Category: 4-FrequentNewsStreams

In our news wrap Wednesday, the Department of Justice says it's discovered over a million more documents possibly related to Jeffrey Epstein, an explosion in Moscow killed three people, investigators are searching for what caused a massive explosion at a Philadelphia-area nursing home and a powerful storm is slamming Southern California on the eve of what could be the wettest Christmas in years. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Thousands flocked to Bethlehem's Manger Square on Christmas Eve, the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born. It's in the occupied West Bank, and celebrations were canceled over the last two years because of the Israel-Hamas war. Producer Karl Bostic looks at what life is like for Palestinians who live there. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The labor market has been tightening all year, and Americans have grown increasingly anxious about their ability to find new jobs. A bit of good news? New unemployment claims fell last week. But that isn’t likely to signal a full job market turnaround in the new year. Plus: AI investment hasn’t slowed under Trump’s tariffs, a TikTok creator shares “recession recipes,” and we learn about the history of Legos.

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We continue with a News Hour holiday tradition in which we ask members of the armed forces to record a holiday song. For Christmas Eve, we bring you "Joy to the World." This video was produced by the Pentagon's Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

2025 has been the year of getting dragged back to the office for plenty of workers — some part-time, but many full-time in the case of big finance and tech corporations. Thing is, in-person work appeals to many younger workers. Today, we'll hear the perspective of one. Then, the State Department says it will deny visas to five European citizens, including a former top EU official, and domestic production is still adjusting to tariffs.

According to GoFundMe’s end-of-year report, campaigns to fund basic necessities like housing, utilities and groceries are on the rise after quadrupling in 2024. In the Loop gets insight on how we got here, how this impact is felt locally, and local efforts to close gaps through mutual aid efforts and policy shifts. Dion Dawson, founder, executive director Dion’s Chicago Dream and Bob Palmer, Policy Director Housing Action Illinois and Rep. Brad Schneider, 10th District sat down with host Sasha-Ann Simons. For a full archive of In the Loop interviews, head over to wbez.org/intheloop.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Homeland Security funding to 12 states and the District of Columbia. The administration had held back hundreds of millions of dollars from what it called "sanctuary jurisdictions." The cuts affected programs intended to support local police and emergency response in urban areas. Plus, food banks are bracing for strain ahead of changes to SNAP. We hear how services will be impacted on the ground in Kentucky.

From the BBC World Service: Plans to mass-produce and sell self-driving vehicles in China have been delayed after news spread of a crash involving one earlier this year. Chinese regulators gave narrow approval to just two out of nine companies to operate autonomous taxis on highways. We learn more. Then, we hear why 2025 was a mixed picture for commodities. And later, Martha Stewart joins her friend Snoop Dogg as she invests in the U.K. soccer team, Swansea.

Polystyrene is the chemical compound that makes up styrofoam, which is used for packaging and insulation. But it’s not the most environmentally friendly.

By one estimate, 40 million tons of polystyrene were produced globally in 2024, leaving millions of tons of plastic waste. The search for an earth-friendly alternative has led researchers to dig deep and come up with an unlikely solution: fungus. The BBC’s Anna Holligan has this story.

We have an inside look into one of Ukraine's most rapidly evolving tools in its war with Russia. Small unmanned drones have come to dominate the frontlines, long-range strikes against power facilities and the waters of the Black Sea and Mediterranean. Special correspondent Volodymyr Solohub gained rare access to a military unit that's responsible for some of Ukraine's high-profile drone strikes. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy