Donald Trump makes election night about himself as Republicans underperform

Associated Press
Stock market today: Asian shares advance, tracking rally on Wall Street
Shares advanced Thursday in Asia after Wall Street resumed its upward climb, as an update on inflation appeared to clear the way for more help for the economy from the Federal Reserve. The government announced plans to expand trial private pension programs to the entire country, beginning Dec. 15. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index advanced 1.3% to 39,897.13, led by buying of technology shares.
TODAY
12 foods to eat in the New Year for good luck
Looking for luck in 2025? It's time to hit the grocery store.
Associated Press
East Coast storm makes a mess at ski resorts as strong winds cause power outages
A storm that swept up the East Coast delivered a blow to New England, packing powerful gusts that knocked out power along with a deluge of rain and warming temperatures that washed away snow and dampened ski resorts. Utility workers were deployed to handle power outages after winds were projected to peak overnight into Thursday. In Maine, nearly 52,000 customers had lost power as of Wednesday night, according to poweroutage.us.
AFP
Australia to force tech titans to pay for news
Australia will force Meta and Google to pay for news shared on their platforms under a new scheme unveiled Thursday, threatening to tax them if they refuse to strike deals with local media.Australia wants big tech companies to compensate local publishers for sharing articles that drive traffic on their platforms.
Associated Press
Migrant workers in Lebanon are trying to return home after alleged abuses and then war
Hundreds of migrant workers in Lebanon are waiting to be repatriated after the ceasefire ending the 14-month war between the Lebanon-based Hezbollah and Israel went into effect last month. Lebanon has long drawn migrant workers dreaming of building better lives for their families. Enticed by promises of stable jobs and decent pay, they enter Lebanon via recruitment agencies under a sponsorship-based labor system known as Kafala — only to find themselves often trapped with confiscated passports, long hours, withheld wages and, for many, abuse.
Associated Press
New Jersey targets plastic packaging that fills landfills and pollutes
New Jersey is aiming to drastically reduce the amount of packaging material — particularly plastic — that is thrown away after the package is opened. From bubble wrap to puffy air-filled plastic pockets to those foam peanuts that seem to immediately spill all over the floor, lots of what keeps items safe during shipping often ends up in landfills, or in the environment as pollution. A bill to be discussed Thursday in the state Legislature would require all such materials used in the state to be recyclable or compostable by 2034.
NBC News
Fire crews make progress in Malibu blaze as thousands remain evacuated
California firefighters made progress Wednesday battling the Franklin Fire, which exploded under high winds earlier this week, although more than 6,000 people remained forced from their homes, officials said.
Associated Press
Rights group accuses Russian mercenaries of abuses against civilians in Mali
Mali’s armed forces, supported by Russian mercenaries, committed abuses against civilians since the withdrawal of a U.N. peacekeeping mission late last year, Human Rights Watch said in a report released Thursday. Malian armed forces and the Russia-backed Wagner Group deliberately killed at least 32 civilians, including seven in a drone strike, kidnapped four others, and burned at least 100 homes in towns and villages in central and northern Mali since May, the rights group said. Human Rights Watch also accused jihadi groups in the region of having summarily executed at least 47 civilians and displaced thousands of people since June.
Associated Press
North Dakota regulators consider underground carbon dioxide storage permits for Midwest pipeline
A North Dakota panel will consider Thursday whether to approve permits for underground storage of hundreds of millions of metric tons of carbon dioxide that a proposed pipeline would carry from ethanol plants throughout the Midwest. Approval from the governor-led, three-member Industrial Commission would be another victory for Summit Carbon Solutions' controversial project, though further court challenges are likely. Last month, the company gained approval for its North Dakota route, and Iowa regulators also have given conditional approval.
Associated Press
New Jersey, home to many oil and gas producers, eyes fees to fight climate change
From the outskirts of New York to the Delaware River shoreline across from Philadelphia, New Jersey is home to numerous oil and natural gas facilities. The measure, to be discussed Thursday in a state Senate committee, aims to create a Climate Superfund similar to the pot of money assembled by the federal government to clean up toxic waste by charging petroleum and chemical companies an extra tax to fund ongoing cleanups. New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and California are among states considering doing likewise.
Associated Press
Turning dusty attic treasures into cash can yield millions for some and disappointment for others
Kaja Veilleux has been hunting New England attic treasures for more than 50 years. Then there was the time, Veilleux said, he was shown a $50,000 gold coin kicking around in a tool drawer — only to have the well-meaning owner destroy much of its value before he could auction it by using a scouring pad to clean it — and scratch it. “It's like a treasure hunt every day," Veilleux said with a chuckle.
Associated Press
As tourists discover Finland's Santa Claus Village, some locals call for rules to control the masses
The Santa Claus Village theme park, which attracts more than 600,000 people annually, is especially popular during the holiday season. Tourism is booming in Rovaniemi — which has hotel and restaurant owners, as well as city officials, excited as it brings lots of money to the town.
CNN
Assad exhibited little of the tackiness of Iraq’s Saddam. But his rule was just as brutal
Slender shoulders, a limp handshake and soft-spoken lisp. Those were the most vivid memories from my meeting with Bashar al Assad.
CNN
South Korea’s ruling party backs impeachment as president refuses to step down over martial law
South Korea’s ruling party has thrown its support behind attempts to impeach embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated decision to declare martial law that sparked a political crisis and widespread public anger in the country.
CNN
Wray’s departure will cement Trump’s control over the institutions of US justice
FBI Director Christopher Wray’s resignation announcement was the latest, and inevitable, step in the accumulation of massive and unusual power around President-elect Donald Trump.
NBC News
South Korean president vows to ‘fight to the end’ in defiant speech
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Thursday to “fight to the end” as he faces calls to step down over his failed attempt to impose martial law.
AFP
Taiwan detects 16 Chinese warships around island
Taiwan said Thursday it detected 16 Chinese warships in waters around the island, one of the highest numbers this year, as Beijing intensifies military pressure on Taipei.The defence ministry's tally of Chinese warships on Thursday was the highest since May 25, when 27 navy vessels were detected during Chinese military drills held days after Lai's inauguration. burs-amj/dhw
Associated Press
Australia plans to tax digital platforms that don't pay for news
The Australian government said Thursday it will tax large digital platforms and search engines unless they agree to share revenue with Australian news media organizations. The tax would apply from Jan. 1 to tech companies that earn more than 250 million Australian dollars ($160 million) a year in revenue from Australia, Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones and Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said. The tax would be offset through money paid to Australian media organizations.
Associated Press
US hikes tariffs on imports of Chinese solar wafers, polysilicon and tungsten products
The Biden administration plans to raise tariffs on solar wafers, polysilicon and some tungsten products from China to protect U.S. clean energy businesses. The notice from the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said tariffs on Chinese-made solar wafers and polysilicon will rise to 50% and duties on certain tungsten products will increase to 25%, effective on Jan. 1, following a review of Chinese trade practices. “The tariff increases announced today will further blunt the harmful policies and practices by the People’s Republic of China," USTR Katharine Tai said in a statement.
TODAY
Who were Donald Trump’s parents? What he's shared about his upbringing
Who were Donald Trump's parents? What he said about dad Fred Trump and mom Mary Anne MacLeod Trump's heritage, business and more.

Latest Stories