Assad regime collapses as Syrian rebels seize control of Damascus. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 985 media reports (LINK)

Statement of the U.N. Secretary-General on Syria: *After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of the dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future." — 9 December 2024 (LINK)

US launches airstrikes against ISIS camps in Syria. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 55 media reports (LINK)

Syrian rebels pledge to protect Russian bases: Russian state media. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 24 media reports (LINK)

Netanyahu says Israeli forces have seized a buffer zone in the Golan Heights after Syrian unrest. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 248 media reports (LINK)

Gaza health officials say latest Israeli airstrikes kill at least 14 including children. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 43 media reports (LINK)

Syrian rebels liberate thousands from Assad's notorious prisons. — (LINK)

Syria's Assad and his family are in Moscow after Russia granted them asylum. — (LINK)

Trump calls for 'immediate ceasefire' in Ukraine after meeting Zelenskyy in Paris, claiming Kyiv "would like to make a deal" to end the more than 1,000-day war. — 8 December 2024 (LINK)

— In a separate social media update Sunday, Zelenskyy asserted that Kyiv has so far lost 43,000 soldiers since Moscow's all-out invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, while a further 370,000 have been wounded.

Trump again says he won't seek to remove Fed chairman Powell — first time since election. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 69 media reports (LINK)

— In July, Trump indicated he would not fire Powell if elected and advisors confirmed Powell would likely complete his term. Previously, Trump criticized Powell in March 2020, stating he had the 'right to remove as chairman' due to perceived poor decisions.

WHO provides update about Disease X in Democratic Republic of the Congo. — 8 December 2024 (LINK)

— The new WHO report lists 406 cases of this disease and 31 deaths. The first case was identified on October 24. The report concludes that the current risk level in the affected region of the DRC is high. At a national level, the risk within the DRC is considered moderate and the regional and global risk levels currently are low.

South Korea arrests ex-defense minister over martial law. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 30 media reports (LINK)

Over 110 Killed in Haiti's Cite Soleil as Gang Leader Targets Elderly Over Witchcraft Claims, Rights Group Says. — 8 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 40 media reports (LINK)

— The National Human Right Defense Network reported that gang members killed 60 on December 7 and 50 on December 8, all aged over 60, using machetes and knives.

Burkina Faso junta names new PM after dismissing government. — 8 December 2024 (LINK)

AI Nobel laureates support and urge strong regulation. — 8 December 2024 (LINK)

— Chemistry laureate Demis Hassabis told a news conference in Stockholm: The underlying issue is "about what do we want to use these systems for, how do we want to deploy them and making sure that all of humanity benefits from what these systems can do".

— Physics Nobel Prize winner Geoffrey Hinton said "Governments are unwilling to regulate themselves when it comes to lethal autonomous weapons and there is an arms race going on between all the major arms suppliers like the United States, China, Russia, Britain, Israel."

Should you use the shiny or dull side of aluminum foil? It doesn't matter. — 8 December 2024 (LINK)

— "The difference is purely a result of how aluminum foil is manufactured, not because the sides have distinct properties," an expert said. "During the production process, aluminum is filled into thin sheets through a process called milling. To make the foil thin enough without tearing, two sheets of aluminum are rolled at the same time. The side of the foil that touches another sheet during milling ends up dull because it doesn't get polished by the rollers. The other side, which is in direct contact with the rollers, becomes shiny."

Zelenskyy and Trump hold first post-reelection meeting with Macron in Paris. — 7 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 526 media reports (LINK)

— newsfactnetwork: Macron reportedly persuaded Trump to hold the trilateral meeting during Trump's visit to Paris for Notre-Dame Cathedral's reopening. Initially hesitant, Trump agreed, and the 45-minute meeting was described as "good and fruitful" by sources. Zelensky called the talks "productive," emphasizing collaboration toward "a just peace." He expressed optimism, stating, "Peace through strength is possible," on X (formerly Twitter).

Trump, Jill Biden attend Notre Dame reopening — (LINK)

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris reopens. — 7 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 409 media reports (LINK)

— Catholic World Report: Breaking five years of silence, the bell of Notre-Dame, known as the bourdon, rang out across Paris. The opening of the doors was set to the music of the polyphonic piece Totus Tuss, composed in 1987 by Henryk Gorecki during John Paul II's visit to Poland, and sung by the 150 young members of the Maîtrise de Notre Dame.

