A 19-year-old male, reportedly a former student, perpetrated a knife attack at Zagreb’s Precko Elementary School, resulting in the death of a 7-year-old girl and injuries to at least six others, including a teacher with life-threatening wounds. The attack occurred around 9:50 a.m. and the assailant was swiftly apprehended. Authorities are investigating the incident, which is rare in Croatia, while the Prime Minister expressed profound shock and concern. Several injured children were transported to various Zagreb hospitals.
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Elon Musk, acting as an external advisor to President-elect Trump, endorsed Germany’s far-right AfD party on X, claiming it alone could save the country. This intervention, echoing his past support for similar European parties, drew immediate criticism from German officials, including the Social Democrats, who rejected Musk’s interference and “Trumpism.” The AfD, currently polling around 18-19%, is unlikely to lead a government due to other parties’ refusal to cooperate. Germany’s upcoming early elections are scheduled for February 23, 2025.
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User feedback revealed significant issues with the video advertisement. Problems included slow loading times, content failure to load, freezing, and audio volume issues. A variety of other unspecified problems were also reported. These technical difficulties negatively impacted user experience. Addressing these issues is crucial for improving ad performance and viewer satisfaction.
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On Thursday, Teamsters-represented workers at seven Amazon facilities across the U.S. went on strike, citing Amazon’s refusal to negotiate a contract following a missed deadline. This action, described as the largest strike against Amazon to date, involved both Amazon employees and delivery drivers, with some arrests reported at a New York City location. While Amazon disputes the union’s claims and downplayed the strike’s impact, the walkout could potentially disrupt package deliveries in affected areas. The dispute highlights ongoing labor tensions and differing interpretations of employment classifications between Amazon and the Teamsters.
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Elon Musk’s immense wealth and influence, rivaling that of a nation-state, allow him to operate with impunity, wielding control over X (formerly Twitter) to manipulate public opinion and interfere in elections. His actions, including boosting conservative narratives and threatening various governments, pose a significant threat to democracy and global stability. Responses ranging from appeasement to aggressive countermeasures have been employed, highlighting the unprecedented challenge Musk presents to established political and legal norms. The EU, in particular, must demonstrate that even extreme wealth cannot buy immunity from legal consequences.
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Following the failure of a revised government spending bill, Democrats have begun referring to Elon Musk as “President Musk,” highlighting his perceived influence over the Republican Party and President-elect Trump. Musk, who had previously called for the bill’s defeat, attempted to deflect responsibility, emphasizing the majority of Republican support for the bill and blaming Democrats for its failure. The bill’s defeat, requiring a two-thirds majority, potentially sets the stage for a government shutdown. This situation has led to considerable political commentary, with some suggesting Musk has overshadowed Trump and caused an embarrassing defeat for the Republican party.
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A House spending bill, initially negotiated with Democrats, was rejected after Elon Musk and President-elect Trump opposed it, leading to its failure with a vote of 235 to 174. Musk and Trump blamed House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for the bill’s defeat, while Jeffries countered that the bill was a result of the GOP’s wealthy donors. The rejection leaves the US government facing a shutdown, with Speaker Johnson needing to find a bipartisan solution before the deadline. Despite the blame shifting, 38 Republicans also voted against the bill, highlighting the deep divisions within the party.
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In his final weeks in office, President Biden’s administration announced an additional $4.28 billion in student loan forgiveness, benefiting 54,900 public service workers. This latest relief stems from improvements to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and brings the total forgiven under Biden’s presidency to nearly $180 billion for 4.9 million borrowers. Despite this significant action, broad-based student loan forgiveness initiatives have faced consistent legal challenges from Republicans.
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Former President Trump condemned Texas Congressman Chip Roy on TruthSocial, accusing him of obstructing Republican victories for personal publicity and lacking political acumen. Trump called Roy “weak and ineffective” and urged primary challengers to target him. This outburst followed Roy’s dissatisfaction with recent spending bill cuts. Despite the threat, Roy remained defiant.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will reportedly not attend the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation due to an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes. Poland, a signatory to the Rome Statute, is bound by the warrant, influencing this decision. While Israel and the U.S. are not ICC members, the warrant’s issuance heightens Netanyahu’s diplomatic isolation. Other world leaders, including French President Macron and the King of Spain, are still expected to attend the commemoration.
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John Q. Hosedrinker