Trump Defends His Energy And Health After Scans

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details.

Maduro Open to US Talks on Drug Trafficking

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuela is open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking, the South American country’s President Nicolás Maduro said in a pretaped interview aired Thursday on state television, but he declined to comment on a CIA-led strike last week at a Venezuelan docking area.

Pakistan sees deadliest year in a decade, with combat deaths surging 74%

ISLAMABAD (AP) – Pakistan experienced its deadliest year in over a decade in 2025 as combat-related deaths surged 74%, with militants accounting for more than half the death toll, according to a new report released by an independent think tank. Islamabad often accuses Kabul of turning a blind eye to cross-border attacks by Pakistani militants.

Editorials from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

Brazil's Bolsonaro leaves hospital and returns to jail

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro left a hospital in capital Brasilia on Thursday, a week after he underwent a double hernia surgery. A car took the embattled ex-leader back to the federal police headquarters where he is serving his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup d’etat aimed at keeping him in office.

40 People Dead and 115 Injured in Fire at Swiss Alpine Bar

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) – About 40 people were killed and another 115 injured, most of them seriously, after a fire ripped through a bar’s New Year celebration in a Swiss Alpine resort less than two hours after midnight Thursday, police said. Authorities did not immediately have an exact count of the deceased.

Trump delays tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets for a year

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump signed a New Year’s Eve proclamation delaying increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year, citing ongoing trade talks.

Flash floods in Afghanistan kill at least 17 people

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – The season’s first heavy rains and snowfall ended a prolonged dry spell but triggered flash floods in several areas of Afghanistan, killing at least 17 people and injuring 11 others, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s national disaster management authority said Thursday.

Cash machines in Bulgaria issue euros for first time

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) – Bulgarians began withdrawing euros for the first time on Thursday after the former communist nation joined the euro currency union as its 21st member. Cash machines in the capital, Sofia, dispensed brand new euro banknotes, replacing the lev, which will still be in use for cash payments in January. However, people will receive only euros in change.