Neves Valente, a Portuguese national and former physics student, had no current affiliation with Brown and last lived in Miami.
The victims included two Brown undergraduates and Loureiro, a prominent fusion scientist who led MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
Justice Department Set to Release Epstein Files Under New Law
The Justice Department faces a Friday deadline to release most of its files on Jeffrey Epstein under a law signed in November that compels disclosure despite past efforts to keep the records sealed.
The release is expected to provide the most detailed view yet of federal investigations into Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls, his 2008 plea deal, and the inquiry into his death in federal custody.
The law permits redactions to protect victims or ongoing investigations but bars withholding records to avoid embarrassment or political fallout.
Congressional Democrats released dozens of new images of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein just one day before the US Department of Justice is set to release unclassified files. pic.twitter.com/fRIPDTrvOn
— New York Post (@nypost) December 18, 2025
Although many Epstein-related documents are already public, the release comes amid continued public pressure to understand whether any of Epstein’s powerful associates had knowledge of or involvement in his crimes.
Federal officials have said they found no evidence to support charges against others beyond Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Retired Huey Helicopter Becomes Landmark at Yokota Air Base
A retired UH-1N Huey helicopter is now on permanent display at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo, marking decades of US military service in Japan.
The aircraft, tail number 69-6614, was unveiled Friday at a roundabout near US Forces Japan and 5th Air Force headquarters after its retirement in September by Yokota’s 459th Airlift Squadron.
The helicopter flew combat missions in Vietnam, supported anti-drug and nuclear test operations in the United States, and later served in Japan, including during Operation Tomodachi after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
In its final years, it operated as an air ambulance for Yokota and nearby installations.
Airmen guide a UH-1N Huey into position at Yokota Air Base, Japan, December 15, 2025. (US Air Force)
Base leaders said the display preserves the Huey’s legacy and its role in supporting American forces and the US-Japan alliance.
Trump Oil Tanker Blockade Raises Legal, Escalation Concerns
US President Donald Trump’s decision to block sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast has sparked debate over the legality of the move and raised concerns about potential escalation toward armed conflict.
The administration says the action targets only vessels tied to Nicolás Maduro’s government and avoids civilian harm, while legal experts and Democratic lawmakers warn it could constitute an undeclared act of war without congressional authorization.
The Pentagon has sought to reframe the action as a limited “quarantine” rather than a blockade, arguing it focuses on enforcing sanctions rather than halting all maritime traffic.
🇺🇸🇻🇪 Footage of the US military committing an open act of war, seizing a Venezuelan oil tanker.
So this is absolutely NOT about drugs. pic.twitter.com/lvjma8wMxH
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) December 10, 2025
Venezuela has condemned the move, which follows recent US seizures of oil tankers and lethal strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats. While Republicans have largely backed the campaign, critics say the strategy risks provoking a military response and drawing US forces deeper into confrontation in Latin America.
Russia’s Hybrid Sabotage Campaign Strains European Security Services
Western officials say Russia has carried out a sustained campaign of sabotage and disruption across Europe since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with at least 145 incidents linked to Moscow or its proxies, according to an Associated Press analysis.
The operations range from arson and explosives plots to vandalism and cyberattacks, most causing limited physical damage but consuming significant security and intelligence resources.
Officials say Russia relies on foreign criminals and cross-border plots to tie up multiple law enforcement agencies at low cost, turning even failed attacks into strategic wins. The number of arson and explosives plots rose sharply in 2024, with Poland and Estonia among the most frequent targets.
🇪🇺🇷🇺 RUSSIA’S “CHEAP CHAOS” CAMPAIGN IS DRAINING EUROPE
The Associated Press has tracked 145 sabotage and disruption cases that Western officials blame on Russia since Vladimir’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Think broken rail lines, arson, cyberattacks, warehouse fires, vandalized… pic.twitter.com/esEs2BSvhy
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 18, 2025
While the campaign briefly slowed in late 2024, intelligence officials say it has since resumed, prompting greater cooperation among European security services to counter what they describe as an escalating hybrid threat.
European Union Approves €90 Billion Loan for Ukraine, Sidesteps Use of Russian Assets
European Union (EU) leaders agreed Friday to provide Ukraine with a 90 billion euros ($106 billion) interest-free loan to cover military and budget needs in 2026 and 2027, opting to borrow on capital markets after failing to reach consensus on using frozen Russian assets.
The decision comes as Ukraine faces acute financial strain, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimating funding needs of 137 billion euros ($161 billion) over the two-year period.
The EU abandoned a plan to raise funds directly from 210 billion euros ($246 billion) in Russian assets frozen in Europe after Belgium warned of legal and financial risks tied to Euroclear, where most of the assets are held.
Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic opposed aid to Ukraine but did not block the package after receiving assurances against financial fallout.
⚡️ “Supporting Ukraine is not charity.”
The EU approved a €90 billion aid loan for Ukraine for 2026–27, with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever saying it is a vital investment in Europe’s own security. pic.twitter.com/cEyQdl5RL9
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) December 19, 2025
EU leaders said the Russian assets will remain frozen and could still be used to repay the loan if Russia fails to pay future war reparations.
Putin Claims Battlefield Momentum as Peace Talks Remain Stalled
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow’s forces are advancing across Ukraine and have seized the strategic initiative, expressing confidence that Russia will achieve its military objectives.
Speaking at his annual televised news conference, Putin said Russian troops have made steady gains and would continue pushing forward by the end of the year.
‘Our troops are advancing along the entire line of contact’ — Putin
Ukrainian forces are being pushed back everywhere pic.twitter.com/mViItTU2Il
— RT (@RT_com) December 19, 2025
Putin reiterated that Russia is open to a negotiated settlement but only on terms that address what the Kremlin calls the conflict’s “root causes.” Those demands include international recognition of Russian control over occupied regions and Crimea, as well as Ukrainian withdrawals from contested territory.
