Hurricane force winds are fanning the flames of the Southern California wildfires. What are Santa Ana winds?– www.cbsnews.com Source Link Excerpt:
At least five wildfires are ravaging Southern California, and the three largest have already killed at least five people, burned tens of thousands of acres and prompted the evacuation of an estimated 179,000 residents. Santa Ana winds coupled with dry conditions have created the perfect storm for the fires to spread.
Hurricane-force winds have fanned the flames of the Palisades Fire, currently burning on the west side of Los Angeles County in coastal communities including Pacific Palisades and Malibu. The winds are also blowing the embers of the Eaton Fire, which is impacting the cities of Pasadena and Altadena in northeast L.A. County.
Efforts by the Trump legal team to stop the pending sentencing of his felony conviction in the kangaroo court trial run by DNC activist Judge Juan Merchan were halted by the New York Court of Appeals’ Judge Ellen Gesmer, who dismissed the emergency motion. The full panel is likely to be next in line to review the emergency appeal.
US appeals court rejects Trump’s request to delay hush money sentencing – RBC-Ukraine Source Link Excerpt:
The New York Court of Appeals has rejected a request to reschedule the sentencing of US President-elect Donald Trump. This concerns the case involving the alleged hush money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels, reports The Hill.
Judge Ellen Gesmer of the Court of Appeals dismissed Trump’s emergency motion to immediately halt the proceedings, which would solidify his status as a criminal before returning to the White House.
According to The Hill, Trump will most likely appeal to a panel of judges at the appellate court to stop the sentencing. At the same time, he will challenge two rulings by Judge Juan Merchan, which allow his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments to the adult film star to stand.
The EU will be without cheap Russian gas following a decision by Ukraine to no longer allow Russia’s gas transferal to occur on Ukraine soil. President Volodymyr Zelensky called the decision “one of Moscow’s biggest defeats.” The “Brotherhood pipeline” shutdown will allegedly cause Russian gas giant Gazprom more than $6 billion yearly.
EU on brink of gas war after Ukraine cuts off Russia’s £5bn supply | World | News– www.express.co.uk Source Link Excerpt:
Ukraine will no longer allow Russian gas to pass through en route to European neighbours in a move that will hurt both the Kremlin and EU states dependent on Putin’s energy supply.
On January 1, the 2019 deal, which saw gas transit through Ukraine to states like Slovakia and Austria, expired.
President Zelensky heralded the move as “one of Moscow’s biggest defeats”, while his energy minister branded it “historic”.
The closure of the Urengoy–Pomary–Uzhhorod, which is also known as the Brotherhood pipeline, will cost Russian gas company Gazprom around £5bn a year – a bitter blow for Putin’s creaking war economy.
However, it’s not just Russia that is reeling following the expiration of the gas deal. Several European states are heavily dependent on Russian gas transported through Ukraine.
Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, as well as Moldova, are reliant on the steady flow of energy through Ukraine. Now that that is no longer possible, the only route remaining into Europe from Russia is via the TurkStream pipeline and the BlueSteam pipeline, under the Black Sea.
The dust has not settled in the recent events in South Korea that has seen one President under siege, refusing to submit to being arrested after being impeached, and another one also getting impeached, though no arrest warrant was issued for him, so far. Meanwhile, citizens are marching in protest of the current government, alleging the China-friendly leftist government “won” the election by cheating.
South Korea’s Political Crisis Deepens Amid Chinese Influence and U.S. Military Concerns– warroom.org Source Link Excerpt:
There is a rapidly escalating situation, South Korea is witnessing a political crisis that could have far-reaching implications for the region, as protests and political unrest intensify.
In a Saturday WarRoom conversation between Steve Bannon and retired Colonel John Mills, the two highlighted the dangerous convergence of internal political turmoil and external Chinese interference that threatens the stability of one of the U.S.’s most trusted allies in East Asia.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is facing a political and social storm as thousands take to the streets in opposition to his government. Demonstrators have called for an end to martial law, but a significant portion of the protesters, according to Bannon and Mills, are reportedly Chinese nationals who have been flown in to incite further unrest. “One-third to two-thirds of these protests are Chinese,” Mills claimed, raising alarms about China’s growing influence in South Korea’s internal affairs.
