海角大神

A green card lottery听辫谤辞驳谤补尘 is on hold after officials learned that the suspect in two recent shootings, at Brown University and an MIT professor鈥檚 home, entered the United States through the scheme. Claudio Neves Valente, found dead last night in New Hampshire, was a Portuguese national and former Brown student who had attended an academic program with the MIT professor. The visa program鈥檚 suspension comes amid a wider crackdown on immigration and will likely face legal challenges.

U.S. inflation slowed in November, with the latest Labor Department data showing consumer prices rose 2.7% year-to-year, down from 3% in September. Analysts were expecting higher figures, but some warn the data may be less reliable than normal because of the government shutdown, which prevented the collection of October data. The White House said the report was evidence 鈥淎merica is trending towards a historic economic boom.鈥�

A Wisconsin judge was found guilty of obstruction for helping an undocumented Mexican immigrant evade federal authorities in April. When immigration agents appeared outside her courtroom, Judge Hannah Dugan directed them to the chief judge鈥檚 office and led Eduardo Flores-Ruiz out a side door, saying he could attend his next hearing by Zoom. She faces up to five years in prison.

Bolivia is ending its fuel subsidies for the first time in two decades. Costs jumped by more than 150% for diesel and nearly 90% for gasoline. The move is meant to bolster public accounts, part of recently-inaugurated President Rodrigo Paz鈥檚 declaration of an economic emergency this week. The government also announced social protection measures, including a minimum wage boost and cash transfers for the elderly. Washington praised the move, saying it could facilitate U.S. investment in Bolivia.

Europe鈥檚 top court has ruled that European Union border agency Frontex can be held liable for fundamental rights violations during pushbacks, the illegal but not uncommon practice of removing migrants at borders without access to asylum. The landmark ruling followed an appeal by a Syrian refugee alleging expulsion from Greece to Turkey. The court ordered lower judges to re-examine damages claims.

Turning Point USA鈥檚 annual AmericaFest conference began yesterday in Phoenix. This year鈥檚 event is a tribute to Charlie Kirk, who founded the organization in 2012 to mobilize young conservatives. He was fatally shot while speaking at a Utah campus in September. The lineup of speakers includes Vice President JD Vance, Erika Kirk, and Tucker Carlson, and breakout sessions range from 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Men of Tomorrow鈥� to 鈥�4 Year College Not Required.鈥�

A photographer discovered thousands of fossilized dinosaur tracks from more than 200 million years ago in a national park in northern Italy. The footprints are set in parallel rows on a vertical mountain wall that once lay flat. The creatures, likely prosauropods, could be over 30 feet tall and tended to move in herds. Elio Della Ferrera, who discovered the remote site, told the BBC he hoped it will 鈥渟park reflection in all of us, highlighting how little we know about the places we live in.鈥�

鈥� Our staff writers around the world

In Boston and other cities, some lawful permanent residents are having their naturalization ceremonies canceled, amid a Trump administration review of applicants from 19 countries identified as posing high security risks.

The potential military threat from Russia and the decreasing support from the United States have countries across Europe looking to conscript able-bodied citizens. But it's a big ask after decades of peace and prosperity.

In the teeth of U.S. opposition, Europe is fighting to preserve its identity, based on regional cooperation, human rights and international law. Washington is promoting a looser assortment of nationalist, 海角大神 nations focused on keeping migrants out.

Hezbollah has been weakened by Israel and is under pressure to disarm. But its Shiite supporters express pride in their sacrifice and look forward to revenge. And for the militia, says one analyst, keeping its arms is 鈥渆xistential.鈥�

Politically-motivated violence, like the thwarted plan in the Los Angeles area, can often arise from specific beliefs instead of 鈥減ure ideology.鈥� Experts say there are ways society can defuse potential acts and reduce the risk of terrorism.

From political statements to forms of resistance, snowmen have played unexpected roles in history. We round out the record on the rotund winter icons.

In Germany, a national culture of remembrance 鈥� conscious of never repeating the horrors of Nazi militarism 鈥� is confronting the imperative of rearmament to support a reassertion of Europe鈥檚 core values. As Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine, Germans鈥� cultural shift offers guideposts to effectively defending Europe鈥檚 security 鈥� as well as its liberal, democratic traditions.

Earlier this month, the German Parliament voted to add more than 70,000 new troops to its army by 2035. This week, it passed the largest defense appropriation to date, at 鈧�50 billion (nearly $60 billion).聽Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also pushed hard for Europe to use frozen Russian financial assets as collateral for loans to Ukraine's beleaguered government.

These moves are not without risk. Domestically, as a Monitor news article recently reported, there is little appetite for military service among young Germans.聽Concerned about legal action or other retaliation, European leaders decided on Dec. 19 not to use the Russian assets to fund a new loan of nearly $105 billion to Ukraine.聽Meanwhile, Europe is also confronting a fraying relationship with the United States.

鈥淢erz well understands the Russian threat to Europe, risks to the transatlantic alliance from Washington, and the economic opportunities [of becoming] a European defense hub,鈥� noted an analyst with the Atlantic Council this summer. 鈥淎nd most importantly, he鈥檚 prepared to do something about it.鈥�

This willingness to act underscores the German leader鈥檚 view that there is much at stake 鈥� and that Western Europe鈥檚 largest country (both by population and economic power) needs to step up to the demands. Timidity is not an option.

鈥淯kraine鈥檚 fate is the fate of all Europe,鈥� he said this week, urging European Union members to show they are capable of 鈥渟tanding together and acting to defend our own political order.鈥� (Germany鈥檚 military spending will help its neighbors, as more than 90% of it involves purchases from European industry.)

Mr. Merz has also spoken with conviction to German citizens about the rapid military and mindset transformation he believes is needed to counter Russia鈥檚 overt and covert threats to regional stability.

Even as American envoys shuttle between Russian, Ukrainian, and European leaders, Mr. Merz has urged the U.S. president to focus on elements for a lasting peace, which would include holding Russia accountable for the damage and loss from the nearly four-year war.

Germany鈥檚 newfound confidence and recognition of its potential for positive impact is reassuring to Ukraine and European allies. But it is also encouraging to its own people 鈥� signaling a readiness to move out of the shadow of the past, while still using its lessons to chart a future based on moral clarity and democratic values.

Editor鈥檚 note: This editorial has been updated to reflect the European Council鈥檚 Dec. 19 decision not to use frozen Russian assets as backing for a new loan to Ukraine.