News Bytes: High-Stakes Appointments, Legal Battles, and Acts of Extremism

Key domestic events in the US include Trump's expected appointments for senior government positions, a significant court ruling in a defamation case, a legal battle over airport naming rights, and alarming extremist demonstrations during a theatrical performance in Michigan.

In a dynamic series of developments within the United States, sources have revealed that Donald Trump, the President-elect, is likely to appoint U.S. Senator Marco Rubio as the secretary of state. The expectation marks Rubio as a notable figure as he would be the first Latino to serve in this role, with a history of advocating for an assertive foreign policy.

Meanwhile, unfolding legal events have captured national attention. Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified military documents, in what authorities have highlighted as a significant breach of U.S. anti-espionage law. Concurrently, legal maneuvers have begun between Sarah Palin and the New York Times over a defamation trial, indicating possibilities of a settlement.

Amidst these governmental and legal maneuvers, unsettling demonstrations escalated in Michigan where masked protesters brandished Nazi flags outside a performance of "The Diary of Anne Frank." This alarming incident further underscores the climate of extremism and reflects the societal tensions simmering across parts of the nation.

(With inputs from agencies.)