Scott Bessent, nominee for Treasury Secretary under the incoming Trump administration, is set to outline a bold economic agenda during his Senate confirmation hearing Thursday. According to prepared remarks, Bessent will emphasize the need to permanently extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act while advancing new policies to reduce the tax burden on manufacturers, service workers, and seniors.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made a surprise visit to Kyiv on Thursday, where he announced a landmark 100-year military and economic alliance with Ukraine. Starmer described the agreement as a symbol of the “unbreakable bond” between the two nations, aimed at fostering long-term support for Ukraine and enhancing bilateral cooperation in defense, trade, and cultural initiatives.
Chicago is preparing for a significant drop in temperatures, with highs in the single digits and wind chills plunging to as low as -20°F by early next week.
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will resume classes Wednesday for students from schools impacted by recent wildfires, with classes held at alternative locations.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court was forced to adjourn its first impeachment hearing for President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday after he failed to attend, citing security concerns. Yoon, impeached in December following his abrupt imposition of martial law, faces charges of insurrection and is subject to an arrest warrant, further complicating the political turmoil.
California Democrats have reportedly reached an agreement to allocate $50 million to the state's budget as part of a legal fund to combat incoming president Donald Trump's policies in the state.
Unauthorized drones caused firefighting aircraft to be grounded over the Palisades Fire near Los Angeles, significantly hampering efforts to contain California's most destructive wildfire, which has already scorched over 21,000 acres and claimed at least 11 lives.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized reporters for their perceived double standard in covering California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass amid the recent wildfires devastating the Los Angeles area. The fires, which have spread rapidly through Pasadena and other regions, have claimed at least five lives, destroyed hundreds of buildings, and displaced thousands of residents.
Hollywood icon Barbra Streisand took to social media on Thursday to blame the fierce winds fueling Los Angeles wildfires on climate change, demanding that the government take immediate action. "These horrible winds I think are the strongest we’ve ever experienced and a lot of that is due to climate change, which this coming government better address!" Streisand wrote on Bluesky, a left-leaning social platform.
