The Pentagon indicated Monday that it's investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former U.S. Navy Captain, after he and a group of other lawmakers released a video calling on service members and members of the intelligence community to "refuse illegal orders."

Washington

The U.S. Department of Defense is investigating Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired naval captain, after his participation in a video with other lawmakers. In the video, Kelly and others stated that members of the military have an obligation not to follow illegal orders. 

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth criticized the video and confirmed that Kelly remains subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), unlike the other participants. Senator Kelly said he first learned of the investigation via social media and responded that attempts to intimidate him and other members of Congress would not succeed.

Pentagon probes Sen. Mark Kelly over ‘refuse illegal orders’ video

I also want to ask you about something the Department of Defense posted. It said it's now investigating Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a retired naval captain, over his participation in a video last week. Well, if you can tell us, is it over that video? He made this video with other Democratic lawmakers essentially saying, members of the military, you have an obligation to not follow any kind of illegal orders. Senator Kelly says he learned about this on social media. Help us understand what's going on. Yeah, that's right. So there was this video, and Senator Mark Kelly, who is a retired naval captain and a former astronaut as well, was part of this video. And the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, sent out a statement following a statement that came from the Department of War, the Pentagon. And he essentially pointed out why, what he calls the seditious six, why this was so wrong and why he was pointing out and the military is investigating Senator Mark Kelly. He says, and I'm quoting his statement here, he says, they're foolish screed cows, doubt and confusion, which only puts our warriors in danger. Five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under the jurisdiction. One is CIA and four are former military, but not retired. So they are no longer subject to UCMJ, which is the Uniform Code of Military Justice. And then the Secretary of Defense goes on to point out that Mark Kelly is a retired naval commander and is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So they're perhaps looking into this, investigating the senator for these comments he and others made, but specifically with him, whether or not military members should follow through or they should not follow through rather with illegal orders. Now, the senator himself, he essentially is saying that he didn't hear about this investigation until it was posted on social media. And he posted a statement himself. And I'm going to read part of his statement that he sent out just a while ago. He said, Secretary Hexler's tweet is the first I heard of this. I also saw the president's post saying I should be arrested, hanged and put to death. And he then goes on to say, if this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won't work. So certainly some strong words and pushback coming from Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona there, Lindsay. And he spoke with our colleague Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation yesterday. I encourage everybody to go look up that interview. Willie, thank you.

Chauncey Billups, who was serving as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers until his suspension, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges related to alleged rigged high-stakes poker games.

Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges

The Kremlin on Monday (November 24) said that a European counter-proposal to a U.S. 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was not constructive and that it simply did not work for Moscow.

Moscow

Kremlin rejects revised European peace plan to end war in Ukraine

A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney who secured their indictments, was unlawfully appointed to the role.

Cases against James Comey, Letitia James dismissed

At least 90 people have died in a week of torrential rain, flooding and landslides in south-central Vietnam, authorities said. Popular tourist areas have been heavily hit, with parts of Nha Trang submerged and deadly landslides cutting off roads near Da Lat.

Nha Trang

Vietnam flooding kills at least 90

The Trump Administration is ramping up pressure on Venezuela as the Air Force conducted a simulated nighttime attack along the country's coast. Charlie D'Agata has the latest.

Caracas

Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela with nighttime Air Force attack

Israel killed Ali Tabtabai, the acting chief of staff of militant group Hezbollah, in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israel kills Hezbollah military leader in Beirut strike

While Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange daily drone fire, an updated peace framework is being worked out in Geneva between Ukraine, the US and European partners.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine upholds red lines as Geneva peace talks continue

Álvaro García Ortiz's decision came less than a week after he received a two-year suspension and a fine for disclosing private information about the partner of an opposition politician.

Madrid

Spain's attorney general resigns after conviction over data leak

U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has been disbanded with eight months remaining in its mandate, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor has told Reuters that the cost-cutting body now "doesn't exist".

DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter

Al-Burhan rejected a new truce proposal from US envoy as the “worst yet”, accusing the Quad mediators of bias due to the UAE’s involvement.

