President Donald Trump this week announced plans to weaken strict gas mileage requirements for automakers set under former President Joe Biden. The Trump administration said the previous rules were the reason new vehicles have become so expensive, and that cutting them will drive down costs and make vehicles safer. Experts say there are many reasons that the average cost of a new vehicle is rising, including American consumers' love for big, expensive SUVs and trucks. And they say that cutting mileage standards is unlikely to lead to cheaper cars anytime soon.

FIFA gives its new peace prize to President Donald Trump. It’s an unusual break from tradition for the sport-focused soccer organization, whose president has become a close ally of Trump. The ceremony happened Friday during the 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington. It comes after Trump had openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. FIFA president Gianni Infantino had said he thought Trump should have won the Nobel this year for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.

The man accused of planting a pair of pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties in Washington on the eve of the U.S. Capitol attack confessed to the act in interviews with investigators. That's according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press. The people said Brian Cole Jr. also indicated that he believed the election was stolen and expressed views supportive of President Donald Trump. The details add to a still-emerging portrait of the 30-year-old suspect from Woodbridge, Virginia, and it was not immediately clear what other information or perspectives he may have shared while cooperating with law enforcement following his arrest on Thursday.

The 2026 World Cup draw will begin Friday with a wintry feel as snow fell outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 189 days ahead of an expanded 48-nation tournament. There were long lines outside the complex even at 7 a.m. as workers and media filed through Secret Service agents securing the area, where President Donald Trump of the U.S. and Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico were expected along with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney.

A pretrial hearing on Luigi Mangione’s bid to exclude evidence from his state murder case has been postponed because his lawyers and the judge say he's sick. It is slated to resume on Monday. Mangione is seeking to exclude a gun, notebook and other items police officers say they found in his backpack when he was arrested Dec. 9, 2024, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, five days after UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed in Manhattan. He and his lawyers are also trying to suppress some statements he made to police.

President Donald Trump's White House has established a hall of shame for journalists it finds guilty of media bias as it looks for new avenues of attack against legacy news outlets. And it's calling on “everyday Americans” to participate with their own examples of where they consider journalists to be unfair. The Republican president has been criticizing “fake news” since his first term. Some of Trump's attacks have turned personal in the past month. Yet despite it all, the news outlet Axios pointed out this week that mainstream news sources are as dominant as ever in setting the agenda for Washington and — somewhat ironically — capturing the president's attention.

President Donald Trump’s administration has come out with a new national security strategy. It paints European allies as weak and aims to reassert America’s dominance in the Western Hemisphere. The document was released Friday by the White House. It's sure to upset long-standing U.S. allies in Europe for its scathing critiques of their migration and free speech policies. It also suggests those allies face the “prospect of civilizational erasure” and raises doubts about their long-term reliability as American partners. The document reinforces the U.S. commitment to Trump’s “America First” philosophy.

Netflix has struck a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to buy the legacy Hollywood giant’s studio and streaming business for $72 billion. The merger, announced Friday, would bring two of the industry’s biggest players in film and TV under one roof. Beyond its namesake television and motion picture division, Warner owns HBO Max and DC Studios. And Netflix has rose to dominance as a household name ubiquitous to on-demand content, while building of its own production arm to release popular titles like “Stranger Things” and “Squid Game.” The cash and stock deal is valued at $27.75 per Warner share, giving it a total enterprise value of approximately $82.7 billion.

When President Donald Trump suspended the refugee program, he left thousands stranded worldwide. Many had prepared for new lives in America, selling possessions and ending leases. Trump later resumed the program but set a historically low entry limit, favoring mostly white South Africans. This decision has affected families like the Dawoods from Syria, who remain separated due to tightened restrictions. Chinese pastor Lu Taizhi is fleeing persecution and faces delays despite being accepted. And a refugee in the U.S. is separated from his family in Uganda. Their stories highlight the human impact of the policy changes.

Pope Leo XIV has taken his biggest step yet to correct one of Pope Francis’ more problematic financial moves. He has canceled a special Holy See fundraising commission that was announced under questionable circumstances while Francis was hospitalized. Leo abrogated the commission statutes and fired its members in a decree on Thursday. It was the latest sign that history’s first American pope is wrapping up the loose ends of Francis’ pontificate as 2025 comes to an end. Leo is correcting problems as needed and fulfilling Francis’ Holy Year obligations as he looks ahead to the new year when he can focus more on his own agenda.

The world lost influential people in 2025, and some of their deaths had significant impacts. Pope Francis died in April, leading to the election of the first American pope. The fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September sparked discussions about political violence. Virginia Giuffre's suicide in April brought renewed attention to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and other notable politicians also died. The entertainment industry mourned the loss of Gene Hackman, David Lynch, Roberta Flack, Hulk Hogan and other stars.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an annual summit, focusing on diversifying economic ties. The 23rd Russia-India Summit comes as the U.S. pushes for a Ukraine peace deal and global cooperation. On Thursday, Modi greeted Putin in New Delhi with a warm welcome. After the talks, both leaders announced a program to boost trade to $100 billion by 2030, emphasizing strong energy ties. India aims to bridge trade deficits by increasing exports. The U.S. is pressuring India to reduce its Russian oil imports, citing concerns over financing Moscow's war efforts.

Russian drones have struck a house in central Ukraine, killing a 12-year-old boy. Officials say the attack comes during ongoing U.S. peace efforts and as long-range Ukrainian strikes reportedly are targeting a Russian port and oil refinery. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner were set to meet with a Ukrainian delegation in Miami on Thursday. It was not immediately clear if the meeting took place. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country’s delegation in Miami wanted to hear from the U.S. side about the talks at the Kremlin.

President Donald Trump has intensified his anti-immigrant rhetoric, calling Somali immigrants in the U.S. “garbage” during a Cabinet meeting. This marks a continuation of his inflammatory language, which began with his campaign announcement a decade ago. Trump’s remarks have drawn condemnation from various quarters, including Somali-American Rep. Ilhan Omar. Critics argue that Trump’s language legitimizes xenophobia and has a significant impact on public perception. Despite backlash, Trump maintains strong support among Republicans and continues to push his immigration agenda. His rhetoric contrasts with global leaders who have softened their language to broaden appeal.