Cleveland Browns release defensive tackle Ben Stille, receiver Marquez Stevenson

Reuters
Australia, US, Japan to hold defence trilateral in Darwin on Sunday
The defence ministers of Australia, Japan and the United States will meet in the Australian city of Darwin on Sunday to discuss continued military cooperation, Australia's Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday. Marles, Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will discuss cooperation in exercises, operations, technology and defence industry among other things, according to statement from Marles' office.
Politico
GOP backlash against RFK Jr.’s nomination could jeopardize his confirmation
The president of the anti-abortion group SBA Pro-Life America, said “there's no question that we need a pro-life HHS secretary, and of course, we have concerns about” Kennedy.
Associated Press
Court temporarily limits scope of ruling that Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law is unconstitutional
A federal appeals court in New Orleans on Friday temporarily limited the scope of a ruling that Louisiana’s law requiring public schools to post the Ten Commandments in all classrooms next year is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge John deGravelles’ ruling that the law is unconstitutional remains in effect under the order from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Associated Press
Judge blocks Biden administration's rule to expand overtime pay for millions
A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule from the Biden administration that would have expanded access to overtime pay to millions more salaried workers across the U.S. In a Friday ruling, U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan sided with the state of Texas and a group of business organizations that argued the Labor Department exceeded its authority when it finalized a rule earlier this year to significantly expand federal overtime eligibility for salaried workers. Under the federal law, nearly all hourly workers in the U.S. are entitled to overtime pay after 40 hours a week.
Reuters
In El Salvador, crypto investors cheer Trump-powered Bitcoin rally
Bitcoin enthusiasts meeting in El Salvador on Friday said a recent surge in the cryptocurrency's value since Donald Trump's U.S. election win has heightened their expectations the price will rise further and it will be adopted more broadly globally. Three years ago, President Nayib Bukele made El Salvador the first country in the world to establish Bitcoin as legal tender, alongside the U.S. dollar. The decision drew criticism from the International Monetary Fund, with whom the country is negotiating a $1.3 billion loan.
AFP
Lame-duck Biden tries to reassure allies as Trump looms
Joe Biden cut a diminished figure on one of his last outings on the world stage Friday, as he admitted that the times are changing with Donald Trump's impending return to power. "We've now reached a moment of significant political change," a wistful-sounding Biden said as he met the leaders of Japan and South Korea in the Peruvian capital.
AFP
US finalizes up to $6.6 bn funding for chip giant TSMC
The United States will award Taiwanese chip giant TSMC up to $6.6 billion in direct funding to help build several plants on US soil, officials said Friday, finalizing the deal before Donald Trump's administration enters the White House.Besides the $6.6 billion in direct funding, the United States is also providing up to $5 billion in proposed loans to TSMC Arizona.
Reuters
Major Trump Media shareholder sells nearly entire stake
Orlando was the former CEO of the blank-check company Digital World Acquisition that took Trump Media public. A Delaware judge had ruled in September that Trump Media breached an agreement with Orlando's ARC Global and the fund must receive more than half a million additional shares before a lock-up on insider sales expires.
AFP
Global stocks struggle after Fed signals slower rate cuts
Global stock markets ended the week on a sour note Friday as traders mulled Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's comments that the US central bank was not on a preset path to cut interest rates. While the US central bank is expected to cut interest rates again next month, investors are scaling back their bets on how many cuts will be made next year.
Politico
Used to getting their way, Washington’s lobbyists are unnerved by RFK Jr.
They’re holding their fire and hoping Senate allies will block his confirmation as HHS secretary.
Associated Press
The key moments as a Texas man faces execution in a shaken baby syndrome case
A Texas Supreme Court ruling has again cleared the way for the execution of Robert Roberson, who would become the first person in the U.S. to be put to death over a murder conviction tied to a case of shaken baby syndrome, a diagnosis that some medical experts have questioned. Roberson was convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2003 and had been slated to die by lethal injection on Oct. 17.
CNN
Trump’s team skips FBI background checks for some Cabinet picks
President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team is bypassing traditional FBI background checks for at least some of his Cabinet picks while using private companies to conduct vetting of potential candidates for administration jobs, people close to the transition planning say.
CNN
‘We are not Disneyland’: Outrage in Rome over Airbnb ‘gladiator’ battles at the Colosseum
Plans to offer Airbnb customers the chance to take part in gladiator-style battles in Rome’s Colosseum have been decried as an insult to the UNESCO-listed ancient arena.
Associated Press
Here's how Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised to remake the nation's top health agencies
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and environmentalist, for years gained a loyal and fierce following with his biting condemnations of how the nation’s public health agencies do business. If confirmed, Kennedy will control the world's largest public health agency, and its $1.7 trillion budget. It provides health insurance for nearly half of the country — poor, disabled and older Americans.
USA TODAY
Detective uses help of father, a retired investigator, in cracking 1981 cold case killing
Gregory Thurson, 64, of Eugene, Oregon, is now charged with murder in the death of John Blaylock, 51, the Griffith Police Department said.
CNN
Texas Supreme Court clears way for new execution date for Robert Roberson in 2-year-old daughter’s death
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday denied a state house committee’s attempt to delay the execution of a man convicted of murder in the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, clearing a path for a new execution date.
AFP
Fitch upgrades Argentina debt rating amid economic pain
Credit ratings agency Fitch upgraded Argentina's sovereign debt rating to "CCC" from "CC" on Friday, citing improved ability to meet upcoming foreign debt payments and successful economic reforms under President Javier Milei.Fitch warned that significant challenges remain ahead, with Argentina facing large debt payments of $4.3 billion due in both January and July 2025.
USA TODAY
Winter weather warnings across the United States, where snow could be seen this weekend
Seven states all have various winter weather-related warnings and advisories over the weekend: Alaska, California, Montana, Maine, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming.
Politico
Centrist Dems seize opening at the DNC: ‘I don’t want to be the freak show party’
Recriminations over Kamala Harris’ defeat are shaping the early stages of the race for DNC chair.
NBC News
Matt Gaetz, Trump’s pick to oversee Jan. 6 cases, backed rioters and spread conspiracy theories
Matt Gaetz, one of Donald Trump’s strongest supporters, may be overseeing Jan. 6 cases after years of criticizing the Capitol attack investigation.

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