U.S.

Before you plan your 2025 vacation, make sure your driver’s license or state ID complies with the REAL ID law, which takes effect in 2025.

Americans will need a REAL ID to board domestic flights in 2025

The 118th Congress was the single least productive this century and passed fewer bills into law than any other Congress in at least 50 years.

Congress was the least productive it’s been in 50 years

Carter passed away Sunday, Dec. 29, and swift reactions poured in, with Trump taking to Truth Social and Biden holding a press conference.

How Jimmy Carter’s death was politicized in headlines: Bias Breakdown

A woman killed after being lit on fire on a New York City subway car has been identified by the New York Police Department.

Police identify woman killed after being lit on fire on NYC subway

Puerto Rico was hit by a major blackout just hours before many residents planned to ring in the New Year on Tuesday, Dec. 31.

Nearly entire island of Puerto Rico loses power in New Year’s Eve blackout

The World Health Organization is asking China once again to share data on the origins of the Covid-19 virus that changed society.

WHO urges China to share COVID origin data 5 years since pandemic began

A new study in the UK is offering new statistics about smoking ahead of 2025, as many plan to quit for the new year.

Smoking one cigarette takes 20 minutes off a person’s life: Study

The Arbor Day Foundation is vowing to replant 10 million trees to replace the countless trees lost during U.S. hurricane season this year.

Arbor Day Foundation to replant 10M trees in 6 hurricane-ravaged states

New York City’s Times Square tradition to drop the ball on New Year's Eve began in 1904, but back then it was with fireworks and dynamite.

How New Year’s Eve at Times Square has changed over 120 years

During the first nine months of 2024, lenders were forced to write off $46 billion in delinquent credit card balances, according to a new report.

Credit card defaults jump to highest level since 2010: Report

Details are now public about the nation’s plans to pay tribute to the late former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday, Dec. 29, at 100 years old. While President Biden has declared next Thursday, Jan. 9, a National Day of Mourning, New Year’s Day, Jan. 1, will begin an eight-day mourning period.

Jimmy Carter funeral, memorial events set

The U.S. Treasury Department says it was hacked by Chinese actors.

Chinese-sponsored hackers behind ‘major’ breach: Treasury Department

A CIA agent-turned-whistleblower forced into retirement by a mysterious set of symptoms often dubbed “Havana Syndrome” is speaking out.

CIA covering up foreign link to ‘Havana Syndrome’: Whistleblower

President-elect Donald Trump's statements put him somewhere between cannabis opponents and people advocating for it to be legalized.

Trump’s mixed record on cannabis laws clouds the industry’s future

In 2024, the world’s population added 71 million people, meaning 8.09 billion people will call the planet home on Jan. 1, 2025.

World population increased 71M in 2024 to reach 8.09B for start of New Year

The University of Iowa is proposing to close its American Studies, Gender Studies, and Social Justice departments.

University of Iowa proposes closing American studies, gender studies depts

A federal appeals court has upheld a sexual abuse verdict against Donald Trump in the E. Jean Carroll case.

Trump loses appeal in E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation case

A new survey shows nearly half of Republican voters support using the U.S. military to detain undocumented immigrants until deportation.

46% of GOP voters support military detaining migrants illegally in US: Survey

Spotify is facing backlash for sexually explicit content allegedly showing up in search results.

Spotify moderation features in question as users see porn in search results

A Massachusetts nonprofit petitioned the Supreme Court over a project bringing wind farms to the Nantucket coast's its impact on whales.

Nantucket nonprofit says wind farm will harm whales, petitions Supreme Court

Blue Origin received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday, Dec. 27, for its New Glenn rocket launch.

Blue Origin granted FAA license for New Glenn rocket’s first mission

Spartz’s demands were related to fiscal policy, with an illustration portraying the USA as the Titanic and the national debt as the iceberg.

Rep. Spartz releases list of demands for Johnson to earn her speaker vote

The vigilante group known as the Guardian Angels announced on Sunday that they will be making a return to NYC subways after a woman's murder.

Guardian Angels returning to patrol NYC subways after woman’s murder

In a boost for Mike Johnson, whose reelection prospects were wavering, the House speaker received an endorsement from the president-elect.

Trump endorses Johnson for speaker days before House leadership elections