IDF finds and destroys Hezbollah weapon supplies in southern Lebanon
Just because the Israel Defense Force (IDF) is adhering to the rules of a ceasefire with Hezbollah doesn’t mean that it’s not dismantling the terrorist network in other ways. This week, the IDF announced it found a trove of Hezbollah weaponry and military equipment in southern Lebanon.
The IDF’s 769th “Hiram” Brigade said the latest discovery announced on Friday, Jan. 10, included rocket launchers, mortar shells, rocket-propelled grenades, missiles and explosives.
Soldiers also found weapons in a depot containing dozens of shoulder-launched missiles along with a stache of other equipment.
Meanwhile, the IDF’s 300th Brigade also made some notable finds just days before on, Wednesday, Jan. 8, uncovering and destroying five Hezbollah weapons facilities.
Inside the weapons storage lockers were more than 200 mortar shells, ready-to-fire rocket launchers and personal body armor.
The soldiers also found a truck with Hezbollah insignia containing three medium-range rocket launchers.
All the weapons were destroyed, and the IDF made sure to stress the military is continuing to carry out the dismantling of terrorist infrastructure, which is allowed under the current Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement.
It also looks like Israel may be getting help soon.
The Lebanese prime minister said on Friday, Jan. 10, that Lebanon’s army will soon begin efforts to disarm Hezbollah.
All of this is coming as Lebanon elected President Joesph Aoun on Thursday, Jan. 9, after a two-year vacuum at the position, adding some stability to the war-torn country that is trying to fight its way out of an economic collapse.
Aoun’s election has garnered some praise from President Joe Biden and Israel’s foreign minister, who expressed optimism Aoun’s win could mean better and more stable futures for both countries.
Lebanon elects new US-backed president after years of vacancy at position
Lebanon’s Parliament broke more than two years of gridlock on Thursday, Jan. 9, to elect a new president. It’s a crucial move to bring the country closer to stability as it recovers from economic collapse and a war between Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel within its borders.
Lawmakers elected U.S.-backed Gen. Joseph Aoun, who has been the commander of the Lebanese military since 2017, as president in a second round of voting.
Aoun secured his win after the first round of votes from lawmakers left him short of the majority needed to become president.
Aoun’s election is a critical step for a country enduring economic free fall and a war between Israel and Hezbollah that has left large swaths of the country destroyed.
The election of a new president also comes at a crucial time for the Middle East, as a new Syrian government takes over after the fall of the Assad regime and amid a ceasefire between Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and Israel.
Lebanon’s international backers, including the United States, have reportedly suggested financial support for a postwar rebuild in Lebanon is dependent on the election of a new president.
The World Bank reportedly estimates the Israel-Hezbollah conflict has cost Lebanon $8.5 billion in damages.
The country has been without a president since October 2022 when Michael Aoun, who is not related to the new president, stepped down.
During Michael Aoun’s six years in power, Hezbollah had considerable influence as a political force in the region but has since been weakened by a 14-month war with Israel.
Lebanon’s Parliament had failed in 12 previous attempts to elect a successor. However, foreign policy analysts note that Lebanese lawmakers likely felt pressure to elect a U.S.-supported president due to its need for financial support from international partners.
The new president oversaw Lebanon’s armed forces, which saw backing from the United States. Aoun is also reportedly widely respected across the country.
Aoun is now expected to appoint a prime minister with the help of Parliament. The prime minister will then form a government, which could reportedly be a lengthy process.
Why Macron fears Iran’s nuclear program is nearing ‘point of no return’
French President Emmanuel Macron warned the world on Monday, Jan. 6, that Iran is nearing “the point of no return” when it comes to procuring potential nuclear weapons. Macron said during his address to French ambassadors that Tehran has enough enriched uranium to power a handful of nuclear warheads, and called Iran the biggest strategic threat that Europe faces.
It’s not just Macron who said Iran is increasing its enriched uranium stockpile. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said in December that Iran was “dramatically” accelerating enrichment, and roughly 90% of its uranium stockpile was at bomb-grade level.
France was part of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which fell apart in 2018 when the first Trump administration withdrew the United States. Under that deal, Iran had agreed to pull back on its nuclear program in exchange for international sanctions being lifted.
As a result of the U.S. backing out, Iran began enriching uranium at higher levels, which reportedly shortened the time needed to make a nuclear device from months to weeks.
