Month: December 2025

On Monday, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district court decision that disqualified Alina Habba, President Trump’s former personal attorney, from serving as the acting U.S. attorney in New Jersey – affirming that her appointment violated the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

In a unanimous ruling, the court concluded that Habba was unlawfully elevated to the role of acting U.S. attorney. The panel found that the administration’s multi-step strategy to keep her in the job sidestepped both statutory limits and the constitutional requirement for Senate confirmation.

The dispute traces back to March, when Trump first named Habba interim U.S. attorney — a temporary appointment capped at 120 days unless extended by the district court or confirmed by the Senate. Her nomination stalled after New Jersey’s Democratic senators opposed her confirmation. As her interim tenure neared its end, district judges voted to elevate her deputy, Desiree Leigh Grace, instead. Attorney General Pam Bondi then fired Grace and placed Habba in a series of roles — including “Special Attorney to the Attorney General” and first assistant U.S. attorney — to position her to once again become acting U.S. attorney under the Vacancies Act. The appeals court concluded the maneuver was improper and that the FVRA’s “nomination bar” also prevented Habba, as a pending nominee, from serving in an acting capacity.

In its decision, the 3rd Circuit stressed that allowing the administration’s approach would “bypass the constitutional [presidential appointment and Senate confirmation] process entirely” and effectively nullify the limits Congress established on who may serve as a U.S. attorney.  Judge Michael Fisher, writing for the three-judge panel, said “It is apparent that the current administration has been frustrated by some of the legal and political barriers to getting its appointees in place,” adding that the steps taken to install Habba ultimately violated federal law. The court rejected the Justice Department’s argument that designating Habba as a “special attorney” allowed the attorney general to delegate her the full powers of the office, noting, “This delegation theory would create a means for the Department of Justice to circumvent the FVRA’s exclusivity provision, effectively permitting anyone to fill the U.S. Attorney role indefinitely. This should raise a red flag.”

Habba’s appointment became the subject of legal challenges after three criminal defendants in New Jersey argued that she had no lawful authority to oversee their cases and sought to have their indictments dismissed. The district court declined to throw out the charges but agreed she had been improperly installed.

In a joint statement, attorneys Abbe Lowell, Gerry Krovatin, and Norm Eisen said the ruling confirms that “Habba is unlawfully and invalidly serving as the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey, marking the first time an appellate court has ruled that President Trump cannot usurp longstanding statutory and constitutional processes to insert whomever he wants in these positions.” Another defense lawyer, Thomas Mirigliano, added that “the panel issued a clear and carefully reasoned decision that recognizes the extraordinary power vested in U.S. attorneys and reinforces the limits Congress has set on who may occupy those positions.”

The ruling leaves the New Jersey post vacant until a lawfully appointed and confirmed U.S. attorney is installed.

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The World Health Organization on Monday issued its first comprehensive recommendations on using GLP-1 medications to treat obesity, signaling a major shift in how the condition is addressed globally.

The guidance — published in JAMA — supports long-term use of drugs such as semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide in adults when clinically appropriate, while stressing that medication must be paired with sustained lifestyle support.

More than 1 billion people around the world are currently living with obesity — a figure projected to double by the end of the decade. WHO estimates the condition contributed to 3.7 million deaths last year. The organization recently added GLP-1 drugs to its Essential Medicines List for high-risk type 2 diabetes patients but had not previously endorsed them for obesity alone.

WHO leaders emphasized that obesity is a chronic disease requiring ongoing care, not a short-term intervention. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “our new guidance recognizes that obesity is a chronic disease that can be treated with comprehensive and lifelong care,” noting that “while medication alone won’t solve this global health crisis, GLP-1 therapies can help millions overcome obesity and reduce its associated harms.”

The organization issued two conditional recommendations: prolonged use of GLP-1 therapies — except during pregnancy — and a requirement that treatment be paired with intensive behavioral support, including structured eating plans, physical activity and counseling. Officials described these drugs as “more than a scientific breakthrough,” writing that “They represent a new chapter in the gradual conceptual shift in how society approaches obesity—from a ‘lifestyle condition’ to a complex, preventable, and treatable chronic disease.”

Experts say the medications can help people more easily follow dietary guidance by reducing hunger and making food feel less compelling. Dr. Louis Aronne of Weill Cornell Medicine said, “Medicines work best when they go hand in hand with changes in eating habits and daily behaviors,” adding that reduced hunger often enables patients to follow steps they previously struggled to maintain. He also stressed the need for resistance training to limit muscle loss during rapid weight reduction.

The WHO noted ongoing challenges that may limit access, including steep prices, supply shortages and wide disparities in availability. The agency urged governments to create fair distribution systems focused on those with the most urgent medical need and called for “urgent action on manufacturing, affordability, and system readiness to meet global needs.” Even with production increases, WHO estimates that GLP-1 therapies will reach fewer than 10% of eligible patients by 2030.