The political landscape in South Korea has become increasingly divided. The left-wing Democratic Party, led by Lee Jae-myung, has mounted a significant challenge to President Yoon’s leadership, accusing him of authoritarianism. Lee, who was recently convicted of malfeasance, has been a vocal critic of U.S. military presence in South Korea, calling American forces an “occupation force” and pushing for the removal of THAAD missile systems. His anti-U.S. stance aligns with China’s broader geopolitical goals, as Beijing seeks to expand its regional influence.
In response to mounting political pressure, President Yoon declared martial law on December 3rd, 2023, a highly controversial move. However, as Bannon and Mills pointed out, Yoon’s decision was strategic. The martial law declaration allowed him to launch a raid on the National Election Commission, which, according to Yoon’s government, was necessary to investigate suspected Chinese interference in South Korea’s elections. While legally justified, this move has sparked widespread outrage and fear of authoritarianism, fueling the protests.
The EU is nervous that Elon Musk’s social media app, x, will give Europeans freedom of expression outlets that that consider too dangerous for the little people to have. The European Commission is looking to craft a narrative that will allow it to target an American, Elon Musk, for future potential arrest, and his American app to be banned in Europe.
EU considers legal action against Musk over election interference – The Telegraph Source Link Excerpt:
Brussels is considering punishing Elon Musk over his alleged interference in the German elections.
The European Commission is under mounting pressure to use its legal powers over social media platforms to rein in the tech billionaire ahead of next month’s ballot.
There are fears across the European Union that Mr Musk is trying to embolden the far-Right and peddling pro-Kremlin propaganda.
One of the chief concerns is that the richest man in the world has tweaked the algorithm of his social network X to deliberately push his posts to the top of users’ timelines.
In recent weeks, Mr Musk has declared Alternative for Germany (AfD) the “last vestige of hope” for Germany, as well as inviting Alice Weidel, the hard-Right party’s candidate for chancellor, for a one-on-one interview hosted on his platform ahead of the Feb 23 ballot.
Biden Beefing up U.S. Military Presence in Kurdish Syria– www.breitbart.com Source Link Excerpt:
Multiple reports from northern Syria on Thursday indicated the U.S. military is reinforcing its presence in Syrian Kurdistan, or Rojava, potentially building a new base in the city of Kobani.
The regional outlet Kurdistan 24 reported on Thursday that “a convoy of 50 trucks carrying Bremer walls entered Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)-controlled areas in northeastern Syria (Rojava) on Thursday.” Citing the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a non-governmental organization (NGO), Kurdistan 24 reported that the convoy was headed to the Kurdish city of Kobani, on the Turkish border.
“Sources from the observatory indicated that the delivery is part of ongoing efforts by US forces to reinforce existing bases and establish a new military facility in Kobani,” Kurdistan 24 reported. “Reliable SOHR sources have confirmed that excavation and construction work is expected to begin on Friday, with additional reinforcements anticipated.”
The independent news outlet Iran International separately reported on Thursday, citing news sources tied to the SDF, that the U.S. “coalition” against the Islamic State was “constructing a military base in Kobani.” The SDF-linked news outlets also confirmed sightings of the construction materials convoy heading to the city.
Another Middle East news outlet, Shafaq, also reported on Thursday that the convoy was carrying reinforcements to SDF-controlled areas, describing it as a convoy associated with “US forces.”
“The reinforcements reportedly included 14 cargo planes carrying military equipment and soldiers, along with 233 military vehicles comprising trucks, armored vehicles, and troop carriers,” Shafaq reported.
The U.S. military maintains operations in Syria intended to contain the resurgence of the Islamic State terrorist organization, which once boasted a “caliphate” headquartered in northern Raqqa. The “caliphate” was destroyed largely by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a coalition of militias led by the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG/YPJ). The U.S. government collaborates closely with the SDF to contain ISIS activity and helps it maintain prisons in which thousands of suspected Islamic State jihadis and their families remain, often rejected for repatriation by their home countries.