President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20, is also reportedly raising fresh concerns after he drew a hardline with Tehran during his first term.
Macron said he is still debating whether more sanctions may be the answering to deterring Tehran from further enhancing its nuclear program and will talk with the incoming Trump administration about the “Iranian question.”
Israel used commandos to blow up Iran’s missile factory in Syria
This past fall, Israel sent more than 100 commandos to carry out a raid on one of Iran’s missile production facilities in Syria. The raid happened in September, and the soldiers reportedly didn’t suffer a single casualty. The world only learned much about it because the Israeli Defense Force recently released some details and footage captured by the commandos during the mission.
So, let’s start at the beginning.
The raid, called “Operation Many Ways,” took place the night of Sept. 8. At the time, Bashar al-Assad was still ruling Syria, and Israel had not yet begun its major offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The target was an underground missile production facility, codenamed “Deep Layer.” As its codename suggests, the facility was buried between 230 and 430 feet deep in the mountains overlooking Syria’s Scientific Studies and Research Center.
Israel said the site was Iran’s flagship project to arm Hezbollah, the terrorist proxy in Lebanon that the IDF has since severely weakened.
The facility was built underground because the Israeli Air Force frequently targeted supply lines from Iran to Lebanon. By producing weapons underground and closer to Lebanon, Iran was trying to streamline transportation.
The IDF reported Deep Layer wasn’t fully operational but was close to producing weapons full time for Hezbollah. The facility was already manufacturing rocket motors at scale.
Planning for Operation Many Ways began in 2017 and even included forklift certification for some commandos, as they needed to use forklifts onsite to breach doors in the facility.
The operation involved 100 special operators from the Israeli Air Force’s Tier-1 commando unit, Shaldag, and 20 search-and-rescue soldiers.
The commandos breached the facility, while the search-and-rescue soldiers were on standby to provide medical treatment if needed.
The IDF said there was enough equipment to set up a small field hospital if needed. In the end, it wasn’t needed, as no injuries were reported. However, the medical personnel and equipment on sight underscored Israel’s commitment to the mission. The IDF was determined to destroy the facility before evacuating anyone.
Once inside, the commandos placed explosives on all the key elements needed for weapons manufacturing, gathered intelligence, and then exfiltrated to helicopters which took them home. After they exited, the explosives were detonated, destroying the facility.
Israel’s Air Force and navy conducted concurrent strikes in the area to provide cover while the commandos carried out the raid. The coordinated effort lasted about two and a half hours. Again, there were no reported injuries or casualties among the Israeli forces.
Some 30 Syrian guards and soldiers were killed during the operation. About an hour after the commandos pulled out of Deep Layer, hundreds of Syrian soldiers swarmed the site. Which just goes to show timing in operations like this, is everything.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
The man accused of gunning down the CEO of UnitedHealthcare on a New York City sidewalk is charged with murder. And the Biden administration levels allegations of war crimes against two Syrians who were high-raking members of the now ousted regime. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024.
Suspect charged with murder in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO
After nearly a week of searching, the manhunt for the suspected gunman who shot and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a New York City hotel last week is over. Police said they located the 26-year-old suspect inside a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 300 miles from New York on Monday, Dec. 9.
The New York City Police Department filed first-degree murder charges against Luigi Mangione, according to court documents released Monday night. Mangione also faces charges of possession of a loaded firearm, possession of a forged driver’s license, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Mangione is described as a former high school valedictorian and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, who grew up in Maryland but has also had past addresses in California and Hawaii.
Mangione was taken into custody in Altoona after authorities said a McDonald’s employee recognized him as the person of interest seen in images related to Thompson’s shooting death.
When police arrived on the scene, they questioned Mangione. According to court documents, Mangione “started to shake” when asked if he’d recently been in New York City. Authorities said at first, he lied about his identity.
So proud of @NYPDMTN Detectives, and our Major Case and Homicide Squads, who worked around-the-clock on the homicide investigation in Midtown. I joined them last night to thank them for their dedication. No doubt, their work was instrumental to identifying the person of interest… pic.twitter.com/jAFA7JDcHd
Court documents show he was carrying a black 3-D printed pistol with a silencer. The NYPD said the “ghost gun” found on him was consistent with the one used in the murder. Ghost guns do not have serial numbers.
