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President Donald Trump indicated Monday that the U.S. has struck a dock facility along a shore linked to drug trafficking as part of its escalating campaign against Venezuela, though officials provided few details. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the facility was used to load boats accused of carrying drugs destined for the U.S. “There was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” he said. “They load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area. It’s the implementation area. And that is no longer around.” The move signals a potential expansion of U.S. operations from strikes on drug boats in international waters toward actions closer to shore. The U.S. military conducted another strike Monday in the eastern Pacific, killing two people, and has killed at least 107 individuals in 30 strikes since September. Trump did not confirm whether the dock strike was conducted by the military or CIA, nor its exact location, though he said it was “along the shore.” The administration has previously deployed warships, built up forces in the region, seized oil tankers, and suggested the possibility of future land strikes in Venezuela or elsewhere in South America. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the U.S. actions, asserting the operations aim to remove him from power. The White House has framed the campaign as an effort to disrupt drug trafficking into the United States. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles recently told Vanity Fair that Trump intends to continue strikes on boats until Maduro “cries uncle.”  

US President Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday that Washington could launch further military strikes if Tehran attempts to revive its nuclear program, as he held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Florida residence. Trump, who previously said US strikes in June had left Iran’s nuclear capabilities “completely and fully obliterated,” suggested there were signs Tehran might be trying to rebuild parts of the program outside known sites. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate with Netanyahu beside him, Trump said the United States would respond forcefully if that proves true. “Now I hear that Iran is trying to build up again,” Trump told reporters. “And if they are, we’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that’s not happening.” At a later news conference, Trump said he could authorize another strike if suspected activity is confirmed. “If it’s confirmed, they know the consequences, and the consequences will be very powerful, maybe more powerful than the last time,” he said. Iran has insisted it is no longer enriching uranium at any site and has sought to signal openness to renewed negotiations. The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to Trump’s remarks. Israeli officials, meanwhile, have voiced concern in local media about Iran rebuilding long-range missile capabilities that could threaten Israel. The warning came as Trump said he wants to push ahead with the next phase of the US-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire, while stressing that Hamas must be disarmed. The truce has largely held, but progress toward a second phase has slowed amid mutual accusations of violations and disagreements over the path forward. The first phase of the ceasefire began in October, two years after the Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people. Nearly all of the 251 hostages taken during that assault have since been released, alive or dead. Netanyahu, who also met separately with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has indicated he is not rushing into the next phase while the remains of hostage Ran Gvili are still in Gaza. Trump said Gvili’s family, whom he met in Florida, is still waiting for their son to be returned. The proposed second phase envisions rebuilding a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision, with a Palestinian technocratic committee managing daily affairs and a multinational stabilization force providing security. Key elements, including the composition and mandate of that force, remain unresolved, according to officials briefed on the discussions. Trump and Netanyahu, who praised each other during the visit, also touched on domestic Israeli politics. Netanyahu said Israel’s education ministry would award Trump the Israel Prize, breaking with past convention. Trump again urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who is on trial in multiple corruption cases. “He’s a wartime prime minister who’s a hero. How do you not give a pardon?” Trump said. Herzog’s office later said any decision on the pardon request would follow established legal procedures.  

Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist set to take office as mayor of New York City on Jan 1, is facing intense scrutiny as questions mount over whether he can deliver on the sweeping promises that helped propel him into one of the most closely watched political jobs in the United States. Even before assuming office, Mamdani has drawn criticism from Republicans, skepticism from centrist Democrats and close monitoring from progressives wary of any shift toward the political middle. As he prepares to lead the country’s largest city, expectations are high and tolerance for missteps is low. Political analysts say Mamdani’s first months will be crucial. George Arzt, a veteran Democratic consultant in New York, said the mayor-elect must use his early days to show he can govern effectively. “He’s got to use the first 100 days of the administration to show people he can govern,” Arzt said, adding that Mamdani’s inaugural address should clearly outline his agenda and how he plans to achieve it. Mamdani campaigned on a platform focused on easing the cost of living for working-class New Yorkers, pledging policies such as free child care, fare-free city buses and a rent freeze for about 1 million rent-stabilized apartments. The agenda energized voters in one of the most expensive cities in the country and made him a prominent figure within a Democratic Party searching for new leadership during President Donald Trump’s second term. However, analysts say governing New York brings relentless day-to-day pressures, from public safety and transit delays to sanitation and emergency response. “He had a movement candidacy and that immediately raises expectations locally and nationally,” said Basil Smikle, a Democratic strategist and Columbia University professor. He said Mamdani may need to manage expectations while securing early, tangible wins. A key challenge will be persuading skeptical New Yorkers that his policies are workable and beneficial. “It’s difficult to have this all happen on day one, or even day 100,” Smikle said. Some of Mamdani’s proposals may find support at the state level. His plan for universal free child care has drawn backing from New York Governor Kathy Hochul, though funding details remain unclear. Hochul has opposed raising income taxes, which Mamdani favors for the wealthy, but has signaled openness to higher corporate taxes. His rent freeze proposal, which does not require state approval, could face obstacles due to recent appointments made by outgoing Mayor Eric Adams to the city board that sets rent increases. Mamdani has said he remains confident the freeze can be implemented. Other challenges loom, including strained relations with segments of the Jewish community over his criticism of Israel’s government and support for Palestinian rights. The Anti-Defamation League has said it will closely monitor his policies and appointments, citing concerns over antisemitism. Mamdani has rejected claims that criticism of Israeli policies equates to antisemitism. Questions also remain over public safety, given Mamdani’s past calls to reduce police funding. His decision to keep current Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has helped ease fears of abrupt changes within the nation’s largest police force. Mamdani is also expected to navigate a complex relationship with President Donald Trump. While recent interactions have been less confrontational, analysts say sharp political differences, particularly on immigration, could fuel future clashes. As Mamdani prepares to take office, supporters and critics alike are watching closely to see whether he can translate ambitious campaign promises into effective governance.

