Texas state Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) announced on Friday that he will not seek reelection as Speaker of the Texas House. Phelan’s decision comes after claiming last month that he had enough support to defeat both Republican and Democratic challengers.
The U.S. economy added 227,000 jobs in November, surpassing economists’ forecast of 215,000, the Department of Labor reported Friday. The unemployment rate edged up slightly to 4.2%, as more individuals entered the workforce.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) increased its military presence along the Syrian border in the Golan Heights on Friday in response to rapid advances by Syrian rebels against the Assad regime. The move comes as rebel forces, including Islamist factions, capture key cities like Aleppo and Hama, forcing regime troops to retreat.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government on Friday, accusing its anti-Israel policies of fostering antisemitism after an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. The Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed during morning prayers, injuring one and causing extensive damage. Worshippers inside reported masked assailants throwing incendiary devices through the windows.
President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his support for Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense on Friday, dismissing reports that the nomination might be reconsidered. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Hegseth’s qualifications, calling him “a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense” and emphasizing his confidence in the Fox News host.
All three major U.S. stock indexes closed at record highs on Wednesday, fueled by a strong rally in technology shares and encouraging comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Salesforce’s positive earnings report and upbeat market sentiment contributed to the surge, while Powell’s remarks on the economy provided an additional boost.
President-elect Donald Trump reportedly joked to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau about annexing Canada as the 51st U.S. state if trade tariffs prove too challenging. The comments were made during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago last Friday, according to multiple reports.
For the second consecutive game, three Colorado State women’s volleyball players, including Malaya Jones—who is alleged to have conspired with San Jose State’s transgender player Blaire Fleming to harm a teammate—knelt during the national anthem.
The stock market is recording its strongest month this year following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, reflecting investor optimism about the economic outlook under the incoming administration.