Police said Mangione also had on him a fake ID, matching the one used by the suspect at a New York City hostel before the shooting, and a three-page written note.
“That document is currently in the possession of the Altoona Police Department as part of their investigation but just from briefly speaking with them, we don’t think that there’s any specific threats to other people mentioned in that document, but it does seem that he has some ill will toward corporate America,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenney said.
Multiple reports Tuesday morning, Dec. 10, claimed those writings included the phrases “these parasites had it coming” and it “had to be done.”
During a press conference Monday evening, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) spoke of how the killing has led to some people online sharing their frustrations and anger over the healthcare system but emphasized that Mangione is not a martyr.
“In some dark corners, this killer’s being hailed as a hero,” Shapiro said. “Hear me on this: he is no hero. The real hero in this story is the person who called 911 at McDonald’s this [Monday] morning. The real heroes every day in our society are the women and men who put on uniforms like these and go out in our communities to keep us safe. This killer is not a hero. He should not be hailed.”
Mangione will remain in custody in Pennsylvania pending his extradition to New York, which is expected to take place later this week.
Jury finds former US Marine not guilty in NYC chokehold death trial
Tensions remain high in New York after a jury acquitted U.S. Marine veteran Daniel Penny of all charges on Monday, including criminally negligent homicide, in the chokehold death of a schizophrenic man, whose behavior had some people on the New York subway testifying they feared for their lives.
The caught-on-camera deadly incident from May 2023 saw Penny put Jordan Neely in a chokehold from behind after Neely walked up and down the F train saying “somebody is going to die today”.
Prosecutors said the chokehold lasted too long, was reckless, and resulted in the 30-year-old homeless man’s death. The defense brought an expert in to show Neely was under the influence of the synthetic marijuana drug K2, arguing he died from drug use and a previous medical condition.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse Tuesday, fights broke out as protesters and counter-protesters clashed. After the verdict Neely’s father stated, “There is no justice.”
US charges 2 former Syrian officials with war crimes
The United States has charged two former high-ranking Syrian intelligence officials with war crimes. The DOJ said during Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Jamil Hassan and Abdul Salam Mahmoud oversaw operations of a detention facility where Americans and civilians who had been deemed enemies of the state were tortured.
In other developments in the Middle East, the U.S. has also sent a special envoy to Beirut, Lebanon to find out what happened to Austin Tice. Tice is an American journalist who vanished in Syria 12 years ago.
"We have heard from sources that have been vetted by the U.S. government that Austin is alive." Austin Tice has been missing in Syria for 12 years. Today his brother & sister tell me "every day is a day that Austin should be released and a day that Austin could be released." pic.twitter.com/o08OgOFKEm
On Sunday, Dec. 8, President Joe Biden said he believes Tice is still alive and his administration is committed to bringing him home. Syria has publicly denied holding Tice.
Meanwhile, Israel has launched a large-scale attack on Syria, striking what it called strategic military sites after the fall of the al-Assad government. It also expanded its presence into the Golan Heights, a buffer zone along the country’s border with Syria.
Israel claimed the move is temporary and aimed at ensuring nearby areas are not exposed to any potential security threats, but Iran has appealed to the United Nations Security Council, saying the expansion is a “flagrant violation” of U.N. charter, breaking a 50-year cease-fire agreement.
Hegseth looks to shore up Senate support on Capitol Hill
President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary is back on Capitol Hill this week. He’s looking to shore up support from Senate Republicans.
Pete Hegseth met with Senators Joni Ernst and Lindsey Graham on Monday. Both had expressed concerns over allegations against Hegseth of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities and excessive drinking.
Hegseth denies a lot of it and says he is changed man. He served in the Army in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Lord & Taylor to relaunch as online discount luxury retailer
Another department store chain is set to make an internet comeback. Lord & Taylor is set to relaunch in 2025 as a discount luxury e-commerce platform offering designer goods and Lord & Taylor-branded products, according to its new owner.
Regal Brands Global acquired the Lord & Taylor intellectual property in September after its previous owner, Saadia Group — which had re-launched the chain as an e-commerce website in 2021 — ceased operations.
Regal Brands reportedly aims to position Lord & Taylor products to compete with other high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom.