The United States on Monday pledged $2 billion for U.N. humanitarian aid, even as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to cut U.S. foreign assistance and urges United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” amid new financial realities. While the amount is only a fraction of past contributions, the administration considers it a generous sum that maintains the U.S.’s position as the world’s largest humanitarian donor. The funding will be distributed through an umbrella fund, which will allocate money to individual agencies and priorities—a key part of U.S. demands for sweeping reforms across the U.N, reprots AP. This approach has raised concerns among humanitarian workers and led to significant reductions in programs and services. At its core, the reform project will help establish pools of funding that can be directed either to specific crises or countries in need. A total of 17 countries will be targeted initially, including Bangladesh, Congo, Haiti, Syria and Ukraine. One of the world’s most desperate countries, Afghanistan, is not included, nor are the Palestinian territories, which officials say will be covered by money stemming from Trump’s as-yet-incomplete Gaza peace plan. According to U.N. data, the $2 billion represents only a small portion of traditional U.S. humanitarian funding for U.N.-backed programs, which has reached up to $17 billion annually in recent years. U.S. officials say only $8 to $10 billion of that is voluntary contributions while the U.S. also pays billions annually in dues as part of its U.N. membership. Critics argue that Western aid cutbacks are shortsighted, driving millions toward hunger, displacement, or disease, and damaging U.S. influence globally. US seeks consolidated aid approach A senior State Department official, speaking anonymously before Monday’s announcement at the U.S. diplomatic mission in Geneva, said the United States wants “more consolidated leadership authority” in U.N. aid delivery. Under the plan, Fletcher and OCHA “are going to control the spigot” for distributing funds to agencies, the official added. “This humanitarian reset at the United Nations should deliver more aid with fewer tax dollars — providing more focused, results-driven assistance aligned with U.S foreign policy,” said U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz. U.S. officials described the $2 billion as an initial installment for OCHA’s annual appeal, announced earlier this month. Fletcher, noting the shifting aid landscape, had already reduced this year’s request. Other traditional donors, including Britain, France, Germany, and Japan, have also cut funding and sought reforms. “The agreement requires the U.N. to consolidate humanitarian functions to reduce bureaucratic overhead, unnecessary duplication, and ideological creep,” the State Department said. “Individual U.N. agencies will need to adapt, shrink, or die.” “Nowhere is reform more important than the humanitarian agencies, which perform some of the U.N.’s most critical work,” the department added. “Today’s agreement is a critical step in those reform efforts, balancing President Trump’s commitment to remaining the world’s most generous nation, with the imperative to bring reform to the way we fund, oversee, and integrate with U.N. humanitarian efforts.” The project reflects Trump’s longstanding view that the U.N. has great potential but has strayed from its mission, undermining U.S. interests, promoting radical ideologies, and engaging in wasteful, unaccountable spending. A challenging year for aid The pledge comes after a difficult year for many U.N. organizations, including refugee, migration, and food aid agencies. The Trump administration has already cut billions in foreign aid, forcing agencies to reduce spending, scale back projects, and eliminate thousands of jobs. Other traditional Western donors have also trimmed contributions. The U.S. pledge, targeting U.N. programs—the world’s largest provider of humanitarian assistance and top recipient of U.S. humanitarian aid—follows a preliminary deal with the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), led by Tom Fletcher, a former British diplomat. Even as U.S. aid declines, global needs have surged. Famine has struck parts of conflict-hit Sudan and Gaza, while climate-driven disasters like floods and droughts have claimed lives and displaced thousands. Cuts will significantly impact U.N. agencies such as the International Organization for Migration, the World Food Program, and UNHCR. They have already received billions less from the U.S. this year compared with previous Biden-era allocations or even Trump’s first term. Fletcher’s office, which launched a “humanitarian reset” last year to improve efficiency, accountability, and impact, will now serve as the main channel for U.S. and other aid funds, rather than distributing contributions across multiple appeals.

