Good morning. It's Saturday, Dec. 27, and in this weekend edition, we're covering another prison sentence for Malaysia's former prime minister, new research on ADHD, and much more. First time reading? Join over 4.5 million insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.
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Malaysia Corruption Verdict |
Malaysia's High Court yesterday sentenced jailed former Prime Minister Najib Razak to 15 years in prison and ordered roughly $3.3B in fines and asset seizures over the misuse of a multibillion-dollar government fund.
The court found Najib, 72, guilty of abuse of power and money laundering from 1MDB, a sovereign wealth fund he established after taking office in 2009. Authorities allege Najib and his associates siphoned over $4.5B from 1MDB between 2009 and 2014, routing funds through countries including the US, Singapore, and Switzerland. Some money was allegedly used to help finance Hollywood films, including the Oscar-nominated "The Wolf of Wall Street," and Goldman Sachs faced billions in fines for its involvement with 1MDB. Najib, who led Malaysia until 2018, has been imprisoned since 2022 on related charges. The new 15-year sentence is set to begin after his current one ends in 2028.
Najib claims he was misled by Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, who remains at large. |
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US strikes Islamic State in Nigeria after Trump warned of attacks on Christians.
The Defense Department carried out the deadly strike Thursday in cooperation with Nigerian authorities. The attack hit Sokoto, a predominantly Muslim state in northwest Nigeria, where the Islamic State-affiliated Lakurawa group has strongholds. The US earlier this month said it would restrict visas for Nigerians involved in violence against Christians; Nigeria's government and analysts have previously said people of many faiths are potential victims of extremist groups. |
Powerful storm system slams California, East and Midwest brace for snow.
Los Angeles saw its wettest Christmas in 54 years as atmospheric rivers brought rain and snow across California this week, killing at least three people. At least 32 million remained under flood watches Friday. Meanwhile, on the East Coast and in the Midwest, about 66 million people were under winter weather alerts Friday. New York City is expected to see its largest snow accumulation since January 2022. |
Stimulant ADHD medications work differently than thought.
New research finds common stimulant ADHD medications like Ritalin and Adderall mainly act on the brain’s reward and wakefulness centers, not the attention networks traditionally thought to be their main target. The study suggests the medications make tasks feel more engaging rather than directly sharpening focus, and may also mimic the brain activity of good sleep, masking sleep deprivation in kids with ADHD. |
DOJ finds over 1 million more Epstein-related files it needs to review.
The Justice Department said Wednesday it has received over 1 million new documents potentially tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Officials said it could take weeks to review these files produced by the FBI and a New York federal court. The trove is on top of the several hundred thousand files the DOJ said would be shared in the coming weeks. To date, the DOJ has released about 40,000 Epstein documents. |
Trump-backed Asfura wins Honduras presidency after disputed election.
Honduras' electoral authority declared former Mayor Nasry Asfura the winner of the Nov. 30 vote, narrowly defeating sportscaster and four-time presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla. The official count shows Asfura of the conservative National Party winning by less than one percentage point over Nasralla of the conservative Liberal Party. Nasralla has alleged fraud, saying not all tally sheets were counted. |
Arkansas Powerball lottery player wins second-largest US jackpot ever.
Someone who bought a lottery ticket at an Arkansas gas station on Christmas Eve won a $1.8B jackpot. The winner can choose between a lump sum payment of $834.9M or an annuitized payout of the full prize amount over about 30 years; both options are before taxes. The largest Powerball jackpot on record was more than $2B, won in California in 2022. The odds of hitting the jackpot are roughly one in 292.2 million. |
China sanctions 20 US defense companies over Taiwan arms sale.
Boeing’s defense unit and Northrop Grumman are among the sanctioned companies, as well as 10 executives, after the US announced new weapons sales to Taiwan. The move freezes any assets the companies and executives hold in China and restricts business with Chinese entities. The impact is mostly symbolic, as US defense contractors generally conduct little business in China. |
Hawaii cruise passengers to face new climate change‑related tax.
A federal judge cleared the way for Hawaii’s new tourist tax, which includes an 11% levy on cruise ship passenger fares, prorated for days spent in port. The tax is the first of its kind in the US and will take effect in early 2026 to help fund climate resilience efforts like shoreline protection and wildfire mitigation. Officials estimate the tax will bring in $100M annually. |
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Giant lazy Susan brings strangers together at a Mississippi restaurant. (More) |
Restaurant workers donate holiday party funds to soon-to-be father. (More, w/video) |
Chef saves a 78-year-old loyal customer after he misses his daily gumbo. (More) |
Son surprises his mother with a Christmas visit, introducing her to her grandson in person for the first time. (More) |
"Ted Lasso" star and friends host an annual jam session that has helped fund prosthetic limbs for more than 2,000 amputees. (More) |
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Today, we're sharing a story from reader Al B. in Chesapeake, Virginia.
"I was a police officer, with no children and had volunteered to work Christmas Day. It was not too difficult with my family (all first responders and working), but it was lonely. I was beginning to get depressed and decided to grab a cup of coffee at the only 7-Eleven that was open.
"As I was getting my coffee, a man came in with his two boys. They came over, wished me a Merry Christmas, and asked why I had to work on Christmas. I explained that while it was Christmas, some people needed our help and we are here to help and protect them.
"I left the store and continued my patrol. An hour and a half later I get a call from dispatch to meet a person at headquarters. When I arrived, I found the father and two boys who had been at the store. They had wanted to bring me Christmas cookies and some food, so I could have a merry Christmas."
What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here. |
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Introducing: 1440 Health & Medicine |
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Dear readers,
We have some exciting news! Coming soon, we'll be launching the next installment of our weekly deep-dive emails, 1440 Health & Medicine.
This series complements our Daily Digest—instead of focusing on news, we'll deliver evergreen and foundational knowledge to help you better navigate our ever-evolving world. Topics will range from the science of goosebumps and aging to innovations like CRISPR, mRNA vaccines, and more. Helmed by award-winning health and science journalist Dina Fine Maron, we'll provide you with important context and background and point you to resources that will pique your curiosity and allow you to delight your friends and neighbors!
Join the waitlist here and keep an eye out for the first edition early next year. Have a topic you want to see covered? Email it to us at [email protected]. |
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