Al Fashir

Sudan’s army chief rejects quad truce proposal as ‘worst yet’

Three suicide bombers and three security personnel killed in attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar, media reports say.

Peshawar

Six killed in suicide attack on security complex in Pakistan

The attack which Israel says to have killed chief of staff Haytham Tabtabai in the southern suburbs of Beirut also killed four other people and injured 25.

Israel says to have killed top Hezbollah official in strike on Beirut

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested that former Prince Andrew should testify before the U.S. Congress as part of its ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer did not discuss Andrew’s case directly but said, as a matter of principle, everyone involved should cooperate with the inquiry.

London

Starmer says former Prince Andrew should testify in Epstein probe

About 50 schoolchildren aged 10–18 who were abducted in Niger state, Nigeria, have escaped, authorities confirmed. They fled individually between Friday and Saturday, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria, which runs the school. Officials continue to track those still missing.

Niger

50 abducted Nigerian schoolchildren escape, authorities say

The first G20 summit to be held in Africa has been labelled a "triumph of multilateralism," as leaders from the world's more powerful economies came together in Johannesburg. South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa used his presidency to highlight the priorities of Africa and the global south.

Johannesburg

G20 shared goals 'outweigh differences' as summit ends

After running a day overtime, delegates at COP30, the United Nations climate summit in Belém, Brazil, finally reached a deal on a final agreement, but one that falls well short of the high expectations held by many delegates, environmental groups and NGOs.

Belém

COP30 climate deal falls short of expectations

Washington signaled room for negotiation on a 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war, denying claims by some U.S. senators that it is a Russian "wish list," as Kyiv and European allies criticized the proposal ahead of Sunday talks in Geneva.

Geneva

Europeans push for stronger deal for Ukraine as Geneva talks continue

The United States is set to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration steps up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.

U.S. to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say

Premier Li Qiang said Beijing wants to work with Pretoria to safeguard the multilateral trading system.

China pledges to work more closely with South Africa

Brazil's COP30 presidency pushed through a compromise climate deal that would boost finance for poor nations coping with global warming but that omitted any mention of the fossil fuels driving it.

UN climate talks end with no binding deal on fossil fuels

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a once-loyal supporter of Donald Trump who has since become a critic of the president, said she is resigning from Congress in January. Greene's resignation followed a public fallout with Trump over the Epstein files.

Trump loyalist-turned-critic Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns

The Coast Guard said it conducted its largest cocaine seizure in history worth an estimated $362 million. Take an inside look as officials offload the nearly 50,000 pounds of drugs.

Coast Guard announces largest cocaine seizure in agency history

U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are due to arrive in Geneva on Sunday to push for President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Ukraine. European and Ukrainian officials will take part in the talks.

U.S delegation to meet with Ukraine to sell Trump's peace plan

The G20 summit opened on Saturday (November 22) with EU leaders and their counterparts from leading and emerging economies coming together as Washington's proposed peace plan for Ukraine loomed large on the sidelines.

Soweto

Leaders adopt declaration at Africa's first G20 summit

Federal police have detained Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro after a Supreme Court judge deemed the far-right firebrand a "high flight risk." The arrest comes just days before Bolsonaro is due to begin a 27-year prison term for leading a botched coup attempt.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil ex-president Bolsonaro arrested due to "flight risk"

Pope Leo XIV met with some of the rescued Ukrainian children who were kidnapped by Russian forces throughout the war as the Vatican ramps up its efforts to get all of the nearly 20,000 abducted kids home to Ukraine.

Rome

Pope Leo XIV meets with rescued Ukrainian children

U.S. President Donald Trump and New York City's incoming progressive mayor Zohran Mamdani were all smiles at a White House meeting, promising to set aside months of bitter feuding and cooperate on the city's future.

Trump hosts warm White House meeting with N.Y. mayor-elect Mamdani

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa hosts the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the U.S. threaten to overshadow the gathering.

G20 leaders seeking agreement in South Africa, despite U.S. boycott

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning from Congress early next year after a weekslong falling out with President Trump and much of her party.

Breakdown