The situation in Syria remains chaotic following the collapse of the over 50-year-old Assad family regime in December. The al-Qaeda offshoot militia Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) conquered Damascus on December 7, prompting Iran-friendly dictator Bashar Assad to flee to Russia. HTS currently controls the Islamist “interim” government of Syria and has begun negotiations with the Kurdish north to address the existence of an essentially autonomous Kurdish zone in the country. While the SDF did not maintain especially friendly relations with Assad, many members of the YPG and all-female YPJ are fighting to establish a sovereign Kurdistan carved partially out of Syria, placing them at odds with HTS. At press time, HTS leaders have insisted that they will give Kurds some power in their government as an indigenous Syrian group.
While the civil war that began in 2011 to overthrow Assad has concluded, the SDF remains embroiled in a conflict with another militia, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA). Following the surprise attack on Aleppo by HTS in late November, which resulted in the rapid collapse of Assad’s military presence there, the SNA announced a campaign called “Operation Dawn of Freedom” to destroy the SDF. The Turkish government considers the SDF a terrorist organization indistinguishable from the U.S.-designated terror group the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Turkey’s years-long onslaught against the U.S.-allied SDF has caused longstanding tensions between the two NATO allies.
HTS taking over Syria has not stopped “Operation Dawn of Freedom,” nor has the SDF announcing it seeks to work with HTS to establish peace in the country. HTS is not directly associated with the SNA but maintains friendly ties with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who for years called for the overthrow of Assad and openly cheered for his demise in December.
As a result of “Operation Dawn of Freedom,” the SDF has said it has almost completely stopped all anti-ISIS operations. The commander of the SDF, Gen. Mazloum Abdi, told the British Sky News agency days after Assad fled the country that anti-ISIS activities had “halted” – not because he had chosen to stop them, but because the onslaught by Turkish-backed forces made them impossible.
“ISIS is now stronger in the Syrian desert,” Abdi said. “Previously, they were in remote areas and hiding, but now they have greater freedom of movement since they face no issues with other groups and are not engaged in conflict with them.”
“In the areas under our control, their activities have also increased. Just a few days ago, three members of the Internal Security Forces were killed near al Hassakah in an ISIS operation,” he observed.
Abdi warned that SDF-run prisons containing Islamic State terrorists were in significant jeopardy as a result of the Turkish attack.
The SDF prisons are believed to house around 10,000 Islamic State terrorists. Another 40,000 people, families of the terrorists, remain in camps in Syrian Kurdistan. Efforts to repatriate them have had minimal success.
The Turkish government urged the world on Thursday to take control of the prisons away from the SDF.
“The Syrian government should urgently take over the security of the camps and prisons, and if this is not possible, Turkey is ready to provide any support it can on this matter,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan asserted. Like the Islamic State, the current Syrian government is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
Fidan demanded the prisoners return home.
“These detainees in camps and prisons must be repatriated by their respective countries,” the foreign minister said. “Keeping them here indefinitely without subjecting them to any judicial process and without any plan or agenda for their future has turned into a significant crisis in the region.”
U.S. Capitol building encircled by security fencing in Washington, D.C. – People’s Daily Source Link Excerpt:
This photo taken on Jan. 5, 2025 shows the U.S. Capitol building encircled by security fencing in Washington, D.C., the United States. After the 2020 U.S. presidential election, then-President Donald Trump, a Republican, refused to concede to his Democratic opponent Joe Biden and repeatedly claimed that there was widespread election fraud. On Jan. 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters violently broke into the Capitol building, and interrupted the certifying process of the 2020 presidential election, prompting hundreds of lawmakers to evacuate in panic
Hamas stands by hostage release terms as Trump pushes for deal by Jan. 20 – National– globalnews.ca Source Link Excerpt:
Hamas stood by its demand on Tuesday that Israel fully end its assault on Gaza under any deal to release hostages, and said U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was rash to say “all hell will break out” unless they go free by his Jan. 20 inauguration.