‘Emilia Perez’ receives most Golden Globe nominations
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
Syrian rebels oust dictator Bashar al-Assad, who has fled the country after nearly 25 years in power. And the suspected killer of a health care CEO in New York City is still at-large after eluding a massive manhunt for almost a week. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
‘Risk and uncertainty’ as Syrian rebels oust Assad after decades in power
It’s the dawn of a new era in Syria. After more than a decade of civil war in the country, President Bashar al-Assad was ousted after rebel groups overtook the capital in a coup on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Now Syria and its people are left with the question of what comes next as countries around the world, including the United States, react to the changing landscape.
Syrians could be seen celebrating in the streets as word spread that Assad had fled the country. State media reported the president and his family landed in Russia Sunday evening and Assad has been granted political asylum in Moscow.
The toppled leader, who had been in power since 2000 and whose family had ruled for five decades, was forced to vacate after rebel forces quickly captured city after city leading to them taking control of Damascus.
Since the civil war broke out in the wake of the pro-democracy Arab Spring demonstrations of 2011, Assad’s forces have been accused of brutal severe human rights violations, including using chemical weapons against their people. They’ve been held responsible for the deaths of more than 5,000 people and the displacement of millions of others.
The rebels who led to Assad’s ouster were headed by Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the leader of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. Jolani called the coup “a victory for the whole Islamic nation.”
Jolani’s group used to be linked to Al Qaeda. Though it has cut those ties, the U.S. still designates it a terrorist group.
President Joe Biden spoke from the White House Sunday, calling the end of Assad’s regime a “fundamental act of justice.” Biden added the U.S. will support Syria’s neighbors Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq should any threat arise from this period of transition.
Biden referred to this as a time of “risk and uncertainty.”
“We will remain vigilante. Make no mistake, some of the rebel groups that took down Assad have their own grim record of terrorism and human rights abuses,” Biden said. “We’ve taken note of statements by the leaders of these rebel groups in recent days and they’re saying the right things now. But as they take on greater responsibility, we will assess not just their words but their actions.”
Biden said Assad’s downfall came in part due to allies Iran, Russia and Hezbollah being weaker today than when Biden began his term.
President-elect Donald Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform Sunday, saying Iran and Russia are in weakened states right now and calling for the end of the war in Ukraine. However, in a post on Saturday, Dec. 7, Trump said the U.S. should not get involved with Syria, saying, “This is not our fight. Let it play out.”
Iran’s president said it is up to the Syrian people to decide the future of their country.
Amid the time of transition in Syria, the U.S. showed it will continue its efforts against ISIS in the region. U.S. Central Command said it launched a series of airstrikes Sunday targeting ISIS camps and leaders in central Syria, confirming 75 “targets” had been hit. U.S. officials said it will not allow ISIS to take advantage of the current situation in Syria.
Trump promises to pardon Jan. 6 rioters on first day in office
In his first network TV interview since winning the election, President-elect Trump touched on some of his biggest campaign promises and his plans to start following through with them immediately when he takes office in January.
In an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker for Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said, “A lot of it will have to do with economics. A lot’s gonna do with energy. A lot’s having to do with the border. We’re gonna immediately strengthen up the border and do a real job.”
Trump also doubled down on his promise to pardon Americans jailed for their role in the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, saying they had no other choice than to plead guilty. Department of Justice records show more than 1,500 people have been arrested or charged in connection with that attack and nearly 900 have pleaded guilty.
While Trump said he will not tell his nominees for FBI director and attorney general to go after his political rivals, he did share his opinion on what should happen to lawmakers who were on the House’s select committee to investigate January 6.
“Everybody on that committee, for what they did, honestly, they should go to jail,” he said.
After that interview, former Congresswoman Liz Cheney (R-WY), who was on the committee, issued a statement saying, “Donald Trump’s suggestion that members of congress who later investigated his illegal and unconstitutional actions should be jailed is a continuation of his assault on the rule of law and the foundations of our republic.”
Trump did reiterate multiple times during Sunday’s interview he has no plans to go after political rivals, but as we’ve reported here at Straight Arrow News, President Biden is considering preemptive pardons for Cheney and others who were part of the House Jan. 6 investigation, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci and Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Police release new images of suspect in NYC deadly shooting
The manhunt for the killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson enters a new week.
Over the weekend, the NYPD released new images of the apparent suspect. Police identify the man in the pictures as “a person of interest” wanted for questioning for the fatal shooting outside a Hilton hotel Wednesday, Dec. 4.
