Taiwan’s president pledges to defend island’s sovereignty after China’s military drills

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Thursday vowed to defend the self-ruled island's sovereignty in the face of China's "expansionist ambitions," days after Beijing wrapped uplive-fire military drillsaround the island.

"In the face of China's rising expansionist ambitions, the international community is watching to see whether the Taiwanese people have the resolve to defend themselves," Lai said in his New Year's address.

"As president, my stance has always been clear: to firmly safeguard national sovereignty, strengthen national defense and the resilience of the whole society, and comprehensively construct an effective deterrence and democratic defense mechanism," he added.

Lai's comments came days after China wrapped up live-fire drills around Taiwan featuring rocket launches, aircraft and warships. Beijing had expressed anger at a plannedU.S. arms sales to Taiwan, as well as at Japan's new leader's comments thatTokyo could intervenein the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

The planned arms sale, valued at more than $11 billion, is the U.S.'s largest so far to Taiwan. It includes missiles, drones, artillery systems and military software.

The United States is obligated by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself. China claims the self-ruled island as its own territory and threatens to annex it, by force if necessary.

China's leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday reiterated those threats in his own televised New Year's address, calling an eventual annexation "unstoppable."

Taiwan last year announced a special $40 billion budget for arms purchases, including to build an air defense system with high-level detection and interception capabilities called the Taiwan Dome.

The budget will be allocated over eight years, from 2026 to 2033, and comes after Lai alreadypledged to raise defense spendingto 5% of the island's GDP, as part of his strategy amid China's threats of invasion.

"Facing China's serious military ambitions, Taiwan has no time to wait," Lai said.

Mistreanu reported from Beijing.

byNeo

in

December 31, 2025

Taiwan’s president pledges to defend island’s sovereignty after China’s military drills

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Thursday vowed to defend the self-ruled island's sovereignt...

Read More

WH announces Washington Monument illumination to kick off America's 250th celebration

President Donald Trump's plans for wide-scalecelebrations to commemorate the nation's 250th birthdaybegin on New Year's Eve with illumination of the Washington Monument on the National Mall, the White House announced Wednesday.

"TONIGHT: The Illumination of America on the Washington Monument kicks off the celebration of America's 250th birthday year 🇺🇸" an official White HouseX account posted.

The monument lighting will continue for five nights, as a "projection-mapping spectacle will illuminate the Monument, creating an immersive, luminous canvas that narrates our Nation's discovery, expansion, independence, and vision for the future," according to Freedom 250, the organization tasked with organizing the nation's birthday celebrations. "This Washington Monument illumination is the opening signature moment of a year-long series of marquee national events celebrating the triumph of the American spirit."

Trump touts 'Patriot Games' as part of country's 250th celebration

The 'Illumination of America' monument lighting will begin at 7 p.m. ET, with acts playing at the top of every hour until 12:15 a.m. on New Year's Day, Freedom 250 announced. The acts will also play from 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. ET between the dates of Jan. 1 through Jan. 5. Fireworks will display Thursday at 12:01 a.m. and again on Jan. 5 at 7:55 p.m., the organization said.

On social media, Freedom 250 and the White House teased photos of the National Monument illuminated, taken during testing. The displays had been tested on Monday and Tuesday night, according to a White House official.

One photo shows a side of the monument that features a picture from the Apollo 11 mission and another with a phrase from the Declaration of Independence: 'they are endowed by their Creator.'

Trump last week had outlined festivities the White House is planning for next year to commemorate the nation's birthday, saying he was making good on his pledge to give America "the most spectacular birthday party the world has ever seen."

Another one of those festivities, the construction of a "triumphal arch," which he has said is set to be built near the entrance to Arlington National Cemetery, will begin "sometime in the next two months," according to an interviewpublished by Politico on Wednesday.

According to the interview, Trump said: "It hasn't started yet. It starts sometime in the next two months. It'll be great. Everyone loves it...They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch."

byNeo

in

December 31, 2025

WH announces Washington Monument illumination to kick off America's 250th celebration

President Donald Trump's plans for wide-scalecelebrations to commemorate the nation's 250th birthdaybegin on New Year's Eve with...

Read More

Chief Justice John Roberts dodges contentious issues in year-end message to judiciary

WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John Roberts scrupulously avoided touching on contentious issues facing judges at a time of widespread discord within the federal judiciary in his annual end-of-year report Wednesday.

Roberts'seven-page statementfocused mostly on the history of the Declaration of Independence even as judges have faced harsh criticism this year for ruling against Trump administration policies amid a period of rising violent threats.

