Lot of Russian navy movements to-from Mediterranean. Linked to or shaped by the situation in Syria (and Ukraine), but some may have been planned earlier.

Expecting major withdrawal of equipment from Tartus

📎 CovertShores

🇲🇽 Regional expansion of Mexico's cartels, as well as their affiliates.

@CIG_telegram

🇪🇸❌🇮🇱 A collective of Spanish lawyers, judges, and prosecutors amassed over 1200 signatures on a petition demanding the Spanish government apply and enforce sanctions on the Israeli government, which they presented on December 17 in front of the Spanish Parliament building in Madrid

📎 TRT World

🇪🇺 EU signs $11B deal for sovereign satellite constellation to rival Musk’s Starlink

The European Union is forging ahead with plans for a constellation of internet satellites to rival Elon Musk-owned Starlink, after signing a €10.6 billion ($11.1 billion) deal to launch nearly 300 satellites into low- and medium-Earth orbits by 2030. The bloc wants the space tech to boost its digital sovereignty by providing secure comms to governments.

Musk’s Starlink, meanwhile, already has some 6,000 satellites in orbit, recently passed 4 million subscribers, and has major deals with the likes of Royal Caribbean and United Airlines. It’s also gearing up to launch a direct-to-phone service with T-Mobile.

🔗 https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/16/eu-signs-11b-deal-for-sovereign-satellite-constellation-to-rival-musks-starlink/

📚 How well did different states do on the NAEP after adjusting for demographics?

Mississippi and Florida tied for the #2 spot, not far behind Massachusetts.

These are test score rankings adjusted for gender, age, race/ethnicity, receipt of free and reduced-price school lunch, special education status, and English language learner status

They suggest a very different picture than the one we usually get, where the northeast dominates

https://www.urban.org/research/publication/states-demographically-adjusted-performance-2022-nations-report-card

📎 Crémieux

🇸🇴 New fighting in Erigavo displaced more than 42K people. Deadly fighting occurred this past weekend between Somaliland security forces and forces said to be belonging to the Khaatumo administration- per reports

📎 HarunMaruf

California Governor Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency due to the H5N1 bird flu.

📎 AF Post

JUST IN: Wisconsin reports its first human case of H5N1 bird flu, linked to poultry

📎 BNO News

🌍 Africa: social unrest & armed violence

📎 José Luengo-Cabrera

📉 Dow drops 1,123 points (2.6%), making it the first 10-day losing streak since 1974

📎 BNO News

🇮🇱🇸🇾 Why is Israel expanding taking most of the remaining 30% of the Golan Heights and Mt Hermon?

And doubling the number of settlers?

🧵How Pres. Nixon wanted a comprehensive peace after the 1973 War & the return of the Golan:

https://fxtwitter.com/joshua_landis/status/1868866943291167126

💸 Luke Gromen on X:

"Today's downside in stocks, BTC, gold & spike in 10y UST ylds is likely nothing compared to what will happen if the Department of Government Efficiency unwisely tries to cut government spending before devaluing the USD...

Today's decline in risk & spike in UST yields would look like child's play by comparison"

📎 Luke Gromen