FDA Announces Nationwide Recall of Rheumacare Capsules Due to Elevated Lead Levels
United States; December 24th, 2025 Federal regulators issued a nationwide recall this week involving a dietary supplement after testing identified elevated levels of lead that exceed acceptable safety thresholds. According to an official notice released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Handelnine Global Limited, doing business as Navafresh, is voluntarily recalling Rheumacare Capsules, a product manufactured by Virgo UAP Pharma Pvt. Ltd., due to elevated lead content. The FDA stated that laboratory analysis found lead levels in the product that pose a potential health risk. Lead exposure can cause serious adverse health effects, particularly with repeated or prolonged use.…
Two Alleged Gang Members Charged in Murder of Sixteen-Year-Old Boy in the Bronx
New York, New York; December 24th, 2025 Federal prosecutors have charged two alleged members of a violent gang alliance in connection with the murder of a sixteen-year-old boy in the Bronx, according to an official announcement issued by the United States Department of Justice. The charges were filed in the Southern District of New York, where prosecutors stated that the defendants are accused of participating in a fatal shooting tied to ongoing gang-related violence in New York City. According to the Department of Justice, the victim was a minor at the time of his death. The DOJ release stated that…
The Animals That Walked, Swam, Flew, and Survived Their Way Through 2025
United States; December 24th, 2025 Some years are remembered for what people did. Others are remembered for what endured in spite of us.2025 quietly belonged to the animals. Not because they were louder. Not because they were trending. But because, across oceans, forests, deserts, rivers, and skies, animals kept showing up in ways that reminded scientists and watchers alike that the natural world is still unfinished, still moving, still writing its own story whether anyone is paying attention or not. And in 2025, enough people were paying attention. Across laboratories and collections overseen by the American Museum of Natural History,…
250 AD: The Martyrdom of the Ten Martyrs of Crete
In the middle decades of the 3rd century, the Roman world stood uneasy upon its own foundations. Emperors rose and fell with alarming speed, borders were pressed by foreign armies, currencies faltered, and loyalty to the state was no longer assumed to be stable. In this atmosphere of strain and suspicion, Rome turned inward, seeking unity not through reform, but through compulsion. It was within this moment that a quiet but immovable stand of faith unfolded on the island of Crete, culminating in what early Christian records preserve as the martyrdom of ten believers whose names endured long after the…
El Centro Border Patrol Agents Arrest 49 Individuals Carrying Commercial Driver’s Licenses
El Centro, California; December 24th, 2025 Border Patrol agents working in California’s Imperial Valley recorded a coordinated enforcement outcome this week, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the arrest of 49 individuals found to be unlawfully present in the United States and in possession of commercial driver’s licenses. According to the official CBP release, agents assigned to the El Centro Sector encountered the individuals during enforcement activity conducted within the sector’s area of responsibility. The agency stated that all 49 individuals were determined to be in the country unlawfully at the time of arrest and were found to…
U.S. Approves Two New Antibiotics for Treating Gonorrhea, Expanding Limited Options
Washington, D.C.; December 24th, 2025 A long-narrowed treatment field widened this month, as federal regulators approved two new antibiotics for use in treating uncomplicated gonorrhea in the United States, marking the first such expansion in years for a disease increasingly shaped by antibiotic resistance. The approvals were issued by U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which formally authorized two oral therapies for the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea in adolescents and adults. The decision places both medications into lawful clinical use under defined age and weight thresholds, expanding the federally approved toolkit available to clinicians. According to the FDA’s official regulatory…
CBP Officers Seize Firearms and Ammunition at Del Rio Port of Entry
Del Rio, Texas; December 24th, 2025 A routine inspection at a South Texas border crossing resulted in a significant weapons seizure this week, as officers with U.S. Customs and Border Protection intercepted firearms, magazines, and a large quantity of ammunition at the Del Rio Port of Entry, according to an official CBP release. CBP stated that officers conducting primary and secondary inspections identified a vehicle attempting to enter Mexico that warranted further examination. During the inspection, officers discovered 2 firearms, 9 magazines, and 1,389 rounds of ammunition concealed within the vehicle. The items were seized in accordance with federal law…
Air Force Leaders Visit Deployed Airmen Across CENTCOM During the Holiday Season
