Detroit Lions fans left Ford Field with heavy hearts Sunday after watching their team fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in what many described as an emotional roller coaster of a game during the Lions' final home match up of the regular season.

The game kept fans on the edge of their seats, especially toward the end, as they held their breath waiting to see what would happen next.

"It was a great game, sucks but it happens," said Kelsie and Greg Eichenberg, Lions fans who attended the game.

William Crawford, a Lions fan from Flint, echoed the sentiment of many in attendance.

"Tough game, tough loss, I mean just a rollercoaster of emotions," Crawford said. "I thought we had pulled that one off but you know these penalties that they're calling."

For some fans, the loss was particularly heartbreaking. Chloe Cubert attended her first Lions game Sunday and experienced the highs and lows of being a Detroit fan.

"I'm feeling sad because it was my first one and I'm really sad that they lost," Cubert said, though she admitted the experience was still fun.

Despite the setback, Lions fans demonstrated the resilience Detroit is known for. The crowd's energy remained strong even in defeat, with supporters chanting their commitment to the team.

"We Detroit, we gone keep fighting, we Detroit, that's what we do," fans could be heard saying as they left the stadium.

Robert Crawford, also from Flint, remained optimistic about the team's future.

"We'll be back. We'll be back y'all. It ain't over," Crawford said.

Garret Harper, a Lions fan from Ann Arbor, praised both the team's effort and the city's support.

"Painful game, it was a very, very tough ending but proud of this city, proud of everybody that showed out, showed up," Harper said.

Now all eyes turn to the Lions' upcoming Christmas game, where fans are hoping the team will bounce back with a victory.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Pittsburgh Steelers pushed the Detroit Lions to the brink of elimination from the playoffs on Sunday, holding on for a 29-24 win when Jared Goffs touchdown on the final play was negated by an offensive pass-interference penalty on Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Goff threw a fourth-down pass to St. Brown just short of the goal line. The receiver pushed off cornerback Jalen Ramsey to get free, and before the Steelers could bring St. Brown to the ground, he threw the quarterback a lateral to set up an apparent score.

Officials huddled for some time on the field before announcing the decision to the dismay of the crowd.

Jaylen Warren had two 45-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter and finished with a career-high 143 yards for the Steelers, who had a 230-15 advantage in rushing yards.

The AFC North-leading Steelers (9-6) have won three straight after a midseason slump, surging into the division lead with two games remaining.

Detroit (8-7) dropped two straight games for the first time in more than three years, ending its outside shot to win a third straight NFC North title. While the Lions haven't been eliminated from the playoffs, their odds are slim.

The Lions had two touchdowns negated by penalties in the final minute. Goff threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to St. Brown with 22 seconds left, but rookie Isaac TeSlaa was called for pass interference for setting a pick that freed up his teammate.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday was pursuing another sanctioned oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea as the Trump administration appeared to be intensifying its targeting of such vessels connected to Venezuelan government.

The pursuit of the tanker, which was confirmed by a U.S. official briefed on the operation, comes after the U.S. administration announced Saturday it had seized a tanker for the second time in less than two weeks.

The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly about the ongoing operation and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Sunday's pursuit involved a sanctioned dark fleet vessel that is part of Venezuelas illegal sanctions evasion.

The official said the vessel was flying a false flag and under a judicial seizure order.

The Coast Guards pursuit of the tanker was first reported by Reuters.

RELATED STORY | What's really behind the tension between the US and Venezuela?

Saturdays predawn seizure of a Panama-flagged vessel called Centuries targeted what the White House described as a falsely flagged vessel operating as part of the Venezuelan shadow fleet to traffic stolen oil.

The Coast Guard, with assistance from the Navy, seized a sanctioned tanker called Skipper on Dec. 10, another part of the shadow fleet of tankers that the U.S. says operates on the fringes of the law to move sanctioned cargo. It was not even flying a nations flag when it was seized by the Coast Guard.

President Donald Trump, after that first seizure, said that the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. It all comes as Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric toward Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro.

This past week Trump demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country that face American sanctions.

Trump cited the lost U.S. investments in Venezuela when asked about his newest tactic in a pressure campaign against Maduro, suggesting the Republican administrations moves are at least somewhat motivated by disputes over oil investments, along with accusations of drug trafficking. Some sanctioned tankers already are diverting away from Venezuela.

U.S. oil companies dominated Venezuelas petroleum industry until the countrys leaders moved to nationalize the sector, first in the 1970s and again in the 21st century under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chvez. Compensation offered by Venezuela was deemed insufficient, and in 2014, an international arbitration panel ordered the countrys socialist government to pay $1.6 billion to ExxonMobil.

Maduro said in a message Sunday on Telegram that Venezuela has spent months denouncing, challenging and defeating a campaign of aggression that goes from psychological terrorism to corsairs attacking oil tankers.

He added: We are ready to accelerate the pace of our deep revolution!

RELATED STORY | Trump announces blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers

The targeting of tankers comes as Trump has ordered the Defense Department to carry out a series of attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that his administration alleges are smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the United States and beyond.

At least 104 people have been killed in 28 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.

Trump has repeatedly said Maduro's days in power are numbered. White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair published last week that Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday that Trump's use of military to mount pressure on Maduro runs contrary to Trump's pledge to keep the United States out of unnecessary wars.

