The war unfolding across Europe does not involve tanks or troops, but lawmakers warned last week it is already testing alliances, democracies and Western resolve.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is buying millions of dollars' worth of new surveillance tools at the same time President Donald Trump has scaled back protections for use of civilian data -- a combination that could lead to a vast expansion of domestic surveillance that goes far beyond immigrants.
The decision to push Google Gemini directly into the kitchen, starting with a refrigerator that can see what you eat and tell the cloud about it. read more
Good health news for babies, kids and adults regarding the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination kept coming in December. Pregnant people who were vaccinated before becoming infected with the coronavirus had a lower risk of severe COVID-19 -- and their infants were less likely to be born prematurely -- than pregnant people who had not gotten vaccinated before an infection. read more
President Donald Trump's economy has exceeded expectations in his first year back in office. Mainly for America's wealthiest households, that is. read more
Related ...
US launches strikes against Islamic State in Nigeria
www.bbc.com
... Camps run by the group in Sokoto state were hit near the border with Niger, the US military said. Casualty numbers are unclear, but both US and Nigerian officials say militants were killed.[emphasis mine]
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC it was a "joint operation" and had "nothing to do with a particular religion".
Tuggar said the strikes had been planned "for quite some time" using intelligence provided by Nigeria. He did not rule out further strikes.
Referring to the timing of strikes - which took place late on Thursday - he said they did not have "anything to do with Christmas". ...
It also said that during the operation debris from munitions fell in two communities " the village of Jabo, also in Sokoto state, and Offa in Kwara state, about 600km (370 miles) to the south. No civilian casualties were reported in either location.
Umar Jabo, an eyewitness in Jabo, told the BBC: "Something that looked like a plane flashed and crashed... in fields."
He said there was no issue with IS in the area: "We live peacefully, and there is no conflict between us and Christians." ...
Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, with about 220 million people, divided roughly evenly between Christians and Muslims.
Jihadist groups such as Boko Haram and IS-linked offshoots have wrought havoc in north-eastern Nigeria for more than a decade, killing thousands of people.
Most victims have been Muslims, according to Acled, a group that analyses political violence around the world. ...
Related ...
Trump Wants DOJ to Release All Democrat Names Allegedly in Epstein Files
www.newsweek.com
...President Donald Trump ripped into Democrats on Friday evening about documents related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, calling for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to "release" all of the Democrats' names allegedly in the documents.
Newsweek reached out to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) via email Friday night for comment.
Why It Matters
The ongoing release of documents related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's network has become a focal point of political rhetoric and public scrutiny.
The controversy over the files' redactions, continuous discoveries of additional records, and bipartisan calls for transparency have potentially significant implications for public trust in government investigations, accountability, and potential future legal consequences. The issue also highlights persistent divides in how the justice system handles cases involving high-profile figures, raising further questions about secrecy, due process, and victim protection.
What To Know
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, the president said, "Now 1,000,000 more pages on Epstein are found. DOJ is being forced to spend all of its time on this Democrat inspired Hoax. When do they say NO MORE, and work on Election Fraud etc.
The Dems are the ones who worked with Epstein, not the Republicans.
Release all of their names, embarrass them, and get back to helping our Country! The Radical Left doesn't want people talking about TRUMP & REPUBLICAN SUCCESS, only a long ago dead Jeffrey Epstein -- Just another Witch Hunt!!!" ...
From another thread ...
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"Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you."
Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience
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fwiw, here's a link for the above ... www.goodreads.com
Related ...
U.S. Airstrikes in Nigeria Raise Questions Over Focus on ISIS Threat
[emphasis mine]www.hstoday.us