Officials from the Islamist group and Israel have been holding talks with Qatari and Egyptian mediators in the most intensive effort for months to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of 100 hostages that remain captive in Gaza.
The outgoing U.S. administration has called for a final push for a deal before Joe Biden leaves office, and many in the region now view Trump’s inauguration as an unofficial deadline.
“If (the hostages are) not back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East,” Trump said Tuesday at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
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“It will not be good for Hamas, and it will not be good, frankly, for anyone.”
Tel Aviv protesters rally against Netanyahu, demand efforts on hostage deal with Hamas
Trump is dispatching his incoming special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, to Qatar this week for additional talks. Witkoff said real progress has been made.
“The red lines he’s put out there — that’s driving this negotiation,” Witkoff told reporters while standing next to Trump.
But with the clock ticking, both sides accuse the other of blocking a deal by adhering to conditions that torpedoed all previous peace efforts for more than a year.
Hamas says it will free its remaining hostages only if Israel agrees to end its military offensive and withdraw all its troops from Gaza. Israel says it will not end its assault until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are free.
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“Hamas is the only obstacle to the release of the hostages,” the director general of Israel’s foreign ministry, Eden Bar Tal, told a briefing with reporters, saying Israel was fully committed to reaching a deal.
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Hamas official Osama Hamdan, who held a news conference in Algiers, said Israel was to blame for undermining all efforts to reach a deal.
While he said he would not give details about the latest round of negotiations, he reiterated the Hamas conditions of “a complete end to the aggression and a full withdrawal from lands the occupation invaded.”
Commenting on Trump’s threat that there would be “hell” to pay unless all hostages were freed before the inauguration, Hamdan said: “I think the U.S. president must make more disciplined and diplomatic statements.”
At least 70 killed by Israeli strikes in Gaza amid ongoing ceasefire talks
Israel has sent a team of mid-ranking officials to Qatar for talks brokered by Qatari and Egyptian mediators. Some Arabic media reports said David Barnea, the head of Mossad, who has been leading negotiations, was expected to join them. The Israeli prime minister’s office did not comment.
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In one notable step towards a deal, a Hamas official told Reuters on Sunday the group had cleared a list submitted by Israel of 34 hostages who could be freed in the initial phase of a truce, alongside Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The list included female Israeli soldiers, plus elderly, female and minor-aged civilians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel had so far received no confirmation about whether those on its list were still alive.
Israel keeps up airstrikes in Gaza
Nearly 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, according to Hamas health officials in the enclave. The assault was launched after Hamas fighters stormed Israeli territory in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
Israeli military strikes killed at least 24 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, medics said, as the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory urged international donors to immediately provide fuel to run generators and maintain medical services.
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One of those strikes killed four people in a house in Gaza City and six were killed in separate strikes across the enclave, medics said.
UN report slams regular Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals
Later on Tuesday, an Israeli strike on a tent in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip killed four children and eight Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in Jabalia in the north, medics said.
Additionally, an Israeli strike on a car in Khan Younis killed two people, medics and civil emergency service officials said.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on those strikes.
It said 240 Palestinians its forces had detained in a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza last month had provided “substantial intelligence.”
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The military released footage of the interrogation of a purported Hamas militant who detailed how militants “operated from the hospital area” and transferred weapons to and from it.
Hamas and the Gaza health ministry deny any armed presence at the hospital.
Trump Promises ‘Major Pardons’ When Reporter Asks About Jan. 6 Prisoners– www.westernjournal.com Source Link Excerpt:
President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he will be “making major pardons” on behalf of the individuals who entered the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The incoming commander-in-chief revealed during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida that his administration will examine the incident and pardon many who were convicted.
“You said on your first day of office, you’re going to pardon Jan. 6 defendants. Are you planning to pardon those who were charged with violent offences,” a reported asked.
“We’re looking at it, and we have other people in there,” Trump began.
