Trump says one of the two West Virginia National Guard members shot by Afghan national has died
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — President Donald Trump said that one of the two West Virginia National Guard members shot by an Afghan national near the White House had died, calling the shooter who had worked with the CIA in his native country a “savage monster.” As part of his Thanksgiving call to U.S. troops, Trump said that he had just learned that Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20, had died, while Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, 24, was “fighting for his life.” The suspect who is in custody also was shot and had wounds that were not believed to be life-threatening. Officials say the 29-year-old suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, is an Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 through Operation Allies Welcome.
Trump criticizes the program that brought Afghan refugees to the US who fought the Taliban
The man accused of shooting two National Guard members in Washington is one of about 76,000 Afghans brought to the U.S. after the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The program, called Operation Allies Welcome, was created in 2021. Then-President Joe Biden said the U.S. owed it to those who opposed the Taliban to provide a safe haven. Critics argued the resettlement process was poorly planned. The accused shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, worked with the CIA in Afghanistan. Resettlement groups emphasize that one individual's actions shouldn't reflect on all Afghan refugees.
US-Russian crew of 3 starts 8-month mission on the International Space Station
MOSCOW (AP) — A U.S.-Russian crew of three has started a mission at the International Space Station after their launch on a Russian spacecraft. A Soyuz booster rocket lifted off Thursday afternoon from the Russia-leased Baikonur facility in Kazakhstan. It docked at the station about three hours later. The Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft carried NASA astronaut Chris Williams and Russian crewmates Sergei Mikaev and Sergei Kud-Sverchkov. They are expected to spend about eight months at the orbiting outpost. NASA says this is the first spaceflight for physicist Williams and military pilot Mikaev. This is the second flight for Kud-Sverchkov.
Pope Leo XIV encourages Turkey to be a force for peace on his first foreign trip
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Pope Leo XIV is encouraging Turkey to be a source of stability and dialogue in a world riven by conflict. The American pope emphasized a message of peace as he arrived Thursday in Ankara on his first foreign trip as pontiff. After meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Leo praised Turkey’s historic role as a bridge between East and West. He said: “May Turkey be a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples, in services of a just and lasting peace.” Turkey has cast itself as a key intermediary in peace negotiations for the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
Israeli forces kill Palestinian men in West Bank after they appear to surrender
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli forces killed a pair of Palestinian men in the occupied West Bank after they appeared to surrender to troops, drawing Palestinian accusations that the men were executed “in cold blood.” The Israeli military said it was investigating. The killings, captured in a pair of videos shown on two Arab TV stations, came as Israel pressed ahead with its latest offensive in the West Bank, where the army has stepped up its activities over the past two years. Israel says it is cracking down on militants. Palestinians and rights groups accuse Israel of using excessive force and say dozens of unarmed civilians have been killed.
Deposed Guinea-Bissau President Embaló arrives in neighboring Senegal as soldiers name junta leader
BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau (AP) — Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau have announced a new junta leader, cementing a forceful takeover of power that began after a disputed presidential election and led to deposed President Umaro Sissoco Embaló departing for neighboring Senegal. The military high command in the West African nation inaugurated Gen. Horta Inta-a as the head of the military government, which will oversee a one-year transition period, according to a declaration broadcast on state television. Embaló, meanwhile, arrived in Senegal with a flight chattered by the Senegalese government which has been “in direct communication with all concerned Guinea-Bissau actors,” Senegal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
A crystal Fabergé egg crafted for Russian royalty is expected to sell for more than $26 million
LONDON (AP) — A rare Fabergé egg crafted for Russia’s ruling family before the revolution is going up for auction. Christie’s says the Winter Egg is valued at more than 20 million pounds, or $26.4 million. It’s one of only seven such eggs remaining in private hands. The egg is made from rock crystal with a snowflake motif of platinum and 4,500 tiny diamonds. It opens to reveal a basket of jeweled quartz flowers. The egg was commissioned by Czar Nicholas II in 1913 as a present for his mother. It changed hands several times and was believed lost until it was auctioned in 1994. Now, it’s expected to surpass the record $18.5 million paid for another Fabergé egg.
At least 94 dead as Hong Kong firefighters battle burning towers for a second day
HONG KONG (AP) — Firefighters in Hong Kong have been battling a deadly blaze at a high-rise apartment complex for a second day. The fire has claimed 94 lives, making it one of the deadliest in the city’s history. The blaze started on Wednesday at one of the towers and spread across seven buildings in the Wang Fuk Court complex. Rescuers are still going from apartment to apartment searching. Hong Kong leader John Lee said earlier Thursday that contact had been lost with 279 people. Authorities have arrested three men from a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter. The fire’s rapid spread is believed to be due to non-compliant materials.
Fleet of UPS planes grounded after deadly crash expected to miss peak delivery season
UPS Airlines says a fleet of planes grounded after a deadly crash is expected to miss the peak holiday season due to inspections and possible repairs. An internal memo said Wednesday the airline predicts it will be several months before its McDonnell Douglas MD-11 fleet returns to service as it works to meet Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. The process was previously expected to take weeks. UPS intends to rely on contingency plans to deliver for customers throughout the peak season. Boeing took over as the manufacturer of MD-11s in 1997 and is working to help operators meet FAA requirements. An MD-11 plane crashed Nov. 4 in Louisville, Kentucky, killing 14 people.
Black Friday arrives with solid momentum despite tariffs and economic uncertainty
NEW YORK (AP) — Black Friday may no longer be the retail bacchanalia of years past, but the event still has enough enthusiasts to make it the biggest single shopping day in the U.S.. This year's traditional kickoff to the holiday shopping season comes as companies navigate an uncertain economic environment. Many have absorbed some of the costs from the Trump administration's tariffs on imported goods and pulled back on hiring instead of raising prices for customers. Consumer confidence in the economy fell this month. Shoppers nonetheless have remained willing to spend, at least judging by the solid quarterly sales reports from major retailers. But many retail executives also say customers are focusing on deals and being selective.
