Tuesday, April 29
US is in full festive mode two days ahead of Christmas. Cities are decorated with holiday lights and Christmas trees to celebrate the festival.
Jeff Bezos dismissed rumors of a lavish $600 million Aspen wedding with fiancée Lauren Sánchez next weekend as "completely false." The rumors detailed a Christmas wedding celebration at Kevin Costner's ranch and rented venues. Bezos and Sánchez, engaged since May 2023, began dating in 2018 after Bezos' divorce.
A former Tennessee teacher, Alissa McCommon, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison without parole after pleading guilty to multiple sex crimes against minors, including raping a 12-year-old student and fathering his child. McCommon exploited her position, building relationships with students before abusing them. The victims' families expressed outrage and relief at her sentencing.
President-elect Donald Trump appointed Stephen Miran, a former Treasury adviser and current senior strategist at Hudson Bay Capital, as chair of his Council of Economic Advisers. Miran co-authored a study suggesting the Treasury stimulated the economy last year and downplayed concerns about Trump's proposed trade tariffs. Trump also named Kevin Hassett to chair the National Economic Council.
In a shocking incident of friendly fire, a US Navy cruiser accidentally shot down a US fighter jet over the Red Sea. Both pilots survived, with one sustaining minor injuries. This occurred amidst heightened US airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen following attacks on Israel.
A California judge ruled against Israeli spyware firm NSO Group in a lawsuit filed by WhatsApp, accusing NSO of exploiting a bug to install Pegasus spyware. The judge held NSO liable for hacking and breach of contract, with the case now proceeding to trial solely to determine damages.
Drone attacks rocked Kazan, Russia, hitting residential buildings and prompting airport closures. No casualties were reported. This follows a deadly missile exchange with Ukraine, where Russia accused Ukraine of killing five in Kursk. Meanwhile, Ukraine claims to have downed 57 Russian drones and intercepted missiles aimed at Kyiv, though debris caused damage and one fatality.