Democrats have been pressing Trump to seek congressional authorization for the military action in the Caribbean.

We should be using sanctions and other tools at our disposal to punish this dictator who is violating the human rights of his civilians and has run the Venezuelan economy into the ground, Kaine said. "But Ill tell you, we should not be waging war against Venezuela. We definitely should not be waging war without a vote of Congress.

WATCH | Congress questions Hegseth on drug boat deaths as Venezuela military operations expand

At least three people were turned away from a naturalization ceremony in Indianapolis on Thursday as federal officials implement enhanced screening for applicants from what the Department of Homeland Security calls "high-risk countries."

The ceremony was expected to welcome 100 new citizens, but only 83 people took the oath of citizenship. Several reserved seats remained empty as some were denied their moment after years or decades of waiting.

"The man I saw that was turned away he was blindsided. He brought his paperwork, he showed up to take the oath and was turned away," said Kate Sweeney Bell.

One man who was turned away told the Scripps News Group in Indianapolis that he received a phone call notifying him his ceremony was canceled, but he didn't know why.

RELATED STORY | Trump expands travel ban and restrictions to include an additional 20 countries

One of those turned away was from Niger, according to Sweeney Bell, which appears on the Department of Homeland Security's list of high-risk countries.

A Homeland Security spokesman said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has paused all adjudications for people from high-risk countries so they can be vetted and screened "to the maximum degree possible."

The agency provided the same statement when more than 30 people were turned away at a ceremony on December 9.

"The safety of the American people always comes first, and the pause will ensure additional screening for each person," the statement said.

For those who did become citizens on Thursday, the moment carried deep significance after long journeys to reach this milestone.

"My journey here started 30 years ago a lot of paperwork, a lot of specific understanding of what you have to do, effort to understanding citizenship," said Siddharth Bose, who became a U.S. citizen Thursday.

Bose reflected on what it would mean to be turned away at the final step.

"It would be incredibly hard to find out it might not happen now," Bose said.

For his family, the ceremony represented the end of a decades-long journey.

"It means the world. My family, kids and wife are here, parents are here. I've been an immigrant in two countries. It's finally great to call some place home, especially the U.S.," Bose said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump admin lifts age limit for new ICE recruits to bolster immigration force

Another new citizen, Satnam Singh, expressed his joy at finally reaching citizenship.

"I'm really happy. Finally, I got my citizenship after a long time. I'm so happy," Singh said.

The Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration policies.

The New York Times reports the administration wants U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field offices to escalate litigation on denaturalization cases. President Trump has also placed entry restrictions on immigrants from 19 countries, mostly located in the Middle East and Africa.

This story was originally published by Nicole Griffin with the

Scripps News Group in Indianapolis.

WATCH | Immigrant father says family trip to FIFA match led to ICE detention

Holiday lights, international art, and a message of unity you'll find it all at Dearborn's newest winter attraction.

It's called 'Wanderlights,' and the festive new experience is lighting up Dearborn Peace Park and doing more than just making the city sparkle

Watch Faraz's story in the video player below

Wanderlights, a new festive experience, lights up Dearborn Peace Park

So Dearborn Peace Park is beginning to look and feel a lot like Christmas, so much so that the city spent more than $250,000 to make sure that city shines for everyone.

Canton resident Wayne Ten has worked in the city for nearly 30 years. He says Dearborn Wanderlights is definitely bringing an extra dose of joy.

"I love working here, I love being here, it's pretty awesome!" Wayne said. "It's very festive here."

One of the highlights of Wanderlights is a 35-foot Christmas tree. Mayor Abduallah Hammoud says the experience also features a series of interactive installations by artists from around the globe, including Lunar Lamp Posts.

"Yes, we will take it away obviously each season and bring it back. But this is one of our new Christmas trees," Mayor Hammoud said. "If you touch the pieces they all being to light up."

"I love how clean and neat everything is," Wayne said.

The mayor says this project has been a year in the making and for him, it's personal.

"This is the time within our city, the interfaith communities come together, we celebrate with one another, we break bread with one another, my father-in-law was born on Christmas. My daughter is named after the Virgin Mary. And so it is a spiritual time for so many families here in Dearborn," Mayor Hammoud said.

Wanderlights is also giving local businesses a lift.

"It's been really good business for Bayt Al Mocha, and for really everybody that's in downtown Dearborn," said Abdulrahman Mashrah, a barista.

Barista Abdulrahman Mashrah says Bayt Al Mocha opened nearly a year ago and this has been their best month yet.

"I'm sure everyone doesn't share the same religion, but at the same time we respect each other," Mashrah said.

Customer Jalil Zainuba, a Livonia resident, agrees.

"I don't celebrate the holiday myself, but it's a very joyous time of the year," Jalil said.

"When people say Dearborn is not inclusive enough, do you think Dearborn Wanderlights addresses that?" I asked the mayor and others.

"What is interesting to note is that people oftentimes who are making those remarks aren't from Dearborn," Mayor Hammoud said.

"It makes me laugh, but then I'm also sad... do you really believe that? You would know if you would live here. They are welcoming with all the holidays," Wayne said.

"This is what being religious, and being human towards each other is all about," Jalil said.

"For those who say we are not inclusive enough. I would challenge them to come on down, and point to another city that does it better or bigger than Dearborn," Mayor Hammoud said.

The family friend-experience is free. It wraps on February 20.

