Venus Williams gets wild card for Australian Open at age 45
Venus Williams, 45, received a wild-card entry to the 2026 Australian Open at Melbourne Park 28 years after her first appearance.
U.S.
Woman says tea laced with pills given to ex was a chemistry experiment
Esther Jane Stephen, a high school softball coach, was arrested in 2020 in the fatal shooting of her former fiancé Shea Briar in Jay County, Indiana. Prosecutors say Stephen, known as E.J., had attempted to kill him before with a drink laced with ibuprofen.
After Swiss Alps bar fire, a look at America's past nightclub and bar fires
A look at bar and nightclub fires in the United States with significant death tolls and similar risks that led to the tragedies.
U.S. says China military drills near Taiwan "increase tensions unnecessarily"
Chinese war games around Taiwan "unnecessarily" spiked tensions in the region, the U.S. State Department said, calling on Beijing to "cease its military pressure."
Trump says he underwent CT scan, not MRI, during October examination
"In retrospect, it's too bad I took it because it gave them a little ammunition," President Trump told The Wall Street Journal.
Coast Guard suspends search for woman who went overboard from cruise ship
The woman was a passenger on the Nieuw Statendam cruise ship, which was roughly 40 miles northeast of Sabana, Cuba, when she went overboard, the Coast Guard said.
U.S. reduces proposed tariffs on Italian pasta, Italy says
Steep U.S. import duties targeting 13 Italian pasta makers will be sharply reduced, Italy's foreign ministry said on Jan. 1.
Trump administration delays tariff increases on furniture, kitchen cabinets
The one-year delay comes as President Trump has rolled back some other import duties amid affordability concerns.
What's open on New Year's Day 2026? See which stores are operating.
Banks, post offices and major stock exchanges will be closed in observance of the federal holiday, but some stores are open.
Can you guess 6-7 words on the 50th annual "Banished Words List"?
Respondents to a Michigan college's survey of overused and misused words and phrases say "6-7" is "cooked" and should come to a massive full-stop.
Federal appeals court blocks Hawaii's tourist tax on cruise ships
The levy, which would impose a new 11% tax on the gross fares paid by a cruise ship's passenger, was set to go into effect at the start of 2026.
Notable works entering the public domain in 2026
Here are the significant books, films and characters joining the list of works in the public domain on Jan. 1, 2026.
Judge voids decision to end legal status of 60,000 immigrants
A U.S. District Court judge issued a summary judgment on Wednesday, finding that the effort to revoke the legal status of tens of thousands of Hondurans, Nepalis and Nicaraguans was unlawful
Some states set to impose SNAP bans on soda, candy and other foods
Starting January 1, food-stamp recipients in five U.S. states will face restrictions on using the benefits to buy some sugary foods.
Trump administration takes back control of D.C. golf courses
President Trump, who loves to golf, has floated the possibility of redoing the district's courses.
American Stephen Hubbard released by Russia, Trump says
Investigation
Armed federal agents knock on doors looking for noncitizen voters
Musk chose to restrict Ukraine's access to SpaceX network, sources say
Cornell responds to Jane Doe letter saying she felt disbelieved
Live
Iran touts closest ever ties with Russia, contradicting Trump
Ohio race takes ugly turn with ad featuring Amy Acton's mother
Witkoff says he hopes Ukraine included in U.S., Russia talks
Up to 20% of MS diagnoses may be wrong, like Christina Applegate's