The new recommendations, crafted by a panel of specialists in obesity care, pharmacology and public health, follow regulatory approvals in multiple countries, including the U.S. The guidelines encourage nations to “reboot” national obesity strategies by expanding prevention programs, strengthening treatment infrastructure and improving long-term care capacity.

WHO officials emphasized that while GLP-1 drugs can be effective, “medication alone cannot solve the global obesity burden.” They called for more long-term research on safety and outcomes, alongside efforts to reduce the cost of leading treatments such as Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic and Mounjaro — many of which currently exceed $1,000 a month in the U.S.

Editorial credit: KK Stock / Shutterstock.com

Authorities say a family celebration at a banquet hall in Stockton, California turned deadly Saturday evening when gunfire left four people dead and ten others wounded. The shooting took place shortly before 6 p.m. along the 1900 block of Lucile Avenue, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.  Stockton, a city of roughly 320,000 residents, is located about 45 miles south of Sacramento.

Spokesperson Heather Brent said guests had gathered for a family event when shots were fired, describing the attack as “unfathomable.” Officials confirmed that both children and adults were among the victims, though specific ages and conditions were not immediately released. Several of the wounded were taken to nearby hospitals, and one medical facility briefly went into precautionary lockdown following the incident.

While investigators have not identified a suspect, Brent said early evidence suggests the attack “may be a targeted incident,” adding, “Our No. 1 priority right now is identifying the suspect in this incident.” It remains unclear whether the gunfire came from inside or outside the venue, and no arrests had been made as of Sunday morning. Sstate and federal authorities remained on the scenes alongside investigators, with the surrounding area still closed off while evidence teams continued processing the site.

Local officials expressed grief and frustration at the violence, with Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee stating on social media that the shooting occurred “at a child’s birthday party,” though Brent would only confirm that it was a family gathering. “It’s unfathomable that there were young children that were harmed,” she said.

Mayor Christina Fugazi, speaking at the scene, emphasized the shock of such violence occurring just days after Thanksgiving. “Families should be together instead of at the hospital standing next to their loved one praying that they survive,” she said. San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas added that “Tragedy of this nature is unthinkable,” and urged the public to come forward with any information.

Multiple agencies — including the FBI, ATF, and Stockton police — are assisting with the investigation. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the governor had been briefed on the “horrific shooting,” and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is coordinating with law enforcement as the case unfolds.

Authorities are asking anyone with video, information, or eyewitness accounts to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office. A local nonprofit, the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, announced it is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said this weekend that investigators believe Rahmanullah Lakanwal — the Afghan national charged in last week’s ambush of two National Guard members near the White House in Washington, D.C. — was likely radicalized after he came to the United States. Lakanwal, 29, allegedly opened fire near the White House, killing one guard and critically wounding another; federal prosecutors have charged Lakanwal with first-degree murder. Noem made the claim during multiple interviews on Sunday, including NBC News’ “Meet the Press” as federal prosecutors moved forward with murder charges in the case.

Noem told interviewers she believes Lakanwal “was brought into the country by the Biden administration through Operation Allies Welcome. And then, maybe vetted after that, but not done well, based on what the guidelines were put forward by President Biden,” and added, “And now, since he’s been here, we believe he could have been radicalized in his home community and in his home state.” She repeatedly argued that the vetting framework used when he arrived required revision, and said pending cases would be reexamined under the current administration’s standards.

Lakanwal arrived in the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome and was granted asylum in April 2025; he previously worked with U.S. forces in an agency-backed Afghan partner forces — described in reporting as a “zero unit” — that worked alongside American troops in Kandahar before the U.S. withdrawal in 2021. Many members of those units were evacuated to the U.S. under Operation Allies Welcome and later faced legal, economic and mental-health challenges while resettling.

The Trump administration, which approved Lakanwal’s asylum application in April after earlier vetting steps, has responded to the attack by pausing asylum decisions and ordering expanded reviews of visa and green-card cases from countries it deems “of concern.” Noem and other officials have said they will reexamine pending cases under new screening standards and pursue removals where appropriate.

Those assertions about inadequate vetting have been disputed by former officials and independent analysts. ABC News and other outlets report that Afghans evacuated under Operation Allies Welcome underwent multiple checks — including biographic and biometric screening — at overseas processing sites and were subject to additional reviews once in the U.S. A senior official told ABC that the suspect “was clean on all checks” when reviewed by the National Counterterrorism Center at one point. Experts caution, too, that the vetting process is not predictive of future violent acts. “Let’s be clear on what the vetting system is and it isn’t,” one counterterrorism official noted.

Noem has said investigators are probing Lakanwal’s contacts and local ties to determine where possible radicalization occurred. “We do believe it was through connections in his home community and state, and we’re going to continue to talk to those who interacted with him,” she said.

Advocates for Afghan partners said sweeping measures risk harming people who worked with U.S. forces and who face legal uncertainty, joblessness and mental-health strains after evacuation. A representative for former Afghan “zero unit” members warned that treating these allies like “pariahs” will worsen an already fragile situation; one former commander wrote, “Without your help, we are trapped,” and cited suicides and despair within the community tied to delayed immigration assistance.

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