United States

NPR reports: Political leaders in Washington will honor the life of former President Jimmy Carter with a funeral service at the National Cathedral this morning. Carter, who died on Dec. 29 at 100, was the nation’s longest-living president. Thursday’s event marks the final public tribute to Carter, following additional funeral services and ceremonies since Saturday at the U.S. Capitol, the …

CNN reports: Former President Jimmy Carter’s casket is now in the Capitol Rotunda, where he will lie in state until Thursday morning, with a military guard of honor keeping watch throughout. Military body bearers carried the casket up the steps of the US Capitol and into the Rotunda after a 21-gun salute. Now, a short service will begin in the …

CBS News reports: Former President Jimmy Carter’s casket arrived Tuesday afternoon in Washington, D.C., for a military tribute and other ceremonies before he will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Carter’s family is accompanying the 39th president’s remains on a flight — dubbed by the U.S. Air Force as Special Air Mission 39 — to Joint Base Andrews …

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports: People here woke up early Saturday in southwest Georgia, braving the morning chill as they prepared to bid farewell to their beloved Jimmy Carter. But the mood in the former president’s rural hometown wasn’t one of sorrow or grief. Rather, there was a sense of overwhelming gratitude for all that the peanut farmer-turned-commander in chief accomplished …

CNN reports: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said, “the shockingly violent attack in New Orleans is horrific,” adding that his thoughts were with “the people of the United States at this tragic time.” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the news was “horrifying” and that his “heart is with the loved ones of the victims, those fighting to recover, and …

The Associated Press reports: Almost 3 in 4 Americans plan to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home instead of going out, according to a new poll. The survey, published Tuesday by The Associated Press-NORC Research Center, revealed that 72 percent of those planning to ring in the New Year will do so from their own home. Another 21 percent said …

The Associated Press reports: The bald eagle, a symbol of the power and strength of the United States for more than 240 years, earned an overdue honor on Tuesday: It officially became the country’s national bird. President Joe Biden signed into law legislation sent to him by Congress that amends the United States Code to correct what had long gone …

The Associated Press reports: Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. …

Axios reports: The U.S. is working with several other countries in the Middle East to prevent chemical weapons possessed by the Assad regime from falling into the wrong hands, a U.S. official told reporters. The U.S. and its allies are concerned that the collapse of the Syrian army and other security forces — and the chaos engulfing the country — …

NPR reports: President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday agreed that any decision to use nuclear weapons should be controlled by humans, not by artificial intelligence. It’s the first time that China has made this statement, and it comes at a time when Biden is getting ready to leave office. But Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan told …

NBC News reports: Jimmy Carter has accomplished something no other former U.S. president has — he notched a 100th birthday. Carter, who served one term in the White House, hit the milestone Tuesday at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he has been receiving hospice care for the last 19 months. The proud Democrat, who has grown increasingly weaker in …

“Mr. President, on behalf of the entire Biden family, and the American people, Happy 100th Birthday! “Mr. President, you’ve always been a moral force for our nation and the world. I recognized that as a young senator. That’s why I supported you so early. You’re a voice of courage, conviction, compassion, and most of all, a beloved friend of Jill …

Axios reports: The U.S., France and key allies issued a joint statement on Wednesday calling on Israel and Hezbollah to agree to a 21-day ceasefire during which negotiations could take place on a diplomatic solution to the crisis on the Israeli-Lebanese border. The statement — released after 10 days of intense fighting that has killed more than 700 people in …

Via press release from the Justice Department: A Pakistani citizen residing in Canada, Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested on Sept. 4 in Canada in connection with a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York. Khan was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO), …

CBS News reports: The U.S. seized a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and brought it to the U.S. on Monday, the Justice Department said in a statement, claiming the jet was exported from Florida in violation of U.S. sanctions. The plane, identified as a Dassault Falcon 900EX, was seized in the Dominican Republic and transported to Florida, the …

NBC News reports: Four U.S. residents wrongly imprisoned in Russia — including journalist Evan Gershkovich and Marine veteran Paul Whelan — were released Thursday, part of a major multinational prisoner exchange the likes of which has not been seen since the Cold War. The exchange took place in Turkey, and a plane carrying U.S. citizens Gershkovich, Whelan and Alsu Kurmasheva …

Reuters reports: The United States on Thursday recognized Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s opponent and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez as the winner of Venezuela’s disputed presidential election, rejecting Maduro’s claim of victory. “Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July …

USA Today reports: Simone Biles cemented her legacy as the world’s most dominant gymnast Thursday night, narrowly defeating Rebeca Andrade of Brazil in the 2024 Paris Olympics all-around final to become the oldest all-around Olympic champion since 1952. Biles, 27, is also just the third woman in history to win multiple golds in the all-around, and the first to win …

Via press release from the White House: Today, three American citizens and one American green-card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza. The deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. All told, we’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia—including five Germans and …

Yahoo Sports reports: The United States’ women’s gymnastics team dominated, winning gold in team competition here with a score of 171.296, a full 5.802 ahead of second-place Italy. Brazil took bronze. It returned Olympic champion status to the U.S. after it slipped to silver in Tokyo when star Simone Biles had to withdraw after a single vault. The Russians won …