One image shows the masked man in the back of a taxi. Another shows him walking on the sidewalk outside a vehicle. Police are hoping these images, along with others released last week, will help lead to the gunman.
Authorities reportedly traveled to Atlanta on Saturday, Dec. 7, and have been searching a lake near Central Park. On Friday night, Dec. 6, reports said investigators found a backpack believed to belong to the shooter. Inside they found two items: a Tommy Hilfiger jacket and Monopoly money.
Jay-Z accused of raping 13-year-old girl alongside Diddy
Music mogul Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter, has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl alongside Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a civil suit filed Sunday, the anonymous accuser claimed the assault happened in 2000 at an MTV Video Music Awards after-party.
The federal lawsuit was originally filed in October only listing Combs as a defendant, but it was refiled Sunday to include Carter.
Jay-Z, who is married to Beyonce, denied the accusation and said in a statement directed at the attorney who filed the suit, “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!”
Combs’ lawyer also responded, calling the suit a “shameless” publicity stunt.
In September, federal prosecutors in New York criminally charged Combs with racketeering, sex trafficking and other offenses. He is in jail awaiting trial, which is scheduled to start May 5.
Kennedy Center honors Coppola, Grateful Dead, The Apollo
President Biden was among those in attendance — a tradition President Trump did not continue during his first term in office, saying he did not want to be a political distraction as some attendees had threatened to boycott his appearance. As Trump gets ready to start his second term in office, there are questions about whether federal funding for the arts might be on the chopping block.
Reports: Juan Soto, Mets agree on largest contract in pro sports history
Former New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto is staying in the Big Apple, but moving leagues in reportedly the largest deal in professional sports history.
But should Soto decide not to opt out, his pay will reportedly go up an extra $4 million a year for the remainder of the deal — meaning in the end, this could be an over $800 million deal.
The agreement also reportedly includes a $75 million signing bonus. Soto’s deal surpasses the record set just last year by Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million contract.
Note: The headline has been corrected to Assad. A previous version had the incorrect name.
Biden, Trump react to reignited rebellion in Syria as Assad flees
Syrian President Bashar Assad has landed in Russia, according to state media. This comes after a swift offensive targeting Damascus forced him to flee the country on Dec. 7, ending nearly 60 years of Assad family rule in Syria.
There were swift reactions from U.S. leaders, including from President-elect Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. Before Assad fled the country, Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT, LET IT PLAY OUT, DO NOT GET INVOLVED.”
Trump also posted after Assad was confirmed to have fled to Moscow, saying, “Russia and Iran are in a weakened state right now.” He also called for a ceasefire in Ukraine.
President Biden also made announcements about the conflict. He says the administration is “clear eyed” on the subject of a potential IS resurgence, saying, “Just today, U.S. forces conducted a dozen precision strikes, airstrikes, within Syria targeting ISIS camps and ISIS operatives.”
Moscow has not been silent on the matter either, with Russian officials saying the country “is in contact with all factions of the Syrian opposition.” The Russian Foreign Ministry also confirmed that Assad, “made the decision to resign from the presidency and leave the country, instructing a peaceful transfer of power.”
After over 13 years of brutal civil war, back and forth offensives and civilian crackdowns in Syria, long time President Assad has fled the country to his allies in Moscow. Rebels, in a surprise offensive starting on Nov. 27, swiftly captured the major city of Aleppo, turning south and taking the major cities of Hama, then Homs.
The war began during the Arab Spring, a wave of pro-democratic protests, revolutions and civil wars that began in the early 2010s. Major leaders were toppled, including Muammar Gaddaffi in Libya, and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.
⚡️The Syrian war as we known it for 14 years has ended.
Northern Idlib’s Syrian Salvation Government, headed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a U.S. designated terrorist organization, and the Syrian National Army (SNA), a Turkish backed group, began attacking southwards in late November, and by Dec. 5 were at the doors of Homs, a major logistical hub connecting the capital of Damascus to Syria’s Mediterranean coast.
On Dec. 6, rebel forces under the banner of the Southern Front captured a southern regional capital, Suwayda, as well as Daraa, and Assad’s forces were seen leaving much of the eastern part of the country, which is mostly desert. Those areas were taken in small chunks by Islamic State group remnants and U.S. backed Kurdish forces.