Addressing his colleagues in the judiciary, Roberts said it is the duty of everyone in government to live up to the ideals of the 1776 declaration that paved the way to American independence and expressed confidence in the sturdiness of the Constitution.

"Those of us in the Third Branch must continue to decide the cases before us according to our oath, doing equal right to the poor and to the rich, and performing all of our duties faithfully and impartially under the Constitution," he wrote.

Roberts, whoearlier in the yearpushed back on President Donald Trump over a call to impeach judges simply for ruling against him, did not directly address that issue or the threats that have prompted some judges tochange their daily lives.

Judges have alsocriticized Robertsand the court as a whole for not doing enough to defend them.

Roberts didaddress threatsand other challenges facing judges in his 2024 report, issued before Trump took office.

In his latest report, Roberts did make some oblique references to topics of particular salience in 2025. He noted, for example the importance of judicial independence, citing the Declaration of Independence's mention of how Great Britain's King George III exercised too much control over the judiciary.

"The Constitution corrected this flaw, granting life-tenure and salary protections to safeguard the independence of federal judges and ensure their ability to serve as a counter-majoritarian check on the political branches," Roberts wrote. "This arrangement, now in place for 236 years, has served the country well."

Roberts also remarked that an early attempt to impeach a Supreme Court justice, Samuel Chase, failed in the Senate because "many senators concluded that disapproval of a judge's decisions provided an invalid basis for removal from office."

The Supreme Court will issue a series of rulings on contentious Trump policies in the coming months, including his sweeping tariffs and his attempt to end automatic birthright citizenship.

byNeo

in

December 31, 2025

Chief Justice John Roberts dodges contentious issues in year-end message to judiciary

WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John Roberts scrupulously avoided touching on contentious issues facing judges at a time of widespread discord w...

Read More

Hello Kitty's Besties! Meet the Sanrio Characters Debuting in 2026 That Fans Will Be Obsessed with (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• Twelve of Hello Kitty's friends are being introduced in the US for the first time by Sanrio

• The new characters will be available across games and shows in 2026

• Jill Koch, SVP of Brand Management and Marketing at Sanrio Inc., tells PEOPLE about the roll out and what fans can expect

It's time to meet some of Hello Kitty's closest pals!

Sanrio is introducing new characters to the U.S. market in 2026, sharing the first looks at the new lineup with PEOPLE.

The new characters are Cogimyun, a wheat flour fairy; My Sweet Piano, a gentle, sweet-natured girl sheep; Lloromannic, a little devil duo consisting of Berry, a demon boy with big ram horns, and Cherry, his cunning demon girl counterpart; Lovelymocha, best friend of Cinnamoroll; U*SA*HA*NA is a lively, colorful rabbit.

There's also Spottie Dottie, a fashion-forward girl Dalmatian; Wish Me Mell, a sweet rabbit girl; Info: Hanamaruobake, a white ghost; Marumofubiyori, a polar bear cub; the Magical Twin Comets, a pair of twin witch girls, Lili and Lulu; Kirimichan, a piece of sliced salmon; Corocorokuririn, a small hamster boy.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"Bringing these characters to the North America market brings us great joy because our fans — like our characters - are wonderfully diverse. We're delighted to bring these characters with distinct traits and personalities to our fans, so each person can find a character they truly connect with,"  Jill Koch, SVP of Brand Management and Marketing at Sanrio Inc., tells PEOPLE.

If these characters look familiar, it's because some of them have already been introduced to Japanese audiences. For fans in the US, this will be the first time getting to know the extended gang.

"What's exciting about this group is the range of energy they represent: from soft and comforting personalities like My Sweet Piano and Hanamaruobake, to bold and playful characters like lovelymocha and U*SA*HA*NA , giving fans even more ways to discover a character they connect with," Koch says.

"For example, My Sweet Piano is a gentle, sweet-natured sheep who loves picking flowers and playing the piano, while lovelymocha is an outgoing and talkative puppy who dreams of becoming a bride."

Just like Hello Kitty, these characters have fun facts that help fans form deeper bonds with them.

"All of these characters have unexpected backstories and fun facts that fans will enjoy discovering. It's the little revelations that make each character feel rich and dimensional, and we love seeing how fans connect with the characters' charm points."

And of course, the crew is full of cute characters, which is "absolutely core to Sanrio's DNA."

"What's wonderful about this group is how each character's design embodies 'kawaii' in a unique way: the soft, pastel delicacy of Cogimyun and My Sweet Piano; the bold, colorful energy of U*SA*HA*NA; the fashionable flair of Spottie Dottie; and the playful mischief of Lloromannic. Each aesthetic invites fans to experience a different kind of joy," Koch says.

