THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JANUARY 5-11, 2025: NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

 

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

THE VIRUSES ARE STILL ONGOING.

PLEASE GET VACCINATED,

WEAR A MASK😷 WHEN NECESSARY

& BEWARE ANY VERSION OF

THE COVID-19/CORONAVIRUS!

JANUARY 11 IS MILK🥛 DAY.

JANUARY 12 IS PHARMACIST DAY.

JANUARY 13 IS RUBBER DUCKY DAY, thanks to Sesame Street.

JANUARY 15 IS SNOW❄❅❆ DAY.

JANUARY 16 IS APPRECIATE A DRAGON🐉 DAY for fantasy fans.

JANUARY 18 IS WORLD SNOWMAN⛄ DAY.

JANUARY 19 IS POPCORN🍿 DAY.

JANUARY 20 IS MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DAY IN THE UNITED STATES

AND WORLD CHEESE DAY.

2025 MARKS THE 105TH ANNIVERSARY OF

THE THREE COLOR/FOUR WAY TRAFFIC LIGHT.🚦

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE W🌍RLD THIS PAST WEEK…

*As soon as a successor is chosen, Justin Trudeau is stepping down as Prime Minister of Canada, but Donald Trump had nothing to do with it. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*North Korea allegedly held its first missile “test” of the new year.

*The European Union has announced it WILL defend its borders after Donald Trump’s “offers” for Greenland.

*As cases begin to be diagnosed, BE AWARE OF HMPV!  (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The COVID state of the world, as of January 11, 2025.

*The MPOX state of the world, as of January 11, 2025.

*Venezuela’s President starts a third term with new political problems. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Why is Elon Musk (allegedly) against Great Britain’s Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips???

*Pope Francis has been awarded a US Medal of Freedom.

*Nissan and Honda may merge, but what about Toyota???

*Facebook and Instagram will no longer fact check???

*Tesla's future...???

*Speculation: Does Elon Musk maintain alternate Twitter/X account(s)???

*Analysis: Who “owns” the South Pole???

IN THE MIDDLE EAST…

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

*More aid for Syria is on the horizon.

*The final tally…???

*Genocide in the Sudan???

THE RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR!

*As the war continues… 

*The war’s economic toll.

*President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and American President-Elect Donald Trump differ on whether or not the Ukraine should be part of NATO.

*Do Ukraine forces now have North Korean Prisoners???

*Speculation: How will Russia react to new American sanctions???

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…

*President Biden has officially banned future American offshore drilling and preserved more land. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*What is below the Antarctic Ice???

*What is happening to the Earth’s Magnetic Pole(s)???

*2024 was the warmest year, to date.

*The Coastal Hardening of Beaches.

*Opinion: Shouldn't Elon Musk's Las Vegas Tunnel Project be supervised???

THE CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES…

*Wildfires ravage Southern California, USA. (There are 5/FIVE separate links in this item.)

*As of January 11, 2025...

*Opinion: Who knew what when???

ALSO...

*January 15 is Snow❄❅❆ Day.

*January 18 is World Snowman⛄ Day, but how do you build one in a warm climate?

*FYI: There are coastal areas that accept used Christmas Trees🎄 to help rebuild sand dunes along the beach. Check with yours to see if this program is available in your area.

*FYI: Some zoos accept used Christmas Trees🎄 to help feed their animals. Check with yours to see if this program is available in your area.

🌌SPACE NEWS...

*How Pluto might have gained a moon.

*NASA confirmed the existence of another possible Earth-like planet.

😢PASSING PARADE…

*The innocent lives lost to war.  

*The innocent lives lost after an earthquake in Tibet January 7.

*The innocent lives lost during the Southern California, USA wildfires.

*Barry D. Kramer, former professional basketball🏀 player who became a legal judge, has passed away.

*Peter Yarrow of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary is no longer with us.

*Sam(uel) Moore of Sam and Dave (♫Soul Man♫, ♫Hold On! I’m Coming!♫, much more) has passed away.

*Former professional ice hockey🏒 players Dwight Foster and Al MacNeil have passed away. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Former World Series winner⚾ Felix Mantilla is no longer with us.

*Former professional baseball⚾ player Bob Veale has passed away.

*Comedic actor Bill Byrge (the Ernest franchise) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Popular European voice over artist Benoît Allemane (always redubbed Morgan Freeman along with lots of Disney and video game characters in French) is no longer with us.

*Actor Keller Fornes (Country Rescue) has taken his last bow on life’s stage.

*Former professional baseball⚾ pitcher Brian Matusz is no longer with us.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA…

ARE YOU AWARE OF THE REGIONAL CHOCOLATE BAR RECALL???

WE NEED MORE

GUN RESPONSIBILITY

NOW!

ALL INEQUALITY HAS TO STOP!

BAN BOOK BANS!

POLITICALLY…

*The National Memorial Service for former President Jimmy Carter was held January 9 in Washington DC. While his mortal remains were transported back to Georgia for formal burial, American flags will remain at half staff until January 29 when the National Mourning Period ends. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Some immigrants have received temporary extensions while Trump’s team reportedly is looking for excuses to deport everyone they can. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*The Social Security Fairness Act is now law.