A top official with the Department of Justice (DOJ) is denying that there was an effort to redact any mentions of President Donald Trump in the agency's initial release of documents related to its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking Sunday on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the DOJ's publishing of just a fraction of the Epstein files on Friday but pledged that all material will eventually be made public. When asked by NBC's Kristin Welker if that also applied to any documents related to President Trump, Blanche said "yes."

RELATED STORY | Minimal mention of Trump in Justice Departments initial Epstein file release

"Ive said it three, four times now, weve said it before, and President Trump has said it repeatedly since before he was elected. And since he was elected, all summer long, he said the same thing, I have nothing to hide, Blanche stated.

"But, let me just make sure everybody understands something, to the extent that he is, quote, in the Epstein files, its not because he had anything to do with the horrific crimes, full stop," Blanche added. "But yes, if President Trump is mentioned, if theres photographs that we have of President Trump or anybody else, they, of course, will be released, with the exception of any victims or survivors that weve identified."

The Trump administration has faced criticism over the DOJ's initial release of the Epstein files, which were heavily redacted and offered few new revelations. The files were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, authored by Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie, which passed Congress nearly unanimously last month.

The law gave the DOJ 30 days to release the documents after President Trump signed it on November 19. After the initial release of files, however, Reps. Khanna and Massie said they were drafting articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi for withholding documents past the Friday deadline.

Blanche claimed the reason for the delay was because the DOJ was still reviewing documents in order to ensure that all victims are protected.

So the same individuals that are out there complaining about the lack of documents that were produced on Friday are the same individuals who apparently dont want us to protect victims," he told NBC.

RELATED STORY | Congressmen behind Epstein files law draft articles of impeachment for AG Bondi

In one of the files that was shared by the deadline, two photos of Trump appeared inside a desk. One image appears to show him posing with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and two other unidentifiable people. The second showed Trump posing with a group of women.

However, just a day later, at least 16 files reportedly disappeared from the batch of documents, including one with the photos of Trump. The DOJ did not offer explanation on why the files were no longer available or whether their disappearance was intentional.

While the disappearance fueled speculation online, Trump has been named in other documents involving Epstein but has not been implicated in any crimes and denies knowing about Epsteins criminal activity. Trump and Epstein were known to share a friendly relationship in the 1990s before a falling out in the early 2000s before Epsteins first criminal investigation began in 2005.

In that case, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida state court to soliciting prostitution and procuring a minor for prostitution. Epstein ultimately died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors. His death was determined a suicide by federal investigators.

WATCH | A victim reacts to the newly released Epstein investigation files

An Arizona business owner is working to make Christmas brighter for thousands of children across the border in Mexico, continuing a tradition that started 25 years ago.

Janneth Cardenas, owner and founder of Bravo Services, is sorting through stacks of letters written by children living in difficult conditions in Nogales, Mexico. This year, more than 7,500 kids wrote letters to Santa and Cardenas is stepping up to answer as many of those wishes as she can.

"This room is where all the magic happens," Cardenas said, showing boxes of gifts at her business.

RELATED STORY | These are the most wanted gifts across all 50 states this holiday season

What began as a lesson of gratitude for her kids in 1999 has turned into a massive cross-border effort to help families in need, now involving partnerships with local organizations and volunteers on both sides of the border.

"It started just as a family effort. It was just us and the kids trying to make a difference. Our goal was 100 families. We thought, okay, if we could help 100 families, that would be huge. Like I thought that was a lot," Cardenas said.

In early September, volunteers and university students went into remote neighborhoods in Nogales, Mexico, to identify the families most in need, working alongside local organizations. The letters to Santa are also collected during this time through these collaborative efforts.

"To see that there are children living in landfills, that they don't know what it's like to live in a home that has a floor. There's not a ground--soil under their feet. To see that they don't have running water, that they may not have all the things that they need to live, to me is heartbreaking," Cardenas said.

The Christmas drive has grown beyond local support, with people from across the country contributing to the effort. Cardenas also thanks local businesses and influencers who are supporting the cause.

"We have such an opportunity to take a little bit of what we have and make a difference in somebody else's life. And it may mean nothing to us. It might be a tiny sacrifice for us, but it's everything to them, right," she said.

RELATED STORY | Buying gift cards this holiday? Heres how to make sure the one you give actually works

With fewer sponsors this year, they expect to fulfill about 5,000 presents. The effort relies on collaboration with Mexican organizations and support from donors nationwide.

"We've had a decline in sponsors, and I think life happens, right? There's changes in the economy, there's changes in family circumstances, and that's okay. So, at the end of the day, whether we help one child or 5,000 children, I'm really grateful for that," Cardenas said.

Cardenas says anyone wanting to help can grab a letter, buy a gift, donate food or simply wrap up the gifts.

"It plants these seeds of hope, and it gives them an opportunity to see that there's goodness in the world and that their condition and how they live doesn't define who they become," she said.

If you're interested in donating or volunteering, call 520-295-9469.

This story was originally published by Jacqueline Aguilar with the

Scripps News Group in Tucson.

WATCH | Ham over beef, and other ways to keep Christmas meal costs down

With tariffs and inflation driving up car prices, more Americans are finding they cannot keep up with their auto loan payments and repossessions are on the rise.

New data from Cox Automotive, a global automotive services and technology company, shows repossessions increased 43% over a one-year period. The company expects that trend to continue.

