A U.S. Army Reserve lawyer detailed as a federal immigration judge has been fired barely a month into the job after granting asylum at a high rate out of step with the Trump administration’s mass deportation goals. Christopher Day began hearing cases in late October as a temporary judge at the immigration court in Annandale, Virginia. He was fired around Dec. 2, according to the National Association of Immigration Judges. It wasn't made public why Day was fired. But federal data from November shows he ruled on asylum cases in ways at odds with the Trump administration’s stated goals.

The head of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has urged white men to report workplace discrimination based on race or sex. Andrea Lucas, a critic of DEI initiatives, posted on social media Wednesday, encouraging affected individuals to contact the agency. Her post followed Vice President JD Vance's criticism of DEI. Critics argue Lucas misunderstands DEI, which aims to create fairness for all, including white men. Former EEOC Chair Jenny Yang calls Lucas' focus on white men "problematic." Lucas has prioritized addressing DEI-related discrimination since becoming acting chair in January.

Young women who have grown emboldened in their conservative beliefs are attending the annual conference held by Turning Point USA. The organization was founded by Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at Utah Valley University in September. The women don't want to apologize for their traditional views on faith, marriage and family, and they draw inspiration from Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, who now leads the political juggernaut that helped return President Donald Trump to the White House. Turning Point's efforts to appeal to young women are intended to bridge a gender divide that has challenged the Republican Party, which has been more popular with men.

Lawmakers across the U.S. will be debating whether to adopt new federal tax breaks for tips, overtime and business expenses. The Trump administration is urging states to follow its lead by applying the federal tax cuts to state income taxes. But that decision varies by state. In some places, the tax breaks automatically apply unless legislatures opt out. In others, they won't occur unless legislatures opt in. States embracing all of President Donald Trump's tax cuts could offer significant savings to taxpayers but may also face financial strain. So far, only a few states have voted on these tax breaks, with Michigan being the first to opt in for tips and overtime.

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt have announced the birth of their baby, a girl. Their newborn is named Scottie Rose Hewitt Davidson. They shared the news Thursday on Instagram. The baby is the first for both and was born Dec. 12. Model Hewitt called Scottie her “best work yet.” Davidson added: “wu tang forever.” The baby's name appears to honor Davidson's late father. The New York City firefighter died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Hewitt confirmed the pregnancy in July on Instagram. The couple went public with their relationship in March. They shared several photos of their newborn but covered her face with a white heart emoji.

The Trump administration is appealing a federal judge’s order reversing billions of dollars in funding cuts to Harvard University. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal late on Thursday in a pair of consolidated lawsuits brought by Harvard and the American Association of University Professors. It prolongs a legal battle that has tested the government’s power to sway the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university. The Trump administration cut more than $2.6 billion from the Ivy League school over allegations that it had been slow to deal with anti-Jewish bias on campus. A judge rejected that argument and ordered the cuts reversed.

Sony is taking control of the beloved comic strip Peanuts. The company is buying a 41% stake from Canadian owner WildBrain for $457 million. This deal, announced Friday, increases Sony's shareholding to 80%. The Schulz family will continue to own the remaining 20%. Sony Music Entertainment's President says they are excited to elevate the Peanuts brand using Sony's global network. Peanuts debuted in 1950 and has become a global phenomenon. Sony acquired its first stake in Peanuts Holdings in 2018. WildBrain also owns other kids' entertainment franchises like Strawberry Shortcake and Teletubbies.

Animals that navigate extreme conditions and environments have evolved to sleep in extreme ways. For a long time, scientists could only make educated guesses about when wild animals were sleeping. But in recent years, tiny trackers and helmets that measure brain waves have allowed researchers to glimpse for the first time the varied and sometimes spectacular ways that wild animals snooze. Scientists have observed that chinstrap penguins in Antarctica sleep for seconds at a time to guard newborns. Frigatebirds that soar for weeks at a time get their winks on the wing. Elephant seals spend time sleeping while diving.

The world’s leading authority on food crises says the spread of famine’s been averted in Gaza yet the situation remains critical with the entire strip facing starvation. The new report was issued Friday by The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. The report comes months after the IPC said famine was occurring in Gaza City and was likely to spread across the territory. The report says there were notable improvements in food security and nutrition following an October ceasefire and no famine has been detected. The report warns the situation remains fragile. The IPC says all of Gaza will be classified an emergency with nearly 2,000 people facing catastrophic levels of hunger through April.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized that Moscow’s troops are advancing across the battlefield in Ukraine and has voiced confidence that the Kremlin will achieve its goals militarily if Kyiv fails to agree to Russia’s conditions in peace talks. Speaking at his tightly orchestrated annual news conference Friday, Putin declared that Russian forces have “fully seized strategic initiative” and would make more gains by the year’s end. In the early days of the conflict in 2022, Ukraine’s forces managed to thwart an attempt by Russia’s larger, better-equipped army, to capture the capital of Kyiv. But the fighting soon settled into grinding battles, and Moscow’s troops have made slow but steady progress over the years.

Thousands of people have returned to Australia's Bondi Beach in the first full day of opening since a mass shooting killed 15 people. People gathered Friday on the sand and in the water to commemorate those killed five days earlier. Two shooters attacked a Hanukkah celebration at a nearby park Sunday in an attack believed to have been motivated by antisemitism. Authorities reopened parts of the famed beach Thursday, leading to the commemoration Friday morning. Armed police officers are standing guard Friday outside synagogues and mosques in Sydney. The country is dealing with questions about whether Australian Jews were sufficiently protected and fears of a backlash against Muslims.

As 2025 winds down, holiday lights are illuminating communities around the world, transforming familiar landmarks into scenes of shared wonder. From glowing waterfronts to streets and public spaces bathed in festive color, places shimmer with light and a shared sense…

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Halawa family’s building still rises two stories above the rubble in Gaza City, a small miracle after two years of Israeli airstrikes wrought heavy damage on homes across the Palestinian territory. One section…

Law enforcement officials say an anonymous tipster known only as “John” helped crack the case of two Brown University students' deaths and the wounding of nine others. The tipster's information led police to identify Claudio Neves Valente as the suspect. Anxiety and frustration had plagued the Providence community until police announced late Thursday that they found the suspected gunman dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. John recognized Valente from police images and suggested looking into a grey Nissan. John provided additional critical details to investigators, helping solve the case.

A British baker's critique of Mexican bread has sparked outrage on social media, leading to a public apology. Richard Hart, co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City, said Mexicans lack a bread culture, calling their rolls "ugly" and "cheap." His comments ignited a debate over food identity and foreign influence in Mexico. Social media users defended Mexican bread, highlighting staples like bolillos and conchas. Hart later apologized, acknowledging he underestimated the cultural importance of bread in Mexico. The incident has fueled discussions about cultural authority and the role of foreigners in critiquing Mexican traditions.