In a recent operation, Egyptian authorities apprehended two individuals attempting to illicitly traffic nearly 450 ancient artifacts recovered from the seabed of Abu Qir Bay near Alexandria. The recovered items, dating from Greek and Roman Antiquity (circa 500 BCE – 400 CE), included coins, statues, tools, and weaponry. The suspects admitted to diving to obtain the antiquities for illegal sale. Seized artifacts, showcasing intricate detail and depictions of people and animals, are currently in the possession of Egyptian authorities.
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President Biden vetoed a bill creating 66 new federal judgeships, citing concerns over the bill’s rushed passage and unanswered questions regarding allocation and the impact of senior judges. The White House statement highlighted a lack of sufficient study on the need for additional judgeships and raised suspicions about the bill’s true motivations, suggesting political maneuvering rather than genuine judicial need. Despite bipartisan initial support and arguments for addressing case delays, the veto effectively kills the legislation in the current Congress due to an insufficient margin for overriding it. The bill’s passage in the Senate under Democratic control and subsequent House action after a Republican presidential win fueled accusations of political gamesmanship.
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The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) hosted a summit in Vienna focusing on actionable strategies to combat a dramatic rise in European antisemitism, exceeding post-World War II levels. The summit brought together non-Jewish parliamentarians and city officials to share successful initiatives and develop new approaches. Key discussion points included tackling online antisemitism, combating boycotts targeting Israel in academia and sports, and promoting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism. Participants emphasized the need for proactive measures, including institutional policy changes and collaboration with universities to ensure the safety and inclusion of Jewish students.
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Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani issued a warning to Iran, urging respect for Syrian sovereignty and the will of its people, and condemning any attempts to incite chaos. This follows Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s call for Syrian youth to resist “insecurity,” a statement made after Syrian rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad following a 13-year civil war. Iran’s significant investment in supporting Assad’s regime during the conflict underscores the strategic importance of Syria within the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance.” Al-Shibani’s statement directly addresses concerns over Iran’s actions in the wake of Assad’s removal.
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The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a key U.S. ally, launched a counter-offensive against Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) forces near the Turkish border following intensified clashes. The SDF aims to retake areas, including Manbij, captured by the SNA earlier this month. This offensive comes amid ongoing Syrian political negotiations, with the SDF accusing Turkey of using the SNA to weaken their influence. The conflict has resulted in numerous casualties, and concerns exist regarding a potential ISIS resurgence due to the diverted focus of SDF forces.
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South Korea has officially become a “super-aged society,” with 20 percent of its population now aged 65 or older, a milestone driven by a plummeting birth rate. This demographic shift, coupled with the world’s lowest fertility rate, presents significant economic challenges and has prompted the government to implement various measures, including new parental leave policies and tax breaks. Experts emphasize the urgent need for systemic reforms, such as extending the retirement age, to address the impending workforce shortage. Projections indicate that this elderly population will continue to grow dramatically in the coming decades.
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Trump’s campaign refusal to pay nearly $50,000 in bills incurred during Grand Rapids rallies is, frankly, unsurprising. This isn’t a new development; it’s consistent with a long-standing pattern of behavior, a pattern so well-established that anyone extending credit to his campaigns without upfront payment seems, well, naive at best.
The nearly $33,000 bill from the July rally, largely for police overtime and public works, went unpaid despite being due in October. This is incredibly frustrating for Grand Rapids, especially since the city’s resources, and ultimately taxpayer money, are now tied up in this unpaid debt. It’s hard to imagine a business operating under the same financial principles; the idea of a large-scale operation not fulfilling its financial obligations raises significant concerns about accountability.… Continue reading
After a 12-year delay and significant cost overruns, the Flamanville 3 EPR reactor, France’s largest at 1.6 gigawatts, successfully connected to the national grid on Saturday. This marks the first addition to France’s nuclear power network in 25 years, representing a substantial investment of approximately $13 billion. The reactor’s online status coincides with a period of record electricity exports from France. Despite this milestone, the project’s substantial cost overruns and future plans for six new reactors raise questions regarding funding and timelines.
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On Christmas Day, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, striking a thermal power plant and causing widespread blackouts and heating disruptions, particularly in Kharkiv. Over 70 missiles and 100 drones were fired, with Ukrainian forces shooting down a significant number. The attack resulted in casualties, with at least seven people wounded and one killed. This marks the 13th such attack on Ukraine’s power grid this year, prompting accusations of inhumane terror tactics by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy.
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On December 24th, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe achieved a record-breaking close approach to the sun, reaching a mere 3.86 million miles from its surface. This unprecedented feat, the closest any human-made object has ever come to the sun, also saw the probe reach a new top speed of 430,000 mph. The mission, described as comparable in significance to the moon landing, will continue with two more similarly close solar passes planned for 2025. Mission controllers await confirmation of the probe’s survival following the close encounter.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood