“Top stories and breaking news from Hawaii, across the nation, and around the world.”
Views expressed in this Hawaii and US news update are those of the reporters and correspondents.
Accessed on 31 December 2025, 1401 UTC.
Content and Source: “Honolulu Star-Advertiser.”
URL–https://www.staradvertiser.com/category/breaking-news/
Please check URL or scroll down to read your selections. Thanks for joining us today.
Russ Roberts (https://hawaiinewsjournal.com).
Wednesday, December 31, 2025 72°Today’s Paper
Breaking News
Get the latest top stories and breaking news today from Hawaii, across the nation and around the world.
Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of John F. Kennedy, dies at 35
Her death was announced in an Instagram post by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, signed by her family. It did not say where she died. Read more
Feds audit cases of Somali U.S. citizens for potential denaturalization
“Under U.S. law, if an individual procures citizenship on a fraudulent basis, that is grounds for denaturalization,” Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that was first reported by Fox News and reposted by the White House on social media. Read more
U.S. Justice Department sues Virginia over in-state tuition for migrants
The lawsuit targets a Virginia law that has since 2022 allowed immigrants who entered the country unlawfully to access reduced, in-state tuition rates at public universities and colleges if they can establish they reside in the state. Read more
Mel Gibson and Rosalind Ross separate after 9 years together
The representative confirmed a joint statement provided exclusively to PEOPLE on Tuesday that the couple had split about a year ago, but chose not to share the news publicly until now. Read more
China fires rockets off Taiwan’s coast during massive military drill
President Donald Trump has downplayed the threat of the drills, though U.S. lawmakers and the European Union condemned Beijing’s actions as undermining regional peace and stability. Read more
Kaneohe fire displaces 2 residents, spreads to 2 nearby homes
Firefighters brought the main building fire under control at 2:35 a.m. and extinguished it by 4:44 a.m. Read more
HFD rescues hikers from trail above Palolo for second day in a row
On Sunday, HFD rescuers airlifted four hikers to a landing zone, where one man having a medical emergency was transferred to Emergency Medical Services. Read more
Warriors backup QB Luke Weaver to enter transfer portal
Weaver was named a junior college All-American after a standout 2024 season at Modesto Junior College, where he spent five semesters. He joined the Warriors in January. Read more
CIA conducted drone strike on port in Venezuela
The strike was on a dock where U.S. officials believe Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang, was storing narcotics and potentially preparing to move the drugs onto boats, sources said. Read more
Don’t miss out on what’s happening!
Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It’s FREE!
UAE to pull troops out of Yemen after Saudi-led airstrike
A Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launched an airstrike on what it said was an arms shipment bound for a group of Yemeni separatists who are backed by the UAE. Read more
Meta to buy Chinese-founded startup Manus to boost advanced AI
A source with direct knowledge of the matter said the deal values the Singapore-based firm at between $2 billion and $3 billion. Read more
New Year’s Eve concerts at Kennedy Center canceled after name change
The center had promoted two New Year’s Eve performances by the Cookers as an “all-star jazz septet that will ignite the Terrace Theater stage with fire and soul.” Read more
Flagged for sexual misconduct, many Uber drivers stay on the road
Uber is facing more than 3,000 sexual assault lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country, part of a growing reckoning over sexual misconduct and sexual assault during Uber rides. Read more
Before electric vehicles became political, there was the Toyota Prius
The decades of pitched battles have culminated in President Donald Trump’s fulsome attacks against electric cars. Read more
Shark warning signs posted at Waimea Bay
The HNL Alert was sent at about 5:20 p.m. today after the shark was confirmed by lifeguards or another reliable source, officials said. Read more
Man, 30, arrested after alleged firing of gun near Waianae Boat Harbor
No injuries were reported, but police said the victim feared for his life. Read more
Man, 55, dies after falling ill in water during Makaha snorkeling tour
Police said it happened shortly after 10 a.m. Sunday when the man was on a snorkeling boat tour with his family in Makaha. Read more
U.S. pledges $2B in new U.N. model for delivering humanitarian aid
Gaza is not covered in today’s announcement and will instead be handled on a separate track. Read more
Gov. Green appoints Ryan Kanaka‘ole interim chair of DLNR
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Chair Dawn Chang is on medical leave. Read more
Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm
Speaking beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago, Trump suggested Tehran may be working to restore its weapons programs after a massive U.S. strike in June. Read more
U.S. stocks end down as tech shares drop ahead of New Year
Most tech and AI-linked stocks declined today. Nvidia slipped 1.2% and Palantir Technologies dropped 2.4%. Read more
Subscriber Favorites
More Business
Minimum wage hike, ‘Green fee’ tax among Hawaii’s new 2026 laws
New laws for Honolulu include start of huge increase in sewer fees
Meta to buy Chinese-founded startup Manus to boost advanced AI
Flagged for sexual misconduct, many Uber drivers stay on the road
Before electric vehicles became political, there was the Toyota Prius
Discover more from Hawaii News Journal
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