RELATED STORY | Auto loan delinquencies on the rise: Here's what that means for the economy

If your vehicle is repossessed, experts recommend acting quickly. Start by calling your lender to confirm the repossession and learn where your car is located. Once you have that information, you can plan your next steps.

One of those steps should include contacting your insurance provider, since coverage requirements may vary. In some states, such as Florida, you are also required by law to retrieve and surrender your license plate after a repossession.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Record number of people are making monthly payments of $1,000 or more for their cars

After addressing immediate concerns, finding a credit counselor may help you navigate the financial fallout. A low credit score can lead to higher auto insurance costs if you try to buy another car.

This story was originally published by Susan El Khoury with the

Scripps News Group in Tampa.

WATCH | Looking for a safe first car? Here are the top picks for teen drivers

A Livonia baker is spreading holiday cheer by opening his heart and pantry to families in need this season.

Watch Faraz's story in the video player below

Livonia baker creates free food pantry to help families struggling with SNAP benefit changes

Hassan Makki, proud owner of Sweet 220 Bakery with his wife Dalia, has created a food pantry inside his shop to help Metro Detroit families struggling after recent SNAP benefit changes.

"One of the most beautiful things about our culture is the hospitality and giving back, and I hold that with a huge sense of pride," Makki said. "I was raised by my grandparents and my parents to give back, even if we grew up with very little."

The pantry offers rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, oats, canned goods, canned fruits and vegetables, plus fresh fruit and bread that Makki purchases himself. His mother helps by collecting food donations, and customers have also contributed supplies.

"Everything over here is free," Makki explained to visitors exploring the pantry.

Customers like Ramia Elhussaini, Teresa Morris and Jason Glaze praised the initiative during their recent visits.

"Especially with everything that's going on with the SNAP benefits, this is just a great opportunity for people to come in and grab things that they may need," Morris said.

"A lot of local places wouldn't even think about this," Glaze added.

This isn't Makki's first act of community service. In 2023, the proud Arab American from Dearborn delivered treats to line workers and first responders after power outages struck the area.

This holiday season, Makki is taking his generosity further by adopting three families to "spoil them with holiday desserts, a nice array of it." He's focusing on single mothers, families with sick children, or anyone facing struggles.

The nominations have already moved Makki to tears. One submission described a single mother who adopted three children and took guardianship of her niece due to her brother's addiction struggle. The woman lost her brother in April, and her husband lost his job earlier this year.

"I'm still grieving, and days when I can't sleep, it would be nice to have a sweet treat to brighten my mood for a moment," the nomination read. "It doesn't make anything better that Christmas is around the corner, and the kids just want a smile on their face."

Reading such stories affects Makki deeply.

"I've been through family hardship and loss, and it's hard to read them, man. Especially when you go home, you know, the heat is on, the fridge is full of food," Makki said.

The food pantry operates year-round, and Makki hopes to expand it with more essentials through community support. Families can be nominated for holiday treats through Sweet 220 Bakery's Instagram @sweet220

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Kremlin envoy said peace talks on a U.S.-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine were pressing on constructively in Florida, while the Ukrainian president said they were moving quickly."

The talks are part of the Trump administrations monthslong push for peace that also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week.

Florida talks press on

The discussions are proceeding constructively. They began earlier and will continue today, and will also continue tomorrow, Kirill Dmitriev told reporters in Miami on Saturday.

Dmitriev met with U.S. President Donald Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Russian missile strike on Odesa kills 8 as US hosts a Kremlin envoy for peace talks

Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram Sunday that diplomatic efforts were moving forward quite quickly, and our team in Florida has been working with the American side. This came after Ukraines chief negotiator said Friday his delegation had completed separate meetings in the United States with American and European partners.

Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end the war, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently signaled he is digging in on his maximalist demands on Ukraine, as Moscows troops inch forward on the battlefield despite huge losses.

On Friday, Putin expressed confidence that the Kremlin would achieve its military goals if Kyiv didnt agree to Russias conditions in peace talks.

Possible French-Russian talks

The French presidency on Sunday welcomed Putins willingness to speak with President Emmanuel Macron, saying it would decide how to proceed in the coming days.

As soon as the prospect of a ceasefire and peace negotiations becomes clearer, it becomes useful again to speak with Putin, Macrons office said in a statement. It is welcome that the Kremlin publicly agrees to this approach.

The statement came after reports that Putin was open to holding talks with the French president if there was mutual political will.

Macrons office said any dialogue would aim to contribute to a solid and lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe, in full transparency with President Zelenskyy and our European partners.

RELATED STORY | In annual news conference, Putin says military goals will be achieved in Ukraine

European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide $106 billion to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, although they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. Instead, they were borrowed from capital markets.

Ukrainian civilians moved to Russia

In Ukraine, the countrys human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, accused Sunday Russian forces of forcibly removing about 50 Ukrainian civilians from the Ukrainian Sumy border region to Russian territory.

Writing on Telegram, he said that Russian forces illegally detained the residents in the village of Hrabovske on Thursday, before moving them to Russia on Saturday.

Lubinets said he contacted Russias human rights commissioner, requesting information on the civilians whereabouts and conditions, and demanding their immediate return to Ukraine.

