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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.

President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," describing the move as both symbolic and fitting. Trump made the statement during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, his first public appearance since Congress certified his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.

It has been learned that a South Carolina bio-research facility has used primates for vaccine research. Monkeys escaped from the lab in November.

Outgoing President Joe Biden announced that he blocked the sale of U.S. Steel to Japanese firm Nippon Steel.

A federal appeals court judge ruled that the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rules on "net neutrality" overstepped its authority.

A House rules package raises the threshold for a vote on a "motion to vacate" to nine members.

An Illinois hospital system issued a mask mandate due to "widespread respiratory illnesses."

A New Jersey law removing reading, writing, and math requirements for most teachers will take effect on January 1.

Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, stated that producing a new constitution and holding elections in Syria could take several years. In an interview with Saudi Arabian outlet Al Arabiya on Sunday, al-Sharaa explained that drafting a new constitution or amending the current one would require significant time and expertise, possibly taking two to three years or longer.

As Illinois lawmakers prepare for the start of the 2024 legislative session on January 4, all eyes are on the potential for new gun control measures to be passed during the lame duck session. This session follows the contentious decisions made in early January 2023, when legislators approved a ban on certain semi-automatic firearms and magazines, a measure that remains under legal challenge.