«SFGate» (sfgate.com)

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Daniel Walker Howe has died at 88. A spokesperson at UCLA confirmed he died Dec. 25. Howe was known for his book “What Hath God Wrought,” which chronicled the vast changes in the U.S. from 1815 to 1848. The book was part of Oxford University Press' series on American history and won the Pulitzer in 2008. Howe's work explored themes like Manifest Destiny, the rise of political parties, and the debate over slavery. He highlighted how technological advances impacted society and politics. Читать дальше...

Nicaragua’s Interior Ministry has announced the release of dozens of prisoners. This comes as the United States increases pressure on the government led by President Daniel Ortega. On Friday, the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua said Venezuela had released political prisoners, but lamented that over 60 people remain detained in Nicaragua. The Interior Ministry said Saturday that people from the National Penitentiary System are returning home. It’s unclear who was freed or under what conditions. The government has been cracking down since 2018... Читать дальше...

The former 49er did not hold back on the podcast.

Michael McKee was charged in connection with the murders of his ex-wife and her husband, according to court and county records. He is alleged to have shot and killed the couple, Spencer and Monique Tepe, who police discovered with gunshot wounds in their Columbus home on Dec. 30. McKee was booked on Saturday by the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office in Illinois after police released security footage earlier this week of a person of interest walking in an alley near the couple’s home between the window... Читать дальше...

A Virginia man has pleaded not guilty to charges accusing him of planting two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican national parties on the eve of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Brian J. Cole Jr. entered the plea at a brief hearing on Friday. He is facing two counts of transporting and attempting to use explosives. Justice Department prosecutors have said that Cole confessed to placing pipe bombs outside the Republican National Committee and the Democratic National... Читать дальше...

The organization that oversees the Nobel Peace Prize is throwing cold water on talk of Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado giving her recent award to President Donald Trump. The Norwegian Nobel Institute said in a short statement on Friday that once the Nobel Peace Prize is announced, it can’t be revoked, transferred or shared with others. The statement comes after Machado said she’d like the prize to be given to or shared with Trump, who oversaw the successful U.S. operation to capture... Читать дальше...

The U.S. has launched another round of strikes against the Islamic State in Syria. This follows last month’s ambush that killed two U.S. soldiers and an American civilian interpreter. The strikes, conducted with partner forces, targeted multiple Islamic State locations across Syria. U.S. Central Command confirmed the strikes occurred around 12:30 p.m. ET. Saturday’s action is part of a broader operation in response to the deadly ISIS attack in Palmyra. The operation, called Operation Hawkeye Strike, began on Dec. Читать дальше...

Protests in Iran have now continued for two weeks, with the government acknowledging the unrest despite a harsh crackdown. The internet and phone lines are down, making it hard to gauge the situation from abroad. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 72 people have been killed and over 2,300 detained. Iranian state TV is reporting on security force casualties while maintaining control. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei signals a clampdown, and Tehran warns protesters could face death-penalty charges. Читать дальше...

President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order to protect Venezuelan oil revenue from judicial proceedings. The order, made public on Saturday, aims to support U.S. efforts to stabilize Venezuela economically and politically. Top oil executives have warned that Venezuela's instability makes it unattractive for private investment. During a meeting on Friday, Trump tried to address those concerns, emphasizing the importance of U.S. oil companies investing in Venezuela. The White House is focusing... Читать дальше...

Veteran actor T.K. Carter, known for his roles in "The Thing" and "Punky Brewster," has died at 69. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported that deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive male in Duarte, California, on Friday evening. Police have not disclosed a cause of death but said no foul play is suspected. Carter gained fame as Nauls the cook in John Carpenter's 1982 horror classic, "The Thing." He also appeared in the 1980s sitcom "Punky Brewster" and films like "Runaway... Читать дальше...