Pebble maker unveils Index 01 — a voice-focused ring under $100

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Core Devices, the new steward of the Pebble brand, has introduced the Index 01, a minimalist wearable built solely to capture voice notes. Announced alongside its continuing smartwatch line, the ring ships with a single tactile button, a microphone, a Bluetooth radio and a hearing-aid battery rather than a rechargeable cell. The company says a … Read more

Trump Calls Europe ‘Decaying’ and Suggests ‘Size Will Win’ in Ukraine War

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In a Politico interview published on Dec. 9, 2025, President Donald Trump described Europe as “decaying” and argued that larger states would prevail in the conflict over Ukraine, deepening a rift with mainstream European leaders. His remarks came days after a U.S. strategy paper signaled that the United States should not be expected to guarantee … Read more

Judge Grants Request to Unseal Grand Jury Records in Maxwell Case

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On Dec. 9, 2025, a Manhattan federal judge granted the Justice Department’s motion to unseal grand jury records in the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein who is serving a 20-year sentence after a 2021 conviction. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer cited a newly enacted statute that requires the Department to disclose … Read more

Why Paramount Launched a Hostile Bid for Warner Bros Discovery

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Paramount Skydance, led by David Ellison, has taken an unprecedented step by making a hostile takeover offer for Warner Bros Discovery after Warner announced a deal to sell its studio and streaming assets to Netflix. Netflix had proposed buying the studio and streaming operations for a package valued at $82.7bn including debt, offering $23.25 per … Read more

White House quietly draws up ‘day‑after’ plans if Maduro is removed from Venezuela

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2025-12-09 — Months into a pressure campaign that has moved U.S. forces and a carrier strike group into the Caribbean and followed repeated threats from President Donald Trump, senior U.S. officials say the administration is quietly drafting plans for how Washington would respond if Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro were forced or negotiated out of power. … Read more

Raul Malo, Golden-Voiced ‘Maestro’ of the Mavericks, Dead at 60 – Rolling Stone

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Lead: Raul Malo, the charismatic frontman and co‑founder of the Mavericks, died Monday at 60 after a battle with cancer, the band confirmed to Rolling Stone. Malo, celebrated for an operatic, dynamic voice and an exuberant stage presence, helped shape the Mavericks’ genre‑blending sound over three decades. His illness — a June 2024 colon cancer … Read more

22 dead in Jakarta office building fire, including a pregnant woman

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At least 22 people were killed and scores more were rescued after a midday blaze tore through a seven‑story office building in Jakarta’s Kemayoran neighborhood on Tuesday, police said. Flames and thick black smoke forced workers and residents to flee while firefighters battled the inferno for roughly three hours before extinguishing it. Authorities say the … Read more

Trump Calls European Nations ‘Weak’ and ‘Decaying’ as Administration Shifts on Chips, Tariffs and Energy

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On Dec. 9, 2025, President Donald Trump used a Politico interview to assail U.S. allies in Europe as “weak” and “decaying,” while the administration simultaneously signaled major policy reversals on China chip exports, trade with Mexico, offshore wind and election-law battles in U.S. courts. In the same period Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said Kyiv expected … Read more

Millions of children and teens lose access as Australia’s under-16 social media ban begins

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Lead: Australia implemented a world‑first law this week that bars people under 16 from using major social platforms, prompting millions of account removals and widespread disruption. Platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch and TikTok were expected to take steps from Wednesday to deactivate or block registrations for Australian users under … Read more

High Court Asked to Further Roll Back Limits on Party-Candidate Campaign Spending

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Dec. 9, 2025 — The Supreme Court heard a major challenge to campaign finance rules brought by national Republican leaders asking to loosen limits on how much political parties may spend in coordination with their candidates. The case, National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Commission, directly contests long-standing restrictions that followed the 2010 Citizens … Read more

Top 10 Video Games of 2025

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Dec. 9, 2025 — A year of turbulent headlines produced a distinct set of best games: many of 2025’s most praised titles favored intimate, autobiographical storytelling, inventive control schemes and a renewed appetite for mystery-driven narratives. Critics and players alike singled out small teams and solo creators for bold, personal projects that cut through the … Read more

Zelenskyy Rejects Territorial Concessions, Seeks Broader European Backing

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Lead: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday reiterated he will not cede territory to Russia, rejecting a U.S. proposal that would require painful concessions as he pressed European leaders for firmer support. His comments came after talks in London with U.K., French and German leaders and ahead of meetings in Italy, including an encounter with … Read more

Federal Reserve Likely to Trim Rates but Signal a Pause Ahead

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Lead The Federal Reserve is widely expected to approve a quarter-point interest-rate cut at its Dec. 9-10 policy meeting, while indicating it may hold policy steady afterward. The decision will test Chair Jerome Powell’s ability to build consensus among a 19-member policy group that is unusually split over the move. Officials are wrestling with mixed … Read more