Middle East; December 24th, 2025 As the holiday season unfolded far from home, senior Air Force leadership traveled into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to spend time with deployed Airmen, reinforcing connection and continuity across the force. According to an official Air Force release, the visit brought the service’s top uniformed leaders face to face with personnel serving in forward locations during the holidays. The visit included David W. Allvin, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and David A. Flosi, who met with Airmen assigned throughout the CENTCOM area of responsibility. Their engagements focused on listening to…
Defense Secretary Hegseth Places Christmas Morale Calls to Service Members Worldwide
Washington, D.C.; December 24th, 2025 As Christmas approached and much of the nation prepared to pause, the work of connection continued across time zones, with Pete Hegseth making Christmas morale calls to service members stationed around the globe, according to an official release from the U.S. Department of War. The calls reached service members serving in a range of operational environments, from forward-deployed locations to established overseas installations. The Department described the outreach as a personal effort by the Secretary to thank troops for their service and to acknowledge the sacrifice of spending the holidays away from home, family, and…
NORAD Tracks Santa as Christmas Eve Journey Gets Underway
Colorado Springs, Colorado; December 24th, 2025 As Christmas Eve unfolds across time zones and living rooms glow with expectation, the North American Aerospace Defense Command is carrying out one of its most enduring seasonal traditions. According to an official release from the U.S. Department of War, NORAD is actively tracking Santa Claus as he makes his journey around the world tonight. The annual NORAD Tracks Santa program blends modern aerospace capability with a tradition that stretches back decades. Using the same systems designed to monitor airspace and defend North America, NORAD follows Santa’s progress as he departs the North Pole…
A Visitor From Beyond: How One Interstellar Arrival Made Us Look Up in 2025
Washington, D.C.; December 24th, 2025 In a year filled with launches, landers, and steady orbital work, one event stood apart from schedules and mission plans. In mid-2025, something entered the solar system that did not belong to it, and in doing so, reminded scientists and the public alike that space still holds surprises that arrive without warning. That object was interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, formally confirmed and tracked through coordinated observation campaigns by NASA. Unlike comets born within the Sun’s gravitational family, 3I/ATLAS followed a hyperbolic path, passing through the inner solar system only once before continuing back into interstellar space.…
San Diego Border Patrol Sector Reports Sharp Drop in Apprehensions at Start of Fiscal Year 2026
San Diego, California; December 24th, 2025 Border enforcement activity along the southern California coastline and inland corridors showed a marked shift at the opening of the new fiscal year, as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported a dramatic reduction in migrant apprehensions within the San Diego Sector during the early weeks of fiscal year 2026. According to the official CBP release, Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector recorded significantly fewer apprehensions compared with the same period in prior fiscal years. The reduction was described as immediate and sustained, setting a different operational tempo as the fiscal…
Trump Announces Development of a New Class of U.S. Battleship
Washington, D.C.; December 24th, 2025 A chapter long thought closed in naval history was reopened this week, as Donald J. Trump announced plans for the development of a new class of United States battleship, according to an official release published by Defense Department News through the U.S. Department of War. The announcement marked a significant departure from decades of naval doctrine that emphasized aircraft carriers, submarines, and smaller surface combatants. According to the Department of War, the new battleship class is intended to restore heavy surface firepower and survivability to the fleet, drawing on lessons from both historical naval warfare…
U.S. Space Forces Japan Marks First Anniversary of Activation
Yokota Air Base, Japan; December 24th, 2025 One year after its formal activation, U.S. Space Forces Japan marked its first anniversary this week, reflecting on a year defined by integration, coordination, and the steady establishment of a new space-focused command presence in the Indo-Pacific region. The milestone was documented in an official release issued through Defense Department News by the U.S. Department of War. Activated to strengthen space domain coordination with regional allies and joint partners, U.S. Space Forces Japan was established as a component aligned with U.S. Space Force objectives while operating closely with U.S. Forces Japan and Japanese…
Air Force Assigns YFQ-48A Designation to Northrop Grumman’s Talon Prototype
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio; December 24th, 2025 A developmental aircraft intended to inform the next phase of air combat took on formal identity this week, as the United States Air Force designated Northrop Grumman’s Talon prototype as the YFQ-48A, according to an official Air Force release. The designation places the Talon within the Air Force’s established aircraft classification system, marking it as an experimental platform undergoing evaluation. The “Y” prefix signifies prototype status, while the “FQ” series reflects its role within the Air Force’s exploration of uncrewed and collaborative combat aircraft concepts. The Talon prototype was developed by Northrop…
