Texas men's basketball team seeks to stay alone atop the Big 12 against host Kansas

USA TODAY
Who did President Biden pardon? See the full list of names released Thursday
With just over a month left in the White House, Biden commuted 1,500 sentences and issued 39 pardons.
NBC News
Wisconsin father who faked kayak death and fled overseas is back in U.S., charged with obstruction
The Wisconsin man accused of hatching an elaborate plan to fake his death before he turned up with a woman in western Asia returned to U.S. soil and was arrested, authorities said Wednesday.
Reuters
Paraguay opens Israel embassy in Jerusalem after moving it from Tel Aviv
Paraguay formally opened its new Jerusalem embassy in Israel on Thursday in a ceremony attended by President Santiago Peña and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a back-and-forth struggle over the diplomatic seat that kicked off in 2018. The South American nation's embassy had for decades been located in the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv, but in 2018 former President Horacio Cartes ordered its move to Jerusalem. Months later, the facility was moved back to Tel Aviv after an abrupt reversal announced by Cartes' successor, Mario Abdo.
USA TODAY
Small twin-engine plane crashed on Texas highway; 4 people injured: Video
Video shows a small twin-engine plane crash on a highway in Victoria, Texas,
Associated Press
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
The Senate is pushing toward a vote on legislation that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of people, setting up potential passage in the final days of the lame-duck Congress. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Thursday he would begin the process for a final vote on the bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, which would eliminate policies that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people. Schumer said the bill would “ensure Americans are not erroneously denied their well-earned Social Security benefits simply because they chose at some point to work in their careers in public service.”
Associated Press
Average rate on 30-year mortgage hits 6.6%, its third straight weekly decline
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. eased for the third week in a row, welcome relief for prospective homebuyers during what's typically a less competitive time of the year for the housing market. The rate dropped to 6.6% from 6.69% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, it averaged 6.38%, Freddie Mac said.
Reuters
Incoming US Senate Commerce chair says FAA must improve air traffic systems
The incoming chair of the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee said on Thursday that the Federal Aviation Administration must take actions to modernize air traffic control systems. Senator Ted Cruz said at a hearing on air traffic issues that he plans to "focus heavily" on the status of U.S. airspace when he takes over next year. "The status quo of how the FAA modernizes our ATC is unacceptable," Cruz said.
Yahoo Finance
Mortgage rates dip for third consecutive week to average 6.6%
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell again to 6.6%, according to Freddie Mac.
CBS News
Canadian official threatens to cut U.S. energy supplies in response to tariffs
Canada could halt oil and gas imports to the U.S. if Donald Trump imposes steep new tariffs, Ontario Premier Doug Ford warns.
USA TODAY
Trump says bringing down grocery prices is 'very hard' after vowing to cut costs on the campaign trail
After running a campaign targeting voters most affected by the high prices of everyday goods, Trump told TIME it's not that easy.
Associated Press
Zimbabwe's president once faced the death penalty and is now set to abolish it
Zimbabwe’s Senate has approved a bill to abolish the death penalty, a key step in scrapping a law last used in the southern African nation nearly 20 years ago. Zimbabwe's Parliament said Thursday that the bill was passed by senators the night before. The death penalty will be abolished if it is signed by the president, which is likely.
USA TODAY
Rep. Bennie Thompson says he'd take a Biden pardon after Trump's Jan. 6 jail threat
“I've never heard an elected official other than the incoming President talk about retribution," Thompson told CNN.
AFP
Prison will not silence me, Iran's Mohammadi says
Narges Mohammadi, the Iranian 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate on temporary medical leave from prison, said in a video call released Thursday that she would never let prison silence her.Mohammadi said in a video call with the Nobel committee on Sunday, her first time speaking with them since winning the prize.
NBC News
U.S., and some Taliban, condemn move to suspend medical education for women and girls in Afghanistan
The U.S. government has condemned the Taliban for ordering the suspension of medical education for women and girls in Afghanistan.
USA TODAY
Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
The father of Sonya Massey said the idea of Sean P. Grayson being released from jail feels "like my daughter (has been) shot all over again."
Yahoo Finance
DEI backlash reaches Nasdaq as court strikes down diversity rules
A federal appeals court struck down Nasdaq rules designed to encourage more diverse company boards, the latest defeat for diversity policies across corporate America.
AFP
Rate cuts fail to spur European stocks
Europe's main stock markets were little changed Thursday despite interest rate cuts by the eurozone and Swiss central banks as policymakers warned of economic and political woes in the region and beyond.Earlier, the Swiss National Bank surprised markets with a 50-basis-point reduction in its rate, citing slowing inflation and "uncertainty" over the impact of Trump's economic policies and Europe's political upheaval.
Reuters
Louisville commits to police reform in Justice Department agreement
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Louisville, Kentucky struck an agreement with the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday to reform its police department after an investigation prompted by the 2020 killing of Breonna Taylor found a pattern of discrimination against Black residents. The agreement, known as a consent decree, commits Louisville to take steps to overhaul training and policies to focus on de-escalation. "This is a unique agreement that focuses on accountability and rapid improvements without ballooning costs that could compromise other investments that our city so desperately needs," Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said at a press conference.
AFP
New Syria leaders vow to search for abducted US journalist Tice
Syria's new leadership said Thursday it was searching for abducted US journalist Austin Tice and had secured the release of another American it said had been held by the ousted government.The transitional government, which took the helm in Syria after Assad's ouster on Sunday, said that "the search for American citizen Austin Tice is ongoing".
Time
Fact-Checking Trump’s 2024 Person of the Year Interview
Here is a review for facts and context of several of Trump’s statements from the Person of the Year interview

Texas men's basketball team seeks to stay alone atop the Big 12 against host Kansas

No. 5 Texas at No. 9 Kansas

Latest Stories

Who did President Biden pardon? See the full list of names released Thursday

Wisconsin father who faked kayak death and fled overseas is back in U.S., charged with obstruction

Paraguay opens Israel embassy in Jerusalem after moving it from Tel Aviv

Small twin-engine plane crashed on Texas highway; 4 people injured: Video

Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people

Average rate on 30-year mortgage hits 6.6%, its third straight weekly decline

Incoming US Senate Commerce chair says FAA must improve air traffic systems

Mortgage rates dip for third consecutive week to average 6.6%

Canadian official threatens to cut U.S. energy supplies in response to tariffs

Trump says bringing down grocery prices is 'very hard' after vowing to cut costs on the campaign trail

Zimbabwe's president once faced the death penalty and is now set to abolish it

Rep. Bennie Thompson says he'd take a Biden pardon after Trump's Jan. 6 jail threat

Prison will not silence me, Iran's Mohammadi says

U.S., and some Taliban, condemn move to suspend medical education for women and girls in Afghanistan

Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death

DEI backlash reaches Nasdaq as court strikes down diversity rules

Rate cuts fail to spur European stocks

Louisville commits to police reform in Justice Department agreement

New Syria leaders vow to search for abducted US journalist Tice

Fact-Checking Trump’s 2024 Person of the Year Interview