Russia launched a major attack on Ukraine’s capital early Saturday, firing ballistic missiles and drones that killed at least one person and injured 27 others, according to Ukrainian officials. The strike came just one day before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump. Loud explosions echoed across Kyiv as the assault began before dawn and continued for several hours. Zelenskyy is scheduled to hold talks with Trump in Florida on Sunday as part of ongoing efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict. He said the discussions would focus on security guarantees and territorial questions involving the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Calling the attack a clear response to Ukraine’s peace initiatives, Zelenskyy said it demonstrated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no genuine interest in ending the war. He made the comments while traveling in Canada, where he met Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax. Carney announced $1.8 billion in economic support for Ukraine, aimed at unlocking funding from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank for rebuilding efforts. Carney condemned the strike on Kyiv, saying it underscored the importance of continued international support for Ukraine. Homes struck despite Russia’s claims Russia’s Defense Ministry said it carried out a large-scale overnight strike using long-range precision weapons, including hypersonic missiles and drones, targeting energy facilities and military-industrial sites. The ministry said the attack was retaliation for Ukrainian strikes on civilian targets in Russia. However, Ukrainian officials reported that multiple apartment buildings were hit. Earlier on Saturday, Russia said its air defenses intercepted Ukrainian drones over several regions, including Krasnodar and Adygeya, with more drones shot down later in the day across other areas. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said more than 20 drones headed toward the capital were intercepted, reporting no damage or casualties. Russia claims battlefield advances In a move seen as increasing pressure ahead of the Zelenskyy–Trump meeting, the Kremlin released footage late Saturday showing President Putin receiving military briefings at a command post. Russia’s top military official, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, told Putin that Russian forces had taken full control of Myrnohrad in the Donetsk region and Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region, along with other settlements. Putin said Russia would pursue its objectives by military force if Ukraine refused a peaceful resolution. Ukraine’s General Staff rejected the claims, saying they were unfounded. It stated that fighting continues in both cities and described the situation as difficult but ongoing. Ukrainian officials accused Moscow of spreading misinformation about battlefield successes. Poland increases security measures During the Russian attack, Poland scrambled fighter jets and temporarily closed airports in Lublin and Rzeszow near the Ukrainian border as a precaution, according to Poland’s armed forces. Authorities later said airspace had not been violated and airport operations resumed. It remained unclear why the alert was triggered, as the strikes were focused on Kyiv, far from Poland. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 519 drones and 40 missiles, primarily targeting energy and civilian infrastructure in the capital. Zelenskyy said parts of Kyiv were left without electricity or heating. Civilian impact Ukraine’s interior minister said more than 10 residential buildings were damaged. Two children were among the wounded, and seven locations across Kyiv were hit. Emergency crews recovered a body from the rubble of a damaged building, though details were still being clarified. Fires broke out in several high-rise buildings across different districts of Kyiv, prompting large-scale emergency responses. In the surrounding Kyiv region, industrial and residential structures were also damaged, and one person was rescued from beneath debris in the Vyshhorod area. Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, reported widespread power outages in the capital, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without electricity. Focus on security guarantees Zelenskyy said he aims to resolve as many outstanding issues as possible during his talks with Trump while maintaining Ukraine’s core positions. He emphasized that security guarantees would be his top priority. He said a draft peace plan includes U.S. commitments similar to NATO’s Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all, though key details still need to be finalized in a separate agreement. Territorial concessions are expected to be among the most sensitive and challenging topics discussed during the meeting.

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck the waters off Yilan County, Taiwan, at 11:05 p.m. Saturday (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). The epicenter was monitored at 24.67 degrees north latitude and 122.06 degrees east longitude. The earthquake struck at a depth of 60 km, the center said. The earthquake was felt across Taiwan, with noticeable building shaking. No casualties or property damage reports have been released on the island so far.  