— French President Emmanuel Macron, who was initially scheduled to speak on the cathedral's forecourt to respect the law of separation between the Church and the state, wound up speaking inside the building due to inclement weather, as previously announced in a press release from the Archdiocese of Paris. The celebration, which began at around 7:20 p.m. local time, was attended by some 1,500 people, including around 40 heads of state, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

— Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai of Antioch were among the 170 bishops from France and around the world who attended the ceremony, which featured a message from Pope Francis, who did not travel for the occasion.

— Authorities mobilized a massive security force of some 6,000 police and gendarmes for the event, citing a "very high level of terrorist threat." Space was provided for up to 40,000 people outside the cathedral.

— At the end of the religious ceremony, a concert organized and broadcast by France Télévisions and Radio France featured internationally renowned artists including Chinese pianist Lang Lang, South African soprano Pretty Yende, and Franco-Swiss tenor Benjamin Bernheim.

— The consecration Mass for the cathedral's new main altar was scheduled for Sunday at 10:30 a.m. local time, again in the presence of the French President and religious leaders. The cathedral itself was not desecrated by the blaze, as Archbishop Aupetit celebrated a mass there two months later.

— Celebrations surrounding the reopening of Notre-Dame will continue until Dec. 16, with each day devoted to welcoming different communities and groups, including firefighters and patrons. At the end of this octave, the cathedral will return to its usual schedule.

— The fire's causes have yet to be determined. The restoration and reconstruction work amounts to almost 700 million euros ($740 million). American donors accounted for 90% of 50,000 euros worth of international donations received by the charitable association. The five years of work involved a total of 250 companies and hundreds of craftsmen.

South Korean President Yoon's impeachment vote fails after ruling party boycotts it. — 7 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 476 media reports (LINK)

Fixing climate change to cost 4 times as much if we delay, experts warn. — 7 December 2024 (LINK)

— "If we arrive in the year 2100 with no sea ice, it may not be sufficient to bring the ice back if we dialed our emissions down to the levels we're emitting now in 2024, when we still have some ice left."

Arizona geoscientists finally found the cause of Earth's last ice age: ocean gateways in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, narrow passages between the islands of northern Canada, played a decisive role in the climate of the North Atlantic and the spread of ice sheets in Scandinavia. When these gateways became blocked — perhaps by marine ice — the North Atlantic circulation weakened. — 7 December 2024 (LINK)

'Doge Father' Elon Musk shares cryptic post, Dogecoin soars. — 7 December 2024 (LINK)

Elon Musk spent $250 million electing Trump, including financing 'RBG PAC', new filings show: biggest political donor. — 7 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 190 media reports (LINK)

Trump-themed coins surge as crypto markets react to his Presidency. — 7 December 2024 (LINK)

— MAGA Coin is up 81% this week, now trading at $0.0001072 with a market cap of $41.84 million. That's a solid rise, but it's nothing compared to TRUMP Coin. This token, launched just three days ago, has skyrocketed over 62,809%!

Followup: AI Jesus might 'listen' to you but can't absolve your sins: the history of confessions. — 7 December 2024 (LINK)

— The installation was a two-month project in religion, technology and art titled "Deus in Machina," created at the University of Lucerne. Users were advised not to disclose any personal information and confirm that they knew they were engaging with the avatar at their own risk. The Latin title literally means "god in the machine"; it refers to a plot device used in Greek and Roman plays, introducing a god to resolve an impossible problem or conflict facing the characters.

Burkina Faso junta fires prime minister, dissolves government. — 6 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 73 media reports (LINK)

— No reason was given for the dismissal of Apollinaire Joachim Kyelem de Tambela, who was named as premier in October 2022 after the coup that brought Captain Ibrahim Traore to power. "The prime minister's official functions are terminated," said the decree, adding that members of the dissolved government would "carry out ongoing business until the formation of a new government".

Goldman Sachs quits UN net-zero global climate coalition for banks without providing any explanation. — 6 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 12 media reports (LINK)

— Bloomberg: Increasingly complex regulations and US political attacks lead some of the financial industry's biggest firms to rethink such affiliations.

— "The bank's decision to leave the Net-Zero Banking Alliance was mainly motivated by the need to comply with mandatory reporting guidelines, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing internal deliberations at the bank. The person pointed to the rollout of the European Union's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive as a key development guiding Goldman's approach to the matter."

