US AND CANADA

OPENAI CEO DENIES ABUSE ALLEGATIONS IN HIS SISTER'S LAWSUIT

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Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, has refuted allegations brought forth by his sister in a lawsuit filed on Monday, which accuses him of sexually abusing her for nearly ten years. The lawsuit, submitted in federal court in Missouri, alleges incidents of sexual assault and sexual battery occurring between 1997 and 2006.

BIDEN BANS OFFSHORE DRILLING IN 625 MILLION ACRES TO SAFEGUARD COASTLINES

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President Joe Biden announced a sweeping ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling along most of America's coastlines, marking one of the most significant environmental protection measures of his presidency. The executive order will safeguard 625 million acres of ocean waters along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska's Bering Sea.

GERMANY AND FRANCE WARN TRUMP AGAINST GREENLAND ANNEXATION

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Germany and France have issued stern warnings to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump following his provocative remarks about potentially using military or economic pressure to take over Greenland. Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, emphasized that the principle of border inviolability applies to all nations, regardless of size or power. "No country, large or small, should face coercion over territorial sovereignty," Scholz stated during a televised address.

TRUMP SEEKS DELAY IN NEW YORK SENTENCING, AIMING TO POSTPONE UNTIL AFTER INAUGURATION

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President-elect Donald Trump launched an aggressive legal campaign Monday to postpone his criminal sentencing in New York, just days before he faces the historic prospect of becoming the first president to be sentenced as a convicted felon. The scheduled January 10 sentencing comes amid the critical presidential transition period, merely ten days before his inauguration.

EX-CUBS AND ORIOLES PITCHER BRIAN MATUSZ DIES AT 37

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Former Major League Baseball pitcher and first-round draft pick Brian Matusz has died at the age of 37, the MLB announced Tuesday evening. Tributes have since poured in for the former Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs star, who also made his mark internationally and in independent leagues.

CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU SET TO ANNOUNCE RESIGNATION AS PRESSURE AND POLITICAL CRISIS GROW

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, after nine years in office, is preparing to announce his resignation, marking the end of an era for the Liberal Party. Trudeau, who rose to power in 2015, will reveal his decision on January 8, 2025. This announcement comes at a time when his popularity has sharply declined amid rising inflation, a housing crisis, and increasing voter disillusionment. With polls showing his party's worst pre-election standing in over a century, it has become clear that Trudeau's leadership no longer garners the support it once did.

META SHUTS DOWN FACT-CHECKING PROGRAM AS ZUCKERBERG INTRODUCES COMMUNITY NOTES IN NEW MODERATION PUSH

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday the company will eliminate its fact-checking program in favor of user-generated "community notes," mirroring rival platform X's approach. This dramatic shift comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, marking a significant departure from Meta's previous content moderation strategy.

FIRST US CONGESTION CHARGE INTRODUCED IN NEW YORK AMID CONTROVERSY

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New York City has become the first city in the United States to introduce a congestion charge system to reduce jamming and provide much-needed finance for public transport. Under the program, which took effect Jan. 5, 2025, drivers of cars must pay up to $9 to enter the congestion zone south of Central Park; that would include iconic sites such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Wall Street financial district.