After Killing, ‘There Will Be No TikTok in Albania’
In response to bullying and violence that included the killing of a teenager last month, Albania announced Saturday that it is blocking the use of TikTok in the nation for a year. The ban suspension is part of a school safety plan to take effect early in the new year
Houthi missile hits south Tel Aviv, 16 lightly wounded as IDF investigates why interceptors failed
At least 30 Israelis were lightly wounded as the Houthi terrorists in Yemen launched another ballistic missile at Israel early on Saturday morning. Despite several attempts, the IDF failed to intercept the missile, which exploded in a playground in south Tel Aviv.
Motivation unclear: Saudi doctor who killed 5, wounded 200 in Germany Christmas market attack made anti-Islam & pro-Israel comments
Abdulmohsen is a Saudi national who fled to Germany in 2006 and recently worked as a doctor of psychiatry in a German hospital. Given the identity of the attacker and the scene of the attack, many initially suspected another Islamist terror attack. The incident nearly coincided with the anniversary of another terror attack at a German Christmas market on Dec. 19, 2016, when a Tunisian asylum seeker drove a truck into a Berlin market, killing 12 people.
Will Jordan be the next Syria? Understanding the Hashemite Kingdom’s resilience
Much like candy, revolution becomes more appealing when you see others having it. Since the Arab Spring swept through the Middle East in 2011, both internal and external forces have cast hungry eyes toward Jordan, wondering if the Hashemite Kingdom might follow Syria’s path to chaos. The fall of governments in Egypt and Tunisia, followed by the devastating civil war in Syria that led to the collapse of the Assad regime, has only whetted the appetite of some.
Iran recruiting minors to carry out attacks against Israeli targets in Europe
Several thwarted attacks against Israeli targets in Europe are signaling a disturbing trend; Iran is recruiting minors as terrorists-for-hire in Europe, Bloomberg reports. Incidents in Sweden, Belgium, and Norway involved teenagers with weapons preparing to attack Israeli-associated buildings.
Topography, security, and survival highlight Israel’s Syrian strategy
The Golan Heights’ mountainous terrain provides critical surveillance points overlooking Damascus, Beirut, and Jerusalem, and from a security perspective, this topographical advantage is invaluable.
US: We struck Houthi missile storage facility in Sana’a
The Yemeni channel Al-Masirah, affiliated with the Houthi rebel group, reported a strike in Sana’a, the capital of Yemen. “CENTCOM forces conducted the deliberate strikes to disrupt and degrade Houthi operations, such as attacks against US Navy warships and merchant vessels in the Southern Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, and Gulf of Aden. “During the operation, CENTCOM forces also shot down multiple Houthi one way attack uncrewed aerial vehicles (OWA UAV) and an anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) over the Red Sea. (Watch)
Iran protests US arrests of Iranian citizens
Iran summons Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who represents US interests in the country, to protest arrest of two Iranian nationals in connection with attack on US troops in Jordan. The arrests stem from charges filed on Monday by US prosecutors accusing the two men of illegally exporting sensitive technology to Iran. The technology was allegedly linked to a January drone attack in Jordan that killed three US service members.
The fall of Assad is just the beginning: The struggle for Syria has resumed
The country may have exited the Axis of Resistance, but this does not mean that it has automatically crossed to the opposing camp. In contrast to its image as a stable regime, a quick look at the history of Syria shows that before the rise to power of the Alawite Assad dynasty in 1970, it was the least stable country in the Middle East. From 1949 to 1970, it experienced no fewer than 17 military coups, most of which failed.
50-foot waves forecast to slam Hawaii’s northern beaches amid parade of Pacific storms
Forecast models now indicate a fetch of massive waves is spreading south and will reach the north-facing shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai and Maui over the weekend. Seas are expected to swell to 30-40 feet on Saturday, growing to 40-50 feet on Sunday.
Bushfire in Victoria triples in size in 24 hours to over 30,000 ha (74 130 acres), Australia
Victoria residents were urged to flee immediately on Saturday, December 21. 2024 as massive bushfire, spanning over 30,000 ha (74 132 acres), swept through the Grampians region. Officials are warning the fire could burn for weeks.
UK’s “Online Safety Act” Under Fire as Officials Push for New Powers to Police “Misinformation”
The UK government is moving towards making the much-criticized Online Safety Act (OSA) even more contentious, this time by trying to use it to outright enforce online censorship of “misinformation” – even though the law has no provision that explicitly imposes a legal duty of that kind on social platforms.
American men drop out of economy as immigrants claim jobs: Study
Americans clamoring for more immigrants to fill out the workforce are ignoring a labor source already here — people, mostly men, who have given up on the economy, according to a new study by the Center for Immigration Studies.
Water quality report: 90% of Cape Cod’s tested coastal embayment’s are ‘unacceptable.’
“Cape Cod’s water quality remains a top environmental problem, with significant worries about the health of coastal embayment’s and freshwater ponds. At the same time, the region’s public drinking water supplies continue to perform well.”
Update: NJ Residents Near Drone Hot Spots Reporting Strange Tasting, Weird Smelling Water
“First the sky over multiple New Jersey towns was a winky-blinky nightmare with mystery drones burrowing into the fears of residents. And now, multiple towns in central New Jersey are dealing with stinky water. Social media has connected the dots.”
The Week in Censorship: Judging by reports restrictions on free speech is about to get worse, globally
The United Nations and World Health Organization are tightening the noose on free speech. While the UN uses treaties, WHO is deploying a “social listening” technique in Pacific island nations.