Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of waging a war to ensure Vladimir Putin remains in power, leading to deadly strikes in several regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal reported that the attacks have left at least one dead and 20 injured, while Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that 30% of the capital was left without power. Despite the attacks, many Kyiv residents have returned to the city to spend New Year's Eve with their loved ones, while Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska urged Ukrainians to persevere.
News Mash
Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer and internet personality, was involved in a Twitter spat with Greta Thunberg this week. On Friday, he and his brother were arrested and charged with human trafficking and rape, leading to a wave of social media speculation and conspiracy theories. Afualo, a rapper who had previously defended and promoted Tate's content, tweeted that he knows Tate but is not his "hero".
Two people have died in a rock slide at Yosemite National Park this week, with the identities of the victims yet to be released. The park, which welcomed 3.3 million visitors in 2021, has closed Big Oak Flat Road east of Foresta as a result of the incident, which is currently under investigation.
Pope Benedict XVI, the first pope to voluntarily abdicate the papal reins in nearly 600 years, has passed away at the age of 93. He was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in 1927 in Marktl, Germany and was a staunch advocate for conservative Roman Catholicism. His funeral will be held on Thursday, Jan. 5, in St. Peter's Square, with Pope Francis presiding over the mass.
Global leaders have paid tribute to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 95. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi…
George Santos, the newly elected congressman from New York's 12th District, is facing multiple investigations into potential financial irregularities and questions about his background. The Federal Election Commission records show suspicious expenditures, and the Eastern District of New York and Nassau County District Attorney are probing his finances and inconsistencies in his résumé. Santos has admitted to fabricating and "embellishing" several claims about his background, and his campaign donors have expressed shock and betrayal. The outcome of these investigations remains to be seen.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein has announced that there is not sufficient evidence to bring charges against former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and his wife, Debra Meadows, for voter fraud in the 2020 election. The investigation concluded that Meadows qualified for a residency exception under state law and cell phone records showed Debra Meadows was in and around Scaly Mountain in October 2020. Stein urged federal prosecutors to “hold accountable” those responsible for conspiring “to put our democracy at risk” and noted that election officials from both parties, as well as judges and Trump’s own attorney general, have concluded that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Southwest Airlines CEO Robert Jordan on Thursday apologized for the disruption and said the carrier was “extremely sorry” for the customer inconvenience. Jordan said Southwest’s…