These are the top stories for today.
Headlines
Trump to Deploy More Naval Assets to the Middle East
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is set to deploy to the Middle East for at least seven months as President Trump continues pressing an economic campaign against Iran. Trump said Wednesday he does not believe Iran’s supreme leader is dead and predicted the financial pressure would move the U.S. toward a “big victory,” while Qatar’s prime minister prepared to visit Tehran to discuss de-escalation. Find out More
Catastrophic flash flooding along the Nepal-Tibet border has killed at least 165 people, with hundreds more missing, including dozens of Americans. Officials say a glacial ice avalanche blocked a river before releasing a massive surge downstream, and the death toll is expected to rise as search efforts continue. Source
A federal judge in Miami will consider Thursday whether social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate should remain in custody as they fight extradition to the United Kingdom on rape and sex-trafficking charges. The brothers have been held since their July arrest, with attorneys arguing their high public profile makes flight risk unlikely. Find out More
Politics
Sen. Josh Hawley launched an investigation into Flock Safety’s national surveillance camera network, demanding answers over concerns about how the company’s license-plate readers are being used across the country. Hawley chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism. See Details
Lawmakers pushing the Kids Online Safety Act said Meta’s landmark settlement with states over child-harm claims makes the case for federal legislation even stronger, even as they praised the deal as a first step. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal called on Congress to pass KOSA into law before the end of the year, while the House and Senate remain divided over competing versions of the bill. Find out More
President Trump will headline both nights of the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention in Dallas next month, with Vice President JD Vance also delivering a keynote address. The RNC says the two-day event, themed around immigration, taxes, and the economy, will be the party’s largest gathering in a decade. Source
U.S. News
A federal judge sided with Texas over Minnesota in a dispute involving a former ICE agent facing felony charges for shooting a Venezuelan immigrant during an operation in Minneapolis. The judge ruled that Minnesota failed to meet the legal threshold for an emergency order because Texas has not yet formally rejected the extradition request. Find out More
Crime-scene photos from the Idaho college murders were released this week following Bryan Kohberger’s sentencing, reigniting public attention on the case. The release comes as networks continue coverage of the aftermath of one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent years. Source
Closing arguments are set to begin in the murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her three young children at their Massachusetts home in 2023. Prosecutors say Clancy understood right from wrong at the time of the killings, while her defense maintains she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. Read More
Business
U.S. stocks closed roughly flat Wednesday as a fresh inflation reading showed prices remained elevated, with the S&P 500 essentially unchanged and the Dow slipping about 113 points. Meta shares rose about 1% after the company reached a landmark settlement with state attorneys general over claims its platforms harmed young users. Source
Average mortgage rates fell across the board Wednesday, with the 30-year fixed rate dropping to 6.53%, down 10 basis points from the prior day. Falling rates have already sparked a sharp increase in refinance applications compared with a year ago. Source
Nvidia’s revenue doubled from a year ago to $96.2 billion last quarter, beating Wall Street expectations, though investors were most excited by the company’s forecast for continued growth. Shares rose after-hours as the chipmaker’s chief financial officer projected fiscal 2028 income would grow 70%, far outpacing analyst estimates. See Details
World News
Syria and Israel held U.S.-mediated talks in Jordan aimed at easing tensions following recent Israeli strikes on Syrian territory. The discussions focused on halting Israeli strikes and arrests and on reviving negotiations toward a broader security agreement between the two countries. Source
France’s far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has drawn sharp backlash for reviving calls to have the central bank cancel its holdings of French government debt. Melenchon argues the move would ease France’s mounting debt burden, a proposal critics call reckless and unprecedented. Read More
Leaders of Ukraine’s international allies marked 35 years of Ukrainian independence this week, with officials from the U.K., France, and Germany reaffirming their commitment to Kyiv. Senior Trump administration officials were notably absent from the public show of support, underscoring recent U.S. distance from the conflict. Find out More
Entertainment
Dolly Parton’s Broadway musical, “Dolly: A True Original Musical,” will open as planned this winter, in keeping with her wishes, producers confirmed this week. Previews begin December 7 at the St. James Theatre, with opening night set for January 19, which would have been her 81st birthday. See Details
Actor Tim Curry, known for iconic roles in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” “It,” and “Clue,” has died at age 80. Curry built a decades-long career playing theatrical, sinister, and comic characters that made him a cult favorite across film, television, and stage. Source
Director Ridley Scott confirmed a third “Alien: Covenant” sequel remains in development, with Michael Fassbender’s android character David again at the center of the story. Scott discussed the long-in-limbo project in a new interview, reviving hopes among fans that the franchise’s next chapter is finally moving forward. Find out More
Sports
New York Giants wide receiver Calvin Austin III will miss the entire 2026 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee during a training-camp practice. Austin, who signed with the Giants this offseason after four years with Pittsburgh, was carted off the field as teammates and coaches gathered to console him. Source
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong was furious after a controversial missed balk call cost his team a run in a close loss to the Diamondbacks. Umpires huddled mid-game and ruled no balk had occurred, though the crew chief later acknowledged to a pool reporter that the call was incorrect. Source
The U.S. Open’s reformatted mixed doubles tournament is underway this week, offering fans an early look at top talent before the main singles draw begins. The two-day event features a mix of established stars and rising players competing across ESPN’s broadcast window. Find out More
Off the Wall
Researchers in Colorado have launched the first-ever “Fat Marmot Week,” a lighthearted spinoff of Alaska’s famous Fat Bear Week, to celebrate alpine rodents fattening up for hibernation. The contest doubles as a serious fundraising push to keep long-running marmot research funded amid federal budget cuts. Source
