USA TODAY International Edition

12/29/2023: FRONT PAGE: ‘ Back from the brink’

President Richard M. Nixon enshrined the Endangered Species Act into the nation’s history 50 years ago on Thursday. Beleaguered by the Watergate scandal, Nixon signed the act unceremoniously, issuing a short statement from the “western White House” in...

12/29/2023: FRONT PAGE: Four changes in 2024 that could reshape US health care

This year has been a major turning point in American health care and patients can anticipate several major developments in the new year. Notable developments in 2023 included the end of the COVID- 19 public health emergency, the beginning of a CRISPR...

12/29/2023: FRONT PAGE: Weight loss results

16% of body weight shed when using Wegovy in combination with exercise and diet. 27% of body weight shed over 18 months when using Zepbound’s highest dose with lifestyle changes.

12/29/2023: FRONT PAGE: 6 financial moves to make before December is over

6 financial moves to make before December is over

12/29/2023: FRONT PAGE: 3 million migrants in court backlog

The nation’s immigration court backlog swelled by more than 1 million cases in 2023, according to new data, as the number of migrants seeking asylum at the U. S. border surged. The backlog surpassed 3 million cases in November, rising from 1.9 million...

12/29/2023: NEWS: Pentagon extremism report is finally out

More than a year and a half after it was completed, the Department of Defense has finally published a report about extremism in the ranks. The report was commissioned by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in April 2021 as one of four “immediate actions”...

12/29/2023: NEWS: Corrections and clarifications

Our goal is to promptly correct errors. Email us at accuracy@ usatoday. com to report a mistake. Describe the error, where you saw it, the date, page number, or the URL.

12/29/2023: NEWS: Data shows South has most LGBTQ+ people

New data estimates the greatest number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender U. S. adults live in the South, confirming findings from recent years. Across the country, researchers estimate more than 5% of U. S. adults are LGBTQ+, matching prior...

12/29/2023: NEWS: Iran walks back ‘ revenge’ claim on Hamas attack

An Iranian general on Wednesday walked back his claim that the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel was “revenge” for the assassination of an Iranian general four years ago, telling Al- Araby his comments earlier in the day were “incompletely conveyed” and...

12/29/2023: NEWS: Michigan court keeps Trump on ballot

WASHINGTON − Michigan’s highest court sided with former President Donald Trump on Wednesday in the latest lawsuit challenging whether he can appear on a state’s ballot or whether he disqualified himself by inciting the mob that stormed the U. S....

12/29/2023: MONEY: Relaunch of student loan payments not such a drag

The relaunch of student loan payments this fall was expected to pose a hurdle to an economy facing a sharp slowdown and possibly even a recession next year. It isn’t, at least partly because many of the borrowers, who collectively owe $ 1 trillion,...

12/29/2023: MONEY: Reconsider surrendering personal data for discounts

It’s a savvy shopper’s favorite time of year: Discounts and deals as far as the eye can see. You’re probably like me – I don’t like paying full price. But is handing over your email address, phone number, or even more worth it for a coupon code? Like...

12/29/2023: MONEY: CALIF. MAN FINDS TROVE OF RARE BASEBALL CARDS

A California man said he stumbled upon every baseball fans’ dream when he found an old tobacco tin at his father’s home. According to Auction Monthly, a trove of more than 600 cards “were discovered in a closet by a Northern California resident...

12/29/2023: MONEY: ONLINE RETAILER ZULILY IS WINDING DOWN BUSINESS

Online retailer Zulily announced on its website it has made the “difficult but necessary decision to conduct an orderly wind- down of the business.” Zulily was founded in 2010 and offered an array of products, from clothes to home décor. The company...

12/29/2023: MONEY: U. S. OFFICIALS UPHOLD BAN ON SOME APPLE WATCHES

The Biden administration announced Tuesday it will uphold a U. S. International Trade Commission order banning the sale of certain Apple Watches. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai declined to...

12/29/2023: MONEY: FISH RECALLED FROM WHOLE FOODS OVER SOY ALLERGEN

Tampa Bay Fisheries is recalling two fish fillet products stocked at Whole Foods nationwide due to an undeclared soy allergen, federal food regulators announced. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration said that Tampa Bay Fisheries is voluntarily...

12/29/2023: NEWS | OPINION: Our Top 10 most- read columns of 2023

2023 WAS NOTHING IF NOT NEWSY. Between former President Donald Trump’s four indictments and 91 felony counts, unrelenting inflation ( how’s that “Bidenomics” thing really working out for you, Joe?) and President Biden’s impending impeachment inquiry,...

12/29/2023: NEWS | TRAVEL: POCKET GUIDE GERMANY

GO SEE ... BERLIN 1. Berlin Wall Memorial The Berlin Wall may be gone, but it will never be forgotten. This outdoor museum, which includes the last remaining stretch of the wall in its original location, explains how the barrier divided a city and its...

