Thursday, December 12, 2024
It is Thursday, December 12, 2024. Here are today’s top stories.
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2024 hottest year on record
European Union scientists said 2024 will be the world’s warmest since records began. The scientists, working for an organization called C3S, said data from January to November has confirmed this year to be hottest on record and is the first in which average global temperatures exceeded 2.7 degrees F above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period. Scientific studies said human-caused climate change is the cause with the main factor being carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.
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Man who attacked judge sentenced to at least 26 years
In January of this year, there was a viral video showing a man in a courtroom jumping over a judge’s bench to attack a judge.
This man, Deobra Redden, was sentenced to between 26 and 65 years in prison in Nevada for the attack.
The judge who was attacked, Mary Kay Holthus, testified that she feared for her life and that she believed the man wanted to kill her.
Redden pleaded guilty but mentally ill and testified that he didn’t intend to kill the judge. He said he’s not a bad person.
The judge in this case (not the one who was attacked) said the courtroom incident was “an attack on the judiciary” and sentenced him. Redden will be eligible for parole in the 2050s.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-attacked-judge-las-vegas-courtroom-sentenced-deobra-redden/
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Franklin Fire in Malibu updates
The Franklin Fire in Malibu has burned more than 4,000 acres. It is only 7% contained and about 1,500 firefighters are working to stop the fire, which began on Monday night.
At least nine structures were destroyed and six damaged as of last night. About 6,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders.
It is not known the cause of the fire. Strong winds fanned the flames but winds may calm down and there may be light rain that will help a lot to stop the fire.
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Real estate celebrity brothers charged with sex trafficking
USA Today reported that three brothers in a celebrity real estate family were charged with sex trafficking conspiracy in a case that involves dozens of victims from Miami to New York.
The brothers are known as the “Alexander brothers.” They are twins Oren and Alon and their older brother Tal.
Federal prosecutors said they worked together to repeatedly drug, sexually assault, and rape victims for more than a decade.
The brothers were arrested on Wednesday in Miami. A defense attorney for Oren said he and his brothers are innocent.
The brothers face potential sentences of fifteen years to life and prosecutors want them to be held without bail while they await trail.
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Saudi Arabia to host 2034 FIFA World Cup
Saudi Arabia will be the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, which is the world’s largest sporting event. The country was the only one making a bid for 2034, so it was no surprise.
There is criticism against FIFA due to concerns of human rights violations, such as the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 and the jailing of those who criticize the Saudi kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has rapidly expanded its global profile and used sports as one of its main ways to do this — two examples are the LIV Golf league and the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo to a Saudi soccer league.
The 2026 World Cup will be in North America with games in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/11/g-s1-37742/saudi-arabia-fifa-world-cup-2034
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That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.