#1: Biden Trip to Mideast:
President Joe Biden is on his first trip to the Middle East, a four-day visit, with the goal of bringing Israel and Saudi Arabia closer together, as well as discussing energy issues and Iran. Relations between Israel and many Arab countries were normalized during the Abraham Accords, which expands security between Israel and Arab nations and improves economic cooperation. It is reported that Saudi Arabia will announce this week that it will allow Israel to use its airspace for commercial flights, and Muslims in Israel will be able to take flights directly to Saudi Arabia to join the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
In a symbolic show of support for Saudi Arabia’s openness to lessening travel restrictions, Biden will fly from Israel, directly to Saudi Arabia.
#2: Louisiana Abortion Flip-Flop:
For the second time, a Baton Rouge judge temporarily blocked Louisiana’s abortion trigger bans, which went into effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortions are legal again in Louisiana, for today. Right now, the trigger bans cannot be enforced.
The status of abortion in the state is hinging on the outcomes of legal maneuvers that are leaving women and clinicians in havoc, not knowing what to do or what to expect. There are very few abortion clinics left in the state, and one of them said it would resume abortion services.
The abortion issue is highly controversial in Louisiana, as it is all over the country, and abortion rights groups and providers argue that state constitutions protect the right to abortion.
If abortion is outlawed in the state, the ban will be at conception, unless there is a threat to the life of the mother. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. Providers of abortion could face jail time of 10-15 years.
The Tuesday decision temporarily allows abortions until Monday, at which time another hearing will be held to hear abortion providers’ arguments to continue their services.
#3: January 6 Hearings Bombshells:
According to testimony given by multiple witnesses at the House’s January 6 Committee Hearings on Tuesday, a chaotic, “unhinged” meeting occurred in the White House on December 18, 2020, with former President Donald Trump at the helm.
The meeting lasted more than six hours into the night, with shouting, insults and close calls with fists.
The agenda for the meeting, attended by characters who normally have trouble getting through the gates of the property, was how to keep Trump in power.
Sidney Powell, a former lawyer for Mr. Trump’s campaign, was there promoting conspiracy theories about a Venezuelan plot to rig the voting machines. Trump said during the meeting that he wanted to appoint her to the position of Special Counsel.
Michael T. Flynn, disgraced former national security adviser Mr. Trump fired in his first weeks in office, was present, advocating for seizing voting machines and Marshall Law. Patrick Byrne, the former chief executive of Overstock website was there too.
The professionals came in shortly after the others gained access – Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel; Eric Herschmann, a White House lawyer; and Derek Lyons, the White House staff secretary – and they were trying to maintain calm and present the legal facts, explaining to Trump why he couldn’t get away with what he was trying to do.
Live and recorded testimony was shown and discussed at the public hearing.
#4: Sri Lanka President Flees the Country:
In the wake of unrest, after thousands of protesters stormed his official residence, Sri Lanka’s leader, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled the country on Wednesday, and appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president.
Protesters continue to swim in the president’s pool and congregate in his kitchen, as well as at the residence of the Prime Minister, who they also want to step down.
The leadership change is not going to placate the demonstrators, who took to the streets on Wednesday and surrounded the prime minister’s office. The police and military used tear gas to disperse the growing crowd.
The country is having a major humanitarian crisis as their economy is collapsing.
#5: British Tourist Films Avalanche:
A British tourist on a guided tour in the Tian Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan was enveloped by an avalanche. Rather than take cover, he filmed the whole thing, and is lucky to be alive. His video is going viral on social media. He was in a group of ten hikers, nine UK residents and one American. They had reached the peak of their hike when a huge cloud of snow descended like a waterfall down the mountainside, after a glacier had broken off near the Juuku Gorge.
No one was seriously harmed, but if they had walked five minutes further, they might have all succumbed to the barrage of show and ice.
