Trump just nuked Biden's fuel efficiency rules that were supposed to push new cars and trucks to hit around 50 miles per gallon by 2031, and he dropped it down to about 34 mpg instead. The president rolled this out with auto execs from Ford and Stellantis standing next to him, claiming the old standards made vehicles way more expensive and pushed an electric vehicle agenda nobody wanted.
Environmental groups are losing it because burning gas is already the biggest source of greenhouse emissions from transportation in America, and this move basically lets automakers keep pumping out gas guzzlers. Trump killed a bunch of other clean energy stuff already, like EV tax credits and tailpipe emission rules, framing it all as saving people...
The Trump admin just hit pause on immigration apps from 19 countries that were already under travel restrictions, and they threw in an indefinite hold on all asylum requests, regardless of where people are from. This kicked off after a shooting by an Afghan national who got asylum earlier this year, and the feds are saying they need to review everyone who came in since Biden took office to check for security threats.
The countries getting blocked are places like Afghanistan, Somalia, Iran, and a bunch of others, with some facing total bans and others getting partial restrictions. Anyone already stateside from these spots is getting dragged back for more interviews and screening, which is a huge expansion from the original travel ban...
The former top diplomat for the EU, Federica Mogherini, got hit with corruption and fraud charges along with two other people. Prosecutors say they suspect shady stuff went down when a contract got awarded to the College of Europe in Bruges, where Mogherini works as rector, to run a training program for young diplomats. Belgian cops raided the EU foreign service building, the college, and even her house.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office says the charges involve procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest, and leaking confidential info. One of the other accused is apparently Stefano Sannino, who used to run the EU foreign service. All three got released because they're not flight risks, and Mogherini put out a statement...
King Charles threw a state banquet for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Windsor Castle, and both leaders talked about backing Ukraine against Russia while strengthening ties between their countries. The visit highlights the Kensington treaty from back in the summer, which is the first major deal between the UK and Germany since World War II ended. Steinmeier sat next to Kate Middleton and said they're trying to rebuild connections that Brexit messed up.
The whole thing had Christmas vibes with poinsettias and a massive tree, and the guest list included Claudia Schiffer and Hans Zimmer. Charles gave Steinmeier a walking stick and got cheese in return, which is pretty funny when you think about it. Some anti-monarchy...
The Women's Institute in the UK is kicking out trans women starting in April after that Supreme Court thing said biological sex is what counts under equality laws. Melissa Green, who runs the group, says they have zero choice and are super bummed about it, but trans women are still women in their eyes. New members and renewals will need to confirm they were assigned female at birth, and the organization plans to start these "sisterhood groups" where trans folks can still hang out and be treated like part of the community.
Girlguiding already made the same call right before this announcement dropped. Green says an 80-year-old trans member told her the WI was the only spot in eight decades where she got treated with basic respect as a...
A Los Angeles physician got two and a half years behind bars for illegally supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry before the actor died from an overdose. Dr Salvador Plasencia admitted he knew Perry was battling addiction when he sold him the drug, and he even texted another doctor, calling the Friends star a moron who could be milked for cash. The judge said Plasencia helped push Perry toward his fatal ending by feeding his dependence on the anesthetic.
Perry had been using ketamine legally for depression treatment, but he wanted more than his regular doctor would give him. His assistant discovered him dead at his home, and ketamine was ruled as the main cause. Plasencia was the first of five people to get sentenced in connection with...
Steve Cropper passed away at 84, and his son Cameron broke the news to Variety. The guitarist shaped Memphis soul through his work with Booker T and the MGs at Stax Records, where he backed legends like Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Sam and Dave. Mojo magazine once ranked him as the second-greatest guitarist ever, right behind Jimi Hendrix.
His career started when he was 20, working at the Stax shop and studio. Green Onions became the breakthrough hit that launched the label into mainstream success. The MGs spent endless hours cutting tracks for artists, and Cropper kept busy with around 18 performers on the roster. After leaving Stax, he joined the Blues Brothers and kept making music well into his later years, releasing several...
Kenya's agriculture boss, Mutahi Kagwe, dropped plans to bump tea farmer payments up to 100 shillings per kilo of green leaf by 2027 through quality labs in Mombasa and a 3.7 billion shilling loan program for factory upgrades. The ministry scrapped reserve pricing to juice demand while cracking down on leaf theft, and farmers currently pull between 23 and 25 shillings per kilo upfront with annual bonuses that swing based on auction results.
Regional gaps hit hard since East Rift Valley factories averaged 2.95 dollars per kilo versus 1.78 dollars out west, which the government blamed on quality differences that leave eastern growers earning 69 shillings against 38 shillings for western producers. Auction prices tanked from 2.54 to 2.41...
Kenya's election watchers said the recent by-elections ran smooth on polling day, but the whole setup got messy because of political meddling and bribery before the votes happened. ELOG deployed 100 roving observers across 22 electoral areas, and they caught violence plus intimidation popping off in Kasipul, Malava, Mbeere North, Nairobi, and Machakos during the campaign season. Observers in Kariobangi North got surrounded by crowds demanding cash while blocking their vehicle.
The group flagged government officials showing up at campaign events, which blurred the lines between governance work and political activity that pressures voters. Misinformation blasted social media with fake polls and doctored images, and around 36 percent of...