Kyiv and its Western allies have rejected those conditions, leaving US-backed diplomatic efforts to end the war at an impasse.
UN Says RSF Killed Over 1,000 Civilians in Sudan Camp Attack
More than 1,000 civilians were killed during a three-day assault by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur in April, according to a report released Thursday by the United Nations Human Rights Office.
The report says RSF fighters carried out mass executions, house-to-house killings, and attacks on markets, schools, and health facilities, alongside widespread sexual violence including rape and sexual slavery.
Zamzam, Sudan’s largest displacement camp with more than 500,000 residents before the attack, had already faced months of food and aid blockades.
#Sudan: Our report out today details killings, torture & other violations by the RSF during its takeover of Zamzam IDP camp in April.
Over 1,000 civilians were deliberately killed, in what may constitute the war crime of murder.
Those responsible must be punished.
➡️… pic.twitter.com/xs6CELCDWJ
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) December 18, 2025
The findings add to accusations of war crimes against the RSF amid a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than 14 million people.
UN officials warned the same patterns of violence are now unfolding in el-Fasher as diplomatic efforts continue to push for a humanitarian truce and expanded aid access.
Protesters Torch Bangladesh Newspapers After Activist’s Killing
Violent protests erupted in Bangladesh after the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi, with crowds storming and setting fire to the offices of the country’s two leading newspapers, Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, late Thursday in Dhaka.
Journalists and staff were trapped inside the buildings before being evacuated, and the fires were brought under control early Friday. Both papers halted publication following the attacks.
Hadi, a vocal critic of India and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, died in Singapore from gunshot wounds sustained in Dhaka last week. His killing fueled anti-India protests and renewed political tensions following last year’s uprising that ousted Hasina.
#WATCH | Bangladesh: Visuals of the aftermath from Prothom Alo office in Dhaka, which was burned down by protesters. Firefighters are present at the spot.
After the death of Osman Hadi, a key leader in the protests against Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has erupted in unrest, and… pic.twitter.com/SbH0kiLglE
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2025
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus condemned the violence, promised justice for Hadi’s killing, and urged calm as authorities investigated both the shooting and the attacks on media and cultural institutions.
South Korean Firm to Supply Cockpit Displays for US, Korean F-15 Jets
South Korea’s Hanwha Systems will provide advanced large-area cockpit displays for the US Air Force’s F-15EX Eagle II and South Korea’s F-15K Slam Eagle under a new contract with Boeing.
The agreement covers a single touchscreen display that consolidates flight, mission, and sensor data previously spread across multiple screens.
The display technology is based on systems developed for South Korea’s KF-21 fighter and tailored to the F-15EX mission profile.
Hanwha Systems’ F-15EX Avionics Export: Why It Matters
Hanwha Systems has signed a contract with Boeing to supply its Large Area Display (LAD/ELAD) for the ROK Air Force’s F-15K and the U.S. Air Force’s F-15EX. This marks the first time Korean-developed avionics have been… pic.twitter.com/4emAmxrK9Y
— 360ANAVY (@NavyWor) December 18, 2025
The deal marks the first contract under a 2024 US-South Korea cooperation agreement aimed at expanding defense industrial collaboration.
The F-15EX is set to replace aging F-15C/D aircraft at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, with the first jets expected to arrive next year.
Hong Kong Mourns Firefighter Killed in City’s Deadliest Blaze in Decades
Hong Kong residents and officials paid tribute Friday to firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who died battling a massive apartment complex fire that killed 160 people last month.
Ho, 37, was posthumously promoted to senior fireman and honored at a funeral attended by Chief Executive John Lee and dozens of fellow firefighters, who saluted as his flag-draped coffin departed.
The November 26 fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po spread rapidly through buildings under renovation, with authorities citing flammable netting and foam boards as key factors.
The #HongKong SAR Fire Services Department on Friday held an official funeral with full honors for Senior Fireman Ho Wai-ho(#何伟豪), who made the ultimate sacrifice while battling a blaze at Wang Fuk Court in #TaiPo.
HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee, together with other senior… pic.twitter.com/OcTnrMjmxs
— Ifeng News (@IFENG__official) December 19, 2025
Ho was laid to rest at Gallant Garden, reserved for civil servants killed in the line of duty.
The disaster, the city’s deadliest fire since 1948, displaced thousands and prompted the government to launch a judge-led independent inquiry into its cause and building safety oversight.
Australia Announces Gun Buyback After Bondi Beach Mass Shooting
Australia will mark one week since the Bondi Beach mass shooting with a national day of reflection on December 21, as the government moves to tighten gun controls, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday.
Australians were urged to light candles at the exact time the attack began, while a separate national day of mourning will be held in the new year.
Albanese also announced a nationwide gun buyback targeting newly banned, illegal, and surplus firearms, the largest such effort since reforms following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Australia will launch a national gun buyback scheme following the mass shooting in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said https://t.co/HyHdYfAkvX pic.twitter.com/WnyU4BVej9
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 19, 2025
The Bondi attack killed 15 people at a Jewish festival and is being treated as terrorism. Authorities say the suspects were inspired by the Islamic State group.
Sydney remains on high alert as investigations continue, while communities across the country held tributes to the victims and those who intervened during the attack.
Sources: News Agencies
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Morning Brief: Brown Shooting Suspect Found Dead, European Union Approves Loan for Ukraine, Putin Claims Battlefield Momentum
Brown suspect found dead as DOJ readies Epstein files and EU approves Ukraine aid. Here’s your Friday morning brief, December 19, 2025.
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