While HTS was occupied with resistance from Assad’s forces, Iranian militias, Russian soldiers and Hezbollah in Homs, the Southern Front began to enter outer Damascus on Dec. 7, slowly surrounding the capital city. By the end of the day, attacking forces were said to be in the suburbs of Damascus.
Very early on Dec. 8, defending forces retreated from Homs, and northern rebels were able to capture the city. Another U.S. backed group, the Syrian Free Army, was also able to approach Damascus from the north.
Later that day, Syrian Prime Minister Mohammad Ghazi al-Jalali stated that he was ready to cooperate with the rebels. In a recorded message he said “We are ready to cooperate with any leadership chosen by the people.”
Notably, President Assad had not made any public appearances in days within Damascus, with many wondering if he had fled. Russian officials later confirmed that he had “stepped down” and left the country, taking refuge in Moscow.
What’s next for the war-torn nation?
With Assad gone and a new normal being imposed on Syria by a number of different armed groups, many are left to wonder what sort of government will be set up in the dictator’s absence. The main group of the offensive, HTS, has links to Al-Qaida and IS, though the group has tried to shed those past connections.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani met with CNN in an interview on Dec. 6, and says he has cut jihadist ties and now embraces religious tolerance and pluralism.
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Golani
Also still in the country are some Russian forces, which fled entrenched positions around the nation, now controlling only their leased Tartus naval base on the Mediterranean and Khmeimim air base near Latakia. Russian forces say they are on “high alert” as rebel forces near their positions.
In the northeast of the country, the Syrian Democratic Forces, a U.S. backed Kurdish group, still fights Turkish proxy groups such as the SNA, though notably HTS and other groups have not engaged the Kurds so far.
Israel also has a part to play, with the Israeli Defense Forces attacking a number of Assad government military installations near the occupied Golan Heights. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a buffer zone be created near the Golan, with the 1974 ceasefire over the occupied zone void, according to the leader.
Though the fight to oust Assad is over, with major blows to Russian and Iranian influence and power in the region, it is unknown what sort of government may be set up by the number of different groups in Syria. Israeli attacks have only intensified, and it is unknown if these armed groups in the country will be able to keep the peace in the long term, not only within Syria, but with each other.
The “Wicked” movie continues to make headlines after its November release. However, the attention is not for the reasons fans expected.
Straight Arrow News recently reported that toy company Mattel is facing a class action lawsuit, following a packaging error on its “Wicked” dolls. The dolls’ boxes included a URL that led consumers to an adult film website instead of the movie’s official site.
Lawsuit against Mattel over URL error
Court documents reveal that a South Carolina mother has filed the lawsuit after purchasing a “Wicked” doll for her daughter. The child visited the explicit site upon scanning the URL. Although Mattel apologized for the mistake, the plaintiff claims she was not offered a refund.
The lawsuit also highlights that the daughter, a minor, experienced emotional distress after seeing the inappropriate content.
In response to the error, Mattel advised customers in a November statement to discard the packaging or obscure the link. They also directed customers to Mattel’s customer service for further assistance.
Reports of Kuwait banning “Wicked” over LGBTQ+ content
While “Wicked” proved to be a box office hit in the U.S., debuting with over $112 million, it is not being embraced everywhere. Variety originally reported Kuwait had banned the movie from its theaters. Local outlets like Arab Times Kuwait speculated it could have been due to the film’s LGBTQ+ cast, an issue that remains controversial in the country.
However, as of Friday, Dec. 6, Variety says the film is playing in theaters despite earlier reports.
Kuwait’s LGBTQ+ rights are extremely limited, and the country is one of 63 worldwide that criminalizes homosexuality, according to the Human Dignity Trust, an international organization that works to challenge anti-LGBTQ+ laws globally.
Previous bans in Kuwait and Lebanon
Last year, both Kuwait and Lebanon banned “Barbie” the movie despite its billion-dollar global success. Officials in both countries cited concerns that the film’s content contradicted their national values, as the New York Times reported.
After rebels win control in Aleppo, Syrian government and Russia strike back
TheSyrian government launched counterattacks on Monday, Dec. 2, against rebels who seized territory in the northwestern part of the country, and they did it with Russian help. Syrian state media announced the strikes, coming days after insurgent rebels seized the city of Aleppo. It’s another eruption of violence in the decade-old conflict.
Syrian forces took Aleppo after years of fighting, but rebels were able to reclaim the entire city in just a few days.