Marine Aviation Brings Persistent Firepower as Steel Knight 25 Tests Distributed Combat Operations
Twentynine Palms, California; December 23rd, 2025 Across the high desert training ranges of Southern California, Marine aviation took on a central role during Exercise Steel Knight 25, as aircraft known by call signs Stingers and Scarface delivered sustained close air support across a deliberately dispersed battlespace, according to an official release from the United States Marine Corps. The exercise placed Marine air and ground elements into a complex operational environment designed to mirror the realities of modern conflict, where forces are spread across wide areas and must operate with speed, coordination, and limited margin for error. Steel Knight 25 tested…
Defense Department Publishes 2026 Cost-of-Living Allowance Rates for Continental United States
Washington, D.C.; December 23rd, 2025 A routine but closely watched update moved into the public record this week as the U.S. Department of War released the 2026 Cost-of-Living Allowance rates for service members stationed within the continental United States, setting compensation adjustments tied to geographic living costs for the coming calendar year. The Department’s release outlined updated CONUS COLA rates, which are designed to offset higher living expenses faced by service members assigned to specific locations where costs exceed the national average. Unlike base pay, which applies uniformly by rank and years of service, COLA rates vary by duty station…
Federal Jury Convicts Chinese National in Florida Firearms Trafficking and Possession Case
Tampa, Florida; December 23rd, 2025 A federal jury in the Middle District of Florida returned a guilty verdict in a case involving unlicensed firearms dealing and unlawful possession of a firearm, as announced by the United States Department of Justice through its Office of Public Affairs. According to the Justice Department, the defendant, a Chinese national, was convicted for participating in the business of dealing firearms without the required federal license and for unlawfully possessing a firearm. The case was prosecuted in federal court after investigators determined that the defendant’s conduct went beyond isolated activity and met the legal threshold…
Brown University Details Enhanced Safety Measures Following After-Action Review and Security Assessment
Providence, Rhode Island; December 23rd, 2025 Brown University released an institutional update outlining enhanced safety measures now in place following an after-action review and a comprehensive security assessment, according to an official statement issued by Brown University. The university stated that the review process examined recent events, existing protocols, and campus response procedures, with the goal of identifying strengths, gaps, and areas for improvement. The assessment, conducted with internal leadership and security professionals, focused on preparedness, communication, and coordination across campus operations. According to Brown University, the findings informed a series of safety enhancements designed to strengthen campus security while…
Defense Department Commits $18.5 Million to Expand Domestic Germanium and Silicon Optics Production
Washington, D.C.; December 23rd, 2025 A targeted investment aimed at strengthening supply chains critical to national defense was announced this week, as the U.S. Department of War committed $18.5 million to expand domestic production capacity for germanium and silicon optics, materials essential to advanced military systems. The Department’s release described the investment as part of an effort to reinforce industrial capabilities that support sensing, imaging, and precision systems used across defense platforms. Germanium and silicon optics are key components in infrared systems, guidance technologies, and other applications where clarity, durability, and performance are nonnegotiable. According to the Department, the funding…
NASA Addresses MAVEN Spacecraft Issue Ahead of Upcoming Solar Conjunction
Greenbelt, Maryland; December 23rd, 2025 Engineers at NASA are working to address an issue affecting the MAVEN spacecraft as it approaches an upcoming solar conjunction, a period when communication between Earth and Mars becomes limited due to the Sun’s position between the two planets, according to an official update released through NASA Science. NASA stated that the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission, known as MAVEN, experienced an operational issue that required intervention ahead of the conjunction window. Solar conjunctions are routine but sensitive periods for Mars missions, during which radio signals passing close to the Sun can be disrupted…
PSA: Announcement Concerning the Christmas Holiday
I just wanted to share a short PSA: we will still be operating throughout the holiday; however, Christmas Day will not be a regular news day. We, as a Christian company, will be devoting that day’s reporting to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; the day will be filled, solely and completely, with historical and Faith&Life News articles, with our posting day starting at 6 A.M. American Eastern Standard Time. We hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas holiday, and we will be back with hard news coverage, again, starting at after midnight on Friday the 26th.
