Russia, China & Iran

On Friday, China, Russia, and Iran began joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman that are scheduled to end today. Separately, Russia’s Defence Minister confirmed that the country’s first regiment of hypersonic nuclear-capable missiles has been put into service.

Mass Killings Report

According to a database compiled by the Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University, the U.S. suffered 41 mass killings - defined as four or more people (excluding the perpetrator) being killed in an incident - in 2019, more than any other year on record. The 41 incidents resulted in 211 deaths, a toll only eclipsed by the 224 people who died in mass killings in 2017.

U.S. retaliates in Iraq

The U.S. military carried out airstrikes on five locations belonging to the Kataib Hezbollah (KH) militia group in Iraq and Syria yesterday. Chief Pentagon spokesman Johnathan Hoffman released a statement saying the strikes were in response to a KH missile strike that resulted in the death of a U.S. contractor and injured six others.

Face the Music

A Spotify spokesperson announced the company plans to suspend political ads on their platform starting in 2020, citing lack of a proper vetting process as the reason for the ban. Consulting firm Borrell Associates estimates that digital political-ad spending will reach $2.9 billion in 2020, more than doubling the $1.4 billion spent in 2016.

Jeopardizing Jobs

There were 5,250 workplace deaths in 2018, according to new data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The news release also included a top ten list of the most dangerous jobs in America - logging workers ranked no. 1 with a fatal accident rate 28 times higher than the national average.

Set the Record Straight

Both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 closed trading on Friday at record highs, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.1% below its record high set on Thursday. The S&P 500 is just 0.6 percent away from posting its best year since 1997 which saw an annual gain of 29.6 percent.

Santa Paws

They say it’s better to give than to receive - that’s exactly what 8-year-old Landyn Wadsworth discovered three years ago when she met some new friends who needed her help. Landyn had been searching for a canine companion with her mother at a local animal shelter in 2016, when she was saddened to discover just how many animals are without families during the holiday season.

The sadness encouraged Landyn to begin to raise money for treats and food for animals in shelters, a routine she’s kept up every year during the holidays. Instead of asking for gifts for herself, Landyn asks for money and uses it to buy Christmas gifts for the animals.

This year, Landyn raised enough money to buy 600 lbs. of pet food to keep her furry friends well-fed and happy - her mother Alisha says she’s already started collecting funds for her next donation. Landyn’s love for animals and her generosity each year reminds us that the greatest holiday tradition is the gift of giving.

An Olympic Feat

Any dog owner will tell you that their beloved companion is a member of the family. That’s why one single mother in Montana was brokenhearted when her pitbull, Zeus, was stolen this past October.

Thankfully, Zeus was wearing a microchip, and was tracked down 2,000 miles away from his home and brought to the Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association in Charleston, West Virginia. But getting Zeus home wasn’t going to be so easy -  he is too big to fly, and his owner wasn’t able to take time off of work to make the long drive.

That’s where the Many Paws Volunteer Transport came in, orchestrating a chain of 15 different drivers who transported Zeus across nine states in four days, while others helped pay for motel rooms and meals for the selfless volunteers. There’s nothing as heartwarming as getting to be with loved ones this time of year, and thanks to the support of many kind strangers, Zeus was able to enjoy the ultimate Christmas gift.

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