Experts Say Drone Sightings in the Northeast Are of American Origin
Drone sightings have been reported along the Northeast this past week, with the machines flying overhead in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. While law enforcement agencies have provided little information to the public regarding their origin, some of the drones have been reported to be as big as 6 feet long. Experts have said due to the large size of the machines, the drones would need to be refueled within the continental United States, meaning they cannot be solely international. The Pentagon has assured the public that the drones are American, but the FBI noted that little is known about their usage or who is controlling them. Colonel William Dunn, formerly of the United States Marine Corps, is concerned about these developments. “The concern is definitely valid. One thing I do believe, I believe the government knows the source of these drones, and I believe the source of these drones is from inside the U.S., especially the larger drones,” he said. Many are asking the federal government to provide more information into this mystery.
School Shooting in Madison, Wisconsin Leaves A Student and Teacher Dead
Earlier this week, another tragedy struck in Madison, Wisconsin when a 15-year-old girl opened fire in a private Christian K-12 school. The shooter, since identified as Natalie Rupnow, committed suicide on the scene after killing a teacher, a student, and wounding six others. The school, Abundant Life, is said to have many students who were bullied or having trouble at other schools; Rupnow was a new student this year. While law enforcement has not yet released a possible motive for the shooting, they are reviewing writings that Rupnow had describing some of her thoughts. The writings, which many are referring to as a manifesto, are currently being reviewed by police. A copy of the writings was allegedly leaked online. “A document about this shooting is circulating at this time on social media, but we have not verified its authenticity,” the Madison police chief, Shon Barnes, said. This incident has attracted particular attention due to the perpetrator being a female, which is extremely uncommon for this type of crime. Investigators are still looking into the incident, hoping to find more information.
President-Elect Donald Trump Says He Will Consider Pardoning Mayor Eric Adams
Mayor of New York City Eric Adams has been dealing with a hefty federal indictment for months. Charges against him include bribery, wire fraud, and corruption. If found guilty, Adams could possibly be facing years of jail time. Democratic challengers have come from all sides during Adams’ crisis, with many hoping to unseat him as mayor next year. Adams claims these federal charges are a form of revenge, due to his public dissatisfaction with the Biden administration. President-Elect Donald Trump has previously expressed sympathy to Adams, claiming he was being treated unfairly by the federal government and the public. Now, he has openly stated he would consider pardoning Adams should he be found guilty at trial. At a recent news conference, Trump promised he would “look” at the case and consider a pardon. Adams’ upcoming trial should occur within the next year.
Some New York City Amazon Workers Ready to Strike Amidst Holiday Rush
Two Amazon facilities in New York City are facing a shutdown when workers voted and announced they are prepared to strike if the company refuses to participate in contract negotiations. The workers in these facilities, one in Staten Island and one in Queens, are being represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of America’s largest unions. They gave Amazon a deadline for earlier this week to sit down with the organizers and begin negotiations. The deadline has passed, and the Teamsters Union has yet to make a statement regarding it. Amazon officials disagree with the tactics employed by the union. “The truth is that the Teamsters have actively threatened, intimidated, and attempted to coerce Amazon employees and third-party drivers to join them, which is illegal and is the subject of multiple pending unfair labor practice charges against the union,” said Eileen Hards, an Amazon spokesperson. This strike comes after a scathing report led by Senator Bernie Sanders revealed that Amazon had a 30% higher rate of injuries than the industry standard last year. It also reported other workplace violations, such as hostility and lack of care. If Amazon chooses not to negotiate and the union refuses to back down, New York City deliveries will have a serious problem right before the holiday.
High Ranking Russian Military Official Killed in Moscow Bombing
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the Russian military’s chemical weapons division, was killed this week after a bomb was placed outside the building he was exiting. Along with his assistant, Kirillov appeared to have died instantly from the e-scooter bomb outside a residential building in Moscow. Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, had charged Kirillov with war crimes only one day before his killing, citing his usage of chemical warfare on the Ukrainian army. The SBU quickly confirmed speculation and took credit for the bomb. Previous to this, Russia had been sanctioned for using chemical weapons which Ukraine reports put 2,000 people in the hospital. Kirillov’s death is being called a “terrorist act” by Russian officials, while Ukraine is rejoicing in their successful mission. Many are speculating that Ukraine is attempting big moves in order to hurry the pace of the war before the President-Elect comes into power and begins to limit aid to the country.
Uncovering Mass Graves in Syria Following Assad’s Fall, Could Contain Hundreds of Thousands of Bodies
Following the recent fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, citizens are frantically searching for loved ones that were detained under the regime. Officials report over 150,000 people in Syria are missing, many assumed to have been kidnapped or killed by the former government. While people have reunited with their family and friends who were previously detained, attempts are currently being made to account for the many who are dead. Close to the Syrian capital of Damascus lies a mass grave filled with bodies and bones. A grave digger there told a Syrian advocacy group that trucks filled with 150 bodies each would arrive twice a week from the years 2012 to 2018, meaning there could be hundreds of thousands of people buried there. Efforts continue to reunite families, identify the dead, and bring peace to the war-torn country.
South Korean President Officially Impeached After Instituting Martial Law
After President Yoon Suk Yeol instituted martial law in South Korea, the country broke out in wide protest. Even members of Yeol’s party decried the decision, finding it corrupt. After weeks of protests and calls for Yeol’s resignation, a vote to impeach came after his refusal. The vote was passed, and Yeol was formally impeached as South Korean President. The final decision belongs to South Korea’s highest court, which has 180 days to make a final decision. Until that time, Prime Minister Han Duk-soo is serving the role of President. Yeol was ordered not to leave South Korea, and investigations are being made into possible crimes. Officials have accused Yeol of attempting to incite an insurrection, a crime that can be punishable by death in the country. When official investigators attempted to gain access to the President’s office, they were declined entry and waited for over seven hours. The team seeks to investigate the President’s computers as well as any incriminating documents within the office. This is now the second time they have tried and failed to gain entry, thus greatly hindering the investigation into any possible wrongdoing. While Yeol has been reported as putting together a legal team, it is unknown whether he will comply with court summons on the 21st of December. The final fate of the South Korean presidency is yet to be decided, and remains unclear.