WATCH | Sniper GoProd the War Then It Followed Him Home

Coen Carr scored 16 of his 22 points in the second half to help No. 9 Michigan State hold off Oakland for a 89-80 win on Saturday.

The Spartans (11-1) have won three straight since losing their only game this season, a six-point setback to No. 3 Duke.

The Golden Grizzlies (6-7) led for much of the first half and were ahead by as much as seven points before trailing the entire second half.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo and Oakland coach Greg Kampe, who are friends, coordinated to wear custom-made holiday sweaters. Izzo's had naughty list" on it with his likeness arguing with a referee. Kampe's had nice list on it with him bumping fists with an official.

The Spartans improved to 24-0 in the all-time series against the school in suburban Detroit, but didn't approach their average margin of victory that is nearly 20 points.

Oaklands Tuburu Naivalurua had 18 points, Ziare Wells had 17 points while Brody Robinson and Michael Houge scored 13 apiece.

Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler had 13 points and 13 rebounds for his seventh double double this season and Kur Teng scored 10 points.

The Spartans struggled beyond the arc as they have at times this year, making just 6 of 22 3-pointers. They controlled the boards as they often do, outrebounding Oakland 42-26. That helped them have a 10-point advantage on second-chance points in what proved to be the difference in the game.

Up next

Oakland: At Wright State on Dec. 29.

Michigan State: Host Cornell on Dec. 29.

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Israels Cabinet approved a proposal for 19 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, the far-right finance minister said on Sunday.

The settlements include two that were previously evacuated during a 2005 disengagement plan, according to Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who has pushed a settlement expansion agenda in the West Bank.

It brings the total number of new settlements over the past two years to 69, Smotrich wrote on X.

The approval increases the number of settlements in the West Bank by nearly 50% during the current governments tenure, from 141 in 2022 to 210 after the current approval, according to Peace Now, an anti-settlement watchdog group. Settlements are widely considered illegal under international law.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Hamas confirms the death of a top commander in Gaza after Israeli strike

The approval comes as the U.S. is pushing Israel and Hamas to move ahead with the new phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which took effect Oct. 10. The U.S.-brokered plan calls for a possible pathway to a Palestinian state something the settlements are aimed at preventing.

The Cabinet decision included a retroactive legalization of some previously established settlement outposts or neighborhoods of existing settlements, and the creation of settlements on land where Palestinians were evacuated, Peace Now said.

Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza areas claimed by the Palestinians for a future state in the 1967 war. It has settled over 500,000 Jews in the West Bank, in addition to over 200,000 more in contested east Jerusalem.

Israels government is dominated by far-right proponents of the settler movement, including Smotrich and Cabinet Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the nations police force.

RELATED STORY | Trump expands travel ban and restrictions to include an additional 20 countries

Settler expansion has been compounded by a surge of attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank in recent months.

During Octobers olive harvest, settlers across the territory launched an average of eight attacks daily, according to the United Nations humanitarian office, the most since it began collecting data in 2006. The attacks continued in November, with the U.N. recording at least 136 more by Nov. 24.

Settlers burned cars, desecrated mosques, ransacked industrial plants and destroyed cropland. Israeli authorities have done little beyond issuing occasional condemnations of the violence.

WATCH | What we know about "NILI," a secret Israeli unit targeting Hamas terrorists

Family and friends of Mucari Finley, the 29-year-old man who was fatally stabbed in Warren, gathered at the house where he was killed Saturday to honor his memory and reclaim the site where he died.

Watch Tiarra's report in the video player below

Family and friends hold vigil for Warren stabbing victim

Finley was killed on December 12 inside a home on Westminster Avenue in Warren. The person accused of killing him was arrested that day after an hours-long standoff with police.

"We felt that it was important that we as his family and his friends and his loved ones come back here to reclaim that because we don't want those events and that individual to be the person that defined who Mucari was," said Stanley Wright, Finley's father.

Wright led the vigil for his son Saturday.

"Mucari was a sweet, caring person, just all around fun, bubbly, always laughing," Wright said.

Finley was allegedly killed by 30-year-old Dominick Robinson. Robinson, who identifies as a transgender woman and also goes by "Nickyy Pop," live streamed from the crime scene during the hours-long standoff with police.

During the livestream, Robinson claimed Finley sold drugs to her boyfriend leading to his death earlier this year. However, Warren police and the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office have not confirmed those allegations.

Finley's family and friends say he wasn't into drugs and they believe he was "catfished" by Robinson.

"We're very thankful to law enforcement for taking that person alive because I definitely felt like just as Mucari didn't deserve to die, that person didn't deserve to die," Wright said.

I'm told Finley was a beloved chef and recently worked at a new restaurant in Birmingham.

"He had a lot going on for himself and it was motivational for me to do more. He was an amazing chef, always wanted more, he loved the food scene in Detroit," said Candice Wroblewski, Finley's friend.

Meanwhile, Dominick Robinson has been charged with first-degree, premeditated murder and will be back in court Tuesday.

Wright says he wants people to remember his son for who he actually was and not how he died.

"He just always made everyone laugh, he was always trying to make everyone else feel better. It was always hard to have a bad day being around Mucari," Wright said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

At least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Departments public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein including a photograph showing President Donald Trump less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public.