President-Elect Trump pardoning January 6th defendants: “We’re be looking at the whole thing, but yes I’ll be making major pardons, yes.” pic.twitter.com/arHvANly7j
Bird Flu Could Be ‘More Catastrophic Than COVID’– www.dailysignal.com Source Link Excerpt:
Health officials in Louisiana announced Monday the first bird flu death in the United States. The elderly individual, who had underlying medical conditions, was exposed to the virus from a backyard flock and wild birds.
There have been 66 reported cases of bird flu in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the risk remains law, the CDC’s former director has urged Americans to take the virus seriously.
Robert Redfield, who led the CDC during the first Trump administration, spoke with The Daily Signal last year about bird flu. He predicted bird flu, also known as H5N1, would be “much more catastrophic than the COVID pandemic.”
Couple that threw firebombs at Michael Knowles event sentenced to prison, $50,000 in fines– www.thecollegefix.com Source Link Excerpt:
The DiPippas face prison, fines, after violent protests against transgenderism debate left Pitt officer with spinal injury
The couple that threw firebombs at a Michael Knowles event at the University of Pittsburgh was sentenced to prison and $50,000 in fines Monday.
Brian and Krystal DiPippa “entered a packaged plea deal with federal courts after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy and obstruction of law enforcement,” The Pitt News reported.
Brian DiPippa will spend five years in prison, followed by three years of supervision. Krystal DiPippa “was sentenced to three years of probation and 240 hours of community service to ‘restorative justice’ causes,” the outlet reported.
Further, the couple is required to pay $47,284 to a Pitt police officer who suffered a spinal injury during the incident, along with $1,400 to the Pitt Police Department to cover damages to equipment and uniforms.
DNA rewrites when Neanderthals bred with modern humans– www.futurity.org Source Link Excerpt:
A new analysis of DNA from ancient modern humans (Homo sapiens) in Europe and Asia has determined, more precisely than ever, the time period during which Neanderthals interbred with modern humans.
The findings show the interbreeding started about 50,500 years ago and lasted about 7,000 years—until Neanderthals began to disappear.
That interbreeding left Eurasians with many genes inherited from our Neanderthal ancestors, which in total make up between 1% and 2% of our genomes today.
A more precise timeline for modern human interactions with Neanderthals can help scientists understand when humans emigrated out of Africa and peopled the globe, while understanding the DNA that Neanderthals shared with our ancestors provides information on the role Neanderthal genes play in human health.
Med journal publishes ‘non-binary’ professor’s poem about ‘gender-affirming’ hysterectomy– www.thecollegefix.com Source Link Excerpt:
‘Resisting moral panic one stanza at a time,’ professor says
A Western Oregon University professor’s poem about getting a “gender-affirming” hysterectomy appeared in the new issue of the journal Health Promotion Practice this month.
Lauren Bouchard, (pictured) the author of the poem, identifies as “non-binary” and uses “they/them” pronouns. Bouchard is an assistant professor of gerontology at Western Oregon University.
“This poem is me living a vibrant, queer life in academia and at my family’s kitchen table, resisting moral panic one stanza at a time,” the female professor wrote in the introduction to the poem.
The introduction — which shifted between first and third person, referring to the professor as “the author” at the beginning and “me” toward the end — described her as privileged because she was able to get a hysterectomy despite legislation that “target[s] trans and non-binary people.”
Jake Tapper Never Apologized for ‘Devastating’ Report That Falsely Accused Navy Vet of Operating in ‘Black Market,’ Testimony Reveals– freebeacon.com Source Link Excerpt:
PANAMA CITY, Fla.—CNN anchor Jake Tapper never apologized for airing a “devastating” report that falsely portrayed Navy veteran Zachary Young as an “illegal profiteer” operating in a “black market” during America’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, Young testified Tuesday.
Young is suing CNN in a Florida court for $1 billion in damages. He argues that Tapper’s November 2021 portrayal and an accompanying segment irreparably harmed his reputation and destroyed his contracting company, Nemex Enterprises, by airing false and defamatory claims about his efforts to get Afghans out of the country as the Taliban took control.
