THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 8-14, 2024: NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

ALTHOUGH W.H.O. HAS ENDED THE PANDEMIC,

THE VIRUSES ARE STILL ONGOING.

PLEASE GET VACCINATED,

WEAR YOUR MASK😷 WHEN NECESSARY

& BEWARE ANY VERSION OF

THE COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS!

DECEMBER 14 IS MONKEY DAY.

DECEMBER 16 IS NATIONAL DAY IN BAHRAIN AND

SOUTH AFRICA’S DAY OF RECONCILIATION.

DECEMBER 18 IS NATIONAL DAY IN QATAR.

DECEMBER 21 IS THE START OF WINTER FOR THOSE ABOVE THE EQUATOR

AND THE START OF SUMMER FOR THOSE BELOW THE EQUATOR.

DECEMBER 23 IS FESTIVUS.

DECEMBER 24 IS CHRISTMAS EVE AND EGG NOG DAY.

DECEMBER 25 IS CHRISTMAS & THE START OF HANUKKAH.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*South Korea now has an acting President. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*France has a new Prime Minister.

*At the virtual G7 Summit...

*The COVID state of the world, as of December 14, 2024.

*The MPOX state of the world, as of December 14, 2024.

*Gen Z in today’s work environment.

*New Zealand to outlaw greyhound racing.

*The winner of the 2024 World Chess Championship is…

*The 2024 (Video) Game of the Year is...

*Has Atlantis been found???

*Another reason dark chocolate is good for you.

*December 15 marks the 35th anniversary of the start of Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu’s downfall.

IN THE MIDDLE EAST…

*Concerning Israel, Palestine, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Gaza Strip and more. (There are 4/FOUR separate links in this item.)

*As the fighting continues… 

*Rebels seized control of Damascus as Assad fled to Russia. They have since started releasing all his prisoners. (There are 3/THREE separate links in this item.)

*But what is Israel doing in Syria???

*Why is Russia in Syria???

*Humanitarian aid is still having trouble reaching Gaza.

THE RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR!

*As the war continues… 

*Poland’s concerns grow after Russia’s latest missile strike.

THE TERRORIST REPORT…

*The Free Choice E-zine does not support terrorism, no matter what the “cause” or alleged “justification”. Thus we will only be posting news items in this section whenever terrorists are brought to justice through arrest and trial.

🌐THE CLIMATE CHANGE CHRONICLES…

*Tehran, Iran had a temporary shutdown due to bad air pollution.

*Malibu, California USA is facing another wildfire.

*Is the Mekong Catfish making a comeback??? 

😢PASSING PARADE…

*The innocent lives lost to war.  

*Paralympian William Arnott is no longer with us.

Former professional football🏈 player Jimmy Wilkerson has passed away.

*Former professional baseball⚾ player turned coach Merv Rettenmund has passed away.

*Actor/writer Arnold Yarrow (numerous credits from 1955-2012) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Former professional baseball⚾ player Rocco/Rocky Colavito, Junior is no longer with us.

*Artist Lorraine O’Grady has passed away.

*Actor Michael Cole (many TV and film roles from 1961-2010) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE REGIONAL PASTA RECALL???

WE NEED MORE

GUN RESPONSIBILITY

NOW!

ALL INEQUALITY HAS TO STOP!

BAN BOOK BANS!

POLITICALLY…

*At the virtual G7 Summit...

*What President Biden hopes to accomplish before the end of his Presidency.

*A question of Federal Judges. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Of clemency and pardons. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*More bills were signed into law.

*Will the Equal Rights Amendment ever become part of the Constitution???

*Whether bullied or not, Christopher Wray is stepping down as Director of the FBI.

*West Virginia will get Federal disaster assistance.

*There is a difference of opinion on the current state of the economy.

*Dealing with obsolete laws in Colorado.

*The Republican who won’t quit.

*The latest from the White House.

THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION…

*Trump claims the United States could leave NATO unless…

*Trump wants a ceasefire between Russia and the Ukraine before he takes office in January.

*The return of polio???

*If President Trump does invoke mass deportations, he is apparently on his own in New Mexico.

*A potential new Ambassador to Greece is on the horizon. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The CEO of Trump's Truth Social to be head of the Intelligence Advisory Board???

*Other announced nominees.

*Kari Lake to oversee Voice of America???

*Trump’s hopeful Defense Secretary nominee’s opinions on women in the military.

*Will “old business” be addressed during the second administration???

*With Trump’s return, the trolling resumes.

*Will Trump still lower grocery prices??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Trump’s opinions on who should be pardoned and who should be arrested concerning the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*“Bigotry? What bigotry?”—Donald Trump.

*Does the future Department of Government Efficiency want to eliminate the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation/FDIC, which PROTECTS banks, other financial institutions and their customers???

*Trump wants to end Daylight Savings Time.

*Would Trump privatize the US Postal Service???

*One look at Trump’s potential new Middle East adviser.

*What about those new Air Force One’s???

*Opinion: A For Profit President???

*Speculation: Will Trump’s second administration do more eavesdropping???

*Speculation: What might happen if Trump's plans for Social Security become reality.

*Speculation: Would Trump revoke a law Elon Musk hates???

⚖THE SUPREME COURT REPORT…

*Current Congressional thoughts on the Court.

*One Justice to fulfill a personal dream.

SOCIAL (IN)JUSTICE…

*Trying to prevent gender based violence.

*A suspect has been arrested in the killing of United Health Care CEO Brian Thompson. He has been denied bail at this time and is fighting extradition. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*A Judge has denied “Dreamers” health coverage under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obama Care.

*Gen Z in today’s work environment.

*You had to pay to be an auxiliary deputy???

*A Maryland Cracker Barrel was rude to potential customers. The employees involved have since been dismissed. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The owner of two McDonald's closed the businesses instead of honoring the new minimum wage increase!

*Remembering Sammy Davis Junior.

*Survey: Americans’ concerns about health care under a second Trump administration.

*Opinion: How do you determine financial success???

STOP THE SENSELESS VIOLENCE!

*The murder rate in Boston, Massachusetts HAS decreased.

✅IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!

*Just how big IS the Federal Government???

*There were NO FBI Agents, undercover or otherwise, involved in the Capitol Riot January 6, 2021.

*Time magazine fact checked their 2024 Person of the Year.

MEANWHILE, IN CONGRESS…

*A later retirement age???

*A Congressional review of the US Postal System is underway.

*Will there be further health care reform???

*Does Elon Musk want to end the IRS??? Some in Congress want to make filing harder and charge fees for doing so. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The Government Operating Budget Battle begins anew.

*Trump doesn’t take office until January 20, but Congress is already receiving Department of Government Efficiency inspired bills.

*Former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s next gig.

TRUMP’S TRIAL(S)…

*Apparently what to do about Trump’s Hush Money 34 Convictions is still unsettled too.

*Depositions were underway for Trump versus ABC journalist George Stephanopoulos, but ABC decided to settle out of court. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

ELSEWHERE…

*Who’s responsible for the drones over the Eastern Seaboard???

*Sesame Street is now homeless???

*Can Elon Musk save Twitter/X???

*Musk’s disagreement with the Securities Exchange Commission continues. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Albertsons and Kroger cannot merge.

*The Onion will not be buying Alex Jones’ Info Wars after all.

*One look at Macy’s financial status. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Time magazine’s 2024 Person of the Year is…

*And Time’s 2024 Icon of the Year is...

*The 2024 (Video) Game of the Year is...

*The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner is...

*Another reason dark chocolate is good for you.

*December 14 is the 205th anniversary of Alabama joining the United States.

😁AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…

*The unlikely war hero.

*Celebrating life.