“United States President Donald Trump has ordered the declassification and release of all remaining files related to the assassination of former US President John F Kennedy, the focus of popular conspiracy theories for six decades. Trump’s executive order signed on Thursday also calls for the release of the last remaining records on the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy, JFK’s younger brother, and the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. … Under Trump’s order, the director of national intelligence must present a plan within 15 days for the ‘full and complete release’ of files related to JFK’s assassination and a plan within 45 days for the release of documents on the other two assassinations.” (01/24/25)
“Russian air defences repelled a massive Ukrainian drone attack overnight, intercepting and destroying 121 drones targeting 13 regions, including Moscow, Russia’s Defence Ministry said on Friday, making no mention of casualties or damage. The ministry said six drones had been destroyed over the Moscow region and one over the capital itself, while other drones had targeted other regions, including those that border Ukraine and Kursk, where Ukrainian troops hold a chunk of land despite Russian efforts to eject them. Twenty drones had also targeted the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, the ministry said, and channels on the Telegram messaging app posted unverified videos of what bloggers there described as large blazes in the city. They said an oil storage depot and a power station had been hit.
Reuters could not confirm those reports.” (01/24/25)
“A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday signed a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour heard a request by four Democratic-led states to issue a temporary restraining order against the executive order signed by Trump that purports to limit birthright citizenship — long guaranteed by the 14th Amendment — to people who have at least one parent who is a United States citizen or permanent resident. ‘I have been on the bench for over four decades,’ said Judge Coughenour, who was nominated to the bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. ‘I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as it is here. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.'” (01/23/25)
“Micheal Martin became Ireland’s taoiseach (prime minister) for the second time in his political career on Thursday, a day later than planned. The Irish parliament descended into uproar on Wednesday, its first day back in session after weeks of political horse-trading and coalition-building, following the country’s general election in November. Wednesday’s order of business was scheduled to start with the vote to elect a new taoiseach but this formality was delayed repeatedly. It was then ultimately abandoned for the day, as opposition parties took to their feet in loud protest over the granting of extended speaking rights to independent parliamentarians who support the incoming government. Attempts to resolve the dispute continued into Thursday morning when the government acknowledged that there was ‘ambiguity’ in speaking rights and an agreement was reached that government-supporting independents cannot for now retain extended speaking rights from the opposition benches.” (01/23/25)
“Tens of thousands of residents remain under evacuation orders and warnings Thursday morning as firefighters continue to battle for containment on the Hughes Fire that erupted near Castaic. The blaze was reported around 11 a.m. Wednesday in the area of Lake Hughes Road near Castaic Lake and used gusty winds to rapidly spread through steep terrain. Thousands of firefighters were called to battle the Hughes Fire, which had scorched 10,176 acres as of 11:36 p.m. Wednesday. Crews had built the containment level to 14%, according to Cal Fire.” (01/23/25)
“Turkey’s central bank lowered its key interest rate by 2.5 percentage points to 45% on Thursday, in its second rate cut in as many months as official figures showed inflation was easing. The bank’s Monetary Policy Committee said it was reducing its benchmark one-week repo rate to 45% from the current 47.5%. In its previous reduction in December, the bank also cut the rate by 2.5 percentage points. Despite the significant rate cut, the central bank reaffirmed its commitment to controlling soaring inflation which has left many households in Turkey struggling to afford basic needs.” (01/23/25)
“The International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor announced on Thursday he had requested arrest warrants for two top Afghan Taliban officials for the repression of women. Karim Khan said in a statement he asked judges to approve warrants for the group’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhunzada, and the head of Afghanistan’s Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, accusing the men of crimes against humanity for gender-based persecution.” (01/23/25)
“The world’s largest iceberg is on a collision course with a remote British island, potentially putting penguins and seals in danger. The iceberg is spinning northwards from Antarctica towards South Georgia, a rugged British territory and wildlife haven, where it could ground and smash into pieces. It is currently 173 miles (280km) away. Countless birds and seals died on South Georgia’s icy coves and beaches when past giant icebergs stopped them feeding. ‘Icebergs are inherently dangerous. I would be extraordinarily happy if it just completely missed us,’ sea captain Simon Wallace tells BBC News, speaking from the South Georgia government vessel Pharos.” (01/23/25)
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers hit the ground running this week, arresting multiple violent offenders in sanctuary cities, including a hostile Haitian gang member with a lengthy rap sheet who said he ‘ain’t going back to Haiti’ and raged ‘F–k Trump, Biden forever!’ ICE officers in Boston made eight noteworthy arrests, including multiple MS-13 gang members, murder and rape suspects and the Haitian gang member, with 18 recent convictions, according to Fox News, who rode along with ICE for the arrests. There was also at least one ‘collateral’ [abduction] where ICE took an illegal [sic] immigrant who wasn’t their initial target into custody, with the arrest in Boston being of an MS-13 gang member who had been released by the sanctuary city on Tuesday.” (01/23/25)
“The two men imprisoned for another man’s crimes are now suing Hawaii County, current and former police officers who worked to convict them of killing Dana Ireland. Brothers Albert Ian and Shawn Schweitzer filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday afternoon alleging civil rights violations. … Shawn Schweitzer served one year while Albert Ian served 23 years in prison. Both convictions were overturned in 2023. In 2024, the Hawaii Innocence Project hired an expert who used genetic genealogy DNA to compare evidence from Ireland’s rape kit, clothes and the ambulance gurney. All the evidence led to Albert Lauro, Jr. who lived near the crime scene. The 57-year old was questioned last July, forced to turn over more DNA, then released. He killed himself days later.” (01/23/25)