Venezuelan men sent by the United States to a prison in El Salvador earlier this year demanded justice Friday, following a U.S. federal judge’s order requiring the Trump administration to provide them legal due process. The men, gathered in Caracas at a press conference organized by Venezuela’s government, said they hope legal organizations will help present their claims in court. The ruling, issued Monday in Washington, directs the U.S. to either hold court hearings for the 252 men or return them to the country, allowing them to challenge claims that they are members of the Tren de Aragua gang under an 18th-century wartime law. The migrants alleged they suffered physical and psychological abuse while detained in El Salvador. “We are here to demand justice before the world for human rights violations committed against us and to seek support from international organizations to ensure our rights are respected,” Andry Blanco told reporters. Some men described ongoing fears stemming from their detention, including reluctance to leave their homes or interact with law enforcement. Not all of them expressed a desire to return to the U.S. “I don’t trust them,” said Nolberto Aguilar about the U.S. government. The men were flown to El Salvador in March and returned to Venezuela in July under a prisoner exchange between the Trump administration and President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Camilla Fabri, Venezuela’s vice minister of foreign affairs for international communications, said the government is coordinating with U.S. bar associations and human rights organizations to file a major lawsuit against Trump and the U.S. government for alleged crimes committed against the men.

The Kennedy Center president has sharply condemned musician Chuck Redd for canceling a Christmas Eve performance after the White House announced that President Donald Trump's name would be added to the venue. Richard Grenell, who heads the center, called Redd’s last-minute withdrawal “classic intolerance” and warned that it caused significant financial loss to the non-profit arts institution. Grenell said he plans to seek $1 million in damages over what he described as a “political stunt.” Redd, a drummer and vibraphone player, has led the Kennedy Center’s holiday “Jazz Jams” since 2006. He told the Associated Press that he canceled the concert after noticing the name change on the Kennedy Center website and the building itself. He described the decision as “very sad,” noting that the event often featured student musicians and had become a popular holiday tradition. The Kennedy Center was originally named in 1964 as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. The recent renaming honoring Trump was approved by a board selected by Trump, raising legal concerns. Scholars say the change may violate federal law, which prohibits adding another person’s name to the center. Kerry Kennedy, a niece of the late president, has vowed to remove Trump’s name once he leaves office. The controversy has stirred debate over the legality and appropriateness of renaming a national cultural landmark, with former congressional historians noting that any changes would require approval by Congress.

This New Year’s Eve, Times Square will welcome 2026 with a patriotic twist: after the traditional ball drop, the crystal ball will rise again, glowing red, white, and blue to kick off months of events commemorating America’s upcoming 250th birthday. Rosie Rios, chair of the America250 commission, described the celebration as “one for the ages,” with hundreds of programs nationwide marking the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Times Square Alliance and One Times Square collaborated to add new elements to this year’s festivities, including a second confetti drop and plans for an unprecedented July 3 ball drop, the first in 120 years to occur outside New Year’s Eve. The Times Square ball drop tradition began in 1907 with a 700-pound iron-and-wood ball created by Jacob Starr. The latest version, the Constellation Ball, weighs nearly 12,000 pounds and measures 12 feet in diameter. Midnight will also launch America Gives, a nationwide volunteer initiative aiming for record participation in 2026. America250 will feature in the New Year’s Day Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, with a float celebrating the nation’s past, present, and future. Rios emphasized that celebrations will span the entire country, from Alaska to Guam, and aim to engage citizens in both large-scale events and community-driven programs. President Donald Trump has also announced the “Freedom 250” initiative to coordinate additional activities for the semiquincentennial. “Having a menu of options for participation is key,” Rios said. “That’s how we’re going to engage all 350 million Americans.”  

The public release of grand jury transcripts from Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking case has renewed focus on her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse of minors, just days after she petitioned a judge for early release from her 20-year sentence. The records, part of the Justice Department’s ongoing release of the Epstein files, revealed FBI testimony describing how Maxwell allegedly groomed girls alongside Epstein from the 1990s into the early 2000s. In one account, a teenager from Michigan said Maxwell “normalized” her relationship with Epstein and even directed sexual activity. Four women later testified similarly at Maxwell’s 2021 trial, which led to her conviction. Maxwell, who filed a habeas petition claiming exonerating evidence had been withheld and witnesses lied, was reprimanded by a federal judge for improperly including victim names in her filings. Victims, including Epstein accuser Danielle Bensky, expressed concern that Maxwell’s legal maneuvers could overshadow the crimes committed, emphasizing that Maxwell was actively involved in Epstein’s sexual exploitation. The Justice Department continues to release heavily redacted documents, noting that more than a million potentially relevant records remain to be reviewed before full disclosure.