Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered an address to Congress where he urged lawmakers to keep sending aid to his war-ravaged nation. Also in the news: A breakdown of the FTX saga and what to do if winter weather disrupts your holiday flight. |
Let's get going with Thursday's headlines. |
Zelenskyy addresses Congress amid cheers |
Zelenksyy earned bipartisan applause Wednesday from his congressional audience, which included some Republicans who are wary of sending a "blank check" to Ukraine when they take over the House in January. Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy met at the White House with President Joe Biden who pledged staunch and sustained support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Zelenskyy's visit comes as Washington reaffirms its commitment to Ukraine by sending billions in humanitarian and military aid to the war-ravaged country: Congress is set to pass another $44 billion in Ukraine aid through the omnibus spending bill expected to pass this week. Read more | President Biden welcomes President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine on the South Lawn of the White House on Dec. 21, 2022. The Ukrainian President visited Washington to meet with Biden and US lawmakers. President Zelenskyy will also address a joint meeting of Congress at the Capitol during his first trip outside his country since Russia began its violent invasion of Ukraine in February.
Josh Morgan, USA TODAY |
Jan. 6 panel prepares to unveil 800-page report |
The Jan. 6 committee postponed issuing its final report until Thursday, citing the last-minute visit to Washington of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other unspecified logistical complications. The report culminates an 18-month inquiry into what led to the worst attack on the Capitol since 1814 and what happened that day. With Republicans who labeled the panel partisan and illegitimate taking control of the House in January, the report will be the committee's last opportunity to summarize its findings and make recommendations aimed at preventing another attack. Here's what we know so far. | Pages of the executive summary from the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, are photographed Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, in Washington.
Jon Elswick, AP |
The latest in the FTX saga |
Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is being extradited to the U.S. to face federal fraud charges related to the misappropriation of billions of dollars of customer funds, Bahamian officials said Wednesday. |
One thing to know: Earlier this year, Bankman-Fried was a leader in the crypto industry sitting atop a $32 billion empire. Now, he faces multiple federal charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and campaign finance violations. Meanwhile, over $8 billion of FTX customer deposits are allegedly missing. |
| • | How it all unraveled: Filings from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice and Commodity Futures Trading Commission paint a picture of a three-year scheme in which Bankman-Fried allegedly took billions from customers for personal use, including luxury real estate and political donations. It fell apart when the cryptocurrency market plummeted earlier this year, officials said. | | • | Bankman-Fried was in FBI custody Wednesday night and is scheduled to appear in Manhattan federal court for arraignment soon. Two of his ex-associates have pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with investigators. | | • | The political contributions: Bankman-Fried and two of his close colleagues at FTX donated nearly $80 million to political candidates and causes, but those who received the money may have to return it as the company tries to pay back its creditors. | | FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, center, is escorted from court in Nassau, Bahamas, on Dec. 21, 2022, after agreeing to be extradited to the United States.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP |
It's already looking rough for Thursday travelers |
Travelers will face a tougher time Thursday with more than 840 U.S. flights canceled – and that number is expected to rise. A strong cold front is on track to continue pushing east through the end of the week, and airlines have already issued waivers in much of the Midwest, Northeast and even parts of the South for some carriers. The National Weather Service has predicted "dangerously cold conditions across most of the country this week." More than 50 million Americans were under a wind chill warning Wednesday as brutal cold threatened the northern Plains en route to the East Coast by Friday. Read more | Crews deice a Southwest Airlines plane before takeoff on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022 in Omaha, Nebraska.
CHRIS MACHIAN, AP |
What to watch this holiday weekend, from over-the-top 'Babylon' to 'Puss in Boots' sequel |
Santa's making his list and checking it twice, but you should be doing the same with all the movies coming your way. Over the next two holiday weekends, Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt play silent film stars in Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle's latest effort, Naomi Ackie channels Whitney Houston in a musical biopic, Emma Thompson stars as the heavy of a Netflix kid flick and Antonio Banderas once again voices the coolest animated cat around. (Sorry, Garfield.) So if you need a film for your time off from work and school? Here's a guide to satisfying every cinematic taste. | Silent movie star Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie, far left) and her dad Robert (Eric Roberts) run into Hollywood legend Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt) and his annoyed wife Estelle (Katherine Waterston) at a soiree in the period comedy drama "Babylon."
SCOTT GARFIELD |
📷 Photo of the day: Franco Harris: His life and career in photos 📷 |
Franco Harris, the Hall of Fame running back whose heads-up thinking authored "The Immaculate Reception," considered the most iconic play in NFL history, has died. He was 72. His death comes two days before the 50th anniversary of the play that provided the jolt that helped transform the Steelers from also-rans into the NFL's elite and three days before Pittsburgh is scheduled to retire his No. 32 during a ceremony at halftime of its game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Read more |
Click here to see photos from Harris' life and career. | Franco Harris, former Super Bowl MVP enters the stadium and waves a "terrible towel." on Feb. 6, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan.
Daniel J. Powers, USAT | Arch Manning, the son of former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, was one of the top recruits in the 2023 recruiting class. The Longhorns were the surprise winners of the long and highly publicized chase for Manning's signature and his commitment powered an impressive group of newcomers to Austin.
Scott Clause, USA Today Network |
Associated Press contributed reporting. | | | |
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