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Hunter Biden criticizes his fathers policies in a candid interview, labeling the open border policy a disaster and the Afghanistan pullout a failure. He emphasizes the need for legal immigration but condemns illegal crossings, which he believes prioritize resources over veterans and struggling Americans. Bidens words align with Republican criticisms of the Biden teams border control loss and the failed border bill. He acknowledges the botched Afghanistan withdrawal, stating the buck stops with the commander in chief.

John Carreyrou and five other writers have sued major AI companies, including xAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, Meta Platforms, and Perplexity, for allegedly using their copyrighted books to train AI models without permission. This lawsuit is part of a growing trend of copyright battles between authors and tech giants, and its the first to target xAI. The plaintiffs argue that class action lawsuits allow companies to settle cheaply and wipe out individual claims. Perplexity has denied the allegations, while the other defendants have not commented. The case highlights the ongoing debate over who controls the data used to fuel AI technology.

Two men, Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein, were convicted for plotting a potential massacre on Britains Jewish community, inspired by Islamic State. Their plan involved automatic weapons and pistols, which they intended to smuggle through Dover. The trial coincided with a deadly synagogue attack in Manchester. The men, described as extremists, admired past attacks like the Bataclan massacre. This conviction comes amidst rising jihadist violence and European officials warnings about Islamic States online radicalization efforts.

Camp Mystic, a historic girls camp in Texas, plans to reopen next summer following deadly floods that claimed 25 campers and 2 counselors. Despite safety upgrades, parents are divided, with some seeing it as healing and others as insensitive. The camps role in girls growth is weighed against the scars of last summers tragedy.

New report reveals Medicaid programs made over $200 million in improper payments to deceased individuals between 2021-2022. The Office of Inspector General found the issue is widespread and persistent, with past audits uncovering similar mistakes. Officials propose better sharing of the Social Security Full Death Master File and quarterly audits starting in 2027 to combat the problem. Early successes offer hope for reducing these improper payments.

Holiday retail sales saw a modest 2.2% growth, below last years 3% increase, despite a 4.2% rise from Nov 1st to Sunday. E-commerce surged 7.8% while stores handled 73% of payments. Consumers were picky, focusing on electronics (5.8%) and restaurants (5.2%), while home goods (0.8%) and clothing (5.3%) saw less impact from tariffs. Overall, sales are expected to match forecasts of 3.7-4.2% growth, indicating a steady, yet softer, holiday season.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns Iran of severe consequences if it takes action against Israel, citing recent missile exercises by the Revolutionary Guard. Netanyahu confirms Iran will be a key topic in his upcoming meeting with President Trump, emphasizing the need for Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programs. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee criticizes Irans attempts to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs, calling it a threat to the world and urging more pressure.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrested in London for supporting Palestine, sparking debate on free speech at protests.