBS NBA power rankings

Associated Press
Belarus' strongman leader pardons 20 more prisoners, but rights groups say repression continues
Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko pardoned 20 more people that rights activists describe as political prisoners, a statement on the president's website said Saturday. The announcement came amid persistent oppression in the run-up to presidential elections next month that are likely to extend Lukashenko's decades-long rule. Belarusian officials did not provide the names of those released, but the statement posted on the website of the president said that all of them had been convicted of “crimes of an extremist nature."
Associated Press
Republicans gain temporary control of Minnesota House after Democrat decides not to appeal ruling
Republicans will start the year with at least a temporary majority in the Minnesota House after a Democrat decided not to appeal a judge's decision that he failed to establish residency in the suburban district he was elected to represent.
NBC News
Actress and model Dayle Haddon dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at actor Marc Blucas' home
Actress Dayle Haddon died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning Friday at the Bucks County, Pennsylvania, home of her son-in-law, actor Marc Blucas.
AFP
Turkey's pro-Kurd party meets jailed PKK leader
A delegation from Turkey's main pro-Kurdish DEM party on Saturday visited jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving life on a prison island off Istanbul, party officials said. "While I speak here, our delegation is currently meeting with Mr Abdullah Ocalan at Imrali (island).
CNN
Putin apologizes over ‘tragic’ Azerbaijan Airlines crash, without admitting responsibility
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Russia’s air defense systems were active when an Azerbaijan Airlines flight attempted to land in Grozny, Chechnya on Wednesday.
AFP
Israel army says ends raid against 'Hamas centre' in north Gaza hospital
Israel's military said on Saturday it had ended its raid on "a Hamas command centre" in a north Gaza hospital and detained its director as a suspected Hamas operative.It added that the hospital's director, Hossam Abu Safiyeh, suspected of "being a Hamas terrorist operative", had been detained for questioning.
Associated Press
Big Lots reaches deal to keep hundreds of US stores open
The discount chain Big Lots, which filed for bankruptcy protection in September, has reached a deal that will keep hundreds of its stores and distribution centers open. Big Lots said Friday it will be sold to Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, a firm that specializes in distressed companies. Gordon Brothers will then transfer Big Lots’ stores, distribution centers and other assets to other retailers.
CNN
Israel arrests hospital director and other staff in raid on last functioning facility in northern Gaza, health officials say
Israeli forces have arrested dozens of staff, including a hospital director after raiding the last major functioning health facility in northern Gaza, Gaza’s ministry of health says.
CNN
If you’re mentally struggling during the holidays, here’s how to cope
The risk for suicide may be higher on New Year’s Day and Mondays, a large study has found. Experts contextualize the findings and share coping strategies.
AFP
Putin apologises to Azerbaijan without claiming responsibility in plane crash
Vladimir Putin admitted Saturday Russian air defence was working when an Azerbaijani Airlines plane tried to land in Grozny before crashing, while stopping short of claiming responsibility. The Kremlin said Putin apologised to Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev over the "tragic incident" in a phone call, but did not say Russian air defence shot the plane.
CNN
More holiday travel delays expected as powerful thunderstorms intensify from Texas to Alabama
Holiday travelers returning home this weekend could contend with more delays at airports as severe thunderstorms intensify in the South and a parade of atmospheric river-fueled storms slams the West.
Time
What Critics Get Wrong About the Ivy League
Higher education must address the ideological orthodoxy of political correctness.
AFP
Israeli military confirms north Gaza hospital chief held in raid
Israel's military on Saturday confirmed it has detained a hospital director during a raid in north Gaza that the World Health Organization said left the area's last major health facility emptied of patients and staff.Gaza health officials and the WHO earlier Saturday had said the raid forced the hospital in Beit Lahia out of service and led to Abu Safiyeh's detention.
Associated Press
Russia's Gazprom says it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting Jan. 1
Russia’s state-owned energy giant Gazprom said Saturday it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting on Jan. 1, citing alleged unpaid debt by the European Union candidate country, which has brought in emergency measures as it braces for power cuts. Gazprom said in an online statement that it reserved the right to take further action, including terminating its contract with Moldovagaz, Moldova's main gas operator, in which the Russian company owns a majority stake. The cessation of gas will stop supplies to the Kuciurgan power plant, the country’s largest, which is situated in the separatist pro-Russian Transnistria region.
USA TODAY
Tornado watches and warnings blanket Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi
The National Weather Service warned of a "tornado outbreak" across some Southern states on Saturday, with imminent danger in Texas.
NBC News
Fire rips through one of Gaza’s last hospitals; Israel detains director
Israel has detained the director of one of Gaza’s last functioning hospitals, Gaza’s Health ministry said Saturday after Israeli forces “forcibly” removed patients and staff, and fires burned across the hospital.
USA TODAY
Body cam footage released in ‘shocking’ beating death of inmate at NY prison
State officials released body cam footage involving the death of inmate Robert Brooks at Marcy Correctional Facility near Utica, New York, on Dec. 9.
Politico
Democrats have a Florida problem
Democrats got obliterated in Florida in 2024, from the top of the ticket all the way down to the Legislature and local races.
Popular Science
Why it’s so hard to create a truly recyclable Keurig coffee pod
This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grist’s weekly newsletter here. There’s a Keurig machine in some 40 million households in the U.S. Single-serve coffee brewing systems — which allow consumers to make just one cup of coffee at a time by feeding a pod into a slot and pressing a button — have soared in popularity […]
CNN
Video of inmate’s fatal beating shows him handcuffed as correctional officers punch and kick him
New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday released what she described as “shocking and disturbing” footage from body-worn cameras of correctional officers showing the fatal beating of an inmate at the Marcy Correctional Facility in upstate New York.

Boston Celtics are the top team in this week’s CBS NBA power rankings

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Latest Stories

Belarus' strongman leader pardons 20 more prisoners, but rights groups say repression continues

Republicans gain temporary control of Minnesota House after Democrat decides not to appeal ruling

Actress and model Dayle Haddon dies from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning at actor Marc Blucas' home

Turkey's pro-Kurd party meets jailed PKK leader

Putin apologizes over ‘tragic’ Azerbaijan Airlines crash, without admitting responsibility

Israel army says ends raid against 'Hamas centre' in north Gaza hospital

Big Lots reaches deal to keep hundreds of US stores open

Israel arrests hospital director and other staff in raid on last functioning facility in northern Gaza, health officials say

If you’re mentally struggling during the holidays, here’s how to cope

Putin apologises to Azerbaijan without claiming responsibility in plane crash

More holiday travel delays expected as powerful thunderstorms intensify from Texas to Alabama

What Critics Get Wrong About the Ivy League

Israeli military confirms north Gaza hospital chief held in raid

Russia's Gazprom says it will halt gas supplies to Moldova starting Jan. 1

Tornado watches and warnings blanket Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi

Fire rips through one of Gaza’s last hospitals; Israel detains director

Body cam footage released in ‘shocking’ beating death of inmate at NY prison

Democrats have a Florida problem

Why it’s so hard to create a truly recyclable Keurig coffee pod

Video of inmate’s fatal beating shows him handcuffed as correctional officers punch and kick him