3 hostages set to be freed as part of Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

Today is Saturday, Feb. 8, the 39th day of 2025 with 326 days left in the year. On this day in history, D.W. Griffith's film "The Birth of a Nation" premiered in 1915, Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded in 1587, and the Boy Scouts of America was incorporated in 1910. Birthdays include composer John Williams (93), journalist Ted Koppel (85), actor Nick Nolte (84), and author John Grisham (70). Full Article

A recent poll conducted by Morning Consult revealed that President Donald Trump's approval rating of 52 percent surpasses that of most world leaders, with only four leaders outscoring him. This high approval rating underscores Trump's enduring political influence both domestically and internationally. Among the world leaders with higher approval ratings are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter. Trump's popularity is further evidenced by...

Shaquille O’Neal expressed his desire for comedian Nikki Glaser to roast him next during a recent interview at his Shaq’s Fun House party in New Orleans. Reflecting on the 2024 Netflix special “The Roast of Tom Brady,” O’Neal confidently stated that he can handle any jokes thrown his way, unlike Brady who seemed taken aback by some of the jokes made about him during the event. Full Article

A federal judge declined to immediately block the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) from accessing Labor Department systems, citing lack of evidence of legal injury from labor unions who sued to block access. DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has been investigated for accessing sensitive Treasury and Labor Department records, prompting concerns about violating laws protecting government data and civil servants. Despite allegations of wrongdoing, the Justice Department defended DOGE's access, arguing against a sweeping order...

A Roswell, Georgia police officer was shot and killed while responding to a report of a suspicious person at a shopping center. The officer was struck multiple times by a gunman behind the shopping center and succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The suspect was apprehended by police, and Governor Brian Kemp expressed condolences for the officer's family and the law enforcement community. Full Article

A federal judge halted the Trump administration's attempt to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, pausing the administrative leave of 2,200 employees and withdrawal of overseas workers. The judge cited "irreparable harm" to employees and ordered a temporary reinstatement of 500 workers, scheduling expedited arguments to determine legality. The lawsuit, filed by federal worker unions, argued that the dismantlement of U.S.A.I.D. was unconstitutional and illegal, generating chaos and panic within the agency and...