Nation and world news in brief for December 17
Ex-FBI informant accused of lying about Bidens pleads guilty
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — A former FBI informant accused of lying about U.S. President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden’s interactions with a Ukrainian energy company pleaded guilty on Monday to causing the creation of a false record.
Alexander Smirnov entered the plea in federal court in Los Angeles, according to a spokesperson for Special Counsel David Weiss, the prosecutor who brought the case.
He also admitted to tax evasion, court documents showed.
Smirnov, who was due to face trial next month, reached an agreement with prosecutors last week that calls for a sentence of between four and six years in prison.
US obesity rates decline for first time in more than a decade
(TNS) — In a public health breakthrough, U.S. obesity rates have decreased for the first time in more than a decade, with new weight loss medications potentially playing a role in the turnaround, according to a new study. The research shows the percentage of adults with obesity dropped from 46% in 2022 to 45.6% in 2023.
Although the decline is modest, it’s the first time since the early 2000′s there has been a downturn in obesity rates. The study, published last week in JAMA Health Forum, analyzed health records of more than 15 million adults. Women and older adults ages 66-75 showed the most significant improvements.
TikTok turns to high court in last-ditch bid to avert ban
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — TikTok made a last-ditch effort on Monday to continue operating in the United States, asking the Supreme Court to temporarily block a law intended to force ByteDance, its China-based parent company, to divest the short-video app by Jan. 19 or face a ban.
TikTok and ByteDance filed an emergency request to the justices for an injunction to halt the looming ban on the social media app used by about 170 million Americans while they appeal a lower court’s ruling that upheld the law. A group of U.S. users of the app filed a similar request on Monday as well.
Congress passed the law in April. The Justice Department has said that as a Chinese company, TikTok poses “a national-security threat of immense depth and scale” because of its access to vast amounts of data on American users, from locations to private messages, and its ability to secretly manipulate content that Americans view on the app.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in Washington on Dec. 6 rejected TikTok’s arguments that the law violates free speech protections under the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.
Bitcoin rallies past $107,000, hopes grow for strategic reserve
(Reuters) — Bitcoin’s record rally topped $107,000 on Monday after President-elect Donald Trump reiterated that he plans to create a U.S. bitcoin strategic reserve similar to its strategic oil reserve, stoking the enthusiasm of crypto bulls.
Investor sentiment also got a lift from the inclusion of MicroStrategy into the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index that will likely lead to more inflows for the software firm turned bitcoin buyer.
Bitcoin, the world’s biggest and best known cryptocurrency, extended gains to a session high of $107,148 and was most recently at $106,877, up 5.43% from late Friday. The No. 2 digital currency ether was up 1.85% at $3,975.70.
Putin says Russia recruited more than 430,000 to army this year
(TNS) — Russia’s army recruited more than 430,000 new troops this year amid its war in Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin said.
“This stream of volunteers doesn’t stop,” Putin told a meeting of the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow on Monday. “A turning point on the frontlines has been reached and we have completely taken the strategic initiative,” he said, an apparent reference to recent costly battlefield advances.
Putin said the numbers signing contracts to join the army had increased from 300,000 in 2023. It wasn’t possible to independently verify the figures.
Neither Putin nor Defense Minister Andrey Belousov mentioned Russian casualties at the meeting. The U.S. and its NATO allies say at least 700,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the February 2022 invasion began, roughly equal to Putin’s recruitment figures for the past two years. Russia doesn’t publish its casualty numbers.
Russian officials have responded to mounting troop losses by sharply increasing recruitment bonuses to persuade volunteers to join the war in Ukraine. That’s as the Kremlin has been eager to avoid a repeat of the unpopular September 2022 mobilization of 300,000 reservists.
South Korean court starts review of Yoon’s impeachment case
(TNS) — South Korea’s Constitutional Court has started reviewing President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment case, while investigators reportedly plan to question him this week over his shock martial law declaration.
Judges began their deliberations on Monday and the first preparatory hearing will be held on Dec. 27, according to court officials.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s joint investigation team will ask Yoon to appear on Wednesday for questioning over alleged insurrection and power abuse, Yonhap News reported.
The parliament voted on Saturday to impeach Yoon, suspending him from his duties after his brief martial law declaration on Dec. 3 plunged the country into political turmoil. The motion passed after the opposition secured enough support from members of the ruling party. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo became the acting president.
