Sunday News: “US Navy downs missiles in Red Sea after ship attacked by Houthi rebels”; “Jack Smith Says Trump Immunity Claims ‘Threaten To Undermine Democracy’”; “States were cooperating on election integrity. Then GOP officials [including in VA] quit.”

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, December 31.

• Red alert in Antarctica: the year rapid, dramatic change hit climate scientists like a ‘punch in the guts’
• Editorial: After the hottest year on record, a need for climate progress in 2024
• ‘Plant-Based Treaty’ wants globe to go vegan to fight climate change (At the minimum, people should stop eating beef – an environmental disaster in just about every way – and cut back on meat in general.)
• Russia Launches New Strikes on Ukraine as it Mourns 24 Dead (Evil.)
• Russia launches fresh drone strikes on Ukraine after promising retaliation for Belgorod attack
• Ukraine bombarded Belgorod, killing at least 22 in what appeared to be the war’s deadliest attack in Russia.
• Inside Russia as war grinds into new year
• Russia pounds Kharkiv with missiles and drones, Ukraine says
• Stalled on the Front, Ukraine Steps Up Sabotage and Targets Trains
• Israel’s ‘Black Sabbath’: Murder, Sexual Violence and Torture on Oct. 7 (“Investigators build legal case documenting ‘systematic and unprecedented cruelty’ with echoes of Adolf Eichmann trial.”)
• Netanyahu says Gaza war on Hamas will go on for ‘many more months,’ thanks US for new weapons sales
• As Palestinians are pushed south in Gaza, some fear they will be forced out of the enclave
• Israeli jets pound central Gaza as Netanyahu indicates longer war
• US forces shoot down ballistic missiles in Red Sea, kill gunmen in attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels
• US Navy helicopters destroy Houthi boats in Red Sea after attempted hijack
• US Navy downs missiles in Red Sea after ship attacked by Houthi rebels (“Warships responded after container vessel came under fire from Houthi rebel-held part of Yemen, says US”)
• China Ends Underwhelming Year With Fresh Signs of Weakness
• Brexit has completely failed for UK, say clear majority of Britons – poll (“Only one in 10 feel leaving the EU has helped their finances, while just 9% say it has benefited the NHS, despite £350m a week pledge according to new poll” Duh.)
• Congo set to announce winner after chaotic election
• Mexico Repatriates Venezuelans to Ease US Border Migration
• Wildfire smoke this year woke up places unaccustomed to its effects. Now what? (“Wildfires worsened by climate change spewed smoke over much of North America this year. It’s a new reality Americans haven’t yet processed: how dangerous the smoke is for human health.”)
• Biden’s Crime Problem: Violent Crime is Down, but Voters Don’t Believe it (The problem, to a large extent, is the media constantly hyping crime.)
• 24 for ’24: The numbers that will shape a crucial year in politics
• States were cooperating on election integrity. Then GOP officials quit. (“Republicans in nine states quit ERIC, which exists to keep voter rolls up to date. Now, these same election officials want to re-create tools that they gave up.” Glenn Youngkin is one of those…UGH.)
• Jack Smith Says Trump Immunity Claims ‘Threaten To Undermine Democracy’ (“Donald Trump argued that he can’t be prosecuted for alleged crimes he committed as president of the United States.”)
• Special counsel Jack Smith pushes back on Trump’s immunity claim
• Trump expected to challenge removal of name from states’ primary ballots
• The Year We Stopped Being Able to Pretend About Trump (Who is “we?” Personally, I wasn’t “pretend[ing] about Trump”; who was?)
• The most dangerous drug of 2023: Loneliness, Donald Trump and you (“Addiction is all around us, driven by extreme loneliness. For some, a charismatic leader is the drug of choice”)
• Led by Trump, GOP candidates take polarizing stances on race and history (The word the WaPo uses is “polarizing?” Not “false,” “extreme,” etc? Bizarre.)
• Haley Confuses Hawkeyes’ Caitlin Clark With CNN Anchor
• Maine secretary of state targeted with ‘swatting call’ after ruling Trump ineligible for ballot
• Court ruling clears way for California to ban carrying guns in most public places (“Starting 1 January, gun owners in the state may not carry in ‘sensitive places’ such as hospitals, playgrounds and stadiums”)
• Virginia senator Tim Kaine condemns Biden’s arms transfer to Israel
• 24 New Year’s Resolutions for 2024, Arguably the Most Crucial Year in Our Lifetimes (These 24 are focused on Virginia politics and media)
• Norfolk owns hundreds of acres of land in Chesapeake. Some are used to grow the city’s trees.
• Loudoun schools has a reputation problem. Can its new leader fix it?
• A 70-year-old rescue squad in Henrico is threatened. Will volunteers show?
• D.C.-area forecast: Mostly dry today, but we could end the year with an isolated shower