The Islamist rebels are from a group the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. The group governed the region of Idlib, on the border with Turkey, for the last few years. The Turkish government supported the rebels and stepped in to negotiate a ceasefire in 2020.
But now, the rebels are in Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based war monitor, says rebels took large portions of the western and northwestern parts of the country.
Russia and Iran, meanwhile, are standing by Syria’s longtime government in President Bashar Al-Assad. It’s not clear yet how well the Syrian government can defend against the rebels, especially considering the changes in territory since the offensive began just days ago.
Until the recent offensive, Syrian forces and rebels have largely avoided major conflict since 2020. But that came after nearly nine years of fighting.
In that time, hundreds of thousands of people died in the civil war. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees says more than 12 million people are still dealing with displacement from their homes because of the war.
This is the latest flashpoint in a region where several countries have been engaged in recent fighting. Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hamas in Gaza in a conflict that’s now over a year old. And just last week, the Israeli military agreed to a ceasefire with Hezbollah, stopping months of fighting in Lebanon, at least temporarily.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
President-elect Donald Trump said Mexico has agreed to stem the tide of migrants flowing into the United States, but Mexico’s president is now saying that’s not quite accurate. And Amazon workers are using Black Friday to make a statement about their labor situation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
As President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to return to office, he’s already making moves to follow through on some of his biggest campaign promises. After announcing this week his plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, he turned his attention to another hot-button issue: immigration.
It’s a bit of a case of “he said, she said” after Trump had a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, Nov. 27. President-elect Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call saying Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration into the U.S. through Mexico, “effectively closing our southern border.”
Sheinbaum appeared to contradict Trump in a post of her own on X, saying in part, “Mexico’s position is not to close borders…”
She did, however, lay out Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” for addressing the migration issue. In a separate post on X, Sheinbaum said during the call, she told President-elect Trump, “No caravans are arriving at the border because they are being attended to in Mexico.”
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
The two leaders also talked about how they’re addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The call was scheduled after Trump unveiled plans to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico to the U.S. as part of the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through Mexico.
Not only would that impact the prices of avocados and agave — both very popular in the U.S. — Mexico’s economy secretary said Wednesday 88% of all North American pickup trucks come from Mexico. Sheinbaum then suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own.
“I hope he rethinks it,” Biden said. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do. You know, one of the things you’ve heard me say before is that we are – we have an unusual situation in America. We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”
Economists forecast Trump’s planned tariffs would increase prices for American shoppers, costing the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Israel and Hezbollah both claim ceasefire violations
Barely three days into a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, both sides are claiming violations.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Lebanese authorities also said two people, who were trying to return to southern Lebanon, were shot and wounded by Israeli forces. Lebanon’s health ministry said they were civilians, but the IDF claimed they were suspected of violating terms of the truce.
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah militants will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of Amazon workers to strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., are on strike on some of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days across the world. It started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, a day for bargain hunters to score some of the biggest discounts from stores across the country as holiday shopping kicks into high gear.
Organizers told the United Nations the so-called “days of resistance” are to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, as well as “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” According to ABC News, the strike could delay holiday deliveries.
The organizers said this is their fifth year of labor action against Amazon during the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
In a statement, Amazon said the group that organized the strikes is being “intentionally misleading” and promoting a “false narrative.” Management said the company offers great pay and benefits.
Canada sues Google over control of online ads
Canada’s antitrust watchdog said it is suing Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the company’s online advertising business. They’re calling for Google to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty.
The Competition Bureau said it’s necessary because an investigation into Google found the company “unlawfully” tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. Google insists the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector and is fighting the allegations.
This comes just a week after the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, saying it continues to crush the competition through its dominant search engine.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season. On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as a northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Alaska native air drops Thanksgiving turkeys to families in remote areas
In the most remote parts of Alaska a Thanksgiving turkey is hard to come by. So, one woman made sure families in roadless parts of the state had their holiday feast.
Pilot Esther Keim calls it “Alaska Turkey Bomb.” She flies in a small plane to off-the-grid homes and air drops frozen turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
Keim said it’s a tribute to a family friend who did the same thing for her family when she was growing up.
She started the tradition in 2022 after somebody that she knew told her they did not have much of a holiday dinner — and no turkey at all. Since then, she has delivered 30 to 40 turkeys every year to families living in remote areas of Alaska.
