Monday☕️

23 Dec 2024 — 5 min read

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During U.S. military airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, the USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet operating from the USS Harry S. Truman in what the military later described as a friendly fire incident. The mishap occurred over the Red Sea, where both pilots ejected safely.
One pilot sustained minor injuries, while the other walked away unharmed, highlighting serious communication issues within the Navy during high-stakes operations. The event underscores the inherent risks and challenges of complex military missions in volatile regions.

Economics & Markets:

Politics:

On December 20, 2024, Congress passed a last-minute funding bill to avert a government shutdown set to begin at midnight. The original 1,547-page proposal, designed to extend funding through March 2025, collapsed after former President Donald Trump and his allies objected to its size and demanded it include a suspension of the debt ceiling, which is set to be reached on January 1, 2025. Their opposition forced lawmakers to draft a smaller alternative to meet the deadline.
In response, Congress introduced and passed a 118-page bill that included cuts Trump supported, such as eliminating pay raises for lawmakers, but did not address the debt ceiling. The bill was signed into law by President Joe Biden just before the shutdown began, keeping the government funded. A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass a budget to fund federal agencies, resulting in the suspension of non-essential operations and services. Since the government operates on a fiscal year basis, periodic budget agreements are necessary to allocate funding for various programs and departments.

Over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump announced important appointments for his new administration, focusing on defense and artificial intelligence. Pete Hegseth, a veteran and advocate for military issues, will serve as Secretary of Defense. Stephen Feinberg, a businessman and defense contractor, was named Deputy Secretary of Defense to bring a business approach to Pentagon operations.
In technology, Trump appointed Sriram Krishnan, a tech leader with experience at Microsoft, Twitter, and Snap, as Senior Policy Advisor for Artificial Intelligence. Krishnan will work with David Sacks, the AI and Cryptocurrency Czar, to strengthen U.S. leadership in AI. The administration plans to use Krishnan’s expertise to boost innovation and improve how the government handles AI development.

Environment & Weather:

Today, the Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima, Japan, erupted, sending a large plume of ash 2,300 meters into the air. This is the 37th eruption of the volcano this year, highlighting it is one of the most active in Japan. Authorities have warned people in the area to be careful of falling ash and other dangers. Experts are watching the volcano closely to see if there will be more eruptions.

Space:

This past weekend, the nation of Liechtenstein joined the Artemis Accords, bringing the total number of participating countries to 51. The Artemis Accords, created by NASA and the U.S. Department of State in 2020, are a set of principles for peaceful and cooperative space exploration. Based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the Accords aim to ensure transparency, promote collaboration, and encourage the responsible use of space resources as nations explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Recent signatories include Panama, Austria, Thailand, and now Liechtenstein, highlighting growing international support for these goals.

The Artemis program, led by NASA, is focused on returning humans to the Moon and establishing a long-term presence as a stepping stone to Mars. A critical part of this effort involves partnerships with private companies like SpaceX. The U.S. government has awarded SpaceX contracts to supply key launch vehicles, including its next-generation Starship, which will play a central role in landing astronauts on the Moon. Starship’s advanced design is expected to transport larger crews and cargo than previous missions, making it essential for the long-term goals of lunar exploration and Mars missions. Alongside the development of the Lunar Gateway, these innovations aim to create a sustainable path for deep space exploration, with the Artemis II mission, now set for 2026.

Earth Intelligence System Update:

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