The trial has been over two years in the making, with CNN facing a number of setbacks in the lead-up. Young rejected a settlement offer from the network and pointed to its disparaging coverage of Fox News’s $787 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems. Jurors during Monday’s selection process appeared open to forcing CNN to cough up a 10-figure payout to Young.
How Trump Can Deter Red China From Ransacking Taiwan– thefederalist.com Source Link Excerpt:
It’s no secret by now that Joe Biden’s presidency has ushered in a more unstable geopolitical environment. From Eastern Europe to the Middle East, the lack of effective and competent U.S. leadership has given America’s worst adversaries the confidence to act upon their destabilizing agendas — chief among them being Red China.
Throughout the past four years, the Middle Kingdom has significantly upped its aggressive behavior toward the U.S. and its allies in the Indo-Pacific. This has notably included deploying hostile military exercises and other “gray zone” tactics against Taiwan, which Beijing views as Chinese territory and has threatened to take by force, if necessary.
On Friday, Taiwanese authorities reported that a Chinese vessel cut an undersea internet cable connected to the island, a maneuver used by the communist nation in the Baltic Sea in November. According to The Wall Street Journal, the apparent act of sabotage caused “only minimal disruption of service but [sent] a message about the vulnerability of the island and its internet.”
The incident occurred days before Taiwan’s National Security Bureau revealed the island received double the number of cyberattacks from last year, averaging 2.4 million attacks per day. Most of these attacks, the bureau noted, came from China.
Democrat AGs are Trying to Shut Down Pro-Life Pregnancy Centers– www.lifenews.com Source Link Excerpt:
NRL News Today, in our pursuit of keeping pro-lifers up to date on the never-ending pro-abortion offensive against the true and the noble, has written or reposted innumerable stories about the war on pro-life pregnancy centers.
Sometimes Democrats—and they are all Democrats — pretend there is “cause” for suing, defunding, harassing problem pregnancy centers, but almost all of the time the excuses are awfully thin gruel.
Erin Hawley describes herself as a wife, mom of three, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, and a law professor at Regent University School of Law. She is a powerful litigator and a gifted writer. She is married to Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley.
Mrs. Hawley wrote a piece that appeared today in World magazine under the headline, “The harassment of pro-life pregnancy centers must stop.”
Michigan to Chop Down over 400 Acres of Trees to Fight ‘Global Warming’ with Chinese Solar Panels– slaynews.com Source Link Excerpt:
Officials in Democrat-controlled Michigan are planning to chop down over 400 acres of trees in the state’s forestland to supposedly fight “global warming.”
A 420-acre swath of state forestland will be cleared to make way for a Chinese solar farm near Gaylord, a top state official confirmed to MLive.
The deal is under a lease agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Officials with the DNR recently assessed 1,200 acres of public trust land in Otsego County near a major power transmission line to decide whether it was suitable for solar arrays.
Agency leaders ultimately decided to lease 35% of that land to accompany other adjacent solar projects already in the works.
This comes as the DNR faces dwindling revenues from hunting and fishing licenses.
Pro-Life Groups Challenge New York Law Forcing Them to Hire Abortion Advocates– www.lifenews.com Source Link Excerpt:
Last week, the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled to reinstate a legal challenge brought by several pro-life organizations against a New York law that undermines their First Amendment rights to employ people who agree with their religious beliefs and mission. The Second Circuit reversed a district court’s 2020 dismissal of the case and sent it back to the lower court with instructions to adjudicate the challenge under a more recent 2023 precedent that may give their First Amendment claims merit.
In CompassCare v. Hochul, the case centers around New York Labor Law Section 203-e, which remains effect, and prohibits employers from engaging in “discrimination based on an employee’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making.” CompassCare, a pro-life pregnancy care center, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), a nationwide association of pro-life pregnancy care centers, and First Bible Baptist Church brought the case to protect their ability to employ only like-minded people who will not take part in abortion themselves. The organizations seek an injunction to render the law unconstitutional by contending the law infringes on their First Amendment freedoms of expressive association. They argue the law forces them to employ and associate with those who do not share the organizations’ beliefs regarding abortion, contraception, and sexual morality.
