AP-The Morning Wire

"US strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat."

Views expressed in this World and US news update are those of the reporters and correspondents.  Accessed on 23 December 2025, 1325 UTC.

Content and Source:  "AP-The Morning Wire."

 https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQdzvvwcsSMspbFDFtqZmWMkqSK

URL--https://apnews.com.

Please check email link, URL, or scroll down to read your selections.  Thanks for joining us today.

Russ Roberts (https://trendsingeopolitics.blogspot.com).

View in Browser

Policy changes, but facts endure. AP delivers accurate, fact-based journalism to keep the world informed in every administration. Support independent reporting today. Donate.

By Bridget Brown December 23, 2025

In the news today: The U.S. military said it had conducted another strike against a boat it said was smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person; an Associated Press investigation finds that combat training drills have left a trail of deaths and injuries amongst police recruits; and the Kansas City Chiefs announce plans to move from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new domed stadium in Kansas. Also, how restorers use laser beams to clean up a Roman monument. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks as President Donald Trump looks on, at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club Monday in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WORLD NEWS US strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific The U.S. military said Monday that it had conducted another strike against a boat it said was smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person. Read more.

What to know: In a social media post, U.S. Southern Command said, “Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” Southern Command provided no evidence that the vessel was engaged in drug smuggling. At least 105 people have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September. The strikes have faced scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and human rights activists, who say the administration has offered scant evidence that its targets are indeed drug smugglers and say the fatal strikes amount to extrajudicial killings. The Trump administration has said the strikes are meant to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S. and increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump warns Maduro against playing ‘tough’ as US escalates pressure campaign on Venezuela WATCH: Pentagon releases video of strike in the eastern Pacific Judge allows Kilmar Abrego Garcia to remain free while she considers immigration issues White House rebuffs Catholic bishops’ appeal for a Christmas pause in immigration enforcement Judge chides Ghislaine Maxwell for mentioning Epstein victim names in papers seeking to overturn conviction Ex-CIA director John Brennan wants ‘favored’ Trump judge kept away from Justice Department inquiry Addiction-stricken community struggles to keep a syringe program going after Trump’s order NSA employee sues Trump administration over order on transgender rights and two ‘immutable’ genders US drops plan to deport Chinese national who exposed Xinjiang abuses, rights activists say FCC bans new Chinese-made drones, citing security risks WATCH: Trump announces plans for new Navy ‘battleship’ as part of a ‘Golden Fleet’ US NEWS Combat training is a rite of passage for police recruits. It’s left a trail of deaths and injuries Combat training drills are a rite of passage for police recruits nationwide. But an Associated Press investigation finds they've been linked to at least a dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries since 2005. Read more.

What to know: The drills are among the most challenging tests at police academies, intended to teach recruits to defend themselves against combative suspects. Recruits may have to fight several instructors at once. Law enforcement experts say that when properly designed and supervised, they teach new officers critical skills for handling high-stress situations.   Critics say they can put recruits at risk of physical and mental abuse that runs some promising officers out of the profession. Academies have wide latitude in running such exercises, given a lack of national standards governing police training. Nationwide, deaths and injuries have been blamed on a mix of trauma from punches and other force, overexertion, heat stroke, dehydration and organ failure.   Lawyers for some Black and female former trainees have alleged that instructors targeted their clients with excessive force to try to run them out of the profession. Several of the deaths have been of Black men hoping to join disproportionately white police forces.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Key takeaways from AP’s reporting on violent training US NEWS Chiefs’ move to Kansas leaves Missouri fans heartbroken over another NFL franchise leaving The Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans to move from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new domed stadium in Kansas. This decision follows Kansas lawmakers voting unanimously to allow the state to issue a little more than $2.4 billion in bonds to cover about 60% of the cost of the new stadium. Read more.

What to know: It’s expected to be ready for the start of the 2031 season. Missouri lawmakers had been desperately trying to keep the Chiefs with their own funding package. They held a special legislative session in June, backed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, that authorized bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments. The announcement of the Chiefs’ move to Kansas generated widespread reaction among fans. Some were concerned about the price of tickets in a new facility, others about traffic flow and construction, and still others about the legacy of Arrowhead Stadium.

RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Chiefs announce they will relocate across the Kansas-Missouri border WATCH: Kansas City Chiefs announce plans to leave Arrowhead stadium  ADVERTISEMENT IN OTHER NEWS READ Wegovy: US regulators approve pill version for weight loss Car bomb: Killing of a general in Moscow follows a series of assassinations Russia blames on Ukraine Vince Zampella: Video game pioneer behind Call of Duty, dies at 55 New Jersey: Man charged with murder after bow and arrow killing Gaza: Tiny Christian community tries to capture the holiday spirit during the ceasefire Donations: Most US adults aren’t making year-end charitable contributions, new AP-NORC poll finds Today in History: In 1972, Steelers running back Franco Harris caught the game-winning ‘Immaculate Reception,’ often cited as the greatest NFL play of all time. WATCH Breakthrough tech: Artificial womb could reshape care for extremely premature babies Christmas cheer: A snapshot of 2025 festive sparkle around the world A CHANGE OF PACE Restorer Mariangela Santella uses a short-pulse laser to selectively remove encrustations from the surface of a bas-relief on the second-century A.D. Column of Marcus Aurelius in central Rome on Thursday. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis) Restorers swap brushes for lasers in the first restoration of an iconic Roman monument in 40 years High above the rooftops in the heart of Rome, restorers used laser beams to clean a marble column in the piazza outside the prime minister’s office, a far cry from the tiny brushes that removed layers of dust and grime during the column’s last restoration, in the 1980s. The 154-foot tall column, built between A.D. 180 and 193, recounts the battles of one of Rome’s best-known emperors, Marcus Aurelius.

Please let us know what you think of this newsletter. You can sign up for more and invite a friend here. For news in real time visit APNews.com. - Bridget

SUPPORT THE AP. DONATE.

Manage preferences or unsubscribe | Privacy Policy *Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. If you're interested in advertising, contact us here. ADVERTISEMENT