GDP grew at a 2.3% pace in the fourth quarter, less than expected

SummaryThe U.S. Department of Justice has initiated an investigation into the Hennepin County Attorney's Office in Minnesota following a directive from County Attorney Mary Moriarty to consider racial disparities when negotiating plea deals. This inquiry, announced by Harmeet Dhillon, the new director of the Civil Rights Division, aims to assess whether the office's practices violate federal law. The investigation, similar to a previous probe of the Minneapolis Police Department, comes amidst heightened scrutiny of prosecutorial...

SummaryRosana Lecka, a 22-year-old childcare worker, has admitted to two counts of child cruelty while denying 21 other charges. She is accused of assaulting 23 infants over six months at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham, with CCTV allegedly capturing her pinching, punching, and grabbing children, some of whom were found with scratches and pinch marks. Despite having no prior safeguarding issues during her job application, Lecka was sent home one day for appearing dazed; the trial...

As armed clashes escalate between India and Pakistan, residents near the border are stockpiling food and fleeing to safer areas. The conflict intensified following India's strikes on what it claimed were terrorist camps in Pakistan, prompting both nations to accuse each other of ongoing military attacks. In affected regions, people are experiencing severe shortages and rising prices, with many seeking shelter from increased shelling, leading to a significant evacuation and panic buying in both countries....

Read a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FASTSINGAPORE: Businessman Sam Goi defended private dinners involving convicted money launderer Su Haijin and Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, labour chief Ng Chee Meng, and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, stating they complied with COVID-19 measures. Goi provided specific dates, confirming that gatherings were within...

A 75-year-old man in New York was charged with animal cruelty after authorities discovered nearly 100 cats in his home, many dead and others living in squalid conditions. Following a complaint, SPCA detectives found the residence filled with filth and high ammonia levels, leading to the recovery of over twenty deceased kittens in a freezer. The man, who recently lost his wife, faces multiple misdemeanor charges and could be banned from pet ownership for five...

US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff stated that persuading Iran to voluntarily abandon its enrichment program is the most effective way to prevent it from obtaining nuclear weapons. He supports President Trump's approach of resolving the Iranian conflict through dialogue, emphasizing that this method would lead to a significant change in Iran's nuclear strategy. Iran has agreed to a fourth round of indirect nuclear talks with the US in Oman, following a postponement due to...