“Talk about a ruff flight. A Delta passenger was barking mad after being forced to give up their plush first class seat for a fellow traveler — and downright furious to discover that the lucky VIP was a dog. ‘I got upgraded to first this morning, only to 15 mins later get downgraded (to a worst seat than I previously had). I asked the desk agent what was going on and she said ‘something changed.’ Okay, fine, I am disgruntled but whatever, I then board only to see this dog in my first class seat … And now I’m livid,’ Redditor @ben_bob explained in a post on the Delta Air Lines Reddit that showed the unwitting animal occupying the space that was supposed to be his.” (12/21/24)
“Authorities say a man was shot and killed after driving his vehicle through a mall in Texas, injuring multiple people Saturday night. Texas DPS Sgt. Bryan Washko said the suspect drove through the front doors of JCPenney at the Killeen mall, running over multiple people in the process. ‘The trooper and Killeen police officer continued on foot after the vehicle which was driving through the store running people over,’ Washko said. ‘He traveled several hundred yards.’ Four people were taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe and a fifth person took themselves to the hospital, according to police.” (12/22/24)
“Albania’s prime minister has announced the government intends to block access to TikTok for one year after the killing of a schoolboy last month raised fears about the influence of social media on children. Speaking on Saturday Edi Rama declared the proposed ban would start in January. TikTok said it is seeking urgent clarifications from the Albanian government about the proposed ban. The social media platform told the BBC it had found no evidence the person who allegedly stabbed the 14-year-old boy, or the victim himself, had TikTok accounts. During a meeting in Albania’s capital Tirana with teachers, parents and psychologists Rama branded TikTok as ‘the thug of the neighbourhood’. ‘We are going to close it for a year and we are going to start rolling out programs that will serve the education of students and help parents follow their children’s journey,’ Rama said.” (12/21/24)
“Qatar warned that it will cease gas exports to the European Union if the bloc’s countries impose penalties under recently adopted legislation on sustainability due diligence, Qatari Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi told the Financial Times. The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which entered into force in July, allows for fines of up to 5 percent of a company’s annual global revenue if the management fails to address adverse human rights or environmental impacts. ‘If I lose 5 percent of my revenue by supplying Europe, I won’t supply Europe,’ al-Kaabi told the newspaper in an interview published Sunday. ‘I’m not bluffing,’ he added. Qatar has become a critical supplier of liquefied natural gas to Europe as countries are reducing their reliance on Russian energy following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.” (12/22/24)
“Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea in an apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident, the U.S military said, marking the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Both pilots were recovered alive after ejecting from their stricken aircraft, with one suffering minor injuries. But the shootdown underlines just how dangerous the Red Sea corridor has become over the ongoing attacks on shipping by the Iranian-backed Houthis despite U.S. and European military coalitions patrolling the area. The U.S. military had conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels at the time, though the U.S. military’s Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press. The F/A-18 shot down had just flown off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier, Central Command said.” (12/21/24)
“A homeowner found herself behind bars after attempting to reclaim her home from an alleged squatter. Loletha Hale was charged with criminal trespass following a confrontation at her property on Dec. 9, according to WSB-TV 2. … The situation began in August when Hale discovered Sakemeyia Johnson, whom she described as a squatter, occupying her home. However, a judge ruled that Johnson was not a squatter due to her relation to a previously evicted tenant’s partner.” [hat tip — RRS] (12/21/24)
“The death toll from stampedes during two Christmas charity events in Nigeria has increased from 13 to 32, police said Sunday. The victims, including at least four children, collapsed during crowd surges as people grew desperate for food items while the country grapples with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. The dead included 22 people in southeastern Anambra state’s Okija town, where a philanthropist on Saturday organized a food distribution, local police spokesman Tochukwu Ikenga said. Ten others died in the capital, Abuja, during a church-organized similar charity event. Police said they were investigating the two incidents, only days after another stampede in which 35 children were killed.” (12/22/24)
“President-elect Trump unleashed a tirade against Panama Canal tolls Saturday, claiming the U.S. is being ripped off by high prices. In a Truth Social post Saturday, Trump complained at length about the fees levied on U.S. ships going through the Big Ditch. The Panama Canal’s tolls can range from three to six figures depending on how large a vessel is and how much cargo it carries, with the largest ships being charged as much as $500,000. ‘The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security,’ Trump wrote in his post. ‘A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports.’ The incoming president criticized former President Carter, who Trump said ‘foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar.'” (12/21/24)
“The New York Police Department’s top uniformed officer, known as the Chief of Department, abruptly resigned Saturday amid allegations he demanded sexual favors from a subordinate. Jeffrey Maddrey, a close ally of New York Mayor Eric Adams and a 33-year veteran of the NYPD, has submitted his resignation, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced. The resignation came hours after the New York Post reported Maddrey demanded sexual favors from a female lieutenant in exchange for awarding her hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of overtime pay.” (12/21/24)
“The Chinese government protested Sunday the latest American announcements of military sales and assistance to Taiwan, warning the United States that it is ‘playing with fire’. U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Saturday the provision of up to $571 million in Defense Department material and services and in military education and training for Taiwan. Separately, the Defense Department said Friday that $295 million in military sales had been approved. A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement urged the U.S. to stop arming Taiwan and stop what it called ‘dangerous moves that undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait’. Taiwan is a democratic island of 23 million people that the Chinese government claims as its territory and says must come under its control. U.S. military sales and assistance aim to help Taiwan defend itself and deter China from launching an attack.” (12/21/24)
