Tuesday morning news: December 16, 2025

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NYE terror plot » A New Years Eve terror attack plot disrupted.

Authorities have announced the arrest of four suspects who allegedly planned a bombing campaign in Southern California at year’s end.

Federal prosecutor Bill Essayli

ESSAYLI: The defendants are all radical anti-government members of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, which according to their own social media, is an anti-capitalist, anti-government movement that calls for their associates to rise up and fight back against capitalism.

The group is also described as pro-Palestinian.

The suspects allegedly planned to attack multiple businesses as well as immigration and customs enforcement.

Each of the accused now face federal charges, including conspiracy and possession of a destructive device with more charges likely.

The FBI’s assistant director of the LA field office, Akil Davis, told reporters:

DAVIS: The plan stated that the EIDs would be complex pipe bombs. It included instructions on how to manufacture the bombs … and contained guidance on how to avoid leaving evidence behind that could be traced back to them.

Agents say they caught the suspects last week in a desert area east of Los Angeles while preparing improvised explosive devices for attacks across the region.

Ukraine latest » U.S. officials say Washington has offered Ukraine strong, NATO-style security guarantees in peace talks with Russia — in a major policy shift. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher has more.

BENJAMIN EICHER: Talks in Berlin with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. envoys and European leaders have narrowed differences.

The proposed guarantees would be legally binding and could go to the U.S. Senate for approval.

European nations say they’re ready to lead a multinational force to help Ukraine rebuild and secure its airspace and seas.

Ukrainian leaders have even signaled willingness to drop their NATO membership bid if the guarantees are solid.

The Kremlin has hinted it may accept terms, but Russia still wants control of parts of Ukraine’s Donetsk region. And as of now, that remains a non-starter for Kyiv.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

U.S./Paraguay agreement » The United States and Paraguay are teaming up to strengthen their fight against drug cartels and transnational crime.

Leaders from the South American country signed a new security agreement Monday in Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio:

RUBIO: The most serious problem we have in our hemisphere is these transnational terrorist organizations who are not ideologically terrorists in many cases, but are financial and economic in their basis, but nonetheless threaten the stability and security of the region.

The agreement gives the U.S. clearer legal footing to work with Paraguay against drug cartels and criminal networks that move drugs toward the United States. And it makes those threats easier to disrupt before they reach the U.S. border.

Rubio also pointed to a growing economic partnership between the two countries, calling Paraguay a key regional partner.

But Paraguay’s congress must still grant final approval.

Jimmy Lai convicted » Hong Kong’s High Court has convicted pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai in a landmark ruling that could keep the 78-year-old in prison for life.

A panel of three government-appointed judges found Lai guilty of colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious material. He was prosecuted under so-called national security law that the Chinese Communist government imposed on Hong Kong.

The government has used that law to crack down on pro-democracy critics.

Jimmy Lai’s daughter Claire Lai reacted:

CLAIRE LAI:  They used the term legal fiction of a conspiracy to pull out things from 2017, 2018, 2019, things that were perfectly legal then.

Rights groups and Western governments blasted the verdict as politically driven and a blow to liberty in the formerly semi-independent territory.

Lai has already been behind bars for more than five years, much of it in solitary confinement, even as his health has declined.

Sentencing is set for early next year.

Rob Reiner murder » The suspect in the apparent murder of Hollywood heavyweight Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, is their son, 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner.

The couple was found dead inside their Southern California home on Sunday afternoon with stab wounds.

LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell:

MCDONNELL: We have our robbery homicide division handling the investigation. They worked throughout the night on this case and were able to take into custody Nick Reiner, a suspect in this case. He was subsequently booked for murder and is being held on $4 million bail.

Rob Reiner was known for directing hit movies like The Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Stand by Me.

Nick Reiner worked with his late father on the 2015 film, Being Charlie, which was loosely inspired by the 32-year-old's struggle with drug addiction and homelessness.

Brown University shooter search » Authorities were still conducting a massive manhunt as of early this morning for the suspect who carried out a deadly shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island on Saturday.

Police released their initial person of interest, but have photo and video evidence of the suspect.

Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez:

PEREZ: We're asking the public for assistance to be able to identify this individual.

During a news conference Monday, authorities released three new videos that showed a masked man in a dark jacket two hours before the attack. Although the footage didn’t show his face, the video provided the clearest images yet of the suspect.

The gunman killed two students and injured nine.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: the re-emergence of ISIS in the Middle East. Plus, Palestinian Christians and Christmas in Bethlehem.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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