The missing files, which were available Friday and no longer accessible by Saturday, included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showing a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers. In that image, inside a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein's longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

The Justice Department did not say why the files were removed or whether their disappearance was intentional. A spokesperson for the department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Online, the unexplained missing files fueled speculation about what was taken down and why the public was not notified, compounding long-standing intrigue about Epstein and the powerful figures who surrounded him. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee pointed to the missing image featuring a Trump photo in a post on X, writing: What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.

RELATED STORY | Minimal mention of Trump in Justice Departments initial Epstein file release

The episode deepened concerns that had already emerged from the Justice Departments much-anticipated document release. The tens of thousands of pages made public offered little new insight into Epsteins crimes or the prosecutorial decisions that allowed him to avoid serious federal charges for years, while omitting some of the most closely watched materials, including FBI interviews with victims and internal Justice Department memos on charging decisions.

Scant new insight in the initial disclosures

Some of the most consequential records expected about Epstein are nowhere to be found in the Justice Department's initial disclosures, which span tens of thousands of pages.

Missing are FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions records that could have helped explain how investigators viewed the case and why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge.

The gaps go further.

The records, required to be released under a recent law passed by Congress, hardly reference several powerful figures long associated with Epstein, including Britains former Prince Andrew, renewing questions about who was scrutinized, who was not, and how much the disclosures truly advance public accountability

Among the fresh nuggets: insight into the Justice Departments decision to abandon an investigation into Epstein in the 2000s, which enabled him to plead guilty to that state-level charge, and a previously unseen 1996 complaint accusing Epstein of stealing photographs of children.

The releases so far have been heavy on images of Epsteins homes in New York City and the U.S. Virgin Islands, with some photos of celebrities and politicians.

There was a series of never-before-seen photos of former President Bill Clinton but fleetingly few of Trump. Both have been associated with Epstein, but both have since disowned those friendships. Neither has been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and there was no indication the photos played a role in the criminal cases brought against him.

Despite a Friday deadline set by Congress to make everything public, the Justice Department said it plans to release records on a rolling basis. It blamed the delay on the time-consuming process of obscuring survivors' names and other identifying information. The department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.

RELATED STORY | Attorney of Epstein victim speaks out after DOJ files released

That approach angered some Epstein accusers and members of Congress who fought to pass the law forced the department to act. Instead of marking the end of a yearslong battle for transparency, the document release Friday was merely the beginning of an indefinite wait for a complete picture of Epsteins crimes and the steps taken to investigate them.

I feel like again the DOJ, the justice system is failing us, said Marina Lacerda, who alleges Epstein started sexually abusing her at his New York City mansion when she was 14.

Many of the long-anticipated records were redacted or lacked context

Federal prosecutors in New York brought sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but he killed himself in jail after his arrest.

The documents just made public were a sliver of potentially millions of pages records in the departments possession. In one example, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Manhattan federal prosecutors had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, though many duplicated material already turned over by the FBI.

Many of the records released so far had been made public in court filings, congressional releases or freedom of information requests, though, for the first time, they were all in one place and available for the public to search for free.

RELATED STORY | Congressmen behind Epstein files law draft articles of impeachment for AG Bondi

Ones that were new were often lacking necessary context or heavily blacked out. A 119-page document marked Grand Jury-NY," likely from one of the federal sex trafficking investigations that led to the charges against Epstein in 2019 or Maxwell in 2021, was entirely blacked out.

Trumps Republican allies seized on the Clinton images, including photos of the Democrat with singers Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. There were also photos of Epstein with actors Chris Tucker and Kevin Spacey, and even Epstein with TV newscaster Walter Cronkite. But none of the photos had captions and was no explanation given for why any of them were together.

The meatiest records released so far showed that federal prosecutors had what appeared to be a strong case against Epstein in 2007 yet never charged him.

Transcripts of grand jury proceedings, released publicly for the first time, included testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein. The youngest was 14 and in ninth grade.

One had told investigators about being sexually assaulted by Epstein when she initially resisted his advances during a massage.

Another, then 21, testified before the grand jury about how Epstein had hired her when she was 16 to perform a sexual massage and how she had gone on to recruit other girls to do the same.

For every girl that I brought to the table he would give me $200, she said. They were mostly people she knew from high school, she said. I also told them that if they are under age, just lie about it and tell him that you are 18.

The documents also contain a transcript of an interview Justice Department lawyers did more than a decade later with the U.S. attorney who oversaw the case, Alexander Acosta, about his ultimate decision not to bring federal charges.

Acosta, who was labor secretary during Trumps first term, cited concerns about whether a jury would believe Epsteins accusers.

He also said the Justice Department might have been more reluctant to make a federal prosecution out of a case that straddled the legal border between sex trafficking and soliciting prostitution, something more commonly handled by state prosecutors.

Im not saying it was the right view, Acosta added. He also said that the public today would likely view the survivors differently.

Theres been a lot of changes in victim shaming, Acosta said.

U.S. forces on Saturday stopped a vessel off the coast of Venezuela for the second time in less than two weeks as President Donald Trump continues to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro.

The move, which was confirmed by two U.S. officials familiar with matter, comes days after Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers coming in and out of the South American country and follows the Dec. 10 seizure by American forces of an oil tanker off Venezuelas coast.

The officials were not authorized to discuss publicly the ongoing military operation and spoke on condition of anonymity. One official described the action as a consented boarding, with the tanker stopping voluntarily and allowing U.S. forces to board it.

Pentagon and White House officials did not immediately respond to a requests for comment.

