A deceased individual was discovered within the wheel well of a United Airlines Boeing 787-10 following its arrival at Kahului Airport in Maui on Tuesday. The plane originated from Chicago on Christmas Eve. Access to this area is solely from outside the aircraft, making the circumstances of the person’s presence unclear. United Airlines is cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation into this incident.
On Christmas Day, Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages and casualties across the country, including Kyiv, where residents sought shelter in metro stations. President Zelensky condemned the attack as an “inhumane” and “conscious choice” by Russia, highlighting the targeting of critical energy facilities for the 13th time this year. Despite the attacks, many Ukrainians remained resilient, celebrating Christmas as best they could amidst the ongoing conflict. The attack left cities like Kharkiv with widespread damage and hundreds of thousands without essential services.
Judge Timothy Brooks declared portions of Arkansas Act 372 unconstitutional, blocking its ability to criminally prosecute librarians and booksellers for providing minors access to “harmful” materials. The law, challenged by a coalition including the Central Arkansas Library System, was deemed to promote censorship by creating a system where fear of prosecution would lead to self-censorship. Attorney General Tim Griffin plans to appeal the decision, while Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders maintains support for the law, mirroring similar legislative efforts in other states.
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.
Tahlequah (J35), the orca who famously carried her dead calf for 17 days in 2018, has given birth to a new female calf, J61. The calf, initially observed on December 20th, was confirmed as J35’s offspring by researchers on Monday. While the birth is celebrated, concerns remain regarding J61’s health and the overall endangered status of the Southern Resident killer whale population, whose numbers have significantly declined from a peak of 98 to 73 this year. The Center for Whale Research emphasizes the critical need for increased salmon stocks to support the population’s survival and the survival of new calves.
Swiss snowboard cross athlete Sophie Hediger, 26, tragically perished in an avalanche near Arosa, Switzerland, on Monday. A member of the national team, Hediger had recently achieved two World Cup podium finishes and competed in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Swiss-Ski expressed its deepest condolences to her family and partner, and will maintain the family’s request for privacy regarding further details. Her death is a profound loss to the Swiss snowboarding community.
Adele and Greg Kurstin face a plagiarism lawsuit in Brazil alleging their song “Million Years Ago” infringes on Toninho Geraes’s “Mulheres.” A judge initially ordered the song’s worldwide removal, a decision that has since been challenged. A subsequent conciliation hearing failed to reach an agreement, with the defendants’ absence and conflicting expert opinions on melodic similarity contributing to the impasse. The case highlights ambiguities in Brazilian copyright law and the potential ramifications of setting a precedent for removing songs based on perceived similarities.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, was arraigned on murder and arson charges for allegedly setting fire to a sleeping woman on a New York City subway. The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation. Zapeta-Calil, who had previously been deported and illegally re-entered the US, was apprehended after being identified by witnesses. This incident, deemed a “brutal murder,” has exacerbated existing concerns about subway safety and highlighted issues of homelessness and substance abuse in the city.
A study in *The BMJ* assessed the cognitive abilities of leading large language models (LLMs) using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. All LLMs exhibited weaknesses in visuospatial skills and executive functions, scoring below the threshold for normal cognitive function. Older versions of the chatbots performed worse, mirroring cognitive decline in humans. These findings challenge the notion of LLMs soon replacing human doctors, suggesting instead a potential future need for clinicians to address AI-related cognitive impairments.
At 88, Kenneth Copeland recently underwent a 10-day appendectomy, recovering with humor and faith. He attributes his successful surgery to divine intervention and a pre-arranged agreement with God to live until 2056, at the age of 120. Copeland shared specific prophecies for the coming years, including predictions about political events and encouraging congregants to plan their lives with faith and intentionality. He declared his restored health and readiness to continue his ministry, outlining themes for his plans until 2029.
John Q. Hosedrinker