Alex Jones keeps Infowars for now after judge rejects The Onion’s winning auction bid

(AP) — A federal judge in Texas has rejected the auction sale of Alex Jones’ Infowars to The Onion satirical news outlet. The judge criticized the bidding process as flawed as well as the amount of money that families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting stood to receive. The decision late Tuesday night is a victory for Jones, whose conspiracy theory platform was put up for sale as part of his bankruptcy case. The bankruptcy case was in the wake of the nearly $1.5 billion that courts have ordered him to pay over falsely calling one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history a hoax. Families of the Sandy Hook victims had backed The Onion’s bid.

Malibu wildfire grows, thousands remain evacuated but firefighters get break

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) — Weather conditions are forecast to improve this week in Southern California and aid firefighters in their battle against a wildfire that’s forced up to 20,000 people from their homes. The blaze grew to more than 6 square miles by Wednesday morning. It was not immediately known how the fire started. It tore through part of Malibu, a community of about 10,000 people on the western edge of Los Angeles renowned for its stunning scenery of seaside bluffs and Zuma Beach featured in Hollywood films. Celebrities, including performers Cher and Dick Van Dyke, were among the evacuees.

Biden approves national security memo on China, Iran, North Korea and Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has approved a new national security memorandum that could serve as a road map for the incoming Trump administration as it looks to counter growing cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. The memorandum was approved before Donald Trump takes office in January and it was shaped to help his team build its approach in dealing with the relationships involving America’s most prominent adversaries and competitors. That’s according to two senior administration officials who confirmed the new memorandum. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. The classified memorandum won’t be made public because of the sensitivity of some of its findings.

US warns Russia may be ready to use new lethal missile against Ukraine again

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says Russia could launch its lethal new intermediate-range ballistic missile against Ukraine again soon. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh cited a U.S. intelligence assessment in telling reporters on Wednesday that an attack could come “in the coming days.” She says the U.S. does not consider the Oreshnik missile a game changer on the battlefield. But that Russia is using the weapon to intimidate Ukraine as both sides wrestle for an advantage that will give them leverage in any negotiations to end the war. The Russian Defense Ministry also is warning it may retaliate against Kyiv for an attack on a military base in the Rostov region in southern Russia on Wednesday.