Northeastern Governors Issue Joint Statement Supporting Offshore Wind Development
Albany, New York; December 23rd, 2025 A coordinated regional position on energy policy was set down this week as Kathy Hochul, Maura Healey, Ned Lamont, and Dan McKee released a joint statement affirming continued support for offshore wind development along the Northeast coast. The statement, issued through the Office of the Governor of New York, reflects a shared position among the four states on the role offshore wind plays in regional energy planning. The governors described offshore wind as a component of long-term efforts to expand domestic energy production, strengthen grid reliability, and support economic activity tied to energy infrastructure.…
Montana Governor Donates Salary to Support Mountain Shadow Association in Lodge Grass
Lodge Grass, Montana; December 23rd, 2025 A personal decision, recorded through official channels, carried tangible weight this week as Greg Gianforte donated his gubernatorial salary to the Mountain Shadow Association in Lodge Grass, according to an announcement issued by the Office of the Governor of Montana. The governor’s office stated that the donation was directed to the Mountain Shadow Association, an organization serving individuals with disabilities and providing supportive services within the Lodge Grass community. By contributing his salary, the governor framed the act as a means of reinforcing local efforts already at work, rather than introducing a new program…
Pennsylvania Commits First State Investment to Neurodegenerative Disease Research in 2025-26 Budget
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; December 23rd, 2025 For years, families facing neurodegenerative disease have waited while research advanced unevenly, often dependent on private funding and federal grants that arrived slowly and selectively. This week, a different marker was set in Pennsylvania’s public record, as Josh Shapiro announced the Commonwealth’s first-ever state investment dedicated specifically to neurodegenerative disease research within the 2025-26 budget. The announcement, issued through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, outlined a funding commitment designed to support research into conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and related neurological disorders. According to the governor’s office, the investment represents a structural shift,…
Kentucky Logistics Footprint Expands as Stord Inc. Commits Major Investment in Hebron
Frankfort, Kentucky; December 23rd, 2025 A logistics facility already humming along the Ohio River corridor is set to grow larger and busier, as Andy Beshear announced that Stord Inc. will expand its operations in Hebron, marking a significant private-sector investment and a substantial increase in employment opportunities for Northern Kentucky. The announcement, issued through the Office of the Governor of Kentucky, stated that Stord Inc., a logistics and fulfillment company, plans to invest more than $40 million into its existing Hebron operation. The expansion is expected to create over 500 new full-time jobs, adding to the region’s growing role as…
Byzantine Troops Sack Aleppo, Shattering the Balance of Power in Northern Syria
In late 962 AD, the ancient city of Aleppo was violently sacked by Byzantine forces, an event that marked one of the most dramatic episodes in the long frontier war between the Byzantine Empire and the Muslim states of the Near East. The attack did not come as a random raid or a moment of uncontrolled brutality; it was the culmination of years of deliberate military pressure led by one of Byzantium’s most formidable commanders, Nikephoros II Phokas, and it fundamentally altered the political and military landscape of northern Syria. Aleppo was no minor target. It was the capital of…
Justice Department Details Arrest and Charges in Case Involving Threats Against ICE Officers
Washington, D.C.; December 23rd, 2025 Federal authorities moved from investigation to prosecution in a case involving alleged threats against immigration officers, as the United States Department of Justice announced the arrest and charging of an individual described as a member of an anti-capitalist and anti-government group. According to the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs, the defendant is accused of making threats directed at officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, conduct prosecutors say violated federal law protecting government employees from intimidation and harm while performing official duties. The announcement sets out the charges and confirms that the individual…
FBI Los Angeles Reports Results of Multi-Office Operation Targeting Violent Crime Hotspots
Los Angeles, California; December 23rd, 2025 A coordinated federal effort aimed at locations linked to violent criminal activity concluded with documented results, as Federal Bureau of Investigation Los Angeles announced the outcome of Operation Coast to Coast, a multi-office initiative designed to disrupt environments contributing to violence and repeat offending. According to the FBI’s official release, the operation brought together personnel from multiple FBI field offices, working alongside law enforcement partners, to focus enforcement and investigative resources on specific locations identified through intelligence and case analysis. Rather than targeting individuals at random, the operation concentrated on places where criminal activity…
Defense Department Reports Strongest Recruiting Results in 15 Years for Fiscal Year 2025
Washington, D.C.; December 23rd, 2025 Recruiting across the Armed Forces reached its highest level in more than a decade during fiscal year 2025, according to an official announcement issued by the U.S. Department of War, marking a notable shift after years of documented recruiting strain. The Department reported that total accessions across the services reflected the strongest recruiting performance in 15 years, with gains attributed to sustained outreach efforts, policy adjustments, and renewed emphasis on readiness and opportunity. The announcement was released through Defense Department News as part of the Department’s regular public reporting on personnel strength and force composition.…
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