Harvest Organs From Euthanasia Victims Before Death– thefederalist.com Source Link Excerpt:
Canadian doctors have suggested killing euthanasia victims by taking their organs, according to multiple reports, whistleblowers, and public talks. Medical freedom advocates are documenting emerging ties between “medical assistance in dying” (MAID) and organ harvesting.
“The best use of my organs, if I’m going to receive a medically assisted death, might be to not first kill me and then retrieve my organs, but to have my mode of death — as we medically consider death now — to be to retrieve my organs,” said Rob Sibbald, an ethicist of the London Health Sciences Centre in Ontario.
Other Canadian doctors have publicly embraced “death by donation,” and a study came out earlier this year exploring euthanasia programs such as MAID as a means of organ harvesting. Canada legalized euthanasia in 2016, and since then the number of Canadians using MAID to kill themselves has significantly increased.
Cybertruck bomber used generative AI to plan attack, New Orleans terrorist used Meta glasses | The Post Millennial– thepostmillennial.com Source Link Excerpt:
Livelsberger used generative AI, including ChatGPT, to plan the Cybertruck bomb attack.
It has been revealed that the Las Vegas Cybertruck bomber, Matthew Livelsberger, used generative AI order to plan out his attack. This comes as it has been learned that the New Orleans terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar used Meta smart glasses to plan and carry out his attack on New Year’s Day.
According to the Associated Press, police said Tuesday that Livelsberger used generative AI, including ChatGPT, to plan the Cybertruck bomb attack. He fatally shot himself before the vehicle detonated with explosives in the back. The New York Post also reported that Jabbar scouted out the area of the New Orleans attack with Meta’s smart glasses.
Livelsberger was an active-duty Green Beret at the time of the bombing and a review of his history on ChatGPT showed that he was looking for information on explosives as well as targets. He also searched for if fireworks were legal in Arizona.
Biden’s last-minute cigarette ban could kill jobs and welcome crime– www.washingtonexaminer.com Source Link Excerpt:
President Joe Biden is seeking to regulate nicotine levels in cigarettes in a last-ditch attempt to lower national smoking rates, yet opponents of the move say it will have catastrophic, downstream effects on the economy and crime.
If adopted, his Food and Drug Administration rule would set a new maximum nicotine level for cigarettes, effectively banning virtually all cigarettes currently available for commercial purchase in the United States.
Biden’s Office of Management and Budget concluded a review of the proposed rule, the text of which has not been published, on Jan. 3. The rule must still enter a public comment period before it can be finalized, but, based on the typical comment period window of 30-90 days, it would fall to President-elect Donald Trump to implement the rule.
Trump transition officials declined to comment on Biden’s proposed rule, but the Trump-era FDA first began studying lowering nicotine levels in cigarettes back in 2018.
China’s Hospitals Report Surge in HMVP Respiratory Virus that Causes Cold-Like Symptoms in Most People– legalinsurrection.com Source Link Excerpt:
China is currently experiencing a significant outbreak of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), a respiratory virus that was first identified in 2001 and which causes cold-like symptoms in most people.
However, the very young and elderly can be hit hard, as well as those with weakened immune systems. So, China’s hospitals are reporting a significant uptick in cases of HMVP infections as people seek relief from severe symptoms.
China is experiencing a surge in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), leading to overcrowded hospitals and raising public concern about a potential epidemic. The outbreak coincides with the winter season, which typically sees an increase in respiratory illnesses due to colder weather and more indoor activities facilitating the spread of viruses.
El Financiero, BBC News, The Independent, Marca, ABP News, and Newsweek reported on the surge in HMPV patients in China, among other news outlets.
In response to the rising cases, the Chinese government announced measures to curb the increase of respiratory diseases. These measures include constant monitoring of cases, the adoption of masks, social distancing, and disinfection of public spaces.
“It is safe to travel to China,” said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs during a press conference, reassuring that both locals and tourists can feel safe traveling in China. Mao emphasized that the current situation is a normal seasonal rise in respiratory infections and not a cause for alarm.