"But it's always cuteness with purpose and heart. These characters resonate internationally because 'kawaii' goes beyond language and culture - it's an immediate emotional response."

Sanrio fans will have exciting opportunities to interact with these characters across different platforms.

"Fans can currently interact with U*SA*HA*NA in the Hello Kitty Island Adventure digital game, and with Cogimyun in the Wheatflour Wonderland DLC. My Sweet Piano has also become a fan favorite in the My Melody and Kuromi series on Netflix," Koch shares.

"Fans can engage with all these characters across Sanrio's social channels as well. It's been thrilling to see fans connect with the new characters in all these storytelling formats. And in 2026, they'll be popping up in even more places – new content, products, and experiences – bringing their kawaii charm and playful energy to fans everywhere."

Koch is excited to see the brand continue the momentum that began with Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary celebrations this past year.

"It was also a reminder of why she's endured as a cultural icon across generations: she brings people together and will always be a fan favorite. At the same, we've always been about creating characters that resonate with people on a personal level. Each of these characters comes with a distinct personality and backstory, giving fans the opportunity to form their own meaningful connections with them," Koch says.

"By introducing new friends into the Sanrio universe, we're creating space for new stories, new connections, and new best friends for the next generation of fans while continuing to honor the character who started it all."

"Our goal is always to meet fans where they are, bringing these characters into the moments and places that matter most to them. We're excited to continue expanding our current collaborations and have some supercute ones in store for 2026!"

She adds, "These characters have been beloved in Japan for some time, and we're thrilled to now introduce them thoughtfully to American audiences. We can't wait for fans in North America to discover these characters and connect with their stories just like fans around the world have."

Read the original article onPeople

byNeo

in

December 31, 2025

Hello Kitty's Besties! Meet the Sanrio Characters Debuting in 2026 That Fans Will Be Obsessed with (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW Twelve of Hello Kitty's friends are being introduced in the US for the first time by Sanrio The new characters will be av...

Read More

Brooks Nader Reveals If She Would Ever Move Back to Louisiana and Return to Her Small Town Roots (Exclusive)

Phillip Faraone/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Brooks Nader shared her thoughts on possibly moving back to Louisiana one day during an exclusive interview with PEOPLE

• The Love Thy Nader star was raised in Maringouin, La., a small town outside of Baton Rouge, and has previously spoken about her humble upbringing there

• She's now accustomed to the fast-paced nature of city life, as she currently splits her time between New York City and Los Angeles

Brooks Naderis reflecting on her Louisiana upbringing — and whether or not she'd ever return to the southern state.

While speaking exclusively to PEOPLE about her new partnership withSamsung SmartThings, theLove Thy Naderstar, 28, opened up about splitting her time between Los Angeles and New York City, and calling both cities home base now.

Despite growing up in Maringouin, La., a small town outside of Baton Rouge, Nader says she's grown accustomed to the fast-paced nature of city life — and she doesn't plan on leaving that behind any time soon.

"I would never move back," the model tells PEOPLE of possibly returning to her home state one day. "I love [Louisiana] so much," she clarifies, "but I would never move back."

Noam Galai/Getty

Nader says she always has reasons to return and visit, including to see her family ("that's first," she notes), and to attend Louisiana State University football games under their new coach Lane Kiffin.

"But no, I would never live there. Once you go to the city, you can never go back — you know what I mean? Once you get a taste of life there, you just can't reverse," she explains.

The reality star'sparents, Breaux Nader and Holland Greene Nader, still call Louisiana home and are longtime LSU Tigers fans. They often brought Brooks and her three sisters —Mary Holland,Grace AnnandSarah Jane— to LSU games when they were younger.

Brooks also shares a place with her sisters in New York City — as documented through season 1 of their reality showLove Thy Nader. As they each make names for themselves in the city through modeling and other ventures, Brooks, the eldest daughter, admits that its unlikely any of the sisters settle back down in their home state.

Holland Greene Nader/Instagram

"I mean, my parents wish that wasn't the case, because they still live in Louisiana," Brooks adds, "but it's just not for us."

In a previous interview with PEOPLE published in August, Brooks and her sisters opened up about the conservative small town they grew up in, andhow their family members who still live in the area might reactto the crazy shenanigans on their new reality show.

XNY/Star Max/GC Images

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"With our family members back home in Louisiana, obviously, they were like, 'Whoa, you're going to be on television, like the real TV?'" Brooks shared at the time. "So I think that they were shocked but not shocked, because it's very us. However, they have no idea what they're about to watch. We watched the first three episodes and we were like…"

"A lot of surprises coming," Mary Holland chimed in, before Sarah Jane admitted, "Already doing some damage control."