Romanian court cancels presidential election in latest political earthquake. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

— The first round of the elections saw a previously unknown far-right nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu top the polls in a shock result.

Modi's BJP says US State Department targeting India in conjunction with a group of investigative journalists and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. — 6 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 6 media reports (LINK)

Trump says he picks 'hawkish on China' former Senator David Perdue to be ambassador in Peking. — 6 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 58 media reports (LINK)

IAEA sounds alarm on Iran's uranium enrichment "to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% level that is weapons grade". — 6 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 128 media reports (LINK)

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele triumphant after his bet on bitcoin comes true: value of El Salvador government's reported investment now stands at more than US$600 million. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

ETH trebles fees for foreign students in Switzerland. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

Council of Europe investigates Swiss wolf policy: complaint by two Swiss wolf conservation organizations upheld. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

Federal appeals court panel upholds a law requiring ban of TikTok in the U.S. if not sold off. — 6 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 610 media reports (LINK)

U.S. payrolls increased 227,000 in November, more than expected; unemployment rate at 4.2%. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

USDA issues order for raw milk samples nationwide to be tested for bird flu: virus was recently found in samples of raw milk from a California farm. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

New drug may prevent cognitive decline in Parkinson's Disease. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

Character.AI is under fire for hosting pro-anorexia chatbots. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

The bizarre true story of 'Bitcoin's Bonnie & Clyde' in Netflix's Biggest Heist Ever. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

Syrian rebels enter Hama as army announces departure from key city. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 306 media reports (LINK)

Israeli strikes on a Gaza tent camp kill at least 21 people, hospital says. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 49 media reports (LINK)

Ukraine rejects calls by Washington to lower draft age to 18. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— Earlier this year, Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reduced the minimum age at which soldiers could be drafted from 27 to 25.

EU probes TikTok due to possible interference after surprise win in Romania election. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— Bucharest has released intelligence linking Moscow to surprise pro-Russian winner Calin Georgescu. The EU demanded TikTok "freeze and preserve data related to actual or forseeable systemic risks" the platform could pose to "electoral processes and civic discourse" in the EU.

France's Macron vows to stay in office till end of term in 2027, says he'll name a new prime minister soon. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 240 media reports (LINK)

Iceland issues permits allowing whale hunting until 2029. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— Under the new permits, 209 fin whales and 217 minke whales can be caught during each year's whaling season, which runs from June to September. Permits are normally delivered for five-year periods, but the previous ones expired in 2023. The shortened 2023 season, which lasted three weeks, saw 24 fin whales killed. The quota covered a total of 209 whales. In the same year, whaling was suspended in Iceland for two months after a government-commissioned inquiry concluded the methods used did not comply with animal welfare laws.

Bangladesh court bans publication of "hate speeches" by ousted Prime Minister Hasina. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 50 media reports (LINK)

OPEC+ members to delay oil production increases until Dec. 31, 2026. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

McKinsey subsidiary will pay $122M for scheme to bribe South African officials, US says. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 22 media reports (LINK)

Google says AI weather model masters 15-day forecast. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

Trump names ICE chief and makes another round of immigration announcements. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— Rodney Scott helped implement Trump's Remain in Mexico Policy, Title 42 and Safe Third Country agreements.

Bahamas rejects Trump proposal to take in deported third-country migrants. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— In a statement, the office of Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis said the scheme to have the Bahamas accept deportation flights "was reviewed and firmly rejected. The Bahamas simply does not have the resources to accommodate such a request."

South Korean opposition files motion to impeach President Yoon after martial law rescinded: Impeachment requires two-thirds support from the 300-seat parliament, totaling 200 members. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 450 media reports (LINK)

DOJ launched probe into UnitedHealth for insider trading and attempted to stop monopoly: CEO Brian Thompson shot in a targeted attack outside a hotel in Midtown Manhattan: sold company stocks just before DOJ probe made public. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 10 media reports (LINK)

Philippines NBI arrests Marawi vice mayor on 2 December for murder. — 5 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 8 media reports (LINK)

— The arrest was based on a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court for murder and attempted murder linked to a 2013 incident.

