China has greenlit construction of a massive hydropower project on Tibet’s Yarlung Tsangpo River, potentially tripling the Three Gorges Dam’s energy output. This undertaking, with a projected cost exceeding US$137 billion, presents significant engineering hurdles due to the river’s immense scale and location in a high-rainfall area. The dam will be situated within the world’s deepest canyon, harnessing the river’s substantial vertical drop. This project represents the largest single infrastructure investment globally.
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Democratic strategist Lindy Li attributes President Biden’s recent support for a congressional stock trading ban to lingering resentment towards former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Li claims Biden is angered by Pelosi’s alleged role in encouraging his 2024 presidential withdrawal. This new stance, a significant shift from Biden’s prior position, follows reports of behind-the-scenes pressure on the president. Pelosi’s spokesperson offered a dismissive response to Li’s claims.
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Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ignored a second summons from anti-corruption investigators probing his controversial martial law decree, defying a previous summons as well. The investigation agency plans to review the case and may seek an arrest warrant. This inaction follows his impeachment by parliament and ongoing investigations into potential charges including insurrection and abuse of power. While Yoon’s lawyer indicates willingness to cooperate in legal proceedings, opposition groups are demanding his arrest. The Constitutional Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the impeachment.
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Following Russia’s Christmas Day missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, President Biden directed the Department of Defense to continue its increased weapons supply to Ukraine. The attacks, which killed at least one energy worker and damaged power plants, aimed to disrupt heat and electricity access for Ukrainian citizens during winter. This was the thirteenth large-scale strike on Ukraine’s energy grid this year, prompting international condemnation, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Despite significant Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepting many missiles, the attacks resulted in widespread power outages. Ukraine continues to urge allies for increased military and humanitarian aid.
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Asma Assad, diagnosed with a recurrence of leukemia, is currently isolated in Moscow with her father following the Assad family’s flight from Damascus. Reports suggest she is tired of restrictions in Russia and desires a divorce from her husband and treatment in London, a request vehemently rejected by the UK government. While her citizenship status remains under review, the UK Foreign Secretary has explicitly stated she is unwelcome in the country. The Kremlin denies previous reports of her divorce plans.
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A patrol near the Canadian border in Lynden, Washington yielded a significant drug bust last Thursday. Two backpacks containing approximately $1.1 million worth of cocaine were discovered and subsequently seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. The cocaine, totaling 30 brick-like packages, was transferred to the DEA. While no arrests have been publicly reported, the agency lauded the agents’ vigilance in preventing the narcotics from reaching communities.
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On Christmas Day, Donald Trump used Truth Social to post 34 messages within an hour, including a meme mocking Barack Obama. The posts also featured self-congratulatory headlines, endorsements of his cabinet picks (particularly Pete Hegseth), and a holiday photo with Melania Trump. This activity followed a less overtly combative initial Christmas greeting and contrasted with previous years’ more explicitly hostile Christmas messages. Other Trump family members and MAGA allies also leveraged the holiday for political messaging.
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President-elect Trump intends to aggressively pursue the death penalty, reversing President Biden’s commutation of 37 federal death sentences. This stance contradicts evidence of the death penalty’s ineffectiveness as a deterrent and its inherent biases. Trump’s plans extend beyond murder, encompassing drug trafficking and potentially other crimes, raising concerns among opponents. His administration’s approach stands in stark contrast to the growing national and international movement toward abolishing capital punishment.
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An Azerbaijani Airlines plane crashed in Kazakhstan on December 25th, killing 38 of the 67 passengers and crew. Independent Russian media outlets report the plane may have been struck by a Russian surface-to-air missile, citing evidence of missile damage to the aircraft and eyewitness accounts of an explosion. This theory is supported by reports of drone attacks on Chechnya that morning. While Russian authorities initially attributed the crash to a bird strike, the recovered black box is expected to clarify the cause.
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A Syrian administration source vehemently denied Iranian claims of diplomatic communication, asserting that all contact with Iran is severed and rejecting any plans to reopen embassies. This directly contradicts statements by Iranian officials who announced ongoing diplomatic discussions regarding embassy reopenings. Simultaneously, the Syrian administration is preparing a $300 billion compensation claim against Iran for damages incurred during the Syrian conflict, citing Iran’s actions as “criminal and arbitrary.” Conflicting statements from Iranian officials further highlight the lack of clarity surrounding the relationship between the two nations.
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John Q. Hosedrinker