Author: Karen Givens

Indonesian rescuers continued searching after a tour boat carrying 11 people sank overnight near Padar Island in Komodo National Park, and four members of a Spanish family remained missing. Rescue teams from Indonesia mounted a search operation following the overnight sinking of a tour boat close to Padar Island, a well known spot inside Komodo National Park. Authorities reported the tour boat had 11 people on board, and rescuers focused on locating four members of a Spanish family who did not immediately surface. Boats, crews and local responders worked through the day and into the night to cover likely drift…

Here’s a clear, conversational update about White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s pregnancy, how colleagues are responding, and what the news means for the press operation and political messaging. The announcement is straightforward and humanizing at the same time. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is having a baby. That single fact changes the day-to-day rhythm of one of the most visible communications jobs in Washington and invites a practical, patriotic response from colleagues and the public. Pregnancy in the White House press office is a reminder that personal milestones happen even in high-pressure roles. Staff rotations, travel plans, and…

U.S. forces carried out a targeted strike against Islamic State elements in Nigeria on Christmas Day, the president announced on social media, and the move fits into a broader, steady push to deny violent extremists safe havens and protect American and partner interests abroad. The U.S. struck at Islamic State targets in Nigeria on Christmas Day, President Trump posted on social media Thursday evening. That terse public note was all the administration offered immediately, but the message was unmistakable: American forces are willing to act beyond our borders to disrupt terrorist networks. The timing on a major holiday underscored the…

Judge James Boasberg ordered the Trump administration to return more than 100 Venezuelan men deported earlier this year so they can challenge allegations of gang ties, setting up a clash between due process and immigration enforcement with a January 5, 2026 deadline. Federal District Court Judge James Boasberg directed the administration to bring back over 100 Venezuelan men by January 5, 2026, so they can contest claims of gang involvement. Those men were deported earlier this year, and the court says they deserve an opportunity to defend themselves rather than remain barred from the U.S. without a hearing. In March,…

A short reflection on how patterns of longing, work, community and change link a midcentury America to the present day. The America of 1942 was vastly different from the America we know today, but its longings remain the same. People then worried about family, survival, and the future in ways that still resonate. The surface has shifted, yet familiar human desires persist. Daily life in 1942 moved at a different pace, shaped by rationing, factory shifts and neighborhood ties. Today we measure life in notifications, online schedules and gig work, but both eras center on making a living and providing…

Bolivia’s new government issued a decree allowing global satellite internet providers like Starlink and Kuiper to offer connectivity across the Andean nation, a move meant to expand service beyond traditional networks while prompting debate over regulation, costs, and infrastructure. The decree clears a path for companies operating via low Earth orbit satellites to serve Bolivian users, including in very remote and mountainous regions where terrestrial networks struggle. Government officials framed the decision as a way to accelerate digital access and close persistent coverage gaps. Private operators and local communities are watching closely to see how quickly services will roll out.…

President Donald Trump announced he is appointing Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as the U.S. special envoy to Greenland, a move aimed at advancing American strategic, economic, and security interests in the Arctic region. The president on Sunday announced the appointment of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry to serve as a special envoy to Greenland, the vast, semi-autonomous territory of Denmark that has drawn growing attention for its strategic location and natural resources. The choice signals a targeted effort by the administration to make sure American priorities are front and center in Arctic affairs. Republicans view the pick as practical and forward-looking,…

U.S. forces struck back hard in central Syria after a deadly attack on American personnel, launching Operation Hawkeye Strike to hit dozens of Islamic State targets with air and artillery power while allied partners supported the push. The operation came after a brutal incident in Palmyra that killed two U.S. Army soldiers and a civilian interpreter, and wounded others in a convoy attack that investigators suspect involved an ISIS sympathizer inside Syrian security ranks. That assault left three U.S. personnel dead and three soldiers wounded, a stark reminder of the danger still present for the roughly 1,000 American troops stationed…

President Trump endorsed GOP Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman for New York governor one day after Rep. Elise Stefanik suspended her campaign, reshaping the Republican field and pushing the party toward a single standard-bearer. President Trump moved quickly to back Bruce Blakeman after Rep. Elise Stefanik suspended her bid for governor, a development that shifts momentum inside the GOP. The endorsement lands right when New York Republicans need clarity, and it sends a clear signal about who the party establishment and its base should rally behind. For many conservatives, Trump’s choice is a shorthand for consolidation and focus heading into…

Boudhanath’s white dome and glittering spire stand over Kathmandu, a busy spiritual center where prayer wheels turn, pilgrims walk clockwise, and layers of history meet daily life in a neighborhood shaped by Tibetan culture. The white dome of Boudhanath rises like a silent guardian above Kathmandu’s urban tangle, its massive round form visible from many streets and rooftops. Crowds gather around the base to spin prayer wheels and trace the anticlockwise path that circles the stupa, while saffron-robed monks move between shrines with deliberate, calm steps. The stupa’s presence is both architectural and social, anchoring a community that balances devotion…