Researchers from St Andrews University have revealed that “King Arthur’s Hall,” a rectangular earthwork on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, is not a medieval structure as previously believed, but a Neolithic site dating back over 5,000 years. This discovery makes it a contemporary of Stonehenge and predates any written history of Britain. Using optically stimulated luminescence dating, the team determined the site’s true age, disproving its previous classification as an animal pen. The presence of 56 standing stones, some incorporated into the structure and others moved from their original position, strongly suggests a more complex and ancient purpose. This finding adds to the rich Neolithic landscape of England and sheds light on the site’s true significance.
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Following incidents of gunfire directed at civilian aircraft in Haiti, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented a 30-day ban on U.S. civilian flights to and from the country, effective immediately. This ban also prohibits U.S. flights from operating below 10,000 feet in Haitian airspace. The decision was made out of concern for the safety of passengers and crew, as both Spirit Airlines and American Airlines reported incidents of their aircraft being struck by gunfire while attempting to land in Port-au-Prince. American Airlines has suspended flights to the Haitian capital through February 12th, and JetBlue Airways has also temporarily ceased service to Haiti.
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Newly uncovered documents reveal that major oil companies were alerted to the climate change risks of fossil fuels as early as 1954. This warning, delivered by the Air Pollution Foundation, an industry-funded group, represents the earliest known instance of big oil being informed about the potentially catastrophic consequences of their products. Despite receiving this warning, the oil industry actively downplayed and denied the harms of burning fossil fuels, utilizing a strategy similar to the tobacco industry’s tactics for denying the dangers of smoking. These actions, which date back to the 1950s, laid the groundwork for decades of climate denial and delay by big oil.
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Following Trump’s victory, there was a significant surge in Google searches for “How to change my vote” in key red states, with Iowa experiencing the highest interest. This occurred predominantly in areas where Trump secured the most votes. While it’s impossible to change one’s vote after an election, the spike in searches highlights the anxiety and potential regret felt by some voters in the wake of a shocking election outcome.
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Switzerland’s decision to deport a gay Iranian man back to his home country was found to be a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, specifically Article 3 which prohibits inhuman treatment. The European Court of Human Rights determined that the man’s return would expose him to potential harm from his family, third parties, and even the Iranian state due to his sexual orientation. This decision resulted in Switzerland being ordered to pay the man €7,000 in compensation.
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On Monday, Houthi rebels launched a series of unsuccessful attacks against two U.S. Navy destroyers in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait using drones, ballistic missiles, and anti-ship cruise missiles. Despite the intensity of the offensive, both ships escaped unharmed. The Houthis have intensified attacks in the Red Sea, citing ongoing conflicts in Israel and Lebanon as justification. These attacks have significantly reduced shipping traffic, creating a bottleneck in global trade and potentially generating illicit income for the rebels through extortion. The U.S. has responded with airstrikes against Houthi positions, including a B-2 bomber deployment to dismantle underground bunkers.
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Donald Trump’s victory in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a large Arab American population, highlights a growing disconnect between Democratic leadership and communities that once formed its base. Despite Trump’s history of demonizing Muslims, he won 42.5% of the vote in Dearborn, while Vice President Kamala Harris received 36%. This shift, which some attribute to frustration with Democratic support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, has left many Arab American voters feeling disillusioned with the Democratic party. While some, like Abbas Alawieh, a lifelong Democrat, still voted for Harris out of opposition to Trump, many, like Layla Elabed, felt they could not support a party that ignored their pleas for a more nuanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This election has exposed a need for the Democratic party to re-engage with its grassroots, listen to the concerns of its base, and address the issues that matter most to its constituents, lest it risk losing them to the opposing party.
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President-elect Trump has proposed eliminating the Department of Education, returning education control to the states. This plan, part of his 10-point education agenda, includes promoting Christian Nationalism, attacking teachers’ unions, and diverting public funds to private schools. Trump also intends to target diversity, equity, and inclusion programs through the Department of Justice, potentially harming Black and brown communities by hindering access to student debt relief, Pell Grants, and protections against discrimination. While Congress likely won’t vote to eliminate the Department of Education, Trump could significantly weaken it through executive actions, shifting the responsibility and burden of education funding to individual states.
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The Kremlin has vehemently denied reports of a phone call between President-elect Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, in which Trump allegedly warned Putin against escalating the war in Ukraine. While Trump’s team declined to comment on the president-elect’s private calls, both the Kremlin and Trump’s communications director have refuted the Washington Post’s claims, labeling them as “pure fiction” and “false information.” Despite the denial, the potential impact of Trump’s policies on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains a significant concern, with various international figures voicing their hopes that the United States will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
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Taiwan has quietly become a major supplier of air defense systems to Ukraine, donating surplus HAWK surface-to-air missile batteries. This contribution, likely facilitated by the U.S., complements other HAWK donations from the U.S. and Spain, potentially boosting Ukraine’s air defense force by nearly a third. While the HAWK system is older, it remains effective against slower drones, cruise missiles, and manned aircraft, and its compatibility with the NASAMS system enhances its value to Ukraine. This donation signifies a vital contribution to Ukraine’s diversified air defense network, ensuring a more resilient defense against constant Russian attacks.
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John Q. Hosedrinker