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Trump, following the first tanker seizure this mont,h vowed that the U.S. would carry out a blockade of Venezuela. It all comes as Trump has ratcheted up his rhetoric toward Maduro and warned that the longtime Venezuelan leaders days in power are numbered.

Trump this week demanded that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a blockade against oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country that face American sanctions.

Trump cited the lost U.S. investments in Venezuela when asked about his newest tactic in a pressure campaign against Maduro, suggesting the Republican administrations moves are at least somewhat motivated by disputes over oil investments, along with accusations of drug trafficking. Some sanctioned tankers already are diverting away from Venezuela.

"Were not going to be letting anybody going through who shouldnt be going through, Trump told reporters earlier this week. You remember they took all of our energy rights. They took all of our oil not that long ago. And we want it back. They took it they illegally took it.

U.S. oil companies dominated Venezuelas petroleum industry until the countrys leaders moved to nationalize the sector, first in the 1970s and again in the 21st century under Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chvez. Compensation offered by Venezuela was deemed insufficient, and in 2014 an international arbitration panel ordered the countrys socialist government to pay $1.6 billion to ExxonMobil.

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The targeting of tankers comes as Trump has ordered the Defense Department to carry out a series of attacks on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean that his administration alleges are smuggling fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the United States and beyond.

At least 104 people have been killed in 28 known strikes since early September.

The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and that the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings.

The Coast Guard, sometimes with help from the Navy, had typically interdicted boats suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea, searched for illicit cargo, and arrested the people aboard for prosecution.

The administration has justified the strikes as necessary, asserting it is in armed conflict with drug cartels aimed at halting the flow of narcotics into the United States. Maduro faces federal charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.

The U.S. in recent months has sent a fleet of warships to the region, the largest buildup of forces in generations, and Trump has stated repeatedly that land attacks are coming soon.

Maduro has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from power.

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair published this week that Trump wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle.

Anthony Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their heavyweight fight on Friday night.

The two-time heavyweight champion displayed why he is one of the sports elite punchers when he dropped the fading Paul twice in the fifth round.

Sensing the YouTuber was finished, Joshua rocked him with a right uppercut early in the sixth. The native of England then floored Paul with a combination to the head.

Although Paul (12-2) reached his feet again, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) finally crushed Pauls upset dream when he dropped him a fourth time with a right to the head. Referee Christopher Young counted Paul out at 1:31 of the round in front of a capacity crowd of 19,600 at the Kaseya Center.

It took a little bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination," Joshua said. "Jake Pauls done really well tonight. Im going to give him his props. He got up time and time again. I give Jake the respect for trying and trying. He came up against a real fighter tonight.

Paul later reported that his jaw was broken in two spots.

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With the victory, Joshua now can now angle to reclaim the heavyweight title he lost against Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua also has talked about a long discussed match with countryman and former champion, Tyson Fury. However, Fury is currently retired following consecutive losses to Usyk in 2024.

It was Joshuas first bout since Daniel Dubois knocked him out in five rounds in Sept. 2024.

Joshua methodically established pace against Paul from the opening round as neither fighter engaged early. Midway through the round, Paul threw an overhand right that Joshua blocked with his glove. In the closing seconds, Joshua scored with a right to the head near the ropes.

In the second, Joshua began utilizing his 6-inch reach advantage by leading with a left jab.

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Paul scored with a short right to the head early in the fourth. Later in the round, Paul twice fell to the canvas awkwardly as he again attempted to cut distance during close exchanges

I gave it my all," Paul said. "Anthony is a great fighter and I got my (rear end) kicked but that what this sport is all about. But Im going to come back and keep winning.

Paul weighed 216 pounds and Joshua weighed 243 for the bout.

The 28-year-old Paul, who began his career in Jan. 2020, originally had targeted an exhibition in Miami with lightweight champion Gervonta Davis last month. But Davis encountered legal problems that scrapped the event. Paul quickly pivoted and landed the bout against Joshua in the same venue.

Celebrities in the crowd included golf champion Rory McIlroy, New York Mets slugger Juan Soto, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and retired NFL receivers Michael Irvin and Brandon Marshall.

In an undercard bout between retired UFC champions, 50-year-old Anderson Silva scored a second-round TKO against Tyron Woodley.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has announced the death of a 41-year-old Haitian immigrant who was detained at a New Jersey detention center.

Jean Wilson Brutus was booked into Delaney Hall in Newark on Dec. 11, showing "no signs of distress" with no reported history of cardiovascular issues.

A short time later, ICE says he suffered a medical emergency and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead the next day.

ICE said Brutus' death was from "natural causes," and did not share additional details.

Brutus had entered the U.S. in 2023 and was given parole pending immigration hearings. He had been arrested for criminal trespassing three times in the past year, ICE reported.

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This week, Scripps News released an investigation that found concerns about medical care at Delaney Hall, one of the first ICE detention centers to open during President Trump's second term.

Records of 911 calls obtained in an open records request show 12 emergency calls to Delaney Hall for "sick or injured" persons in two months this fall.

The GEO Group, which owns and operates the site, has listed job postings for more medical personnel.

One detainee told Scripps News it can take weeks to see a doctor.

GEO Group and DHS both defended the medical care available to detainees, but DHS says it is in the process of trying to hire more health care workers to care for the growing population of ICE detainees across the country.