12/29/2023: NEWS | TRAVEL: UNEXPECTED GERMANY

BERLIN 1. Story of Berlin This museum’s engaging multimedia trip through the city’s history culminates with a tour of a Cold War nuclear bomb shelter. Kurfürstendamm 207- 208 + 49 30 8872 0100 2. Tempelhof Park Tempelhof Airport, site of the first...

12/29/2023: SPORTS: Shake it off: Chiefs’ 2023 problem isn’t Taylor Swift

It’s not Taylor Swift’s fault that Kansas City’s offensive linemen can’t block. It’s not her fault that quarterback Patrick Mahomes is constantly running for his life. It’s not her fault that Mahomes is increasingly desperate and reckless. She has no...

12/29/2023: SPORTS: Unfair weight on brown and Black GMs

It’s so very NFL that the people who’ve been harmed by the owners’ long history of discrimination now carry the burden of being expected to fix the league’s diversity problems. While NFL owners bend over backward not to hire Black and brown head...

12/29/2023: SPORTS: Latest news, results, opinions 24/ 7 at sports. usatoday. com

Check out all the winners across sports, from college bowls to NBA to NHL to college basketball

12/29/2023: SPORTS: Coach changed ways; Michigan great again

Winners of three outright Big Ten championships in a row, something never before achieved in program history. Three wins in a row against rival Ohio State for the first time since 1995- 97. Three consecutive appearances in the College Football...

12/29/2023: SPORTS: Will a US- born star end NBA MVP drought?

Will a US- born star end NBA MVP drought?

12/29/2023: SPORTS: Joe Flacco not dwelling on no call by Jets,

Joe Flacco not dwelling on no call by Jets,

12/29/2023: SPORTS: Suns’ Big Three plan may end up Big Whiff

Kevin Durant should be frustrated. Any prominent member of the Phoenix Suns – from owner Mat Ishbia to general manager James Jones to players, including Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Durant – should be frustrated. Phoenix is 14- 15 after the...

12/29/2023: LIFE: Driver’s ‘ Ferrari’ film follows legend’s course

Spoiler alert! We’re discussing plot points from the new movie “Ferrari” ( in theaters now) and the real- life events on which the film is based. Stop reading now if you haven’t seen it and don’t want to know. There is perhaps no more storied name in...

12/29/2023: LIFE: Float therapy sheds light in darkness

Darkness. That’s all I could see as I slowly moved my hand to feel the edge of the chamber. I’d lost track of time. Had it been 15 minutes? 30? An hour? My heart pounded as I wondered how much longer I had left. I took a shaky breath and reminded...

12/29/2023: LIFE: HOROSCOPE | SANCTUARY

Aries ( March 21- April 19). Idealistic visions can fill your headspace. Tempted to go out on a limb? Dial it back. Taurus ( April 20- May 20). Putting your trust in the wrong people? A bubble may burst. They’re not what they seem. Gemini ( May 21-...

12/29/2023: LIFE: IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY WHO’S CELEBRATING TODAY

John Legend is 45. Denzel Washington is 69. Sienna Miller is 42.

12/29/2023: LIFE: MAKING WAVES MARIAH AND BRYAN

Mariah Carey and Bryan Tanaka’s romance has come to a close. Tanaka, who was the pop icon’s backup dancer- turned- creative director, took to Instagram Tuesday to confirm the breakup. “Dear friends and fans, with mixed emotions, I share this personal...

12/29/2023: LIFE: Hunnam’s Kai keeps fans of ‘ Rebel Moon’ on their toes

Spoiler alert! We’re discussing the ending of “Rebel Moon” ( streaming now on Netflix). Kindly stop reading if you don’t want to know. Charlie Hunnam’s scoundrel Kai has opted out of joining the “Rebel Moon” uprising in true traitor style. The...

12/29/2023: LIFE: USA TODAY CROSSWORD USA TODAY CROSSWORD

A FEVER YOU CAN’T SWEAT OUT ( FREESTYLE) ACROSS 1 Pakistan’s continent 5 Sikh spiritual leader 9 Basics 13 American- Japanese fusion pastry 16 Injured 17 “I wish you’d rethink that” 18 “Makes sense” 19 “Help!” 20 Name found in “real estate” 21 The...

12/29/2023: LIFE: KENKEN

1. Each row and column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 ( easy) or 1 though 6 ( challenging) without repeating. 2. The numbers within the heavily outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation ( in any order) to produce the...

12/29/2023: LIFE: KUBOK 16

Enter the missing numbers from 1 to 16 without repetitions so that the sum of the four numbers in each row and column is the same as the corresponding circled number.