Murdered insurance CEO had deployed an AI to automatically deny benefits for sick people. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

Switzerland inaugurates first quantum computer for commercial use at the Uptown Basel competence centre in Arlesheim. It will be available to companies, academic institutions and start-ups in areas such as simulation, optimization and machine learning. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

Swiss hotel stays reached record level in summer 2024 to 24.4 million, 1.6% up on the same period last year, thanks to foreign demand. — 6 December 2024 (LINK)

Groundbreaking study reveals where love lives in the brain. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— The study, conducted by researchers at Aalto University and published in Cerebral Cortex, investigated the neural mechanisms behind feelings of love for six distinct categories: romantic partners, children, friends, strangers, pets, and nature.

— In romantic and parental love, the reward areas — such as the striatum — showed the highest activation. Parental love, in particular, uniquely engaged deep reward pathways in the brain, underscoring its evolutionary importance for fostering parental care and survival of offspring. Interestingly, the study found that all forms of interpersonal love — whether for romantic partners, friends, or strangers — activated brain regions associated with social cognition.

— Love for pets and nature, on the other hand, showed distinct patterns. While pet owners exhibited brain activity similar to interpersonal love, love for nature primarily activated reward and visual brain regions, bypassing areas linked to social cognition. This finding highlights the diverse neural mechanisms underlying different forms of love.

— To evoke feelings of love, participants heard emotionally rich narratives like, "You see your newborn child for the first time — the baby is soft, healthy, and hearty." After each story, participants were instructed to immerse themselves in the emotion for ten seconds. Neutral stories, such as mundane depictions of brushing teeth, served as controls.

Orcas probably aren't reviving the 'dead salmon hat' trend, despite a viral photo, experts say: "It's a stretch to say it was a salmon hat, and an even greater stretch to say the fad is back off a single photo." — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

Gene editing and plant domestication essential to protect food supplies in a worsening climate, scientists say. — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

ShredShox full-suspension skis: "the most significant advancement in ski equipment in decades". — 5 December 2024 (LINK)

— Inspired by the suspension technology on race cars and mountain bikes, [they] allow for greater fluidity and control while racing down the steepest slopes. Similar to what you would find on a trail bike, ShredShox have two high performance shocks that suspends a platform for the bindings while also connecting it to the ski itself. The whole system adds about 2.5 lbs to each foot, which is a significant difference; however, the weight will help accomplish a smoother, quieter experience.

— "While the shocks can be used by anyone, the design is a game changer for longtime skiers that may tire quickly or those who have injuries, creating an ease and effortlessness that will last all day long. This new technology will undoubtedly take some getting used to for most skiers as the suspension could distort how the terrain beneath the ski is interpreted. In other words, being able to tell if you are on snow, ice or rocks could all very well feel the same, which seems counterintuitive."

South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol faces impeachment after failed attempt to impose martial law. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

New UN General Assembly resolution calls by 157-8 for creation of Palestinian state, announces an international summit for June 2025. — 4 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: media reports (LINK)

— France, represented by President Macron, stated it is ready to recognize a Palestinian state, but only "at a useful moment".

Award-Winning Syrian photojournalist killed in airstrike near Hama. — 4 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 19 media reports (LINK)

Afghan women 'banned from midwife and nurse education' in Taliban's new decree: Khaama Press. — 4 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 39 media reports (LINK)

EEAS: "International Geneva Unites for Climate Action". — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

— "International Geneva has adopted its Climate Action Plan on 4 December 2024, with 36 participant institutions (permanent Missions, international Organizations, Academia and civil society entities) firmly determined to reach their climate objectives, in accordance with the Paris Agreement and in line with Switzerland, State and City of Geneva's climate strategies."

— Together, the participant institutions have pledged to implement over 1,000 actions aiming for an average 32% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, which represents a decrease of 53,000 tonnes of CO2 e.q., comparable to the yearly emissions of 4,100 Swiss residents.

— From energy-efficient buildings to greener mobility, responsible food systems, biodiversity protection, sustainable IT, and improved waste management, the adopted action plans reflect the determination of each institution to operate within planetary boundaries. With clear milestones set for 2025, 2028, and 2030, these plans represent a collective effort to tackle the pressing environmental challenges of our time.

Snopes: Trump promised to pardon Jan. 6 Capitol rioters on Day 1 of Presidency: partly true. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

— In 2023, he said he was "inclined to pardon many of them," though not all. He added he likely would not pardon a few who "got out of control."