Read the original article onPeople

byNeo

in

December 31, 2025

Brooks Nader Reveals If She Would Ever Move Back to Louisiana and Return to Her Small Town Roots (Exclusive)

Phillip Faraone/Getty NEED TO KNOW Brooks Nader shared her thoughts on possibly moving back to Louisiana one day during an exclusive inte...

Read More

Photos show the ancient art of Peking opera works hard to keep flourishing in the digital age

In a breakneck digital era, the ancient art ofPeking operaworks hard to keep flourishing.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

byNeo

in

December 31, 2025

Photos show the ancient art of Peking opera works hard to keep flourishing in the digital age

In a breakneck digital era, the ancient art ofPeking operaworks hard to keep flourishing. This is a phot...

Read More

Florida woman facing murder charge in death of ailing mother. Was it mercy?

A Florida woman who told investigators she had discussed assisted suicide with her ailing motherhas been arrested on a murder chargein the death of the ailing 97-year-old woman.

Martha Jo Blake, 66, is facing a first-degree murder in the death of Patricia Blake after the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office ruled that the elder Blake's injuries were inconsistent with a natural death.

Autopsy findings indicate the elder Blake, whose body was found on Dec. 26 in the family's Greenacres-area home, was suffocated or strangled, according to her daughter's arrest report. The doctor performing the autopsy found that the 97-year-old had a fresh neck fracture, an internal hemorrhage on both sides of her neck and an indication that something had been placed over her face, the arrest report said.

The elder Blake suffered persistent illnesses, including Parkinson's disease and a thyroid disorder.

Investigators say that the younger Blake told them that her mother wanted to die because of her health issues and that she previously had discussed assisted suicide with her mother's primary care physician in Maine, where the practice is legal.

Blake also told investigators that her mother was deemed ineligible for Maine's assisted-suicide program because she did not have a terminal illness. She indicated she and her mother had discussed the option of suicide by taking pills but determined they did not have any that were lethal enough, authorities said.

An affidavit obtained by USA TODAY does not specify whether Blake denies or admits to wrongdoing but says she told investigators that she last saw her mother alive the night before she was found.

A judge assigned a public defender to represent her. The county Public Defender's Office has a policy of not commenting on active cases.

Where is assisted suicide legal?

Although what happened to Patricia Blake is unclear, the case raises questions over ongoing debate about assisted suicide.

Some states in the U.S. have moved to pass so-called "Death with Dignity" laws that allow for assisted suicide. Such laws are found worldwide but remain controversial.

Assisted suicide is legal in Washington, D.C., and 12 states: California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, according to Death with Dignity, a group that supports assisted-suicide laws.

The practice is illegal in Florida.

Several states that have legalized assisted suicide have guardrails in place to ensure the decision meets ethical and legal requirements. Commonly, patients must be at least 18 years old, a resident of the state in which they are seeking care and have a terminal illness with a prognosis of six months or less.

The following states are considering legalizing the practice: Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to Death with Dignity.

More about the history of assisted suicide laws

Oregon was the first state to pass laws supporting assisted suicide. The Oregon Death with Dignity Act went into effect in 1997, according to Death with Dignity.

Illinois andDelawarewere the latest states to legalize assisted suicide in 2025.

The law in Delaware allows terminally ill patients who have six months or less to live to request and receive medication that will "end the individual's life in a humane and dignified manner," according to reporting byThe New Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Around the world the practice is legal in Canada,nineEuropean countries andthreeLatin American countries, according toDignity in Dying, a London-based group that advocates in support of legalizing the practice.

Pope Leo XIV weighs in on Illinois legalizing assisted suicide

Pope Leo XIV, a native of Chicago, weighed in on his home state passing the controversial legislation.

Leo told reporters in Italy that he had directly expressed his disapproval of the legislation toGov. JB Pritzker.

"We were very clear about the necessity to respect the sacredness of life, from the very beginning to the very end," Leotold reportersat Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. "Unfortunately … he decided to sign that bill. I'm very disappointed about that. I would invite all people, especially on these Christmas feast days, to reflect upon the nature of human life, the goodness of human life."

Michael Loria is a senior reporter for USA TODAY.Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Was it mercy? Daughter faces murder charge in 97-year-old mom's death

byNeo

in

December 31, 2025

Florida woman facing murder charge in death of ailing mother. Was it mercy?

A Florida woman who told investigators she had discussed assisted suicide with her ailing motherhas been arrested on a mu...

Read More