Top Trump administration official defends partial release of Epstein files as Democrats cry foul
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is defending the Justice Department’s decision to release just a fraction of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the congressionally mandated deadline. Blanche is pledging that the Trump administration will eventually meet its obligation required by law. But he tells NBC's “Meet the Press” that his department was obligated to act with caution as it goes about releasing thousands of documents that can include sensitive information. Friday’s partial release of the Epstein files has led to a new crush of criticism from Democrats. They accuse the Trump administration of trying to hide information. Blanche calls the pushback disingenuous.
Coast Guard is pursuing another tanker helping Venezuela skirt sanctions, US official says
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea. Word of the pursuit comes as the Trump administration appears to be intensifying its targeting of such vessels connected to the Venezuelan government. The tanker pursuit Sunday was confirmed by a U.S. official. The official says the vessel was flying a false flag and was under a judicial seizure order. Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro Maduro says on Telegram that his country has spent months “ denouncing, challenging and defeating a campaign of aggression" being waged against it.
Bondi Beach shooting suspect conducted firearms training with his father, Australian police say
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A man accused of killing 15 people at Sydney’s Bondi Beach allegedly conducted firearms training with his father. A police statement of facts was made public on Monday after Naveed Akram's video court appearance from a Sydney hospital. Officers wounded Akram at the scene and killed his father, Sajid Akram. The police statement alleges Naveed Akram and his father threw four improvised explosive devices at a crowd during a Jewish event on Dec. 14, but they failed to explode. Police described the devices as three aluminum pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb containing an explosive, black powder and steel ball bearings. Akram has been charged with 59 offenses including 15 counts of murder.
Russian general killed by bomb under his car in Moscow
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian general has been killed after an explosive device detonated under his car in southern Moscow. Investigators say Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces' General Staff, died from his injuries. The incident happened Monday morning. Svetlana Petrenko, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, said investigators are exploring various leads, including possible involvement by Ukrainian intelligence services. Russian news outlets reported the explosion occurred in a parking lot on Moscow's Yaseneva Street. Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for a similar attack on a Russian soldier in December 2024.
US says talks with Ukraine, Europe on ending war with Russia 'constructive'
A White House envoy says he held “productive and constructive” talks in Florida with Ukrainian and European representatives to end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Steve Witkoff says Sunday the talks aimed at aligning a shared strategic approach between the United States, Ukraine and Europe. A Kremlin envoy says talks are proceeding “constructively,” while the Ukrainian president says they were moving “quickly.” The talks are part of the Trump administration’s push for peace.
Israel's Cabinet approves 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s far-right finance minister says the Cabinet has approved 19 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. The decision announced Sunday is part of a broader push by the government to expand settlements, which threatens the possibility of a Palestinian state. The Peace Now anti-settlement group says the approval increases the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50% during the current government’s tenure. Settlements are widely considered illegal under international law. The decision comes as the U.S. is pushing Israel and Hamas to advance a Gaza ceasefire plan that includes a possible pathway to a Palestinian state.
These influencers are teaching Christianity online — and young people are listening
ATLANTA (AP) — Christian influencers are reaching hundreds of thousands of young people online. They share podcasts and videos with biblical advice on tough questions that aren't always answered in Sunday sermons. Followers relate to millennial and Generation Z influencers more than the buttoned-up pastors of their parents' generation. And these influencers open up about past and present mistakes. Some have theological training and some don't. Some experts worry that they aren't equipped to teach such large audiences and threaten to replace church with podcasts, but many faithful are hopeful that this new group of Christian influencers will galvanize young people who are looking for meaning.
Thousands cheer as the sun rises on winter solstice at Stonehenge
LONDON (AP) — Thousands of people have gathered at Stonehenge to celebrate the winter solstice. On Sunday, they cheered and danced as the sun rose over the prehistoric stone circle. Many wore costumes and arrived before dawn in southwest England. Some sang and beat drums, while others reflected among the huge stone pillars. The ancient monument was built to align with the sun's movement on the winter and summer solstices, important dates for ancient farmers. Sunday marks the shortest day of the year north of the equator. Many celebrate it as a time of renewal, as the days will now start getting longer.
Vance refuses to set red lines over bigotry as conservatives feud at Turning Point
PHOENIX (AP) — Vice President JD Vance says the conservative movement should welcome anyone who loves America. He declined to condemn antisemitism that has divided the Republican Party. This statement came during Turning Point USA’s annual convention, where debates raged about excluding figures like Nick Fuentes. Vance says he opposes “purity tests” and emphasized patriotism as the only boundary. Turning Point leader Erika Kirk has endorsed Vance as a potential successor to Donald Trump. The convention highlighted the challenges of defining a post-Trump GOP, with tensions over antisemitism and rivalries among conservative commentators. Vance remains a key figure in this evolving landscape.
Power restored to most in San Francisco after massive outage
Power has been restored to most of the 130,000 homes and businesses affected by a massive outage in San Francisco. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. says it expects to restore power to all customers on Monday. Crews were still working Sunday to restore power to about 17,000 customers as midday. The outage began Saturday afternoon and was partly caused by a fire at a substation. The cause is still under investigation. The outage led to closures of restaurants and shops and disrupted transit. PG&E has mobilized additional engineers and electricians to help with restoration efforts.