2025 Global Humanitarian Overview: EU Commissioner Lahbib calls for the respect of International Humanitarian Law and for boosting efforts to address the humanitarian funding gap. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

— In 2025, 305 million people will require urgent humanitarian assistance and protection, out of which 190 million people will be facing life-threatening needs. OCHA estimates that over $47 billion would be required to save these people lives.

— The EU's Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality, Hadja Lahbib: "As we enter 2025, the gap between humanitarian needs and humanitarian funding is growing. This impacts our ability to uphold International Humanitarian Law, protect civilians, and deliver life-saving assistance. We must focus on two areas: first, increasing funding, expanding the donor base and working more efficiently. And second, we must reduce humanitarian needs, often caused by conflict and the climate crisis."

Zurich ranked the No. 1 place in the world for expats: Vienna, Austria, placed second, while Geneva, Switzerland, came in third. Bern 9th, Basel 10th. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

— One factor that helped propel Zurich to the top of the list is that it recently improved its airport connections, making it a practical home base for people looking to travel to or from other continents.

Trump nominates Paul Atkins as pro-crypto SEC chief. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

Trump offers Pentagon job to billionaire whose firm trained Khashoggi's killers. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

Trump changes White House counsel pick, tapping David Warrington who has defended defendants from the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and previously represented Trump in court. — 4 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 15 media reports (LINK)

A court in Kenya finds a housemate guilty in the killing of an LGBTQ activist 2 years ago: Despite DNA evidence linking them and witness testimonies of a heated argument, the court did not determine a motive for the killing. — 4 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 13 media reports (LINK)

Alarming rise in cancers of the gut linked with poor diet choices. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

The top 10 most popular TED Talks of 2024: from cutting-edge AI to climate breakthroughs and transformative insights on human potential. — 4 December 2024 (LINK)

Heather Cox Richardson: the South Korean crisis. — 3 December 2024 (LINK)

China bans export of key minerals to U.S. — gallium, germanium, antimony, and other high-tech materials — as trade frictions escalate. — 3 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 138 media reports (LINK)

— The Chinese Commerce Ministry stated that the ban is a response to U.S. Export controls on computer chip-making equipment and advanced chips.

Palestinians say Hamas and Fatah are close to an agreement on a committee to administer postwar Gaza. — 3 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 91 media reports (LINK)

Stolen Ukrainian children put up for adoption on websites funded by Putin: Landmark report identifies 314 youngsters forcibly placed in Russia's programme of coerced adoption and fostering. — 3 December 2024 (LINK)

Vietnamese tycoon Truong My Lan's death sentence upheld in $12.5 billion fraud case. — 3 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 154 media reports (LINK)

— The country's law allows a death sentence to be commuted to life in prison provided three-quarters of the estimated losses are returned, per the outlet, i.e. $9 billion. She was chairwoman of the real estate developer Van Thinh Phat Group, accused of illegally controlling Saigon Commercial Bank and using shell companies to secure more than 2,500 loans for herself and her accomplices. "The total value of her holdings actually exceeds the required compensation amount," her lawyer, Nguyen Huy Thiep, told the outlet before her appeal was rejected.

Hundreds of Nigerian homes seized in huge anti-graft case. — 3 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 53 media reports (LINK)

— The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced that it has taken possession of a large housing estate comprising of more than 750 properties in the capital, Abuja. The agency did not reveal exactly who had owned the land and luxurious homes but its statement said they belonged to a former high-ranking member of government.

Syrian insurgents capture four central towns as government forces reclaim some territory: the insurgents, led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, killed 50 government forces during the capture. — 3 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 19 media reports (LINK)

"The guy who bought (and ate) that banana art is actually a dangerous criminal." — 3 December 2024 (LINK)

Tesla is ready to fight for Elon Musk's $56 billion payout A judge's new ruling "means that judges and plaintiffs' lawyers run Delaware companies' instead of investors," Tesla said. — 3 December 2024 (LINK)

Norway halts deep seabed mining in "historic win for nature": Oslo had initially adopted controversial plans to allow companies to apply to mine some 280,000 square-kilometres of its waters for precious metals. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

Desertification talks open in Saudi Arabia as experts fire warning. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

International Court of Justice (ICJ) to begin hearings on landmark Pacific-led climate change case. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

— ICJ to hear submissions from more than 100 groups in campaign to provide an advisory opinion on states' obligations for climate harm

— After years of lobbying by island nations, the UN General Assembly asked the ICJ last year for an opinion on "the obligations of States in respect of climate change."

