US & World News

Wax Diana in ‘revenge dress’ is unveiled in Paris decades after her death in the city

A Paris wax museum has unveiled a figure depicting Princess Diana attired in what has come to be known as her "revenge dress." The Grevin Museum dressed the life-size figure in the black off-the-shoulder cocktail dress that Diana wore on the night in 1994 when her husband Prince Charles, now King Charles III, admitted to infidelity. Diana died in a car crash in Paris in 1997, and the city still honors her memory. Diana's figure joins other British royals and historical figures in the museum.

Justice Department insists Comey indictment was properly approved as it tries to keep case afloat

The Trump-appointed prosecutor overseeing the James Comey case is insisting in a new court filing that the full grand jury approved the final indictment against the former FBI director. She is reversing course from statements a day earlier that defense lawyers had seized on to ask for a dismissal. The latest statements from Lindsey Halligan, the hastily named interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, represent an attempt to backtrack on earlier comments the prosecution team made under persistent questioning from a judge about the seemingly jumbled process leading to the return of the two-count indictment.

Coast Guard set to change policy to call swastikas and nooses 'potentially divisive'

The U.S. Coast Guard is poised to change some of its language and policies surrounding the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses as well as how personnel report hate incidents. A Coast Guard message in 2020 from then-Commandant Karl Schultz said symbols like swastikas and nooses were “widely identified with oppression or hatred” and display “a potential hate incident.” The Coast Guard policy dated this month calls those same symbols “potentially divisive.” The new policy is set to take effect on Dec. 15 and maintains a yearslong prohibition on publicly displaying the Confederate flag outside of a handful of situations, such as educational or historical settings. However, it doesn't outright prohibit the public display of any other “potentially divisive” symbols.

What to know about the Justice Department's Jeffrey Epstein files

The clock is ticking for the U.S. government to open up its files on Jeffrey Epstein. After months of rancor and recriminations, Congress has passed and President Donald Trump has signed legislation compelling the Justice Department to give the public everything it has on Epstein — and it has to be done before Christmas. But even that might not be enough for the curious and the conspiracy minded. While there’s sure to be never-before-seen material in the thousands of pages likely to be released, a lot of Epstein-related records have already been made public, including by Congress and through litigation.

Fugees rapper Pras Michel sentenced to 14 years in prison over illegal donations to Obama campaign

Grammy-winning rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for a case in which he was convicted of illegally funneling millions of dollars in foreign contributions to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Michel declined to make a statement before U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sentenced him on Thursday. Justice Department prosecutors said federal sentencing guidelines recommended a life sentence for Michel. His attorneys requested a three-year prison sentence. In April 2023, a jury convicted Michel of 10 counts. The trial included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Michigan board publicly declares opposition to proposed $2.4 billion outside investment in Big Ten

The University of Michigan governing board publicly declared its opposition on Thursday to the possibility of giving up a stake of the Big Ten in exchange for $2.4 billion in private investment. The Big Ten Conference pushed back earlier in the week when the chair of University of Michigan Board of Regents claimed that Commissioner Tony Petitti threatened to penalize the school if it refuses to support the proposal. The Big Ten disputed the allegation that any school is being forced to back the plan.

Judge to rule on whether to release Kilmar Abrego Garcia from immigration custody

A federal judge in Maryland says she will rule as soon as possible on whether Kilmar Abrego Garcia can be released from immigration custody. In a court hearing on Thursday, his attorneys noted that there is no final order of removal in his immigration records. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis seemed to find that oversight significant. Abrego Garcia’s mistaken deportation to El Salvador has galvanized both sides of the debate over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Since his return to the United States, the government has been seeking to deport him to a series of African countries. His attorneys claim the government is illegally using the immigration system to punish him.

Justice Department is examining handling of mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff

The Justice Department is examining the handling of the mortgage fraud investigation into Sen. Adam Schiff. That's according to a document reviewed by The Associated Press. Authorities are scrutinizing the potential involvement of people who claimed to be acting at the behest or direction of two Trump administration officials who've pushed the probe of the California Democrat. Officials involved in the Schiff investigation in Maryland have interviewed a Republican congressional candidate who has promoted the mortgage fraud allegations against Schiff. The development is likely to bring fresh scrutiny to the already criticized efforts by the two administration officials, Bill Pulte and Ed Martin, to investigate Trump political foes for mortgage fraud.

Dick Cheney's funeral, in photos

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral service was held Thursday at the Washington National Cathedral. The consequential and polarizing former vice president under Republican George W. Bush is now among a bipartisan group of prominent leaders commemorated…

Trump says Democrats' video message to military is 'seditious behavior' punishable by death

President Donald Trump is accusing half a dozen Democratic lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” after the lawmakers called on U.S. military members to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders.” The 90-second video was first posted early Tuesday from Sen. Elissa Slotkin’s X account. It features six lawmakers, all veterans of the armed services and intelligence community. In the video, they speak directly to U.S. service members, whom Slotkin acknowledges are “under enormous stress and pressure right now.” Trump on Thursday reposted messages from others about the video, amplifying it with his own words. Democrats accused him of acting like a king and trying to distract from the soon-to-be-released files about disgraced financier and sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein.

Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida

The Trump administration is proposing new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production that is already leading the world. A plan proposed Thursday by the Interior Department would open up new drilling on federal waters off California and off the coast of Florida for the first time in decades. The plan was met with strong opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials, as well as bipartisan opposition in Florida. Tourism and access to clean beaches are key parts of the economy in both states.

South Africa deploys 3,500 extra police officers and braces for protests around the G20 summit

South African authorities say they are planning for multiple protests by local and international activists around this weekend's Group of 20 world leaders summit in Johannesburg. South Africa has deployed 3,500 extra police officers and put the army on standby under its National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure. That body brings police, army and intelligence services together under one command to provide security for major events. Several groups have said they will launch protests against the two-day meeting of leaders from the richest and top emerging economies. South Africa says the protests will be allowed but will be confined to designated areas.

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