An appeals court in the Dominican Republic has ordered a new trial for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco,. He was convicted earlier this year of sexually abusing a minor and had received a two-year suspended sentence. Tuesday’s ruling comes after Franco’s attorneys had pushed to have his conviction suspended and sentencing overturned, while prosecutors had been seeking a five-year sentence. The appeals court ruled in favor of Franco. He was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

Raul Malo, the soulful tenor and frontman of The Mavericks, has died at age 60. He was battling colon cancer and later leptomeningeal disease, a rare complication when cancer spreads to membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Malo co-founded The Mavericks in 1989, blending genres like alt-country, Americana, and Latin. The band won a Grammy and multiple awards. Malo also released solo albums and collaborated with others. He urged fans to prioritize

It's time for the Geminid meteor shower, one of the strongest of the year. The Geminids peak this weekend and are visible through mid-December. The fireballs tend to be yellow in color and can be seen across the globe, but the best viewing happens in the Northern Hemisphere. Meteor showers appear when fast-moving space rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere and burn up, leaving behind fiery tails. To enjoy the show, venture away from city lights and avoid looking at your phone. The meteors will appear as tiny glows streaking across the sky.

An infant botulism outbreak has sickened at least 39 babies across the U.S. and underscored the crucial role of a medication that treats the rare disease. BabyBIG, an IV drug, is made from blood plasma donated by a small group of scientists and other volunteers. It was the brainchild of the late Dr. Stephen Arnon. He was a California scientist who first identified the form of botulism that affects babies under age 1 and then spent his 45-year career figuring out how to treat it. It took 15 years and $10.6 million to develop the treatment licensed in 2003.

Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is running for governor of New York. Blakeman announced his candidacy on Tuesday. His entrance into the race kicks off what is expected to be a heated Republican primary contest against Rep. Elise Stefanik. Both count themselves as allies of President Donald Trump, who calls them “both great people.” Gov. Kathy Hochul, a moderate Democrat, faces a primary challenge from her own lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado. Both Blakeman and Stefanik now frame themselves as candidates who could appeal to moderate Democrats as well as Republicans, even though both have adopted the brash political rhetoric of Trump, who remains unpopular in New York.

A Hamas leader has threatened to not move forward with the Gaza ceasefire's next phase unless Israel is pressured to open a key border crossing, cease deadly strikes and allow more aid. Tuesday's comment came as Israel’s government says it is ready to move into the next and more complicated phase of the ceasefire deal. It also calls on the militant group to return the remains of the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza. Hamas has little leverage in ceasefire negotiations and could come under heavy pressure from regional powers like Qatar and Turkey to not hit the brakes on the fragile truce.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his refusal to cede territory, resisting U.S. pressure for compromise with Russia. He emphasized Ukraine's legal and moral stance against giving up land. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV and plans talks with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Vatican has urged continued dialogue for peace. Zelenskyy also met with European leaders to strengthen support amid U.S. pressure Monday. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange aerial strikes, with both sides reporting drone attacks and damage. Energy infrastructure in Ukraine remains a key target.

Shohei Ohtani has won The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time, tying with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most among male honorees. Ohtani received 29 of 47 votes in balloting among sports journalists from the AP and its members. The AP award has been given out since 1931. The Japanese baseball superstar's two-way dominance culminated in a repeat World Series title for his Los Angeles Dodgers. Among Ohtani's goals for 2026 are staying healthy so he can play in every game and to keep working on his English-speaking skills so he bridge the gap with his U.S. fans.

Australia has introduced a world-first social media ban for children under 16, starting Wednesday. Riley Allen, a 15-year-old from a remote sheep ranch, is concerned about staying in touch with friends. Platforms like Facebook and TikTok face hefty fines if they don't comply. Riley's mother, a teacher, supports the ban but acknowledges kids might find ways around it. Another 15-year-old, Noah Jones, is challenging the law in court, arguing it limits freedom of communication. Critics warn the ban could push kids to less regulated platforms. The case will be heard next year.

Indonesian police say at least 22 people have been killed when a fire ripped through an office building in the capital. Flames engulfed the seven-story building in Jakarta on Tuesday. Thick black smoke billowed into the sky and caused panic among nearby residents and workers in a neighborhood in Central Jakarta. The fire broke out at midday. The police chief said that the blaze was believed to have started on the first floor of the building in the Kemayoran neighborhood before spreading to other floors. Hundreds of personnel and 29 fire trucks were deployed to try to contain the flames. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

An Indiana state Senate committee took the first step toward enacting a new congressional map. But it remains to be seen if the full Senate will have enough votes to enact what is designed to give the GOP the edge in the state's nine congressional seats. President Donald Trump wants Indiana to follow other states like Texas and Missouri, which have redrawn their congressional maps in order to give the GOP a better chance of keeping its U.S. House majority. But many Indiana Republican senators have been hesitant to stack the deck in their party's favor. One Republican voted on Monday with the two Democrats in the Senate elections committee against the legislation. A final vote on the bill is expected Thursday. A new congressional map was previously approved by the House.

The first phase of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is nearly complete, after a two-month process plagued by delays and finger-pointing. Now, the key players are to move to a far more complicated second phase, which could reshape the Middle East. President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan lays out an ambitious vision for ending Hamas’ rule of Gaza. If successful, it would see the rebuilding of a demilitarized Gaza under international supervision, normalized relations between Israel and the Arab world and a possible “pathway” to Palestinian independence. If it stalls, Gaza could become trapped in instability for years.

Cambodia’s President Hun Sen has vowed a fierce fight against Thailand amid ongoing combat between the two countries. On Tuesday, Hun Sen claimed Cambodia refrained from firing back initially but began shooting overnight. Thailand reported Cambodian artillery hit a village in its Sa Kaeo province, causing no casualties. Fighting resumed despite a ceasefire in July, which ended five days of deadly clashes over territorial claims. Cambodia reports seven civilians killed and 20 wounded, while Thailand has confirmed one soldier’s death. Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said military operations would continue to defend the country. The U.N. has urged both sides to recommit to the ceasefire.

The Supreme Court is considering a Republican-led drive, backed by President Donald Trump’s administration, to overturn a quarter-century-old decision and erase limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president. A day after the justices indicated they would overturn a 90-year-old decision limiting the president’s power to fire independent agency heads, the court is revisiting a 2001 decision that upheld a provision of federal election law that is more than 50 years old. Democrats are calling on the court to uphold the law.

Immigration lawyers and authorities say arrests of Afghans are on the rise following the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C. The suspect in the attack is an Afghan national. The Associated Press has tracked roughly two dozen arrests of Afghan immigrants, mostly in Northern California, since the Nov. 26 shooting. Those who work with Afghans say the stepped-up enforcement amounts to the collective punishment of a population for one person's actions. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said they aren't taking any chances. The U.S. government also introduced sweeping immigration changes following the shooting.