
Cuban authorities began releasing prisoners Wednesday after Tuesday's decision by the outgoing US Government of President Joseph Biden to remove the Caribbean islands from the list of terrorism-sponsoring nations. Havana also said that, as per a deal brokered by the Vatican, it would be freeing up to 553 detainees, including some of those jailed for participating in anti-government rallies. However, leading Republican politicians in Washington hope to restore Cuba to that infamous category after Donald Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration.

The end of the fact-checking service provided by Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp owning Meta has only been implemented in the United States (US), at least for the time being. The company made those remarks to Brazil's Federal Attorney General's Office (AGU) checking the company's compliance to the legislation in force in the South American country.

The United States Navy's next two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers will be named after former Presidents Bill Clinton (Democrat) and George W. Bush (Republican), incumbent President Joseph Biden announced Monday less than a week before the end of his term. Biden also said that when he told them about his decision both of them felt deeply honored.

Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutia who insists he won the controversial July 28 elections and will be sworn in next Friday in Caracas warned his country's armed forces that, as of that day, he will become their “commander in chief.” As such, he demanded absolute loyalty, which has nonetheless been pledged to the incumbent Nicolás Maduro.

Argentine footballing legend Lionel Messi was among the recipients of the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom but skipped the awarding ceremony Saturday at the White House citing previous engagements.

US President-elect Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni met at the former's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida after their encounter was arranged in the utmost secrecy. The gathering consisted of a private dinner, the screening of a documentary, and an exchange of views on bilateral matters.

Theories that both the Tesla Cybertruck explosion in front of the Trump Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the ramming of New Year celebrating pedestrians on New Orleans' Bourbon Street were connected terrorist attacks gained strength as it was determined that the two perpetrators had a military background, including a past at the Fort Liberty base in North Carolina, formerly known as Fort Bragg.

US President Joseph Biden said in a broadcast message late Wednesday that federal law enforcement officers would handle both the attack that left at least 15 dead in New Orleans and the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump Tower in Las Vegas to find out whether both incidents are linked. He also warned against drawing premature conclusions.

One person was killed and seven others were injured Wednesday after a Tesla electric vehicle known as a Cybertruck model filled with fireworks exploded at about 8:40 am local time in front of a Trump Tower building in Las Vegas, Nevada. One fatal victim and seven minor injuries were corroborated by a Clark County Fire Department spokesman. The person killed was inside the Tesla vehicle, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters. There was smoke coming from the vehicle before a large explosion, he added.

At least 15 people were killed Wednesday in a mass ramming and shooting during New Year's celebrations in New Orleans in the US State of Lousiana at around 3.15 am local time. Some 35 others were reported injured after a US national with Muslim ties ran over them on Bourbon Street and later opened fire on survivors. The perpetrator was eventually gunned down by law enforcement officers, two of whom were wounded but reported stable. The FBI has taken over the investigation.