Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass traveled to Ghana on Tuesday as part of a U.S. delegation attending the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama, sparking frustration as her city faced devastating wildfires. The taxpayer-funded trip, led by Shalanda D. Young, director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, also included U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia E. Palmer and Frances Z. Brown, a senior director for African affairs.
On Tuesday’s CNN NewsNight, host Abby Phillip dismissed the notion that Meta’s adjustments to its fact-checking and content moderation policies were necessary, questioning the demand for increased free speech on platforms like Facebook. Phillip argued that the changes appear tailored to align with a “Trump-focused narrative” rather than addressing genuine user concerns.
Firefighters contained a blaze in West Hollywood on Tuesday morning near Sunset Boulevard, as powerful winds created dangerous fire conditions across Southern California. The fire, reported at 10:10 a.m. near Sunset and La Cienega boulevards, prompted a swift response from crews.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) voiced strong support for the deportation of illegal immigrants who commit crimes, calling it a matter of "common sense" during an appearance on Fox News’ Special Report. Fetterman pointed to a lack of bipartisan support for the proposed Laken Riley Act as a key reason Democrats lost in the 2024 elections.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is reportedly unhappy with the attention fellow inmate Luigi Mangione is receiving at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. Mangione, accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has overshadowed Combs, who was previously the facility's most high-profile inmate following his September 16 arrest on sex trafficking charges.
A Long Island father has shared the harrowing ordeal of his 14-year-old daughter, Emmarae, who went missing for a month before being rescued from a boat in an Islip marina. Frank Gervasi says his daughter was plied with drugs and trafficked by multiple individuals during the ordeal, which began when she left the family’s Patchogue home on December 9.
Intelligence sources from the U.S. and Israel estimate that only about 20 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, remain alive. This figure, shared during ongoing negotiations in Qatar, includes civilians and female Israeli soldiers but excludes male soldiers, whose inclusion might slightly increase the count.
In a historic move, Pope Francis appointed Sister Simona Brambilla as the first woman to head a major Vatican office. Brambilla, an Italian nun, will serve as prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, responsible for overseeing the Catholic Church’s religious orders worldwide.
Haiti continues to spiral into chaos, with more than 5,600 people killed in 2024 as gangs tighten their grip on the nation. A U.N. report released Tuesday highlights a 20% rise in killings compared to 2023, alongside over 2,200 injuries and nearly 1,500 kidnappings. Gang violence has displaced more than 700,000 people, leaving many in overcrowded, unsanitary shelters.
The Biden administration is reallocating over $100 million in military aid originally earmarked for Israel and Egypt to Lebanon. The funding aims to support the implementation of a ceasefire agreement brokered between Israel and Hezbollah. The State Department outlined the plan in notices sent to Congress on January 3.
