The Bulletin

• Trump seeks to pause TikTok ban: President-elect Donald Trump has filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to pause the enforcement of a law that could lead to a ban on TikTok in the United States. Find out more.

• COVID update: New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that over half of U.S. states have either "high" or "very high" levels of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—in their wastewater.

• Lake Superior water levels: Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the United States and a critical natural resource, experienced its lowest water levels in a decade in 2024. Find out how its water levels changed in 2024.

• Sportscaster Greg Gumbel dies: Greg Gumbel, the groundbreaking and beloved sportscaster known for his decades of coverage of the NFL and NCAA, has passed away at the age of 78.

• In the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the United States is expected to announce that it will provide Ukraine with $1.25 billion in military assistance. Here's what we know.

The rundown: As the countdown to a tumultuous year winds down with just three weeks until President-elect Donald Trump returns to office, the incoming U.S. leader is set to inherit an array of open-ended conflicts abroad that will test his election night promise to "stop wars."

Why it matters: The stakes are high in the second Trump administration's efforts to revamp foreign policy to "Make America Great Again" on the world stage. Some of the ongoing conflicts which may directly impact U.S. interests include the expanded Hamas-Israel War, the clash between Russia and Ukraine, Syria's civil war, civil war in Myanmar, Sudan's military takeover and internal conflict. Ethiopia also suffers from violent internal conflict. In Afghanistan, the Taliban's return to power has been marred by an increase in Islamist insurgent activity. Far closer to U.S. shores, a crisis is swelling in the Caribbean nation of Haiti. As Mexico braces for hard-line immigration and trade policies promised by the incoming Trump administration, America's southern neighbor is also contending with a fresh swell of violence.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Will Israel's Wars in the Middle East End in 2025?

TL/DR: After a series of coups from 2021 to 2023, new military-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger established a new confederation last year known as the Alliance of Sahel States.

What happens now? Trump has voiced a desire to reduce the United States' involvement in foreign disputes, particularly those in which he saw greater risk than value for U.S. intervention.

Deeper reading 10 World Conflicts Trump Will Take On in 2025

The rundown: The U.S. population will age and continue to see low growth in 2025, three experts have told Newsweek. Find out how this will impact the country's productivity and economy.

Why it matters: Population decline is an issue for many countries around the world, especially in Europe, and, while the U.S. is not technically one of them, its growth is slow. Last year, the population only increased by 0.5 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. While this is the most significant uptick since the Covid pandemic, "national population growth is still historically low," the Bureau concluded, and 2025 is not expected to be much different, experts said. The Population Reference Bureau's senior program director, Beth Jarosz, said: "Next year the country will be a bit older, the total number of births will be a bit lower, and people will still have trouble finding housing that meets their needs."

Read more in-depth coverage:
Map Shows States With Fastest-Growing Immigrant Populations

TL/DR: William Frey, a demographer and senior fellow at The Brookings Institution, also said he thinks there will be "low population growth" in 2025, "with immigration accounting for most of the growth."

What happens now? "Next year will be much like this year, but with slightly more moderation from the recent pandemic disruptions," Dowell Myers, a professor of policy, planning and demography at the University of Southern California, told Newsweek.

Deeper reading How US Population Will Change in 2025

The rundown: Under dire circumstances, Captain Igor Kshnyakin and First Officer Aleksandr Kalyaninov managed to guide Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 over the Caspian Sea toward Aktau, Kazakhstan, preventing a greater disaster. Read more about the crew's heroic performance under extraordinary pressure.

Why it matters: The plane crashed approximately two miles from Aktau, with cellphone footage capturing its steep descent before exploding upon impact. Although 38 people, including the pilots, lost their lives, 29 passengers survived the crash in what some have deemed a "Christmas miracle" made possible by the crew's performance and skill under extraordinary pressure. As the plane was losing altitude, the pilots managed to keep the aircraft airborne for over 180 miles, attempting multiple emergency landings. Dan Bubb, a former pilot and professor at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, credited the pilots' skillful handling of the compromised aircraft for preventing a greater disaster.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Azerbaijan Airlines Says 'External Interference' Caused Plane Crash

TL/DR: Experts say the plane likely lost control due to severe damage to its electrical and hydraulic systems.

What happens now? Investigators have recovered the crashed jetliner's black box and are analyzing data to confirm the cause of the crash. Focus is also on reports that the flight was denied an emergency landing in Russia, which could have mitigated the disaster.

Deeper reading Pilot Explains Heroic Actions That Saved Lives on Flight 8243

The rundown: North Korean troops fighting in Russia's Kursk region are facing mass casualties, the U.S. has said. Know more about the ongoing clash.

Why it matters: White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on Friday that 1,000 North Korean troops had been "killed or wounded" in the last week fighting against Ukraine. The reported loss of 1,000 North Korean troops in a single week shows the growing cost that Pyongyang may have to pay for Putin's war. Kirby also said that they are taking their own lives rather than surrendering "likely out of fear of reprisal against their families." Estimates vary, but between 10,000 and 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to fight alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces in Russia's Kursk region where Ukraine staged a surprise incursion on August 6.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Ukraine War Map Shows Key Town Seized by Russia in Two-Month-Long Siege

TL/DR: Kirby said that the U.S. would provide Ukraine with more weapons to help Kyiv's efforts around Kursk "to beat back these North Korean waves."

What happens now? Despite the high casualty figures suffered by North Korean forces, Ukraine is estimated to have lost around half the territory it gained in its Kursk incursion and may lose the rest in a matter of months, according to unnamed U.S. officials cited by Bloomberg.

Deeper reading North Korea Loses More Than 1000 Troops in Single Week: US

The rundown: As 2025 is set to begin in a few days, there will be several changes to the United States Postal Service (USPS), including cost increases and potential delivery time changes. Newsweek breaks down all the major changes you need to know about.

Why it matters: Price increases are likely for some delivery services beginning on January 19, 2025. The changes are subject to approval from the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). Some USPS customers may find themselves affected by new delivery times in 2025. "Depending on location, time and distance, expected time to deliver will increase for some ZIP code pairs," a press release from USPS in October reads. Some of the new stamp offerings next year include a Lunar New Year stamp celebrating the Year of the Snake, a Black Heritage stamp featuring musician Allen Toussaint, and a Betty White stamp.

Read more in-depth coverage:
USPS to Mark 2025 Lunar New Year With New Stamp

TL/DR: The proposed price boosts are part of the agency's "Delivering for America" 10-year plan for "achieving financial sustainability and service excellence."

What happens now? According to a USPS spokesperson who spoke to CBS MoneyWatch, under the proposed changes, mail would continue to be delivered within the current service standard of two-to-five days.

Deeper reading US Postal Service Changes Coming in 2025