*South Carolina and the Native Village of Kwigillingok will receive Federal Disaster Assistance. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*President Biden has officially banned future offshore drilling and preserved more land. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Medical Debts can no longer appear on Credit Reports.

*The new Cyber Trust Mark.

*President Biden awarded Pope Francis a Medal of Freedom.

*President Biden was scheduled to make one last diplomatic trip abroad before leaving office, but canceled due to the California Wildfires. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Biden versus Trump: The Final Days.

*President Biden is scheduled to make a farewell address from the White House January 15.

*Speculation: How will Russia react to new American sanctions???

*The latest from the White House.

*January 15 is the 155th anniversary of Thomas Nast creating the Donkey as the Democratic Party symbol.

THE NEXT ADMINISTRATION…

*The Italian Prime Minister met with Trump January 4. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Trump differ on whether or not the Ukraine should be part of NATO.  

*While over 17,000 doctors don’t want him in that position, is Robert F. Kennedy Junior, Trump’s hopeful to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, responsible for a measles outbreak??? (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Kennedy is also being investigated for possible voter fraud violations.

*Trump claims foreign investors are going to help finance American data centers.

*Could Trump declare an “economic emergency” to get his tariffs???

*American opposition is growing to Trump’s proposed tariffs.

*Once in office, Trump still wants to pardon the January 6, 2021 “protesters”.

*Trump is now threatening Denmark with tariffs and might seize Greenland and the Panama Canal by force, “if necessary”. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Trump may also want to “annex” Canada, but would any states go north???

*Trump now also wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico.

*JD Vance officially resigned his Senate seat for his pending Vice Presidency.

*A quick look at the current legal troubles of Vince McMahon, husband of Trump’s Secretary of Education nominee Linda McMahon. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Donald Trump is scheduled to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States January 20.

*Will he visit fire ravaged California???

*Speculation: Will his first day in office be full of Executive Orders???

*Speculation: Could Trump end NATO???

*Speculation: Will Trump change the tax rules???

⚖THE SUPREME COURT REPORT…

*TikTok may be out before Trump is in.

ROE V. WADE OVERTURN>AFTERMATH

*Texas Republicans are now looking into banning abortion pills.

SOCIAL (IN)JUSTICE…

*The Surgeon had to stop the operation to talk to the patient’s insurance company???

*The Job Market’s good so stocks fall???

*FOX News is still facing a defamation lawsuit.

*Meta and Amazon are joining other businesses in cutting back on diversity programs and training.

*She paid her debts on time, yet still lost everything???

*Florida wants to “examine” Women and Gender Studies Programs.

*January 20 is the 105th anniversary of the American Civil Liberties Union.

✅IT’S FACT CHECK TIME!

*Fact checking Donald Trump’s claims about the wildfires in California. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Fact checking Trump’s potential “Border Czar” on fentanyl deaths.

*The origin of the Baby New Year.

*A look at red heads.

*What the airport scanner sees.

MEANWHILE, IN CONGRESS…

*Congress has officially certified the results of the 2024 Presidential election.

*The Laken Riley Act, changing immigration laws, has passed the House.

*Congress wants to initiate term limits upon itself???

*Congress has decided to regulate their bathrooms after all.

*Contemplating the future of Social Security.

*Speculation: How Congress might approach the Trump agenda. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

TRUMP’S TRIAL(S)…

The New York Hush Money Case…

*Trump tried to get his sentencing blocked before it was even announced. When a lower court wouldn’t, his lawyers went before the Supreme Court. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*While the Court said they couldn't act until the sentence was actually announced, did Trump privately talk to Justice Samuel Alito first???

*The actual sentence??? While “Unconditional Discharge” does mean no jail time or fines, it also keeps the 34 Guilty Convictions on record, officially making Donald Trump a known felon. And since the trial was a New York State matter, President Trump can’t pardon himself. (There are 4/FOUR separate links in this item.)

*An opinion on it all.

Other Court Proceedings…

*Will the public ever get to see Jack Smith’s final reports on his investigations into the Missing Documents and January 6, 2021 riot??? Smith did file his reports with current Attorney General Merrick Garland, who plans to release the riot volume to Congress. (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Jack Smith has now turned in his resignation.

ELSEWHERE…

*BE AWARE OF HMPV!

*The US has suffered its first Bird Flu death.

*Why is Elon Musk (allegedly) against Great Britain’s Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips???

*Facebook and Instagram will no longer fact check???

*Nissan and Honda may merge, but what about Toyota???

*Macy’s plans to close unproductive stores.

*As Rudy Giuliani’s legal woes continue… (There are 2/TWO separate links in this item.)

*Mike Lindell owes DHL back delivery fees.

*The future of Tesla will be…???

*Football🏈 during the California Wildfires???

*At the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards...

*Speculation: Does Elon Musk maintain alternate Twitter/X account(s)???

😀AND FINALLY, SOME GOOD NEWS…

*Making the family connection.

*A unique way to collect teddy bears🧸🧸 for charity.

*She’s happy she lost a bet.

*Finding the lost Christmas present...