Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
New Epstein Photos Surface Showing Trump as Lawmakers Near Document Release Deadline 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
The United States has scrambled to find who was responsible for the major intelligence leaks that surfaced online. A report on the leak found that the person responsible for the intelligence leak was a gun enthusiast who worked at a military base.
The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that a firearms enthusiast in his 20s was responsible for the major intelligence leak which prompted a national security investigation. The report said that the person shared classified information with a group on the Discord streaming and messaging service. The group was made up of men and boys who have a “mutual love of guns, military gear, and God.”
The outlet based its report on interviews with members of the chat group. On the same day, Discord said in a statement that it was cooperating with authorities on the matter.
The intelligence leak resulted in the Justice Department launching an investigation last week after the issue was referred to the agency by the Pentagon, which is already looking into the extent of the damage done. The country’s national security agencies, aside from the DOJ, are also looking into the damage to national security and relations with US allies and other countries.
In what might be the most sensitive leaks of US secrets in years, photos of classified documents were shared on Discord and other platforms, including the 4Chan forum, the Telegram messaging platform, and on Twitter.
On Thursday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation carried out the arrest of the alleged leaker, identified as Jack Douglas Teixeira, who works for the US Air National Guard. Attorney General Merrick Garland said the FBI arrested Teixeira “in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information.”
Garland told reporters that the investigation is underway but did not reveal any further details. Video footage by the media showed armed officers accompanying Teixeira into a car. The DOJ did not reveal what charges may be pressed on Teixeira, but it would likely be criminal charges of deliberately retaining and sharing national defense information.
A spokesperson for the US Attorney in Boston, Massachusetts, where Teixeira is based, said Teixeira is expected to make his first appearance on Friday.
