Texas can ban emergency abortions despite federal guidance, court rules (www.theguardian.com)
The ruling by a unanimous panel of fifth US circuit court of appeals comes amid a wave of lawsuits focusing on abortion exceptions...
Asian American officials cite unfair scrutiny and lost jobs in China spy tensions (www.nytimes.com)
When Thomas Wong set foot in the United States Embassy in Beijing this summer for a new diplomatic posting, it was vindication after years of battling the State Department over a perceived intelligence threat — himself....
Israel-Gaza war: Displaced Gazans 'living in the open', UN says (www.bbc.com)
Many displaced Gazans are living “in the open, in the parks,” Juliette Touma of the UN relief agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has told the BBC....
Ukrainian Missile Attack on a Russian City Kills at Least 18, Officials Say (www.nytimes.com)
The Russian authorities said on Saturday that a Ukrainian attack on the city of Belgorod had killed at least 18 people and injured more than 110 others, in the deadliest strike against a Russian city since the beginning of the war nearly two years ago....
At least 13 million people lost Medicaid this year, with Texas an epicenter of the 'unwinding' (www.nbcnews.com)
Eligibility checks for Medicaid were paused during the pandemic. Many people are still losing coverage in the bureaucratic jumble that has ensued since they resumed....
The Biden administration once more bypasses Congress on an emergency weapons sale to Israel (www.ctvnews.ca)
Cocaine bricks that washed up on NSW beaches this week may have been pushed ashore by king tides and Cyclone Jasper, police say (www.abc.net.au)
Don’t all rush … over 120kg of cocaine packages have washed up on NSW (Australia) beaches over the last few days....
DeWine vetoes controversial bill banning trans kids from girls' sports and some medical treatments (www.ideastream.org)
Gov. Mike DeWine has vetoed a bill that nearly all of his Republican colleagues supported but many in LGBTQ communities and child health leaders opposed. The bill DeWine turned away would have banned trans youth from participating in girls’ sports and would have limited the access of trans children under 18 to some medical...
Spying on Beavers From Space Could Help Save California (www.wired.com)
Wired.com
In reversal, Biden administration to heighten efforts to collect billions in unpaid covid loans made to small businesses (www.washingtonpost.com)
Mayor Adams announces executive order aimed at restricting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's migrant busing (www.politico.com)
The executive order mandates migrant charter buses must announce their arrival 32 hours in advance and can only drop off migrants between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m....
Starting in 2024, Californians can redeem empty wine and liquor containers for cash (abc7news.com)
It's a 'massive student debt strike' activist says, as millions of borrowers still aren't making payments (www.cnbc.com)
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, Set to Be Freed From Prison Thursday Dec. 28, Regrets Murdering Mother: 'She Didn’t Deserve That' (people.com)
Michigan supreme court rules that Trump will stay on state ballot (www.theguardian.com)
Ex-president can participate in state primary despite accusations of insurrection stemming from the January 6 Capitol attack...
Lose a limb or risk death? Many in Gaza face an agonizing choice, more than 54,500 war-wounded (www.nbcnews.com)
Daihatsu pauses production over safety scandal (www.bbc.com)
Toyota-owned carmaker Daihatsu has closed all four of its plants until the end of January, after admitting it had falsified safety tests....
Southwest Airlines cancels hundreds of flights, disrupting some holiday travelers (www.cbsnews.com)
After thousands of U.S. flights were canceled or delayed over the holidays in 2022, most holiday travelers this year are off to a cheerier start this Christmas. But a few trouble spots were emerging on Christmas Day....
Christmas weather alerts issued for 3 states, with snow, freezing rain (www.newsweek.com)
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued winter weather messages for several states as snow and gusty winds are expected on Christmas Day....
He Was Ready to Die, but Not to Surrender: Ukrainian Soldier Escapes Capture 125 Miles Behind Enemy Lines - The New York Times (Free article) (www.nytimes.com)
Once he got back to Ukraine, he signed back up for military service.
Deputy AG says GOP attacks on DOJ have contributed to an ‘unprecedented rise’ in threats (www.nbcnews.com)
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly disparaged Lisa Monaco and other Justice Department officials involved in the various legal cases against him....
Lawmakers condemn vandalism of California Hindu temple thought to be hate crime (thehill.com)
Lawmakers are condemning a recent defacement of a Hindu temple in Newark, Calif., that local authorities are looking into as a possible hate crime....
A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Utah over strict new limits on app use for minors (www.nbcnews.com)
Indianapolis Zoo says online reports of escaped lions were a hoax (www.wishtv.com)
Flu and COVID infections are rising and could get worse over the holidays, CDC says (apnews.com)
Look for flu and COVID-19 infections to ramp up in the coming weeks, U.S. health officials say, with increases fueled by holiday gatherings, too many unvaccinated people and a new version of the coronavirus that may be spreading more easily....