Swiss authorities release right-to-die activist after ruling out homicide in 'suicide capsule' case. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

Fuel oil smuggling network rakes in $1 billion for Iran and its proxies, Reuters reports. — 2 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 17 media reports (LINK)

Fighting resumes in eastern Congo despite ceasefire between army and rebels. — 2 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 18 media reports (LINK)

Trump reacts to Biden pardoning son Hunter by raising Jan. 6 rioters' cases. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

We haven't seen a pardon as sweeping as Hunter Biden's since Nixon's in 1974. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

— The starting date of Jan. 1, 2014, in the Biden pardon was surely not chosen randomly: Hunter Biden joined the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian gas company, in April 2014, while his father was vice president. Republicans have accused the younger Biden of illegally profiting off his position on that board.

— The language mirrors the language in Ford's pardon of Nixon, which did not merely cover the Watergate scandal but extended to "all offenses against the United States" that Nixon "has committed or may have committed" between Jan. 20, 1969, and Aug. 9, 1974 — the exact span of Nixon's presidency.

— Trump will not be able to undo the pardon when he takes office. And its sweeping nature means the Trump Justice Department will not be able to reopen the long-running criminal probe of the president's son, according to Samuel Morison, a lawyer focused on clemency who spent 13 years in the Justice Department's Office of the Pardon Attorney.

Musk again asks to block OpenAI's 'illegal' conversion to for-profit model, also said OpenAI engaged in "predatory practices" through its partnership with Microsoft, together owning almost 70% of the generative AI market. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

Greenland split over benefits of tourism as territory opens to the world. — 2 December 2024 (LINK: limited)

Scientists confirm crabs really can experience pain after all — and probably other crustaceans, too. — 2 December 2024 (LINK)

At least 200 people were killed in Israeli airstrikes on northern Gaza on 30 November, according to local health officials, as the United Nations said it would pause aid deliveries through the enclave's main crossing after more of its trucks were stolen. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

Global plastic talks collapse as oil states rebel: after late night talks countries were unable to resolve their differences missing their key two-year deadline. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)s

— The key split is around Article 6 — whether there should be a commitment to cutting how much plastic is produced, or just try and reduce plastic waste by increasing efforts to recycle.

Chair of talks in Busan says progress has been made but 'a few critical issues' are unresolved. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

Guinea: dozens, including children, killed in stampede following clashes at a soccer match in N'Zerekore. — 1 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 470 media reports (LINK)

President Biden issues pardon for his son Hunter after repeatedly saying he wouldn't. — 1 December 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 640 media reports (LINK)

— The incumbent president's son, 54, had pleaded guilty to nine federal tax charges and was convicted of three felony counts for lying on a federal firearms application. Describing Hunter as being 'selectively and unfairly prosecuted', Biden issued an executive grant of clemency for his son yesterday. Hunter faced up to 17 years behind bars and had a scheduled sentencing hearing in Los Angeles on December 16.

'He is one of us!': US anti-vaxxers rejoice at nomination of David Weldon for CDC: The move comes as US faces increased threats from bird flu, mpox, measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

Putin signs off record Russian defence spending as top EU officials visit Kyiv. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

Romanians cast ballots in parliamentary election as turmoil in presidential race grips the nation following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

Belgium becomes first country to give sex workers robust labour rights and protections. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

— Belgium made history on Sunday as the first country in the world to allow sex workers to sign formal employment contracts — granting them access to sick days, maternity pay and pension. The new law also guarantees fundamental rights for sex workers, including the ability to refuse clients, set the conditions of an act, and stop an act at any moment. Lawmakers passed the law in May but it officially took effect on Sunday.

At least 56 people killed in crush at Guinea football stadium: Witnesses say people scrambled to escape after teargas used during pitch invasion at match in Nzérékoré. — 1 December 2024 (LINK)

Irish Greens virtually wiped out in general election rout: Junior coalition partner loses all but one of 12 seats, while gangland figure Gerry Hutch loses election bid. sss— 1 December 2024 (LINK)