Podcaster causes outrage after calling Erika Kirk a ‘grifter’ and her late husband an ‘unrepentant racist’
Jennifer Welch accused Erika Kirk of using her ‘gender to demean women’ and claimed that she was a ‘hypocrite’
Day: December 9, 2025
Lithuania declares state of emergency over smuggler balloons from Belarus
Move comes with concern rife that Minsk, alongside ally Russia, is using hybrid warfare and testing NATO.
Anthropic and Accenture sign a three-year deal to sell AI services to businesses; the deal makes Accenture one of Anthropic’s top three enterprise clients (Belle Lin/Wall Street Journal)
Belle Lin / Wall Street Journal:
Anthropic and Accenture sign a three-year deal to sell AI services to businesses; the deal makes Accenture one of Anthropic’s top three enterprise clients — The artificial-intelligence model maker an…
What’s changed in Sudan after the Rapid Support Forces’ control of Heglig?
RSF’s control of the Heglig oilfield means government has lost the most important oil facility in the country.
Hamas says next phase of Gaza ceasefire will be impossible without more pressure on Israel
A Hamas leader has threatened to not move forward with the Gaza ceasefire unless Israel faces more pressure to open a key border crossing and allow more aid.
New York City braces for new casinos as gambling surge in US worries experts
Three proposed casinos approved as researchers say they take money from businesses and increase addictionNew York City will probably soon see three new casinos, whose owners could rake in profits because of a recent surge in gambling in the United Stat…
International Anti-Corruption Day
On 31 October 2003, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and designated 9 December as International Anti-Corruption Day, to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the convention in combating and preventing it.
US civic health rating downgraded after year of ‘restrictive‘ Trump actions | First Thing
Civicus, a nonprofit that monitors global civic freedoms, moved the US from the ‘narrowed’ to ‘obstructed’ category. Plus, the ‘gay wool’ taking over a New York catwalkDon’t already get First Thing in your inbox? Sign up hereGood morning.A coalition of…
Lithuania Declares National Emergency Over Suspicious Balloons From Belarus
Hundreds of weather balloons sent to Lithuania this year have disrupted flights and stirred alarm in a sabotage campaign against a NATO state.
BBC chairman Samir Shah says Tim Davie had board’s ‘unanimous’ support
In a letter in response to a UK Culture, Media And Sport Committee evidence session, he said Mr Davie had been an ‘outstanding’ director-general.