JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1036

Washington — The Trump administration on Wednesday released the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, urging reduced consumption of ultraprocessed foods and added sugars while promoting protein and healthy fats. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and officials presented a reversed food-pyramid graphic elevating meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables above grains. Officials said the guidance will inform federal nutrition programs and will be promoted via a roadshow next week. Nutrition experts expressed mixed reactions, noting some praise for cutting sugar but concern about emphasis on red meat. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

WASHINGTON, U.S. officials this week outlined a three-phase plan for Venezuela after U.S. forces seized President Nicolás Maduro, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters and senators on Jan. 7. The plan prioritizes stabilisation to prevent chaos, recovery that includes reopening the economy to American and Western firms, rebuilding infrastructure and pursuing reconciliation measures such as amnesty and returns, and a transition of power. The administration is exercising control over Venezuelan oil exports via sanctions, naval deployments and selective sales, and President Donald Trump said U.S. oversight could extend beyond a year. Based on 7 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States federal- and state-level employment releases show mixed November 2025 labor-market results. State reports indicated unemployment rates rose in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Washington, Oregon and Ohio while Massachusetts held at 4.7%; payrolls varied by state with pockets of gains in leisure, hospitality, professional services and losses in construction and government. Data gaps recently resulted from the six-week federal government shutdown delaying October labor-force measures. State agencies and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provided preliminary estimates and claims data. Officials signaled modest labor-market weakening but continued record job levels in some states. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, The U.S. House Oversight Committee held a Wednesday hearing during a public session examining alleged multimillion-dollar fraud in Minnesota’s social welfare programs, where Republican lawmakers and state witnesses accused officials of suppressing investigations and intimidating whistleblowers. Attorneys and witnesses described administrative changes, alleged retaliation, and claims that oversight units were curtailed. The Department of Justice announced it is deploying additional federal prosecutors to assist Minnesota investigations. Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday he will not seek re-election amid the controversy. An assistant U.S. attorney testified investigators estimate losses could exceed $9 billion. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

CHICAGO — Family members and authorities continued searching this week for Linda Brown, a 53-year-old Chicago Public Schools special education teacher who disappeared Saturday after leaving her. Police said she was last seen in the 4500-block of South Martin Luther King Drive and that surveillance footage later captured her leaving a vehicle near 35th and Lake Park Avenue around 3 a.m. Investigators recovered Brown’s car near the lakefront, and volunteers resumed shoreline searches at 31st Street Beach on Friday. Chicago Teachers Union circulated missing-person flyers; police ask anyone with information to call 312-747-8380. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

LOS ANGELES — Warner Bros Discovery's board rejected Paramount Skydance's revised $108.4 billion bid Wednesday and reaffirmed its continuing support for Netflix's $82.7 billion merger agreement. The board told shareholders the Paramount offer relied on an extraordinary amount of debt financing, described a $30-per-share cash plan that would leave the company with $87 billion in acquisition-related debt, and said it posed heightened closing risks. Chair Samuel A. Di Piazza Jr. recommended shareholders approve the Netflix transaction, stating it provides greater certainty and protections. The board voted against the Paramount proposal on Jan. 6. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

WASHINGTON — U.S. forces seized a Venezuela-linked, U.S.-sanctioned oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after a weeks-long pursuit, officials said. The military boarded and took control of the vessel, then transferred it to law enforcement, an official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity said. The ship, sanctioned in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company tied to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, had refused a December Coast Guard boarding in the Caribbean and sailed north. Open-source maritime trackers showed the vessel between Scotland and Iceland. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Columbus. Dr. Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy announced running mates Wednesday in Ohio’s 2026 governor race. Acton selected former Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper, citing his local government experience; Ramaswamy chose Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, emphasizing legislative knowledge. Both candidates said their picks balance outsider backgrounds with governing capability. Each ticket scheduled public events and roundtables this week in Columbus to introduce their lieutenant governor selections. Campaign statements highlighted affordability, anti-corruption, and legislative effectiveness as priorities. Governor Mike DeWine cannot seek reelection due to term limits, creating an open-seat contest. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — Aldrich Ames, a former CIA counterintelligence analyst, died in federal custody Monday at age 84, the Bureau of Prisons confirmed, citing official records. Ames, a 31‑year agency veteran who led the Soviet branch in counterintelligence, sold classified information to the Soviet Union and later Russia from 1985 until his 1994 arrest, prosecutors said. He admitted receiving roughly $2.5 million and disclosed the identities of multiple Western assets, a breach blamed for the deaths of several agents. Ames pleaded guilty to espionage and tax evasion and received a life sentence without parole. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Las Vegas: Companies at CES 2026 unveiled agentic AI, inference-focused compute, and AI-powered consumer devices this week. Lenovo introduced Lenovo Agentic AI and Lenovo xIQ to manage full-lifecycle enterprise agents, while Samsung SDS showcased agentic AI applications and cloud integrations. Changhong presented AI-driven smart home appliances including interactive Panda Xiaobai and cloud humidity control. Research from Thoughtworks reported 77% of leaders shifting AI strategies from efficiency to growth, with 92% among large enterprises. Industry commentary and exhibitors highlighted a move from model training to real-world inference and enterprise deployment across multiple sectors. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.