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This year is shaping up to be the deadliest year for ICE detainees in decades.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Washington State, says she has received notification of 30 detainees dying in custody since President Trump took office, almost triple the 11 detainees who died in 20-24.

The deaths this year have occurred as the number of detainees in custody awaiting legal proceedings has surged during President Trump's mass deportation push.

A Russian missile strike on port infrastructure in Odesa in southern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded 27, Ukraines emergency service said Saturday, as a Kremlin envoy was set to travel to Florida for talks on a U.S.-proposed plan to end the nearly four-year war.

The discussions are part of the Trump administration's monthslong push for peace that also included meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week. Ukraine's chief negotiator said late Friday that his delegation had completed separate meetings in the U.S. with American and European partners.

Meanwhile, European Union leaders agreed on Friday to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said much will depend on the U.S. posture after discussions with the Russians.

Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv with Portuguese Prime Minister Lus Montenegro, Zelenskyy said that the key question remains how the United States responds after consultations with the Russians. At this point, I honestly dont know, but I will know later today.

Some of those wounded in Odesa were on a bus at the center of the strike late Friday, the emergency service said in a Telegram post. Trucks caught fire in the parking lot and cars were also damaged.

The port was struck with ballistic missiles, said Oleh Kiper, the head of the Odesa region.

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Moscow did not immediately acknowledge reports of the attack. The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that over the previous day, it had struck unspecified transport and storage infrastructure used by the Ukrainian armed forces, along with energy facilities and those supplying Kyiv's war effort.

Elsewhere, Ukrainian drones hit a Russian oil rig, the military patrol ship Okhotnik and other facilities, Ukraines General Staff said in a statement Saturday. It said the ship was patrolling in the Caspian Sea near an oil and gas production platform. The extent of the damage was still being clarified, it said.

The drilling platform at the Filanovsky oil and gas field as also hit. The facility is operated by Russian oil giant Lukoil. Ukrainian drones also struck a radar system in the Krasnosilske area of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

There was no immediate comment from the Russian government or Lukoil. The company is one of two Russian oil majors alongside state-owned Gazprom targeted by recent U.S. sanctions that aim to deprive Moscow of oil export revenue that helps it sustain the war.

Kyiv has used similar arguments to justify months of long-range strikes on Russian oil infrastructure, which it says both funds and directly fuels the Kremlin's all-out invasion, soon to enter its fifth year.

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Trump's peace push set to continue

U.S. President Donald Trump has unleashed an extensive diplomatic push to end the war, but his efforts have run into sharply conflicting demands by Moscow and Kyiv.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently signaled he is digging in on his maximalist demands on Ukraine, as Moscow's troops inch forward on the battlefield despite huge losses.

On Friday, Putin voiced confidence that the Kremlin would achieve its goals militarily if Kyiv doesnt agree to Russias conditions in peace talks.

EU leaders have agreed to provide 90 billion euros ($106 billion) to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years, although they failed to bridge differences with Belgium that would have allowed them to use frozen Russian assets to raise the funds. Instead, they were borrowed on capital markets.

After almost four years of war, the International Monetary Fund estimates that Ukraine will need 137 billion euros ($161 billion) in 2026 and 2027. The government in Kyiv is on the verge of bankruptcy, and desperately needs the money by spring.

Meanwhile, Kirill Dmitriev, who heads Russias sovereign wealth fund, is set to meet with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday, according to a U.S. official. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to preview a meeting that hasnt yet been publicly announced.

The official said Witkoff and Kushner will sit down with Dmitriev, after meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin for talks on U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, territorial concessions and other aspects of the American-authored plan.

Ukraines chief negotiator Rustem Umerov said late Friday that a Ukrainian delegation had met with American and European partners in the U.S. He gave few details, but said they agreed to continue joint work in the near future.

Asked about the meeting in Miami, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that Moscow was preparing for contacts with the U.S. to learn about the results of the meetings in Berlin, but he didnt give details.

The co-sponsors of a law intended to force the Justice Department to release all investigative materials related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein say they are drafting articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said in an interview on CNN that he and Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, are also considering whether Bondi should be held in contempt of Congress. He said no final decisions have been made and that they plan to see if the Justice Department complies with the "spirit of the law" in the coming weeks.

Khanna warned that other Justice Department officials could also face legal consequences if they played a role in withholding records related to Epstein.

RELATED STORY | Attorney of Epstein victim speaks out after DOJ files released

"Any Justice Department official who has obstructed justice could face prosecution in this administration or a future administration," he said.

The Justice Department faced a Friday deadline to release all investigative materials tied to Epstein. While the department released thousands of documents, Khanna said the disclosure fell far short.

"What we found out is the most important documents are missing," Khanna said. "They've had excessive redactions."

RELATED STORY | Minimal mention of Trump in Justice Departments initial Epstein file release

The documents released Friday make only limited references to President Donald Trump, even though the administration has acknowledged that his name appears in the files. Being named in the records does not indicate that Trump knew about Epsteins crimes. Critics, however, say the limited references raise questions about whether the release cherry-picked.

Former President Bill Clinton, by contrast, appears numerous times in the documents. The release included photos of Clinton swimming, as well as images showing him with other well-known figures, including Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. No additional context was given with the photos. A spokesperson for Clinton dismissed them, saying the former president was not aware of Epsteins alleged crimes when the two were friendly.